The other day, my friend Theresa called me up out of the blue. She was in town for an audition, was free for dinner, and wondered whether I might be interested in getting together. She felt like pho, so we headed over to Thai Son on East Broadway where we enjoyed – well, pretty much one of everything: spring rolls, the house pho, lemon grass chicken and pork, pork fluff, and a sweet and savory seafood crepe stuffed with shrimp and squid. For dessert, Theresa went with the Vietnamese Coffee and told me all about her experience on the Chinese version of Dancing With the Stars. I would love to have seen it, not so much for the dancing, but for the fact that she’d marked the occasion by sporting a blond do. Anyway, it was lovely seeing her, as always, and now we can get to work on our super secret project.
- Vietnamese coffee: the coffee slowly drips into the condensed milk…
- Theresa patiently awaits the completion of the somewhat baffling process. I mean, can’t you just order a coffee black and spoon in some condensed milk?
The other day, I received another surprise call. It was former Stargate writer-producer Alan McCullough who was back in town to start work on Sanctuary’s third season. His timing was perfect as I was making plans for my Superbowl party, so he joined us Sunday and then, days later, we got together for dinner at Re-Fuel.
Suffice it to say, Re-Fuel ranks up their as one of my dogs’ favorite restaurants given that, whenever I go, I always bring back leftovers “for sharing”.
Then, last night, I got together with my friend Tomo who heads back to Japan next weekend. We went to Tojo’s. She was 45 minutes late. Note to google: “Tojo’s changed location three years ago. Please update your directions!”
- Fresh sea urchin
After dinner, we took an evening stroll through Chapters and then went for coffee…
Well, at least that was the intention. No sooner had we taken a seat at a booth than we were politely asked to leave. Turns out that their downtown location was hopping and the manager ordered the staff to shut down and get down there. Sorry.
We ended up taking the hostess’s advice and going to a place called Cafe Barney where we enjoyed (?) a pumpkin cheesecake that tasted like a 100% synthetic chemical creation.
As I say goodbye to Tomo, I say hello to another Japanese friend who flies in for a ten day visit next week. I plan to spend the next few days changing light bulbs, making up the guest room, steam vaccing the theater room carpet, finally replacing the lock on my garage door, and generally making the place more presentable. Of course if we all pitched in, we’d get it done in no time. So who’s with me?! Great! Okay, here are your assigned tasks:
Ponytail, vvv0472 and Kabra – You guys are on light-bulb-changing duty. One of you unpacks the bulbs, one of you replaces them, and one of you holds the ladder.
Gilder – You’re on vacuum duty.
PoorOldEdgarDerby – You’re on steam vac. Make sure you get the corners.
DP and Airelle – Wipe down the theater chairs. The leather restore is underneath the basement sink.
PG15 – Make sure all the bathrooms are fully stocked with soap, towels, and toilet paper.
Gen – The dishes aint gonna wash themselves.
Das – You seem the handy type – which I’m not – so why don’t you install the new garage door lock.
Tannie and Tammy Dixon – You two are on laundry duty which includes washing, drying, AND folding.
Avabird and Michael A. Burstein – Please make sure the guest room is fully stocked with soaps, toothpaste, and shampoo.
Quade1 and PBMom – Wipe down the tubs.
noelm, Thornyrose and PaganX – The DVD room is a mess. Shame on you! Please organize and alphabetize all the titles in their proper sections: comedies in Comedy, t.v. in T.V., and Japanese horror movies with deadly yo yo-wielding schoolgirls under Japanese Yo Yo Horror.
Anais – Jetez les vieux fruits.
PJR – Empty the fridge.
Vojtech Gabriel – Clean the fridge.
Wahlyn – Put everything back in the fridge.
Joel and Michael – Dusting and mopping the hardwood and kitchen floors.
Matt Silver, Susan the Tartan Turtle, Narelle from Aus, and Sylvia – Each of you pick a dog. Bathe them, clean their ears, wipe under their nose folds, then dry them off and pat them down with baby powder so that they smell their best.
Sheryl, Barbao, and Jean – Empty the various garbages and toss them in the big bin. It’s in the garage.
Bailey and DeeinSouthAfrica – Recyclables in the recycling blue box.
Scarym and Iamza – Newsprint in the blue baggies and cardboard and everything else in the yellow ones.
Deni, Shirt ‘n ‘Tie, and Chevron7 – Go through all the shoes, ditch the ones that are past saving, then shine the rest. I want to see my reflection in them!
Cherluvya and Annie from Freemantle: Alphabetize the liquor, from Absinthe to Wild Turkey.
cat4444, Eric.Stewart, Wade, and Randomness – Hit the supermarket for some fresh fruit and veggies. Nothing too tart and nothing too bitter. I like my bananas fairly ripe. And see if you can track down some fresh figs.
Ytimyona and Shiloh – Have the beds been made? I didn’t think so either. What are you waiting for?
Shawn Cassidy, Siba, Bloomgate, and Sparrow_hawk – The library is a mess. Re-shelf everything and throw out those back issues of Flare, Style At Home, and Victoria’s Secret. No, wait. Better hang on to the Victoria’s Secret catalogues. They may be worth something some day.
Sue and duneknight – Could you please toss out those phone books! They must be at least give years old!
Patricia Lee, Shiningwit, fsmn36, Ganymede, Pol, and Bilo&Bella – Everyone grab a lint-roller and de-lint/de-fur every item of clothing on the premises. Wait! JYS, Marsha_R, Jojo and Paloosa – You’d better help.
Shadow Step – You’re on toilet duty.
Scifan, Majorsal, Luis, Kiwiclare, and Joshua Meyers – Office! Filing!
Teal’c_PI, Janet, Pastry Girl, and Bryan M. White – The windows need washing, inside and out.
Debra – You’re ironing the dress shirts.
Malibunextyear – You’re hanging up the dress shirts after they’ve been ironed. Try to color coordinate – white with whites, purples with purples.
Maj. Cliffhanger, Maggiemayday, Arctic Goddess, Luvnjack, and Jonathan Quirk – Those plants in the front yard are dead. Please dispose of them.
E, DaffyDave, Steve C, and MadWelshBoy – Those plants in the back yard are dead. Please dispose of them.
Rob Ward, Shadowesque, Major D. Davis, and Susiekew – Those plants in the house are dead. Please dispose of them.
AndyBrind, Suziesbluefeather, Shiningwit Fargate One, and Rex Carter – Please find out why the sump pump keeps making that noise. And fix it.
Tim Lade, Cindee, BrandonW, Cody, and Elminster – Get to work on that outline.
Everyone else – Look busy!
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