Etc.

For those who know CK, hear this: He & Prissy just got a kitten. Ha! What?! I can't even imagine it! He seems so pleased about it, though. They named him Omar Little. Hee. I wonder if he pets it & stuff.

I'm not avoiding ye olde blog, I'm just trying to catch up on other things. I may just post a lot of photos & hope that passes as a proper post. As if any of these posts are proper.

This evening, a grand event is planned -- A Hot Dog Dinner @ Kim's abode! It was inspired by a television show about hot dogs (and their various toppings) we watched this past weekend -- WANT. We decided on relish, mustard, and onions for our toppings this eve. With a side of crinkle cut fries. She forwarded this interesting bit to me moments ago:

A Chicago-style dog is topped with yellow mustard, dark green relish, onions, tomato slices, celery salt and served in a steamed poppy seed bun. Additional common toppings can include sport peppers, a dill pickle and sauerkraut.

New York serves them with steamed onions and pale yellow mustard sauce.

In Detroit, a Coney Island dog is served with chili sauce (coney sauce), onion and mustard.

In Atlanta and other areas of the Southern U.S. you'll end up with your dog "dragged through the garden", or, topped with coleslaw.

In Kansas City they're served with sauerkraut and melted Swiss.

The Rockie Dog - served at Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies - is served with grilled peppers, sauerkraut and onions.

The Fenway Frank served at Fenway Park is in a New England style bun with mustard and relish.

Chili, cheese and jalapenos make the Texas Dog the favored item at Minute Maid ballpark in Houston.

Around the globe, people get even more adventurous with their dog toppings...

In South Korea, vendors coat them with sugar.

In Denmark and Norway, hot dogs, or "pølse", are served with bacon and or cheese.

In Quebec, Canada, "Michigan"-style hot dogs are served with spaghetti sauce.

In some parts of South America, known as perros calientes, they are often served with potato chip crumbs, sliced onion, Colombian country cheese, honey, ketchup or mustard (and sometimes a little cooked quail egg on top).

In Chile, street vendors sell completos, literally meaning complete, topped with diced tomatoes, saurkraut, ketchup, sweet mustard, and mayonnaise. The vendors often provide ají, a spicy red pepper sauce to accompany the completo. Replace the saurkraut with guacamole, and you've got an Italiano.

In Venezuela, street vendors offer "perros con todo", or "dogs with all" with finely chopped cabbage, potato chip crumbs, chopped onion, white cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and tomato sauce. Additional condiments offered include salsa, tartar sauce, Tabasco, guasacaca, cheese sauce, garlic sauce, onion sauces, and American BBQ sauce.

In Austria and parts of Germany, customers at hot dog stands have the option of eating sausage on a plate or having it served in "hot dog form", which comes in a hollowed out baguette.

What it sums up to is this: If you choose to have an international hot dog day party, following are the toppings you'll need to have on hand to cover your bases. We hope you have enough serving bowls!:

* Mustard
* Ketchup
* Chili sauce
* Mayonnaise
* Tomato sauce
* Salsa
* Guacamole
* Tartar sauce
* Tabasco
* Guasacaca (Venezuelan avacado salsa)
* Barbecue sauce
* Relish
* Dill pickles
* Onions, steamed and raw sliced
* Peppers; sport, grilled green, and jalapeno slices
* Sauerkraut
* Coleslaw
* Finely chopped cabbage
* Honey
* Sugar
* Bacon
* Several kinds of cheese, including melted swiss, nacho cheese sauce, and Mexican white
* Potato chip crumbs
* Quail egg
* Diced tomatoes
* Garlic sauce
* Chili

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Kwanis had hot dogs for lunch today. Naturally, I was all "OMG" because we've been talking about hot dogs and how we'd like them for days. His had chili, cheese, jalapenos & slaw. Oh, and BBQ chips. Nice touch.

Photos as promised:

Chang & his newly aquired kingdom.

Maxxin' & relaxxin'

Smoking a cigar!

ATM helpin' with dinner. Please note the beautiful new spice rack. Another project completed! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Please note, too, the new kettle. Thanks, KMHD, for not buying it.

Skinny jeans!