entertaining my kitchen geekiness
June 11, 2012, 8:31 P.M.

Had an unexpectedly fun time on Saturday morning; Spouse found a place by the Milwaukee airport that sells restaurant supplies, and it's open to the public. Squee! It's called Superior Equipment and Supply, and it was pretty awesome.

I found a number of small things I've been looking for, including silicone pinch bowls, 4-oz ramekins, offset spatulas, a lime press just like Rick Bayless's, and professional-style dry measuring cups & spoons in HEAVY steel. And I also found out that they are a source of durable, AFFORDABLE, induction-ready pots & pans. So I bought an awesome 3-qt. braising pan. And I got all that plus some other items for under a hundred bucks! Try that at Williams-Sonoma. I didn't go completely crazy, but only because I'm saving some reasons to go back!

After we went there, Spouse & I decided to get the oil changed on the Taurus and do our grocery shopping--both at Woodman's in Oak Creek--on the way home, and have lunch at Long John Silver's, since we don't get to do that very often. Sad news--although we were able to get the lunch we wanted, it was in the way of a farewell--that location is doing away with the LJS business after Father's Day and going to full-on Taco Bell. :( Bums me out, because I love Long John's, but they just aren't very popular around where we live. They never seem to last.)

So anyway, we ate, we oiled, we shopped, and then we headed for home. After we put away the groceries, I worked on the laundry & puttered around, and Spouse called Auntie, who informed him that the memorial for uncle will be July 27th. I was hoping for the weekend of the 14th, since I'll be there anyway--but no dice. Looks like I'll be spending way too much of my July in Iowa this year.

So that set off a nightmare web hunt for a hotel, which got me nowhere fast. Either a hotel didn't have all the necessary nights available, or it was one queen bed, or--no effing way--it was a smoking room, or the reviews said the place was a crack den.

I eventually gave up on Sunday morning, and Spouse took over. He picked the highest-rated hotel in Burlington, IA, called them on the phone, and explained the situation. And managed to get an executive suite, at a special reduced "bereavement" rate. That's why I call him "my travel agent", folks!

And I was not thrilled (not surprised, though, either) to hear from Auntie that this is gonna be a full-tilt boogie Catholic-fest. So no such thing as slacks for the funeral--gotta wear a dress. Well, I guess I will be dress-hunting this weekend. I want something summery and floaty-cottony, because HELLO...Iowa plus late July?

But if I can't manage to find anything, I will end up in one of the dresses I bought three years ago for D.'s daughter's sangeet & wedding. What the heck--they both look okay, they've only been worn once, and I tried them on yesterday and by some miracle, they both still fit. Neither one is boldly styled enough to be out of fashion, either. One is a tad-bit more evening-style, so I would probably not go with it. Even though it is by far the more attractive of the two. Unfortunately, the other is synthetic jersey, and a dark color, so...hotter than hell. I want to wear my Naturalizer sandals, too, and they won't go well with te dark dress, as they are tan.

Guess I'll figure something out. I think I'm stressing over the clothes, to keep from stressing over the hideous prospect of being trapped in a church...and at a time when I am emotionally wrecked, to boot. The thought nauseates me.