The Cafe is closed
— Join us around the back at the Froggy Bottom Lounge.
It’s Open Mike Night!
Saturday at the Froggy Bottom Cafe
We’ve got all the coffee you can drink, some incredible fresh pastries and newspapers & magazines for the readers. And someone left a collection of used books. They look like keepers to me, so take a look through the shelf and tell us which ones look good to you.
If you’re new to the Froggy Bottom Cafe, please introduce yourself — we can’t see lurkers here.
Please UnRecommend!
I’m server, chef and hostess — so please ask for me if you have any questions.
(I’m off to make fresh coffee)
Hey Katiebird –
You looked kinda lonely in here, so I just wanted to peek my head in the door to wish you a wonderful day!
I wanted to get this up earlier, but I slept in a bit. So I missed the early crowd. And it’s a little early for the late crowd.
That’s a remarkable piece of artwork, and convinces me that I am in the best cafe in the world.
May I have a gin and tonic while I go through this amazing collection of used books? Thank you.
Hi! I’m so sorry to be so slow getting to your table. I’ve had real world computer trouble on two computers (Mister katiebird is still working on the first one) and have twice been kicked out of the very window I’m typing in now.
I’m off to get your order right away.
Can I heap more work on you and order an Eggs Benedict, and French Roast coffee, strong brewed… to go with the G&T, of course.
Is it OK if I do this crossword with a pen?
Absolutely use a pen, only a loser would do a crossword puzzle in pencil!
Order Up!
Katiebird, I have changed my ways. There’s more to life than work and one’s love life. My love life is non-existent again. Something’s up with the Loved One, and there is no talking about it. We’re both so busy working on split shifts that it is easy to avoid meeting at all!
Of course I suspect the Loved One has found another Love Object. But it’s too hot to get bothered. There are other fish in the sea, and they’re not all pirhanas!!
Yes there are plenty of fish in the sea:
The only problem with the FBC is the the fish are are pretty ephemeral.
I used to write advertising copy… use this if you need more publicity…. which you won’t.
But it IS true, I get pleasantly drunk here everytime I visit, and the food is delicious and non-caloric, and never once have I been asked to pay my tab.
If only the music and the ambiance could be captured, as well as the personality of those who serve… brotherfeldspar, katiebird, kansas and cabingirl… I mean it’s anyone’s dream bar/cafe…..
A dream of a bar/cafe — I totally agree. And I love your slogan. I’ll use it tonight for the lounge, since you offered.
I just need to figure out some kind of auto-refresh and audio of new comments. And audio input, of course.
Then I could actually sit here and read while I wait to fill the next order!
Here it is! I’m very, very sorry it took so long.
I’m taking up poetry. This is a terrific collection of Robert Burns you’ve got here. Thank you, Katiebird. You are so generous with the libations!
Funny you should mention Burns. Last weekend, while cleaning out of my parents’ home, I ran across a book from 1909, titled “Carlyle’s Essay on Burns”. Appears to have been one of my grandfather’s schoolbooks.
READ IT WHILE YOU CAN, SELL IT WHEN YOU CAN’T
Wow, it’s this place, I tell you. KatieBird is a psychic barwoman, I’m convinced…. it is her vibes that make these things come together….
WOW….
Katie, can I have a drink and one for Anomalous, please….. whatever you think would suit…
WOW…. Carlyle on Burns…. WOW….
Have been reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets today…. It’s the Loved One, always on my mind…. always in my imagination, always hovering around my heart… and never in my arms…. the ephemeral loved one…. especially when out of phone or computer reach….. the loved one: a single bed, a few old jazz records, and thee…..
Why thank you for the drink, kind sir. How thoughtful of you. (I hope you didn’t mind sharing your G&T – I consumed most of it while your eyes were adrift toward the wench at the end of the bar ;^)
I’m not sure about the “treasure” status of the book from a market value perspective. My grandfather (great grandfather?) penciled his name in the front, and penciled a few shorthand notes throughout the book. It was only through sheer luck that I happened upon it underneath some bedding in a far corner of a linen closet. The rest of my parents’ “book treasures”? Gone. And I’ve been absolutely sick about it.
When I first discovered that my parents planned to sell their home, I immediately expressed interest in any of their hundreds of books – because those books represented so many cherished hours from my introverted childhood. With deep sadness, I absorbed the news that my mother had granted someone free rein to go through the house and take all the books they wanted. And that they did. Boxes of books from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hundreds of personal gems I had hoped to retrieve and revere. Dickens and Shakespeare and Hans Christian Anderson and Lewis Carroll and. . .
Compared to other issues of importance, I realize this is an insignificant bump in the road. But at this brief moment in time, it’s a contributing factor to a broken heart.
My heart lurched as I read that.
oh my.
Sorry, I’m getting mystical I’m so in love with life, liberty and the pursuit of the Loved One. I couldn’t be with the one I love today, so I soaked myself in spirits and Shakespeare…. Jesus, every loved one I ever loved is in the sonnets of Shakespeare…. from virginity to my present middle age… all is in Shakespeare…..
You have the gin… I’m drinking MEAD…. the drink of the gods of Olympus….
katiebird, I left the Irish Mist behind me as I wandered in and out of the Cafe, to and fro from work…. do you see it anywhere?
An old fashioned glass, three ice cubes and the drink of the gods on misty Mount Olympus… or Croagh Patrick.
Here you are:
I’m
glad you don’t have to drive home tonight!
My office is just around the corner, and I sleep on the sofa in the office, between bouts of working 16 hour shifts.
I get to drink any extras. . . Heh!
That order you placed last week came in, so we’ve got plenty of anything you need, just shout out!
Hi suskind, I just wanted to thank you for your kind comment about my mom’s sketch of Nixon. In this summer of presidential scandal I’ve been thinking about him a lot. So, I thought I would display it in the cafe for a while.
Can I use this graphic, and what’s her name? You know I’m quite fixated with the era 1968-1975.
Oh gosh, I didn’t ask her before I posted it. And I don’t know how she’d feel about me saying her real name on the Internet.
What would you use it for?
Oh, and yes she’s still living. My brother actually has the original of this sketch though.
And if I have permission to reprint, I’ll e mail you to ask. It would be as illustration to an article, and would be printed in California Chronicle….. She can make up a fake name… it’s done all the time.
I just talked to her, and she is happy for you to use the sketch as long as you give her credit. I’ll email you with her name.
I’ll send her a copy of the article…. life is sweet and so is Irish Mist…. may I have one, and have one yourself, BarWomanBarNone.
Here you are, should I take back the gin?
also, my message to you was rejected, I don’t think I guessed it right.
mikesmithtel
at
yahoo
dot
co
dot
uk
I’ll have the Irish Mist, and MikeSmith can have the gin!!!
We are having a pary…. publish or perish !!! bottoms up!!
There’s too little currency passing hands in this place, although the currents are running very high!!
Well, you know what they say – it far easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission :^). If your Mom is to somehow find out that you’ve posted the picture, please pass along my compliments – she’s obviously quite talented.
Everyone must be sleeping in today…hey, KB, how’s Mom doing?
Up early to do some technical stuff; I was on line last night when my wireless network disappeared! Turns out the AirPort Express base station had come a little loose from the power socket, probably when I was vacuuming. I just had to replug it in, then ran the setup assistant, and all seems to be well.
The spouse is next to me on the couch, watching British Open/Tour de France coverage, and was wondering about the sketch of Nixon; where did that come from? We’re going to get moving soon to head for the clinic as I mentioned last night, but I may have a quick bite to eat to tide me over till we get our real breakfast. I actually bought one of those Magic Bullet units that they show on TV (local Target had some in stock), so I’m going to try making a fruit smoothie of my own! 🙂
Have a great day!
Good morning Cali, I’m so sorry to be slow getting to you, computers are no fun when they goof up and we’ve had a comedy of errors over here.
I’m on a wireless laptop right now while mister katiebird works on my computer (I was biting my tongue to keep from telling him, “hurry up! I’ve got a whole cafe depending on me”, When I remembered the laptop (which I rarely use) just sitting here.
The Magic Bullet, is it hard to clean?
My mom is doing much better, thanks. She’s still got a lot going on, but at least for now she’s at home.
She’s the artist responsible for today’s artwork. She did the sketch the night Nixon resigned.
Hey Cali Scribe, how’d that Magic Bullet thinger work out for ya? I’ve been thinking of buying one as a gift for a loved one who’s addicted to food gadgetry, but I haven’t been able to get any feedback on how they work yet. If you get a chance, would you mind posting a few words about your experience with it?
I hope your clinic appointment went well.
Good morning! I’m sipping on a cup of Papua New Guinea coffee from counterculture coffee. Yummm Yummm.
That collection of books looks mighty inviting… It’s one of my weaknesses actually. I can’t pass up the chance to look through a stack of old books. Last week I bought a paperback copy of a book called Today’s Isms: Communism, Fascism, Capitalism, Socialism, Third Edition, published in 1961.
I love collections of old books too, that’s why I was so happy to find them here this morning when I opened the cafe.
How are you doing today. The picture is a little scary first thing in the morning, lol..
I really need some breakfast, what are you serving today…Something light please.
Pastry or Toast with cheese? And fruit juice, coffee or tea?
Scary, yes — but could there be a more deserving subject for a portrait? I know a sketch of our current president wouldn’t have that effect.
Here, pastries AND Toast with cheese!
Thanks Katie, that looks lovely and will hit the spot if only I could get my ‘materializer’ to work…
I am still trying to catch up on the happenings here, so I will check back later…
Hugs to all….
We finished 5th in the lottery, which won us just enough money to bring in a plate of delicious kippered Albacore tuna with honey. I left it next to the pastries; help yourself. From what I read about the state of our fisheries, this kind of treat may be harder to get in the future.
I’m having some with a wheatless rye cracker and “Chinese Fortune Tea.” Florida Mom is bundled up and just finished up her cereal and fruit.
It’s Pugetting again. No rain, but fog on the hill tops at about 200 feet, and a white sky. Anyplace there’s not trees or water, it looks like this:
Well, it’s time to take our two terrific totos out for a stretch. Our guy who has to lose his eye next week also has a bit of arthritis. The docs want him off his daily baby-aspirin before the operation because it would increase bleeding during the procedure. He’s moving a little slow as a result, so we’ll visit a comfortable sandy beach nearby.
uh, Gooserock?
The treats are very nice, thank you. But, the photo? Did someone steal it on the way into the cafe?
and it loads faster.
The sky’s opening up now and I have a new photo down below.
Hi, Everybody. Just got in from doing errands with mom. Katiebird you run a tasty cafe! I’ve had breakfast but after doing a bunch of yardwork at my mom’s place I could sure use a giant glass of pink lemonade with lots of ice, please.
Your mom really caught Nixon.
Kansas, thanks — I just broke the news to her that I posted one of her pieces here.
Here’s your lemonade:
Yum. Thanks. So is it okay with her? I think it’s cool that Suskind wants to use it.
Speaking of moms, I was in two Wal-Marts today with mine. I haven’t been in one of those stores in years and I had to talk myself through the door. I did it because my almost-90 year old mom shops at them because they’re the easiest for her. The poor woman apologizes to me every time because I’ve railed on them in the past. She’s a lifelong yellow dog Democrat, so she has nothing to feel bad about it. I wish I had kept my stupid mouth shut so she didn’t feel guilty. I’ll save my guilt trips for younger shoppers! I didn’t buy anything. 🙂
I think it’s cool also, and yes — she was very pleased to be asked. Surprised, but pleased.
I admire people who don’t shop at Walmart, but I live within walking distance of one that is open 24 hours a day. And I must admit, I shop there more than occasionally.
Tell your mother from another artist that she did an excellent job on the pic, I had no idea your mother drew it, I thought it was a book cover of a real book..
Thanks Diane, it will mean a lot to her when I tell her. One of the weird things about my early life is that my mom was always drawing us. I’d be sitting around reading or watching TV (and reading) and get up, and she’d say, no don’t get up just yet. So there are dozens of sketches of us in boxes somewhere in their house.
Well you or she should put them together perhaps in a book form, and publish, they would be great with some narative…I used to sketch my kids at times, but nothing like your mother has, and mine are all gone with the house fire in 97.
If the other sketches are like this one they are way too good to sit in boxes.
hummmm. Very interesting idea. I like it.
But, you haven’t seen the boxes. They’re in the basement, a very big basement.
Full of boxes. Of paper.
The Puget Sound sky is opening up. While running errands with Florida mom all bundled up, we spied a couple of bald eagles.
more or less (I got up late). A Bloody Mary, please?
I’m kinda new here. I recently fled the group-think conform-or-die pressures of Daily Kos. (I won’t find any of that here, will I?) Anyway, Marisacat rated me “4” over there for a comment about it, and I thought to myself “Where has she been?!?!” So I looked up her last diary, which was a call for Kos refugees to join us over here at Booman. I’m not a refugee, but like most things in my life, I usually leave before they kick me out.
I’m a 34 year old attorney in Los Angeles, yellow-dog Dem, twin, and queer as all get out. Committed to a wonderful goofy guy going on 6 years. Guardians of 2 crazy monster pit-bull rescue dogs. Originally from Western NY.
Thanks for the invitation! I think I’m gonna like it over here (I like green and brown better than orange anyway. And I love frogs.)
I’m a refugee, myself. I think you’ll find this frog pond is enormously kind and welcoming. And did I mention, interesting and lively? The only rule here–BooMan’s only commandment–is Don’t Be a Prick. That cracks me up, but it also works incredibly well.
Somebody should probably warn you, so I will. There is no group think here, but we’ve recently been through some heavy weather having to do with complaining about The Site That Shall Not Be Named (I’m reading the new Harry Potter) and there’s a bit of sensitivity about it at the moment.
Our cafe host today, katiebird, is great at providing drinks and eats. All you have to do is put in a request.
So glad you hopped over! (Every now and then I see Mariscat’s name show up in the ratings. I’m glad to see that she’s around.)
Haven’t read any Harry Potters (yeah yeah, I’ll get around to it), but the I got the new one for the bf and it arrived today. Funny, I haven’t read them, but I’m prone to using “The Site That Shall Not Be Named”-type rhetorical device frequently. I like to call the last law firm I worked for “The Firm That Shall Not Be Named.” A colleague of mine, an “answer guy” we like to hassle, is “He Who Knows All Things.” I wonder if I picked it up from the Harry Potter movies?
I’m a very laid-back guy, so you’ll get no trouble from me, TSTSNBN or not. 😉 Don’t be a Prick is my governing philosophy.
Thanks for the welcome!
I like your style. Pardon me, but I have hours of reading ahead, yum, yum, yum.
cough, dkdk
kansas, We’re CLOSED!
Come around the back to the lounge and sing us a song!
Free at Last, Free at Last…Thank God, Almighty…we are free at last.
No thought police here, nor any rabid, DLC, corporatist, Lieberman Lefty, AIPAC prostrating Democratic thugs either.
Speak your mind w/o fear of retribution.
I didn’t so much flee The Site that Shall Not Be Named as drift here. A good friend of mine introduced me to this wonderful establishment. And after a couple of weeks here, I realized that some days I don’t even check in over there at all.
As we were saying somewhere up thread (!) this is like an ideal bar/cafe. And part of that what makes it ideal is that we live right upstairs from it — we never have to drive home drunk!
We have a rotating band of hosts, so each day has a slightly different flavor. But one thing never changes: Newcomers are Welcome Here.
Welcome Petey.
And I went to law school at GWU (in Foggy Bottom, DC), so I love the name too.
Suskind, not Ron, here. You are so welcome I’d like to buy you another spicy healthy Bloody Mary…. This is an oasis you’ll find…. and the staff are celestial, when they’re not being terrestial… there are loads of outdoorsy international hikers who hang out here…. and sailors, and story tellers.
I am a workaholic, I come here about 4 or 5 times a day, then go work a bit, then come back and there’s a drink, or a bottle waiting…
And I wax profound about the Loved One… when I’m not in the depths of despair when the Loved One goes missing or locks me out…. the Loved One is a workaholic too…. but it’s a one-sided affair…. there is love there, but my overflow has to get transformed constantly into more work, more writing, more love for more friends… Oh, the Loved One!!!
Anyways, have another Bloody Mary on me, must go bar hopping looking for KatieBird and my bottle of Irish Mist!
The next one is on me!
Got back a little while ago from doing my first craft demo at Michael’s. Good thing I took my own brushes and paints! The classroom coordinator got sick Thursday and didn’t leave me anything helpful. I mean, exactly how was I supposed to do faux marble with “Hot Pink” and “Wheatgrass” colored paints? I still have no idea what I was meant to do with the Pearl White Glaze and the Crackle Finish stuff.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun! Folks said, “Hey, that looks so easy,” and “I can do that!” One woman rushed off to buy paints to revitalize her coffee table. Another decided she could do something really dramatic with the columns that lead into her dining room. I feel proud and happy about making so many people smile today.
One of the other craft instructors told me she isn’t making any money. No one wants to take her classes. I looked at her jewelry samples and understood why. I told her the main thing, to me, was meeting people and looking for new friends. She suggested I join a church… ahem, I changed the subject.
Well, I’ve got the latest Harry Potter in hand so you guys won’t be hearing much from me for a day or two.
Maybe we should have a special Harry Potter table for the next month or so? (We could use the hotlist feature to keep it going. My copy hasn’t come yet, but it’s on the way.
Congratulations! I knew you’d do well – especially with your preparedness – and your obvious communication skills.
Enjoy your book and have a fabulous weekend!
Good night
What’s going on in here?
Hi, I think things are picking up a bit. There are a couple of tables going.
kansas is talking to petey over there –>
does she like him, or like him like him?
LOL! I haven’t heard that phrase in a time so long it would have a “cene” at the end of its name. And if you get a chance to read PeteyP’s first entry, you’ll find the answer your question.
Hey, Abbott, did you find a sub host? If not, I’ll just put up a basic cafe that day and let everybody go free style. Okay mit you? How soon do you leave?
Puget Sound says “Californians come back.” The sky opened up and the place went all primary colors after lunch.
As the thermometer soard towards 70F, Mrs. Gooserock in t-shirt plays on the beach with our two terrific totos who pant as Florida Mom shivers in the sun. Photo overexposed reveal a little of the black toto faces.
Like the beer jingle meant to say: “Weekends are made for doin’ squat!”
Give him a marguerita, a vodka stinger, and a Schlitz Beer… in that order….
No, give him a Brandy & Port, followed by a Heineken, ….
No, better give him a Stoli on the rocks…. yeah that might do…
Would you ask him what he drinks and send him one… I think he’s going to take off on a long trip any minute now….
sigh
huuuu
stupid hurricane emily currently has our trip on hold. that freaking storm needs to take a right turn in a hurry…
grumble grumble…
Can I get you something? We’ve got a fully stocked bar and kitchen…
hmm… a Sam Adams?
That’s awesome!
Btw, how do you get text to show up to the right of a pic rather than under?
I don’t put a carriage return after the img tag:
< img src=””> This text will go on the same line as the image.
< img src=””>
This will go under the image
there seem to be quite a few sailors and world travellers who pop in and out…. maybe something good might come out of this storm delay…
or you might cheer up
or you might experience a barometric drop !!!
how does your (mental) compression chamber feel?
That sucks.
Hi and how’s it going all, when does the kareoke start.
I am Trying to stay away from politics today, watching food network and style network, trying to save some of my garden from critters and other assorted mundane things.
I am ready now for some sushi, teka make, with miso soup. Watched a food net. show of sushi and boy did it make me hungry…
I’m setting up the lounge now. It’ll be just a few minutes….
Hoooooooo Laaawwwddd, I’ll have a ice cold beer, some gator tail, and a shot of to-kill-yua….yoowwwssir..makes the end of da day mucho better ; )
The cafe is closed — come on around the back to the lounge!