So…it’s my birthday. And I will be the 1st to admit that isolation hasn’t always done wonders for my mental health, esp with the recent turn of events…but i did want to thank this community for helping me get by. I was going to say " for keeping me sane" but i am not always sane right now, and that’s ok.
I did want to thank those whose stories have taken me away from reality recently…WAYHAVEN, EVERTREE, ODESSA, JOLLY GOOD CAKES AND ALE, DIASPORA, SHADOW SOCIETY, SOUL STONE WAR, THE PASSENGER, SUPERSTITION, etc. My bestie had a bday a few weeks ago and I bought her CoG games on steam. I had a budget so I needed to pick 5 and it was REALLY HARD to do so because you authors have made it hard. @Seraphinite@ThomB @tandra88@pimenita@Carawen@HeartForge@Gower etc
Anyway, great job. Thanks for your work during all of this, especially.
Happy birthday!! Since we haven’t figured out teleportation yet, I can only send you the recipe for my favorite cake.
CAKE
Best Chocolate Cake
1 ¾ c flour 2 c sugar ¾ c cocoa 1 ½ tsp baking soda 1 ½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 2 eggs 1 c milk ½ c vegetable or canola oil 2 tsp vanilla
1 c boiling water
Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add in sugar and vanilla, then milk, cocoa, and oil. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add the boiling water and beat for 2 minutes. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350° F, depending on your oven.
This is a very forgiving recipe; pretty much any mixing order is fine. I prefer 8” diameter cake pans; they make for a nice, tall cake. Grease and flour the pans or use baking spray. I usually use parchment to line the bottom but it’s not required unless your cake pans are cheap.
Cool completely and ice with your choice of icing. Chocolate buttercream recommended.
Fun Alterations:
Use hot coffee or espresso instead of boiling water
Add a tablespoon of espresso powder to the batter
Dark chocolate or black cocoa
Chocolate Buttercream Icing
(enough for a layer cake with some decoration; can be halved)
2 sticks of UNSALTED butter Approximately two pounds of icing (powdered) sugar Cocoa until it looks and tastes right A splash of vanilla Some milk or water as necessary to thin
Cream the butter until it’s light and fluffy and smooth. Don’t get in a hurry here or your icing will be lumpy. It’s best to start with slightly softened butter. Add some cocoa and powdered sugar a little bit at a time until it tastes good to you. A splash of vanilla helps. When it gets too thick, thin the icing out with milk or water but be careful! It’s easy to add too much at once.
Happy Birthday. Hopefully everyone here, being here, will help a little with the feelings, turning them towards a more positive look. Some mental flushing with good stories is helpful for a lot of us.
Happy Birthday!
Just trying to decide on your gift. Would you rather a sneak peek screen grab of your very own Jen the landlord, the ever amazing Dandy, or angsty Orion?
Hope you can celebrate your special day to some extent in spite of the current situation. 
Have a great day!