A perfect job

I just found the perfect job.....I want to be the person that organizes the parties for people who are leaving the company

Book Review - White Oleander

Find the BOOK here
Find the MOVIE here

What a sad sad story, but it was so well written that I wanted to find out what happened rather quickly.. It’s a rather thick book, but fortunately it has big type so it’s a fast read. I had no problem using my finger to follow the words as I read. I read this on my most recent trip to Las Vegas (I had 6 hours of flight each way, well that was the original plan I actually had more like 12 hours on the return trip)

This book follows the story of Astrid Magnussen, daughter of famed poet and feminist Ingrid Magnussen. Astrid leads the untypical life of an artist, she goes to museums and plays, poetry readings, concerts all the time watching her mother pickup much younger men and seduce into her bed. Everything seems to be going well until Ingrid meets Barry Kolker (at first she calls him The Goat Man because she finds him so repulsive) but ends up falling head over heels in love with him. Barry dumps Ingrid and she can’t take it…she ends up making a potent out of White Oleander and killing him (they never come outright and tell you how she did it, but it had to do with her cooking the oleander and mixing it with something that she then “painted” on things in his house).

After Ingrid kills Barry she ends up being sent to prison, and Astrid gets sent off to foster care……just so you know, all of this happens in the first 50 pages or so of the book.

Astrid ends up with several different families, one is ok, one is worse than the last, one is even worse than that one, one that is perfect in every way and one that is the bottom of the pit.

The things that Astrid has to deal with are beyond comprehension, growing up as a free-spirit and suddenly forced to be caged causes all sorts of problems, both for Astrid and trash that call themselves “foster parents”

During all of this time Astrid tries to break away from her mother, but can’t as she controls her from prison, either through her caseworker or writing letters directly to the foster parents.

The book is really a page turner and keeps you enticed by it’s story line.

Having grown up in what I consider a stable family it is totally foreign to me the things that children must put up with when they are thrown into the foster care system. Not that foster care is bad (it’s better than ending up on the street) but the things that happen are beyond imagination.

I have not yet seen this movie, I think that I’ll wait a while because after the Geisha incident I’m afraid to watch it so close to having completed the book.

Michael rates it: 4 out of 5 stars

Happy Memorial Day

I hope that everyone is enjoying our first official holiday of the summer (even though Summer doeesn't start for another month).

Do you have grand things planned for the day? Perhaps a Parade? We saw this one Saturday Afternoon downtown on State Street.

Fireworks? A cookout with Hot Dogs and Hamburgers? Beer?

Whatever it is, please remember those who are currently fighting at War for us and those who have fought in the past.

Even though I don't support George Bush, I do support our Troops!

Happy Memorial Day

If you're not in the US, I hope you're having a great Monday...but then again, how great can Monday's be when you have to go to work!

World's Oldest Female Stripper

A friend just sent me a picture....I can't post it....but if you'd like to see the World's Oldest Female Stripper, let me know and I'll forward a copy of the picture to you.

It's like a train wreck, you know you really shouldn't look at it, you know you should feel bad (because after all it is a train wreck) but there's just something fascinating about it all the same.

You know it's gotta be good if I can't post it!

Starbucks makes me feel like a dork

I’m not a big coffee drinker, I used to drink coffee but over the last year it has caused me more heartburn and upset stomach than I care for….so I’ve switched to Tea (My current favorite is Snapple Orange Tea, yes they make bagged tea now it’s lovely – just ask Andi).

My team at work is crazy for Starbucks……everyday there’s someone that stops and gets coffee for those vigilant few who need it to get through the day, and I applaud Starbucks for making coffee such an ubiquitous part of the American Lifestyle, they took some low-life diner/gas station/truck driver beverage and turned it into a business that generates millions and millions of dollars.

Last year at work we had several contests/giveaways/spiffs and such and the prizes were Starbucks Gift Cards, at one point I had almost $40 in cards, see the problem is…..I don’t go to Starbucks, so what am I supposed to do with the cards. Well I always carry at least one in my wallet so that if I’m out and about and I happen to pass one I may stop in and give myself a treat, like this morning when I’m sitting at the airport.

Starbucks always makes me feel like the biggest dork in the world when I enter their sacred boutiques filled with the wafting aroma of coffee. I always hope for a line, and I know there will be – it’s Starbucks for goodness sake – because I need that time to get my order in my head.

There are so many choices; I mean to start with, what size do you want? Why can’t they make it simple and say Small, Medium and Large? No, they’ve got to make it difficult – Tall, Grande & Venti – What the fuck?!? Who came up with that.

Then after you choose your size you have to figure out what it is that you want to put in that cup, coffee (iced or hot), tea (same choices) do you want a latte do you want that latte with whole, skim or 2%? Do you want extra foam? Do you want less foam? Do you want room for cream, do you want a double cup because as they warn “contents may be hot” UUUUUHHHHHH it’s enough to drive me crazy.

I finally figure out in my head what I want – Venti Chai Latte and I repeat it over and over and over Venti Chai Latte, Venti Chai Latte, Venti Chai Latte, until I get to the front of the line. I know that I’ve got it and I’m going to tell the cashier exactly what I want.

What do I end up saying to her? “I’d like a Large Hot Chai Tea with steamed milk please” – what a DORK!

Going Home

Well I'm not actually going home (That's in June) but I am going to Pennsylvania for a two days.

I'm headed out for work again, this time to State College, PA the home of Penn State University - Go Nittany Lions!

I just have to be there one day, but the flights are so limited that I have to fly out the day before....the great thing is - my parents are going to drive out to PSU and pick me up at the airport, and we'll get to spend the afternoon together.

I'm looking forward to seeing them, the last I saw them was in August when I went home for Gram's funeral...well at least this will be happier times.

Here's a picture a friend took of my parents just the other night (I don't know why Dad has a sour look on his face...oh wait, they were at an Auction and I bet Mom was buying stuff, that's the great thing that she and I have in common):

Book Review - Memoirs of a Geisha

Find the BOOK here
Find the MOVIE here

Wow, what a book. I made the mistake of watching the movie shortly after I finished this masterpiece, what a big mistake. It’s true when they say that the book was so much better than the movie.

As you are probably well aware (because the movie was just out this last year), this story is about how Chiyo became Sayuri. The book was beautifully written, the style of writing was so easy to read that you flowed quickly from page to page, I wanted to find out what happened next. That rarely happens with me. Geisha got me right from the beginning, I knew within the first 20 pages or so that I would finish the book.

It tells the tale of how Chiyo and her Sister were sold by her parents, they ended up in Kyoto. Chiyo was sent to an okiya while her sister when to a brothel. Chiyo hoped to train to become a geisha but because of the jealousy of Hatsumomo (the Geisha in her house) that dream was pulled out from under her. She felt as though she were destined to be a maid her entire life, that is until Mameha showed up. Mameha is a "rival" geisha who took Chiyo under her wing to train her to become a Geisha.

It is an interesting “period” piece as well, a piece of time between the turn of the century and the great World War.

If you liked the movie then I think you would absolutely love the book.

The details of the book are amazing, the things they can never “tell about” in a movie are explained easily and in detail so that you want to know more and more. You’ll learn more about geisha than you had ever imagined.

Now whenever I look at an Asian woman I think “Was she a geisha?”

Michael rates it: 5 out of 5 stars

24/7

In the shuffle of moving things around my apartment this weekend, I came across some papers. I'm typically pretty good about keeping my "things" together (letters, cards, etc.) but every now and again I'll put something someplace where it doesn't belong.....I guess because I know that at sometime in the future I'll run across it again and it will make me think.

So this weekend at the bottom of a drawer, in the bottom of a cabinet I found a card and a few other things from when I moved from Atlanta.....among those things were a letter from my Grandmother (she passed away in August), a thank you card from a friend who I had helped at a party and the following poem:

UNTITLED - Keavn Snoe

I saw a friend cry last night
not from any pain or fright
but simply from a single word
that cause so much grief and hurt.

I don't think he knew
how each of his tears slew
a little bit of happiness in my heart
how it hurt to see him fall apart.

I didn't cry for him that night
though if I'd watched him a little longer I thought I might
I did, however, feel bad
that I'd seen him so vunerable and sad.

Not for me for I feel that it was fine
but for him inside his mind
because I don't think he wanted me to know
that within him tears also flow.

I pretend to have seen nothing
though I know it will bring
a denial on both sides
of emotions either wants to hide.

So to him I would like to say
that I'd really like to be friends with him in future days
and I hope that you know my firend,
that it is okay to cry again.

My friend Keavn is a jewel that stands out among diamonds. He has a quick wit, a sharp tongue and a deep understanding of the things that surround him. I feel that I'm an "observant" person, but he is 100 times more observant than I can ever hope to be.

If you liked this poem (and I'm sure you did), Keavn has just released his first publication of his collected works called 24/7

Find him at Keavn Snoe

If you have a few extra dollars to spend on a book this month, think of supporting Keavn I know that you'll enjoy his poetry.

Here are a couple of reviews that are on Amazon:

C. Bridges - This is a book you can read over and over. It fits itself with what ever situation you are going through. It really makes you think about the importance of relationships and what you are contributing to them. I love it!

Angela B. - Wow! 24/7 is poetry extraordinaire. Keavn Snoe has given voice to many of my own thoughts and feelings.

**A NOTE PLEASE ** I want to help my friend Keavn spread the news about his book, would you do me a favor of posting a link on your blog to this post so that we can drive his book sales through the roof? Thank you!

Sunrise.....Sunset....

You know that song from Fiddler on the Roof?

Well I'm not talking about that, ok....we'll talk about that another day.

Instead, are you in love with Sunsets? Are you a vampire and you're always looking for the best time of day when you can start your night? Well there's a website out there hooked up to webcams all over the world that constantly give you shots of the sunset.

So if you enjoy romance graby your honey and a bottle of wine (or grab a bottle of wine and tell your honey to come along) click on this LINK and enjoy a neverending Sunset!

Book Review - The Time Travelers Wife

Find the BOOK here


What an interesting book, the story revolves around two people Clare and “What’s His Name” (Hey I’m lucky I remembered Clare’s name) – no his name is Henry.

Henry is a time traveler, but he can’t control it, it’s sort of a spontaneous thing that just sort of happens, oh yeah and when he travels he goes naked – so no clothes, no jewelry, no filings in his teeth – just his physical body.

Clare meets Henry for the first time when she is 6 years old and he is in his mid-thirties…..she is out in a clearing in the woods and the woods and this naked man appears and knows who you are, wouldn’t that be freaky? This "clearing" acts as the major place where they meet when he's "in town"

All of the chapters start out by telling you how old Clare is and how old Henry is, from the perspective of Clare the story is fairly chronologically placed, but Henry is many ages and sometimes he is two ages (like when he time travels back to himself when he is 5 years old).

For all of Clare’s life she has known about Henry, but Henry is not aware of Clare until he is 28, so it’s sort of odd the first time they meet. Clare knows EVERYTHING about Henry but he knows nothing about her. Clare at this point knows that Henry is going to be the man that she marries but Henry has no idea.

Henry travels back in time to meet with Clare and help her through difficult times, he very rarely travels forward in time though. He travels to familiar places and familiar people and those that are aware of his ability think nothing of it when he just pops in from the middle of no-where. Henry doesn’t have control over his time traveling, either where, when or what time he’ll travel to, but on the other hand Clare knows exactly when he’s going to show up because he gave her a list of dates. The chapter of their last "meeting" was very touching, as Clare knew that this would be the last time she would see Henry before she actually met him in real life.

Henry does go "visit" some places on a regular basis though (like watching his parents push him in a baby carriage down the street, or to a traffic accident) how he's able to revisit these places is not explained.

Each chapter tells about the time they spent together, how they would meet in the forest and sometimes sneak him into her house. How they had sex on her 18th birthday (for the first time) and how they have trouble having a baby because the baby wants to time travel before it’s fully mature and won’t stay in her womb. Towards the end of the book it becomes a very fast paced page turner because you want to know what happened, and then when you reach the last page it's all tied up neatly with brown paper and twine so you can sit and say to yourself "it's all finished"

It’s a wonderful story and I would highly recommend it, a very interesting story, just enough science fiction that it’s not overpowering and just enough romance that it’s not too girly. It is set in Chicago (which is a plus for me) and is actually set not to far from where I live. I've been to several of the places that are in the book, but as for houses etc she never gives a # so I'd never be able to find them. The author actually lives in Chicago and teaches at Columbia.

Michael rates it 4 out of 5 stars

Books Books and More Books

I should start by telling you that I don’t read. Well I hardly read, I mean I read your blog posts and I read newspapers and I read magazines, but I don’t read books.

When I was growing up, I was a voracious reader, but then again there really wasn’t that much else to do. In the summer when we weren’t working (I grew up on a farm so we were always working) there wasn’t a lot of other things to do, we had no VCR’s, no DVD’s, no Cable, no NetFlix, although we did have an Atari 2600 with the dual joysticks. But really, there wasn’t a whole lot to do, especially when you’re a teenager, and you can’t drive, and even if you could drive the closest “big city” was over an hours drive away. So in absence of all things to do, I used to read a lot….a whole lot.

But as an adult, I don’t read like that any longer, and the real reason is, I don’t have any unstructured free time. In this day and age of go-go-go there’s always something to do, there’s a play to go see, a movie to go watch, a dinner to eat at a fancy restaurant (well if you call Wendy’s fancy), there’s always something to do….and for me, honestly if there is something else to do besides read a book, I’ll do it.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy reading a whole lot, but it’s only when it’s the last thing to do. For example, when I go to Cancun and I’m sitting on the beach relaxing…I enjoy reading a book….but not for example when I’m at the Gay Beach and there are cute boys running around. For example, when I’m on an airplane and literally have nothing else to do, I enjoy reading a book….but once I’ve gotten to my destination, I’m done reading.

The Boyfriend reads constantly, but he has two hours a day when he’s riding the train to work and there really isn’t anything else to do….me on the otherhand, I drive to work and it takes me 7 minutes. So by the time I get to a good part in my book, I’m already at work so what’s the use in that, you know what I mean.

Also, I have no problem putting a book down half-way through. If it doesn’t keep my attention or make me care about the characters, I have no problem putting it back on my bookshelf never to see the light of day again. Others I know feel as though they have to finish a book, no matter what…me uh huh….I could care less whether the neighbor was doing what they said or find out if the baby did get hurt when it was dropped on it’s head. I have no allegiance to bad writing and poor story telling.

Well since I’ve been traveling a lot I’ve actually read a few books….yes you read that correctly I said “a few books”

So let’s see I think this’ll be a 4 parter because I’ve read three books and this post is already way too long for me. So hold in there.

They just can't contain themselves

Someone wonderful is having a birthday today and therefore everyone is all a twitter here in Chicago. They have festivities planned all day today, starting with going to the Barber and ending up on the receiving end of a Beer Garden at sometime today before noon! She's a few hours ahead of us so we want to party at the same time she is!

Flo, Billy, Carlos, Steve, Freddy, Tuck and Roll all want to wish MS. MAC a happy, healthy and drunk Birthday!

Seriously...what did he think was going to happen?

A friend sent this to me, it is totally hilarious.....the best part is all of the laughter. Come on, you know if you were there you'd be laughing too!

Wax On.....Wax Off

This is freakin' hilarious, I had to share with all you girls out there:

Hey - Maybe Britney isn't such a bad Mommy after all!

Check out THIS

Perhaps Britney's baby dropping ain't so bad afterall?

Can you just imagine this woman doing a line and saying "Come on sugar let's go get the baby high?"

Tsk Tsk Tsk!

Wearing ladies underwear

You know I've always been a proponent of ladies underwear....well actually I've been a proponent of any undewear whether it be for boys or girls. I've always felt though that boys should wear boys underwear and girls should wear girls underwear.

Which makes me think...why is underwear for boys called briefs but for girls they're called panties? Why that distinction?

I mean I've said to a boy before "Geez, don't get your panties in a wad!" But really I should have said "Geez, don't get your briefs in a wad!" That just doesn't sound right though does it?

Well not that I'm advocating that men should wear women's underwear (I bet that's gonna get me a lot of google hits) but I just found this new product on the market.

Pantyhose embedded with caffeine.....apparently caffeine isn't all that bad, it keeps us awake and more importantly it makes our metabolism work faster, which means we burn more. You know I've looked all over my body for an organ named metabolism, but I can't find it, does anyone know where it is?

Here's a brief outtake from their website:

• The way the tights work is that body heat releases caffeine microcapsules into the leg, thus promoting the metabolism to kick in and start fat burning. According to the makers, results should be apparent in about 1-4 weeks, but they do say they may not work for everyone. Even so, I think most women will be keen to give the “Slim Fit 20” caffeine tights a go. Costs are around £27 for a pack of 3 “Slim Fit 20” caffeine tights in either black or skin colour.

If you're in the UK (you crazy Brits) you can get these from:

www.tightsplease.co.uk

So come on boys, let's start wearing pantyhose....or perhaps these are just stockings since they don't mention a "cotton liner" But really women, when you wear pantyhose, don't you wear them OVER panties?

I do have another question though.....they're available in black or "skin" colour....what exactly does that mean what is "skin" colour?

Oops she did it again - Poor Britney Spears, Motherhood is proving to be too much for her

Boy that skank Britney has really been up to her stunts again this week check out these pictures.

First she's driving along in her Mini Cooper Convertible (with the top down) and she is being a good mommy actually putting Sean Preston in a car seat in the back seat....but isn't he facing THE WRONG WAY?

Then look at this.....not only is she pregnant, but she's carrying a drink AND her baby at the same time....oops stumble and what does she keep her hands on? The drink, not the baby!


Thank goodness she has a bodyguard to follow her around everywhere she goes!

Isn't it funny?

Isn't it funny the people that God chooses to talk to?

The latest example is Pat Robertson who claims that God has told him about Tsunami's hitting the US (SEE HERE)

Apparently it only happens once a year though when Robertson is on his "personal prayer retreat."' ' I guess the rest of the time Robertson gets voicemail like the rest of us when we try to talk to God, so it's a good thing he got through to him in January.

Changing Things Up

Dining Room
Originally uploaded by Michael_L.

I've been doing a lot of traveling the last few weeks so this weekend I'm home.....and I'm gonna change things up a bit at the house.

I've lived in my apartment for 4 years now, and it looks almost exactly the same as when I moved in. I was not allowed to decorate my apartment at that time because unlike most gay boys, I did not get the "designer gene". My friends actually made me sign a rider on my lease that stated I would not attempt to decorate on my own.

I very rarely use my dining room so I've decided to change things up a little bit....keep posted as I'll show you the finished product (hopefully after the weekend).

Monday Goodness

After two weeks of traveling and about ready to fall asleep after my first full day of work...what do I find in my mailbox but a package from the XMarvelous Xmichra.

One of the great things we have in common (besides both having outstanding blogs) is our affinity for dancy techno music....we just can't figure out why the rest of the world isn't in love with it either.

Here's how excited I was about my package!

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all of you Mothers out there!

Eatin' in Vegas

Tradeshows can be a bit overwhelming, in fact for the 3 days that I was in Vegas, I only left the hotel ONCE. We were scheduled from 7:30 in the morning until late in the evening with dinners so there wasn't alot of free time : -(

But the one good thing about tradeshows is they feed the hell out of you. You might as well strap a feedbag on your head!

Tuesday night when I got there, I met my co-worker and we had a great dinner at RM Seafood in the hotel. We each had a glass of wine, a small salad and crab cakes (quite yummy) the bill was over $100!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

That's the problem with Vegas now, it's not cheap. Anywhere you go, it's expensive to eat, so you've just got to suck it up and do it.

On Tuesday Night we had dinner at Trattoria del Lupo (again in the hotel) but this was a dinner event so it was "on the house" here was our menu:

Insalata - chopped vegetable salad with provolone and mustard vinaigrette (it was just ok)
Pasta - rigatoni with tuscan meatball and oregano (there was also a dab of ricotta, quite yummy)
Seconod Piatto (choice of) - grilled prime rib eye steak "diavola" with mascarpone potatoe puree or Seared Atlantic Salmon with wild mushrooms and leeds (I had the ribeye, it was a little fatty)
Dolce - vanilla creme brulee (so good I wanted to steal my neighbors).

I stepped on the scale and it said I weighed less now than I did two weeks ago....suddenly I don't trust my scale!

Oh and check out this receipt I found in the ATM machine, check out that available balance:

I hope the baby had food at least!

All the cool kids are doing it

Go ahead, click it, you know you wanna


Look at where my Friends are!
MyGeoSpots Map

Oh my goodness

May12_006
Originally uploaded by Rosie O'Donnell.

If the National Enquirer gets a hold of this picture I'm sure the headline will be something like "Rosie is a Drunk and she beat up Star Jones"

Name this movie quote:

"Atta girl Roz, have another drink"

It's not from Vegas

Well I wanted to mail these packages from Vegas, figuring that a Vegas Postmark might bring you some good luck...but I arrived too late on the day I got there, and I couldn't find the post office on my return flight....

So I stopped by the post office to drop off TWO...count them TWO packages.

I wonder who they're going to?


Oh yeah, and if you're trying to cheat by clicking the pictures, all you're really gonna see is that I need a manicure REALLY BADLY!

Can't you tell that mail lady is really happy to be there. Funny thing, EVERYTIME I go to the post office I get her, everytime...now that's a little weird isn't it?

A Renewed Faith

Remember a few weeks ago when I lost my money clip at O'Hare Airport when I was traveling to Greenville? Well if you don't, you can read all about it HERE

I had figured that it was gone, vamooshed, never to be seen again. I just hoped that someone would have done something good with the money, like take their Baby's Momma out to a nice dinner at Red Lobster or Olive Garden.

I decided that what the heck, I knew where I lost it, when I lost it and how I lost it, so I figured I would call the TSA Lost & Found at O'Hare Airport.

Do you want to know something.....THEY HAD IT! And it still had the $46 in it, can you believe that!? Someone actually did a nice thing and instead of pocketing it, did the right thing and turned it in....I called the folks on Monday when I was getting ready to travel and got a return phone call on Tuesday that yes in fact they did have it. So after my hell trip yesterday (which I'll post about later) I went back out to the airport to retrieve it.

All I can say is that I now have a renewed faith that people can be good and nice......that lasted for about 20 minutes until I got back in my car and some bitch cut me off in the parking lot and almost creamed the side of my car!

So it's true, there are still some nice people out there (of course all of you who read this are not included because I know that you're wonderful already).

All is not lost

We had a great dinner last night of Filet Mignon, Grilled Halibut, ok Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Rabe and grilled Onions/Peppers/Tomatos. Well lets just say after 5 glasses of wine with dinner (Hey, it was free) I was a little buzzed.

On the way back to my room, which of course makes you walk through the casino, I stopped and played the penny slots again...I know, I'm such a high roller....I can't understand why the hotel didn't comp me a nights stay in the Presidential Suite with the hundreds of pennies that I spent, I mean come on folks.....

Well I put $2.00 in and played for a bit and then ended up putting in another $5.00 I seemed to go through the $5.00 faster than I did the $2.00 what's up with that?!? I guess that's how they get you don't they...you think you're gonna hit it big and you end up losing your money for breakfast instead.....

So the bastards took $7.00 from me and forced me to eat saltines and tap water for breakfast....goodness knows I was not going to open that $5.00 bottle of water they "conveniently" placed in my room for me!

Have you ever been to Vegas? We were there in September to celebrate a big 4-0 Birthday but didn't stay in one of the fancy hotels like I did this time.....You know they design these hotels so that you can never find your way around easily and that you ALWAYS have to go through the casino, no matter where you're going. Going for dinner....on the other side of the casino....going to the pool.....through the casino......to a meeting for work....through the casino! But then that's how they make their money don't they.....by making you go through the casino and losing 700 pennies in the slot machines......those bastards!

I'm no sitting in the airport waiting for my flight, which we just found out is going to be delayed 2 hours becuase of weather in Chicago....at least there's free wireless!

You really shouldn't....

gamble when you're drunk!

End of the first business day

Well we're officially done with the "workshop" part of the day...and now it goes onto dinner and drinking...ugh! Fortunately my liver hasn't fully recovered from last week so I think I'm good to go.

I've been up since 5:30 am PST (7:30 am CST) but actually was up past midnight last night watching Medium....well it was 10:00pm here but it was really midnight for me....

Within the last 10 days I have been in 3 of the 4 US Time Zone. I flew over the Mountain Time Zone but we didn't bother to stop.....I'm bushed.

We're staying at the Mandalay Bay Hotel....it's FREAKIN' huge. To get from the convention center to my room it takes 15 minutes of walking at "mall speed" that's a lot when you've got to use the bathroom!

On the way back to my room, before going to dinner, I stopped at the Penny Slots and decided to try my luck. I put in $2.00 and played for about 10 minutes, towards the end I was winning a bit so I decided I should keep playing...I had a $5 or a $20 bill.....so I put the $5.00 bill in the machine. This kept me going for about 10 more minutes and when I was getting down to under $5 I decided to "up the ante" and bet 10 per line (which equaled a dollar per spin)....I won $100!!!!

Baby I cashed out and ran to my room.

Whoo hoo....I'm up $75!!! And that's the way it's staying!

I'll post pictures when I get home!

Topless Beach

Oh my goodness.....the hotel we're staying at in Vegas allows"european bathing" at a section of their pool.....$40 for guys and $10 for girls....do you think I could get in for $10 since I don't care about the girls?

Naked Pool Part at Midnight!

FUCK

Oh come on, you've said it before. You most definitely have thought it....and perhaps you even said it today if you're lucky!

Click on the link for a cute flash animation about the word "fuck". Please be careful if there are children around and most definitely don't click it if you're at work.

You've been warned.

FUCK

On the road again

I feel like Willy Nelson I tell you! I just got back from Greenville, SC on Thursday and while checking my work email found out that I had an opportunity to go to Vegas....all expenses paid. The only drawback is they're expecting me to do some work while I'm there.

So Monday afternoon I'll be back on a jet plane, but this time heading West instead of East. I can't believe that within a span of a week I'm going to have been in 3 of the 4 time zones (not as much fun as it sounds, believe me).

I feel so disconnected because I've not been able to read everyone's blog, so I apologize in advance because it will probably be next week before I can catch up....make sure you leave good detailed posts so I don't miss anything!

I've been contemplating taking Billy & Carlos to Vegas....Flo is definitely going because she loves going to her hometown....I just hope that Steve Wynn doesn't try to persuade her to come back to work!

Don't worry this time I'm packing a toothbrush and panties in my carryon becuase I have to change planes in Phoenix!

Commercials

Has anyone else noticed that when you go channel surfing during commercials the only thing you can find are commercials?!?

Since the networks are trying to run "longer segments" they're all timing out together so that when one is on commercial break they ALL are.

I just did some channel surfing during American Inventor and NBC, CBS, UPN and FOX were all running commericals as well....and now that my program is back on, so are the others....this sucks!!!

Infomericals!

I don’t have cable at my house…..I know it’s hard to believe isn’t it? When I moved 4 years ago the plan was to get Cable/Internet/Phone all from one place but at that time Cable Companies offering telephone service was a new thing and one of the stipulations was that you had to have an already established phone line which the cable company simply “took over” from the phone company…..well since I didn’t have a phone line already I would have had to pay SBC $60 to install the phone and then pay the cable company more money to transfer the line…..it pissed me off so much I decided to just get the phone line, not have cable tv or modem and instead survive with TV off the air and dial-up service.

One of the nice things I like about traveling (and visiting The Boyfriend) is Cable TV and one of my favorite things on Cable TV are infomercials. I know what you’re saying…..Infomercials? It’s because they’re so cheesy, outlandish and “in your face” two that I saw recently were:

- The Grease Bullet
- RoboMaid

Apparently with The Grease Bullet you get two times the quantity for half the price PLUS you get the silver cleaner which removes tarnish from all of precious silver pieces right in front of your eyes. According to the Grease Bullet website each table gives you the power to clean all of your greasy items, and looking at their commercials whoever cooks at their house is the nastiest, grossest cook I have ever seen in my life. In all the days of my cooking life, I don’t think that I have ever produced a pan as dirty and disgusting as the ones they show on the commercial (and that includes the time when I worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant) but no fear because the Grease Bullet will solve all your problems and not harm your hands. And that bonus for cleaning your silver, you can do the same thing at home with a pan of hot water, a ball of aluminum foil and some baking soda (it works wonders and it’s free)

In addition, according to the commercial for The RoboMaid this product is sweeping Europe…..have any of you Europeans even heard of this product? It’s basically a round swiffer that has a ball in the middle that “robotically” cleans your house (uhm to me it looks as though it just willy-nilly runs across your floor until it hits something and then turns and goes in a different direction.) But the big they’re saying is that it’s sweeping Europe and those silly Europeans are paying as much as $60 for this cheap piece of plastic but we smart consumer American’s can get it for only $1 (plus the cost of shipping and handling, anyone want to ponder how much S/H costs?)

I’ve only got a day and a half left of flipping the channels and hoping to find a new infomercial to watch before I leave….but it seems as though these are the only “hot products” they’re selling in Greenville these days! Oh well.

Thank goodness for women's underwear

Because I was really concerned that I was going to have to ask my traveling companion if I could borrow a pair of hers.....fortunately my baggage arrived at the airport around 7:45 pm EST last night, but didn't make it to the hotel until sometime after 10:30 when I last called to see if it had been delivered.

When I woke up at 7:00 I called downstairs and lo and behold it was here, so needless to say I was very happy to "unpack" my clothes and my toothbrush.

Let's just say that if you're traveling (as I will be doing in the future) always take somethings in your carryon, even if it's just a small toiletrie bag, I went to the "Gift Shop" yesterday to get a few things and guess how much it cost me? Go ahead, get your abacus or calculator out because you'll need it.

I bought three things, three things that I felt were essential....a toothbrush....some toothpaste....and deodorant. Conveniently the "gift shop" had these items....and they just happened to be in the mini-travel size, what a convenience. Well yes I thought it was a convenience until the girl started keying numbers into the register (Thirty-two Oh Nine,Thirty-two Oh Nine,Thirty-two Oh Nine,Thirty-two Oh Nine - If you can name that movie you're my new best friend) and she rung up $2.99, $3.99 and $3.99 at first I thought she was going to look at me and say "April Fools" but instead she said "That'll be $11.52 please" and she did it in that nice southern accent so how could I be mad at her. Now remember, these are travel size items (except for the toothbrush) if I had bought these things at Target or even the Walgreen's it wouldn't have cost me more than $4.00......$12 for 3 items but what was I supposed to do?! I had no idea when I was going to get my baggage. I took a picture of them (next to a soda can for reference and I'll post when I upload my pictures.)

So a lesson learned that's for sure....oh yeah and I did one other stupid thing yesterday. I lost my only piece of Coach Leather....The Boyfriend had bought me a magnetic leather money clip, and when I went through security yesterday I forgot to pick it back up.....along with the $46 that was inside of it. I called TSA "lost and found" but I have a feeling it's been lost for good....shhhhh don't tell The Boyfriend he'll be really mad at me that I lost a piece of Coach!