Times like this, it's hard to be an introvert.

I feel ya. I hope the dinner's yumminess makes up for the energy drain.

Any chance that they might be back at the same cafe tomorrow? Maybe you could slip a business card to the guy and he could reason with her?

I _wish_ I had a business card on me in the moment.

It's unlikely I'll see them again...I don't think they are from the 'hood.

Thanks for the kind words, peeps. In the overall scheme of things, I guess I feel better about speaking than I would have had I not, but I just hate the ugly stuff.

Now, I'm off to a holiday 'do that I normally really enjoy. But, there will be a ton of people asking me about Bartleby. I've decided to take a bunch of pictures of Cagney and gloss over the sad stuff where I can. His cuteness should be enough to shield me.

I am gumbo-ing. Just spent most of the last hour (or however long 3 Friends episodes w/o commercials) making roux. And the previous hour washing, de-stalking, and chopping greens and chopping trinity. I get to rest for like an hour now, though. Greens, roux, trinity, garlic, spices are simmering with a big ass smoked ham hock and I am looking forward to dinner!

Tom made marmalade with citrus from our farm box (where all the greens came from too) so all we have left to use up is cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, and sweet potatoes. Any suggestions?

Aims, I'm glad the M-i-L showed up. bonny, I admire your restraint. Cass, I also feel like I don't connect with my niecephews, but being far away definitely is a factor. I can imagine it feeling uncomfortable to realize you like one more than the other. Omnis, good luck with your family stuff, I am sort of dreading going through the same thing when I go up to Boston for concentrated family times. It'll be all right though!

Also, {{bonny}}. Thinking of you and Bartleby and Cagny, and it's great to see you here!

Man, I'm wiped. This is why I rarely make gumbo.

Hm. I've never had food poisoning before so I'm not sure what's going on with my tummy but I've had totally stomach-specific nausea/discomfort since lunch yesterday (thai noodles from a cart i've never frequented before.) Nothing into intestines, entirely stomach. And still bothering me 24 hrs later...at first i figured it was maybe some chicken broth slipped into something but i've never had accidental meat introduction to my veggie tummy keep bugging for this long. Plus, meat or dairy tends to bother my gut, not my stomach. I really hope i'm not contagious, since I'm still at work....

eta: and about 18 hrs after eating the noodles i've developed the tell-tale dark circles under my eyes that usually indicate consuming chicken or dairy. Huh. They usually show up sooner.

The Family Winchester is reunited. Mal and I got in Friday with no problems and all our stuff. However, the cat missed her connection in Miami, so we hung out at the exciting Caracas airport for FIVE HOURS.

But all is good, and Mal's been super brave.

Mal is a champ for getting through that much travel. I'm glad the Winchesters are finally reunited.

Ugh, erin. I hope you feel better soon. Unhappy tummies stink.

Cass, I also feel like I don't connect with my niecephews, but being far away definitely is a factor. I can imagine it feeling uncomfortable to realize you like one more than the other.

I had moved to Portland just before my sister found out she was pregnant with the twins. So I've never been close to them.

It's odd because I was always the favorite aunt with my Niecelet and then Nephlet. But I've been just a random family member to these kids so having a preference didn't feel so bad.

Still, now that I am here, I am trying to make an actual connection. And trying to love somewhat equally.

Then again, I am also trying to reconnect with my siblings. And it's working much of the time. We're not going to be traditionally close probably but we can have moments.

Nightguard is still really uncomfy when I first put it on. But the painful tightness seems to ease as I am wearing it so I am trying, trying, trying to wear it a couple of hours per day. Once I can get more used to it, I can try to wear it before bed and eventually sleep with it.

Aims, I think I would do almost anything to get to see Em in the Nutcracker.

Nora, what is trinity?

Not Nora, but in Cajun/Creole cooking, the trinity is celery, onion and bell pepper. In most other forms of cooking it's celery, carrots and onion.

I am walking away from the WedMD sites, because according to them the only reason for nausea/vomitting with no accompanying diarrhea or other symptomps might be an ulcer. Clearly they don't know long-term vegetarians. I'm gonna assume someone stealth dosed me with chicken stock and assume I'll be fine tomorrow.