Christine wrote:

> Should we save up money for a great meal at Hawkes???? I am wondering
> about that.. You both have talked about it so much....

Depends on YOU. Lin has somewhat answered about the cost of dinner at Hawks,
but if this is going to be a whirlwind trip for you, maybe your time would
be better spent letting us cook for you at our home. Did you not see the
menus you made me think up?

Boom! Here's another one: jícama with powdered chile and lime; chiles
rellenos stuffed with picadillo; "margarita" marinated grilled sea bass on a
bed of spiced parched corn and garbanzos; and tamarind-lime cream pie


> And, can we get Bob to play hookey one night, or two???? Have any
> sick time, Bob??? ) Can you change you schedule or trade with
> anyone???

We're going to be extremely short on personnel during the month of
September, so it's very unlikely. Furthermore, I had to take time off due to
illness just a few weeks ago, so the amount of PTO I have available is down
to 3.5 hours. Won't you be able to be here during the four-day bloc of
September 20-23?


> Shall we plan a trip to Berkeley?? With Tammy in tow??? Even if she
> comes kicking and screaming.... I think she won't, but who knows...

I think we'll have to play that by ear. In all likelihood, Lin would like to
go while I stay home and baby-sit the dog.


> Oh, and I can bring goodies from NM. Koko just told me how to bring
> Hatch chiles into CA.....fresh ones....

Oh? How do you get them past the border guards?

BTW, my NSP is dropping posts like crazy; I wouldn't have seen this thread
if Lin hadn't answered. Then I had to delete all my posts, reset my account
on the server, and download everything again. So if you ask something and I
fail to answer, it's probably because I never saw it.

Bob

Christine wrote:

> I personally would love to cook and invent and eat at home..but that
> is my choice.. Now that Koko might join me..I have to let her speak.

WELL???? Speak up, koko!


> She loves to cook too, and might enjoy a foodies paradise..with all of
> us buying foodstufs and inventing at home.. Dunno..
> I know what I would love...

Don't forget that we'll be getting our weekly CSA box every Tuesday, and we
have at least two very-good farmers' markets every week!


>> Won't you be able to be here during the four-day bloc of September 20-23?
>
> I dunno. depends on my healing and what my doctor says,. If I can..and
> if Koko can..we will....
>
> I have to be here for September 17..that is the all day class for my
> neonatal recertication. I have to be here..no excuses... If I can't
> do this..I cannot work when I go back to work..period. It is a
> requirement of my work...

Yeah, that's why I didn't mention my earlier bloc of September days off in
this latest discussion; I knew you wouldn't be able to be here during that
time.


> If we can, we will be there..for that bloc.. Is that when you are
> off???

Yes, I'm off for four days in a row -- but ONLY for those four days. After
that, I'm working nonstop until the end of September.


> If so..lets plan for some memorable stuff. Just be aware..that BOTH Koko
> and I will be blogging..and we will be taking pictures....LOLOLOLL I
> would personally love for that time to be spend on not eating out..but
> shopping and cookign at home.. And making wonderful dinners.. And inviting
> that Tammy person...

So we're talking a free-for-all with four hard-drinking women and me? With
great food, and pictures suitable for blackmail?

Bob, just wanting to be clear

Christine wrote:

> And..what will you do to blackmail us??

I'm more worried about you blackmailing *me*!


> And whatever..will there be great food involved???

I'm gonna say yes. And if it turns out not to be the case, I'll just ply you
all with booze and *tell* you that the food was great.


> If there is time...and we can help..can we make extra memorable food
> with you in charge????

Oh, like THAT would fly! "Okay, ladies! I'm in charge here!"
Like Alexander Haig after Reagan was shot....


> But I do know this..if you can find me squash blossoms, I will love
> you forever..Lin not withstanding... I can then make the incredible
> squash blossom dish from Lulu Peyraud, courtesy of Richard Olney. It
> is magnificent, and a wonder... Wonderful with a very dry white wine
> to drink along side of it...

I can *try*. I've asked the farmers about them before and came up empty;
that's why we tried to grow a squash plant last year. But I'll ask again.


> Koko will remember this. .She disliked that I wanted dry white
> wine...and disdained her vermouth. But only white wine would
> suffice... Julia be damned...

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure we have any dry white wine in the
house. Oh wait, maybe we do; we got our wine club bottles a couple weeks
ago, and I don't remember what they were.

Bob