Also, I got a lead on a job which might be really interesting: doing environmental work in-house for a big solar company. Sounds cool, less stressful than consulting, and less ridiculous than federal work.

For homes, businesses or those great swaths of solar farms?

I'm sorry about your grandmother's fall, msbelle. Glad they finally got the pain under control.

I really like this mystical Pope.

Yes, she is in the hospital. Just spoke with my aunt. She has either a bladder or kidney infection, so they are dealing with that first before the ankle, now that they have the pain controlled. AUnt does not think I need to come down to relieve people since GG is resting now and everyone should be able to sleep at home tonight. I still offered because next week I am working and I do not want it all to fall on the daughters (aunt and my mom).

So I am just hanging at home- taking turns between fb games, house projects, and ebaying stuff. For those of you not on FB, I am on a mom strike, so I am only doing what I want, and no cleaning, or cooking for others. I am feeding the cats and dog, also medicining the one cat - because they should not suffer b/c mac is on a stubborn selfish trip.

ita ! Unflavored gelatine will definitely thicken. It has almost no flavor, so that should not be a problem. The texture may not be exactly what you want. And no, if you don't use too much it will not turn your soup into jello, just thicken. But more an aspic sort of thickness rather than a floury sort of thickness if you get the distinction.

Much ~ma for your grandmother, msbelle. Also kid ~ma for you.

A strike seems like a sensible idea, msbelle. Ma~ for your grandmother.

S. just made old-school popcorn (not microwaved!) for me. NOM.

Adding some brown rice and then pureeing part of the soup might do it.

I have split pea flour and have also cooked lentils then pureed to thicken.

Health and recovery~ma for your grandmother, msbelle.

Also, I got a lead on a job which might be really interesting: doing environmental work in-house for a big solar company. Sounds cool, less stressful than consulting, and less ridiculous than federal work.

Sounds neat! I hope it comes through and turns out to be something you'd like.

I got a new radio/iPod player installed in my car today. (The old one had no way to hook up the iPod and I'll be road tripping with my sister on Nov. 1. So I'll want my playlists.) Then I met a bunch of rescued birds near the pet supply store: three different owls, a coopers hawk, and an African raven. The raven was the biggest of the bunch. A couple of the owls were the size of pint jars (literally pint sized). So cool! Then I replaced my wiper blades and walked the cat. All in all, a good day.

Ack! Reading through my insurance letters online and they are saying they added my neighbors kid to my insurance policy! No. No no no no.