f someone said to bring a cover dish to a cook-out what would you imagine they meant? I'm clueless.

Some sort of casserole, like green bean casserole, or macaroni and cheese. But probably if you brought whatever (fruit salad) it would not be a problem. Can you call and ask further?

thanks, meara.

I kinda thought it might be a casserole thingy. This being Iowa, it probably means potaotes and cheese.

Gotta go grocery shopping and have zero motivation beyond hunger.

Covered dish usually covers just about anything you'd want to bring: potato salad, bean salad, spinach dip, baked beans or even dessert.

About an hour ago, I was suddenly struck with the idea that the best way to get things done around the apartment was to actually get off my butt and do them.

I found it effective, but ultimately overrated.

Cleaning my room is vastly improved by having my music on.

I was doing stuff, but then I wound up sitting and listening to Born to Run straight through.

I had a haircut and got my eyelashes dyed this morning. I also had a late afternoon flying lesson scheduled, but 5 minutes after I got to the airport a thunderstorm popped up right on top of us, which hosed that. But my instructor was able to schedule lessons on Monday and Wednesday, so I should get back up again soon.

I stopped by a nursery on the way home to try getting something to grow in two of my sulkier window boxes. We'll see if the verbena can stand up to the vorpal squirrels. And I picked up a couple of cherry red salvias for the old copper wash tub that I've turned into a planter.

Tomorrow I'm getting together with a bunch of people for Thor.

I got a huge amount done and am now exhausted.

In retrospect, I should have realized that hauling bags of mulch around would make a weights workout rather redundant. Ow.

So if you had two days to spend in either Barcelona or Madrid as a thirty-something woman who speaks not a word of Spanish, which city would you stay in and why? Also, any tips?

Ooh. Hmm. I have never been to Barcelona, but I have been to Madrid. So I'd probably pick the other one...but then, I speak some Spanish, so it wasn't a huge problem for me in Madrid.