friday i learned that i can't just go around poking in sinks with a straightened wire hanger. that pipe just might be made of a cheesily thin material. and then you might cause a leak and leave you sinkless for the next night when you're supposed to cook for friends. saturday i learned that if you put in enough water in your toilet all at once (such as a good-sized bucket of dirty dishwater), it flushes without you having to pull the lever (thanks, myra). sunday i learned that i can always be faster and to leave the mixing station as i found it (put away the yeast and cover the flour buckets with their lids). +++++ saturday night myra and casey came over for dinner (even lydia made it home on time). i made short ribs braised in red wine, roasted turnips, mashed potatoes, and sauteed spinach. i love braises -- they're now my winter favorite. then we played cranium -- my first time. i loved it. funny moments: when lydia had to hum the theme to james bond but hummed mission impossible instead and when myra had to imitate jackie chan (she looked like a creepy, crawly deer in headlights). i was lucky enough to snag three cream puffs from work for my dinner guests to try (i just had a mug of ginger tea). almost broke open some chocolate bars for a chocolate tasting, but that would have been just overkill. now i have to figure out what i'm making for chinese new year. good thing i have monday off to think about it. +++++ 2/7/05 addition (after reading myra's): casey's highlight: humming "that's the way i like it" my saying "you're sure that's not a flower?" and, the classic, "c'mon, that's magic (the gathering)."