Thanks Mate!

For my birthday this year, the husband and I headed for cooler weather and close friends in Seattle.  Slapped in the dead center of August, my birthday is usually spent in 100 degree weather, avoiding the outdoors, or waiting until the evening to do anything.  We spent the week leading up to my birthday among the trees and breeze of Seattle and departing for home late on my actual birthday.  Prior to heading up, we had to do something we've never done before: Find a cat sitter.
I haven't traveled much in my life, but now we have Nugget and it would be her first time overnight alone, and for almost a week.  We couldn't just leave her by herself.  So my mate that lives in L.A. offered to stay at our house and take care of our kitty.  I went down to his place to tell him all the over protective, new pet parent things I felt he needed to know.  We thought the 2 minute walk to Little Japantown from his house would be a great place to grab a bite and chat.
Lollicup is a coffee and tea place that has a small food menu and a passion for boba.  My mate regularly hits Lollicup up for dinner on his way home from UCLA or work.  The pork they put in their dishes is to die for.  This time we just got a couple of drinks.  Subliminal messaging got me to order the iced coffee.  Ok, it wasn't subliminal, it was even on the big screen above the registers.  Mocha flavor in their regular blend.  Nothing too amazing but a good cup of iced Joe on a hot evening.  My mate got the taro milk tea.  Don't be taken back by the bright purple hue.  Taro is popular in Japanese, Hawaiian, and African culture.  It is a root vegetable that looks like a sweet potato or yam and kinda taste like them too.  A soft, sweet taste that is put into everything from sweet 'n' salty chips to creamy purple ice cream and can also be boiled or roasted to be eaten as the vegetable itself.  The leaves of the plant are also used in recipes and as wrappers like banana leaves.  Milk tea is just as it sounds, tea with milk in it.  Depending on what your preferred calorie intake, boba can be added, but my mate opted out.  I recommend trying taro if you haven't had it before.
We had our drinks with the backdrop of a beautiful California summer sunset.  The busy street filled with people which was our sign to wrap it up.  Nugget was grateful for her sitter.  He spoiled her and sent us pictures to put our minds at ease.  (Thanks again!)

Nugget helped with my mate's homework.