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Raindrops on Roses.

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I have diagnosed myself with the post-wedding, pre-winter blues. Officially.

Certainly, it’s nice to be home in my own bed and getting back to work, and the reunion with Athena was sweeter than sweet. And I guess I was happy to see the kittens, but not as happy as they were to see me and sleep on top of me and steal my desk chair. Today, with no chance of sun and missing Scarlet while she was at school and then at Grandma’s house, it hit me. It’s a huge deal to go through the planning of a wedding, even if you’re not the one getting married. It’s a huge deal to be a Matron-of-Honor and to see your far away loved ones and to dance all night and to be all together, and now? It’s just silence. Me editing photos, with a gassy cat on my lap. Des at daycare, Scarlet at school, Cassidy at his office. Just here.

And re-living the weekend. There are a lot more where this one came from. I snuck in my own shoot:

old school blogging

I decided that since I diagnosed myself, I could prescribe the antidote for these blues. Old School Blogging! And not only that, Old School Blogging: A Few of My Favorite Things. Who doesn’t want to talk/think about their favorite things??


Favorite sit down restaurant:

Well part of me really wants to say “Mama’s” in San Francisco. My mom went there in her 20’s and remembers seeing parrots flying around the park outside of it. Since she couldn’t be sure this wasn’t drug-related (love you, Mom!) we were able to fact-check years later that it was, in fact, a true thing. And not just drug related! You can find out some info about the restaurant HERE and some info about the birds HERE. If it’s a weekend, you will have to wait to eat, but it will be a breakfast you will dream about for years to come. Decades, actually. And that’s not even drug related.

I also want to give the nod to a restaurant in Westhampton that is just two minutes from my house. It’s called Outlook Farm and it’s a farm, apple orchard, deli, butcher, bakery, restaurant, grill, ice cream store, market, and many other things at once. Despite a brief stint during Des’ pregnancy in which I couldn’t go in there for fear of barfing, it’s the most amazing place. You can get hayrides on Sundays in the fall, and candy, prizes and activities year-round. We used to be able to take Athena there for a sit down breakfast, although someone complained about dogs and we haven’t done that in awhile. They built up their new barn in the last year or so, and it still has that new wood smell. You can go there for pretty much anything you might need, and things you things you might not need too. Outlooks is good for the soul. I can’t even say enough about it.

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Favorite cookie:

Well. I have an answer to this one, and I’ve mentioned it here before! You can get them from Greggory’s Pastry Shop in Hadley, MA. Their chocolate chip cookies are already out of hand, but they take two of them, sandwich them together with chocolate buttercream, and dip them in a chocolate glaze. With sprinkles. They will also do the same thing with vanilla buttercream and a white chocolate glaze. With sprinkles. If you want your life changed, come on down! Or up.

You can call ahead or not, but you mostly have to ask for these. They’ll make ’em fast.

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Favorite bath product scent:

Hmmm.. I’m mostly always about vanilla. I like to smell edible, I guess?

Favorite TV shows:

Once Upon a Time, Doctor Who, Revenge, New Girl, Modern Family, Switched at Birth, Pretty Little Liars, Nashville, Parenthood, probably some others too.. I like Sofia the First! Just kidding. Seeing if you’re listening.

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Favorite flower/plant:

I always think I know the answer to this, but I’m not sure if I do. I think I’m confusing it with favorite bird. (how??) I really love sunflowers. They’re so expressive and alive. And when it turns cold out, they look about as good as I feel. Not good.

old school blogging

Favorite bad-for-me snack:

Just one? I’ll have to say that the cookies described above would be up there, but they’re so good for the soul, that are they really bad for me? My favorite snack is popcorn with butter, but I don’t think that’s bad for me. Umm.. ice cream?

Favorite magazine:

I have subscriptions to many magazines that were all gifts, but I don’t have a subscription to my actual favorite magazine – Yankee Magazine. It’s everything New England and the photos, ideas, and MOOSE are incredible.

Favorite hobby:

I don’t know if it’s a hobby if I say blogging and photography, since those are more lifestyle/career type stuff. Well, reading is a hobby. Animals. Road trips. Playing computer games but not admitting that I play computer games..

old school blogging

Holiday:

Good old Christmas. It’s just special. And larger than life. And that’s what I like. I really love Easter too, but partly because it means spring. And Valentine’s Day is pretty. Halloween and Thanksgiving are good for the soul. It’s all good!

old school blogging

Favorite girls’ night out activity:

I’ve been doing this more and more lately, and my favorites include cookies, trivia nights at bars, or playing Cards Against Humanity at someone’s house. That game is so vulgar and wicked, that you just laugh and laugh for hours.

Favorite date night:

Historically, it’s included finding moose until it’s dark out, and then finding great dinner and even greater dessert.

old school blogging

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. And yet again couldn’t love you more (I inow I say this a lot), but after my own wedding, even though we were going in our honeymoon in the Bahamas, I totally had post wedding blues. Don’t get me wrong I was so happy to be married, but when the party was over was surely so quiet and had a bit of time to just sit and think. So, yes so get it and glad to know it isn’t just me my twin 😉

    Reply

  2. I have post-vacation blues a bit. But I have things to look forward to that help ease the sadness – my birthday, Halloween, a girls’ weekend, and Thanksgiving at the beach. Oh, and I have a Once Upon a Time on my DVR that is calling my name.

    Reply

    • Oh yes! I actually have two episodes to catch up on.
      And it’s nice to look forward to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. The quadruple blast. Oh, and New Year’s.

      Reply

  3. Mama’s breakfasts rock! Outlook Farm rocks! Post wedding Blues can certainly be subdued with these
    Lists, thoughts of family, honeymoons, and retreats! And the. There’s those meteor showers to look at!

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  5. I love this. Every time I see those cookies, I drool a little more! Sunflowers are gorgeous, but my all time favorite flower is a Bleeding Heart. It is so gorgeous and deep at the same time!

    Reply

    • Yeah, I’m not entirely sure that sunflowers are really my favorite. It sounds silly but I do love roses too. I just like them when they are wacky colors. I love lilacs. They just don’t last very long.

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  8. Oooh, I played cards against humanity last summer at my girlfriend’s cabin. Blast and a half. My stomach hurt from laughing so hard. “Midgets shitting in a bucket” did you get that card? Seriously, this is the stuff. I love Parenthood, New Girl and Modern Family too. Also love Mike & Molly…and can’t think of them all. Your pics are gorgeous as always! There’s always a let down after a big event like a wedding.
    Especially since it was your Sister’s and you were the photographer! Back to regular life…I’ll take some cookies, too.

    Reply

    • Well I actually was not the photographer, but I was the matron of honor on the wedding day, and I guess you are right. I was the photographer for the day after. That’s a lot! Weddings should really last for 12 days, considering the letdown that happens after waiting for something for so long.
      I did not get that card you just mentioned! They are all pretty bad, though!

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    • Yes! And if we are being honest, the whole week does. I know that your sister got married not too long ago. And you wrote all about it. It’s a huge freaking deal.

      Reply

  10. OMG – those cookies. I should not know they exist.
    I am pretty simple snack girl too – lime flavoured tortilla and a cold beer. or popcorn. I do like ice cream – but you’d have to wrestle it away from me eventually so I tend to Not Go There.
    I have to play this Cards Against Humanity Game – I keep seeing cards on Tumblr and they are just hilarious. I need some cool friends…. I don’t think my church friends would be down with this game. LOL

    Reply

  11. I’m so glad that Lindsay’s Wedding Day was so special and so much fun for everyone,! Thank You Tamara for such a delightful as always story, and for sharing a few of your “favorite things” with us. Now I have the always delightful Julie Andrews singing “My Favorite Things” in my head. Thank You for that too!

    Reply

    • Julie Andrews is always delightful! You’re so right. Thank you for your consistent support of my family. Lindsay is such a good egg. She deserves the best, and she got it.

      Reply

  12. So hypothetically speaking, let’s say that if my kids weren’t around and I was maybe just sitting on the couch watching a full episode of Sophia the First all by myself that wouldn’t be weird or anything right?? RIGHT 🙂 P.S. I need those cookies!

    Reply

    • Right! Actually I make it such a point to watch new ones with Scarlet, that if I were to miss one, I would probably watch it alone to catch up.

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  13. I had the worst post wedding depression – probably should have been a warning sign about my future issues :)! It’s always hard when an event you’ve been so looking forward to is over. Love this Old School Blogging post – I may have to link up!

    Reply

    • I hope you do link up! Usually it’s open for 10 days. And I don’t know that I had a huge post wedding let down with my own wedding. More like shellshocked. I definitely had a letdown after having my new baby. It was the postpartum blues for a week or so when Cassidy went back to work.

      Reply

  14. I’m drooling now because of those cookies, for more than just one reason – will be revealed on the blog soon! Glad to know I am not the only one who self-diagnoses! I’ve self-diagnosed myself with Compulsive Link Clicking disorder.

    Reply

    • I can’t wait to show more glimpses! Or the whole deal. Getting together with family is bittersweet, but it’s a nice time of year to miss them because I will see them a lot for the holidays.

      Reply

  16. That fire place looks amazing. I can see why you love those cookies. They sound really amazing! Ok..why when I look at the black and white picture that the sunglasses on Cassidy, his smile and maybe Scarlet’s shirt all make it look like it was taken in like the 60s or 70s at Woodstock? 🙂 Am I weird to think that? Oh and for your sake—no no no! I sort of hate winters because I know it’s going to be your sad phase.

    Reply

    • No, it’s totally Woodstock. And that fireplace is at my parent’s house. It is so pretty, but it’s gas, and they never turn it on. So it’s really impractical. A wood-burning stove is best!

      Reply

  17. I often have post wedding blues for any wedding I attend! Something magical about them… But the ones that are so intimate and special to us are the hardest. Cookie wise – seriously – Levain in NYC. To die for.

    Reply

    • I saw you write about them yesterday and I went to their website. I could mail order those cookies! I hope you can too! I didn’t see if they ship to Canada.

      Reply

  18. Oh the post wedding blues. It’s hard being the maid of honour yo! I think that my post wedding blues were more of a “I drank your Uncle under the table” hangover though. I am awesome.
    I bet the husband likes you smelling all edible. Weird comment of the day goes to…

    Reply

  20. Those cookies look amazing. I wonder if they ship? My favorite picture form this blog is the one of the flowers. I love Revenge and Nashville – and all my bath products are vanilla…the similarities continue!

    Reply

    • I don’t know if they do ship! I can find out for you if you want. It would just mean that I got to go hang out there and that is never a bad thing.

      Reply

  21. I am going to go ahead and confess that I watched every stinking episode o Switched at Birth on Netlix. My son’s best bro casually announed, “Oh you are obsessed with Switched at Birth? So it my sister. She is 15.” Here’s to getting out of the post wedding funk. I pretty much experience hat after every fun, amazing event/vacation, etc.

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  22. Oh those cookies look amazing! How have I not heard of Mama’s? I am going to make it a point to get there! Oh yes, CAH is the greatest game so wrong but so fun!

    Reply

    • It’s been in my head too. I think my family always knows what the next day’s blog post will be titled because it’s a song in my head. And I wonder if my favorite cookie store ships.

      Reply

  24. Cards Against Humanity is an AMAZING game! So awful and yet so freakin’ hilarious.
    I think when I’m on dairy again (just a few more weeks!!) I need to make a trip out to Hadley and try these cookies. It’s totally worth the almost 2-hour drive, right?

    Reply

  25. Those cookies are really delightful! Not sure if we have a similar type here.
    Sunflowers always stand out! And it’s nice to see them in a field.
    And I really need to start watching Once Upon A Time! LOL

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  26. When things are so super busy that first quiet is a weird kind of culture shock thing. I don’t mind it though. It’s like a “wow what now?” kinda thing. I’m making cookies this weekend for Christopher’s football team after game snack. I’m curious to experiment and dip them like those above. Hmmm. I don’t really have time to make a mess though – some other time.

    So – what kind of computer games? I used to play Mah-Jong until we got a new computer and I never could get close to beating my old score.

    Reply

    • I hope you do make cookies like that at some point. Although there might not be any turning back after that.
      I really love solitaire, but I like it on a PC. The Mac version doesn’t do it for me.

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  27. I want some cookies!!

    You watch a lot of the same shows I do. Haha about Sofia the First. It’s not the worst kid show I’ve seen…but I do love Parenthood. And Modern Family. You should also watch The Mentalist.

    Reply

  28. The restaurant in North Hampton sounds great. I prefer eating at local places vs. chain ones. I would so eat some of those cookies (even though my body does not like gluten).

    Reply

    • Maybe you could take a free pass of eating gluten just for this one time. And hope it wouldn’t affect you too badly! These cookies are that good.

      Reply

  29. Oh, that silence. My parents say that – after we come to visit. My mom says the silence is so lonely after we leave. Fun questions, though, to break up the quiet! 🙂

    Reply

    • I always wonder what it will be like when my kids are grown and they leave. And maybe with their own kids. My parents say that it’s a particularly sad kind of quiet.

      Reply

  30. So now you have to come to Kansas because the sunflower is the state flower. We can drive all over and you can take pictures!!!!
    And, I think even though it is 8:45 and almost my bedtime I will have some popcorn (with extra butter because it is the ONLY way to eat it!).
    We still haven’t played Cards Against Humanity but I plan to change that situation soon.

    Reply

  32. Mmmhmm – those cookies look divine, although I prefer a few nuts in mine.
    Scent – no way, vanilla gives me a headache 🙁
    TV shows – only watched Once upon a time S.1 + 2, I think
    Not much of a magazine girl, but right their with you on popcorn, ‘hobbies’ and holiday(s). You know what? I think I have to do my own OSB post now – this looks like fun! 🙂

    Reply

    • Do it!
      I used to like magazines a lot more than I do now. I’d go on vacation and buy a stack and just revel in them.
      My mom firmly believes that nuts belong out of dessert! No nuts and chocolates, brownies, cookies, cake.
      She says it like it’s a fact, instead of just her own opinion.

      Reply

    • I forgot to mention that she poisoned me to her side. I think most things taste better without nuts, but I don’t dislike nuts. I can go through a bag of pistachios like you wouldn’t believe.

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  33. I loved this!

    Okay where to start?!

    How about cookies! Oh my goodness, those look great! I’m actually a cookie person more than a cake person.

    I like smelling edible too!

    I love, love, love Christmas. I’m kind of freaked out that I’ll be submerged in NaNoWriMo this year and won’t get into the spirit until it’s late and then Christmas will be almost over. Yep, that’s the anxiety speaking.

    Cards Against Humanity – so weird. I just had some friends over and they said we have got to play it the next time they get together. My brother-in-law billed it as… “you lose a little bit of you soul while playing it”. LOL – ummm, maybe I don’t want to play it then! Ha!

    Loved your photos as usual. You’re so awesome… I just keep on learning more and more about you.
    xoxo

    Reply

    • Congrats about NaNoWriMo! It’s a bad month for me because it’s major photo editing, and I pretty much live and breathe that.
      I am much more a cookie person than a cake person. I make exceptions, but I’m always thinking about cookies and rarely thinking about cake!
      I love learning about you too!
      xoxo

      Reply

  34. Sweet post! And I totally get what you mean about feeling the slump after such a big event! I hope writing this helped! Every time you talk about those cookies in a post, I get so hungry!! Lol. They sound so delicious!

    Reply

    • They really are! I have local friends who have gone at my recommendation, and they were never disappointed.
      The slump is rough! But we have my niece’s baptism, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas in the next two months!

      Reply

  35. The hangover from a big event can be a real downer. But OSB is a fun way to try to get out of it. Maybe you should go get yourself some more of those cookies. They look so good, I just might have to make a copycat version this Christmas! (P.S. – Even T never got into watching Sofia…)

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  39. Ha completely agree on Cards Against Humanity – it’s hilarious. 🙂 I love food – so for me going to grab a good bite is amazing. I’ve been in cooking/baking gear – my bf insists I open a restaurant, I say he’s cray cray. Do you realize how exhausting it is to make short ribs for FOUR hours? Yeah – I slept real good Tuesday night. OMG I’M GETTING MY KITTEN IN 2 DAYS!!!!! Wait, why don’t I have those cookies?? WHAT’S HAPPENING?!?! They look GLORIOUS! Do they deliver to DC area/?? Because – I’d pay for shipping on those – or they could give me the recipe, just sayin’. Do you watch The Middle? I recently started getting really addicted to it – the mother drives me bonkers – but it’s hilarious. My favorite ‘bad for me snack’ is hands down kit kats and marshmellows. I limit to twice a year treat for each because – ya’ know. What are some good Christmas traditions you guys have? I need to acquire some!! We’re going to disregard the computer games portion of this post> 😛 xoxo Tamara! -Iva

    Reply

    • I think opening a restaurant would be so hard and exhausting! There’s always something to be said about being your own boss, though. I work grueling hours, but I’m so happy doing photography and only answering to myself. And of course to the demands of clients. They come first!
      Your favorite snack sound so good, but you must have incredible self-control to only have it twice a year!
      As for the cookies, it’s a secret recipe that I don’t know. I don’t know if they do shipping! I think you will have to come up here and just go there. it’s a small place, and not like those fake reason New York City that ship globally.

      Christmas traditions. Well we go to my parent’s house. Since there are so many siblings and spouses now, we still do a secret Santa so that we only have to buy one gift instead of 10. It’s mostly been about the grandkids in the last few years. It’s really magical.

      Reply

  40. Hello old blogging friend!! I totally can relate to the “post” anything blues. Since we’ve been back from Florida, I’ve been in such a gloom. We had THE best girl time vacation! I miss it. But, it made me realize that I have a passion for travel! I want to bring that passion into my blogging now. BTW, I want those cookies-yum!!

    Reply

    • It’s so nice to see you here! And upon the brief reading I did of your trip, I can see how hard that would be to leave. Right now in the Northeast, it is cold and rainy. I keep dreaming about different things.

      Reply

    • It’s so true because I saw him on TV recently and I thought it would be funny to grab Scarlet into the room and see if she recognized him as Bailywick.

      Reply

  42. I totally understand your post-wedding day blues, I felt the same way after my best friend’s wedding. I actually feel like that after any huge event that I’ve waited for, or counted days until, and boom… it’s over 🙁
    I’m a vanilla girl too 🙂 I hope one day you and I can chat over cookies.
    XOXO

    Reply

  43. I’m sorry you’re feeling down after the wedding. I get that feel after holidays, between the build up of the big day, seeing relatives, etc — I come home and everything just seems blah. At least you have Halloween coming up soon? That’s always a fun holiday, especially with little kids in the house.
    I am bound and determined to find something like Outlook — a magical destination restaurant — near our new house. The restaurant options in town are truly dismal (pizza from Casey’s – a gas station – is usually included on the list if that tells you anything) so I’m on the hunt for something surprising out in the country. I hear there’s a French bakery a few miles down the road that I need to try…

    Reply

    • A French bakery down the road and you haven’t tried it yet?? I hope you report back!

      And yes, we have Halloween. And then my niece’s baptism, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and then Christmas. Oh, and New Year’s! There’s a lot to look forward to. And in January, I think we’re going to Florida. In February, I love Valentine’s Day. In March, it’s already spring. See? Lots of good stuff.

      Reply

  44. Old School Blogging is so good for the soul. I knew alot of the answers to the questions but always learn something new. I’ve never played Cards against Humanity. I need to look it up! I love your sis wedding photo. Amazing! I really need to try out those cookies. I put them on my bucket list!

    Reply

    • Come up and visit and get cookies!
      As for the game, have you ever played Apples to Apples? It’s that same concept but using very offensive and wicked clues.

      Reply

  45. That photo you snapped from the wedding is so beautiful! They look so happy it warms my soul. And cookies that good are definitely a health food in my book. 🙂

    Reply

    • I like the Bucky live by! They are good for the soul on a rainy and sad day. Also that photo is one of hundreds and I can’t wait to share them with you.

      Reply

  46. Well, Ana won’t be making the cookies if I have my way. Though I have to admit I love the fireplace and the field of sunflowers. I am saddened that you feel so blue after a wedding of all things; I mean did it rain down meatballs and pizza or something? Weddings are supposed to be a super happy thing… unless there’s a father there with a shotgun anyway.

    Reply

    • Ha!! I’m not sad. I got the blues, because I was back in a rainy week full of work, and the weekend was full of long lost family members. So it was sad because I miss them! Cookies help.

      Reply

  47. I love Once Upon a Time, it’s one of my favorites ever. I actually do watch Sofia The First, lol. Not by myself. Ha! Those cookies look amazing and I think you just helped me with a new post…. 🙂

    Reply

  48. AW! I am with you on the winter blues sinking in… this week has been cold and dreary and I am feeling quite the same for all sorts of reasons…

    I literally caught my breath seeing that photo of your sister and hubs (OMG) and the other one with Cassidy and the kids? OHMEGAWSH. Just so precious.

    I love cookies and Christmas too.

    And the after crash of anything completely exhilarating is always inevitable for me… hate that.

    Tomorrow’s Friday?! Makes no difference for me, but maybe you!!

    Lets do this winter thing together okay love? Lets embrace all the good stuff it brings… 🙂

    Reply

    • Let’s do so! And there really are so many great things coming. My niece will have her baptism in a few weeks. Then Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. And it was interesting hearing you say my sister’s hubs. Oh my god she’s married!

      Reply

  50. OK how on earth did I miss this post? I came by thinking there was a new one, well there is a new one, for me that is since I missed this one completely. I love this since it’s almost like an intro to your AAF. btw those cookies look absolutely delicious and I may need to have you send me some here in CO. I am actively thinking about making another East Coast trip again but may be heading to the Caribbean, but I’ll keep you posted. If I do come we are definitely going cookie shopping. 🙂

    Reply

  52. That farm restaurant, with the hay rides, sounds pretty awesome! You’re making me so hungry with those cookies. And you like Sofia the First? Me too ;). Hope this happy post could keep happy today! Your kids will be home any minute :).

    Reply

  53. A zillion years ago when we got married, my matron of honor said something to me that I didn’t understand until just now. When we got back from our honeymoon, she said “We were all so bummed after your wedding. You got to go on the cruise, but we were all just here – it was so depressing.” Thanks for clearing that up for me – it’s not too late to send her a cookie or two, right?

    Reply

  55. I LOVE Parenthood! Are you up to date on the newest and *sniff* last season??? OMG! And your mom in San Francisco, trippin’ on birds in the restaurant sounds like SF done right. LOL jk but really- there are streets in SF (as you probably already know, California girl) that reek like marijuana. Entire streets!!!!!!!!!!! Funny that the birds are really there!!!!

    Reply

    • One of my pivotal San Francisco moments was when I was going through a walk in a park, and there was a man openly smoking a joint with a bird on his shoulder. You can’t make this stuff up. I’m two episodes behind on the show! Trying to figure out if Julia and Joel will get back together!

      Reply

  56. Oh cookies!! I’d like one (or two or five) of those right now. It would be a rare day that I turned down a cookie. But if I had to choose between cookies and pickles, I would choose pickles. And I hope someday I will see a moose again…that was such a magical moment. I love sunflowers too, and cone flowers. Every day I have new favorites.

    Reply

    • I had to Google coneflowers. I had never heard of them! They are awesome.
      I feel very strongly about pickles too. And when I was pregnant, it was even worse.

      Reply

  57. 1. I get that bluesy feeling after the baseball season ends. Or barbecue month ends. Baseball season ends for me around July 4, because the Rockies are so far behind by then.

    2. Those cookies are ridiculous. They make me feel like I’m looking at Laura Linney photos at work, but more socially acceptable. I hope no one in the universe eats them in one bite. No, those need to be loved.

    3. There is a place … in New Orleans …

    that keeps the beans and rice and white bread coming. I don’t know the name. But i’ll never forget it.

    Reply

    • It’s not socially acceptable to look at Laura Linney photos at work?? I guess I’m doing it wrong.

      I was discussing my intimate New Orleans memories with Dana today. The food was the stuff of dreams.

      Reply

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