I don't usually post in here (too fast!), but recent discussion put me in mind of this quote I copied into my journal when it came up when my best friend was going through a rough patch:

I suppose a cry does us all good at times, clears the air as other rain does. -Stoker

I'm flying home Thursday and it's the first time I've flown in ages. I'm not checking a bag and not taking any soap or shampoo or lotion.

I'm wondering how knitting is viewed. I have a project on metal circular needles -- should I try to take it or just leave it at home?

They used to get pretty hinky about those. But, as per usual, depends on the airport (insert rant about security theater here.)

Small child in swim lessons had a SERIOUS set of pipes on her. And definitely had the drama gene, I thought the instructor was going to lose her mind. Funniest part? Child was named Patience. AHAHAHA!

Man, I am again glad that I almost always am flying Southwest out of BWI where they have a dedicated terminal. Easy to get to and easy (and usually very quick) to navigate. If I'm flying after noon I do like to get there a bit early so I can enjoy a drink at the wine bar, though.

I can't work out if I'm going to check my bag or not. I think it's probably more important to me that my hands are unoccupied than anything else, really.

Good god, I just got raked over the coals (in a standard review meeting--it always happens) and I have a million questions I need to get resolved and I also need to leave work ASAP. Sheeyit.

I will be on email while I'm gone, but I'm not taking any documents or anything with me.

Okay, developer, stop talking to my manager so I can start talking. Gotta move, gotta move.

I came for writing-ma, and help-me-through-this-stomach-pain-ma, but find I'm sending it ita-ward.

Take care of yourself and that nice lady who left hilarious messages on my answering machine all those years ago.

Surgery~ma for your mom, ita.

Hey, I've got spare ~ma. Hope your stomach pain recedes, and hope you kick that writing's ass, Allyson.

Much surgery~ma and travel~ma, ita

There's plenty of ~ma left over your your stomach pain and writing, Allyson.

Can I just say, I made some awesome beef stew for dinner? Even though it's in the 80s out... I'm in Cook Down The Freezer mode. I got the tiny potatoes from Trader Joe's (so profligate! But so cute.), and threw in a bunch of wine and Worcestershire sauce into leftover pot roast pieces. Surprisingly good!

Mmmm, nice. It's cold and dreary here and I wanted something hearty for lunch. But I didn't think we had the makings of anything hearty until I scrounged around and found beef bouillon cubes. So I sauteed mushrooms, onions and red bell pepper together, and then added the beef stock. And I peppered it vigorously to give it a pepper pot taste. Gave it a zap with Srichacha, and then I threw in a couple of frozen meatballs from TJ's, angel hair pasta and spinach. So it was sort of a cross between pepper pot and Italian Wedding.

But it was really good!