I just put smoked gouda on my grocery list, so I can make these sandwiches, which sound amazing.

I've had some roasted cauliflower sandwiches and they are, indeed, delicious.

I've become a bit dependent on Whole Foods to augment my cooking rotation, since everybody eats something different.

They have these marinated salmon steaks that are smallish, and I get the lemon dill one at least once a week for JZ. I season it up a little and run it under the broiler and then serve it on greens and she's very happy about that.

And I've also been getting things like their Beet/Kale salad and using that as a side on various dishes.

Matilda usually gets either something with pasta (just red sauce and parm) or rice (chicken curry, or black beans). And there's usually enough to give her leftovers the next day for lunch.

Having a couple of prepared sides around (JZ also likes Dolma) and a few easy protein hits (egg or tuna salad) that I can offer up helps assemble plates.

As for myself, probably half of my diet in a week is from either eggs, or skinless chicken thighs (which I've learned to tart up in a variety of ways). Highly recommend TJs Shawarma Chicken Thighs because 12 minutes under a broiler and they are done and delicious.

For your candy chute needs: [link] (your nearby hardware store probably has these).

I had apricot-glazed salmon, butternut squash & cabbage, and pearl couscous for dinner. And I'm about to have some chocolate cake.

I had apricot-glazed salmon, butternut squash & cabbage, and pearl couscous for dinner. And I'm about to have some chocolate cake.

Happy birthday, aurelia!

Thanks!

Would it be funny to take different pictures of myself in my apartment and send that out as a card??

YES!

Y'all, my coworker said something today "from the internet" that I just read on tumblr. Let me never tell her I am also on tumblr.

I don't admit to having internet at work. Except the cool (now gone) guy who when he asked what I read, I said "AO3 and Yuletide." and we bonded for three years until the Army took he and his geek wife away from me.

Though apparently I tinged it with enough verbal blushing that his first guess was FetLife so there was that. Hey, once you get to adult and consensual, I only kink shame hoses.

Or just "holding things" privilege, because sometimes I don't manage it very well.

I was in a bar in Tempe, AZ holding a beer when I was 21 and just … dropped it. The bartenders who we knew were debating if giving me a glass would be better because handle to hold or worse because broken glass instead of already being disposed of bottle. It was my first beer. I just stopped holding it and gravity took over.

If you're into this sort of thing, the walnut pesto at TJ's is amazeballs. It's like a 75% less fat version of one I made 25 years ago from this book to go on spinach and ricotta ravioli but just about as delicious. It goes so well with the lemon and ricotta that TJ's conveniently sells next to it.

So instead of hours of work and a huge mess to impress a girl, you can build some water. Maybe sprinkle of parm on top, a salad and some wine. I did get the girl for a few years but still, that was a meal of much work.

I came across a YouTube video of some people who came up with contact-free candy delivery systems. And a blog for local matters had some photos of outstanding Halloween decorations - one was a pirate skeleton sitting on their front lawn, another a dragon on a gable roof.

My plans to vote this morning have been thwarted by the high winds, downed trees etc. Maybe this afternoon I can go by and wait in line.

No internet right now but cell service. There was a tree that came down on the shed in the backyard but other than doesn't look like there is damage to our place.

M's mom's anxiety and paranoia are in overdrive right now because of the storm. There are limbs from our oak tree on the sidewalk and she is convinced the city is going to fine us for it. That they will drive by and see it or someone will report it.

Like our neighbor who has been an ass.

And she's worried the neighbor will complain about the tree that fell on the shed.

So she called her daughter saying she needed to bring the grandsons here now to pick up all the limbs and get the tree off the shed.

We are still under a tropical storm warning until this afternoon.

I mean the skies are clearing off and it's not as windy as it is so it's probably safe for her to clean up. I did go out and pick up the largest sticks/small branches and then called public works to try and find out about the exact responsibilities but of course no one answered because there are trees down and power outages.

I told once the winds die down more I'll help her in the yard but that it will be ok if some things don't get done today.

I hope that helped calm her anxiety some -- I feel like in the midst of a tropical storm is not when the city is going to be sticklers. Good on you.

meara talking about butter chicken recently made me want butter chicken, so I found an Instant Pot recipe that I'm going to try tonight, yay.

My low level election anxiety -- or, well, stuffed down hard anxiety -- is climbing levels. I have to keep reminding myself that, what? I guess... that my having anxiety over it isn't going to affect it one way or the other, but that's not really working now. I guess just stop, breathe, and refocus.