Day Four did not start off well. I got to bed late the night before and then was awakened at 5:30 by evil. And no, I don't mean Steph and his need for dawn.
There are two evil neighborhood cats. I don't know if they're strays or not. There's a third neighborhood cat who is not evil. The evil cats fight a lot, make horrible noises and come to my windows sometimes to whip my little kitties into a frenzy. Monday morning they were at the back window making horrible noises themselves and upsetting my girls and then they started trying to bust through the screen! Trying to get to my girls. I suspect my cats would've won that fight, but I still don't want cat blood and fur all over my home even if it belongs to another cat. So I had to get up and put a stop to all that nonsense. I never really got back to sleep. So the Birthday Week Day of Rest didn't start off so well.
Work wasn't exciting. No one was bowing and worshiping and telling me to go home early for the sake of Birthday Week. Which I found odd. I did manage to get out early enough to run and buy a cheap comforter for the bed. I really couldn't have that ratty old blanket on there with guests coming and all.
Then home to open a couple of the gifts Mom sent me. She wanted to be online when I opened them and I figured I could do a couple of them early. Mom's a total present opener. We joked that if it had been her she would've had everything opened at the UPS store on Sunday upon picking up the box. Me, not so much. I like to savor the gift unwrapping moment. She got me some pretty purple slippers from Hong Kong and a beautiful lacquer barrette with mother of pearl inlay from China. It's so pretty I'm almost afraid to wear it. Maybe on Friday. Though I don't want the drunk people to hurt it. Hmmmm...
Anyway. After that I tried doing a few things around the apartment but mostly decided to embrace the day of rest and then rested.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Heh (Don't read, Daddy)
I'm a 1960s kinda gal. In some ways. I blame being a military child for part of that. Too many tupperware parties and Officers' Wives' Club events in my formative years or something. Ooooh, speaking of... check this out. Hee hee hee.
Seriously, Daddy, stop reading now. Love you!
Anyway, 1960s kinda gal with a splash of the modern skank. Or something. And as such, I, for some reason, had a habit of keeping two condoms and two quarters in all my handbags. This started long before I had a cell phone. Back when I was a little opposed to cell phones. Because I'm weird. Anyway, the habit has sorta fallen off in recent years. I think maybe because of the cell phone. And because I don't carry purses around that often. Though I do use them more in the summer when I don't always have a jacket with pockets upon leaving my apartment. But, I do make sure I have up to date condoms in my travel kit and in my dresser by my bed and somewhere on my person when I hope to get lucky. So I am still safety girl and all. No worries there. I just don't go through all my purses checking for condoms and quarters anymore.
So, this morning I grabbed a purse to bring to Karaoke tonight. I wanted one that sorta matched the outfit and was large enough that I could put Ed's Shirt and all my purse things in it and thus leave the backpack at the office. I was starting to transfer things to it just now when I opened the side pocket And found two quarters, hand lotion, lip balm and, heh, two condoms that expired in June 2001. This amuses me almost as much as COOTER and I have no idea why. Hee. Sorry. Had to share. And now you know that I'm not prepared to get me some booty tonight. Alas.
This entry so isn't going to help my quest for people to find this blog looking for things like 'happy fuzzy puppy bunny flowers' rather than 'topless boys' 'undressed in front of my auntie' and 'my girly parts'.
Seriously, Daddy, stop reading now. Love you!
Anyway, 1960s kinda gal with a splash of the modern skank. Or something. And as such, I, for some reason, had a habit of keeping two condoms and two quarters in all my handbags. This started long before I had a cell phone. Back when I was a little opposed to cell phones. Because I'm weird. Anyway, the habit has sorta fallen off in recent years. I think maybe because of the cell phone. And because I don't carry purses around that often. Though I do use them more in the summer when I don't always have a jacket with pockets upon leaving my apartment. But, I do make sure I have up to date condoms in my travel kit and in my dresser by my bed and somewhere on my person when I hope to get lucky. So I am still safety girl and all. No worries there. I just don't go through all my purses checking for condoms and quarters anymore.
So, this morning I grabbed a purse to bring to Karaoke tonight. I wanted one that sorta matched the outfit and was large enough that I could put Ed's Shirt and all my purse things in it and thus leave the backpack at the office. I was starting to transfer things to it just now when I opened the side pocket And found two quarters, hand lotion, lip balm and, heh, two condoms that expired in June 2001. This amuses me almost as much as COOTER and I have no idea why. Hee. Sorry. Had to share. And now you know that I'm not prepared to get me some booty tonight. Alas.
This entry so isn't going to help my quest for people to find this blog looking for things like 'happy fuzzy puppy bunny flowers' rather than 'topless boys' 'undressed in front of my auntie' and 'my girly parts'.
Birthday Week - Day Three
I had big plans (as I always do) for Sunday morning. Lots of cleaning and errand running and all of that. You can imagine how well that went. I mean, the catbox is still gross and I'm writing this on Day Seven (ACK!!! It's almost over!) of Birthday Week.
Anyway, I did manage to get up and over to my mailbox place by 11AM so I could pick up my hammock and stand as well as my birthday box from Mum and a box of Camp Blood shirts I ordered to make Buzz happy, even though he won't put thongs in the store for me to buy for Mum and I. It was a miserable experience. The box with the stand stuff had opened and so that and the other box were just on the floor of the UPS Store. So I really had to go get them sooner rather than later. And they were long and awkward and no longer rectangular really. So I piled them on the loaner hand truck as best I could and attempted to make my way home. I had to stop every block or so to readjust. I was obviously having a hard time and only ONE person the whole time stopped and asked if I needed help. I was sweating and panting and wanting to cry when I finally got the damn things home. But I got them home and into my hallway and trotted the hand truck on back home to the UPS store. Good times. Then it was off to meet Charlotte at the Big Clock in the Grand Central Terminal (my father would like to make certain you all know it is Grand Central TERMINAL and not Grand Central STATION). I managed to make it in enough time to get our tickets and a bagel before hopping on the train.
The New York Botanical Gardens were lovely. And it was another gorgeous day. It felt a little hotter than the previous day and wasn't quite as sunny but there were nice breezes all day. And it was certainly sunny enough.
We hit the conservatory first. I've been to the gardens tons of times and at least two of those visits were with Charlotte so we could kind of pick and choose what we wanted to see. We were fairly laid back with this visit. I took some pretty flower shots and we made our way to my favorite section of the conservatory - the Carnivorous Plants. I love them. It's a big ole case of all kinds of bug eating plants. So awesome. Even Ed's Shirt made an appearance for those. Because they're so cool. Sadly none of them were digesting any bugs, making it a little less exciting than it could've been. Ah well.
After the conservatory we headed over to the Big Clock in the Garden to wander around the shop. We made fun of hideous $20 cloth flower rings, pondered whether we should purchase Venus Flytraps and sniffed lots of candles. Well, I sniffed them and Charlotte kinda looked at me askance. Then we hopped the tram to the Rose Garden. Which was in full June bloom and lovely. Lots of the orange/pink/yellow roses I love. I think I got more pretty flower pictures. Then it was back to the tram to drive down azalea way (most of the flowers had come and gone, sadly) and end up back at the Big Clock. We wandered around the Rock Garden for a bit with me taking pictures and Charlotte chatting with SABW on her cell. We're hoping Ed's Shirt can go visit her while she's still down in Virginia. Heh. That's funnier for those who know who SABW is; apologizes to the rest of you.
They've added a new visitor's center and snack bar and all since my last trip to the garden so we had to go and check that out. I went straight for an ice cream (it is Birthday Week) while Charlotte pondered a yogurt smoothie. She went for the Haagen-Dazs when she realized it had fewer calories and sugar than the smoothie. Heh. Smart girl. Then off to wait for our train back to town.
It was totally a mellow lazy visit and it was awesome.
I headed home for a nap, some TiVo clearing and net surfing and then back to bed. My lovely lovely bed.
So it was a fabulous kick off to birthday week and I want to thank Muppet, Mr. Muppet, JL, Muffy, Steph, Vader, PimpDaddy, Rock Star Fran and Charlotte for making it so. Y'all rock.
Anyway, I did manage to get up and over to my mailbox place by 11AM so I could pick up my hammock and stand as well as my birthday box from Mum and a box of Camp Blood shirts I ordered to make Buzz happy, even though he won't put thongs in the store for me to buy for Mum and I. It was a miserable experience. The box with the stand stuff had opened and so that and the other box were just on the floor of the UPS Store. So I really had to go get them sooner rather than later. And they were long and awkward and no longer rectangular really. So I piled them on the loaner hand truck as best I could and attempted to make my way home. I had to stop every block or so to readjust. I was obviously having a hard time and only ONE person the whole time stopped and asked if I needed help. I was sweating and panting and wanting to cry when I finally got the damn things home. But I got them home and into my hallway and trotted the hand truck on back home to the UPS store. Good times. Then it was off to meet Charlotte at the Big Clock in the Grand Central Terminal (my father would like to make certain you all know it is Grand Central TERMINAL and not Grand Central STATION). I managed to make it in enough time to get our tickets and a bagel before hopping on the train.
The New York Botanical Gardens were lovely. And it was another gorgeous day. It felt a little hotter than the previous day and wasn't quite as sunny but there were nice breezes all day. And it was certainly sunny enough.
We hit the conservatory first. I've been to the gardens tons of times and at least two of those visits were with Charlotte so we could kind of pick and choose what we wanted to see. We were fairly laid back with this visit. I took some pretty flower shots and we made our way to my favorite section of the conservatory - the Carnivorous Plants. I love them. It's a big ole case of all kinds of bug eating plants. So awesome. Even Ed's Shirt made an appearance for those. Because they're so cool. Sadly none of them were digesting any bugs, making it a little less exciting than it could've been. Ah well.
After the conservatory we headed over to the Big Clock in the Garden to wander around the shop. We made fun of hideous $20 cloth flower rings, pondered whether we should purchase Venus Flytraps and sniffed lots of candles. Well, I sniffed them and Charlotte kinda looked at me askance. Then we hopped the tram to the Rose Garden. Which was in full June bloom and lovely. Lots of the orange/pink/yellow roses I love. I think I got more pretty flower pictures. Then it was back to the tram to drive down azalea way (most of the flowers had come and gone, sadly) and end up back at the Big Clock. We wandered around the Rock Garden for a bit with me taking pictures and Charlotte chatting with SABW on her cell. We're hoping Ed's Shirt can go visit her while she's still down in Virginia. Heh. That's funnier for those who know who SABW is; apologizes to the rest of you.
They've added a new visitor's center and snack bar and all since my last trip to the garden so we had to go and check that out. I went straight for an ice cream (it is Birthday Week) while Charlotte pondered a yogurt smoothie. She went for the Haagen-Dazs when she realized it had fewer calories and sugar than the smoothie. Heh. Smart girl. Then off to wait for our train back to town.
It was totally a mellow lazy visit and it was awesome.
I headed home for a nap, some TiVo clearing and net surfing and then back to bed. My lovely lovely bed.
So it was a fabulous kick off to birthday week and I want to thank Muppet, Mr. Muppet, JL, Muffy, Steph, Vader, PimpDaddy, Rock Star Fran and Charlotte for making it so. Y'all rock.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Coming to terms with my huge ego
I think about going on a break and all of a sudden my visitor count goes up. Oh, and apparently if you do a google search for “my girly parts” my blog is the 7th option. Ugh.
I’m weak. And just completely self absorbed. So there will probably be more Birthday Week entries soon. Once I'm willing to admit I'm a completely self-absorbed freaknut.
I’m weak. And just completely self absorbed. So there will probably be more Birthday Week entries soon. Once I'm willing to admit I'm a completely self-absorbed freaknut.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Hmmmm...
I'm feeling like a bit of a self-absorbed brat right now. Being all obsessed with Birthday Week and job angst and my blog and how clean the catbox is when there are other more important things going on with friends and family and the world at large.
So I think I'm taking a little break from blogging about Birthday Week and job angst and the catbox and Ed's Shirt.
Maybe more updates on Birthday Week or whatever later.
So I think I'm taking a little break from blogging about Birthday Week and job angst and the catbox and Ed's Shirt.
Maybe more updates on Birthday Week or whatever later.
Monday, June 14, 2004
Birthday Week - Day Two
Okay. When we left off, I was going to bed at 5:30 in the AM. THANKS STEPH! Troublemaker.
I sent Vader an email at about 5:15 saying that I was just going to bed now and she could feel free to show up late for Coney Island. Then went to sleep. Well, Yahoo Mail doesn't work the time stamp so well and my phone rang at 9:30 or so. And I cried a little and didn't bother to get it because I think I left the cordless in the bathroom. And I tried to get back to sleep but wasn't so good at it. I finally gave up when Pimp Daddy called around 10:45 to say he was running a bit late or on his way or something. Troublemakers with phones. The whole lot of them.
Anyway. Then Steph calls a little after 11 to tell me they're halfway ready and to see what the departure status is. So I jump in the shower. And Vader arrives right at 11:16 because she's awesome with the promptness and all. So she got to see me answer the door in a towel. Because I am class-ay! Then Pimp Daddy arrived and Vader answered the door (like a good hostess helper) so I could dress before he walked in. Eventually Muffy & Steph joined in and our tired little group headed off to Coney Island.
We had perfect weather. Sunny and warm but with nice breezes and all so we didn't cry from heat or anything. We wandered the boardwalk a little and got Vader a Coney Island t-shirt to change into. Then we headed for Nathan's to get some dogs and cheese fries and drinks. And it was awesome. On the way we got to watch a cute topless boy at the batting cages. Woo. Oh, and we got to check out (but not partake in) Shoot the Freak. Because what's more fun than shooting paint guns at some poor guy dressed in heavy black armor running around a vacant lot? Nothing.
Then it was off to Keyspan Stadium so Muffy & Steph could purchase Cyclones hats and we could cringe every time someone set of the door bell. It was a horrible, horrible noise. The folks who work there should get some kind of workers comp for the damage being done to their eardrums. Poor things. I looked for a t-shirt or hoodie I could love and take home, but alas. Nothing for me.
We did catch a bit of a girls softball game at the little league field nearby. Carmine vs. Our Ladies of Solace. We were rooting for Solace but they didn't seem to be having the greatest of games. Poor things.
A nice long walk down the pier proved uneventful. No one got stuck in the head with a fishhook so hurray! And more boardwalk time while Puerto Rico and African festivities were going on. A moment or two for more topless boy batting cage ogling. Then Steph made us do the race cars. And treated. Which was very, very nice of him. I was having a grand old time until I got stuck behind a very slow girl who couldn't even stay off to the side. Alas.
Then I finally got to play Skee Ball. And it was a Birthday Week Miracle. I LOVE Skee Ball and the machine I picked (#10) happened to be magical. Instead of giving 1 ticket for 90, 150, 200 and so on it would give anywhere from 1 to 4 tickets. And it would often start me at 10 or 20 points rather than 0. I got a nice long run on that puppy before some arcade guy caught on (apparently he didn't feel my big pile o' tickets matched my mad skills even though I'm quite good) and moved me to another machine so he could fix #10. Bad man. Everyone had a bit of a run at Skee Ball but none of them are true devotees so they wondered off to play Ms. PacMan, shoot zombies and box with machines. Good times for all and about 300 tickets amassed. * Woo. So then it was off for funnel cakes (premade and not done right in front of you on the fryer alas) and sitting time. Then we made an AWESOME t-shirt with the five of us; Vader, Pimp Daddy, Muffy, Steph and the birthday girl! It will debut on Saturday and people will fall to their knees in praise of this great shirt.
And after buying this ridiculous shirt we felt we were ready to spend our tickets. It took like 20 minutes to end up with some bead kits to make an I *heart* Eds Shirt necklace and an Amanda bracelet, some mini paper playing cards, two I *heart* you bracelets that we thought were shoelaces, a smiley bubble necklace and a plastic fly. Oh yeah. We go for the quality.
After that it was on to the Wonder Wheel. Woo. We opted for the swinging car. I think I sorta forced everyone into it by saying the stationary car was for pussies. Because I'm mature like that. Actually, I'm five. And we all learned this in line for the Wonder Wheel. Right past the wheel is a ride called the Scooter. And from our place in line you could see signs saying Scooter. But there were trash cans in front of the sign. So it read COOTER. And I kinda lost it. I had to have a picture of it. And then I started laughing hysterically. Because. Well. COOTER. It was awesome. And I'm hardly the only dirty one. We were debating where in the cage to sit, front or back, and Pimp Daddy got the giggles after too much of "Do you like the front?" "Who prefers it in the back?" "I don't care; front, back, whatever." So I'm not alone in my five year old dirty child mind.
Anyway. We make it onto the Wonder Wheel. And the Wonder Wheel cage with two people in it does not slide back and forth nearly as much as it does with FIVE people in it. And then, when Steph decides to start swinging it... well, it slides a lot more then, oddly enough. Muffy and I became big scaredy cats and at some point threatened Steph's life until he stopped. But it was awesome. Totally. And I got to snuggle with some Vader and some Pimp Daddy and that's always a good time. Then the Cyclone. And my wussy ass wouldn't ride it. I think I have to refuse to ride a roller coaster for a long time before I become so ashamed that I just ride the damn thing. I have only refused the Cyclone once before so Saturday was not my shame time yet. Instead I sat with all the bags, drank a diet coke and waited for the best time to get a shot of Ed's Shirt on the coaster. Luckily Muffy and Steph were good enough to get the front car and I think we have an awesome shot.
After that it was time to get daiquiris in giant tacky neon cups. Good times. They're pricey, but you get a free refill. So we walked a few feet away to finish off the first round while enjoying the view before filling back up for the walk to dinner. We went to Totonno's for what is apparently some really awesome pizza. And it was good. And at the pizza place we learned that Muffy thought cooter meant your hick friend. So she wasn't quite in on my madness all day. We got that cleared up though. Oh, and on the way to dinner, by a stroke of pure luck, we spotted Our Ladies of Solace Church. My children will go there. And play on the ball team. Then we headed back to the train for a rousing game of Death is Not an Option. Some gross options. Don't ever play with Pimp Daddy. Though Muffy was the one who brought us "Michael Jackson or Bubbles the Chimp".
Everyone else headed home to recover and treat sunburns and the like. I just dumped my stuff and headed to the Bowery Poetry Club for Rock Star Fran's gig. Apparently Boog City does fundraisers from time to time where they have a bunch of musicians cover one album. Saturday night was Prince's Purple Rain. And Fran was rockin' out on "I Would Die 4 U" and "Baby I'm a Star" She did a good job and had some interesting takes on the songs. The show overall was interesting. I really liked the performance of "Darling Nikki" and mostly liked "Purple Rain". "Computer Blue" and "I Would Die 4 U" were fun covers. But some if it was a bit unPrince like for my tastes. As one of the folks I was standing with said, "Prince is about Sex, not sensitive boy music". And it's true. It just doesn't sound quite right as sensitive boy music. But it was a fun gig and interesting to watch. And it's always good to see Rock Star Fran rock out. Or get goofy. Or both.
There were some poetry readings ahead of time which I wasn't expecting. Not bad, but I was so tired that I don't think most of it registered. One guy kind of upset me at cheering Reagan's death. I don't think the man was a saint and I wasn't upset at the news of his death like some folks at the office, but cheering at it kinda left me a little cold. I don't know. Seems sick. Maybe that's just me. Not quite liberal enough.
Anyway. After the show I hugged Charlotte and BLeia, chatted with Fran and her man a bit and then headed home. To blissful sleep. And so endeth Day Two.
*Apparently I missed a highlight. "One of my favorite moments which Muffy and Amanda missed would be the "Addams Family Electrocute You Game" which Steph took on. There was a crowd of people watching as Steph was able to hold on all the way to the win! The best moment--a little boy became Steph's biggest fan, all agog watching him, and then shyly asking him about the game." - Vader. Hee. So sorry to have missed that.
I sent Vader an email at about 5:15 saying that I was just going to bed now and she could feel free to show up late for Coney Island. Then went to sleep. Well, Yahoo Mail doesn't work the time stamp so well and my phone rang at 9:30 or so. And I cried a little and didn't bother to get it because I think I left the cordless in the bathroom. And I tried to get back to sleep but wasn't so good at it. I finally gave up when Pimp Daddy called around 10:45 to say he was running a bit late or on his way or something. Troublemakers with phones. The whole lot of them.
Anyway. Then Steph calls a little after 11 to tell me they're halfway ready and to see what the departure status is. So I jump in the shower. And Vader arrives right at 11:16 because she's awesome with the promptness and all. So she got to see me answer the door in a towel. Because I am class-ay! Then Pimp Daddy arrived and Vader answered the door (like a good hostess helper) so I could dress before he walked in. Eventually Muffy & Steph joined in and our tired little group headed off to Coney Island.
We had perfect weather. Sunny and warm but with nice breezes and all so we didn't cry from heat or anything. We wandered the boardwalk a little and got Vader a Coney Island t-shirt to change into. Then we headed for Nathan's to get some dogs and cheese fries and drinks. And it was awesome. On the way we got to watch a cute topless boy at the batting cages. Woo. Oh, and we got to check out (but not partake in) Shoot the Freak. Because what's more fun than shooting paint guns at some poor guy dressed in heavy black armor running around a vacant lot? Nothing.
Then it was off to Keyspan Stadium so Muffy & Steph could purchase Cyclones hats and we could cringe every time someone set of the door bell. It was a horrible, horrible noise. The folks who work there should get some kind of workers comp for the damage being done to their eardrums. Poor things. I looked for a t-shirt or hoodie I could love and take home, but alas. Nothing for me.
We did catch a bit of a girls softball game at the little league field nearby. Carmine vs. Our Ladies of Solace. We were rooting for Solace but they didn't seem to be having the greatest of games. Poor things.
A nice long walk down the pier proved uneventful. No one got stuck in the head with a fishhook so hurray! And more boardwalk time while Puerto Rico and African festivities were going on. A moment or two for more topless boy batting cage ogling. Then Steph made us do the race cars. And treated. Which was very, very nice of him. I was having a grand old time until I got stuck behind a very slow girl who couldn't even stay off to the side. Alas.
Then I finally got to play Skee Ball. And it was a Birthday Week Miracle. I LOVE Skee Ball and the machine I picked (#10) happened to be magical. Instead of giving 1 ticket for 90, 150, 200 and so on it would give anywhere from 1 to 4 tickets. And it would often start me at 10 or 20 points rather than 0. I got a nice long run on that puppy before some arcade guy caught on (apparently he didn't feel my big pile o' tickets matched my mad skills even though I'm quite good) and moved me to another machine so he could fix #10. Bad man. Everyone had a bit of a run at Skee Ball but none of them are true devotees so they wondered off to play Ms. PacMan, shoot zombies and box with machines. Good times for all and about 300 tickets amassed. * Woo. So then it was off for funnel cakes (premade and not done right in front of you on the fryer alas) and sitting time. Then we made an AWESOME t-shirt with the five of us; Vader, Pimp Daddy, Muffy, Steph and the birthday girl! It will debut on Saturday and people will fall to their knees in praise of this great shirt.
And after buying this ridiculous shirt we felt we were ready to spend our tickets. It took like 20 minutes to end up with some bead kits to make an I *heart* Eds Shirt necklace and an Amanda bracelet, some mini paper playing cards, two I *heart* you bracelets that we thought were shoelaces, a smiley bubble necklace and a plastic fly. Oh yeah. We go for the quality.
After that it was on to the Wonder Wheel. Woo. We opted for the swinging car. I think I sorta forced everyone into it by saying the stationary car was for pussies. Because I'm mature like that. Actually, I'm five. And we all learned this in line for the Wonder Wheel. Right past the wheel is a ride called the Scooter. And from our place in line you could see signs saying Scooter. But there were trash cans in front of the sign. So it read COOTER. And I kinda lost it. I had to have a picture of it. And then I started laughing hysterically. Because. Well. COOTER. It was awesome. And I'm hardly the only dirty one. We were debating where in the cage to sit, front or back, and Pimp Daddy got the giggles after too much of "Do you like the front?" "Who prefers it in the back?" "I don't care; front, back, whatever." So I'm not alone in my five year old dirty child mind.
Anyway. We make it onto the Wonder Wheel. And the Wonder Wheel cage with two people in it does not slide back and forth nearly as much as it does with FIVE people in it. And then, when Steph decides to start swinging it... well, it slides a lot more then, oddly enough. Muffy and I became big scaredy cats and at some point threatened Steph's life until he stopped. But it was awesome. Totally. And I got to snuggle with some Vader and some Pimp Daddy and that's always a good time. Then the Cyclone. And my wussy ass wouldn't ride it. I think I have to refuse to ride a roller coaster for a long time before I become so ashamed that I just ride the damn thing. I have only refused the Cyclone once before so Saturday was not my shame time yet. Instead I sat with all the bags, drank a diet coke and waited for the best time to get a shot of Ed's Shirt on the coaster. Luckily Muffy and Steph were good enough to get the front car and I think we have an awesome shot.
After that it was time to get daiquiris in giant tacky neon cups. Good times. They're pricey, but you get a free refill. So we walked a few feet away to finish off the first round while enjoying the view before filling back up for the walk to dinner. We went to Totonno's for what is apparently some really awesome pizza. And it was good. And at the pizza place we learned that Muffy thought cooter meant your hick friend. So she wasn't quite in on my madness all day. We got that cleared up though. Oh, and on the way to dinner, by a stroke of pure luck, we spotted Our Ladies of Solace Church. My children will go there. And play on the ball team. Then we headed back to the train for a rousing game of Death is Not an Option. Some gross options. Don't ever play with Pimp Daddy. Though Muffy was the one who brought us "Michael Jackson or Bubbles the Chimp".
Everyone else headed home to recover and treat sunburns and the like. I just dumped my stuff and headed to the Bowery Poetry Club for Rock Star Fran's gig. Apparently Boog City does fundraisers from time to time where they have a bunch of musicians cover one album. Saturday night was Prince's Purple Rain. And Fran was rockin' out on "I Would Die 4 U" and "Baby I'm a Star" She did a good job and had some interesting takes on the songs. The show overall was interesting. I really liked the performance of "Darling Nikki" and mostly liked "Purple Rain". "Computer Blue" and "I Would Die 4 U" were fun covers. But some if it was a bit unPrince like for my tastes. As one of the folks I was standing with said, "Prince is about Sex, not sensitive boy music". And it's true. It just doesn't sound quite right as sensitive boy music. But it was a fun gig and interesting to watch. And it's always good to see Rock Star Fran rock out. Or get goofy. Or both.
There were some poetry readings ahead of time which I wasn't expecting. Not bad, but I was so tired that I don't think most of it registered. One guy kind of upset me at cheering Reagan's death. I don't think the man was a saint and I wasn't upset at the news of his death like some folks at the office, but cheering at it kinda left me a little cold. I don't know. Seems sick. Maybe that's just me. Not quite liberal enough.
Anyway. After the show I hugged Charlotte and BLeia, chatted with Fran and her man a bit and then headed home. To blissful sleep. And so endeth Day Two.
*Apparently I missed a highlight. "One of my favorite moments which Muffy and Amanda missed would be the "Addams Family Electrocute You Game" which Steph took on. There was a crowd of people watching as Steph was able to hold on all the way to the win! The best moment--a little boy became Steph's biggest fan, all agog watching him, and then shyly asking him about the game." - Vader. Hee. So sorry to have missed that.
Birthday Week - Day One
Birthday Week is exhausting. But awesome.
Because of Reagan's Funeral on Friday, the markets were closed. And when the markets are closed, my office is closed. Sadly this doesn't happen enough. The markets closing, not presidents dying. I'm okay if they don't die that often. Dying upsets me. Um, yeah.
So, Birthday Week started with a day off. Which was a great idea, I think. I had all kinds of grand plans about getting up at 8 and cleaning my entire apartment before 5. But, if any of you know me, you know that didn't happen. I was up before 10. I did get some cleaning done. Crossed a couple things off the ole to do list. And that was good. But the apartment is still a pit. Ah well.
I eventually showered and suited up (my Bernie jersey and Yankees cap and blue & white sneakers) and headed on out to the 4 train. By some strange Birthday Week coincidence Muppet and Mr. Muppet managed to get on the same car of the same train somewhere around 42nd street or Union Square. So I scared the crap out of Muppet by hugging her from behind ("You do not sneak up behind someone and hug them on the train!"), giving up my seat in the process. I sacrifice, she yells. My life is very hard. We got to the stadium and headed to the Big Bat to wait for Muffy, Steph and LJ. Took them no time at all to arrive and we headed in. Where the good Birthday Week luck just decided to laugh loudly and run away. Steph got denied entrance with his bag (which was smaller than the purse that walked in right ahead of him) so he and Muffy had to wander off and try another entrance, with her holding the bag and us taking her actual bag. Yankee stadium is as sexist about terrorists as anywhere else and is 98% more likely to let in a girl with a giant bag than a boy with a tiny man purse. Just so you know.
As the rest of us headed to our seats, Muppet and Mr. Muppet asked me why I got non-alcoholic seats. I thought they were kidding. When I Ordered the tickets ONLINE I was not told they were in the non-alcoholic section! No, I was not. I would've remembered this. I would rather sit in the farthest reaches of the stadium than sit in a non-alcoholic section. A strongly worded letter is going to be written by me this week. Count on that. But, there was nothing we could do at that point but try and sneak beer. Little did we know. We had not yet seen The Beer Nazi in her khaki shorts and sassy yellow STAFF polo. Woe unto us.
I went off to get beer and dogs and pretzels while LJ watched the seats. And then the game started. As I stood in the longest line ever (yeah, our counter person wandered off to count her cash drawer midway through my line's forward progression) A-Rod hit his homer. Really, about the only good play from the Yankees that game. When asked why he didn't come rescue me after others came back to the seats, LJ told me the game had started. Putz. He was obviously not comprehending this idea of Birthday Week. He will pay. Anyway. I came back to the seats and spent the evening watching the Yankees play like a bunch of girls while my companions (a Mets fan, two Red Sox fans, a Padres fan and a Marlins fan) cheer gleefully, all the while getting yelled at by and trying to hide from the Beer Nazi. This woman was having fits whenever she caught someone in the section with beer. Actual fits. Her eyes sometimes bugged out.
She came to our row at one point but was not able to catch us. We were sneaky. At first. But, unlike what usually happens, we did not get more invisible the more beer we drank. Muffy got sodas so we could hide beer in the soda cups. But the Beer Nazi saw Steph with actual beer cups and while yelling at him was able to see my soda cup with beer. Dammit. So we were sent off to the entrance to chug our beers. So we chugged. And then we came back.
And for some reason Steph and Mr. Muppet still had beer when they came back. So she yelled and threatened to throw us all out of the stadium if she caught us with beer again. It was all just ridiculous. And frustrating. A girl needs a beer when watching a game where the Padres beat the Yankees 10-2. Really. But we managed to have fun and the Padres fan was very happy. And Ed's Shirt got to grace another torso and see Yankee Stadium and all, so that was a treat. And we did get to see the Beer Nazi throw out some folks for drinking beer somewhere around the 8th or 9th Inning.
After the game, Muppet wanted to know if we were all going out for a drink. After about the 17th time she asked we all kinda clued in that she wanted to go out for drinks. As LJ had to catch the LIRR home at SOME point we ended up at a Playwright Tavern (there are many all over Manhattan) near Penn Station. After about a million $3 Miller Lites and a round of Car Bombs (and Scotch for LJ) and some strange conversation and threats of Trivial Pursuit throw downs and photos of Ed's Shirt and a Padres hat and befriending some man named Mark (or Martin) it was somehow after 3AM and LJ had left us. In fact, I think the bar was technically closed because they were finally letting our posse smoke in the back room. And the front door was locked and all. At this point I had also been whining about leaving for an hour and I was finally allowed to go home. There was a small incident with Ed's Shirt in the train station that I'm sure you'll hear about in its blog, and then we were on the F train. And Steph was blathering about staying up until dawn. Because he is a dumbass. He kept insisting we were going to a diner and seeing the dawn. He can be a bit stubborn when he's been drinking and Muffy and I are dumbasses as well so we went along with him.
We wrapped up the evening/morning with Grilled Cheese sandwiches (which tasted so good) and french fries in a Smith Street diner. And we came out and it was light. And the birds were chirping. And I wanted to kinda cry a little. Steph babbled about seeing the bright shiny orb. Muffy and I told him to go to hell because we were going to BED. And he followed along like a good man. Finally.
I got home, sent some babbling emails letting people know that if they were running late getting to my place for the Coney Island trip, that would be excellent. And then I passed out about 5:30AM. Ending Day One. A very, very long, but AWESOME Day One.
Because of Reagan's Funeral on Friday, the markets were closed. And when the markets are closed, my office is closed. Sadly this doesn't happen enough. The markets closing, not presidents dying. I'm okay if they don't die that often. Dying upsets me. Um, yeah.
So, Birthday Week started with a day off. Which was a great idea, I think. I had all kinds of grand plans about getting up at 8 and cleaning my entire apartment before 5. But, if any of you know me, you know that didn't happen. I was up before 10. I did get some cleaning done. Crossed a couple things off the ole to do list. And that was good. But the apartment is still a pit. Ah well.
I eventually showered and suited up (my Bernie jersey and Yankees cap and blue & white sneakers) and headed on out to the 4 train. By some strange Birthday Week coincidence Muppet and Mr. Muppet managed to get on the same car of the same train somewhere around 42nd street or Union Square. So I scared the crap out of Muppet by hugging her from behind ("You do not sneak up behind someone and hug them on the train!"), giving up my seat in the process. I sacrifice, she yells. My life is very hard. We got to the stadium and headed to the Big Bat to wait for Muffy, Steph and LJ. Took them no time at all to arrive and we headed in. Where the good Birthday Week luck just decided to laugh loudly and run away. Steph got denied entrance with his bag (which was smaller than the purse that walked in right ahead of him) so he and Muffy had to wander off and try another entrance, with her holding the bag and us taking her actual bag. Yankee stadium is as sexist about terrorists as anywhere else and is 98% more likely to let in a girl with a giant bag than a boy with a tiny man purse. Just so you know.
As the rest of us headed to our seats, Muppet and Mr. Muppet asked me why I got non-alcoholic seats. I thought they were kidding. When I Ordered the tickets ONLINE I was not told they were in the non-alcoholic section! No, I was not. I would've remembered this. I would rather sit in the farthest reaches of the stadium than sit in a non-alcoholic section. A strongly worded letter is going to be written by me this week. Count on that. But, there was nothing we could do at that point but try and sneak beer. Little did we know. We had not yet seen The Beer Nazi in her khaki shorts and sassy yellow STAFF polo. Woe unto us.
I went off to get beer and dogs and pretzels while LJ watched the seats. And then the game started. As I stood in the longest line ever (yeah, our counter person wandered off to count her cash drawer midway through my line's forward progression) A-Rod hit his homer. Really, about the only good play from the Yankees that game. When asked why he didn't come rescue me after others came back to the seats, LJ told me the game had started. Putz. He was obviously not comprehending this idea of Birthday Week. He will pay. Anyway. I came back to the seats and spent the evening watching the Yankees play like a bunch of girls while my companions (a Mets fan, two Red Sox fans, a Padres fan and a Marlins fan) cheer gleefully, all the while getting yelled at by and trying to hide from the Beer Nazi. This woman was having fits whenever she caught someone in the section with beer. Actual fits. Her eyes sometimes bugged out.
She came to our row at one point but was not able to catch us. We were sneaky. At first. But, unlike what usually happens, we did not get more invisible the more beer we drank. Muffy got sodas so we could hide beer in the soda cups. But the Beer Nazi saw Steph with actual beer cups and while yelling at him was able to see my soda cup with beer. Dammit. So we were sent off to the entrance to chug our beers. So we chugged. And then we came back.
And for some reason Steph and Mr. Muppet still had beer when they came back. So she yelled and threatened to throw us all out of the stadium if she caught us with beer again. It was all just ridiculous. And frustrating. A girl needs a beer when watching a game where the Padres beat the Yankees 10-2. Really. But we managed to have fun and the Padres fan was very happy. And Ed's Shirt got to grace another torso and see Yankee Stadium and all, so that was a treat. And we did get to see the Beer Nazi throw out some folks for drinking beer somewhere around the 8th or 9th Inning.
After the game, Muppet wanted to know if we were all going out for a drink. After about the 17th time she asked we all kinda clued in that she wanted to go out for drinks. As LJ had to catch the LIRR home at SOME point we ended up at a Playwright Tavern (there are many all over Manhattan) near Penn Station. After about a million $3 Miller Lites and a round of Car Bombs (and Scotch for LJ) and some strange conversation and threats of Trivial Pursuit throw downs and photos of Ed's Shirt and a Padres hat and befriending some man named Mark (or Martin) it was somehow after 3AM and LJ had left us. In fact, I think the bar was technically closed because they were finally letting our posse smoke in the back room. And the front door was locked and all. At this point I had also been whining about leaving for an hour and I was finally allowed to go home. There was a small incident with Ed's Shirt in the train station that I'm sure you'll hear about in its blog, and then we were on the F train. And Steph was blathering about staying up until dawn. Because he is a dumbass. He kept insisting we were going to a diner and seeing the dawn. He can be a bit stubborn when he's been drinking and Muffy and I are dumbasses as well so we went along with him.
We wrapped up the evening/morning with Grilled Cheese sandwiches (which tasted so good) and french fries in a Smith Street diner. And we came out and it was light. And the birds were chirping. And I wanted to kinda cry a little. Steph babbled about seeing the bright shiny orb. Muffy and I told him to go to hell because we were going to BED. And he followed along like a good man. Finally.
I got home, sent some babbling emails letting people know that if they were running late getting to my place for the Coney Island trip, that would be excellent. And then I passed out about 5:30AM. Ending Day One. A very, very long, but AWESOME Day One.
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