Taste Like Chicken-Weekend-10/2&3

Thanks for the start, Chele. That's both funny and sad on the turkeys watching the traffic at the farm. Wonder why their coleslaw price went up so drastically. Is Iggy making a coldframe to sit over the planter? We've talked about growing lettuce in but never did it. What herbs will you grow there? Our birdies are burning through the seed at a rapid rate right now for some reason. I bought 2-20 lb bags about 3 weeks ago and we're already on the 2nd one. I'll probably have to make a stop at Ace for more the week after next. Hope you'll have more luck at Panera next time. Maybe they were short staffed all around and the baker didn't show up. I'm also more of a fan of the bagels that aren't sweet or fruity. More versatility for toppings. I hope Iggy had the windows open cooking that beef tongue. Ick! Enjoy our soup. I would say enjoy the new vacuum, but....I hope it will keep its power for as long as the last one did.

Linda, glad the shots are kicking in. LOL on having a more productive conversation with Micki. I think there has been too much focus on the proposed cost of the infrastructure bill and not enough on what's included. And, a lot of members of Congress don't want to anger their rich donors by making them pay more taxes. It amazes me how partisan things got under a president who billed himself as an outsider and not a politician. I haven't noticed if Christmas decorations are out yet, but then I don't go anywhere except the grocery store. I did hear that the big thrift store chain in Knoxville has their Christmas store open already. So, I suspect your cartoon is spot on. And, don't even look for Thanksgiving decorations.

Good luck to your teams today, Kathy. I just realized UCF is going to be joining the Big 12 when TX and OK do the exit to the SEC in a few years. As Dale said, 2 more in-conference teams to beat TN. Could be interesting to see if that will give Bama some competition, since they will both probably be SEC West. Glad you got Sling so you'll be able to see FSU. They need a win today. 3:30 is the only time I don't have games on, so we'll be watching last night's Giants game then. I agree that the $3.5 trillion is meant to be negotiable. I just wish that wasn't what everyone was focusing on. Go, Mayor Demings! What is DeSantis planning as his basis for fining Orange County $5K per employee? Just because he thinks that his right as governor? Will any fines he might collect go into his coffers for his presidential run?

Liz, congrats to Gary on the weight loss. Amazing that men can implement the smallest of changes and get quick results. You're right that women's bodies are designed to hold on to excess calories for survival during lean times. But we rarely have any lean times nowadays. I wish our bodies would figure that out. Who schedules a 4 pm meeting on a Friday? That's cruel and unusual punishment! Hope it was a short one. That's almost funny about the departing staff member, or it would have been if she hadn't put you through so much. Probably good that now she'll be someone else's problem. Maybe she's schizophrenic and you got the evil twin before and yesterday you had the good twin. Happy Birthday in Heaven to your DF.

Dale went kayaking this morning, but I'm having some pain in my upper back and shoulders from my Thursday weight workout, so I did the treadmill instead. I baked Arya a butternut squash for dinners and cooked her eggs for the week. I also rinsed and drained broccoli sprouts and clover sprouts. I've been using them on salads and sandwiches and they are a nutritional powerhouse. I also watered everything this morning and may not have to do much of that in the coming week because we are expecting rain just about every day starting tomorrow. I need to take the car to AVL for service on Monday and it could be a wet drive. Dale is going to the state park tomorrow, so I need to decide what he'll be picking up for dinners this coming week. Probably Middle Eastern again. We could do worse.

Kathy, congrats on the FSU last second win. I was afraid that one was going into OT. Did you ever hear what happened to UCF? I was checking scores and I thought they were going to win and then suddenly they lost. Boston College tied Clemson early in the 3rd Qtr but the Tigers made a come back with a couple of field goals. I think they scored one TD the entire game. Like we've said before, they aren't the same team this year. It was amazing how quiet the packed stadium was, after as raucous as it has been over the past several years.

Tik Tok needs to police their site better, Linda. If they aren't careful, they could be implicated in some lawsuits with the things they are permitting. That's a shame your museum is still archives using 20th Century methods. Maybe the county could help if they weren't having to pay millions for new voting equipment. Are the knees continuing to improve? How are things going with Bob and his diet?

Chele, I think our hummers may have moved on. I saw one several times yesterday, but none today with the cooler, damper weather. We've had a red bellied woodpecker back at the feeder the last couple of days. The woodpeckers still seem to rule the feeder. We are seeing fewer doves in the past few days, hopefully due to the hawks. I counted 12 one day last week, 10 yesterday, and 8 today. We almost saw one get picked off from our deck a couple of weeks ago but the hawk decided at the last minute he was too close to the house, which gave the dove time to make a getaway.

How's the weekend going, Liz? How are the pups? I hope Gary will be able to get out and play some golf this week. Does he have retired friends he plays with or does he go on his own and find groups looking for a fourth?

It started raining sometime in the early morning. But Dale had a run scheduled at the state park so, by God, he went. I guess you have to be married to a distance runner to understand the insanity. Arya and I are hanging out and I've done a few things in the kitchen. When Dale gets home, I need to do a load of stinky laundry and hopefully enjoy the last day of the MLB regular season, which will bring the NL West title to my Giants. Destiny is in their hands (and bats).