Happy Birthday

My friend, Frank, has the most wonderful birthdays. In past years, I've gleefully accepted his invitation to celebrate his birthday at brunch and we've gone to some spectacular places. This year, however, he switched gears. He texted me and asked if he could come over with cake and coffee yesterday (his actual birthday). Well, sure!

I very much enjoy his company but Biggie just flat out LOVES him. He's quite fond of Biggie as well. But Biggie lets him hold and cuddle him and scratch his neck without stopping and then comes back for more. It's hilarious to watch.Two hours of Frank and Biggie then passes out with a giant kitty grin on his face. Yesterday Frank left about 5 and Biggie conked out until this morning.

But... the best part was that by "cake", Frank meant THE BEST CAKE IN ALL OF SEATTLE that is not easy to come by but OMG so wonderful. Deep Sea Sugar & Salt is this weird little cake shop located in an odd part of town. Their orders are often backed up for weeks. They are open limited hours. Yesterday Frank was there at 11:30 to be first when their doors opened at noon. He said there were a half dozen people ahead of him already. But, as weird as they are, they make the best cake. Inventive flavors. Delicious to the point of sinful.

Frank brought a whole cake (my favorite flavor - London Fog) and also two slices of different flavors. We had the very best birthday party. He even left me slices for later.



I really love Frank's birthday and hate now that I have to wait another year!

Biggie woke up this morning, rare in' to go. He first checked on the birds outside who were making a racket, then he checked on me. Then he played with is roll around toy. Later, rinse repeat. He's been up here on the couch several times looking for a head rub but, in no way appearing to be bite-y. Robby's doing the other half of the house now and we're just hanging out.

I did remember to call for a swim time tomorrow. 8:30 Lane 1.

Today I have no plans. Well, no big plans. I have a load of stuff for Goodwill. I plan to just drop off, not go shopping. And then go on to a new (to me) teriyaki place I've been wanting to try out. I have some house chores to do but mainly, it will be sweater work. I have 75% of the body finished and 50% of the sleeves. It's a fun knit but I'm also dying to see the finished product.

The baseball game is at 4.

Biggie 2021

The Flickr album of all the days.

I hate when this happens

So I dropped off my Goodwill stuff and did go inside the store but only for one item. I needed a pillowcase. It needed to be a fun print or good colors and it needed to have an envelope closure or be big enough so that I could create one easily.

The pillow cases are mid way into the store so I went right there. And found exactly what I wanted. $3. Paid for it and on the wings of success, flew onto the teriyaki place. I've been wanting to try Toshio's for a while. But they don't make it easy. No online ordering, phone (ugh) only. Adn it's in a weird spot. But, today was the day.

They have a bunch of hand made signs that were very confusing about where to line up and where to order and to call in the order and arrows pointing this way and that. Fortunately just as I drove up the customers who were waiting all got their stuff and left. I went to the Order Here sign and read the menu and decided but then could not find how/where to order.

Out a window above me a guy barked "Order Here!" in perfect soup Nazi "order or go away" tone. I told him what I wanted. He asked questions I could not hear or understand. This restaurant is at a very busy intersection 10 steps from the road. It was not pleasant. "Card or cash?" he demanded. Card. And he disappeared. Several minutes later some other people arrived and the guy came back to the window and shoved a clipboard at me. I signed and took my card. And waited in the traffic/truck fumes and rain. And waited and waited. And, made plans to never ever go there again. And searched on my phone for other teriyaki places. Then, it was really raining and I went to sit in my car. Finally my order came out.

I headed home and before I got tot he first stoplight I knew I was fucked. The smell was intoxicating. It was going to be delicious and I would have to go back. Godamnit.

I ordered chicken and beef teriyaki combo - no salad - with sides of tempura shrimp and eggrolls. Turns out he did not give me the combo, chicken only but I don't care. It is so delicious. The shrimp was good, the eggrolls were perfection as was the chicken teriyaki. I got so much so that I could have the rest for dinner tonight. I nearly ate it all but managed to save dinner. I want to see how it re-heats. So so so good.

I keep thinking this is Saturday. It isn't.

Biggie got bitey this morning but differently. He was reaching out with his paw and then fake biting. Taking a finger or a thumb into this mouth. I don't think he would have really bitten but I shut it down before he could try. I fired up his favorite toy and he chased that around and around and around. Then I left. He was waiting when I got home but then went off for his nap.

kitchen inventions

Today I invented Spam Hash! I finished off the can of corned beef hash - crisping up a 4th of a can every morning on the Dash with my egg. I don't have another can of hash. So my little mind got to whirling...

I took a can of diced potatoes and I diced up a little onion and I diced up a can of Spam and I threw it into a giant frying pan where I had melted some bacon fat. I cooked it until it got crispy and happy looking.



Isn't it crispy and happy looking???

Tomorrow I'll flop a pile onto the Dash with my egg and we'll see if I'm a genius or a Spam/potato waster.