Max is overwhelmed. He wrapped all day, and tried to bake cookies at the same time. The pistachio sticks and shortbread came out fine, but the snickerdoodles . . . well, the second batch may have burned a wee bit.
A few pics from our weekend . . . most with the regular Rebel but I am also having fun with the Retro cameras available on my phone. I've been considering picking up a Diana or some other remake lately although I know I am WAY behind the trend. Such is life.
It was time for some levity yesterday. The 2010 Asbury Park (As Buried Park?) Zombie Walk was just the place to let loose and have some frighteningly good fun.
Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were there. So was Lady Gaga, Richard Simmons, Mario and Luigi, a good number of brides with and without grooms, a prom queen, Steve from Blue's Clues, and at least three Waldos. Flight attendants, doctors, nurses, schoolgirls, punks, skaters, chefs, waitresses, moms, dads, and babies. News reporters, hazmat workers, Scrooge and Marley's ghost, a unicyclist, Lucy & Rickie Ricardo, Tony the Tiger and the Lucky Charms leprechaun, many Misfits, an accordion player, and four members of the Zephyr Hills High School marching band. A priest, a nun, and Jesus. Some very scary clowns, and a couple of victims washed up from the S.S. Morro Castle. Even Elvis was there for a while.
There were some organized activities planned such as a group performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller routine, and we were all officially counted in a successful attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for largest Zombie event (who knew?). But my favorite moments were the spontaneous ones where the crowd started whistling the tune "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (a la Monty Python's Life of Brian), and the brief YMCA routine, and the chorus of "Oh lay, ohlay ohlay ohlay . . . Oh lay, Oh lay." Really, folks, I could hardly be more happy and proud than I am when I get involved in stuff like this.
If the sight of blood and decaying skin doesn't bother you (as it apparently didn't bother well over 5000 of us yesterday), here's a link to lots of fun photos (slideshow option at upper right is highly recommended). If that kind of stuff DOES bother you, well, don't go there.
Boo!
Thank you.
Our band marched in the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade yesterday. The weather was awesome, warm enough that we left our uniform jackets on the bus and marched in shirtsleeves and vests. It was my first time in this parade as a member of the band, and I couldn't have been prouder. The only thing I don't like about being a drummer with them is that it means I have to leave the camera behind. The pictures below were all taken by our unofficial band photographer, Paul West (aka "Paul the Brit" on Picasa).
Gathering in the ShopRite Parking lot before boarding our luxury limo bus:
Kevin explaining the wearin' o' kilts:
Offloading the bus somewhere around 48th and 6th:
Before stepping off Paul managed to round us all up for a group shot:
And one of the first-timers:
Taking an opportunity to try recruiting a new member:
Finally, about two hours later than scheduled, we step off and start down 5th Avenue:
Our Mary, Queen of Scots (also Grand Marshall of the Somerville Parade this year):
Our two Pipe Majors, Sergio and Jimmy:
Great formation:
Our flags:
Another marching shot along Central Park (you can see me all the way at the back, right, with the red face):
At the completion of the 2.1 miles, our reward: Sergio's Green Sangria!
And this is just one example of the fun times we have on the bus (I happened to get this shot myself):
A truly awesome day with some of the best people on this planet.
Today's Robbie Burns' birthday, but we celebrated yesterday with much pomp and circumstance (and ale and scotch) as usual. This year, I finally tried the Haggis. In fact, several of us lost our Haggis Virginity yesterday. It wasn't as painful as I expected. In fact it tasted quite like corned beef hash, impossibly. Here are pictures from the festivities and to top off an awesome day, the Saints won their playoff game.
OK, so 2009 wasn't so bad. It wasn't so good, either but I hesitate to say good riddance to it lest that gesture jinx me for next year. So, hmmmm, a little reminiscing?
January: This was the month my fascination for taking pictures of dead birds was born. And my favorite guy turned 200.
February: My fashion sense sunk to a whole new low. Previously just oblivious to trends and labels, in this month, I took active steps to defy good taste. On the bright side, there was our Burns Supper, always a highlight of the winter if not the whole year. And a Sussex Spaniel won Best In Show at Westminster.
March: Oh, the High Holy Month. Parades galore, the Philly Phlower Show, more dead bird photo opportunities, and my abduction by aliens a pipe and drum band.
April: Wow, this was a big month. I got new shoes, went to band camp, and finally got a photo published in a major magazine. Look out Nat'l Geo, here I come!
May: I made my debut with the band! This might also have been the month during which I accidentally put the litterbox lid on backwards one morning after cleaning the box, which meant that the door (aka the only opening) was facing the wall in back and couldn't be accessed, and when I got home from work about 12 hours later both cats were sitting in front of the box with their back paws crossed looking at me saying "YOU IDIOT" with their laser beam stares. But I didn't get any pictures of that so you'll just have to imagine how funny it was.
June: I think it was around this point that the scales for 2009 really started tipping away from the "Sweet" side to the "Sucks" side. I did get another good dead bird photo. Actually, we had a bunch of good days on that vacation but it is still that illness I got that defines the week for me.
July: Oh, wait. There WAS a month worse than June. I was still sick, we cancelled our summer family vacation, our band came in last in our first competition, I fainted after a hot parade. That is all.
August: Technically, I got my new car in July (the 31st) but didn't begin enjoying it until August. Here, at December 31st, I'm about to turn 15K miles . . .
September: We're tipping back a little towards the "Sweet" side this month. Murphy adopted us, for one thing. She is still here daily, but after a miserable failed attempt at getting her to be an indoor car, we have decided to continue living on Murphy's terms, with her firmly outdoors. And no thanks to Facebook, I was reconnected with a friend I'd thought long as-well-as-dead. Miraculous Finally, a new tradition was started.
October: Well for starters, I died. Then I went to Virginia for a few days. And then I died again.
November: Perhaps the toughest month of this year. But I met some really awesome people and shared some very important stuff and gained heaps and heaps of wisdom. These are the times that give us the most reason to be Thankful. As I truly am.
December: Fast month, busy month, but I managed to enjoy it for the intended reasons without going crazy. And another new tradition was born!
So, good times were had, but on the whole? This sums it up:
So 2010? We're ready for you.
BRING IT.
We had a really awesome day. The kids were happy with their gifts, I had a happy text from a dear friend, and I got to spend the day with my kin. Nothing could be better. Let it be known that if I ever keel over from this point on, it's all good . . . I have had such a good life. I want more, and I'm going to try my best to live another 20, 30 years or so, but in case that doesn't work out, know that I am perpetually happy to be here and to know you! If the extra 20 or 30 doesn't work out for me, so be it - I won't know the difference and I wouldn't want you to bother, either. And jeez, this isn't a doom & gloom note. Just want you to know I'm happy ! Live, Love, Laugh.
I haven't been posting much lately. Has anyone? Facebook seems to have usurped this method of communication but I am reluctant to accompany it on its death-march. Instead, I will continue to post things of relevance, infrequent tho they may be. So much has been going on and not all is share-worthy, but tonight is Christmas Eve and I wish you all a blessed Holiday, lots of good will, and merry times to come.
Just for kicks, these are pics from our evening this Eve.
Merry Christmas, all.
