gem | Apothecary Shed

Challenge Accepted: Make a Proper Japanese Waitress Belly Laugh at Yamazato

March 3, 2026

gem food, travel birthday dinner, gem, japanese waitress, kimono, lisa, madou, noelie, restaurant, romey, yamazato Leave a comment

Dinner at Yamazato is exceptional, even 15 years on from the first visit. Absolutely world class. And Japanese service to boot.

The question is, can you make a proper Kimono wearing Japanese waitress belly laugh? Well, yes…if you are us. We had so much fun.

I mean, maybe the martinis we started with at 23 had something to do with it?

Or maybe it was mr big nose? No one knows.

But wow.

Who us? Goof off?

Happy Birthday gem-san.

A Blast From the Software Security Past on 23

March 3, 2026

gem travel, who knows 23rd floor, florence, gem, madou, noelie, okura 1 Comment

Who are these people? Madou? Florence? McGraw? Noelie? All together? No fucking way.

A nice way to turn 3C is to gather the geeks in Amsterdam for a photo shoot.

Best Banana Birthday

March 2, 2026

gem humor, who knows banana, birthday, birthday card, gem, romey 1 Comment

Romey always finds the very best cards.

3C is 60 to you and me

3C Minus One Banana

March 2, 2026

gem party banana, birthday, birthday cake, birthday party, gem, leuven Leave a comment

Caroline made a cake

Artichokes and Hollandaise

February 14, 2026

gem cooking, humor artichokes, gem, hollandaise, pappy 4 Comments

When I was around 3 or 4, my pappy—mom’s dad, who was a flying ace in WWI, started the peruvian air force, and taught us how to mislead mom—died. Well meaning neighbors from all over our East Tennessee suburban neighborhood of Colonial Heights brought endless cassaroles and other dining monstrosities.

At three, I found this insanely not good. So after a few too many days of grean beans soaked in campbell’s mushroom soup topped with dehydrated onions, I went crying to mom and asked her when she would please cook for us again.

Touched, she said. “Oh honey, I will cook you anything you want for dinner. What would you like?” To which she expected a reply suitable to a three year old like “hotdogs” or “hamburgers” or “tacos” (remember, 1971 predated the chicken nugget).

What did I reply? “Artichokes and Hollandaise” of course. This caused some consternation, because finding artichokes in those days at the local A&P was nigh on impossible. Somehow, mom prevailed.

To this day, I love this meal. Thanks mom, for developing my palate properly.

Sidekick Gets a Sidekick

January 17, 2026

gem who knows crazy train, don't stop believing, fiddle, gem, germany, markus, markus schumacher, metal in germany, nothing else matters, romey, sidekick, violin 1 Comment

Fear of the Dark (Iron Maiden)

Every good metal band needs a fiddle to keep it real. Right?

One of the most fun things this Christmas was sitting in with Sidekick. Tuned down 1/2 step?! Whatever, man. We’ll begin with coverage of the three violin songs which were, in actuality, widely dispersed in the sets.

First there’s Ozzy’s Crazy Train…

Then there is Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. 8th grade rides again!

But honestly, the coup de grace was Nothing Else Matters by Metallica.

I mean, damn that was fun.