Report from the frozen tundra....

Yeah. It's cold in Chicago right now.

Hasn't been the most fun of weeks around here. In addition to the cold, we've gotten lots more snow. Like we needed it.



Nothing says "fun" like the last mile drive on your way to work taking a half hour.



And dude.... take the extra ten minutes and clean off your back windshield, people. C'mon.

I'm probably a little more surly than normal, as we were informed of some further "cost cutting" measures coming up at work, and I've been thru this enough times to not feel 100% safe until it's all said and done. It's not the best job market out there, and it's particularly dim for technical writers.

At least there was some good wine this week.....



I'd gotten this around Thanksgiving, when I was at the wine shop and saw the label. I am a sucker for labels. I'm a sucker for old-school, Vargas-type artwork. Had to buy. And it was pretty decent, which was a bonus.

I pretty much depleted my freezer stocks of homemade soup this week, since it's been cold and soup is my ideal lunch when it's cold out. So, being particularly surly tonight, I decided to at least get some kitchen happiness flowin' and started up a nice pot of lentil soup when I got home from work.....



Mmmm. Lentil-y.

I didn't have any chicken stock on hand, so I just used water. Ended up finishing the soup with some white balsamic vinegar for some zip. Looking forward to lunch tomorrow, and some of this in the freezer stash for any more upcoming sub-zero days.

And here is hoping that I can continue to collect a paycheck for the next few months so we can book our trip to Vegas to get in some nice, balmy, desert weather. Because even though I can make some fairly awesome soup, I ain't ever going to be able to make as much money making soup for people as I make at the 9 to 5 gig.

Get better already, stoopid economy.