I'm trying to decide what to cook this week. There's nothing I particularly feel like having, and it's too hot to use the oven. I'm going through some of the cookbooks that I own but haven't cooked from much, to see if anything strikes my fancy. Nothing from the Indian cookbook really seemed like what i felt like, so I'm looking through a Caribbean one now. (Though, I'm pretty sure this is pointless, because I think I'm in a mood where nothing will really seem like "That's what I want.")

Laura, hope your mother rallies quickly.

Got a call to pick up my neighbor from dropping his car off at the shop; you really realize how teeny the mazda2 is when you have a large man in the passenger seat.

At the market this saturday, I got 2 quarts of strawberries, 2 pints of the first cherries and a lb of fresh green peas (in additional to the usual spinach.) Also picked up an avocado elsewhere because I want to create a salad similar to what I had when Maria and I went out to dinner. This one will be spinach, the fresh peas, avocado, corn and cilantro dressing with lime. (Restaurant salad had chickpeas instead of peas, and onion, but I'm forgoing the latter.) But I also have all these strawberries that I like with the spinach and either a thai peanut or balsamic dressing! As soon as the avocado ripens, it's going to be hard to decide which to make. And I might run low on spinach unless I remember where the nearby weekday markets are....

Ooh, sarameg, I have some thai peanut sauce, I should make it into salad dressing. Lovely idea.

Had a good update from my sister. Copy and paste because it is late and I am going to bed... (xpost to Bitches)

hi...just got home from the hospital. had some good news. When the doctor came in this evening with an update from the pulmonologist after he had the opportunity to review the xrays, etc. more thoroughly, he found that the infection was not as large as he had originally thought because he found that there was a shadow on the xray making it appear larger than it really was. since he originally had said that it wasn't large this is particularly good news. now believe that it started as a virus that wore her down and developed into pneumonia. she was told that folks over 70 don't usually have fevers until things are seriously bad and that they need to react to simple symptoms like a cough or body aches much more seriously especially at 92 yrs old. there were no problems with her blood work. they had gotten two courses of iv antibiotics through her already and had her on a nebuliser (sp) a few times and expect to send her home tomorrow for sure with some oral antibiotics and prednisone. thank god as she was not taking well to being incarcerated at all. amen for now.

Relieved! eta: I'm going to give credit to Buffista ~ma...

Glad for good news, Laura

That's good news, Laura.

Did I miss any update from Jilli from her interview yesterday? I hope they recognized your awesomeness, Jilli.

Things are cautiously good. Cautiously just because I'm not declaring victory until I get through the rest of the interview loop, but the outlook is good.

fingers crossed, Jilli

This is my first Sunday working with Hubby in the hospital. I'm sitting here going "If I don't go home, I can pretend he's there waiting for me." I always call to let him know I'm on my way home, and it's wrecking my drive home vibe not to call him. I could call him at the hospital, but I'd want to talk to him a while and that just delays me getting home.

Do not want.

Best wishes to your mom, Laura, and of course continued good vibes for Hubby, Connie.

Jilli, I will cross my fingers for good news!

I am officially en route to Ireland. Sitting at my gate at LAX. Leg one to Chicago...then a six hour layover before catching my flight into Dublin. I arrive in Dublin around 8am Tuesday, their time, and ND's lovely extended family will be there to drive me up to Belfast. He will arrive on the same flight the next day (one drawback to award travel--only one ticket available per day to Ireland, apparently). I've been to England, but I've never been to Ireland or Northern Ireland. I'm excited to explore! Also to spend time with the family, who we adore.

Ugh, I hope this stay goes faster than anticipated. Maybe send him a quick text to say you are on your way home and will give him a call when you get there. He would enjoy the anticipation.