16 Aug 2008: Random Change & Kindness...

Random Kindness...

About a month ago Judi contacted me indicating that she wanted to get a birthday cake for her best friend Carinae...and could I make a birthday cake for her and of course she insisted on payment. Of course I declined payment and made the cake which would only be for 2-3 people. Now that's love...2 best friends 1 in the Bay Area and the other in the Southwest but still one determined to do something for the other. How could anyone decline?

Carinae came by the shop and she was warm and cute and happy and it was just like choppin' it up with an old friend...

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Random Change 1...

I gave my 2 week notice weeks ago at my previous job for a job which pays much better and has extremely good benefits. I will also be working bankers hours M-F 8-5. Hahahhaa. Truth be told I started a week ago. Even more true is that they wanted me to start 2 weeks ago, but that was not a go because Julian and I had an appearance to make in Vegas.

I worked right up until my departure for Vegas. But that will be in a later blog with our Vegas story.

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Random Kindness 2

{observe that just add water shit in the back...that was a recent change only shortly before my resignation...go figure...coz i'm against boxed joints}

So on my last day of work the girls pulled together a little potluck...this tasty cheesy rice...pork loin with gravy...a garden salad with craisins, croutons and almonds, these crazy mashed potatoes, and they brought in a leche flan cake with a chocolate bottom. You know they didn't have to. They didn't have to get the card or the flowers either...but they did. I'm gonna miss the girls but not much else...hahahha.

People have asked me why I went back to IT instead of getting another job in the pastry game. First of all, the valley has no pastry jobs of any meter at all; it is the off season right now and I know far too many unemployed people. Second of all even if I did find a job worth my time the benefits would still take a year to kick in. Thirdly, I find people in the restaurant to have a mismatched ego vs reality...ie) I've seen plenty of "ig'nant" behaviour in my time...but Ig'nant like you really didn't do that did you...like...basic professional courtesy as an end result vs. day to day work tedium shit.

But that's okay...because no matter what you do you can never deny your background and the shit that trails behind you. It's hilarious to see that no matter what face people show you they can never hide the face underneath. I love to see people struggle and struggle and struggle...

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Random Change 2

About a month ago...my girl Gya sends me a text message so that I'm one of the first to know that she is about to bail for Brooklyn. Yes ladies and gentleman...I was sad then happy then excited then sad again at the news. But the positioning of a fabulous job, a plethora of opportunities and the fact that she loves the city - well it's a go. Fortunately for me she has a ton of family here and will always be home to visit. Even more fortunate for me is the fact that we will have Brooklyn Bomblettes Soon.

I'mma miss our l'il tetra pack!

i'll be spinderella okay?

I love you G-Girl! And I hope to see you soon!

12 Jul 2008: Voice of Affection and Vacation

On Voice of Affection...

I tell you what...today it's only about 95 degrees but the past few weeks have been 105 degrees and up...It's been something else. Last Monday Julian and I decided to grab some lunch and games at Dave & Busters.

He had the Teriyaki Sirloin Steak and I had a Chicken Parmesan Caesar Salad. He drank a Long Island to my Plain Tea. Then we proceeded to beat House of the Dead IV (40 bucks later haha)...When we stepped out into the outdoor mall (Tempe Marketplace)...it looked like a tropical misty strange place.

(Yeah Grimey...even when he's not at a show he rocks your shirt!)

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Really we just wanted to walk off our big lunch and sore trigger fingers.

But Kibby found a dope fitted hat:

and I found my favourite! HELLO Kitty...in a tank hoodie!

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All these consecutive hot days plus long days of work and interviews and appointments have been a little taxing. We do have a house and social lives to maintain so it's been a real labor of love to get everything done. But we've done it and done it well.

The other day I got home and Julian was puttering around the house and about to take out the garbage and I said Hi Hunny! He said Hello...I know my Bebe loves me. I started laughin' and asked,"Where'd that come from?" He said because I know you do - because you don't just say it - you LIVE it."

That's good shit...to have acknowledgement that Love is not only a destiny or a blessing but also something living and thriving. It is something you must take care of and strengthen. It's little things like that that make the nonsense of day to day chores okay.

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on Vacations...

We are going to Vegas with City Momma at the beginning of next month for Julian's cousins wedding! How exciting to see our City Momma again - it will be a weekend of enjoying the love and laughter and company of family.

We have pushed our one month vacation in December to February because the end of year is a real busy and profitable month for the both of us...So we will see 4 Asian countries around Valentines! uh Fabulous.

We must decide where to take a 4 day weekend out of the desert soon...We don't know where - but somewhere with great cafe's (for me) and great golf (for him)...I'll prolly just suggest a trip "home" to Calie...but in the fall My cousin Christian will be getting married so maybe we'll flip it into a double holiday!

I love vacation. The whole process...packing, going, travelling...listening to things you've never heard before, trying local cuisine and just moving your feet along the pavement to the rhythmn of people. It's the journey...always the journey.

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Meanwhile...the cakes still get made.

The more I long for vacation the more whimsical these little jokers get!

26 Mar 2008: Hello Kitty Strikes Again

Okay Kitty Krazy...that’s what the world is...

Here is a pic of Wendy Lee’s Birthday Cake.

I guess I’ll just keep makin’ cake

07 Dec 2007: Canine Love?

Canine Love...

I realize that people love their dogs. However, I find that most people who act super uber nice to dogs usually treat people like shit. You dummies.

So this customer comes in and orders a cake for the dog Fifo 15 dog years old (see 105 human years beeyotches) and asks if we can put a "PICTURE" of the dog. No says the manager we do not do that. Customer presses and says well can't you print off one of those things and put it on the cake. The manager reiterates - no sir WE do not do that however Safeway does that sort of thing. The customer suggests a caricature of the birthday pooch and has come armed with an 8x10 photo...

The manager comes to the back and I rarely tell Gianni no because I like his attitude. I say fine. I'll make the damn dog cake.

Andy Warhol styling in chocolate is the most you'll get out of me.

Especially the night of the Grime/KRS-One Show...

Oh Well...here goes

30 Nov 2007: Pancakes and Waffles

This morning I made wheat pancakes for Julian and the boys. There were 2 extra and I brought them to work in case I got hungry. Right when I walked in Gianni said the dude next door was havin a birthday and his employees wanted a cake with pancakes and waffles. Because he owns a breakfast joints that serve pancakes and waffles. Hahahahhaa. A gelato cake with pancake and waffle decorations. I said no problem I got some pancakes in my purse.

Bwaaahahahhahahha

We keep it pushin' in this beeyooootch even when you gotta improvise and freestyle. With that I'm OUT. I'm done with work and have to meet everyone for the Grime & Dead Prez Show...

Ciao.

28 Nov 2007: Greedy.

Lately people have been coming to me to vent about greedy people. Emotional and otherwise. I love people who think they can have their CAKE and eat it too. YOU KNOW WHY? Because I will have the opportunity to watch their asses CHOKE while i suck down my quad espresso.

Beware. Don't choke in front of me coz I'm not dirtying my hands to heimlich you. Holla Front.

12 Oct 2007: Wok This Way...

Wok this Way...
Category: Blogging

Sometimes I make family dinner for the staff. Lately I've been hella busy so I've been keeping it pretty simple. I always use the wok even when it's not Asian food. Bwaa hahaha. Here's a sample of this weeks latest...

Baked Ziti, Garlic Cheesy Bread and Veggies...

Chicken Fried Rice and the Sucka's take home some. Hahahhaa.

Tonight was Penne Pasta with a Garlic Pink Sauce (Tomato Alfredo)

...I have to say even as busy as I've been lately I've been MAKING time to cook for my little monster beasts. Know why? Because they are genuinely happy and appreciative to eat home cooked food. I also love to do it because it helps stretch their taste buds to try something new. I love that they never take it for granted and always do an excited little dance when they smell cooking.

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Cake Time

The cakes have been a little more inspired lately. Who knows - maybe coz I'm in the middle of a storm of busy. But it's great to see well made things even in Auto Pilot. Bwaa hahahahha

Hazelnut Chocolate

Coconut Chocolate

Raspberry Chocolate Chip

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I'm so happy all my food always finds a home!

08 Aug 2007: Gone Fishing

Like I said...If I get one more request for some weirdo ass cake!

The lady said fishing theme coz her hubbie is turnin' 50.

I don't know anything about that...but erm

yah okay...

And I'm goin' home now - i'm done...

No more sugar pieces or custom fondant fish...

04 Aug 2007: Goofy...Hilarious...Excited

Goofy...

I don't know how much more goofy these cake requests can get. I realize that you are having a hawaiian theme birthday - but all you are getting from me is handforged florals on the said cakes! I have to maintain my creative integrity...

ps) Tell yo' Mama to spell your name right.

Hilarious...

Why do I find my little nephew Tank's face and rocked out hair so Hilarious!!! Even when he's mad he cracks me up...

My sister said when it was time to leave...Tank cried and cried sayin' that he didn't wanna go home and he likes it here and why couldn't they stay. Awww. She also said that when they went home Grandmama asked,"What did you do in Arizona?" He said," Swimming and Played with the dogs and I played with Uncle and I cooked with Auntie!!!" Grandmama said,"Cooking..." My sister told her that I let him add the spices and stir and help with the pasta and gangsta noodles and cookies and little dude would get the stepstool out the laundry room and physically help me. Everyone is so very impressed with the almost 3 year old!

Why is my first godbebe lookin' so grown! And helpin' me in the kitchen in her camo dress...Bwaa hahaha. Uncle Ro...brush that hair! You got poolhead.

Double chef's rockin' Dad's last name...that's me and Lee...I'm lookin' kinna scrubby in these pics - but I don't mind. It's family and they will love you face scrubbed blank and all. Hey Alfie - look i'm rockin' specs!

My sister is such a trooper - super preggo and workin' hard and her and my fabulous brother in law go on these roadtrips and mini vacations. I love to watch them coz they really are each other's best "homie" Her big bellied preggo ass was playin' Wii with my godbaby pitchin Wii baseball then sayin Whaaaat with a shoulder shake and game shimmy. I'm like helllll no. Hahahahha.

I love having them around. Hella sad to see them go home. I sent home a pan of biko for Dad. Biko is a sweet rice cake. The rice cake is cooked in coconut milk/coconut cream then flattened and baked after you top it with a coconut caramel. OooooWeeee. She said Dad killed it in a day. Bwaa haaha. She called and said we need more. Hahahhahha. I was tryin' to show them how I do mine and I just don't have a recipe - it's freestyle.

So...Everyone met Julian - he'd only met my one sister and one brother. This time he had a chance to meet everyone all together: My 3 brothers, my 2 sisters, my dope brother in law, my niece and 2 nephews...he already knew my godbrother...All I gotta say is everyone digs/loves Julian!

Excited...

Yesterday morning Julian was packin' his toiletries for his business trip and I was having some coffee @ the kitchen table working on spreadsheets. He walked in the kitchen and said,"Bebe...I'm getting so excited about going to the Philippines!!! You don't even know!" Hahahhaahha. I just laughed and said you are gonna have the best time ever and try stuff that will be so new and good to you! He was just shaking his fist like YES...I said or you can just sleep by the pool or the beach. Hahahahha.

It's just 2 weeks away kids.

Last night the famous Wendy Lee popped by to pick up a cake for Jessica's birthday. I ended up not going because I had both digi cams and my brother needed one of them because he was leaving for Mexico today which meant I had to go to the North Valley house. I just love Wendy. We chopped it up over smoothies and I showed her the 50 some odd pics I printed from Chicago (+1 of her and Julian coz she's matchmaker deluxe - holla). She just smiled and said so sweetly,"...You two are always having the time of your life..." I'm like," that's your work Wendy Lee - all yours!!!" She told me about psycho beauty queens from the last pageant in SF...about all city's she will be at for Rock the Bells...Ahhh Life resumes. It's so fun to be us!

She is more excited than Julian about this upcoming trip. I told her there will be other's and you must go on one of them. She's like oh HELL yes!

I always love any time that Wendy and I can hang out!

It ain't tough bein' stuntariffic glamazons but someone's gotta do it.