Zenkitty, it takes a lot of practice and learning enough recipes to know what ingredients work well together. I'm not saying I'd go on Chopped or anything, but given enough familiarity with the ingredients, I could take a mystery basket and come up with dinner.

Timelies all!

In Toronto now, taking advantage of the free wireless in the lobby.

We're on the phone with the realtor now. It is sounding like more of a bump, so thank god for that. It will still mean that we have to put some more money into it, but hopefully it won't be terrible.

I can make something I would be willing to eat out of whatever is lying around (assuming whatever is lying around is stuff I don't hate, and since no one else shops for groceries in my house that's usually not an issue). It's a low bar, believe me.

I kind of have a crush on Carla Gugino so I'm sorry I missed that show on lots of levels.

learning enough recipes to know what ingredients work well together.

There's a book called the Flavor Bible that basically is a huge book listing different foods/spices/etc., and then listing what else goes well with them. I keep meaning to get it, because I think it would help me a lot.

I kind of have a crush on Carla Gugino

Did you ever see the miniseries of The Buccaneers? I think it was Masterpiece Theatre, but I know it's on DVD.

My swim was stormed out halfway through. Bah. Ah well, it wasn't going well tonight anyway. Start fresh tomorrow.

I have more than kind of a crush on Carla Gugino. And The Buccaneers is really fun -- you can also stream it on Amazon.

She's very crush-worthy.

Thunder here. I didn't bring a a jacket or umbrella or anything to work, got good and soaked running to the car. I think I will not run 5 miles today...

That Flavor Bible sounds like what I need, if they have a supertaster section. Hubby can think in flavors, I can't.

ION, a very busy day today. It started with the eye doctor, and I'm tentatively scheduled for cataract surgery in 4 weeks. The upfront cost is nearly half that quoted by the clinic we went to last year, and I can get a lens that will negate the astigmatism in that eye. The doctor's suggesting I'd only need reading glasses for that eye afterwards, which makes me nervous about coping with my other eye still needing a strong prescription, and with the delay before I could get a new lens or new glasses altogether.

We then went to the bank to deposit the check. Apparently the interest on savings accounts is now under 1%, even on CDs. That seems utterly ridiculous. But 5K is in a savings account waiting for tax season next year, and the rest is in another savings account to be tapped at need.

We then did a celebratory tour through Barnes & Noble, which we kept cheap, then stopped by where his sister works. She was horrified that we were thinking of going to a car dealership, because car dealers always try to cheat you. Her recommendation was online want ads. Because some stranger you discover online is always more trustworthy than someone with an established business and a reputation to protect. But Hubby says she's unable to stand up to people she perceives to be in a position of authority, so she's biased.

She does know a guy with a car dealership, so we stopped by there on the way home. This time next week I may be driving a Honda CRV or a 1999 Volvo. Or an Interceptor. We shall see. It's amazing what the word "cash" does to a car dealer.