Last week Kelly sent me this. Anybody who’s driven across Heart of America bridge (say every 10 days for a 50lb sack of dog food, maybe) has probably noticed the sign for Pho KC at 3rd & Cherry. Several times I’ve said to myself “I’ve got to stop there someday.” Today was finally the day, and man was it fantastic.

We ordered spring rolls and salty lemonades to start. I’d never had a salty lemonade and it’s my new favorite drink. If you’re familiar with preserved lemons from Moroccan cuisine, it’s basically those muddled with some sugar and water. Very refreshing. For the entree, I ordered an egg noodle soup with roasted pork and stuffed dumplings. Rich and savory, it comes with the usual side plate of various veggies: bean sprouts, lettuce, jalapenos, green onions. Kelly’s noodle bowl with sliced egg roll was fantastic as well. We need to get back there after 2pm when some additional items become available on the menu. The staff was very friendly and pointed out several things on the menu we might like. We arrived shortly after 11 and the place was empty. By noon it was filling up fast.

Taking a lot of pics of the kids, lately. They’re handy and they’re adorable and they aren’t terribly active. Beebs and Shmo are more difficult than Liza Doo. Beebs moves toward the camera trying to sniff and kiss it and Shmo runs away from it because things that make noise are scary. Liza rolls her eyes, sighs and then starts striking poses. Navigate to flickr in the sidebar for more exciting, action-packed photos of greyhounds doing nothing much at all.

Last night, Liza Doo climbed up onto the bed and proceeded to make a nest in the clean laundry I had just emptied there to fold. She did it with such a sense of purpose and determination, I couldn’t say no. Well, I could’ve but I’m the Good Daddy. I folded around her until only a shirt (Mr. Morris’s) and some underwear remained. Eventually she got up to shift around and I snagged the rest.

She has few redeeming qualities. She’s selfish, mean to the other dogs, rather dumb and she has the smelliest face. But she looks at me with those sweet brown eyes and leans against me, gives my cheek a tentative lick and I fall in love again. Every time.

Tonight we hosted a do to a) celebrate Kelly’s birthday and 2) watch the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Highlights? The major thing was Jeffrey’s dessert. Seriously, dude put his office staff on the search, bought a new kitchen torch and arrived with the most amazing chocolate pound cake/ice cream/meringue combination, replete with the flags of the nations. Then he set it on fire. Jeffrey is one of 2010′s Gays to Watch. I worship, you guys.

Dinner was a pot roast prepared by Maureen who slaved most of the afternoon tying, inserting garlic, browning and braising. It was delicious, and the vegetables gave me a major happy. It’s a rare party I throw where I don’t spend most of the day cooking, so it was really nice to come home from the office and the only thing I have to prepare is a smoky tuna dip. Maureen, you’re welcome to bring me dinner anytime.

Kelly had requested a King Cake for her birthday. I intended to make one but it’s pretty difficult to fit in dough-making, raising and baking when you only have an hour between getting off work and guests arriving, so I ordered one from Cosentino’s. They did a bang-up job. I had planned to find a ’2′ and a ’9′ candle for the cake and make a huge show of saving them because “we can reuse these for the next 20 years until she turns ’35′” but settled for the HAPPY BIRTHDAY candles.

It’s been awhile since I laughed this hard for so long. I love my friends.

Both my In-Town Wife and my Other Husband made notches on the b-day bedpost today. Congratulations to you both on being so much older than I.

I took Cameron to lunch at Los Corrals for pork burritos and way too many baskets of chips-and-salsa. We’re feting Kelly tomorrow night with King Cake while watching the Olympics opening ceremonies. And I owe her mani-pedi’s at Brookside Nails, but we’re saving that for the week before the cruise.