“chocolate cake”

“coconut cakes”

“sesame cookies”

… or why I need to have my camera on me at all times.

Among the sweet pickings on Franklin Street this morning – a discarded snare drum with “Hogan Hamfist” scrawled across the skin. Further along the sidewalk I almost tripped over the base drum. Oh, Hogan, sorry your mom finally cleaned out the basement.

See you in two weeks!

See you in two weeks!

The Daily Show is broadcasting from BU this week (don’t ask me from which theater or how to get tickets – grrr).

I initially signed up to volunteer for the DNC, but later decided to save my energy and vacation days for my real vacation. The number one reason I signed up was for the chance to see my favorite Daily Show correspondent, Stephen Colbert, in person. You know, without traveling to NYC to see the show, and without being interviewed for founding a mockable booster group like “Beautiful Women for Nader.”

So, I’m starting an unofficial Stephen Colbert Watch. Send me your sightings! Make them up, I don’t care. For inspiration, check out the hysterical “celebrity” sightings bulletin board on Boston.com.

Weirdly, the Daily Show crew hasn’t made it to Harvard Square on my lunch hour. Tony sighted Rob Corddry on the Common. Boston.com readers have spotted Lewis Black in front of BU’s Tsai Center (ah-ha! a clue!), and Jon Stewart on Comm Ave.

I’m headed to Charlie’s right now, and hoping Colbert loves the karaoke.

The Daily Show is broadcasting from BU this week (don’t ask me from which theater or how to get tickets – grrr).

I initially signed up to volunteer for the DNC, but later decided to save my energy and vacation days for my real vacation. The number one reason I signed up was for the chance to see my favorite Daily Show correspondent, Stephen Colbert, in person. You know, without traveling to NYC to see the show, and without being interviewed for founding a mockable booster group like “Beautiful Women for Nader.”

So, I’m starting an unofficial Stephen Colbert Watch. Send me your sightings! Make them up, I don’t care. For inspiration, check out the hysterical “celebrity” sightings bulletin board on Boston.com.

Weirdly, the Daily Show crew hasn’t made it to Harvard Square on my lunch hour. Tony sighted Rob Corddry on the Common. Boston.com readers have spotted Lewis Black in front of BU’s Tsai Center (ah-ha! a clue!), and Jon Stewart on Comm Ave.

I’m headed to Charlie’s right now, and hoping Colbert loves the karaoke.

Hello internet. I’m a bit behind on updating my weblog. I’m a bit behind on everything that doesn’t involve building virtual zoos. Peeler installed “Zoo Tycoon” on my computer and I’ve been running home every day after school to save endangered animals and revitalize inner city zoos. Virtually.

I don’t have any pictures of me lying on the couch, drinking beer, and staring into my laptop.

I do have pictures from Jes and Kristin’s birthday party, last month. Fran and I made candy sushi to take to the party. Do not attempt to make candy sushi on your own. You only need marshmallows, rice krispies, butter, fruit roll-ups and gummy worms, but you need at least four hands to mold the sugary ingredients into bite-size pleasure-inducing treats (see below).

Fran is a good partner. Look at how happy she is:

Here’s a pretty roll – note the double fruit roll-up wrap:

The first few sushis looked like ass. We hid them on the bottom of the tupperware:

The party was pretty fun before the sushi made it’s debut. Jamie auditioned a new instrument for the jug band:

Fran and Chris had a funny conversation, I think.

Lesley made a ton of beautiful and tasty cupcakes. But let’s face it, everyone got a lot happier after the sushi. Look at the photographic evidence.

Before:

After:

And Jes’s expression can only be identified as rapture:

Last Sunday, my Mom and I took the ferry out to the Boston Harbor Islands. It was a perfect day – sunny, light breeze - and the ferry was packed with couples and families weighed down by coolers, beach chairs, and canvas tote bags. Lesson 1: Get there early. We arrived at the Long Warf dock 20 minutes before the ferry’s scheduled departure and were the last two people allowed on the boat.

For $10 you get a roundtrip to George’s Island. From there you can take smaller boats to the other islands. On Sunday, only one other island was open to the public: Grape Island. Luckily, Grape was number 1 on Mom’s “islands to visit” list.

Lesson 2: Pack a lunch. We didn’t have coolers, but I stashed an ice pack in my bag for our sandwiches and juice boxes. Saturday night I stayed home and made goat cheese popovers, in two sizes. This is my idea of a perfect Saturday night. I am lame. 

Mom accidentally sat on the popovers on the boat to Grape Island. I knew I had a zillion more at home, so I didn’t get mad.

Grape Island has no made-made structures, except for a little grape arbor, and a couple of “privies”. The island vegetation was almost exclusively berry bushes (blackberry, raspberry, gooseberry, bayberry), aspens, and staghorn sumac.

Lesson 3: Go to Grape Island in mid-July, not mid-June if you want to eat berries.  

We followed the grassy paths on the island and then walked around the shoreline.

George’s Island was crowded with picnickers and family barbeques. Grape Island was much quieter. We wandered off the paths and didn’t run into anyone until we treked back to the boat dock.

Lesson #4: Get in line *early* for the ferry back to Boston. We waited in line for a half hour and didn’t make it on the boat, so we had to wait another 45 minutes in line for the next ferry.

A pleasant and inexpensive way to spend a summer day. Even your Mom will be impressed.

Last Sunday, my Mom and I took the ferry out to the Boston Harbor Islands. It was a perfect day – sunny, light breeze - and the ferry was packed with couples and families weighed down by coolers, beach chairs, and canvas tote bags. Lesson 1: Get there early. We arrived at the Long Warf dock 20 minutes before the ferry’s scheduled departure and were the last two people allowed on the boat.

For $10 you get a roundtrip to George’s Island. From there you can take smaller boats to the other islands. On Sunday, only one other island was open to the public: Grape Island. Luckily, Grape was number 1 on Mom’s “islands to visit” list.

Lesson 2: Pack a lunch. We didn’t have coolers, but I stashed an ice pack in my bag for our sandwiches and juice boxes. Saturday night I stayed home and made goat cheese popovers, in two sizes. This is my idea of a perfect Saturday night. I am lame. 

Mom accidentally sat on the popovers on the boat to Grape Island. I knew I had a zillion more at home, so I didn’t get mad.

Grape Island has no made-made structures, except for a little grape arbor, and a couple of “privies”. The island vegetation was almost exclusively berry bushes (blackberry, raspberry, gooseberry, bayberry), aspens, and staghorn sumac.

Lesson 3: Go to Grape Island in mid-July, not mid-June if you want to eat berries.  

We followed the grassy paths on the island and then walked around the shoreline.

George’s Island was crowded with picnickers and family barbeques. Grape Island was much quieter. We wandered off the paths and didn’t run into anyone until we treked back to the boat dock.

Lesson #4: Get in line *early* for the ferry back to Boston. We waited in line for a half hour and didn’t make it on the boat, so we had to wait another 45 minutes in line for the next ferry.

A pleasant and inexpensive way to spend a summer day. Even your Mom will be impressed.