Horrors of commuter traffic, great music as a balm

I've been in stop-and-go traffic for most of the past hour and have gone no more than 5 or 6 miles. Thank god I never have to commute anywhere- I am so sorry for VA-MD-DC folks who have to. Wow! The boys are with me, and I am feeling grateful for crackers and good music. Who loves Thank God I'm a Country Boy by John Denver? Awesome song. I'm chair dancing like a fool.

Leftover strata, herb-rubbed salmon

Ooh, I got home starving around 1:45 and was thankful to find leftover potato strata hiding in the fridge. I zapped it quickly, and boy was it good. Today is rainy and cold, and its hearty warmth hit the spot! Not sure about any big plans for tonight, but for a party tomorrow I'll be making a fantastic herb-rubbed side of salmon, and for a party Saturday, I'm going to make my olive-artichoke dip with grilled pita and griddles polenta cakes with caramelized onions, goat cheese and honey. Yo!

Cool D.C. events for pols-loving folks

T and I just got tickets for this first event, sponsored by the NYTimes. Both take place at GWU. Political Calculus, Political Times With Nate Silver & Matt Bai Monday, November 14, 6:30 – 8 PM

Nate Silver, the man behind The New York Times blog FiveThirtyEight: Nate Silver’s Political Calculus, and Matt Bai, the chief political correspondent for The New York Times Magazine and the Political Times column for the Caucus blog, discuss the current political climate, how the presidential contest is being waged and prospects for the parties and candidates. Moderated by New York Times Caucus editor  Megan Liberman.

The Economy & the Campaign Monday, December 12, 6:30 – 8 PM

Join David Leonhardt, the Washington bureau chief of The New York Times, for a compelling conversation about what promises to be the main theme of the race for the presidency and the 2012 elections — economic concerns and our country’s financial prospects — with Times Washington bureau journalists Binyamin Appelbaum, Jackie Calmes and John Harwood.

For tickets: click.