As you know, I always encourage people to celebrate not only the birth-day but the whole birth-week. Seems to work that way anyway- getting together with friends at various times, getting together with family at another, perhaps a little something at work too. And so, this past weekend commenced the beginning of my birthday celebrations.

Anyway, I made my way out to Diablo Friday night, for the 2nd annual RIP Continental party. I don't get out there that often and it was nice to make specific plans to meet up with a bunch of friends for celebratory debauchary. Thanks for the birthday drink, (e:soma)! Tattoo Rum and Coke is too yummy.Great to hang, its been awhile! It was also a pleasure to chill with (e:pyrcedgrrl), (e:redletterweek), (e:vincent), and our other buds- Harry, Katie, Rainy, Shawn, & Solomon.

Yesterday was dinner and a movie. A very nice evening. I finally got to see, Balls of Fury. Funny, but not as hilarious as I think it could have been. However, Christopher Walken and the sex slaves made me giggle endlessly. I need to see, Superbad. And scrumptious Clive Owen on the big screen in, 'Shoot 'em up'.

Today at some point, my mom will be over. She hasn't been feeling well, which I hate to hear. I'm not sure if its a quick visit or if there are plans for dinner or something. My step-dad called me today as well, wondering what i am up to. I think he will come over when my mom does. This actual birthday evening will most likely be free for me.

Then, the celebrations will wrap up this Saturday with my South of the Border bonfire. Come on out!
and (e:ladycroft) it feels TOO WEIRD not to have you here. OY!
I hope someone will be taking lots of pics.

I just love this picture of (e:soma) and I.


Good and Evil:






There were a lot more from that night, but I'll wait and eventually do a b-day photo purge on here; keep it all together.

So, I'm beginning to prep for the Bonfire. Weather is supposed to be perfect. As always, I will plan on having something set up in case the weather isn't so great. Set up my garage for shelter along with access to the apartment-- give people options.

Right now I am looking for inexpensive margarita glasses; preferably plastic, reusable and again, CHEAP. Does not matter what they look like. Party City was ridiculous on cup prices- because it had a little design they go for 3-5 bucks a piece. Um, no. I'll buy a bag of colorful plastic cups instead.

I found a pinata at Party City that was reasonable and that will provide a perfect medium for drunk people to be blindfolded and given a bat. While it isn't a good idea, it certainly is a fun one. :D

I saw a bunch of party decorating stuff that would be fun to have, but decided against. I think I will keep it simple. I think-- I still have till Saturday to figure it out. Anyway, an inflatable colorful sombrero that is used as a cooler by lining the outer part of the hat with ice and sticking bottles of beer in the brim. Its cute; I kinda want it, but not sure- I don't want to go crazy on stuff like that.

and I want Sombreros too, thanks to (e:janelle)'s idea.

Again, I will give myself a few more days to really think about it. The main thing is good food, drink and company. PARTAY!

Loafing can be a most excellent way to enjoy the weekend, (e:mrmike)!

After a couple of very late nights (and getting up too early), the lack of sleep muddled my brain enough to fail to take the initiative in going to spend time with a new friend. I can be such a dork.

Instead, I watched a marathon of Scrubs on Comedy Central and played a few rounds of, "Orphan Feast". I hadn't played it before now. (e:pyrcedgrrl) introduced me to it, explaining to me that "it's a game set in London in 1886, and you have to catch and bag orphans so you can eat them all the while fighting off cops and prostitutes" jeez, what is the world coming too. What about the good ole days of rape and pillage? ;)


anyway, as with all things AdultSwim, you can expect a healthy dose of perversion. Wanna play?



Going out would have been nice, but staying in faired well for my sleep deprived brain. I did run out into the evening for a long brisk walk (sleepy brained yes, but still with oodles of physical energy; as usual).

Multiple episodes of Scrubs and a few rounds of Orphan Feast; not shabby for a Saturday in.

right?

haha..

I am stumped as to what to go and do today.


What activities/events are going on this afternoon- evening?

Thursday at the Square, September 13th

I wasn't paying much attention this summer, but its the 20th anniversary of Thursday at the Square.

It was a perfect evening to venture downtown for the second to last TATS performance. Although I had not seen or heard, Charlie Hunter Trio previously, what little I did know, made me eager to know more.

I am pleased to the point of popping! I intend to buy some music very soon. I know a lot of the sounds and experience in general is lost in a venue like TATS, so acquiring a cd or going to another concert should prove to magnify the experience I had. I LOVE finding 'new' music. I'm in a perpetual search for 'good music'; yes, subjective, I know.


Anders Osborne was the other performance. I like blues, I love the Saxaphone, I deeply enjoy tuning into one instrument all the while feeling the symphony of cohesion. Anders didn't have that. It felt mechanical. Not sure if this is the norm or if anyone picked up on that, but it decreased my favorability, and instead I found my mind wandering to the going-ons of everyone else.
Hey, I saw a lady hauled off in handcuffs, escorted by two officers, one of which was carry her purse by his elbow. I saw kids (or men?) doing wheelies on bikes, one of which fell off the back when the rear tire kept going forward mid wheelie. I saw the extreme pleasure a man took in dancing his own special rhythm to Anders Osborne. I wasn't sure if he has his own music in his head, or if he was just really letting loose, if so, I kinda dig that.

I usually sit in the same spot- up near the statues, and I have noticed that this year, I have seen the same people when I go. The ever present "air guitar" player did not disappoint in contributing his participation with the bands. Please tell me someone has seen this guy? haha, he is always to the right of the stage. Also, the super funny older 'drunk guys' found their way to the bushes, as always, with their multiple cups of beer. They are super happy drunks yet I can only hope they walked or took a cab.

Next week is Dropkick Murphys. I am kinda curious about them. I think if anything, it will lend to an energetic atmosphere for as the last performance of the season. So I will try to go.
Also, Jackdaw is on.

a couple of Dropkick Murphys videos:
Walk Away


Sunshine Highway

I guess, south of the Canadian border.
well, technically, east. But anyhow..

'South of the border' is the theme. Have decided on Tex-Mex food stuffs for my upcoming bonfire, Sat 9/22. Fajitas, beans and rice, guacamole, corn bread and of course, Tequila! OOOH and a pinata! But there seems to be something missing. Like I should have another option as a side or two. Maybe a vegetable? I have no idea! Any suggestions?!!

The foodie sites haven't been that helpful to me!

OK, that was a freaky little storm we had there.

I had returned home and thought about going for a walk. It was around 8pm. I decided to return a call to my mom instead. I had windows slightly open still from earlier in the day. The evening was calm and nice, so I figured I would leave my front door open as well, for awhile.

Then I heard some noise that I couldn't identify. A look around, I noticed that the curtains at the windows were flapping back and forth. I looked outside, and the source of the sound was the wind whipping rather violently through the trees. I could see the branches swaying back and forth. I wondered what the wind speed was at that moment.

A few minutes later, rain, thunder and lightning followed. All with big crackling booms-- kinda cool and scary at the same time. I unplugged my laptop and waited it out.

Anyway, I totally would have been caught in that if I would have left for my walk when I wanted too. freaky!

on another note..

Anyone have experience with alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis? I know someone who has been suffering from it, dealing with it for several years; and while they are following western medicine protocol, I can't help but wonder what more is out there. Seems more meds are prescribed for other issues that arise and then those meds easily contraindicate-- and exacerbate other issues, and its a crazy cycle-- AND this is taking into consideration lifestyle changes, etc.


and speaking of meds, (e:mike,41054) that was one crazy story. I can't even think of what your day was like to actually be there! wow!

• Hmm, I have plans to go to one of the last Thursday at the Square performances. This week it is Anders Osborne (Rock, R&B, Blues) and Charlie Hunter Trio (Jazz, Rock, Fusion Guitarist). I am looking forward to listening to them; I think I am feeling rather partial to Charlie Hunter. I have heard good things. I look forward to going this week.

• I'm finding more and more stuff to do this Fall/Halloween season! Haunted Hay Rides, Barns of Doom, Haunted Houses (and Garages!), Ghost Walks, and so on.

WNY Haunts has a nice list to start with:


I want to get tickets to the Haunted Fortress fund raiser soon. I used to go when I first originally lived in Youngstown. You go through the castles, guided by a story teller. Its dark, cold and historic. I remember scary dudes jumping out at times and the atmosphere was just perfect. Later, it ended with a story circle and hot cider/ hot cocoa. Things may have changed since.. Guess I'll find out.

• So far there are plans in the works for me to have a Bonfire-Gathering the weekend of September 21. Actually, it will most likely be Saturday Sept 22. Its not exactly a birthday thing, yet some of my friends are angling it that way (its the 17th). I have had multiple requests through the summer to throw a gathering, so now that the season is ending and I have been cornered, details are being hammered out, haha. Anyone interested in stopping out (youngstown) for food, drink, chill time, let me know! :)

these are always cracking me up:




















for more flippin hilarious "road signs" --> (e:theecarey,35807)

• Thank you, "guest" for your kind words. Not sure if you will see this, but if you happen upon this post, it was really nice to receive the feedback. hehe, and, beat me up? bring it on! hahahaha (made me smile!) :)

• Does anyone else find it weird that not only have we NOT gotten the cool(cold) August nights, but that we are in September and its still 80 EIGHTY degrees outside after midnight?!?! I mean, still warm/hot days are normal, but usually we have the cool nights through August.

• Lewiston Peach Festival this weekend.

Food, drink, rides, games, events, something peachy to eat and drink. Its always a big deal, not that I have gone in several years. I'm sure I will go (maybe?), even though it freaks me out. It is sure to bring Lew Port alumni back to town- Its just weird to run into people I haven't seen in 14 plus years! Last weekend, well, Monday evening, I made it to the Youngstown field days, and there were people who looked soooooooo familiar that I couldn't place or there were people I looked right at, but didn't recognize at all-- and all of them being people I used to go to school with at some point. I wont go without (e:pyrcedgrrl) and (e:vincent) GOT THAT? Going to maybe buy more fried dough. Had some last week, and I usually only have one per year. Good stuff. Must play the DUCKY** game if they have it. (hehe, yes, I am still obsessing, Mike)

• Hiccups are annoying. I have them right now and they wont go away. I rarely get them, thankfully.

• Who's been to 'Cheeburger'? what is up with that place and why is it called that? Why isn't it Cheeseburger? Dont you get something if you eat some burger they have? Was it someone on here? I walked past it today because I saw something pink glowing in the parking lot. It was the decor of this restaurant/50s diner.

• Anyone have a go-to list of all the Halloween/Fall going-ons? Like scary stuff, hay rides, haunted walks, etc? I want to plan now of places I want to go or I know I will miss out.

• The crazy windy day was nice. I liked how it seemed to energize everything. I opened up my windows to feel the breeze, albeit HOT breeze. I hung my bamboo wind 'chimes' in front of an open window so I could hear their sound. Later this evening it began to rain, a warm rain at that- I love the smell of earthy rain.

• Why did I think that Thurday at the Square usually finished up at the end of August? There are still 2 weeks left!

• A very pleasant and refreshing evening was had; found myself laughing a lot, sometimes shy, sometimes dorky but very pleased, indeed.

• I am now super tired yet too wired to sleep. I swear, don't give me food or drink after midnight!

.. still got hiccups. yeesh.

ok, The Way We Were is on. Redford is so yummy.

Good night!

• wasn't there another duck pic?

DUCKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Timika!





I put together a little Virtual Birthday gift for you. Nothing is wrapped, but I think you will enjoy the 'bag' of goodies! :) (Inspired from (e:ladycroft,40935))


1. Some tv shows you may be missing!












2. no less than 32 winks!


3. mmm icy cold, just for you!



4.



5. I can exchange these for a better model if you wish ;)






6. .. he will do as you wish; it is your birthday, afterall!




7. minty fresh!



8. work humor ;)



9. for your new place!




10. dug these up; not that same, I know :(


(soccer and pink hair!)





11. Print it out and use it today! :D




I'm sure you will get together with your new coworkers & friends; I hope you have a wonderful and adventurous day! Wish you were here to celebrate (or me there!!!). *hugs*

~carey

With the holiday yesterday and being away for a few days, its throwing me off as to what day of the week it is. Tuesday. Tuesday. Tuesday. Ok, got it. OH and its SEPTEMBER (a GREAT month, btw). got it. Making my own schedule for the most part helps. I'm using today to get things back together-- camp gear put away, laundry, clean out coolers, take a really long hot shower complete with mud mask to scrub away the last bits of dirt and dust embedded in every pore and hair follicle.

ahhh, and score myself a really good cup of coffee.

and maybe a nap (gah! sooo sleepy today!).

..and eventually get through the pile up of email; just not in the email writing mode/ train of thought right now. later. after shower. after coffee.

Kids are starting back to school any second now, right? hmm, it might be a really nice time to go wander through the zoo at my leisure. I will have to plan on doing that sometime soon. I like going in the late winter-early spring- I seem to have the place to myself. I haven't yet been there in the fall; I imagine it might be much of the same. I didn't go at all throughout the summer. Well, I did not get out much on my own through the summer due to car issues; but I am not a fan of the (over populated) zoo in the summer anyways. Having a membership is nice. I'm usually not in there for very long. I like to wander over to a few exhibits and just watch quietly; sometimes take pictures.

mmmm late summer, less than three weeks left. Ready for fall?