yesterday was my birthday

and we did things my way.  We had cake

and then we had dinner. 

This morning I started off my first full day of 45 with Icy Hot because I slept wrong.  On the bright side, I also started off my day with cake.

I took it easy yesterday morning.  After Cosme left for work I made myself breakfast and sat in bed and ate while catching up on dvr.  I had put a clapper on the lamp on his nightstand a while back because it made it easier.  (Although, it doesn't scare him near as much when he's sleeping and I tap him to turn off his lamp versus when he's sleeping and I do two loud claps.)  Anyway, I was sitting there watching tv and his lamp clicked off.  A few minutes later I pressed pause on the tv and was playing Gin Rummy on my iPad.  The lamp clicked on.  A little later it clicked off.  A little later it clicked on.  I asked if someone was trying to tell me Happy Birthday.  A few minutes later it clicked off for the last time.  I took that as a yes.

I saw this book the other day and took a picture of it, thinking I'd research it and see if it's something Eric needs.  I'm sure he doesn't want any recipes but is it like an etiquette AND cooking guide for guys?  I'll research.  (Research would also include finding a cheaper copy.)

UPDATE: I just researched it.  While Amazon does have it listed for $21 (but not with Prime), it's probably not something he needs.

I also saw this at the same store.  I guess it just goes on a shelf?  It's some kind of decor.

This is it from a different angle.

I didn't bother looking at the tag for the price.  I knew I wouldn't buy it.  I looked at the tag to make sure I read the description right.

Yes.  It is, in fact, "Rings on Wood".  There you go.  Without bothering to flip the tag over for a price check, I'm sure it wasn't cheap.  First of all, it's Rings on Wood in a department store.  Second, this store wants $32 for a book on a southern gentleman's kitchen.  No thanks, I'll pass.  I'm sure it would make a great space filler on a bookcase somewhere but I just don't need it.  Now had it been Squares on Wood... I would've had a hard time walking away. 

I need to sign off now so I can get the garbage out, right after I read up on when my next dose of Icy Hot can be applied.

yesterday's meal

had me worried as I prepared it. It all started with the remoulade sauce. It was yellow. Yellow? It looked like a bowl of spicy mustard. I couldn't figure out why the coloring was off. Maybe it I put too much green onion in. Maybe it was that mayo w/ olive oil. Who knows, but I'm not going to let yellow remoulade get me down when I have steaks like these waiting.
mmm, 1 1/2 inch thick filet mignon. Randalls had it on sale so I had four cut for our lunch. I was pretty excited... until we cut into them. There was a lot of gristle. I guess it wasn't too bad but it's not really something I would expect to find at all. Maybe they weren't cut right. Maybe that's why they were on sale. Maybe I'll keep buying them from Kroger. It didn't matter. The meat had a good flavor, was a good medium-rare and we had cheesecake waiting.
mmm, the one Dodo always made. That's my favorite cheesecake. It didn't look right so I put it back in the oven for a few minutes. After it cooled, I put saran wrap over the top. UGH! I immediately realized what I'd done and pulled it off, which messed up the top of the cake. So I covered it with foil and put it in the refrigerator. What I thought would be another let down wasn't so bad. Hey, it might even be good for breakfast, I'll check it out.

Oh, we did have other things, not just sauce, steak and cheesecake. I boiled some shrimp and sliced some celery for our sauce. Our sides were asaparagus and roasted new potatoes. Then of course Sister Schubert's dinner rolls.

happy fathers day

Cosme with Eric. I like this one. It's typical Cosme and Eric.
Lloyd and Dad. There's some sort of something over Lloyd but it's still a cute picture.
Papaw and Mom. There was one I wanted to post and scanned it several times but it was too blurry. I think this one is cute too.
I like this one of Dad and me. It's so obvious I'm asking for something.
I left Lauren out on Mom's birthday so I dug and dug to find a picture for fathers day with her included. (Hey, I'm working on a limited supply here.) This was on the old cars at Astroworld, just my speed. What's up with all the theme park pictures? Wasn't there one a couple down?

happy birthday to

Mom. There was one picture I really wanted to post but decided not to... for the same reasons I didn't post any pictures of Cosme on his birthday. (Hey, I'm out to have fun but I don't want anyone getting mad at me.) In case anyone's wondering, it's not that I didn't want Lauren in any of the pictures but the ones I picked just happen to be before she was born.