I haven't bought a car. But I think I've found one. I'd have bought the one I test drove, but there was another that met my criteria for the same price and slightly better mileage, so I put a deposit down on that. They'll call me when it's out of pre-sales servicing. Should be Monday, new car, all good. Fingers are crossed. Mileage is much better on it that any cars I've seen--easily half my cars, at maybe a couple years newer. That and passing the mechanic's evaluation is more important to me than a test drive, since I've driven a few of them before.

What kind of car? Also, congrats!

Husband on the phone figured out that I could rip them using my mother's computer, and I have 4GB worth of space on memory sticks with me. I think that will be the easiest solution.

I thought a hipster was an evil monster.

She's not wrong.

Good news, ita !!

Good solution, Dana!

I am making Italian wedding soup from a Stonewall Kitchen mix. A mix which started with me making 70 meatballs. So mostly a spice mix. But it smells delicious!

Ooh, I love Italian wedding soup.

I can't decide if I should put in all of the pasta and escarole now, or save it and put it in fresh when I reheat. Because clearly I'm not eating it all right now.

Ooh, I just got a plan -- I am going to put just half in now and then when I freeze some, put the escarole and pasta in the freezer raw, so when I reheat it later, it won't be too overdone.

Do hipsters look like that? Oh. I thought a hipster was an evil monster.

Ahahahaha.

Man, I'm exhausted and the day isn't done.

All I did was get up early and spend 6 hours at a dog show! What's my problem?

The puppy did great: she won her class, so the breeder & my sister are very happy. However we were not allowed anywhere near her before she went into the ring, because she loves me so much that she becomes uncontrollably distracted. Afterwards, though, she got lots of loving and snuggles (and I am now covered with golden retriever hair).

Sad/happy story: the breeder had, among her pile of goldens, a single pit bull. The story was that her daughter had found a homeless person on the street selling a litter of pit bull puppies which were no more than 10 days old. (!! No puppy should be removed from its mother that soon!) So she bought the puppy for $40 dollars, probably saving it from life as a fighting dog or something, and raised it by hand. So now he thinks he's a golden retriever, and competes in obedience with his foster siblings. And his official name is something like "Forty Dollars to Freedom". He was very sweet.

Anyway, I'm beat. Dog shows are fun but I had to get up too early, and now I have to go out and make dinner for my folks. I'm thinking pasta carbonara, very simple.

Dana--I'm glad you solved your problem.

ita ! -- new car yay!