Elephun Wednesday

So, it's Holy Week and what better way to honor this very solemn occasion than with a pope themed Elephun Wednesday.  That is one huge peanut.  I hope the pope appreciates the sacrifice that this elephant is making in giving up such a prize. 

Happy Birthday!!!!!

 

Today is Babbit's birthday!  And to celebrate I baked him a cake.  Well, that was actually yesterday.  And several people pointed out that he should have had his cake on his birthday.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, green relish.  I baked the stupid cake when I had time to bake the stupid cake and it seemed stupid to let it sit around for a day getting stale before I brought it in.  So there. 

Anyhow...

Babbit, and everyone else liked the awesome coconut three layer cake.  And it was rather pretty, if I do say so myself.

And then today, for his birthday lunch, that we ate on his actual birthday, he picked Tutto's.  That is always a good choice.  So good job on that one, Babbit.

We Was Fancy For a Night

Now, I think we can all agree that the Shipping Monkeys are not fancy.  But sometimes we like to pretend.  So since Bee Hee has been going on forever about us going to Capital Grille, and it was Dine Out Week, and we have been putting a little money aside every week, we decided to act like we can afford to eat at a steakhouse. 

 

We all got dressed up in our best collared, navy blue work shirts.  And tried to be on our best behavior.  And I have to say we did a pretty good job. 

 

They put us in a little alcove off to the side that was cozy and didn't feel like everyone would be looking at us.  It turned out that the waiter, Adnan, knew Bee Hee.  He was very good and was able to handle all of us without ever loosing his smile.  Which is quite a feat. 

The bread basket was awesome.  We all had to try really hard not to fill up on bread before the food came.  There was an iPad on the table which had the drink list on it.  I thought that was pretty cool.  The only problem was the beer wasn't on that and we had to ask the waiter to tell us what they had.  Danny...Boy was very impressed with the Coke, and quickly found out why.  They have tiny little glass bottles of Coke.

Babbit got to get his precious French Onion Soup even though it wasn't on the menu, and he and Bee Hee enjoyed that.  The clam chowder was also a big hit: it was thick and creamy with lots of clams.  And according to DB3 the Caesar salad was also a winner. 

The entrees were all steaks.  There was New York Strip and Filet Mignon and both were excellent.  The Kid added shrimp to his and he said those were good as well. 

I love crème brulee.  And I loved this crème brulee.  But it was the softest, loosest crème brulee I have ever had.  It tasted really good but the texture was off.  The flourless cake was rich and delicious.  (Or so I heard, I didn't taste it myself.) It was just the right size because anymore and you would not be able to finishe it.

On the way out there is a big bowl of candy, which instead of mints is tiny little hard fruit candies.  They were tasty and since I am not a fan of mint I was glad they had something different.

I think I can safely say that everyone had a good time and would go back in a heartbeat.  As soon as our monetary resources have been replenished.

 

Pete & Pickles

Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed

Pete is a perfectly practical and predictable pig.  Then Pickles the elephant comes and changes all of that.  And Pete isn't sure he likes it.

Like all of Berkeley Breathed's work the story is rather odd.  And the pictures are a little creepy.  And even though it is a picture book I'm not sure it is good for children.  But I like it.  In the end it is a beautiful story of love and friendship.  A slightly disturbing story of love and friendship, sure, but still heartwarming in the end.  It is different from any other story of love and friendship you are likely to come across but it still shows you the beauty of those things and how you can find them in the most unlikely of places, and with the most unlikely of people.  I don't think you will be sorry if you give it a try.  Although, even though I think it is perfect for Shipping Monkeys, I will warn you that it is not for everyone.

Elephun Wednesday

Our elephant this week wants to wish you all the luck of the Irish.  Poor guy looks like he could use some himself.  I think he might have indulged in too much green beer this year.  But really, isn't any green beer too much green beer?

The Great Pepper Packet Project

Fishy Fishy really likes pepper.  I mean, he loves the stuff.  To an almost scary degree.  So this year for his birthday we are working on a big surprise.  We are going to give him what for most people would be a three year supply of pepper.  He will probably go through it in a month.  Of course we don't plan to pay for this pepper.  So if you are at any restaurant looking for pepper packets and they are completely out, just assume a Shipping Monkey got there first.  Keep it under your hat though.  It's a surprise.  Don't worry.  I know he doesn't read this blog.

Elephun Wednesday

This guy was (since I'm late with this post again) to remind us to set our clocks ahead an hour.  He's kind of cute but I have to say he has a lot of toes and they look kind of like teeth and freak me out a little.  Be that as it may, we are thinking of getting one for the office.  But us being the Shipping Monkeys that we are we will need to find one with all the numbers or we will never know what time it is.

This is the little known skunkaphant.  I assume from the skinniness of his legs that he is the size of a skunk and not the size of an elephant or they would snap like twigs.  Also the size of the scent gland on a skunk the size of an elephant is something I don't even want to contemplate.