But the "beef and guiness stew" the dough does link to sounds pretty darn good too! Possibly I"m just hungry.

Weekend festival, boss lady continues to demonstrate how useless she is: unless you give her a directive, she'll occupy herself with the most unhelpful thing possible. Greatest flaws: crap at management, unwillinging to ask for direction. And those two things seem to point towards someone who shouldn't be a director or part of a team. She's a one woman army of . . . something mostly useless.

I've broken 2 french press carafes in the past 2 months. And then I sliced my thumb open on a plastic tub of spinach and kale dip. I think I need bubblewrap.

Ouch on the thumb slicing! The carafes - that's why my french presses are stainless steel or lexan. The big one may be glass, but I don't use it very often so it's relatively easy to be super careful with it.

I went to a fundraiser for the teen shelter I used to work at. My friend who still works there as an art therapist scored me a free ticket, so surprise evening outing! It was fun; most of my friends were there, and about 10 area restaurants served soup (the fundraiser was called Art Soup) and there was wine and teeny cupcakes.

I had a very good gumbo, a snail soup, a delicious carrot soup and a squash and asparagus soup. And sparking almond wine, which was fine. And beautiful, wonderful mini cupcakes!

I had the last one for almost decade until I broke it in January (thermal issue- I'd just washed it next door and apparently setting it on the railing in 10°f was too much of a differential.) This one I cracked on another dish in the sink. I may go for stainless if I break this one because this is ridiculous, but that isn't available at Target at 8 on a Sunday.

Stainless is not super easy to find. I was lucky to come across mine at CC's right away, I have not seen many others like it since.

My coworker's elderly mom is in the hospital and it's looking like this might be the end. I would really like to do something nice for this coworker, but I don't live anywhere near her and I wouldn't feel right going to see her at the hospital -- we're not that close. Does anyone have any good ideas? Is this an appropriate time to send flowers or a card, or would that be weird (or better saved for the funeral)?

Kate, can you send a food type gift to the house? Either from a local company or from some place like Harry and David.

Or send her a Starbucks or Dunkin giftcard and a note asking if there's anything you can do to help out while she's away from school, since you don't leave near her?