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Uh-oh. Could the blonde have overdone eating today? Just a titch, just a tad? Indubitably.
There was a slight lack of sleep. After going to bed still slightly buzzed at 1, I woke up before 7. I was not amused. ::sighs:: But then I had my customary hearty brekkie of Bangers'n'Mash which made me feel MUCH better.
I received even more birthday greetings, including an e-mail from my childhood Polish friend who'd kept reminding herself that she had to send me a message yesterday. So, naturally, she woke up this morning realizing that she'd ... uh ... forgotten. Considering that I am her elder (by one month and two days), oops for her memory loss. In any case, I guess I'll be acknowledging all of the lovely wishes ... tomorrow? When I have a spare moment and some ... energy? I know, I seem SO determined. NOT.
I was glad to have the whole day ahead of me, so I didn't have to hurry. I decided to wear my vivid flowery top over a black satin nightie. I added two delicate leis, encircling my attached ponytail. I also decided to go all out and painted my fingernails with clear glitter polish. Whee!
My ride was expected at 4:40 (as Brian had requested I arrive at 5:00). Uh ... my driver was 58 minutes LATE! So not of the good. Luckily, I'd phoned Brian to keep him apprised, so he was able to make sure the food was keeping well.
I was just so relieved to arrive around 5:45. Yay! Brian greeted me outside of his door and escorted me into ... into a garden/aquarium. He had new plants that he'd arranged around the dining table (sekrit: on top of his black barstools). There was a fan providing a wee bit of movement of the leaves. So ... what's with the aquarium? Many years ago, I hosted him by pretending my place was an experimental space station with a focus on underwater life. I used the VHS Aquarium in a Box. It later came out on DVD. Well … this version was the HD one. There were two separate aquarium sequences (as well as a bonus one).
Considering the fact that it had begun to rain when I arrived, it was a very good thing that we were indoors (and pretending to be in an outdoor garden). We started out with dwinkies. Brian had poured rum, pineapple juice, mixed strawberry/banana/other fruit juice AND 7Up, arriving at something that tasted like a Pina Colada. Yay!
Dinner was two things I had specially requested: his wonderful double-spicy baked “fried” chicken AND an out-of-this-world potato salad with peas, red onion, smoked bacon, green pepper, fuji apple, mayo, mustard and a secret ingredient (a wee bit of the rendered bacon fat, emulsified with the other two wet ingredients). Some steamed broccoli added colour and balance to the plate. There had also been some appeteasers: skewers of very sour baby dills, green olives, red pepper and baby onions; also kalamata olives, red pepper and crackers made entirely from seeds.
Are you still with me? Are you feeling as stuffed as I was? Well, you need to make room for … dessert. Even though I'd requested this cake, it was still marvellous to see it appear before me. Three nine-inch layers of chocolate cake with walnuts; two layers of mousse between them; a chocolate ganache top with drizzles down the sides, topped with fresh raspberries. But wait: that wasn't all. There was also a bowl of whipped cream that had been spiked with framboise liqueur. Okay, now I'm ready to faceplant into my decadent piece of cake.
Not only was dinner a smash, Brian also gave me a leaning tower of containers of leftovers that I'll enjoy when I'm feeling hungry again. So … perhaps Tuesday?
Then I was presented with a pink flowered gift bag. Oh-oh. There was a – can you guess – a … new … pig inside. Hey, Brian! I thought you were cutting me off from any new acquisitions. Well, I guess he felt he just had to give me this one. It was the pig from Toy Story and he picked it up when he was at Disney. It's not available in Canada, so that makes it special. As I'd brought Giggly Ballerina Piggly with me ('cuz she was a prezzie from him too), she got acquainted with her new Uncle Hip Hip Hippo Pig (in the gift bag).
Alas, it was getting close to the time for me to be picked up (8:35). So we gathered up all of my goodies and headed downstairs. After a goodnight hug, Brian went back upstairs to collapse. I was picked up fairly quickly (what a relief). Almost as soon as I got in the minivan, it began to rain again and it was very hard rain. I was just so happy to be in a dry enclosure. And in a few minutes under a familiar roof.
So, part TWO of my birthday was a terrific success. On to part THREE and more cake tomorrow. ::pats tummy, trying to soothe it::
There was a slight lack of sleep. After going to bed still slightly buzzed at 1, I woke up before 7. I was not amused. ::sighs:: But then I had my customary hearty brekkie of Bangers'n'Mash which made me feel MUCH better.
I received even more birthday greetings, including an e-mail from my childhood Polish friend who'd kept reminding herself that she had to send me a message yesterday. So, naturally, she woke up this morning realizing that she'd ... uh ... forgotten. Considering that I am her elder (by one month and two days), oops for her memory loss. In any case, I guess I'll be acknowledging all of the lovely wishes ... tomorrow? When I have a spare moment and some ... energy? I know, I seem SO determined. NOT.
I was glad to have the whole day ahead of me, so I didn't have to hurry. I decided to wear my vivid flowery top over a black satin nightie. I added two delicate leis, encircling my attached ponytail. I also decided to go all out and painted my fingernails with clear glitter polish. Whee!
My ride was expected at 4:40 (as Brian had requested I arrive at 5:00). Uh ... my driver was 58 minutes LATE! So not of the good. Luckily, I'd phoned Brian to keep him apprised, so he was able to make sure the food was keeping well.
I was just so relieved to arrive around 5:45. Yay! Brian greeted me outside of his door and escorted me into ... into a garden/aquarium. He had new plants that he'd arranged around the dining table (sekrit: on top of his black barstools). There was a fan providing a wee bit of movement of the leaves. So ... what's with the aquarium? Many years ago, I hosted him by pretending my place was an experimental space station with a focus on underwater life. I used the VHS Aquarium in a Box. It later came out on DVD. Well … this version was the HD one. There were two separate aquarium sequences (as well as a bonus one).
Considering the fact that it had begun to rain when I arrived, it was a very good thing that we were indoors (and pretending to be in an outdoor garden). We started out with dwinkies. Brian had poured rum, pineapple juice, mixed strawberry/banana/other fruit juice AND 7Up, arriving at something that tasted like a Pina Colada. Yay!
Dinner was two things I had specially requested: his wonderful double-spicy baked “fried” chicken AND an out-of-this-world potato salad with peas, red onion, smoked bacon, green pepper, fuji apple, mayo, mustard and a secret ingredient (a wee bit of the rendered bacon fat, emulsified with the other two wet ingredients). Some steamed broccoli added colour and balance to the plate. There had also been some appeteasers: skewers of very sour baby dills, green olives, red pepper and baby onions; also kalamata olives, red pepper and crackers made entirely from seeds.
Are you still with me? Are you feeling as stuffed as I was? Well, you need to make room for … dessert. Even though I'd requested this cake, it was still marvellous to see it appear before me. Three nine-inch layers of chocolate cake with walnuts; two layers of mousse between them; a chocolate ganache top with drizzles down the sides, topped with fresh raspberries. But wait: that wasn't all. There was also a bowl of whipped cream that had been spiked with framboise liqueur. Okay, now I'm ready to faceplant into my decadent piece of cake.
Not only was dinner a smash, Brian also gave me a leaning tower of containers of leftovers that I'll enjoy when I'm feeling hungry again. So … perhaps Tuesday?
Then I was presented with a pink flowered gift bag. Oh-oh. There was a – can you guess – a … new … pig inside. Hey, Brian! I thought you were cutting me off from any new acquisitions. Well, I guess he felt he just had to give me this one. It was the pig from Toy Story and he picked it up when he was at Disney. It's not available in Canada, so that makes it special. As I'd brought Giggly Ballerina Piggly with me ('cuz she was a prezzie from him too), she got acquainted with her new Uncle Hip Hip Hippo Pig (in the gift bag).
Alas, it was getting close to the time for me to be picked up (8:35). So we gathered up all of my goodies and headed downstairs. After a goodnight hug, Brian went back upstairs to collapse. I was picked up fairly quickly (what a relief). Almost as soon as I got in the minivan, it began to rain again and it was very hard rain. I was just so happy to be in a dry enclosure. And in a few minutes under a familiar roof.
So, part TWO of my birthday was a terrific success. On to part THREE and more cake tomorrow. ::pats tummy, trying to soothe it::
Tags:
- celebration,
- chosen family,
- food,
- friends,
- gifts,
- life,
- party,
- sleep