use real butter

Despite getting a lot of things done today, I can’t remember what the hell I did. My memory is only good back to 7 pm, and that lower bound keeps moving up. Ah yes, we got a quote from the second moving company and it’s much better than the first! Plus, they insure our stuff for up to $60K which is amazing since everything we own in our house is in total worth about 20 bucks. yiha!

**Jump for more butter**

The morning marine layer drizzled on our windshield as we made our way quietly along the 118 to Underwood Family Farms to meet Melinda and the kids at 9:30. I had gotten up at 6 am to get more packing done only to look outside and think, “what perfect weather for a big hike”. As we left the house, I decided to wear my old trail runners to the farm. When I picked them up, Kaweah’s ears perked and she trotted up to me with that, “hike?! me too?!?!” look on her face. When I said, “No, you stay here, pup,” and shut the door behind me, she had that, “I don’t understand” tilt of the head going. arggggg.

But the delight on the faces and in the voices of Kevin and Thomas were worth it because they immediately yelled, “Jennifer! Germany! Come and play in the powdery sand!” when we arrived. I understand why Melinda couldn’t take the kids by herself – awesome as she is, it’s hard for one adult to watch over 2 autistic children in such a stimulating environment. Kevin fixated on sitting in the wooden train while Thomas ran from one animal to the next. Then Thomas would fixate on the tunnels, then Kevin on the tunnels and Thomas on the bouncy cow, then…

thomas and the tunnel

**Jump for more butter**

I got a package in the mail at work today! I had just gotten back from the gym, feeling rather peckish, when I see a package in my mailbox that illustrious had sent to me!

These are chili-chocolate Tim Tams – of the Aussie/Kiwi persuasion. She sent me 4!! One had broken in the mail, so I felt obligated to eat it. It is chocolate with the slightest hint of chili that grows stronger as the chocolate dominance fades. Subtle, but beautiful, delightful, and dare I say – EXCITING! THANK YOU AWESOME WOMAN. You totally kick ass!

This also leads me to a discovery I made a few days back… that one of my supervisors has a bottle of hot sauce in an office cupboard, next to data. A bottle of hot sauce is a good sign.