Snowed Out.

***"It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees, they're putting up reindeer, and singing songs of joy and peace. I wish I had a river, I could skate away on." (Or maybe a plane, I could fly away on.)

About now I should be beginning my initial descent towards the Denver airport, but instead I'm sitting in my bed eating Hot Tamales and watching re-runs of Identity on Bravo. In situations like this, you can't really be mad at anybody, but I choose to curse mother nature. Why, oh why today, momma? Would it have killed you to open up the sky and dump on Denver...I don't know, say...on Christmas? Why can Denver never have a White Christmas? Why is it always a white 23rd and 75 degree Christmas? Now instead of a leisurely 9 days in Denver, my trip is cut in half and I'll only be spending 5. Oh well, I suppose there are worse things...I could've been one of the people stranded at the now food deprived Denver airport, or worse one of the people stuck on the runway in stopped plane for 6 hours. I guess if I look at it like that, lying in bed with delicious cinnamon candy and tv, doesn't seem so bad.

***Joni Mitchell

A little shelter from the storm.

I was out to dinner in Santa Monica last night and when I came out I noticed a group of people sleeping across the street. The walk from the restaurant to my car was probably less than five minutes, but I was freezing. That's when it hit me; these people were sleeping outside. It's not summer and this wasn't the beach, and it's only going to get colder. It's times like these, especially around the holidays, that I am reminded how blessed I am...I have a home to sleep in, and a space heater next to my bed. While I'm not able to give anyone a home, I am able to give an old jacket, or a blanket, and there are shelters in every city and every state that would welcome and appreciate these items.

Just something to think about; it is Christmas, after all.

Evolution.

Fueled by his recent visit to my office building, and his superb performance on Saturday Night Live (see below); I have decided to take a moment to look back at the life of a true talent...Justin Timberlake.

He started out as any other little country baby...

Who grew into a good little boy...

A little boy with a big dream!

He landed a show on the hot Disney remake of The Mickey Mouse Club with other would be celebs.

Before landing a spot in the super group *NSYNC!

Over the years, Justin's style suffered some hits and misses.

It wasn't long before he left the group and headed out on his own...

That went well.

A few years later and he's back at it with his sophomore album.

I won't lie, the cd is in continuous rotation in my car, but I have good reason...

Something Special for Christmas.

This is from Justin Timberlake's appearance on SNL. ENJOY!

No Rhyme or Reason.

All of a sudden, I am unable to post any comments on Leah's blog. It makes me feel like this...



Is that what happens with Beta?

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

That was written on a paper weight given to one of the guys at my office. It's a great question, one that I've thought long about.

What would I do? And, more improtantly, why am I not doing it now? Why is it that the fear of failing keeps you from even trying?

It makes me wonder if there's really that much to lose in trying. If you're not on the path that's right for you, than isn't the risk worth the reward?

It's just go me thinking...what's the worst that could happen? Hmmm.

"Those aren't condoms, they're peanuts..."

"...I'm sorry I can't see very well."

That is the sentence I heard from a man as i waited in line today at Rite -Aid. I don't really know the context of this sentence, but I can say, without a doubt, that it is the funniest sentence I think I've ever heard.

World Aids Day.

December 1st is Worlds Aids Day.



Make a difference today...

"Every minute five people die from an AIDS related illness and ten people are newly infected worldwide. Yet HIV is preventable. The National AIDS Trust is the UK'’s leading independent policy and campaigning organization on HIV and AIDS. Help us stop the spread of HIV, improve access to treatment and end HIV prejudice."

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.worldaidsday.org

Soon to be banned from public schools.

Just when schools were starting to crack down on the guns and knives brought in, a new weapon has arrived...

This is an excerpt from an email my friend Jon sent me today:

"...I sliced my thumb open on a piece of waxy cheese and had to go to the ER I was bleeding so much. I had x rays and stitches and now I'm in a thumb splint. Such a dork. Who severely cuts themselves on imported aged Gouda, but me?..."

Beware of cheese...high cholesterol is not the only danger.

Pieces of Folayo.

It all started with a pie. My favorite thing about this time of year (apart from all the holiday glee) is pumpkin pie. I know that sounds a little lame, but if you think about, when have you ever found a good pumpkin pie in March?

I had no plans for Thanksgiving this year, none. I don't have any family in LA, and my idea to gather a few friends together at my apartment fell through. I began to resign myself to thought of a Hungry Man dinner and a movie marathon, but there was still that lingering desire for pie.

I thought, "I could just buy a pie," but that wasn't good enough. I wanted Thanksgiving, damnit! I wanted turkey and stuffing and all the dressings, so instead of having tea for two, I had turkey...for one.

My kitchen is somewhat unfamiliar territory to me; I've been in my apartment for almost a year and have probably used my oven 5 times. I had to call Abi to help me with the turkey; raw meat that you can't stick in the George Foreman is just way above my head. I figured it out though, a 2.7lb turkey @ 40mins per pound has a 1hr 48min cook time, and Abi clued me in to these wicked cool roasting bags that you can just stick the meat in and cook...genius!

I set the table, as to create the right Thanksgiving ambiance. I figured if I couldn't be with my family, I would at least have them around.

As the turkey finished cooking, I started making my sides; green beans, baked yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and stuffing. My timing was pretty off, but I think I did pretty good for a first timer.

I had pretty good spread set up, and although I'm not usually one to toot my own horn... I am a phenom in the kitchen.

After a couple of hours rest and recovery from my turkey induced sedation, I came full circle and ended the evening with pumpkin pie, Pieces of April, and a glass of wine.

It was a good day.

btw... I have a lot of leftovers.

Shopping for Thanksgiving.

I decided that I would cook a Thanksgiving meal this year, which so far has proven to be more difficult than it looks. Perusing the aisles of the grocery store today, I felt like I had stepped into one of the Carl's Jr commercials where the guy stares aimlessly at the products. I don't know what kind of stuffing to buy, don't know the difference between brands of yams, and don't even get me started on the turkey selection...Apparently in order to buy a cooked frozen turkey, you must buy an entire meal to go along with it, which completely defeats the purpose of cooking the meal. I never thought about what a challenge it would be to deviate from my usual shopping list of tortillas and Lean Cuisine meals.

I hate budgeting.

So, I finally decided to get out a pen and paper and write down a budget for myself. What I discovered was not pleasing to me. After paying for all of those glorious little living costs and attempting to save a little money (a very little), I have a grand total of $38.13/week to work with. I find this troubling, considering the fact that I spent $15 on lunch yesterday. I guess it's back to brown bagging and top ramen for a while.

The Jesus Doll.

There's been talk on the news about controversy over the fact that some Toys for Tots organizations are not accepting the "Jesus Doll." Now religion aside, I have to ask what kid in there right mind would want to play with a doll of Jesus? I don't know about you, but my dolls used to go on dates, and to dance parties, and swimming in my bathtub...I just wouldn't feel comfortable if Jesus were in the group.

Furthermore, it seems to border on sacrilegious to be playing with a Jesus doll. I mean, doesnt Jesus deserve more respect than that? It reminds me of the last time I saw Jesus turned into an action figure...

Something in the air.

Tonight on my way home from work, I pulled up at a stop light and the woman next to me was crying. I didn't want to pry, but I couldn't look away.

We made eye contact...
She smiled at me through her tears...
There was silence, and then a honking horn...
The light must have changed...
We drove our separate ways.

She is the 9th person I have seen crying in the last two weeks. The woman on the phone, the guy outside of Starbuck's, the woman on the corner, the girl outside of school...nothing in common except those tears.

I can't help but wonder what's wrong. Why are people so sad? Is there something in the air?

Lately, I've been in a bit of a funk myself; then there are those moments when you feel like crying, but you share an empathetic smile with the person in the next car and you both know that you're not alone and that things will be okay.

Maybe they're not tears of sadness after all, maybe they're tears of connection...tears of hope.

There must be something in the air.

The Roof, The Roof...

The apartment building two doors down from me caught fire tonight, it was really weird.

Big News.

I made a meatloaf...

and it was good!!

White Heat.

The Theme...

"For all of you who thought Labor Day was the last day to wear white before the end of the year, we have some good news for you. Suite A is hosting its first annual San Diego White Heat Party. You can wear anything you want as long as it's white. This is an East Coast inspired evening you can't afford to miss, so let's turn up the heat in November and makes this a scorching white hot event."

In Celebration Of...

The upcoming departure of our friends Brina & Scott...

Just three months after their wedding, the happy couple are packing their bags and leaving the shores of sunny California for the shores of sunny California...California, MD, that is. It was time for a send off, and send them off we did.

Kirby, the Host

We got there early, but managed to entertain ourselves until the rest of the party goers arrived...

As the party progressed, we did a little singing and dancing...

It was a good time to make new friends...

And to spend time with old ones...

We all handled it differently as the party came to an end...

But, I think we can pretty much all agree...

It was a great party!

BYE, BYE, BRINA & SCOTT.

WE'LL MISS YOU, COME BACK SOON!