Katie Meadow

I can be happy with sweet or savory as mood dictates, or availability allows. French toast, certainly. Leftover pizza, why not. Wontons in broth or out, if only. But there's a major caveat: someone has to put iit in front of me. I can barely push down my own toast in the morning.

Happy Birthday, @Steve Irby. I'm 77. My last few birthdays have been similar. I think about going out, but often end up staying home. There's a local bakery that has a chocolate cake I really like. My husband often buys a couple of slices and that's my party. The last time I actually celebrated was for my 70th. We had a party at the family beach house. Of note was great October weather, a lovely apple pie my SIL baked that had a "77" formed in crust. People stayed overnight and breakfast was leftover oysters and key lime pie. My nephew had never had oysters and he was over the moon, which was hilarious. But the real moment of awe came when a red fox was spotted across the street during breakfast. We're talking about a funky little beach town and a funky beach house with a view of the ocean. In all my nearly fifty years of marrying into this beach house this fox was a one-time only event. Deer always. Wild turkeys wandering about the streets, especially the day after Thanksgiving, just to prove they are still alive. But a fox? I'm guessing never again. This year my birthday will be singularly weird. I will be on the tail end of chemo. All bets are off whether or not a slice of chocolate cake will look good.

What, you don't like their geezer stockings?

I'll take one of those sandwiches. Just hold the broccoli, and anything fetal. And maybe the lychees, although I might trust your zeal on that one. Most all your breakfasts seem fascinating and appealing, or things I might make at a decent hour, like for dinner. As I'm sure I've repeated (geezer time!) I can barely push down the lever on the toaster anymore in the morning, so my husband makes my toast for me. It may be under or over toasted, but I'm learning to shut my mouth.

You had me at steamers sticking their necks out of the sand. Your crowd never seems to order them, Doesn't anyone like them? Of all the things I miss from the east coast that's almost at the top of my list. I just love them. And of course there are none here on the west coast. It's mostly a clam desert except for manilla clams, which are okay but tiny and can't match the little quahogs.

Carpano Antica is a favorite. I love it in summer just over ice. I also like the Cocchi di Torino but can't remember the last time I had it or how. I love the amaro bitters, but surprisingly I don't like compari / or a negroni. My mother always had a bottle of Punt e Mes around in her dotage. Needless to say she didn't have a drop of Italian blood, but she did have an Italian boyfriend.

I thought you were on the road to Montana. But yoi are still shopping at TJ's apparently.

I forgot all about this peculiar thread. For all I know I contributed something to it in a past life, but reading through the whole thing would be as bad as Starbucks coffee. Not a fan. However I went back a page just for a refresh and I do miss heidih. She's right: Starbucks is better than being in the DMV. However, I do have a recent Starbucks story. Last April we were driving back to Atlanta from Edisto Island. It was hot. I needed a bathroom and an icy drink. Signs pointed to a Starbucks off the highway. The facilities were closed but there was a drive-up window. There was a person in the window. When I asked for an espresso frappuccino she said, "Sorry, I can't make that right now. Our ice machine is broken." To my addled brain that just seemed pathetic. We drove across a parking lot and noticed a sign for a Waffle House. I've never been to a Waffle House. Now that I'm vacationing so often in the Carolinas and Atlanta I realize they come with the territory. There's even a "Waffle House Museum" near Atlanta.We never go because, well, it's more fun making jokes about it. I have no idea what their coffee is like, but the bathroom was very nice. So, next time I'm in a jam on a steamy highway I might just try Waffle House. It may be better than Starbucks, but no way more rejuvenating than that iced tea and the pacific coast breeze on the patio. RIP, Heidi.

Voted best home cooked meal in the world.

O Canada you can do better than bubblegum ice cream. I have faith in you and wish everyone over the norther border a happy and well adjusted normal life.

You're making Moe's breakfast.

I've tried one or two gizmos to strip kernels but a knife is really the easiest for me. A few kernels fly off into the void, but who could blame them?

Can you find this product locally in the East Bay? If not, where do you order them?

Me. I'm faster. I get them before he knows they're gone. In all fairness I don't think he thinks about it unless it's right in front of him. If you like the oysters it doesn't serve to broadcast it.

Aww, you're so sweet. My husband is a nice husband too. He eats all the breast meat and the legs and leaves me the thights and the wings because that's what I like. Also I love Shoemaker's Chicken. Do you use only cherry peppers? That's a good solution for someone like me who has a baby-ish dislike for bell peppers.