Kalshane, because of gut issues, I gave up coffee (and eventually tea) for almost 10 years. My problem wasn't with the caffeine as much as the acidity of it. Kicking it was tough, but it was doable. The first few days were the worst.

My gut's more or less better so I can drink it again, but I still only have one cup a day. A second if I am the walking dead.

Compere Lapin is one of the best new restaurants in the city.

I didn't even look it up -- I was like, "eh, it's right there downstairs and I don't feel like going out," and I was happily surprised at how great the food was. The arancini! I would have that and a cocktail every week if I lived here.

All day meeting just ended half an hour ago and I have to go to yet another evening shindig that's basically a business meeting with dinner, like, why can't I blow this off and go drinking in French Quarter, I ask you. *sigh* Then I have to think about whether I hate myself enough to make it to one of the 7 AM sessions tomorrow.

There was frost on my car this morning. I know it's late October, but DO NOT WANT!

I saw a few flakes when I was at the last farmer's market of the season yesterday. Bah!

So a local large church is having Allen West come speak and their preacher last Sunday said from the pulpit that they would be to blame for losing religious freedom, innocent deaths, and loss of biblical marriage if they did not act and vote. Does that cross the line for the IRS?

Honestly, I think not if they didn't say who to vote for, but I could be wrong.

Dana: Moving is the woooooorst. Good job making it through so far!!

The Final Jeopardy answer last night was "echidna" and I got it right by knowing it's one of only two mammals that lay eggs (and Platypus was not a Greek goddess). So thanks, billytea, for the echidna knowledge I've gathered over the years.

Team Echidna! Though the Greek Echidna was strictly a monster rather than a god.

Not to mention that, even at minors salaries, they can afford to pay for their US care (assuming its not offset by the club, making it more affordable) out of pocket as needed.

That's definitely not the case. I saw what my friend Stéphane was making back then, that team's pay for its non-stars was roughly in the same ballpark as my salary at that time. They'd have wanted insurance or the team to pay so they could eat the month of the doctor's visit.

Yeah, I think as long as they're saying "you have to vote!" But not "you have to vote for Person X!" It's ok?

I am feeling like crap but it's been too hard to sleep, the past couple nights, with the cold I have. So going to bed early isn't sounding great, but neither is "being awake". :(

Stuff here. Yay. Holy crap, so much stuff. Boo.

Day-old coffee, reheated twice: dinner of champions. Wait, not champions, workaholics.

meara, that seems like it's a job for ambien.

Grace was a special form of bratty pill today, probably because she is having a hard time breathing. I emailed her pulmonologist's nurse and then called the doc. Apparently there is a big pediatric pulmonology conference because everyone in the department is out except for a Fellow. I ended up calling her pediatrician and we went there instead.

I then felt bad, like he (the pediatrician) is second string. oops.