Right Back in Pressure Cooker

I was away with my blogger friends for 34 hours, 830 am Saturday until 630 pm today, counting the drive down to Maryland/DC area and back. Kim and I talked constantly along the NJ Turnpike, Route 95, 895 and the Beltway--we’ve known each other since we were young twentysomethings in the NYC magazine world.

Topics en route, and later with Nan and Liz, who live not too far from each other in Silver Spring, covered everything from birth (Kim delivered w a midwife in a NYC hospital) to death (Nan’s good mom just died last month). We talked about Liz growing up as the eldest of 8 children in Boston. About Nan’s sister, Mary, who was close friends w both Kim and Liz before being taken early by angels, leaving her young family behind.

We talked about job searches [mine], retirement [Nan’s, after many years in a top-level federal career]. About Liz’s exciting promotion and Kim’s great job after years as a freelancer.

They spoiled us with delicious, healthy foods:

• Zucchini spirals w EVOO.
• Homemade banana bread.
• Grilled chicken, perfectly charred outside.
• Grilled peppers and mushrooms.
• Fresh fruit. 🍉 🍉 
• Yogurt dip w garden basil.
• Lox [to go w bagels Kim brought from NY].
• Liz even got a golden layer cake w swoops of chocolate frosting from JennyCakes Bakery. Looked so good, with Bloggers Bash inscribed in white icing on top.

Have to pick up tomorrow. Wrote long post twice/lost it twice. And back in pressure cooker again w child behaving badly. Good night. Xoxo