lsanderson

Today is the end of almost a week off work. I'm attempting to chip a geologic layer or two down in my office. I should be doing cards and paying bills.

Thursday my sister, cousin, and her roommate came to town. Thursday night we went to eat at Tilia's. And I introduced them to Wizard, the card game. We played it through the weekend, sometimes with clickers, sometimes without. Sometimes scoring, sometimes not. After the first failed attempt at scoring, I actually figured out how to do it. It's math -- it's hard.

Friday, my birthday, we ate lunch at Blackbird, shopped a bit at Southdale, followed by a cross-the-city drive to buy cheese at Surdyk's, dinner at Piccolo, and then went to see Miss Richfield at the Illusion Theater. I failed to lure them to Broadstreet for a nightcap. There were a few hands of Wizard during the day.

Saturday, my cousin's birthday, we ate brunch at Tilia's, followed by a brief tour of Uptown Lunds and the American Swedish Institute to buy lingonberry jam. There were a few hands of Wizard during the day, along with cheese, crackers, and two kindsa liver pate. At some point, we hit the Asian store for duck and banana. For dinner, Someone prepared spring rolls, and we heated up the duck, followed by more Wizard.

Sunday we played Wizard, drank mimosas, ate more Delice, crackers, and finished up the truffled pate. We hit Heidi's for dinner. It took an inordinate number of calls to make the reservation. First I made it for four at six. Then Someone decided to come. I called back to say make it five at six. The other Wizard players declared that I had to call back to disambiguate the time and number of people. By the time I wuz done, I felt quite close to the reservationist, and, indeed, she remembered me.

At Tilia's, we drank a bottle of the house white Burgundy the first time, the second time, we drank mimosas. At Piccolo, we drank a Gruner Veltliner -- I maintain that finishing the bottle wuz wot caused me to doze once or twice at Miss Richfield's. At Heidi's, we drank Spanish cava. When I say "we," I mean my cousin and I. Her roommate tastes the wine and drinks a little, but it's up to my cousin and me to finish the bottle.

At Tilias, we ate2 X Butternut Squash soup, today's potted meat, shrimp, 2 X arctic char, grilled mahi mahi, and pork cheeks, with sides of Brussels sprouts and kale, toffee date cake, butterscotch pot du creme, and a panna cotta. Brunch: Pancakes, Crepe, 2 X Corn bread waffles benedict, and the special omelette -- pulled pork and guac. (I split my bendict for half the omellet.)

At Piccolo, 2 X Celery root soup, one or two orders of ribs, fresh hearts of palm, foie gras torchon, prosciutto wrapped shrimp, charcoal grilled octopus, pumpkin spice cake, roasted bananas, and the soft chocolate terrine.

At Heidi's, Caviar Sunday, 2 X The "Bennie," 2 X Spicy butternut squash soup, marbled foie gras terrine, ranch salad, trout ham roulade, 21st Century Cassoulet, lamb shank, two short ribs, cherry sorbet, 2 X maderia parfait, coffee-cream filled donuts, and nitro chocolate mouse.

Early Monday, the gang departed for Fargo and Bismarck. I went off to see Hugo. I kinda liked it except for the total lack of nekkid men and the heights.