Originally I was going to post something about people I used to know, but that got depressing, so I'm posting about hot apple cider instead, because it is exactly the opposite of depressing.

For those of you outside the US (and, I am informed, parts of Canada), "cider" here is typically nonalcoholic unless qualified with the adjective "hard"; this is basically late-harvest apple juice. Except in my case it's late-harvest apple juice warmed in the microwave and with cinnamon sprinkled into it, and this makes far more difference than you probably think, unless you're experienced in the mysterious ways of fruit and spice.

I have a recipe, actually, that's rather more involved than that, and of which I will eventually have to make about four batches for the lab's Christmas* party (and where on earth can you get cheesecloth around here? Kroger's said they had, but none was to be found) — but right now none of that matters; I'm just enjoying a mug of my own.

... hey, you. Yes, you, reading these words. If you possibly can, get up right now and go make yourself some. Yes, really! You'll be glad you did!

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*Well, not really Christmas, since a) it's next Wednesday and b) at least some of us are at areligious; but none of us much care.