Whooh. There's a manhunt going on a couple blocks from me. Police cars have blockaded off part of my route home, and helicopters are flying overhead. Because I'm that kind of person I walked over to see what the fuss was. The policewoman was very terse and final. "Looking for someone, ma'am. You can't go down that way."

I don't bother peeling the tomatoes for that sauce - they fall apart to the point where you can just fish the skins out with a fork when you're taking out the onion.

Dana, you might also want to cut them in half and scoop out the seeds. If you are so inclined, you can put the guts in a food mill or a strainer to get the pulp, but regardless, you should remove the seeds if you can

"Looking for someone, ma'am. You can't go down that way."

That happened here a few weeks ago. I was picking up a friend, and tried to walk down the street to his building, but was not allowed. There were two SWAT trucks at the end of the street. My friend was not allowed to leave the building. Turns out that a guy in the building across the street had threatened to "kill everyone in the building". So, the police evacuated the building and wouldn't let anyone on the street. It further turns out that he made the threat and left. So, the police held the street hostage for SIX HOURS (9:30-3:30AM) without confirming that he was still in the building. @@

Go msbelle!

Yeah, I didn't buy any gallons of anything, but maybe I'll fill a pitcher with water? I really don't think anything bad is going to happen in my neighborhood.

Yeah, this is me. Though I bought booze, gas and shampoo last night. But that was on the list. I mean, if we end up on a boil water order, my stove is gas. I'll fill up my waterbottles, but I do that anyway. And make sure the cats' dishes are fresh. And I have neighbors.

Plants are in the basement, deck furniture folded up to bring in later. Need to do the porch furniture before the winds start.

There are no D batteries to be found here. But I've got batteries for all but that one flashlight, so whatever. I do not want to lose power. I brought my work laptop home since this one's battery lasts about 5 minutes. At last resort, I have a dialup number I can use.

Looks like we're having a hurricane party tomorrow night. Whee!

I don't bother peeling the tomatoes for that sauce - they fall apart to the point where you can just fish the skins out with a fork when you're taking out the onion.

Ooh, smart. That's easier than the blanch-and-peel, which is still pretty easy.

We have plenty of groceries. We didn't buy water, but I don't really think we'll need it. I just want to get through my grandmother's service without anyone floating away.

Yeah, I don't bother peeling tomatoes for that type of thing, but then, I like tomato skin, so...

In my news about me, there are seven hummingbirds simultaneously feeding, a new record. No sign yet of the contentious rufous hummingbirds; these are all Anna's, as far as I can tell.

So I started using Noom. I liked how easy it was to track my food. And then today it told me I had fifteen minutes until my workout started. I was all buzzah? But I am easily cowed, so I went out walking like it said. Only it never told me how long I was supposed to walk, so I went for forty five minutes. Now I'm hungry.

I have my fingers crossed for all the hurricanistas.

My mother is having a picnic tomorrow We shouldn't see much more than storms in upstate NY, but still odd to be having a picnic. And she just emailed me to tell me the only soap she has is Irish Spring, and so if I need soap I need to bring it with me. I don't plan to be showering there.

where can I yak on about old seasons of Eureka?

I just made tomato sauce from scratch!