verbatim: Friday's Feast

Appetizer: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you like your job?
Job as stay-home mom: 7 (Not a 10 because of the excessive worrying involved, the long hours, the isolation and loneliness, the tedium, the bodily fluids, and so on.)
Job as freelance copyeditor: 9 (I love the work, I'm good at it, and I choose the hours—but the pay is pretty lousy.)

Soup: When was the last time you think you were lied to?
Probably the last time one (or all) of the kids claimed to have no idea how some mess was made. Sigh.

Salad: Share some lyrics from one of your favorite songs.
This old Paul Simon song came on the other day and struck me just right: "Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance. Everybody thinks it's true."

Main Course: What do you do/take when you are in pain?
Usually nothing, unless it's unbearable. For cramps, I take ibuprofen. For a headache, I take acetaminophen. For muscle pain and bruises, I use arnica cream.

Dessert: Fill in the blanks: My __________ is very __________.
My tea is very hot.