greenglass, That's a great tip for the tomato paste, thanks! I consider myself a fairly experienced, handy cook (for ordinary stuff, I'm no gourmet), and never thought of that one. It bugs me too to leave so much behind, and I have a little mini plastic spatula-scraper thing that I've been using, which doesn't do a bad job but is a pain and leaves a bit at the bottom. When I spent a year in France, I found tomato paste regularly sold in a tube, like toothpaste, which was PERFECT --- you could just squeeze out whatever you needed. Mayonnaise was also sold this way. Another great packaging improvement was bleach --- you could buy it in a big jug like here, but you could also buy a little refill plastic pouch of ultra-concentrated bleach, which you would pour into your empty jug and then fill it the rest of the way up with water to get the same concentration. Sure was handy for life in Paris where one walked everywhere! Occasionally, over the many years since I was in France, I've found a store with imported foods that has tomato paste in a tube, and when I do I always stock up with several. (It keeps a year or two, though not forever.) It's been a while since I had one, however. If anyone knows of a source near Kingston, Ontario, I'd be grateful! ;-) Zabby

If you think this is bad, don't try building a house. In my experience almost everyone in the trades over-promises (or is overly optimistic, depending on the way you look at it). My custom cabinets were one of the few things that were actually delivered on time. However, they weren't installed on time because the electrician, plumber, drywaller and floor installer over-promised (well, lied, in the case of a few). This is just the way the construction trades are. I am convinced they follow the motto: it is easier to ask forgiveness than seek permission. Let's say they tell you the truth about when your cabinets will be in: "Well, I can't really say. We only have 10 employees so if even one quits or goes to jail it messes everything up. Our best finisher's wife is pregnant and also has a 2 year old. Last time she was bedridden her last 2 weeks. If that happens this time he will be out those two weeks plus a few after the baby is born. I can already tell you are a perfectionist and my second best finisher won't do, so I need to wait for this guy. Also, my dad, who founded this shop, has prostate cancer and if he dies the shop will close for 3 days...." Or, it could be he just doesn't know but thinks he can't tell you that (because you'll respond, "everyone I know who got their cabinets through HD or Lowes got them in 12 weeks"), so he just tells you what you want to hear.

It's Jannie the OP and it's Monday morning, I had a pretty good night's sleep, but a lot of coughing, but thankfully today I feel much stronger, tho I still have no voice. I managed to get to the grocery store and got my Christmas food shopping done. The store wasn't too crowded at 7:30 AM and I knew where everything was, so it was simple enough. All I still need is a nice bottle of white or pink wine for Christmas day. Evrerything's on schedule to have my girls over Wednesday. But I still wish that dumb bonus check would arrive. Yes they are "big girls" (24 and 25) so they'll understand IOU's. Now I'm gonna just rest and take it easy the rest of the day. Good movies on TV all day...

I was really late this year, don't think I realized just how late it was. I don't even have all my Christmas cards made out and sent. Took Lauren to the mall this weekend (twice) we gave up on even trying Saturday as it was jammed packed all around the mall area and no parking anywhere. Went back earlier on Sunday and had no problems. Got her some clothes that I just let her pick out. I gave up trying to find something that fit her and then wrapping them up, only for them to not fit. Most of what I got was on-line but I waited till nearly the last minute and most of it is shipping right at the last minute. I did manage to find a little kitchenette for a child we're buying for at work, stupid me saw an ad in the paper early last week. I waited till the end of the week to go looking for it at Wal-Mart, of course, it was no where in sight and now can't even find it on-line, so Saturday I bought another one on-line. Expected to arrive between the 18th and 22nd and guess what? It showed up tonight! Wow, I'm impressed. Bought a Christmas tree at Amazon the same night and wasn't expecting to be able to put it up this year, but it came yesterday. Talk about fast. It's beautiful too. So glad I don't have to prop up my old tree with magazines anymore. lol. The stuff is now trickling in the mail and I have to start wrapping before I go to work on Friday...I know they kids will be snooping.