I don't wear a wristwatch, but I have a pocket watch I use pretty often. But I usually check the time on my phone. I am a convert to texting, because in many ways it's less obtrusive than a phone conversation; I don't have to worry about disturbing people around me.

Pete, on the other hand, thinks texting is a sign of the End Times, and refuses to have anything to do with it. He was particularly amused/horrified recently when Plei texted to let me know she had just pulled up outside of our house.

I don't know that I've ever had the real thing. I've seen it in the store, but I wonder if spending $8 versus 2 is really worth it

And you such a foodie! Since, as noted, it can keep forever, give it a shot. Tastes like a dream.

We had a break from maple when we lived in England. Golden syrup and treacle. Moved from there straight to Canada, which was a relief.

ZK, my sister in sensitivity. I was looking to kind down in citric acid for other reasons, and started paying attention to juice ingredients. Why is it added to everything that's not sugar water (and even then)?

Have you guys seen Regretsy (NSFW)? It's a blog highlighting dubious things for sale on Etsy. Oh, man, people are surely strange.

Speaking of which I overheard a conversation this morning where a woman complained that a friend of hers used one of her pots to boil her menstrual cup. How can you think that's an okay way to use other people's property? Which is an example of why I'm so averse to the "ask forgiveness rather than permission" ethos.

lo rez Halloween costume.

Ha - I was expecting the character from Idoru, but that's also pretty cool.

Tangentially to syrup talk: is there such a thing as artificial honey flavoring?

I have this lingering sense that I don't like honey, even though every time I've had it in recent memory it's been good to delicious, and it occurred to me that maybe I am conflating it with the taste of some nasty flavoring (like how artificial strawberry flavor is usually nasty) and real honey is fine.

Or maybe I had some bad honey at some point, if there is such a thing.

Might depend on the honey's source, -t. My overwhelming preference is for orange blossom honey and other types of honey tend to taste not so much bad, as just odd.

But it could be that there's some sort of honey flavoring that's not really very good-- I remember I used to loathe the Bit-O-Honey candy as a kid. Only ever got it at Halloween. Judging by the fact that I haven't seen it in years, it would seem it's fallen out of flavor.

I remember I used to loathe the Bit-O-Honey candy as a kid. Only ever got it at Halloween. Judging by the fact that I haven't seen it in years, it would seem it's fallen out of flavor.

Oh no--I'm one of the people in charge of buying snacks for the office, and every once in a while I'll go buy some old time candyto mix in. Bit o honey and Necco wafers are people's favorites, because they are of the yum

Thats a good point on the source. I'll try to pay attention to that, when I can.

I shop in bargain stores, and you really have to watch out. One thing they sell is "honey flavored syrup) which is a corn syrup honey mixture. Maybe that is what you don't like?

Honey is also of those things that it takes me forever to use up. I've been operating under the impression that it can just sit in my cupboard forever and just maybe crystallize, but if it grew some mold without being obviously fuzzy, that would make it taste bad, right?

I used to leave maple syrup in the pantry, also, but I buy the same bottle as Perkins and it tells me to refrigerate it, so I do. I may have to try freezing it.

One thing they sell is "honey flavored syrup) which is a corn syrup honey mixture. Maybe that is what you don't like?

Hm, I wouldn't buy that (I am religious about reading ingredient labels) but I might have been served some at some point. That could be it.