Side Note:  I actually started this post on 1/25/09 @ 8:40 AM and just never finished it….who knew….

I had every intention of buying my mother a laptop for her birthday – the kids NEVER let her on the computer at home and I wanted her to be able to connect with her brother (in Canada) and her sisters (one in Arizona), and other family members via email, instant messaging, video chat, etc..  I mean really, picking up the phone and calling people is soooooooo 3 decades ago and writing a letter…..didn’t that stop in the Victorian era? 

Like I said, I ‘had’ the intention until I went out and found a laptop that was reasonable priced, had double the RAM and HD that my current laptop had AND it had an HDMI port which meant I could stream my videos from Anime Fuel, Hulu, Veoh, and others directly to the 42″ flat panel goodness in the TV room.  (Come on – you gotta love watching MASK, Thundercats, Superfriends, Transformers, GI Joe, Silverhawks, etc. – well…I do so neener!)

Needless to say, I ended up buying that one for myself, and restored my Acer back to factory settings and giving it to mom.  I figured she wasn’t gonna be playing City of Heroes or World of Warcraft so I (mememe) needed the more powerful laptop cause…..well…..I would be.

Flash forward to today (4/7/09):

Mom likes her laptop – I set it up with a password so that only she could get onto it.  That didn’t stop the lil’ beggars from trying to worm the PW outta her…nooooo but, kudos to mom she stood strong.  My dad’s desktop died so he had to get a laptop, then my nephew had a fit to get one too so…yes…the freshly turned 13 year old has a laptop of his own too.  Then Amber, my niece wanted a laptop too.  So, now there is high speed internet and wireless router (Thank you Uncle Chucky) in the house with 4 laptops connecting.  Hmmm you know what’s gonna be funny is when Christmas rolls around and yours truly says, “Okay, if you want the high speed internet, someone needs to step up and pay for it, because only the first year was on me.”….and watch their faces.  So spoiled on high speed, they would rather eat dirt than go back to AOL and *gasp* dial-up.

Might I just say, WTF is wrong?!?!  When I was a kid, I was LUCKY to have a cassette tape boombox of my own to listen to Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls, Adam Ant, Thompson Twins etc on.  There was none of this I have my own cell phone, laptop, iPod, TV, DVD player, PSP, PS2 in my room crap…when did kids develop this whole entitlement thing and when did parents start buying into it?

I’m sooooooooo happy that my mother likes her laptop (I’ve never given my mother a $600 ANYTHING before – but…she’s worth it) it was cute when she showed me her new laptop case.  I was tickled. 

….Now to get her into MMORPGs…..muahahahahaha

Happy Valentine's Day

 OR

Happy Birthday to Keith

Actually, it’s BOTH - that’s right!  Today is Valentine’s Day AND it’s Keith’s 51st birthday!  For his birthday, I got him 3 David Austin ‘Jude the Obscure‘ roses – which REALLY do smell like guava – I have NO idea how that happens but, they really, truly do smell like a lush tropical fruit.  I also got him some new Green Pans which are sooooooooo freaking amazing!

Miss America pose with Birthday Princess crown!

So, this past Sunday was my 40th birthday – I have officially entered ‘trolldom’ well, at least that was how I used to view it.  Now….not so much – I’m actually very happy with my life.  I knew I was having a party (well, if Keith knew what was good for him that is, I was going to have a party) and up until last Saturday, I thought the party was going to be Sunday.  My best friend, Ben, had invited us to his house for dinner Sunday evening and I figured that was the same ruse as I used to get Keith to Ben’s house for his 50th so he must have been using the same thing for my 40th.

So Saturday I bought some new jeans, a new shirt and said I was going to run out Sunday morning to get some new shoes so I could be all dolled up for my ‘surprise party’.  Later that night I asked what was for dinner and Keith said we were having Tomato soup  and grilled cheese – a little lackluster but still….yummy.  My phone rang and I didn’t recognize the number at first so, I ignored it then the same number called again and I thought it looked a little familiar but still didn’t answer.  I checked the number and it was Kristy’s – now since Keith had told me I was not allowed to talk to anyone because I’m one of those naturally nosey people who try to worm details (say about an upcoming party) out of folks – so I told Keith he might want to call her back.

Keith called Kristy and I ended up on the phone – it seems she’d bought a load of books (she owns Minerva Books – a great new & used bookstore here in the ‘burg) and couldn’t get anyone to help her unload them.  Her partner Beth was at reserves for the weekend and no one else was available to help.  Since I like her I had no problem helping….she offered to take us to dinner for our trouble but, I wouldn’t hear of it, after all, what are friends for, right?

I had already settled into my flannel lounge pants, grubby t-shirt, and house slippers for the evening so, I just threw on some dirty pants and slipped on my shoes – after all, I was just going to be hauling boxes of books, right?  During the short drive to Minerva’s Keith was chattering away and in retrospect, I think he was doing it to take my mind off of my birthday.  We pulled into the lot and after getting out I thought,”Wow, that BMW looks like Terri and Kartik’s car and wait a minute, that’s a Mazda 5 like Shannon and April have.”  Kristy met us outside and as we were walking to the door, I could see the balloon bouquets – too late I realized what was going on and I had no choice but to go on in.  Me….who won’t go to the mailbox without fixing my hair was being delivered to my surprise party without having bathed, without deodorant or cologne; with my hair a mess; and wearing a dirty shirt, pants, slip on shoes and a wind jacket.  OH the inhumanity of it all – for documented proof —–> Click Here

All in all I had a wonderful time and was actually surprised.  It was so nice of my friends and my family (well my Aunt Joey and Uncle Leon) to celebrate a milestone birthday with me!  I felt bad that my mom had made it about a block away but, got confused since she doesn’t really drive at night or in Petersburg and went home.  I sort of fault my father for not coming with her but, what the hell I had a good time even if my parents, sisters, nieces, nephews, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter didn’t show – nope…not the least bit bitter.  Yeah Right! LOL.  

Hey, it’s all good – I got my Wii and I got to spend time celebrating with many of my best friends and family!  I especially liked the ‘Birthday Princess’ crown LOL!!

….yeah sounds nasty but….it isn’t.  Yesterday our granddaughter, Miss Audrey Elizabeth McAllister turned 1 year old.  Its amazing that it has already been one year – my how time flys – seems only yesterday we were rushing to the hospital because she was on her way into the world.  I must confess a bit of amusement, you see, Keith had prepared all this food and had planned the perfect tablescape – this was the first time we were going to be having the Morrison’s to our house and it was Thanksgiving Day.  Anyone who knows him, knows hes very anal when it comes to dinner parties and such.  Oh well – he ended up having the best Thanksgiving ever that year….cause ‘Pickle’ showed up.

We had a nice time at Hot Tamale Cafe out in Midlothian – lots of good food, good friends, and good times were had by all…..not to mention some kick ass memories too!  Of course I had my camera =) and I’m still trying to get the hang of taking video with it heh I even tried adding titles and an effect but……

Part I of the Party

Part II of the Party

Still Photos made into a video (hey was my first time trying it with Picasa):

I think my favorite part was her attempt at a blue-faced, Braveheart impersonation…no, really…she did see:

Freeeeeeeeeeeeedom

A good likeness, no?