Birthday Redux

Because I Can

The white birthday cake my mother made while she was here a few weeks ago was so delicious and gone so quickly that I decided to make another one. It's humid enough here that the seven minute frosting crystallized overnight, but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying the cake. Besides, the beauty of seven minute frosting is that after a few days, the cake soaks most of it up, and a good cake becomes even better.

photo: Chicago Daily News. (1917). [Maurine Brisler, frosting a cake, Mrs. Walter Barnes, and Mrs. Theron O. Jennings, standing by a table in a room].Chicago Daily News negatives collection, DN-0006735, Chicago History Museum. Available from American Memory at http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/cdn:@field(NUMBER+@band(ichicdn+n067535))

Four Letter Word for Happy

C A K E

Help!

What do you do when the only thing that will make you happy is a donut* and you don't think you can make it through the day without one (or more)?


*or thumbprint cookies from Julias' bakery, or a slice of coconut cake, or a piece of cheesecake--you get the idea

Yummy Things that Start with C

Meyer Lemony Lemon: Vanilla cupcake with a tart lemon filling and lemon buttercream

I went to Fisherman's Wharf looking for a crepe cart. No crepes in sight, but I did find this tasty gem at Ghirardelli Square.

Do Not Grocery Shop or Shelve Books When You're Hungry

Circulation is pretty backed up with the end-of-the-semester-
turn-in-your-books rush, so I did some shelving last week. Since I don't do it regularly, it's a nice diversion. The students have to take the carts in the order they come, but I feel free to pick and choose since I'm a volunteer. I did a cart of fiction last week, but it's not as much fun as you would think it would be, since everything is sans jacket.

Tonight my desk shift ended early, and I felt guilty for not even seeing if they needed shelving help today (I think they did), so I took one nearly empty cart and headed upstairs (it takes me about 45 minutes to do a "full" cart).

Guess what subject is classified at 641.865?

Happy Birthday, Belated

I was too busy visiting, in person, with the birthday honoree to post on the actual day (last Friday). So, here are some belated happy birthday wishes for Cynthia. Thanks for sharing your cake!


photo: Collins, Marjory. 1942. Greenbelt, Maryland. Grandma Taylor blows out the candles on her eighty-third birthday cake while her daughter, Mrs. McCarl, and grandson look on. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [LC-USW3-003640-E DLC]. Available at
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/
r?ammem/fsaall:@field(NUMBER+@band(fsa+8d21071))

Little Debbies? I Don't Think So!

Check out this super way to cut down on cost and time at the grocery store.

Imminently on the Horizon

Should "on" in this post title be capitalized or not? I can't make my brain tell me the correct answer.

I came back from Savannah Saturday night, and the week is now winging its way swiftly toward Friday's trip to Texas. I'm not crazy about flying, not out of fear so much as inconvenience* and being such a slow packer. But I'm actually looking forward to the opportunity it will give me to knit and listen to my mp3 player (may I say "iPod" even if that's not what I own? It's easier--like "kleenex" or "xerox").

I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Allie and Baby Jack and my mother. And my brother and sister-in-law, of course. And a piece of cake. Hmm--what Texas resident(s) of the family are missing from that list?



*Yes, I do realize that flying is less inconvenient than driving--I'm just a natural complainer.

Favorites

I'm not fond of having to pick favorites, but I'm listening to The Very Best of the Eagles and I thought I would share a few favorites to which I'm willing to commit.

Favorite Eagles song: New Kid in Town
Favorite Beatles song: A Day in the Life
Favorite Carpenters song: Superstar
Favorite Dessert: cake

ps - How could anyone not love the Eagles? Their music, that is.

pps - Don't you love Wikipedia? Who knew that the Carpenters' "Superstar" was a remake?

On the Horizon

Did I tell you I'm going to Savannah for a conference next weekend? My hairdresser said to watch Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil before I go, and someone else said that Savannah's great because you can get a drink to go at the end of dinner and carry it around in the street. My brother told me to be careful about where I stop for supper.

Hmm. Since I try to not watch R movies and I don't drink, not sure I'll be doing either of those (I did read the book, however, many years ago). And since I won't have a car, I probably won't be going too far afield for meals. Too bad about the movie though, because I am fond of John Cusack and Kevin Spacey.

Anyway, I'm excited to be staying at the conference hotel for the first time in my life, rather than taking the poor man's route of staying farther away at a cheaper place and having to drive to the conference. The last hotel in which I stayed was the local Doubletree, when I interviewed for my current job. I had a super-comfy king size bed, but was only in it for about 5 fitful hours, so I really couldn't enjoy it. How are the beds at the Courtyard?

Also on the horizon:

• quick trip to Texas in October to play auntie to Niece # 3 and Nephew #1 in advance of Nephew #1's first birthday (can we have cake when I come?)
  
• quick trip in November to play auntie to Nieces #1, 2 & 4, though on that trip I'll have competition from Grandma

ps - can you believe my blog didn't have a "cake" label yet? Considering that I think about cake at least 10 times a day...

Chocolate and More Chocolate

My new chocolate brown Mary Jane Crocs


The Chocolate Fluffernutter Cake we ate at work the same day

(any of my MI readers recognize the WS towel? They're still going strong, and are much loved.)