From 9/8/19 - 9/14/19.
aggrieved
The middle child feels aggrieved, blamed by an older sibling who sides with a younger one.
butterscotch
The birthday cake is slathered in butterscotch icing. Over the weekend, it disappears in chunky slices that melt away on people's tongues and between their teeth, and in fist-sized balls that a child digs out of its side, and in slivers of icing picked away by restless fingernails.
cyclical
They cycle quickly from "I hate you" to hanging out together laughing to being deeply annoyed with each other again (which they call hate), a mood that soon shifts back to affection.
dinner
My clothes are damp and cold from a heavy rain, but the walk to the restaurant is worth it. A good burger, an easy flow of conversation, just a lovely evening overall.
occupations
The first night, she pretends to be a doctor, and she even knows the word "MRI," though she pronounces it "enMarigh." The second night, she's an ice cream truck driver handing out blueberry and mint scoops on cones.
outplay
Creativity, laughter, and hyper-competitiveness during board games. Once again, I get my ass whooped in Settlers of Catan by a ruthless kid.
roomy
The large dollhouse is reserved for a couple of small dog figurines and a little plastic baby in a drawer.
Showing posts with label cakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cakes. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Monday, March 2, 2020
Week in Seven Words #498
astronomy
We find Jupiter with its banded surface, and a tiny, pale Saturn. Strangely, it's our moon that's foggiest and most unclear.
engorged
The meal before the fast is full of water-rich foods, like cucumbers, turnips, green beans, and watermelon.
fascination
When the fountain leaps to life, one boy steps back in startled wonder. The other climbs on the rim to peer closely at the shifting configurations of water.
generational
I prefer the reading voices of the older men, their raspy, trembling dignity. The younger men recite without feeling in a nasally intonation.
glades
In a park installed on old elevated rail tracks, there's an atmosphere of forest enchantment. Some people paddle their feet in a dark stream. Others are tucked on wooden lounge chairs screened by leaves. A handful of children listen to gentle music while painting tiles in the foggy light. We turn a corner and discover a dark, massive sculpture of a human head.
licked
They order marble cheese cake, strawberry shortcake, and a dense chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate pudding. Without even planning it, I grab one of the extra forks and shave off some of the frosting. It's almost too much in sweetness and richness, and it undermines the resolve I had formed to avoid chocolate for the week.
sunless
A thunderstorm brings dusk to mid-afternoon. Lightning dips into the river like a bony finger.
We find Jupiter with its banded surface, and a tiny, pale Saturn. Strangely, it's our moon that's foggiest and most unclear.
engorged
The meal before the fast is full of water-rich foods, like cucumbers, turnips, green beans, and watermelon.
fascination
When the fountain leaps to life, one boy steps back in startled wonder. The other climbs on the rim to peer closely at the shifting configurations of water.
generational
I prefer the reading voices of the older men, their raspy, trembling dignity. The younger men recite without feeling in a nasally intonation.
glades
In a park installed on old elevated rail tracks, there's an atmosphere of forest enchantment. Some people paddle their feet in a dark stream. Others are tucked on wooden lounge chairs screened by leaves. A handful of children listen to gentle music while painting tiles in the foggy light. We turn a corner and discover a dark, massive sculpture of a human head.
licked
They order marble cheese cake, strawberry shortcake, and a dense chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate pudding. Without even planning it, I grab one of the extra forks and shave off some of the frosting. It's almost too much in sweetness and richness, and it undermines the resolve I had formed to avoid chocolate for the week.
sunless
A thunderstorm brings dusk to mid-afternoon. Lightning dips into the river like a bony finger.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Week in Seven Words #358
bundled
There's a bundle of blankets on the couch. It takes me a few moments to realize it's a child, staring at the TV through the fog of a cold.
fidget
I need to guard against the antsy expectation of the next thing, the unsettling need to keep scrolling down the page or refreshing it.
genre
They're reading young adult novels set in dystopian societies, and I like their analyses of these books - what makes sense to them, what doesn't, and their take on the characterizations. Their thoughts on what they read have become more complex.
gravel
He's bought neon orange gravel for the fish bowl. When he cleans it in the sink, it makes a crunchy, rustling noise in the spray of cold water.
mortify
I speak to someone who calls himself progressive. To him, being progressive means using certain tortured terminology and immediately shaming people who don't. It's likely the correct terminology will change soon, so he'll have to keep a close eye on developments. Signaling correctness is a key way to avoid ostracism.
pattern
Wine-colored leaves shaped like stars, suspended in perfect stillness under a streetlight.
sharing
The waiter brings out a slice of cake with a candle stuck to it. It's meant for an adult's birthday, but mostly the kids devour it, after it gets sectioned with a steak knife.
There's a bundle of blankets on the couch. It takes me a few moments to realize it's a child, staring at the TV through the fog of a cold.
fidget
I need to guard against the antsy expectation of the next thing, the unsettling need to keep scrolling down the page or refreshing it.
genre
They're reading young adult novels set in dystopian societies, and I like their analyses of these books - what makes sense to them, what doesn't, and their take on the characterizations. Their thoughts on what they read have become more complex.
gravel
He's bought neon orange gravel for the fish bowl. When he cleans it in the sink, it makes a crunchy, rustling noise in the spray of cold water.
mortify
I speak to someone who calls himself progressive. To him, being progressive means using certain tortured terminology and immediately shaming people who don't. It's likely the correct terminology will change soon, so he'll have to keep a close eye on developments. Signaling correctness is a key way to avoid ostracism.
pattern
Wine-colored leaves shaped like stars, suspended in perfect stillness under a streetlight.
sharing
The waiter brings out a slice of cake with a candle stuck to it. It's meant for an adult's birthday, but mostly the kids devour it, after it gets sectioned with a steak knife.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Week in Seven Words #280
blender
Rain spatters the window. The backyard looks like green liquid, a parsley shake.
cloy
The candies are a brightly colored glue of sugar and preservatives.
principle
He doesn't like the cake, but he eats it, because it's cake.
silencing
A spider threads its web across the mouth of a stone lion.
sloshing
His aquarium is a blue tub. The fish are plastic toys, and bob as if they're dead. He pokes at them to make them look lively. They lurch and sway in the water.
underestimate
Throughout the game of Clue he glances at his phone, gets up to eat, and forgets what he asked the other players. He still wins. He's like a fictional private eye who looks unprofessional and gets dismissed as an idiot, only to solve the murder way ahead of the police.
unfruitful
A plot of dirt bakes in the sun. Nothing, not even a weed, grows in it.
Rain spatters the window. The backyard looks like green liquid, a parsley shake.
cloy
The candies are a brightly colored glue of sugar and preservatives.
principle
He doesn't like the cake, but he eats it, because it's cake.
silencing
A spider threads its web across the mouth of a stone lion.
sloshing
His aquarium is a blue tub. The fish are plastic toys, and bob as if they're dead. He pokes at them to make them look lively. They lurch and sway in the water.
underestimate
Throughout the game of Clue he glances at his phone, gets up to eat, and forgets what he asked the other players. He still wins. He's like a fictional private eye who looks unprofessional and gets dismissed as an idiot, only to solve the murder way ahead of the police.
unfruitful
A plot of dirt bakes in the sun. Nothing, not even a weed, grows in it.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Week in Seven Words #212 & 213
212
confinement
A young tree strait-jacketed by ice.
contorted
In black and white film: the grace of a ballerina and the grip of polio.
engulfed
A snow drift has swallowed up another small business.
fluffy
Sinking a fork into a marble chocolate cheesecake.
outsourcing
It's scary when you realize how much other people have staked their happiness on you, convincing you along the way that you're responsible for their moods.
tribunal
This is the dynamic at the table: there are those who can do no wrong, those who can do nothing right, and those who are judged right or wrong without consistency, based on how their hair looks at a given moment or on what shirt they picked out to wear.
untouched
Sometimes at a restaurant the best moment is when the food just arrives. It looks delicious. At that moment, you think there can be nothing wrong with it.
confinement
A young tree strait-jacketed by ice.
contorted
In black and white film: the grace of a ballerina and the grip of polio.
engulfed
A snow drift has swallowed up another small business.
fluffy
Sinking a fork into a marble chocolate cheesecake.
outsourcing
It's scary when you realize how much other people have staked their happiness on you, convincing you along the way that you're responsible for their moods.
tribunal
This is the dynamic at the table: there are those who can do no wrong, those who can do nothing right, and those who are judged right or wrong without consistency, based on how their hair looks at a given moment or on what shirt they picked out to wear.
untouched
Sometimes at a restaurant the best moment is when the food just arrives. It looks delicious. At that moment, you think there can be nothing wrong with it.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Week in Seven Words #184 and #185
#184
ambition
He struggles with reading and math but maybe he'll get the life he wants anyway, his photo in Sports Illustrated and a mansion with many sports cars.
embalmed
Old cakes topped with sugared roses wilt in the dull white light.
faultfinding
It doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to get done. It doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to get done.
nasal
A drippy optician, sniffling while squinting at a computer that doesn't work.
resurrection
She pulls back the moth-eaten curtains and discovers a world that's forgotten she exists.
promotion
They've recruited an unfunny comedian to hand out flyers for their comedy club. People will be sure to come.
whitecaps
Light breaks in waves against my brain.
ambition
He struggles with reading and math but maybe he'll get the life he wants anyway, his photo in Sports Illustrated and a mansion with many sports cars.
embalmed
Old cakes topped with sugared roses wilt in the dull white light.
faultfinding
It doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to get done. It doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to get done.
nasal
A drippy optician, sniffling while squinting at a computer that doesn't work.
resurrection
She pulls back the moth-eaten curtains and discovers a world that's forgotten she exists.
promotion
They've recruited an unfunny comedian to hand out flyers for their comedy club. People will be sure to come.
whitecaps
Light breaks in waves against my brain.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Week in Seven Words #173
daughter
She understands him and is fond of his curmudgeonly ways.
kinfolk
We don't look alike, but people can tell we're related. It's the posture maybe, the way we hold ourselves. Or some facial expression. I don't know what it is, but I smile when people make this observation.
maturing
She's nervous, but poised. Proud of this moment, but also good-naturedly self-deprecating.
meltingly
It's been a while since I acted on my love of cheesecake. So I try three different kinds this time. Not large portions, but smallish melting pieces to be savored.
neat
A display of cupcakes that looks like a flowering shrub.
scampering
I can't remember all their names. They all kind of look the same too, boys and girls, making noise and running around.
vogue
That dress in the back of the closet; I feel more light-hearted, putting it on.
She understands him and is fond of his curmudgeonly ways.
kinfolk
We don't look alike, but people can tell we're related. It's the posture maybe, the way we hold ourselves. Or some facial expression. I don't know what it is, but I smile when people make this observation.
maturing
She's nervous, but poised. Proud of this moment, but also good-naturedly self-deprecating.
meltingly
It's been a while since I acted on my love of cheesecake. So I try three different kinds this time. Not large portions, but smallish melting pieces to be savored.
neat
A display of cupcakes that looks like a flowering shrub.
scampering
I can't remember all their names. They all kind of look the same too, boys and girls, making noise and running around.
vogue
That dress in the back of the closet; I feel more light-hearted, putting it on.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Week in Seven Words #171
album
Dozens of photos drying on the living room floor.
bargaining
He has too much chocolate cake on his plate, so she takes some of it from him. Instantly, his mouth quivers and his eyes get moist. She puts it back and gives him an endearing smile. "Do you want to share it with me?" she says. "Can I have some of it?" He considers for a moment, then breaks off the tiniest crumb and places it on her outstretched palm.
brat
My suspicion is that I'm not going to run into her again - at least, not any time soon. I'm glad we part ways bickering, because anything else would be too sentimental for us.
edifice
Keeping to myself, sharing only general information, is a form of self-protection. No amount of shouting or guilt-tripping is going to bring the walls down.
exposed
Kids have a great sense of timing. This one gets out of bed to get a cup of water just as the most violent scene in the movie (with nudity thrown in for good measure) is underway.
hyped
It isn't an honest movie. It starts off with some interesting characters, flawed and suffering from psychological problems. Were it a better movie, it would have stayed true to them throughout. Instead, the tone about halfway through shifts to a generic romantic comedy, with little actual comedy. These characters could have gotten a hopeful or happy ending, but one that was still true to them. Instead, the filmmakers ignored their complexities and buried them in cliches.
off-the-cuff
Her wit is maturing, and it's wonderful to witness.
Dozens of photos drying on the living room floor.
bargaining
He has too much chocolate cake on his plate, so she takes some of it from him. Instantly, his mouth quivers and his eyes get moist. She puts it back and gives him an endearing smile. "Do you want to share it with me?" she says. "Can I have some of it?" He considers for a moment, then breaks off the tiniest crumb and places it on her outstretched palm.
brat
My suspicion is that I'm not going to run into her again - at least, not any time soon. I'm glad we part ways bickering, because anything else would be too sentimental for us.
edifice
Keeping to myself, sharing only general information, is a form of self-protection. No amount of shouting or guilt-tripping is going to bring the walls down.
exposed
Kids have a great sense of timing. This one gets out of bed to get a cup of water just as the most violent scene in the movie (with nudity thrown in for good measure) is underway.
hyped
It isn't an honest movie. It starts off with some interesting characters, flawed and suffering from psychological problems. Were it a better movie, it would have stayed true to them throughout. Instead, the tone about halfway through shifts to a generic romantic comedy, with little actual comedy. These characters could have gotten a hopeful or happy ending, but one that was still true to them. Instead, the filmmakers ignored their complexities and buried them in cliches.
off-the-cuff
Her wit is maturing, and it's wonderful to witness.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Yes, those are actually cakes
Edible cakes, and by the reports of those who buy them, delicious too.
Though it seems like a crime to cut apart and eat these cakes. Good thing lots of photos are taken in advance, or videos showing how the cakes were crafted.
Pink Cakebox posts a list of their top ten cakes of 2009.
Here are two:
Though it seems like a crime to cut apart and eat these cakes. Good thing lots of photos are taken in advance, or videos showing how the cakes were crafted.
Pink Cakebox posts a list of their top ten cakes of 2009.
Here are two:
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