CHUCK IN A BOX

Family…Food…Friends…Fun – in no particular order at all, these are really things that make life worth living.  This was a GREAT Easter weekend and I had a blast.  Saturday we had an Easter egg hunt with some of the younger members of our family and extended family and Sunday we had Easter dinner with my best friend and his partner.

Saturday morning sort of had me worried – I mean it was supposed to be in the low 80′s and it didn’t get there fast enough – the day actually started out kinda cool and overcast but that changed just in time!  We had Ian and Nicky with Audrey; we had April and Shannon with Aden along with April’s mom and her new beau; and we had Isabella (Isa) and Antonio (Toni) all over for lunch and the hunting of pastel, plastic candy-filled eggs.  Apparently the warning I’d given the twins earlier about letting the little ones get a chance at the eggs must have fallen on deaf little ears.  We had to reign them in a couple of times so that Aden and Audrey could get some too.

The weather was great and we had a simple lunch of hot dogs, chips & hummus and beans – had to have something the dwarfs would eat!  Sadly, Audrey wasn’t feeling well – the poor thing was coughing up a lunch – so Ian and Nicky left a bit early to get the baby to the doctor.  Keith later told me Ian or Nicky had called to let us know that apparently Aud was having an asthma attack – egads but she was feeling a bit better.  After the rest of the folks left, the twins and I hung out until our 4:30 showing of How to Tame Your Dragon (in RealD 3D) – side note – it was a SUPER movie and I swear the 3D effects actually seemed better than those in Avatar.

Sunday we futzed around the house doing some gardening and cleaning of the pond and Keith did some cooking.  Ben and Tim came over after going to the annual Easter event, ‘Monument on Parade‘ and we had a nice dinner.  Keith made cauliflower and blue cheese soup, a delicious green bean/red onion/olive/hard boiled egg salad, leg of lamb roasted with fingerling potatoes and olives and for dessert a yummy Meyer lemon crepe cake that he found in the Easter edition of Martha Stewart Living.  Although I didn’t really eat my lamb (it’s just a me thing – I think the idea of a baby animal coupled with the musky smell/taste is just something I can’t hack) I did wolf down 2 bowls of the soup and ate everything else — yes, yes I put my NutriSystem on hold for the day but, I’ll be back to it tomorrow.  (Hell, I’m just proud I’ve gone from 232 down to 215 in about 2 months – YAY ME!)

Now, I’m winding down my day on the back deck with a glass of Barefoot Moscato (thank you Nicky for turning me on to this – I think I like it even better than my normal Chateau Morrisette ‘Our Dog Blue‘!!) and my laptop (yay home wi-fi) blogging about my fantastic weekend filled with family, friends, food and fun!!

My Heaven on Earth.

I know that sounds quite unappetizing but to me it is/was a WONDERFUL combination.  This time of year I start reminiscing about Easters and Spring Break in the Outer Banks (OBX for those that know) of North Carolina.  When my sisters and I were young, our paternal grandparents would take us to Nags Head for Easter.  I remember thinking at the time it was a HUGE deal because, if I recall correctly, we usually got out of school a day or two early.  I just remember thinking how neat it was that we got to miss school to go to the beach.

We would always stay at Travelers Inn, which was right across the street Jeannettes Pier (which was MUCH more impressive back in the day – before a hurricane took most of it away), and it had a swimming pool so we thought we were just the cat’s ass – hey we were KIDS what did we know.  My grandmother would hide those individually wrapped Brach’s marshmallow eggs out in the sand and shrubs around the hotel and the kids would hunt for them – making sure we didn’t step on or grab those evil little spinney seed pod thingees. *shudder*  I would always, ALWAYS try to wake up extra early to run across the street and see if, over night, the tides had brought any cool treasures to the beach that I could collect.  I was usually rewarded with bits of driftwood, some mermaid purses, broken shells and the like but, I vividly remember finding a conch shell that was only slightly chipped.  I don’t know what happened to that shell but, for the longest time, I had it in my bedroom while I was a boy at my parents house.

I think those initial trips to the Outer Banks were what started us on – well my – life long love of the place.  Some people like Virginia Beach; some like Myrtle Beach; some like the Florida coast – me….I’ll take the OBX over all of that.  I know my mom loves the place as much as I do.  Eh, I even remember our very first beach house that we rented in Salvo it was the Wimbledome.  We actually were repeat renters at this particular house but then as the years went by, we tried different homes.  The last one that we rented was the Idler – Keith and I rented that for mom because she had always wanted to stay at a house “on the beach” not 1 lot back, not ‘Ocean Side’ but, ON the beach.

We usually prefer to go down a bit further than Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, and Killdevil Hills to places like Salvo, Waves, Rodanthe (yes the recent Richard Gere movie is about this place), Avon etc..  No matter which house we stay in there are 2 prerequisites for a week long vacation in the OBX, we HAVE to go to The Blue Whale or Jobobs Trading Post- it’s in the rules…we just have to – and it wouldn’t be a summer vacation in the OBX without to me (or mom).

I need to start planning for one or more 2010 OBX trips.  I want to take more trips with my nieces and nephews and my parents and such but, I also want to take vacations with “My” family – us, our son & daughter-in-law and of course our granddaughter.  I’ve decided that it’s going to be part of Audrey’s life too once she gets a bit older – going to the OBX.  I hope she falls in love with it as much as I did.

In the meantime I’ll just wax sentimental with my childhood memories of sun, sand, and easter eggs.

Sand and Eggs and Sand

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!!

Wow – I haven’t posted anything in a while (well….over a week but meh).

He Inspired So Much, In So Many

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and I think this particular MLK Jr. Day seems even more symbolic because tomorrow the first African American President of the United States of America is sworn into office.  Tomorrow history, for the United States, will be made.  I cannot pretend to imagine what African American citizens went through during the fight for their civil rights but, I wonder if people like MLK Jr. and Rosa Parks and others were called ‘Activists’ like outspoken LGBT citizens are today.  I wonder if there was a ‘Black Agenda’ like the supposed ‘Gay Agenda’ ? If only the LGBT community had such a leader – he inspired so much in so many – I am sure he would have been a very interesting person to know personally.

This is one of those days that I wish my paternal grandfather was still alive (though don’t let that get out, I have an image to maintain).  He was one of those old school racists who said, ‘black people don’t have the capacity to learn that white people have’ and even changed his (and my grandmother’s) will to state that I would be disinherited if I married outside my race.  I wish he was alive if for nothing more than to say, “See papa – you were WRONG!” and see the look on his face to know that an African American was THE most powerful man in the country – and possibly the world.

I enjoyed my MLK Jr. Day off very much – I woke at about 5 AM – because Keith (who DID have to work) WOULDN’T get up with the dogs.  I answered emails and worked on my newest pet project The Anatomy & Neurobiology Blog for my department at VCU; I paid some bills online; got my neice a birthday card (HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY AMBER!) and some cash; visited with my parental units for a while; talked to my dad about closed radiator systems, ductless heating/cooling, and insulation; talked to my mom about wanted to help my cousin move back to Virginia; looked up various birds that were coming to our feeders and vegged watching LOGO and taking a nap – and enjoying a couple of bowls of Captain Crunch!

Yesterday Amber (my oldest niece) and Ashley (our daughter) went to meet Keith for lunch at Dalat Vietnamese restaurant in the West End.  Keith and Ashley had Pho, I had Grilled Pork and Broken Rice (only mine had cucumbers and pickled carrots, not tomatoes), and Amber – being new to Vietnamese cuisine stuck with a more familiar dish – Chicken with Orange Peel.  After we ate, we shuttled Keith back to work and went out for the day.

We initially went out to Short Pump to go to the mall out there but, after realizing that they’d both been there before, I opted to head to Carytown for the afternoon.  On the way back into Richmond, I had to stop at Whole Foods to pick up some EO Peppermint & Tea Tree hand soap – because IMHO – it is THE BEST! and smells sooooo good.  While we were there I was showing Amber around the place and telling them both that if it was closer to Petersburg, I would probably shop there a bit more often (honestly their prices are not THAT horrible on their store brand stuff).  So, we also each got a drink (Ashley and Amber got Pomegranate soda and I got a TAZO Pomegranate tea) and then we each got a miniature tart/cheesecake and then piled in the car for Carytown.

After getting to Carytown, we parked and walked down one side, stopping in various shops along the way until we got to the end of the strip.  We stopped in Mongrel and I bought a card for Jeffrey and some really neat candles for Amber(pomegranate and something – she’s really into pomegranate now) and Ashley (pineapple, ginger, and tangerine) that they liked.  Ashley picked up a really nice pashmina at Bygones and Amber almost got a pair of sunglasses…except they were scratched up – and of course that was the ONLY pair that they had.  She did end up deciding that for her Sweet 16 that she was going to get a tiara – which I agreed too =).

Carytown shopping area of Richmond

Towards Cary Court Shopping Center

We crossed the street to Ben & Jerry’s to start our way back up the strip where we each enjoyed a small ice cream cup of delicious, yummy ice cream!

Ashley at Ben & Jerry's

Amber at Ben & Jerry's

After finishing our ice cream we headed back to the car but I, of course being the overgrown child that I am, had to stop into World of Mirth to show them one of my favorite stores EVER!  This place has the BEST toys and a lot of other cool stuff for kids of all ages.  Amber and I were playing with the sunglasses and the hats – seems I’m not the only big kid after all LOL.

Amber trys on a tiny, tiny hat

Me in H-U-G-E shades bein' "cool"

We continued back up the street, I showed them where we took Alex (my oldest nephew) for lunch at Galaxy Diner and extolled the glories of the ‘fried pickle’ and that they also offer fried Oreos and Twinkies too.  I think the only other store we stopped into was actually Ten Thousand Villages, a really neat store that sells fair trade items from around the world.  I saw tons of stuff to buy in many of the stores but alas, just coming off of the Christmas season, fundage was a bit on the tight side though, I’m pretty sure they both had a good time.  Then we rode around the Fan a bit and I showed them the various apartments I lived in – Floyd Ave., Lombardy St. & Park Ave., and Monument Ave. before we hit the road back to the Southside.

It was nice to be able to get Amber out and show her around ‘The City’ and I think both she and Ashley had a nice time.  I really don’t get to spend as much time as I like with the nephew and niece monsters and I HAVE to get better about that.  All in all though, I think we had a pretty damned good day!

Side note – I did get a bit annoyed when I uploaded the photos from the past few days only to realize that the date was $%#@& up on my camera so, even though these show 12/23/08, it was actually 12/29/08.

JUST so people don’t think I’m totally consumed with being some type of gay activist or something – switching gears =P

Yesterday Keith and I went to Richmond to have lunch at Bottoms Up Pizza with Ashley (our daughter), Ian (our son), Nicky (our daughter-in-law) and of course Audrey (our granddaughter) after we had our fill, we decided to walk up the street to see what was new at LaDifferance (LaDiff).  

Bottoms Up Pizza

Its possible to be TOO wired ya know!

'Pickle' playing with toys in LaDiff

After walking around the store for a while, it became apparent that Audrey was a bit overdue for her nap so we left but, I bought this neat little book called, ‘How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint 365 Simple Ways to Save Energy, Resources, and Money‘ by Joanna Yarrow.  

Great little book - very worth reading

I have to say, I read a good deal of it last night just before bed – some of the things in just seem like common sense things but others are like ‘Wow…REALLY?!?!’  I was really happy to see that some of the things Keith and I have recently started doing were in the book.  Like changing out the incandescent bulbs for CFL (Compact Flourescent Lights); installing a programmable thermostat; putting an insulation blanket on the water heater; composting kitchen scraps; installing weather stripping and draft protection and other little things.  There is still more that we can (and plan to) do but, it’s a start.  It was really sort of eye opening when the book explains that

“the average European emits around 11 tons of CO2 per year while the average American emits over 22 tons – more than 5 times the world average (4 tons).  In contrast, in sub-Saharan Africa the average footprint is less than .08 tons per person.”

that was pretty sad, in my humble opinion.  I was also amazed to read that every two (2) minutes the sun gives the Earth more energy than we use in a year.  Why aren’t we doing more to take advantage of this free energy?  Keith says the big two should really be solar and wind because on days the sun isn’t out, its typically windy and on days when there is no wind, its typically sunny.  He REALLY wants to, as he says, ‘go off the grid’ to the point where we even give back energy and get credit for it – that, I don’t think, will happen here in Petersburg – least not in this house LOL.

I’m also reading the third book in the Inheritance trilogy by Christopher Paolini called BRISINGR.  

3rd book about Eragon & Saphira

I really liked the first two and this third/final chapter in the series is proving just as good.  I’ve even got my nephew, Alex, reading the second book in the series – Eldest, he said they’d read the first book -Eragon in school and he wanted to read the next book.  If he likes it I’ll make sure to let him borrow Brisingr as well.  I cannot imagine having all of this stuff (the material for the 3 books) floating around in my head at the age of 15 when he wrote the first draft of Eragon.  Wow – what a talented young man and a really good auther.  If you like fantasy, it is definately worth the read.

So on the way home from the gym this morning I’m listening to Lite 98 because they play Christmas music 24/7 this time of year and….well….I like Christmas music.  As I’m turning onto Temple Avenue a rendition of Little Drummer Boy comes on so I crank  up the volume as that is one of my favorite Christmas songs of all time – well that and it was one of my favorite Christmas shows as a child too.

So I’m listening to the song and thinking of the television show and how much I loved it and I start crying.  I don’t know why, maybe it was just the emotions from the song, maybe it was the fact that it made me remember being a child and all the wonder Christmas held for me as a kid – you know when you still believed in Santa and all that.  Or, maybe it’s because I’m just a big softy after all, I mean I cry when I listen to songs from Phantom or songs from various Opera…or even that damn song Christmas Shoes….it makes me cry too.  Maybe that’s what music is supposed to do, evoke feelings and memories - heck all this time I thought it was for shakin’ yer bootie to.

‘Your gift, little drummer boy, given out of the simple desperation of a pure love is the one favored above all.  Aaron’s heart was filled with joy and love and he knew at last that the hate he had carried there was wrong, as all hatred will ever be wrong for more powerful, more beautiful by far than all the eons of sadness and cruelty and desolation which had come before was that one tiny crystalline second of laughter.’

How is it that a claymation Christmas show for small children can teach such an important yet very simple message yet most men cannot grasp the concept that LOVE > HATE?  I guess it requires one to not only open their ears but to open their heart as well.

Wow – didn’t realize its been so long since I actually wrote something – and well…that last post was sort of half hearted at best.

This past week has been a blur getting ready for the annual Winter Closing here at the university.  After today, we don’t come back to work until January 5, 2009 – and only have to use 4 hours of our own leave to cover the two weeks off.  Pretty sweet eh?  I would gladly trade the two weeks off for my raise though.  State workers were supposed to get a raise November 25 which was put off until July 2009 but, after Governor Kaine’s last conference regarding the economy and budget shortfalls, we were basically told ‘Don’t hold your breath’ for that July raise either.  All-in-all though I guess I’ll drink the ‘Would you rather have a job or a raise?’ Kool-Aid, now if only the UAW workers would learn to embrace that mantra. 

We had to get the brakes on my Passat fixed…to the tune of $272 bucks which, to some, may not be a lot but, just before Christmas…..SUCKED.  I don’t know if I believe that Merchants was fair and square with the issue either.  Normally rotors on cars can be turned/machined one time before having to be replaced and they said mine were too thin and could not be turned.  Now, when I bought the car it only had 20k miles on it so I doubt the original owner had to have any brake work done (I could be wrong) and I KNOW that I never had any problems since I bought the car with brakes.  Oh and my $99/axle coupon for Merchants didn’t work – my car, it seems, did not qualify as “Most Cars & Light Trucks”.  I shouldn’t be surprised though, any time I have a coupon for them, my car NEVER qualifies – I guess I shoulda bought a POS Ford Focus or Chevy Cavalier, maybe then I could use their coupons.   So, Keith said ‘Merry Christmas’ I’ll pay for it – YAY just what I always wanted, brake pads and rotors….whooo hoooo!!!  This after we’d said we were NOT going to exchange gifts this year to save a bit of money.

Let’s see….what else….I heard about this on NPR on the way to work this morning and I’m ticked about the fact that the United States has refused to sign the United Nations Declaration to decriminalize homosexuality.  Also the Vatican protested the declaration – isn’t that just too funny?  I mean as Nathan Lane said in Jeffery, “Maybe you didn’t hear me. I’m a CATHOLIC priest. Historically, that falls somewhere between chorus boy and florist.”  God forbid the US join the other civilized nations of the world in taking the stance that it is not some horrid sin to be gay – way to go!  

I made my batch of Amish Friendship Bread – Kristy gave me the starter for it last week – and I have to say it turned out very tasty.  I took the better looking of the two loaves to work to share since everyone was bringing in all kinds of cookies, cakes, and various and sundry sweet things and folks liked it.  I ended up giving two of the starters out to co-workers (yes I asked first instead of surprising them with it) and keeping one for myself, because I REALLY liked this bread.  I would have had another but Ollie apparently decided to eat one of the bags yesterday that I mistakenly left within his evil sneaky-dog reach.  I think I like baking – although I’d probably look for some healthier alternatives to whip up.

This was my second week going to Snap – I went Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Today….GO ME!  I would have gone Wednesday too but I woke up with a WICKED sinus headache and figured the last thing I wanted to do was exercise.  I’m actually kind of proud of myself for hauling my ass out of bed at 4:30 AM to go to the gym – I know me, if I tried to do it after I got home, I wouldn’t go.  Once I’m home.  I’m Home.  That’s just the way it is.  Anyway it’s fun in the morning, I get it out of the way.  Usually there are only 2 other people in there when I go, I’ve seen the same two ladies all week – well today I was the only one there from 4:40 to 5:30 so….

The house next to us had a For Sale sign in the yard when we got home from work yesterday and I confess I was very taken aback by what it said.  I don’t understand how the Petersburg Assessor’s website shows Federal National Mortgage Association bought the house on 10/21/08 for sale price of $119,892 and now some other realty company is listing the house for $88,000.  I mean WTF…..$88,000 – that is half of what we paid for our house 3 years ago!!!  Eh though I did tell Keith I thought it would be cool if we had enough equity in our house to buy it and then rent it to Ian and Nicky for the mortgage payment – I mean it would be half of what ours is (I imagine) and that is I think less than what they are paying in rent out in Brandermill for their apartment though I doubt they would want to live RIGHT NEXT to us *shrug*  Yes, I know that rule, never do business with family or friends because it only leads to bad feelings but, it’s nice to think these things in my head LOL.

Tonight we’re going to hang out at Minerva’s for a bit with Kristy – theres a reading and book signing by Emily and John Salmon which should be fun – maybe we’ll get a gift out of it for Ron and Debbie.  Keith said an autographed coffee table book of Richmond or Virginia would be a good gift and it would help out our friendly neighborhood purveyor of books at the same time!!  WAIT!!  We get stamps on our frequent shopper card for that – cooooooool.  Now I wonder how I’ll act if a certain someone is there….my poker face is totally bad.  Ah well.

I would like to try to take Alex, the Twins, and Amber down to the James Center to see the lights this weekend and film them some (now that I’ve gotten my camcorder back from Canon – which I must say was a SUPER fast repair and I was VERY impressed with the service) down there playing amongst the trees, reindeer, etc.  That would be fun!

James Center, Downtown Richmond at Christmas

Since I’m off for the next two weeks I should be able to write a bit more – yay!

Due to pranksters and well, just outright thieves in general, stealing the baby Jesus from nativity sets around this time of year, many groups are opting to put GPS locators in their swaddling cloth wrapped effigy of the Baby Jesus.  Now, I’m not exactly what you would call a religious person but, I AM one who likes to hedge his bets a little bit so I won’t make fun of this but, man-oh-man….

Anyway there was an AP story that goes into more detail and such - Foiling December pranksters, GPS systems and hidden cameras protect mangers and menorahs

I wish I could feel the way this makes me feel ALL YEAR LONG.  Maybe I should work on that.  Every time I hear this I get all weepy and hormonal or something.  It just really makes me wish I was a child again when things were SO much simpler – visiting grandma’s house, still believing and anxiously waiting for the man in red to make his annual visit.

I guess the sadness is bitter sweet really, at least I haven’t forgotten her and how much I love(d) her and still  miss her every Christmas.  I have so many fond memories of being at her house at the holidays.  I miss you Grandma!