Traveling with the kid is horrible for food. I had nostalgia places planned that mostly fell through. we had fast food today for lunch and I feel like there is a brick in my belly. I'd rather not just go to a chain place, but a good place is a mess with him, he doesn't want cheese mixed in his mashed potatoes, or garlic on his whatever, and blah blah fancy cakes reduction blah blah.

so 2 scary things I've done this trip.

1) typed in a NORTH street address as SOUTH which took us directly toward the Mexico border after dark last night and then along the border highway which is scary at night and THEN into a neighborhood without streetlights. - figured out the error and got to the hotel fine, but yowza.

2) took off for Carlsbad Caverns early this morning, still dark, and just trucked on out of town, not even thinking about gas, because I NEVER THINK ABOUT GAS BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE BURBS. We had half a gallon left in the tank when we got to the ONLY gas station. It is 130 miles between stations where we were.

Is there any reason to bring my medical insurance card with me overseas?

Glad those weren't worse, msbelle! And I hope you can get some good food in you.

Why wouldn't you, -t. It takes up minimal space.

Thanks, Nanita, I never would have thought to ask that.

Msbelle, gas up early and often.

Yikes, msbelle! Glad things worked out.

I have half a butternut squash in my fridge! Maybe it will turn into that flatbread.

My parent's oldest son goes to court in two days. Much ~ma for him going to prison. Seriously. If only to dry him up for a bit. My mum can't kick him out, even though he's still stealing their money and cars to buy more alcohol, because he'll fall into a worse crowd than a family of enablers. I get it, he's her son. I'm so afraid he'll get off with a fine and community service or something else equally unhelpful to his health and current lifestyle.

I am eating panko-crusted tilapia with roasted asparagus and red bell pepper for dinner.

Where are you going overseas, -t? Probably not, but I'd take it just in case.

That flatbread sounds good, and the recipes sound tempting, Gris! But what I'd want is for them to also provide calorie counts--do they do that? I know for some of their recipes in the magazine they would. (I used to buy it all the time, back when you couldn't have your kindle on for the first or last part of the flight).

I had a big salad today for lunch! I tried out this new semi-ridiculous hipster place--it's a cold-pressed juices store, but also has some food. The salad was raw "massaged" kale with rhubarb (pickled maybe?) and very thinly sliced apple, and almonds, and chicken. And who knows what else. It was quite delicious! Not sure it was quite big enough, though (and $12 after tax, without tip...probably not a good frequent lunch plan).

Am supposed to talk to my boss first thing tomorrow about some of this work ridiculousness. I'm semi-over some of the nonsense from last week, and mostly going "WTF are these people DOING all day??" but I think I want to instead focus our talk on a higher-level career way (in the question of "in order to get promoted do I need to take this lower paying new version of my job? Because I don't wanna, but am not getting any of the opportunities to do higher-level stuff right now because those people are all doing it!") Rather than "OMG what are they DOING all day and why do *I* have to do it instead??" and "WTF WHY DO THEY NOT ANSWER MY DAMN EMAILS?"

Ooh, that sounds good, shrift.

And this all reminds me to sign up for a CSA.