No shrimp. No grilling. It has to be a dish easily shared.

Vegemite sandwich?

This weekend, driving to Tennessee with my sister, who will (I love my sister dearly) talk nonstop for six days about the decisions we have already made, rehash them, ask me a million times what I think, not listen to my answers, and ultimately conclude that we should do what we already decided. Then she start over. This will continue until the papers are signed and the thing is done and there's nothing to discuss anymore. Then she'll start rethinking her decisions and seeking reassurance that what she did was okay. She bought a second house a few years ago here, she's enjoyed owning it and gotten a lot of good out of it, and she can easily afford the mortgage, and STILL she will say, well, I got screwed buying that house, I should have waited, I hope I didn't mess things up too much. Argh. I'm not looking forward to the painting and the packing and hauling, but I cold deal with all that if only she would make a decision, accept it, and stop talking about it. I swear she does this with EVERY decision, not just the major ones. What kind of floor she'll put in the kitchen has been a subject of anguished discussion for months now, and she always comes back to the same choice, which is a perfectly fine choice and it's what she wants and she can afford it, so - to quote Mal - Why we still talkin about this?

Wow, this is my week to unload on the board, isn't it? Sorry.

What is Australian food that can be made as a potluck dish?

That's a tough one. We don't really have much distinctive cuisine. Plenty of good eating here, but it tends to be dishes from other countries. Would a dessert be acceptable? You could make lamingtons: [link] Pavlova could also be an option, though I think cooking them can be fiddly. [link]

Failing that, a lamb dish could work. Or something with Macadamia nuts, they're about the only native Australian crop that's commercially grown. You could indeed grill shrimp on the barbie were you so inclined. Oh, and there's a South Australian thing called a meat pie floater, where you set a meat pie adrift in pea soup. If you decide you just want to scare the bejeesus out of them.

Babe, that's what we're here for! Next time I'm in C'ville, we'll do it in person. Over some nice brown liquid (coffee or bourbon or whatever).

Coffee AND bourbon. Coffee with bourbon in it. Wait, is that good? How about Bailey's? Yeah. I have Bailey's and coffee right here! It's callllliiiinnnnggg yoooooouuuu.

I think the lack of a distinct cuisine is precisely why I am the only one who signed up. Meat pies it is, then. And ANZAC biscuits.

I should have said South American and then picked up delicious Empanadas. But no. I chose the only continent without any other takers.

(Oddly, there wasn't an Anarctica option!)

The flexeril is kicking in. This is good. Perhaps I'll get to sleep through the night?

God, I love flexeril.

half day meara:

I'm not a fan. I'd rather fly United or Continental, and I've got status on Delta, but I don't think Delta has a strong presence in the Caribbean.

I flew Delta when I went to Jamaica. You remenber how that one went, right?

Did anyone catch the new rules for leisure activity for the cast of The Big Bang Theory? So freakin' funny!

No! Is there a link?

Coffee AND bourbon. Coffee with bourbon in it. Wait, is that good? How about Bailey's? Yeah. I have Bailey's and coffee right here! It's callllliiiinnnnggg yoooooouuuu.

I miss coffee, and booze.

I'm sure they miss you too, Perkins.

The owner of a small, independent bookstore in Glencoe, IL has my copy of Sam the Bat to peruse overnight. She loves the title and cover illustration and said that she was certain it would be more enjoyable than what she was reading for her book club.

And for a smile... baby bat.