Yesterday afternoon, my mother was caught making copious amounts of microwaveable side dishes at 2 in the afternoon.

When asked what she was doing yesterday afternoon, my mom responded cheerfully:

"Oh, I was just making some new leftovers for people to eat."

Ladies and gentlemen, my mother.

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On the subject of culinary logic, I thought I'd share a bit of our pantry.

I like to call it The Place Where Atkins Goes to Die.

Seriously, those carbs. They're everywhere. Pies and cakes and eight billion loaves of bread and containers of bagels. Enter with caution.

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I ended up changing my plane tickets so that I'll be with Hunthunt for New Year's. It would have been silly, the two of us alone on opposite coasts for no reason.

Besides - I want a couple of days to myself in the apartment. Being home is still weird, and it feels vaguely oppressive. It will take time before I can really enjoy myself here - if that's even possible.

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I spent the evening watching TV with my parents. Strangely enough for hardcore Catholics, they watch Charmed with marked interest - they just mute it during the spells as if they would come through the TV screen or were more than just TV writing.

Odd. It's not as if the rest of the series is witchcraft-free...

Oh, speaking of surreal watching experiences. My parents own and highly recommended "The Guru". So we watched it. Funny cute movie, but it's about a porn star and an Indian actor who becomes the Guru of Sex.

Sometimes I just don't understand.

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On a different note, I saw Vicki and Liz, my old best friends from high school, on Friday.

Vicki's really my closest friend, and I met her and her boyfriend at TGI Friday's. They're always great fun, and we had a good time. Liz's arrival was more awkward - she brought someone Vicki and I didn't know, and she totally ignored Vicki's boyfriend to boot.

At first, I had been proud to tell people about my new job and my new life. A happy homecoming, you know? "Look, I made it!"

But the fact is that you just end up feeling crappy, especially in this economy. Vicki's boyfriend just lost his job and Vicki and Liz are still in school, waiting for their chance at a job. Meanwhile, I've still got friends who are working at Filene's Basement with bachelor's degrees.

I just wish there were some way to share that feeling. I wish we could all get our chance. Everyone deserves that much.

But wishes are a dime a dozen, sadly, and we're going to have to change the country to fix the economy. [*cough*Kerry*cough*]

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Tomorrow is the family NYC trip. I guess we'll all get on a train and take a trip to the Pokemon Center. woo!

The company might be awkward, but I'm psyched.

Hope your leftovers are yummy.