Hi, Gang! Deirdre here with the morning shift. I am doing That looks a little somber up above but with the carnival of amazing activities that have played out since the Olympics I am about entertained out. I am particularly pleased this morning that it looks like that idiot Platner appears to be on the ropes in the Maine Senate race.

The latest charges seem credible to us, and we are pleased we have a crowd of men who won’t get likkered up and attempt to take advantage of something we don’t feel like doing!

The shouting at the conclusion of the soccer match was an appropriate reaction once I was awake and Holly was done getting the Galley squared away after the big Paella meal was served up and swept away.

The major sporting mystery involving heads of state, FIFA Chiefs, soccer stars and Red Cards was resolved after much shouting on the flat screen. The Belgians dispelled any controversy over who was going to be who in the world cup and we girls are happy to let the Boys follow the last three matches before all the foreigners can pack u[ and go home.

The three host nations for the Cup- Mexico, Canada and the US were eliminated in the round of 16, so the housekeeping crews can start getting things sorted out.

I thought something was going to happen over the weekend that wasn’t sports or Straits and then last night was another of those try to stay up for the soccer match, fall asleep after the US tied it up, then roused with the final cheering to spend the rest of the night tossing in semi-somnolence.

I think there will be cheering on the TV for another week or so but mostly we can go back to normal after a very strange couple months! The news from the Straits goes along with the rhetoric over the Grand Ayatollah’s funeral in Tehran, so we may be back to warfare this morning.

That is not over, naturally, and the game now will be for the IRGC to try to drag things out and let the impending mid-terms put Mr. Trump in a position of weakness.

I am going to let Miles and The Boys try to sort that out in a manner that fits what the Chairman is trying to sell on the punditry market. I have the white lasagna all organized to be slid in the oven for a regular feeding time this afternoon and am just going to take it easy and see if I can relax a little after all the excitement. I am going to attempt to teach Splash how to make a big batch of cheatin’ good poolside potato salad. The secret to this one?

Miracle Whip, Vlasic Sweet Pickle Relish, onions, parsley salt and pepper. Peel and boil two bags of russet taters to firm cooked texture. Dice them in big chunks to go in the bowl and start adding diced onion, scoops of Miracle, a cup of relish paprika and salt and pepper to taste.

I think I could make this and cole slaw a couple Splash menu assignment items with the simple Miracle Whip sweet sauce that brings it all together. A little vinegar can settle things down depending on what people think at the buffet.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are hungry people about to arrive and a potato salad that isn’t going to stir itself. See you tomorrow! —Deirdre

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