I have never heard of "sugar pie" squash. We have quite successfully used both Buttercup and Hubbard squashes in pumpkin pies. Much better flavor than what we got the last time we bought a sugar pumpkin.

It's what the farmer called it, I figure he would know.

I like flying, because I can read on planes, and reading in cars, even looking at pictures in magazines, makes me sick as a dog within two minutes.

Being able to watch something makes long road trips more bearable, but I do not love.

Hey, Plei, or anyone, can anyone point out a good tutorial or three for how to do long hair in a victory roll? Is for Halloween; I have my dress, accessories and makeup, but I need the hair. (So the dress is more 50's than 40s, but fuck it, I want to do a victory roll.)

Erin, here's one that might work (though I don't know how long your hair is): [link]

Once I was flying to Houston for work and I was watching Buffy episodes on my laptop. The flight got to Houston early, which annoyed me as I was unable to finish the episode I was watching.

I can't read in a car or in a CTA train. I can read on a Metra or Amtrak train, and on a plane if there's no turbulence.

I can read pretty much anywhere. Driving long distances is about the only time I can listen to audiobooks; it's really hard to have the right level of attention for it otherwise (I need to keep my eyes occupied with something, but if I get to absorbed in the other thing I will suddenly realize I haven't heard the last half a chapter or so). Riding in a car or train or plane will also work if there is scenery or something, or if I don't mind falling asleep mid word.

Huh. We just got a "so-and-so is no longer with the company" email, and it's someone I thought was retiring, but that's not how they usually announce that. So curious now.

"you didn't flinch and nearly knock a scalpel in your eye."

I think doctors under-estimate how much not knocking a scalpel into your eye is inspiring on the not-moving front.

In bittersweet news, I was going through a portion of Hubby's desk and found a stash of $140. He liked squirrelling away money. Being a properly raised child of Puritans, only the $40 is going to be splurged today, but the $100 will be tucked in my own stash. My Vegas stash, because I'm not that properly raised.

We just got a "so-and-so is no longer with the company" email

The president of my company has left so he "can spend more time with his family." Given who he is and the level of work he's put in, I think this is actually pretty on point, but I think someone in PR has realized how that sounds, and there was a long follow-up about the hours he's put in, the travel he's done, and how young his kids are (he's younger than me). Fortunately, his replacements in the re-org are from in-house and understand how we do things.

Minor surgery accomplished. Surgeon complimented me on how brave I was, which I think means, "you didn't flinch and nearly knock a scalpel in your eye." Having numb eyes feels weird.

Yikes! Taking the rest of the day sounds like a good call.