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.

Apparently the interest on savings accounts is now under 1%, even on CDs.

Yeah, it's actually been this way pretty much since whole bank fiasco tanked the economy.

I didn't know it had gotten to the point where burying a bundle of bills in a mason jar in the back yard was a viable option.

Aarrrrggggg. So frustrated. I need to talk with KCD but he isn't answering his phone. I texted about and she hasn't responded. People. Talk to me.

I received a reimbursement check from my insurance company today. It was for $0.24. Less than the cost of a stamp.

I'm pretending it's a royalty check.

Huh, snow in the Sierras. Well, that's good. But it shut down the Asparagus Festival.