Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

This Week's Fancy Pants Meal: Parentalpocalypse Edition

They wanted home made Hour and Sour Soup, Fried Rice and Beef and Broccoli. And they got it in droves.

Dad wanted Sweet and Sour Pork, but after six hours of cooking my back and neck said "we're done." Tentative plans to make that on Thursday....

For now, though... ::collapses::

This is what happens when mom buys the groceries. And I'm 100% happy with this decision.

Where I am now....

Parentalpocalypse, Day Three: One thing my parents and I enjoy, is roadtripping. And we are getting thos emiles in while they're here. Today we explored northwestern Washington State, and actually got to within feet of the Canadian Border.

Just took a small drive up the old Pacific Highway route. While in Marysville, we came across an antique car show, including a still running 100 year old Model A! Apparently, they just hang around this parking lot every weekend.

We took our time climbing the highway up towards Blaine, showing off some little ghostowns here and there, such as Bow, and slightly less ghost towns like Edison and others.

We came back, and I did something I wanted to do for a LONG time. Back in 1982, when I was a little kid, Saturday Nights were staying up late with the parents, watching Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and Battlestar Galactica. Occasionally with a black forest cake or A&W Root Beer Floats.

Under the guise of getting coffee for the morning, I snuck out to the grocery store, got coffee, and some cake slices for the folks. At 10:30, I switched over to Plex, and on came Twilight Zone. Then Star Trek. Then Battlestar Galactica.

I really wanted to do this. I missed out on the chance last time they were up here, I wasn't going to lose it again. So for two and a half hours, I got to be eight years old again, keeping my parents up, while we watched Sci Fi. And I wanted to have a night of those good times again.

Fifty is the new Eight.

Where I am now.

Parentalpocalypse, Day Two: Birthday Edition

We got a late start on the day, so I kinda pushed our plans to another day. Instead, I literally just showed the folks around the Snoqualmie Valley, showing off Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Snoqualmie and North Bend.

I pointed out the stuff around the towns, showed them the side roads and sights...we'd riven through these towns but never really showed them off. After we got to North Bend, we turned around to head back. Mom wanted to hit a farmer's market and thankfully, there was one in full force in Fall City.

A loaf of sourdough bread later, we headed back into town. We stopeed at Sam's Noodle Town in Carnation for birthday dinner (I'd been craving Pho for WEEKS and decided thta would be my dinner). We headed back home, relaxed a bit, and then went to C.C's 2.0 Espresso & Ice Creamery for a night cap.

After a very short tour of Duvall, we headed back. Mom and I sat and watched the Olympics while dad (successfully!) figured out how to use chopsticks.

It was a quiet birthday. I like quiet. :)

Fashion Goals:

Thank you kindly! ❤️

Today is my 50th Birthday! As is my right on this day, I give you all the day off at full pay.

If your bosses complain, tell them to talk to me.

Introducing JennOS 5.0 - Government Edition

This new JennOS contains the following upgrades:

* Extra large spinal disks capable of sending signals to the left arm at lightning speed (only pain signals apply, all orther signals blocked).
* New of government policies and procedures subroutines installed (I swear, we were just trying to write to fix that math co-processor problem and we accidentally got this).
* Added new color to the RGB display card palette: Gray (only in hair, and occasional nose hair)

Please install JennOS 5.0 at your earliest convenience to solve any lingering problems you've had with the previous operating sysSEGFAULT AT 8091:1987

C:\JENNOS>_

Day 1 of Parentpocalypse: Not much. I mean, they flew all day, and I picked them up. Chinese food, and catching up.

Good to have them back. ❤

Ask me that again in three days.

Thoughts Before Bed

"Traveler, if there is no path to your goal, make your own path, step-by-step."

This Week's Celebratory Birthday Meal: Fairy Bread

So I have a close friend in Australia who, a few weeks ago, told me I needed to make scones after she saw my Popeyes Biscuits. That did me right, and she mentioned Fairy Bread to try as well. It's been on my radar for my birthday ever since.

Yes, it's not quite my birthday yet (about 25 hours from now). But as my parents will be here for the next two weeks I made this now so I could have some before they got here.

This is really good. For something so simple, it's REALLY good. Since becoming diabetic and cutting back on my sweets, I've lost a bit of my sweet tooth. I like cake, but rarely finish a slice in one sitting before it's too sweet. This has a really subtle sweetness that builds as you chew it, and a heckuva crunchy texture.

This is dangerous. Now I can have something lightly sweet anytime I want. And all it takes is a TON of butter and a TON of sprinkles. :)

# Fairy Bread

A slice of bread.
Enough margarine (or softened butter) to thickly spread on the bread
A whole lotta nonpareil sprinkles

1 - Grab you a slice of bread.
2 - Spread butter on bread VERY thickly, making sure to cover the whole slice.
3 - Add enough sprinkles to spread across the bread, covering it completely.

#thisweeksmeals

Next time I make these pigs-in-a-blanket I'm using cheddar slices instead of American cheese.

It's certainly been an interesting 72 hours. :)

Ending Day Three of Super Adulting:

Stay safe out there, Taiwanese friends and fam.

Music Before Bed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W05cPXpUHGI