sarameg may be amused to hear that my new nephew Luke is often referred to as "Lukey" and occasionally "Loki".

I've tried to warn them, but do they listen?

Butter gets actually hard in the fridge and softens on the counter at room temperature, will actually semi-liquify on the counter on a hot day. Crisco is marginally softer outside the fridge, but it stays nearer the same consistency chilled or not.

There are baking recipes that call for butter, but the rule I learned was to sub Crisco for half the butter, because Crisco's less apt to burn while baking, and butter can liquefy too quickly for the recipe to bake correctly. Butter crust or cookies are also more susceptible to burning than Crisco should the heat be a little high or the pan left a little too long in the oven.

Margarine is dreadful as a baking ingredient. Especially with the whipped margarines lower in fat. There's a lot of water and air in them, so there's not actually adequate shortening for the recipe. It should never be used to grease and flour a pan, either. Butter works, but burns faster. Crisco is best for that use.

OK, Community. You rule my world. Holy shit!

FTW, man. How far are you?

I guess we could talk about this in the comedy thread, huh?

I am so tremendously whiney this morning. It has been raining for 24 hours. I am tired, my body aches, I don't wanna, my hips are too big for this skirt, I didn't put up decorations last night like I was supposed to, I can't get warm, work, I left my earphones at home, people keep coming to talk to me, I don't have a door, I have to move to do my job, I hate everything.

I hab a cold, and my left ear is super-plugged. It is causing voices/music coming out of speakers to sound a) metallic and b) out of tune. Driving me crazy!

Sophia, I am pretty sure if we just hit people, we might feel better today. you start, let me know if it works.

Man, it sounds like that cold/flu virus is really getting around. Vonnie picked it up in Toronto, my friend Su in Chicago had it turn into pneumonia. My friend A picked it up in Atlanta, and a coworker got it in Cleveland. And both my mother and sister have it, and I'm sure my sister's case has or will turn into bronchitis.

Me, I'm gobbling up vitamin C and multi-vitamins: I don't have any PTO left at all.

Stay healthy, Buffistas!

Consuela, when does your year end/start for your days to restart?

I still don't think this is the flu, but a sinus infection is probable. I am calling my dr. shortly to see if I can get in. I ran my mile last night and did yoga for 15 minutes and it did not make me feek good at all, not worse, just no better.

eep! No flu! I don't think we got Isaac vaccinated. Maybe we should do it now just to be safe.

Thanks for the article, Cass. I am certain that's the bug I found, less certain that it's the source of the skin irritation, but we will see. At any rate, it got us to really clean the kids' rooms and the den, so I guess some good came out of this mess.

And that coat is gorgeous! I can see why you're going all Gollum about it.

The flu is apparently brutal in Chicago this year.