Happy Halloween!

Photo Credit - unsure - I found this photo posted on the S2K Atlanta forums, but I also found it online here. No idea who the originator of this carving was. Anyway ENJOY!
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BOO!
Happy Halloween!
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write more later. have meetings (bummer!)

The Dirty Thirty Birthday Party

Photo Credit goes to either Ruth or Matt (I honestly cannot remember who took this picture). Anywayz . . .
Turning Thirty has been an absolute blast thus far.
The signature drink of the evening was the "Dirty Banana" - and there was much dancing and fun had by all. I even got to play Guitar Hero for the first time. Woo hoo!
THANK YOU! to all my dear friends who came to the party and made it a special night to remember! I love you guys!!!

Ohmmmmm . . .

Photo Credit goes to our friends Jason & Liz, from the cruise.
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Well, my neck pain seems to have subsided for now. I am relieved and glad, but also trying to take it easy. This was the worst one yet, lasting 5 days. I cannot keep living like this.
Let's hope this is the last time.
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In other news, I had my yearly checkup at the doctor, and she says I'm in great health, just need to lose 10 lbs. Well I could have told you that. So, I've been making an effort to do something active every single day. Even if it's something little, like walking the dog for 3 miles. I am trying to keep moving. The neck thing put a kink in my normal workouts (I didn't want to over-stress the muscles), but I can always WALK. So I did. The Wii-Fit tells me I'm down 1.8 pounds today, so that rocks!
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Another friend Jason, is taking me out for Sushi for lunch today, in celebration of my up-coming birthday. YAY! I cannot wait for some Salmon Sashimi. Ooh yes.
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Weather - it's getting colder out. Today the high is 61. the HIGH. I love this crisp fall weather.
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Tonight, we are probably hitting No Mas again for the Castleberry Art Stroll. I am looking forward to it. More walking (ie: working out). yay!
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Saturday is the party. We have an estimate of nearly 30 people coming, so I am very excited about that. Saturday afternoon, I'll be getting a much needed cut & color at The Hair Lounge. YAY! I'm soooooo overdue for getting this done.

Crick in the neck

Well here we go again.
This weekend (as you know from the golf entry), was very relaxing and fun. However, somehow, my neck/back went out of alignment (AGAIN), and I starting having neck pain on Saturday afternoon/evening. My friend the massage therapist - she massaged it on Saturday night, and then again on Sunday AM. The massaging helped, but it was only a temporary fix. The pain was growing and growing, and finally Tuesday morning - I couldn't turn my head to the Left without severe pain. This inhibits driving and all sorts of other things.
I scheduled a visit to my chiropractor, and he adjusted my "cervical 2" (whatever that is), and then rubbed a bunch of china gel on my neck/back area. China Gel is a pain gel (homeopathic), and it works wonders. I have a stash at home also for nighttime use. Anyway, today is WEDNESDAY and the pain is still there. I can turn my neck to the Left without much pain now (it's just STIFF as hell), but I can't get this lumpy-knot in my rightside/mid-neck to go AWAY. I also have pain going down my rhomboid on the Right shoulderblade. The Chiro says to keep putting ICE on it (heat is bad for this type of thing). I have been doing that, and it does help. Although it is hard to get ice to STAY on the neck and keep myself in alignment. I have to keep holding it with my R or L arm, and that means I'm using some of the muscles which need to stay relaxed.
SO, I heard CVS has some sort of neck/pillow/ice-pack thing. I'm on my way to buy one of those.
Pain suxors!!!
I can understand if I was STRESSED out all weekend, but I wasn't. I'm seriously pissed off (not sure who at), but why the hell do I have PAIN when there's nothing amiss? This is crazy!
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Well, it sure gives one a reason for drinking wine.

That's It, I'm rescheduling my Birthdate next year!

Photo Credit goes to Todd - April's hubby.
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Well, as you know, the Cruise was awesome fun. April definitely got the present of a lifetime. I'm so happy for her. Happy 30th my dear!
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That makes 4 people this year who have turned 30 yrs old. I'm so happy for them all.
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One of my dear friends wanted to go someplace tropical, so we went to the Bahamas for her FebruaryBirthday. Another friend had a dinner party, and then another party at my house (I hosted). Etc. I've been there through them all, and didn't miss a beat.
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Now I know circumstances arise that can't always be reckoned with - but I was very disappointed that my 30th Birthday seems to have been forgotten or put on the back-burner this year. A lot of my very CLOSE friends are not able to make the big celebration this year. I was actually quite depressed about it for a few days. I can't have my Birthday near the actual date, because of Frickin' Halloween (which is always competes with my birthday every year, this isn't new, but THIS year Halloween is on a FRIDAY, so that kinda screws the whole weekend. Also, I have another friend having her birthday 2 days after Halloween, so that REALLY means I can't have a party or any celebrating for mine that weekend.
and so I pushed it back a weekend. Still people can't attend. Well, that does it.
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I'm rescheduling my Birthday next year. I'm going to celebrate 1 month earlier next year. I don't care if that means I'm no longer a Scorpio and have to become a Libra.
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F--- it! I'm going to have a party next year that people will NEVER forget, and nobody will have ANY excuses or scheduling conflicts - well I hope anyway.

Stupid Halloween. ;-D

19 Golfers, a Masseuse, and me - oh my!

Photo Credit goes to A.G. - you know who you are - E & A at Mellow Mushroom awaiting our delicious "Magical Mystery Tour" pizza.
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Photo Credit

Yes, just 5 days after returning from a cruise, I hopped on to another vacation. Although, this one was slightly more business related. My best girlfriend is a massage therapist, and she was hired to travel to Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island, to massage 19 golfers before/after their tee-time and play. I was along for entertainment and to keep her company. I suppose anyway. We had no idea there would be 19 guys there, and that we'd be the only women in the group. However, they were perfect gentlemen, and we were given the Master Suite in the main rental house on the resort property, for our accomodations. The bathroom was as big as my kitchen. May I just say I was impressed? Whilst the lovely massage therapist was busy doing business, I hung out with the dudes. Over the weekend, we played Texas Hold 'Em Poker, Euchre, sipped 23 yr old rum (Ron Zacapa, OMG it is good), sipped wine (I brought my own stash), and puffed on some cigars. They were apparently impressed with my gaming skill, and wordly knowledge of alcohols and cigars. I was flattered, and they were nice folks. It was good clean fun. During the day when the men were golfing, my friend and I hung out at the beach, shopping, went to see the "W" movie (which I do NOT recommend, it was not a comedy after all, at least not a very funny one), and discovered a wonderful style of cooking called "Gullah." We had the BEST crabcake I have EVER eaten at "Dye's Gullah Fixin's." Delish!

Overall it was a great weekend. I just wish my hubby could have been there to share in the fun.

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It was a cryin' shame that I don't play golf. After this trip though, I'm considering taking it up. Expensive hobby though.

The `Cruise", The Pond, and other folly

Photo Credit: my camera, photo taken by random dude on the ship.

Once upon a time, there were 3 ladies who met at college and became roommates. Their friendship outlasted one's broken engagement, several "bad-egg" boyfriends, 1 who moved out of state, jobs, vacations, and eventually there were 3 weddings. Their friendship grew, and thus we come upon the year that all 3 ladies would turn 30. Ah yes, the Dirtay-Thirtay! One of the lady's husbands decided to take her on a Caribbean Cruise, and arranged for the other ladies and their spouses to come along for the fun. And so, that is how we came to board the Carnival Destiny Cruise Ship from the Miami port on Monday October 6th.

Saturday the 4th
My husband and I drove all the way to Orlando, FL to stop over at our friend B&L's house. Much drinking and fun were had by all. I discovered my new FAVE place to party is "The Wine Room" in Winter Park. You have not HAD such an experience. Wow!
I wish they had one here in my town!
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Sunday the 5th
Me and my "hungover husband." Sheesh. We dragged our sorry *sses out of bed to drive to Ft. Lauderdale (to pick up a second vehicle and drop off our luggage at a friend's house A&L) and then to the FtL Airport to pick up the gals and their hubbies and return to A&L's house. After everybody got cooled off (it's frickin' HOT down there), we split up (Matt needed a nappy-poo), we went to A1A Beach Front Avenue, and then strolled down the boardwalk in search of a mysterious Pizza Place that April had eaten at and was raving about. Supposedly, it was the tastiest NY Pizza you could get at the beach! Well, we walked, and walked and walked, and finally stumbled across Angelo's Corner Restaurant. She was right. DELICIOUS Pizza! Then we walked all the way back to the car. Can you say Sweat-tay?
We returned to A&L's house, and opted to pass on the Greek Restaurant to stay home and literally "chill"out. Too damn hot down there.
While the guys went out to get burgers and brats, the ladies donned swimsuits to hang out in the pool. It was getting darker out. April went walking around the pool and landscaping for a look, and all of a sudden, as she rounded the back corner of the house, we hear a loud KERSPLASH! In the darkness, she had accidently walked right into the Fish Pond. Doh! We went over to see if she was okay, and she came out of the water laughing her *ss off. We were all laughing so hard, nobody was able to give her a hand to help her out of the pond.
Later on in the daylight, we were able to see the pond clearly. I will tell you she is LUCKY she didn't get hurt. Whew, that was a small pond with very large rocks in it.
We slept well that night. A&L have a lovely home. Very spacious and nicely decorated.
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Monday the 6th
We woke up early, got ready, and hopped into a huge cab/van with a trailer full of our luggage in it. And on to the Cruise Ship! Boarding went fairly smoothly. We got in line quickly (indoors where it is air conditioned). They took the luggage away for scanning and loading, and we walked thru security with just our purses and smaller carry-on bags. Then we had to wait in line for Check-in. Then they gave us a "zone number" for Embarkation (where you board the boat), and finally we were on board. I ponied up to the bar for my first tropical cocktail (in free collectors glass), and then we went to our rooms to get into swimsuits, and then up to the deck for swimming and tanning. They weren't kidding. Cruise Ships are like a floating Hotel/City. There were 4-5 pubs/bars on board, a casino, 2 decks with swimming pools, hot tubs, and one waterslide, a gym, a running path, putt-putt golf, a spa, 2 dining rooms, the Captain's Lounge, photography shop, duty-free store, and so on. I cannot remember it all. Lunch is done daily on "Lido Deck" in the "Sun and Sea" restaurant buffet style. There is a main buffet, a hamburger/chicken finger buffett, salad bar, International taste buffet (they pick a different country each day), Pizza, chinese, NY Deli, Desserts, etc. It was a huge free for all. I will say my first impression was that this place was sort of a FUN yet Tacky/Cheesy cruise. The food in the buffet was "okay" but not "fabulous" and they definitely overcooked things. I suppose that is better than undercooking them. If you wanted any sort of flavor to your grits in the AM, you had to salt/pepper/butter them yourself. However, it wasn't terrible. The best food I found for lunch (after day 3) was the NY Deli's Tuna Salad. They put red onions in it, and it's delicious! The greek salad (only saw that on one day though) was awesome also!
For dinner, we had a small snafu with our table (the put 4 of us on one table, and 4 on another), but we finally got the Maitre'd to figure it out for us and after Day 2, we were all together at the same dinner table.
I slept like a baby with the boat gently rocking us to sleep.
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Tuesday the 7th
This was our "Day at Sea" - we basically ate breakfast and then went up-deck to tan. I accidently got burned on my back and backside. Found out 2-days-later that my damned Sunscreen was EXPIRED. Who knew sunscreen expired? Seriously?
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Wednesday the 8th
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Thursday the 9th
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Friday the 10th
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Saturday the 11th
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Sunday the 12th
We drove home and then picked up the Doggie. Whew it is GOOD to be sleeping in my own bed finally.

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PHOTOS & MOVIES:

Abbie's Photos & Movies

Matt's Photos

April's Photos

Jason's Photos

Liz' Photos

Dirty Banana - FOUND!

Don't have much time to blog today. So here's the Dirty Banana Recipe. And yes I've already made some after I returned from Atlantis.

Dirty Banana
1 Pint Glass, fill bottom with:
1 oz Kahlua
1 oz Dark Rum
1 oz Banana Liquer (don't get the 99 proof banana liquer unless u have a deathwish)
Top off the liquor mixture with Frozen Banana Mix.

If you can't find pureed Banana in the store, you can just blend a bunch of bananas in a blender with ice. Same thing, tastes even better if it's not that sugary blended crap anyhoo.

Drink. Enjoy.

WARNING: fills you up like a meal, I can only have 2 and that's if I do NOT eat lunch.
mmm
dirtay!

Cruisin' for a Dirty Banana

Photo Credit.

Hopefully I will get a photo like this one of myself in the coming days. We are going on VACATION!!!! finally - again. hee hee! I rather like this "once a month" going on a trip habit we've gotten into (just for the fall though). It gives one something to look forward to during the drudgery of work hours.

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So, one of the stops on the cruise is the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. I have been there once before, but Matt hasn't ever been. I cannot WAIT for him to try the "Dirty Banana" drink that they serve there. It's sort of like a pina colada (frozen), but they have some sort of banana flavor in it, and it looks like there is a dirty brown banana in the middle (but they do it with the frozen drink stuff, so I am not sure how they do it). DELICIOUS! Last timeI was there they were selling them for $6 each. Let's see if they pulled a "Compound" and raised the price? probably. I dont' care I'm having at least ONE more Dirty Banana. Yes I'm aware of the other meaning of that, but I'm trying to keep my blog PG rated for my family's sake. LOL. hee hee.

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woo hoo! Bikini's and beaches and warm weather - OH MY!

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See you turkey's later! gobble gobble (oh wait! that's next month).

um - BOO! see you later Halloween-gators!

McPalin & O'Biden - that's what I'm calling them

We watched the Vice Presidential debate last night. Interesting. We were all waiting with bated breath to see what Palin would say after her doomed interview with Katie Couric. I was surprised that she did so well. Although, if I hear her say ALASKA one more frickin' time I'm going to scream. It reminds me of the "new girl at school" who is popular because she's just the new girl, but she wont' shutup about her old school, her old town, and it's always "Well in Alaska we did this, in Alaska I did that . . ." ok I know I've BEEN that girl before, but just saying it gets frickin' annoying. Well hello Ms. Palin is Alask-ing-all-over-herself, and I need a new mantra from her, seriously.
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Biden was impressive. I didn't know much about him, but now I like him much better. This may actually be the first year I vote Democrat. We'll see. I'm still "biden-ing" my time. hahahah!
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ok nuff politics for today.