I have a certain angst each Monday, around lunch time, when it comes time to bite into the week's apple crop. Anybody else have the same experience? This week, a sigh of relief with a crispy, tart, and juicy Braeburn from Washington.

We finished two things this evening. First, the ceiling paint in the loft. Why second coats go so much faster than firsts I'm not quite sure; less absorption barely explains a 50% reduction in the time it takes to do the job. We also finished the apple pie. I was sad about that, as I served it, but then my sadness passed when I bit into that first warm, ice creamy forkful.

Top Gear on BBCAmerica is the funniest show on TV. If you have BBCA (and Mondays from 2000-2100 EST), you simply must watch. The show is nominally about cars, but if you enjoy things that are a) British, b) funny, or c) about cars, then you'll be fine. I like all three and ginger beer came out my nose when a homemade amphibious people hauler (minivan? what?) started taking on water... "ooooooohhh! Mine hasn't worked!" Anyway, tune in or miss out.

Tonight we discovered that we can see a ski resort from our dormer! Looking southwest from our house we can see four or five well-lit runs for night-skiing at Bear Creek. I'm not sure how much we'll ski there, but from time to time when we wonder if maybe we should have chosen another life option it will be very comforting to be within eyesight of a ski hill.

Final thought: anything is better if two cats curl up on your lap with you.