Brutus, Louie, Sushi, Laundry and Me

Last Saturday I went over to C. and R.'s to keep Brutus company while they were away for the day. This gave me the opportunity to play with my iPhone's Instagram App, do laundry, catch up on episodes of the very-good television show Louie and decide that I was entitled to sushi for lunch. It was a very busy afternoon, believe you me. Brutus was wiped.
I ordered from Kansai and walked over to pick it up. I went with their two roll lunch special - Alaskan Rolls and now I can't remember what else. But I ordered the soup that came with the special, and then a real super fancy roll - the Tod Roll - that had seaweed salad and spicy tuna and shrimp tempura and a million other things I like.
Louie C.K. is a funny guy and an interesting writer/director/producer/editor. That man is busy all of the time. Terry Gross interviewed him as of late and he's an interesting person in that context too. If you haven't already converted, try watching Louie. Some episodes are available free on Hulu.
Brutus and I had a good time together. I left full and with a lot of clean laundry, and Brutus got a walk, a photo shoot and someone to appreciate his bone. That sounded dirty, but I'm not cutting it because it's accurate (dog loves his bone and likes to show it off between sleep sessions). So pretty much a winning experience for all involved.

Puppies, Bowling and Dinner

L. and C. got a puppy! Meet Cowboy. This was the first time I met him and it was only for a short time, but I can tell you he's a cutie, and his back end wiggles and wags to its own drum.

When L. and C. came to the Barbeque of the Broken Glass there was talk of going bowling and even fake days and times discussed, but neither party got around to really acting on the idea until earlier this month. When L. and I went to dinner the idea of bowling came back up and, basically, it was decided that we were going bowling...even though L. isn't that big a fan of bowling. When we arrived at the alley I think she said that the last time she had bowled was in 1998.
We played three games and drank beer and ate tater tots. I bowled really poorly. I think I was overconfident as a result to my work bowling experience. I get better with practice. I think.

This is us bowling. Or that was what I believe we were pretending to do. Maybe? I don't think either of us look like that when we're actually bowling.
Also recreating moves from bowling, without the ball. And random guy with his own ball and shoes giving L. bunny ears.

After bowling (L. got better, C. was good, I disappointed myself and didn't break 100...or even hit it at all. Sad face.) we had dinner at North Third. I should have had a burger as C. and L. recommended, but after Village Whiskey I just knew it would disappoint. So I went down an even harder road and ordered the soft shell crab sandwich. I shouldn't have. Most all crab-related things, I just have to accept that I do them better. I am boasting. I am really only saying that I like the way I fry softshell crabs better. The crab itself was so breaded that you had a good half a thumb nail or more worth of batter before you hit crab, and then the thick bread. In some ways it was more like a bread sandwich. I just ate the crab and left the bread. I liked the pickle though. That was a damn good pickle.

Puppies, Pretty and Catan

M. and I have been friends since high school. It's worked out nicely for both of us, I think. We have independently developed an appreciation for food and drink and pretty things (though I almost wonder if we didn't gravitate to one another because of that latent interest/the desire to hit people hard) that benefits us both. If that makes sense. Hm. I am not making a very clear point, so I'm going to move on to the puppy. The point is this: when I visit M. or when M. visits me, I generally wake up a good two hours before she does. Is that the point? All I am trying to do here is say that I woke up around 8 on Saturday and hung out with the dogs while A. and M. slept. Then A. woke up and I will not tell you a funny story about him and a cake because it's too funny. And eventually M. woke up too. But first I let out the puppy. She was very cute.
Then we went and sat somewhere together and I took some photographs. These two? These two are getting married!
M.'s engagement didn't change my clear superiority in Scrabble. I say that with a lot of false bravado and swagger. Except that she can't quite seem to beat me. Heh. COMPETITION!

The Eyes of Apocalypse Dog

Well, you can't really see them. But if you were to look into them as it began to rain heavily outside the Piggly Wiggly, you would see the shape of the apocalypse.
Just so we're clear, this is a different day from my last sighting.

Orchids, Dog and Soup

On Sunday I spent a good part of my day wandering around the house taking pictures of things. I also was working on a soup for the return of Mr. Ass and his parents. On Saturday I turned the left over chickens into stock, which on Sunday I worked into a pretty good soup.
This is Pipo. I will admit that I have some longstanding issues with the Jack Russell breed. Or I thought I did. But these issues were entirely tempered by Pipo and Yma. This, in spite of the fact that the whole family had prepared me for some epic growling and dog fights based on everything from a mail man to positioning in the bed. I was certainly conscious of these possible triggers and did a was generally vigilant in my avoidance of them, but, still, I liked these two.


Here is the soup. It had the fresh stock as its base. I added a few cloves of garlic, chopped cilantro, salt, carrots and noodles. And maybe, like, four other things. Oh yes, the juice of one lemon. Simmered it for a long time then added the chicken. I really do love making chicken soup. Maybe because it seems like you can never go wrong. As long as you have a good base and moist, fresh meat, you can add anything to it and the chances of it turning out well, assuming you have good common taste sense, must be well in the 90th percentile. Mr. Ass and his father both, independently of one another, commented on how this would be a great soup if they had a cold. I would like to make chicken soup from scratch for someone with a cold. It would be cooking with a purpose. I think I like cooking best when it takes all day and it is the only thing I have to do.

Mmm, Daily Puppy

God bless Daily Puppy! The above pup's name is Roscoe. He lives in Chicago or Indiana. He is cute. Yesterday morning as I went to Starbucks to get my tea and cup (then I go back in throughout the day with my own tea and their cup and ask for only hot water then use their milk and sugar...it's brilliant and diabolical!) I saw a sight that made me happy: a black and white English Springer Spaniel puppy. The last dog I owned...or, rather, the last dog that was attached to our family was Sam, the English Springer Spaniel. We got him when I was in sixth grade and he died my super senior year of college? Or maybe just my regular year? What? He was a good dog.