Hoo-boy. It may be raining here, but I bet the actual water is landing at Hal’s place up Weirdcliffe way, because the wind is flat-out howling out of the south.

Herself went back to work today and it’s just me and the cats here.

There’s a dog-shaped hole in the kitchen, which feels like an abandoned house.

But it’ll warm up a tad when I start making some green chile stew. It always gladdened The Boo’s hungry little heart to see me moving around and about in his living room, laying hands on knife, pot and cutting board.

And y’know what? I may even have a beer with it. Non-alcoholic, of course. Surely I must be training for something.

• Late update: From Esquire (where else?) comes this list of  “tasty near beers that don’t suck.”