It's 9:00 PM. You can shut the porch light now. No late nights anymore [tossing and turning] waiting for them to come home.

And while you're at it, throw out the Mickey Nightlight, the Cabbage Patch Lamp, and the trunk full of Legos.  All that stuff won't "fit into" the new 'guest bedroom' anyway.

That's right, they've left home and you won't see them until Thanksgiving!
Go to story [8-26-04]

Art
Patti Matthis

Empanadas are both food perfection and perfect terrors.

These crescent-shaped meat pies that serve as staples of Hispanic cuisine can be dressed up as a fancy small plate or served en masse as the cornerstone of a down-home meal.

They come in as many variations as there are older female relatives to pass down a much-practiced recipe and, depending on their region of origin, they can be sweet, savory, fried, baked, golden brown or harvest moon orange.

And, despite the ease with which they can be served and devoured, they are a real headache to make.
Go to story [8-26-04]

One cardinal fashion rule is: Thou shall not wear white after Labor Day.

And although this seems a little severe and comes from a time when women wore white gloves for afternoon tea, it still contains a kernel of truth, especially in northern climates where a white linen suit could mean frozen danger if one became trapped in a snowdrift. So as the trees turn and the kids head back to school we put away the crisp summer whites and, at least until Halloween, dress in more appropriate khaki and beige tones.

Wine is like fashion. After the heat of summer has passed, we put away those dazzling whites and switch to the more seasonal wines - but these wines don't have to be viniculture's equivalent beige. While they are sturdier and more rugged they make delightful drinking and pair with the wonderful bounty of fresh harvest foods from our region.
Go to story [8-26-04]

I'm sure someone has written to you about this sort of thing before, but I am confused and angry and I need advice. My boyfriend of  four years has been cheating on me - with a friend of mine. He says it "didn't mean anything" and that it's over now. I only found out because they both mentioned being somewhere, and it was a place I'd never been. After that, I spent a couple of weeks doing detective work. When I confronted him, he lied. When I later talked to her, she lied too, but she's not as convincing. At that point, I already had all the evidence I needed (his cell phone bill, specifically) but I just wanted to see who would be honest with me.

Anyway, the problem I'm having now is that I am absolutely full of rage. I haven't seen either of them for over a month, and don't intend to. As far as I'm concerned, they don't deserve to be friends of mine - or anything else. Although they both apologized and promised it was over - and my ex wanted us to "work things out" - I am having a hard time moving on. I am obsessed with where they are and what they are doing. I call my friends and ask if they've seen them, where were they, etc. I drive by their houses all the time to see if they are together. And I'm having wicked nightmares.

I can't figure out why I can't get past this. I feel terrible. It seems as if I'd start to feel better by now.
Read Sherry's Answer [8-26-04]