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First, let me say that right now it is very, very cold outside. It’s not yet eight o’clock at night and it’s literally freezing outside, and will get to 20° before dawn. This is the first real freeze we’ve had so far this winter, which has been surprisingly mild so far. Whereas in previous years our heater has seen considerable action by the first week of January, I think we’ve used it only once before the present cold snap. And I don’t regret that it has been thus. My cold tolerance has decreased since we’ve lived in this ice box we call home. I especially dislike how painfully frigid the water from the tap is. And, oh, how we need new windows!

I am one of the few people, as far as I can tell, who prefers Hungry Howie’s for my pizza needs. This evening I ordered pizza, as I have done several times recently. It costs more, of course, than making it at home, but, obviously, it tastes better, and for less than $7 I get two meals. On my last two visits, however, my local Howie’s has found a way to botch my order. Last week I called and specifically requested my pizza be made with garlic crust, NOT garlic-herb, a new flavor I saw listed in the shop. Naturally, when I opened the box I saw herbs with my garlic. So I had to wait while they made me a new pie. No big deal, mistakes happen. But tonight I went in to pick up my order–same as last time–and a calamity: they had given my pizza to the person who had just walked out, and, again, I’d have to wait while they made me a new pizza. So I take the opportunity to run up the street to Publix and when I arrived back at Hungry Howie’s they had again sold the re-made pizza to the person who had just left. They seemed genuinely embarrassed about it, though, and a few of the staff were congregated at the counter discussing what had gone so wrong. But, in the end I walked out with two large pizzas for the price of none. Regretfully, they let me know that regular garlic crust is being discontinued in favor of garlic-herb. So, another victory for Big Vegetable.

Finally, I uploaded a gallery of photos from last weekend’s visit by Jeff and Sandi, and our dinner out with Steve and Kathleen for trivia night at Kazbor’s. I don’t think anyone really enjoyed it as much as I did, but what are you going to do? It was good fun, still, to go watch episodes of Flight of the Conchords at Steve’s house. Huzzah, fun.