I'm hoping the roads here and there have had a chance to be cleared.

Midweek is supposed to be clear and in the 50s.

I thought of you.

I sometimes wonder if you've been here during winter and how you cope.

We're lucky enough in our little university town to have a TJ's, a community food co-op and a farmers' food co-op, two or three Fred Meyers, and the aforementioned Haggen stores. There used to be Food Pavilions, including an upscale version called The Market, but they were bought out and then closed. The farmers' co-op is in that location, now. There are a few Safeways, and a Whole Foods is opening soon. We're also lucky to have specialty grocers, Asian, Oriental, and European Markets, the last specializing in deli foods and Russian foods. And there are numerous small neighborhood grocery stores. There's also a farmers' market in season, and frequent roadside farm and local honey stands.

We shop Freddies and the co-ops for basics, bulk foods, coffee, and spices, what produce we don't find at farmstands, or grown by neighbors. We don't have a TJ's diet and lifestyle, but we do shop the Asian market for vegetables and different rices.

I hate trying to figure out what percent I feel about something. This survey used sliders for the percentages and they were awkward to slide, so I'd agree with one thing 31% and another 28%. My feelings are not that precise.

Have people seen the viral video about cats freaking out when their owners sneak up and place a cucumber (or zucchini) near them? It's very funny. Someone I know made a video of their own cat, but sadly, the cat notices the cucumber, but does not do anything except turn back to the food bowl.

Here's to arduously-earned money, Ginger.

All best thoughts to your mom and you, Laura.

We're not getting snow, but lots of rain and big wind--landslide and flood warnings all over neighboring counties.

Food Lion! Oh, I miss the old Food Dog stores, and prices. Long story short: Friend had never seen the Food Lion logo, and asked, "Is that a Foo Dog?" And forever thereafter, behold it was the Food Dog.

Have people seen the viral video about cats freaking out when their owners sneak up and place a cucumber (or zucchini) near them? It's very funny. Someone I know made a video of their own cat, but sadly, the cat notices the cucumber, but does not do anything except turn back to the food bowl.

I want to say our cats would be totally indifferent, but you never know. This might be the one and only thing that freaks Slinky out.

I think we will wait a few more days past surgery to try that on the cats, but try it we will.

I predict that the young one will freak and jump into the air, and the old one will hiss a cat "fuck you" at it. Because that is their reaction to most things.

I hope I'm not the only one who thought it was cruel to do that to the cats.

I kind of want to try the cucumber thing on my cats, but I think the dog might be the one traumatized by the cucumber.

I'm glad that in general, my FB friends are rational on subjects like Syrian refugees. The problem is the assholes that my friends are friends with.