Wouldn't you like to fly?

Amy may whack me with a board for doing this, but I need y'all to listen up.

First, if you haven't purchased your cookbook yet, click that link on the right, and tell Sheryl Henley you want one. Or two. Then send her a check. I know how many people read this site each day. If all of you bought one, Sheryl would be scrambling to reprint. The recipes are fun, sometimes goofy (check out the beer bread), and easy as, well, pie. Do it now.

Second, if you're on the east coast, there's a benefit luncheon for Sahara at Harrahs in Atlantic City on Saturday, February 17. Barring any snowstorms (y'all can keep those, thanks), I will be there, and if all works out, so will a very special guest who is fond of some dude named Jessie's woman. It's been organized by the good people at RS4 and Helaine Fox.

Helaine has also organized a number of raffles to benefit Sahara, and for the following, you don't have to be at the benefit to win:

Thanks to a very special friend and the wonderful people at SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, the first raffle in conjunction with the upcoming benefit luncheon at Harrah's in Atlantic City is for $600 IN SOUTHWEST AIRLINES GIFT CERTIFICATES!

ALL proceeds will be donated to the Hope for Hoops Slam Dunk Cancer Fund!

One winning ticket will be chosen. The gift certificates have no expiration date and there are no travel blackout dates. You can use as little or as much of them as needed until they run out.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. There is no limit to how many tickets you may purchase. Paypal is the ONLY method of payment that will be accepted, but the account will also accept credit card payments, whether you are a Paypal member or not.

To purchase raffle tickets, please send an email entitled "SOUTHWEST RAFFLE" to loveforsahara@comcast.net saying how many tickets you would like. IF YOU WANT TO PAY WITH YOUR ALREADY ESTABLISHED PAYPAL ACCOUNT, AND THAT EMAIL ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU'RE USING TO SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION IN YOUR EMAIL. You will then receive an invoice from Paypal. Once payment has been received, your raffle number(s) will be emailed to you.

This raffle will run from right now, until Friday, January 19th at 10 PM EST. The winner will be notified within 24 hours of the end of the raffle and the gift certificates will be mailed to them. GOOD LUCK!

Questions? Please email helaine@comcast.net .

Third, someone is having a birthday this week, and it's not Sahara, Shannon, Lulu, or Gramma Dooley. Hmm, who could it be? Well, in her honor, light a candle this week, preferably on a chocolate cupcake, then make a wish for her daughter and blow.