CANDY

It's also that time of year again for my Christmas candies so yesterday I spent most of the day finishing some and making more. I just have a few more to finish tonight and I will be done. Thank god that Candyland Crafts is down the block because I keep sending Steven there to pick stuff up for me because I am never prepared.
So far I made the usual...walnut caramels, ginger caramels, peanut butter nougat and candy cane truffles. I started making the bon bons yesterday and if memory serves me (I was very tired) I made milk chocolate, hazelnut praline, caramel, peanut butter milk chocolate and cherry white chocolates. I don't think Steven's kitchen has ever seen so much action! There are chocolate paw prints on everything!

Holly Crap Cartman...

It's Christmas time and I still have sooo much to do with so little time and even less money! I did start the candy making process and only have two completely done, two half done and many more not even started. I made another Gingerbread house last night cause the first one was messed up and now we are going to get snow so the girls might not even come over to decorate it with me. Boooo!
6 work days left until vacation and Steven and I are off on a road trip to Georgia to see his brother and family and then back up threw Myrtle Beach to see Mom and Lee. I love road trips but this will be our first one together as well as first vacation together so I might be moving out when we get back...tee hee!
I would post some pictures of our tree and stuff but who am I kidding...no one is reading this. I'm just writing this cause I am bored at work.

WALKING IN NYC 101

For those of you that are not from this area let me give you a few tips for walking in New York City or anywhere. Walking in the city should be approached just like driving. Would you just stop in the middle of the highway during rush hour? I think not. I walk from 7th ave to Park cross town from the train to work and back again at 5. Once I enter the sidewalk I might as well be in a car. I scan ahead to plan out my route and adjust my speed accordingly. I really wish they had a slow lane on the sidewalk. I bob and weave like I am a Nascar driver heading for the finish line. A little bump here I pull out speed up and pass the tourist before the delivery guy coming the other way with his trolley runs me over. Even if I have time I walk this way. I can't walk slow, it's impossible. Also remember to check your blind spot before you cut across the sidewalk and for gods sake please do not do the lolly gag and weave. I will run you down!

MUCHO FRIO!

So yesterday I went on what was probably my last ride for the season. It's finally getting cold here and my insurance is about to run out as well. I went out for a nice two hour ride all the way down to the western part of New Jersey where Washington crossed the Delaware. I had no idea where I was until I got home and took a look on the map. I was seeing parts of New Jersey I never new existed. All this Bergen county girl knows is Route 4 and Route 17 and where all the malls are. Now I know why it is called the garden state. It sure was a nice ride. I think I ended up turning around in Pennsylvania when I started to make my way back home. When I did finally make it home I was freezing. I could barely move my fingers! I think I am still warming up. Now the sad part of the story is putting Betty to sleep for the winter. I will miss her and I hope that not too many spiders make her their new home in that awful excuse for a garage.

Bored, bored, bored!

I am so bored! Yesterday I got an extra hours sleep due to a bomb scare so that was nice. Drew had his tonsils taken out today. He has already pulled out his IV but is resting with Baba in recovery now. He also lost his first tooth and Aida's front teeth are finally coming in. I need to buy some new sneakers. I also have to clean the fish tank and possibly buy some new ones since Tina, my black Mollie, died last week, RIP Tina. I still think Ike did her in but I have no proof. None of the other fish will talk. He must have gotten to them first. Yes, this is what I am writing today mostly to see if anyone is listening...

Halloweenie 09

As usual Halloween was spent in Brooklyn on Fuller Place at Jeannine and Gavin's. They get hundreds of trick or treaters so we all go there and hang out for the day with the kids.

this gives you an idea of how busy their street gets!

Batman and Robin came to the rescue...or did they?

Argh, pirates!

Two mermaids and Karen

Dan Zane even came!

The hostesses with the mostesses....

Rubee!

Aida Jean with no teeth

Ariel was the official candy hander outer!

WORLD SERIES

I think this sums it up...

Game 1

I can not wait for tonight's game. I haven't been feeling the best and all I want to do is crawl up into a ball on the couch and cuddle with Doughy and watch the game. Oh yeah, with Steven too!

There is still so much to do around the house. I have been slacking there too. There is so much more to paint and organize it's never ending. I did buy a big fancy Hoover carpet cleaner cause certain pets like to pee on the carpet. That took up one Saturday of my life. The best way to describe the dirty water that came up from the rug would be Guinness...one big Guinness. Really gross but what a sense of accomplishment. Now I just have to do the upstairs and then the down stairs again and then up...the circle of the life of a clean carpet.

So, it's off to my long commute home and then it's PJ's, juice and the Yankees. I am predicting that the Yankees will not only win the Pennant but they will win the World Series in 6. Why six? Because I just got 2 tickets for game 6 today, yippee!

ALDS, HERE THEY COME!

I love this time of year, especially when the Yanks are in the play-offs. Now we just have to hope they make it all the way. I need some new World Series championship t-shirts. Mine sure are old but I guess not as old as some other teams! Hee Hee!
Hopefully in between play-off games I will go pumpkin and apple picking this weekend which I have never done. Apple pies and roasted pumpkin seeds, yum!

GAME 2, IT'S ON!

LET'S GO YANKEES!

THIS IS WHY WE ALL LOVE KAKA

LET'S GO YANKEES!

KISS MY PINKY RING!

Millie Jean and her friend Kate

So it looks like I am finally going to be a god mother. Not that I believe in the religious aspect of any of it but I always wanted the title. I along with Baby Raymond we will be Millie Jean's godparents. I also have no idea what responsibilities go with such a title but if money is involved she definitely is getting the short end of the stick on this one. Maybe I'll just take her to get her first tattoo or something instead.

Kids again

They are just too damn cute not to share these pictures with everyone! I love them so!

MOVING UP!

So I spent this beautiful holiday weekend not outside riding my motorcycle or playing with the dog or lounging by the pool but in the house. What was I doing you may ask and why? I was tearing down wallpaper, scraping off glue, sanding, painting and moving yet again. We finally have a real bedroom one which you can get out of the bed from both sides, one with dressers and night stands (well, eventually).
Steven's friend John was renting the upstairs of the house until last week so I have been very busy redecorating. The bathroom was the biggest task and it is still not finished but getting the bedroom 99% finished was huge. I would never have gotten any of this done so quickly if it wasn't for the three musketeers, MJ, Davey and Karen. They really know how to get things done.
Anyway, once I get settled again and everything gets painted I will post some pics of the new living quarters.

THE GANG

Violet, Jeannine, Aida, Gavin, Drew, Kevin, Duncan Jen and Millie.

Everyone (but me) up at the Vineyard...don't you just love Millie?

HAIR

So Auntie Em bought me a super nice blow dryer for my birthday. For those of you who've known me for a long time you know that this is the longest my hair has even been in my life. I have come a long way since the spiked hair and mohawk days. I have been using this new fancy blow dryer for the past couple of days now and it rocks. The company claims it cuts drying time in half and I have to say they are right! I love this blow dryer and if anyone messes with it they get the horns. I have to go run my fingers through my long brown locks now. See Ya

JOSE AND CATELIN

So last weekend I was in Tacoma for my brother Joseph's wedding. I know what most of you are thinking...is he even old enough to get married. Well remember they do it a little different out there then we do here. Married at the age of 23 and no one is pregnant? Hey what ever makes you happy right.
I had a great time despite I tore my calf muscle a few days before. I am in such good shape right now that I tore my muscle while going down the front stairs to lock the door. I am so agile and athletic, I know.
I would post some pictures from the wedding but for the first time ever I forgot my camera. Holy crap! I felt really bad but it's amazing how an injury can mess up your normal routine. I was hopping around trying to pack and I kept saying get your camera, get your camera and I didn't.
When I do get some pictures from the west coast I will post them.

Also, Happy Birthday Dough Boy. He turns 8 today the little pisser!

You can have your birthday party here...

No, they are not brothers.

Are you trying to burn the place down or what?

Me with my lesbian parents and Davey!

I had such a wonderful birthday that it has taken me a week to write about it! It started out business as usual except for the two cards and a gift that were in the kitchen when I woke up. I opened the cards but not the gift because as usual I was running late and didn't want to rush it so off I went to work wondering all day "what's in the box? what's in the box?". hint: it's around my neck in the pictures

I rushed home after work to meet the fam at the house at 7 since we were all going out to dinner. MJ, David and Karen came down of course and Steven's dad, Barbara and Christopher. We started with a couple bottles of rose champagne at the house with Gina and Jeff before heading off to Splash of Thai where Chris and Tara were waiting. We had a great time and it was a fabulous birthday! Steven even got me a brownie cheesecake for dessert! Boy, does he know me or what?

Then on friday we all went to Karen's for another birthday celebration with Jeannine and Jennifer and the kids. We made sock puppets, ate pizza and ice cream and watched Millie do a lot of ballet.

My peanuts!

DEPECHE MODE

Last night the gals and I went to MSG to see Depeche Mode. I met up with Bean after work and we went over to Jack Dempsey's on 33rd to meet up with Joe K a former co-worker of Eileen's. We were walking down 33rd heading for the big neon sign that says "JACK DEMPSEY'S" and we went inside and bellied up to the bar. After about 10 minutes or so we went out side for a smoke. While we were out there shortening our life spans who walks up but Joe K. Apparently we were in the wrong bar and he was a few doors down at the right one, the one with the big red neon sign. We were so busy chatting that we just went into the first bar we came across not even realizing it wasn't the right one.
Next, Ifer, Krack and Kim joined up with us and soon there after Gina as well. Who is this Gina you ask? Letting someone new into the circle of drunks? She is a very good friend of Steven's and she's just like us. Not too girlie, gives it to ya straight and has our sense of humor.
The show was pretty good considering I haven't played a Depeche CD in 20 years. The music would start and we would all kind of wait to see if we knew it or not...ahhh yeah, I know this one. Dance around, dance around...or ahhh, nope no idea. I'm sitting down.
Gina and Jeff, Gina's hubby, graciously offered me a ride home to Somerville which is only about a half an hour out of their way. I bet they wish they had never offered. Half way through the ride I ask "how much further"? Jeff replies "about 20 minutes". "Ah, no. I'm not gonna make that. Pull over!!". Puke puke puke...back in the car. All I remember was sitting in the front seat one hand clenched to my can of diet coke and the other to a plastic bag shaking my head in disbelief. Not again! I remember Jeff saying "maybe we should call Steve and warn him that we're coming in hot". That was too fucking funny! I guess I will never learn when it comes to drinking too much huh or maybe it was Jeff's driving?
I stumbled into the house where boy was standing in his boxers already to pick on the drunk girl. God love him.
Until next time...U2 is right around the corner in September.

MOVED

This was the last weekend of my move. I had to take Friday off to get everything done cause my apartment was still in shambles with all that last minute crap that accumulates as you pack. You know the stuff I mean, not that important to pack, doesn't fit in the box, do I really want it still and oh, I've been looking for that!
MJ came over to help me out and then Davey too. Pete stopped by earlier in the day and was a little nervous that I wasn't gonna get all my crap out in time. I just kept yelling "I have until midnight"! Thank god it didn't take me that long, only 5pm or so. Dana and Pete came over to sign the lease and I was out of there with a mini van full of crap.
You should have seen Steven's face when he saw the van. A little panic came over him..."Where are you going to put all this?" Don't worry sweetie, take deep breathes! That's why I got storage remember? He is such a good sport.
All in all everything went well and we'll have to somewhat do it all again in a couple months. John Z, Steven's good friend and upstairs tenant will be moving out so we will have the whole house to ourselves and then I can get all my stuff out of storage and unpack for real. It will be very weird not having Z around but we sure could use the closet space. I'll miss you Johnny Z!
Until next time...

Lunch with the Guys?

So, I was on my way back to the house in Somerville and I decided to stop for some lunch. I had spent the night before drinking with the girls for one last night of debauchery at my apartment. I had also spent the morning packing and my car was full of boxes so needless to say I wasn't looking my best. I pulled into the parking lot and I told Dough Boy to be good while I ran in for a sandwich.

As I head inside I notice three women entering through the front door as I go in the side one and we meet in the middle at the counter. In a drunken packing haze I was gazing at the menu motionless just trying to string letters together to figure out what I was going to order when I hear someone next to me say " Are you ready?". I turn to see a very tall woman next to me and "say no, you go ahead". As I stood there reading the menu over and over I started to notice that there was something off about the three women next to me on line.

Those two sure are tall and they have no hips...those are some big feet and hands too. The shorter one sure has some broad shoulders and big arms...hey, wait a minute...those aren't women!

I start to realize that not only are these three post op transgender men/women but that I am standing right in the middle of them looking like I in fact have had the operation too! Pony tail, Yankee t-shirt, sneakers, deep voice! I slowly start to slide over to distance myself from the pack when I notice the one thing that separates me from them. A manicure! Thank god I'm not that girlie after all!

Moving, again!

As of August 1st I will be vacating my apartment and Pete and Dana will be moving in. Where will I be going you ask? Homeless Aimee...again. I'm off to Somerville where Steven has graciously agreed to take me in. Graciously agreed or forceful entry...they are one of the same right? Poor guy doesn't know what hit him. He came home yesterday to a new living room and new mattress for the bed and half of his stuff out in the yard. This after almost crushing him with my motorcycle when I drove that over last weekend. I hope my key still works when I get home later.

MY GOALIE!

Isn't he just the cutest little goalie you've ever seen?
I love him like a fat kid loves cake.

Steven R.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUNCAN!

Duncan turned 7 on July 3rd or should I say Bumblebee turned 7 ? I thought he was going to be 8 so I was very relieved to find out he was only turning 7 instead. 7 or 8 time is flying by at light speed with these kids. He will be going into 2nd grade already, Drew Pooh will be going into kindergarten and Aida is going into 1st. I don't know what they call the pre pre grade Violet is in and Millie will be going to ballet school.

20 FREAKIN' YEARS?

The girls and I went to our 20 year high school reunion a couple weeks ago. Over all it was a very good time and we were all glad we went. There were the usual characters, Dan and Tom, Danielle and Mike and there were the old friends who you haven't seen since high school or soon after like Larry, Adam, Mark and Lori.
It's funny though even after 20 years when you see these old friends again and reconnect how you slip right in to where you left off. It's like it was just yesterday that we were all hanging out in my basement partying and having a good time. Thanks for all the good times and great friendships...oh and the drinks, especially the drinks.

Why does everyone have three names but me?

Still kicking ass after 20 years

Open your eyes Ifer!

Qoy Orbison and Dan

Lori, Larry and me...grade school buddies

Larry and Mark

Smiles!

Bimbo and the Squid

Bean and Billy,I forgot they were friends...where are you Petey?

Don't ask...

Drink much girls? We were so done by then...pushing 4am here

Naturally friends and natural blondes?

Lori and Krack

God damn that's a big mouth..no wonder she drinks so much!

Love you all and keep in touch!

Finally some pictures

The first of many beers...

road trippin'

a sign that needs no explanation

chilling on lake Tahoe

The railway inn

Our train car room