Goodbye 2011 - Hello 2012

This morning, as I was lying in bed wondering if everyday of my 49th year was going to feel like a hangover, I reflected on the past year and started thinking about the year to come. One nice thing about having a birthday at the butt end of the year is that the retrospective holiday special includes all twelve of the previous months.

2011 was a year of travel beginning with our yearly Caribbean cruise in February with John and Jay from Fort Lauderdale, as well as with friends from Chicago, Germany, England, and other far-flung parts of the world. The ports were pretty boring in themselves this time out, but we kept busy with massages, excursions (ATV tour, zip lines, and Mayan ruins), parties, dinners, and trips to the shipboard clinic for John's crushed finger. This was followed by a trip to Chicago over Memorial day, an unexpected trip to Asia to visit the branch of the family taking root on the other side of the world, and a Thanksgiving excursion to visit John and Jay.

2011 was also a year of huge work projects as well as several large organizational changes that have left me feeling a bit rudderless. I was chatting with Alex last night and told him changes with my job were slowly sucking away my mojo - of course that comment could also be due to the end of the year blues, the slow progression of the years, or the gathering gravitational force of my sofa. Nonetheless, besides the several end of year trips I have taken, I have been quite the homebody over the past six months - early to bed, early to rise, and mostly hangover-free....

At Christmas dinner, my dear friend Clodagh asked everyone at the table about their new year resolutions. Since I had not started thinking of them as yet, I came up with the boring response of working to be more frugal while still maintaining my semi-fabulous lifestyle - hence my frenzy of retail therapy to close out 2011 - a boy has to shop after all!

This morning, between the pulsation of PBR-induced head pains, I conducted a more thorough inventory of the things I would like to work on in the coming year.

1. Break out of my comfort level and take more risks (career choices, relationships, spiritually)
2. Pay off my car by July (two years early) and increase my emergency fund by $5000
3. Have no credit card debt at the end of the year (The trip to Asia slammed my budget, I have two more big trips planned, but there are no regrets on that account)
4. Read at least 10 more of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century (only 31 to go)
5. Rearrange my work schedule to go to the gym in the morning before arriving in the office
6. Spend more time with cherished friends and make the effort to cultivate new friendships
7. Have at least two fully planned and executed parties for friends and family
8. Plan "Glenn days" for body and soul replenishment
9. Say "I love you" more often - but only when I mean it

It is going to be a busy year! Stay tuned.

Here's to wishing you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012.
Much love,
Glenn

Seen and Heard

I am a "fur is dead" kinda guy, but this specimen sure did catch my eye in the Helping Hand Mission Thrift Store display window.

Cold weather is sure to be just around the corner and nothing keeps you warmer than a gently used fur coat. And, I bet a coat made from the fur of multiple animals would be even warmer cause this jacket is smoking hot!

My birthday is just a few days away.  Just saying.....

Decompression Dinner Party

The horror - oh the horror of waking up after hosting a holiday party. The memories of what was said and done under the influence of freely flowing alcoholic beverages can make the strongest man hang his head in shame. The consequences of decisions that seemed like such good ideas in the evening's glamor all seem so bad in the harsh light of day. And, don't forget the hangover - we have all been there and somehow survived to tell the story.

Since I was unable to get myself together for a real holiday party this year, I invited a few friends over last night for a small dinner party to decompress from the holiday season. So yesterday was spent in a frenzy of party preparation - house cleaning, food, house cleaning again, setting up the bar, trying out the signature cocktails to perfect the recipes, creating a mood with proper lighting, and setting the table with appetizers.

My guests arrived punctually at 6:30 for the cocktail hour. The evening's signature drinks were well received, and the bottle of whiskey ran out at just the right time to keep the party moving along. The main course was placed in the oven and the wine selections were opened to air. Conversation flowed nicely. The playlist I created Tuesday morning was just upbeat enough to keep everyone circulating while I broke down the bar and got set up for dinner service. Dinner was followed by cordials and a universally loathed game that, based on the amount of laughter and shouting, was a hit. Since most everyone had to work Wednesday morning, the party broke up around midnight. Everyone was sent home with gift bags of my world famous pimento cheese spread, a bottle of champagne, and a big hug. Good times....

I do love throwing a party - especially when everything comes together for a memorable night. And this morning, in the harsh light of day, other than a few sticky spots on the floor and a full recycling bin, the house is in remarkably good shape. The host on the other hand is slightly hungover and may need a new pair of shoes or some other retail therapy after he finishes with the mop.

The party details:
Guests: Clodagh and Jerry B., Cathy and Arjay H., Janice M. and Greg P., Lowell M., and the Host.
Signature Cocktails for the Evening: Old Fashioneds and Manhattans
Appetizers: Chicken Salad, Deviled Eggs, Pimento Cheese, Sausage and Cheese Balls, Veggies and Dip.
Dinner: White Spinach Lasagna with Marinara Sauce and Fresh Tomato Bruchetta
Wine: A selection of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chianti (with Champagne to end the evening)
After Dinner Cordial: Lemoncello
Universally Loathed Game: Celebrity Taboo

I wish I could have invited everyone in the neighborhood, but I have such limited seating for dinner that there will necessarily have to be a phase two party to be planned in the spring. I am thinking something involving mojitos and less sit-down style food. Stay tuned...

A Christmas Wish for 2011

When I look back at the Christmas holidays I have experienced - I see a progression from childhood excitement, to teenage apathy, to young adult enthusiasm, through to my current midlife contentment. I did not grow up in a particularly religious home. My parents had devout mothers, but other than a brief flirtation at church membership, the habit of organized religion just never took root in their hearts. As such, in our home, Christmas was a secular, American celebration complete with trees, decorations, cooking, baking, and an abundance of gifts from Santa.

In my post-Santa adulthood, the holidays have come to be a time to reconnect with family that I see only occasionally. And, more recently the holidays have become a time to share food and drink with dear friends, a time to reach out to friends in far away places, and a time to remember those no longer among us who made the holidays memorable with their smiles and their love. And, I have to admit, even today as I cling to the last days of my 48th year, when I drive by a home that brightens the night with twinkling lights and decorations, both tacky and tasteful, I flash back to that excited Christmas morning feeling of eager anticipation. There is something special about this time of year, even for we secular deists.

So, no matter how you choose to celebrate, whether with the family into which you were born or the family you have created for yourself along the way, I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, a wonderful winter solstice, a satiating Saturnalia, and a very happy new year. Regardless of your tradition, make it memorable because in the end, our memories are all we get to take with us.

Peace and Love
Glenn

Big Shiny Christmas Balls

He sees you when you're sleeping....

I have not been really feeling the Christmas spirit this year. With my recent travels, the changes at work, and my recent back issues, I have been more self absorbed than usual.  Perhaps self-absorption is my new normal - I seem to be writing that quite a bit lately. 


With that said, my BFF from Ft. Lauderdale stopped by Wednesday to kick off his holiday family tour of Eastern NC. Luckily he arrived early and we were able to spend the entire evening catching up, talking about our holiday plans, our families, and planning our next trip in February (Caribbean Cruise). Although I could not tempt him with a few shots of tequila to get the evening started, we had a great time nonetheless. He can always make me laugh and I am so excited that his career choice is really paying off for him lately.

Around 7:30 we headed over to 18 Seaboard for an early birthday celebration dinner. This restaurant is a hidden jewel in downtown Raleigh. All menu items are sourced locally, the food is always amazingly tasty, and the service is spot on. We started with Fried Green Tomatoes and She-Crab Soup, followed by Crackling Pork Hamhock over spinach and bleu cheese grits / Fried Catfish over a smoked hominy cake with bacon braised collards - all topped off with a dessert of Carmelized Apple Toffee Pudding. Yum. I was beginning to feel a little more of the holiday spirit.

No tree this year - just a theme of hanging balls....

We followed this up with a quick stop at Flex where we downed a couple of beers and played our favorite video game - we registered the top three scores! We were home by 10:00. While watching Top Chef I had an epiphany - when I win the lottery, I think I would really like to go to chef school. I do love to eat food and I quite enjoy cooking it as well. Mind you, I am not interested in working in a restaurant (again) or opening my own place, just learning more about the science of good cooking. Then perhaps a bit of traveling to learn more about food from various regions. It's a dream, but where would we be without our dreams? 

Just before bedtime, there was a sound as if something had fallen. A quick scan downstairs did not immediately reveal anything amiss, so I did not think anything more of it. We settled into our respective beds, with our favorite bedtime television shows lulling us to sleep.  Cocktails + Delicious Meal + Beers = Sweet Dreams!

Low Hanging Holiday Balls - Don't be Jealous

John had an early appointment in Wilmington Thursday morning so we were up early for coffee and the shower tag team. As he was heading out with his luggage, he nearly tripped on one of the shiny holiday balls that adorn my door.  We were now sure that the sound we heard the night before was due to the ball falling and bouncing into the hallway; however, we were not sure what caused the ball's detachment. John suggested that perhaps a neighbor was jealous of my huge, shiny, holiday balls and exacted their revenge. It is more likely that after a few years of being admired and rubbed by all the neighbors, that one of the ties simply came loose. No matter the reason, I spent my lunch hour performing a ball reattachment procedure. After a good polishing, my door once again sports the biggest holiday balls in the building.



I wish you all a happy continuation of Hanukkah.
Happy Festivus (feats of strength and the airing of grievances will soon follow)
Happy Holidays!

Thank you Again Internet

The internet is the gift that keeps on giving.  How can anyone ever get bored when news items from around the world simply pour into your news feed? Today, this gem from Charleston, SC was posted by a friend on Facebook: Man Eats Cocaine From Brother's Butt, Dies.

Comments anyone?  Anyone? This is definitely fodder for a classic lunch table discussion.  I can only imagine the direction the conversation would take: I mean, I love my brother, but would I eat something out of his butt? Not on purpose and only to save his life. My brother loves me, could I convince him to eat something still warm from my butt? Extremely unlikely. I can't even imagine the conversation that lead up to the reveal and the meal. Perhaps it was something like: Open your mouth and close your eyes and you will get a big surprise.

Other questions that come to mind: How high was the eater before he consumed an ounce of cocaine lovingly warmed to 98.6F (37C)? Was the first brother handcuffed as he fished out the baggie and fed it to his brother? Were there skid marks visible on the baggie? Did he chew, or just swallow? Was it actually all up inside there and had to be squeezed out, or simply nestled lovingly between the butt cheeks? Was this the only thing he had up there, or were there other delightful treats? What did he have in his pockets that was so important that he had to use the final frontier as a storage area?

Other comments for which I cannot take credit:

• Rectum?  I killed him.  (Facebook favorite)
• Next time, don't use the store brand baggies. (Amanda L.)
• Survival of the fittest, proven yet again. (Facebook)
• Crack does indeed kill.

Once again, my deepest sympathies to the family for their loss. But really, it was only a matter of time.

Leave a comment below to become part of the conversation.

Instant Karma - Just Add Water...

Recently my company changed our vacation policy to include both vacation time and sick time.  Vacation time can be carried over at the end of the year, but sick time cannot. Since I had several sick days still in the bank, I decided to play hookie from work and have a long weekend of constructive boredom to prepare for the holidays. I used my reoccurring lower back pain as an excuse for not coming into the office that Friday. I was quite busy the entire weekend and enjoyed my time off so much that I decided to use another day on Monday to round it all out.

Karma started catching up with me that very day. There was an issue that arose at work requiring me to work for about five hours that afternoon - so I really had very little time off. She completed the job this past weekend.

After having a lovely Friday evening shopping with my niece (happy 15th birthday!), I woke up early Saturday morning, got the house cleaned and the laundry done, ran some errands and made plans to meet friends out for a holiday drink. Around 5 PM a nagging pain started in my lower back, so I retired to the sofa.  By 9:00 PM there were shooting pains from my back through my glutes and into my upper thighs. Needless to say, I had to cancel my plans with Alex and Joe, take a few pills, and stretch out in bed (apologies are due to Alex, who has been quite vigilant in trying to set up a time to celebrate the holidays).

I hoped the pain would soon pass, but unfortunately I was incapacitated all day on Sunday. I did get to do a bit of reading, napping (thank you pain medication), and catching up on some movies (Green Zone and Toy Story). However on Monday, the pain was still around. Due to overwhelming feelings of guilt and continuing fear of karmic retribution, I trudged into work with my heating pad and bottle of Aleve.

Today, things are returning to normal. To make the day even brighter, my friend John is flying into Raleigh for a night on the town before he heads home to spend time with his family. I am guessing that I may not be fresh as a daisy in the morning, but tonight, I will allow the Christmas spirits to do their work. There is a new tequila bar that recently opened in my building - could be trouble...

Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends. It is truly a season of miracles.
Happy Winter Solstice to my Naturist / Humanist friends. It is the longest night of the year - don't let it go uncelebrated.
Happy Saturnalia to the rest of you - you know who you are....

From the Lists: Pale Fire #53

Pale Fire (1962) by Vladimir Nabokov is possibly the most inventive novel I have ever read. It can be read linearly, literally, and / or satirically. It was not greeted with universal acclaim upon its publication since critics were a bit unsure how to characterize it; however, the novel's reputation has grown in stature over the years. 

On the surface, this novel consists of a foreward by a fictional editor (Charles Kinbote), a 999 line biographical poem by a fictional poet (John Shade), and Kinbote's extensive commentary. The poem itself is pretty straightforward. It does not require more explication than could be provided in minor footnotes. And yet, it is Kinbote's commentary and asides that provide the actual narrative.

Suffice it to say, that if a European, homosexual, exiled royal from an imaginary country absconds with your poem with the intention of editing and publishing it along with his commentary, the original intent of the work may be lost when filtered through the delusions of the editor. I think that Kinbote's character sincerely believes that the poem was originally inspired by the grand tales he related to its author - tales of a land in which palaces are stocked with handsome boys to be used for the king's pleasure, of a palace rivaling the pleasure domes of Kubla Kahn, of a revolution in which the king escaped execution, arriving in cognito in the United States disguised as an English professor. Even though the poem obviously is biographical and has nothing to do with the tall tales shared with Shade, Kinbote's commentary lifts lines and extracts words from the poem's text in a valiant effort to prove he, and his life, was its inspiration. Along the way, his commentary is filled with adventures and quite a bit of university and neighborhood gossip. In many ways he is the Humbert Humbert of literary academia - a man with great self-regard, but with no idea of how he is regarded among his peers.

Herein lies the greatness of this work as a whole. It can be read as editorial satire, or as the rantings and ravings of a disturbed man in academia. Either way, I had great fun reading the poem through the eyes of a truly odd character. And to top this all off, Nabokov was very clever with the ending. He provides enough facts and hints to allow the reader to come to several different conclusions about the strange life of Charles Kinbote. 

Recommendation: This was a fun read requiring two bookmarks as you will want to re-read the lines of the poem being discussed in the commentary. This book was a winner! I think I am going to add more Nabokov to my reading list once I get through the 100 best novels.

Vladimir Nabokov

From the Lists: #50 Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller copyright 1938 (Paris) - banned in the US until 1961 due to sexual content. Subsequent publication resulted in numerous court cases over censorship resulting in the general availability of the novel in the mid 1960s. The court cases themselves are widely credited with expanding freedoms of expression and restricting the power of censors in the United States.

I have been prone to a bit of navel gazing in this blog (see here and here and here), but this semi-autobiographical novel consists of 100 pages of satire about Miller's lack of direction and motivation during his youth, followed by 200 pages of intense, smutty soul searching. In trying to describe the novel to a friend, I boiled it down to the following:

"Imagine Holden Caulfield from the Catcher in the Rye grew up, got a job, and was surrounded by loose women desperate for company. Then he read Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man and rhapsodically composed 200 pages about the creative process. Mix into that 30 or so pages describing the wide variety of vaginas available to Miller in the 1930's (happy, laughing, sad, mad, angry, stupid, smart, moist, big, tiny, hairy, etc.) and you sort of have an idea about what this book is about."

Henry Miller 1932

My life was not greatly affected one way or another by reading this book that is often credited for ushering in the American sexual revolution of the 1960s. For the most part, I found it quite unlikely that in the 1930's women were so loose. It seems that Miller spent most of his youth fighting off the females and his early adulthood taking advantage of them. He must have been quite a witty fellow, as even in the 1930s he was already looking as if life had been a little rough - but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Summary: Not much to say here - first third is a sarcastic, satiric portrayal of Miller's childhood, first marriage, hard times, and job at Western Union in 1930's New York City. The remainder of the book consists of soaring rapturous prose about both sex and the creative process. There is really no linear plot, but at times the prose is quite impressive.

Recommendation: Unless you are plowing through the list of 100 best novels of the 20th century like I am, skip it. If you are searching for new adjectives to describe vagina - perhaps give it a shot.

Seen and Heard Around Town

Christmas Guard Dog: 8:00 PM Sunday

Since my last post featuring this little doggie in a window, I have been introduced to Holly Aiken, owner proprietor of Stitch, and to her dog Ray Ray. Blogging does have its perks.

Now if I can just spin this into a discount on a set of three wall hangings....

You Better Run

This was a great weekend for constructive boredom. I have some days off work that have to be taken before the end of the year, so I used one of them Friday. It was great to sleep in, have a big pot of coffee, and a long shower and shave. After a good read, I headed out to meet some of my former lunch buddies for a much anticipated lunch. While I miss these guys and gals everyday, I didn't realize how much until we were all back together, sharing a meal and getting caught up. This a group of friends who all share the same warped sense of humor and are not afraid to laugh at themselves as well as each other - all in friendship of course.

After a tearful goodbye to end our lunch, I headed over to the Harris Teeter to pick up ingredients for a giant pot of chili. Apparently everyone else had the same idea since the shelves were pretty bare of the required fixings. But, I prevailed and got the pot up to boiling by 3:30. Besides my signature ingredients, everyone knows that a good pot of chili requires many hours of simmering, so I curled up on the sofa for a long evening of guilty pleasure television and pot stirring.

Early Saturday morning, the pot of chili went back on the stove to warm up and I prepared myself for a long run in the cold weather.  My friends, Cathy and Arjay, were holding the 4th annual Wandering Beaver: Loose on the Neuse charity 5K / 10K run to benefit the Special Operations Fallen Warriors foundation. This run started out as a fun run a few years ago and has steadily grown over the years. This year approximately 40 people participated in the run, which was followed by a huge spread of carbs, fruit, hot beverages, and chili all chased down by either Arjay's Scottish Ale or Cedar Plank Porter home brew. There was music, a fire pit, great stories, laughter, and general holiday merry making for a great cause. This year, the race raised over $800 for the foundation, which was more than double last year's contribution. Although I have fervently and vocally complained about running in the cold both years that I have participated, this will soon become one of my most cherished Christmas traditions - plus I shaved 5 minutes off my time from last year.

Needless to say, with the home brew flowing, the die-hards who stayed to the bitter end, were brimming with "holiday spirits." When I arrived home, I smelled a bit like a drunk boy scout, just home from a three day camping trip - musky, beery, and smokey. The bed never felt so comfortable as it did Saturday afternoon. The early evening hangover, however, put a damper on the remainder of the evening's festivities and after a hearty dinner of leftovers, I was back in bed dreaming of running through neighborhoods festooned with holiday decorations in the cold winter sun.  Good times!

Seen and Heard Around Town

The holiday season is upon us and for the next several weeks calendars must be consulted before any new plans can be accepted. Most evenings between now and the end of the year have already been scheduled, but I was excited to have a free night to attend J&J Productions staging of Love Drunk in the REP theatre space. This production is the southeastern premier of the play by Romulus Linney, which is loosely based on  Henrik Ibsen's "The Master Builder."  Ibsen is probably familiar to most high school graduates as the author of The Doll's House.

Not having read the source material, I am unable to comment on how closely this adaptation follows the original, but I am pretty confident in saying that there is absolutely no Victorian morality remaining in this script. However, like many of Ibsen's works, this script hammers at the audience's middle class, publicly embraced, morals and values while challenging the accepted norms of gender and sexual desire. Nothing is sacred in this script - abortion, incest, greed, fidelity, agism, lust, and honesty are all fair game in this battle of the sexy and sex starved.

The synopsis of the play states this is "the story of an older man who picks up a much younger woman in a cafe and takes her to his retreat, the tower room of an Appalachian Mountain log house.... What follows is a sexual tête-à-tête full of suspense, humor, fantasies, out-and-out lies, and a few moments of connection and peace." For me what followed was a lot of lies, arguing, sad attempts at seduction, yelling, cajoling, sarcasm, attacks, and mistrust. Both characters are suspicious of each other and are unreliable narrators when it comes to recounting the details of their lives and how they came to meet. Both are working an angle to get what they want or need. Neither is very likable.

There appeared to be a few lighting gaffs during the performance and the sound affects were a little choppy, but the acting was tight and well directed. Jess Jones and John Honeycutt were believable in their portrayals of the troubled 25 year old female and the 65 year old wealthy man.  Unfortunately, the subject matter of this play is not really indicative of your normal holiday fare. Upon the play's conclusion, I felt a bit like a guilty voyeur who wanted to be titillated by something new and sexy, only to be rewarded with a deep feeling of guilt for having watched two sad, lonely people fight so hard to convince themselves and each other to accept what they really wanted - a bit of companionship.

For those tired of the normal happy holiday fare, you have another week to catch this show (December 1-17). Tickets can be purchased online here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/210573

Based on Sunday night's attendance, you can probably purchase tickets at the door and save the online ticket service fee.

Let's End the Weekend with Another Party! Who's Ready?

Welcome to Muscle Beach

You may have realized that Thanksgiving weekend in S. Florida is the kick-off of the tourist season.  Not only were there house parties to attend, but also major events such as the White Party, the Leather Masquerade Ball, a huge softball tournament, other larg-ish events, all culminating in the Muscle Beach party. And, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without another expensive event on the sand in South Beach.


On the way to the party Sunday afternoon, we stopped off to visit a friend in Mercy Hospital who had an accident Friday night. He was in the intensive care unit. It was disturbing seeing him tied to his bed with all those tubes and wires attached to his body. He was in an induced coma. Whenever he would start to wake up, he kept trying to pull out the ventilator tubing - hence the restraints. The good news is that the day after we saw him in this terrible state, he was awake, sitting up, eating solid food, and well on his way to recovery.

After our visit, we were off to South Beach for an afternoon of dancing in the sand with a few thousand of our best friends. The day was glorious, about 80 degrees with a light breeze. The venue was on the beach with the South Beach, art deco skyline on one side and the ocean on the other. Good times....

Drink Tent - $5 Beer, Water, Softdrinks / $8 Cocktails
But, it is on the beach!

Party on the Beach - wear your best bathing suit, sunscreen,
and comfortable dancing shoes

The DJs blew it out

The party goes on until 10:00 PM - culminating in fireworks over the ocean



For the past several years, I have alternated spending Thanksgiving day with my extended family with visiting friends in Ft. Lauderdale. I cannot say that I returned home on Monday all refreshed and ready to take on the world after dancing in the sand for 5 hours, but I had a great time playing in the sun with John, Jay, and the rest of the FLL crew. Perhaps I should go ahead and make my reservations for next year.....

Here's to wishing you all a very happy holiday season!
Don't forget to dance and do something you can't tell your mom about.

XOX

Did someone say, "Let's go to a party?"

Saturday morning everyone slept in a bit after the crazy night we had Friday. Once everyone was up and showered, we headed over to Simply Delish for breakfast.  This place has wonderful breakfast items, but the decor is a bit like, how shall I put it - Victorian yard sale chic. Oil paintings of naked rubinesque women, cherubs, collectible plates, and fake greenery festoon this eatery that is only open for breakfast and lunch.

Simply Delish Decor

 Over our eggs and coffee we caught each other up on the events we attended the night before.  Surprisingly, my drinking muscles weren't as sore as I expected them to be after a long night out.  So I was eager to have a great day. The plan was to hang out a bit and then head down to Miami for a birthday party for John and Jay's friend Alex. The party was billed as a birthday / pool / dance / cookout party lasting from noon to 8:00 with approximately 100 invited guests.

When we arrived, we were greeted by an armed North Miami police officer who was manning the door with "the list."  You could not enter if your name was not included on the list. Once we were located (Feldman + 2), we were waved in. Super circuit DJ David Knapp was spinning the tunes and the place was rocking (David's website = free music and pictures), actually "thumping" would be a better choice of words. The beautifully appointed outdoor area was packed with people having a great time, not to mention the full service bar, performers on stilts, jugglers, henna tattoo artist, flaggers, wet men, dry men, and happy people in general.

These people take their parties seriously.  There must be just a bit of oneupsmanship amongst this group, because every party just gets bigger and better.

Man on stilts - see I told you!

He was juggling while balancing on the roller board - I swear!

Pool Area

Like I said earlier, it is not a party until the flaggers arrive.

The grills were fired up around 6:00 for burgers. We headed home about the same time for a little nap - which lasted until Sunday morning.  There is really only so much partying a guy can take in one weekend and we had one more big one to attend on Sunday!


(PS - I apologize for the grainy pictures. I am going to have to upgrade to the iPhone 4s if I am going to keep uploading pictures for this blog. That may be the best excuse I can come up with to do a little Christmas shopping for myself. )

Black Friday 2011

As mentioned in the Thanksgiving Day post, John and Jay requested that their brunch guests bring nonperishable food items as a donation to the Poverello Center in Wilton Manors rather than a host gift of wine or liquor. Everyone was very generous with their donations. When we consolidated all the food items into full bags, we had about 20 paper grocery bags full of food. We were very excited to drop off the donations at the center.

The center's director was quite surprised by the size of our delivery and very grateful. He offered to give us a tour of the food bank. This facility provides for the nutritional needs of approximately 2500 HIV+ people who live below the poverty line in Broward County, Florida. The center receives grant money from the Ryan White foundation, but the foundation dictates the items that can be purchased using the grant money.  Recipients then can choose from a set menu of items (7 fresh fruits, 7 fresh veggies, 7 canned goods, 7 meat servings, and various baked goods) once per month.  Since most recipients had already picked up their Thanksgiving boxes, the items we delivered were to be divided into bonus bags to be distributed in December. Besides grant money donations, several area grocery stores (Publix and Costco) also donate meats and baked goods. The food bank appeared very clean and organized with several walk-in coolers containing a variety of fresh goods.

There was also a large room off the main area that appeared to be a conference room with book shelves surrounding the table in the center of the room.  The shelves were stacked high with what looked like blankets. This is actually an area in which panels for the AIDS quilt are repaired by volunteers. The quote that choked us all up was "this room holds so many souls."

At the end of the tour we thanked our guide and rushed out into the parking lot - each of us staking out a different corner of the car - crying our eyes out. It was a very moving and rewarding experience. These folks are dedicated and are doing God's work with grace and integrity.

After a quick lunch, John and I decided to head to the beach for a little relaxation time in the sun. Once we arrived at the beach, it was a bit cloudy and windy, so we detoured to the Royal Palms Resort.

The Resort

Picture it, two pools, full service bar, food, two DJ's, and a spa. After chasing the sun around the resort and a light lunch where we shared an excellent Cuban sandwich, we headed to the spa for our 3:00 deep tissue massages.

The pool by the bar

The massages were a delightful way to spend the afternoon - instead of braving the mall and the hoards of zombie shoppers. Rubbed, pulled, relaxed, and well oiled, we returned home for a quick nap before the evening's planned festivities.

Jay had tickets to the White Party.

White Party at the Miami Seaquarium - Jay is in there somewhere....

John and I had tickets for the Leather Masked Ball. It was Black Friday after all...

Sorry, no pics of this event  - but you can Google it if you are curious.

It was a late night for us all. I ended it chowing down on an open-faced turkey sandwich with dressing, gravy, and homemade cranberry sauce. Delish! I slept like a baby for the rest of the night.

Thanksgiving Highlights 2011

Although it was an incredibly busy day for John and Jay hosting a brunch and a dinner, our Thanksgiving day celebrations were heartwarming due to the warmth and generosity of everyone who contributed to the fundraising efforts. The day started with laughter, fun, a great brunch spread, and a full service bar.  It ended with an intimate dinner among friends in which we were all grateful for the family we were born with and the family we make as we pass through this life.

I love these guys. Thanks John and Jay for including me, once again, in your celebrations.

No detail was overlooked in preparation 

Croissant / Meyers Rum french toast to be served with a banana, pecan, brown sugar reduction.
Decadent and delicious!

A portion of the 60+ attendees enjoying the day

The haul: John and Jay asked everyone to bring nonperishable items to donate to the Poverello Center
here in Wilton Manors.  We will be busy transporting all of this food on Friday.
Everyone was very generous in their contributions to those in need.

Insert joke here....

Brined, rubbed and ready for the oven.

The finished product.  Martha's got nothing on our presentation skills.  And,
I am not a big fan of turkey, but this ended up being one of the most delicious, moist
turkeys that I have every eaten.  Job well done to Jay and his brining and rubbing skills.

Doors open, candles lit, breeze blowing.  Damn I love south Florida.

Thanksgiving dinner by candle light followed by the GAGA Thanksgiving special.  Does it get any gayer? 

Motivation. Motivation. Where for art thou, motivation?

Suprisingly I got a lot of work done yesterday, despite the little side trip to the beach around 1:30.  On the way home, we stopped to pick up the Thanksgiving day turkey and a pumpkin cheesecake at Whole Foods. While at the store, I texted my friend Johnny Bravo to see what his plans were for the week. He was free Tuesday night so we decided to get together for a quick dinner. Oddly, he did not ask where or what I wanted to eat, but since he is in the hospitality industry, I trusted his choice.  And, he made a great one. 

Cafe Casablanca is situated along the Ft. Lauderdale beach. We sat at the outside bar and had a great view of the beach walkway.  The weather was breezy, but quite balmy - just perfect for sitting outside and having a leisurely dinner. After a beer and a seared ahi tuna appetizer, we ordered dinner and a bottle of wine. I had the duck, Johnny had an outstanding mediterranean inspired chicken dish. We finished up with snifters of chocolate liqueur spiked with a shot of expresso.  Besides the great atmospher, conversation, and alcohol it was also "Industry" night at the restaurant - so our bill was 50% off.  It was great catching up with an old friend.

We met up with John and Jay at Rosie's in Wilton Manors for a night cap. Although I had worked all day, I was starting to feel a bit like I was on vacation.  Hmmmm - perhaps that is why I am having such a difficult time focusing on work this morning.

I will be signing out of the company web connection around noon to help John finish the shopping and to prepare food for tomorrow's all day feeding festival. John and Jay are hosting a fund raising brunch for around 50 people from 10:00 - 3:00 (Myer's Rum & Croissant French Toast, with bacon, sausage, fresh fruit and a full service bar) benefiting the Poverello Center of Wilton Manors. They will then be serving a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner starting around 7:00. It will be a fun day to contemplate my family and friends who together make my life so happy, exciting, rewarding, and unspeakably fabulous.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Glenn

Lunch Break

Gotta love working remotely.
I heart you technology!

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The Stuff that Weekends are Made of...

The weather has been unseasonable warm in Raleigh this weekend.  It is difficult to get my head wrapped around the coming holiday season when sitting out on the balcony in my bathing suit, evening up my tan this morning.

However, yesterday as I arrived at the gym, there was the distinct smell of Christmas tree in the air.  Perhaps Logan Trading Company has received their first shipment of trees for those early birds who can't wait to get their holiday decorations out of storage. The smell did jolt me back to reality. The season is upon us again.

I will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Ft. Lauderdale with my best buddy John and his partner Jay. I am heading down Monday afternoon to spend the week, hence my "too little, too late" attempt to make a few muscles at the gym this weekend. While I have been somewhat diligent in my workouts, I have not lifted any weights since before my trip to Asia.  I have been keeping the pre-holiday weight off by spinning, taking some core classes, and running. However, at almost 49, it doesn't take long for the little bit of bicep I have worked so hard for to shrivel down to my normal tooth pick sized arms. And, fashion in Ft. Lauderdale will not allow me to hide my lack of muscle tone under button down collar shirts.

So yesterday, I hit the weights and last night I hit the bars to give my drinking muscles a workout. What is it about the second shot of tequila that makes the third shot seem like such a good idea?  While this time I left the bar with my integrity intact, the early morning texts and phone calls reminded me that I am not yet ready for a week on the party circuit.

To punish myself for having so much fun last night, I made an extra large pot of coffee, had a nice long read on the porch as mentioned above, made myself a big greasy brunch, and curled up with Roxy on the sofa for a nap.  Upon waking, I went to the gym to make another muscle and to work out the stiffness from yesterday. Then headed to the pub to meet my friends Cathy and Arjay for Sunday Funday.

Yep, good weekend all around. I am ready. I have primed my liver. I am over packed.  I can't wait to see the palm trees and bathe in the warm breezes of South Florida.

Thoughts from the Saddle

Today I sent a request to several of my former managers to write an endorsement for me on LinkedIn. I am not actively searching for a new job, but you never know who is looking at your profile. And as a good boy scout, one must always be prepared to open the door of success when opportunity knocks.

Tonight in spin class, I started thinking that this request was a little like having an argument with your partner in which you tell them that if they would only do _________, you would know that they really cared. The blank is often filled in with "buy me a box of candy, send me flowers, surprise me by cooking dinner, put down the toilet seat, rub my shoulders, do that thing we saw on the internet last week."  You get the picture.

Somehow, like the resulting gifts following the above "discussion about my feelings," I am guessing that the emotional payoff will somehow be sullied by the need to ask.  Perhaps I am just feeling a little emotional or sensitive this week, but if you really loved me, you would know what I want - I shouldn't have to ask for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep! Passive aggressive muscles still strong - Hahahaha.
Happy Monday Everyone!

Fun with Horoscopes

Lately my fortune cookies have been underwhelming. They have not easily lent themselves to playing the fortune cookie game. But, all good things come to those who wait and today's horoscope provided the perfect set up: "The Moon's conjunction with expansive Jupiter tempts you to take on more than you can complete, so don't say yes unless you really mean it in bed."

Juvenile? Probably, but I have been in need of a good giggle for more than a week. The problem is that I have been in meetings all day, and I keep saying yes. I am so easy.... 

From the Lists: #57 Parade’s End

From the Lists: #57 Parade’s End  by Ford Madox Ford (1924 -1928)

As I work my way through the 100 best novels, I seem to be stuck in the war section.  This entry however goes back a little farther in time - all that way back to World War I -- well sort of.  The war is really more of a backdrop for British characters behaving badly rather than the main driver of the action. For the most part, the reader only learns about the main character, Christopher Tietjens, through the thoughts and actions of orbiting characters with whom he has contact. Consisting of four parts, this work was published between 1924 and 1928, and is an excellent representative of the modernist movement of the time as exemplified by T. S. Elliot, Emile Zola, Virginia Wolfe, and James Joyce.  

Synopsis:

Tietjens is the last Tory, Victorian gentleman in Edwardian England.  As the youngest son of landed, titled, north country gentry, he is educated, brilliant, a little dumpy, and employed in government service before the start of the war.  By all accounts he is the perfect example of his class.  He is unconcerned with earning money and has no ambition other the satisfaction he receives from doing his job well and living up to the moral requirements of his class.  As the ideal gentleman, you would think that he would be loved and respected, but as it turns out, he is a magnet for ingratitude and scorn. 

The first three parts of Parade’s End focus on the tribulations piled upon this paragon of virtue.  His coldly beautiful, high society wife has left him for a fling with another man and Tietjens allows her to return when the affair has run its course. His best friend has borrowed more money than he can ever hope to repay to fund an affair with a minister’s wife. His manager is intimidated by Tietjen’s brilliance and only wants to move him out of the Statistics department because Tietjens refuses to “fudge” the statistics he is responsible for gathering and analyzing. Since Tietjens refuses to lower himself into the mud to defend himself, he becomes the center of a swirling gossip storm concerning his marriage, finances, and loyalty to the  British government.  

This mischaracterization follows Tietjens through the first three sections of the novel – before the start of the war, his first deployment to a troop transfer station, and his final deployment to the front line trenches just prior to the Armistice. And while Tietjens does not rise above his tormentors and wreak a terrible vengeance upon them as would happen in a modern novel, he does survive his ordeals to return to Britain and his true unrequited love, Valentine Wannop.

I really enjoyed the style of the later sections of this novel. When Tietjens returns to England, the story is picked up from Valentine’s  thoughts and observations based on more misleading gossip and half-truths as she ponders her future as the possible mistress and/or care-giver to a possibly shell-shocked war veteran. The final section is simply a day at the farm purchased by Tietjens following the war, where he lives out of wedlock with Valentine , his invalid brother, and his brother’s wife. This entire section is told from the perspective of the farm hands as well as other ancillary characters from the first three sections of the novel, including Tietjens’ vindictive wife, Sylvia. The character of Christopher Tietjens is only actually present in the narrative in the final two pages, but the observations related by those who live near him are sufficient to provide solace to the reader as to the state of Tietjens’ life and his chances for a “happily ever after” ending. This style of storytelling is modernist to the core and quite satisfying in the end.

From a reader’s perspective, I was often frustrated by Tietjen’s passivity in the face of repeated attacks from those he loved and helped most.  If there was ever a Christ-like martyr in modernist literature, this character embodies the archetype perfectly.  And yet, even though he suffered in silence and never fought back, as would be expected in today’s literature, he eventually came to live the life of his dreams.

Recommendation: This is a tough one.  I am a big fan of the modernist school of literature, which focuses on the art and style of writing rather than the creation of a well-constructed plot with a clearly delineated beginning, middle, and end. With that said, I thought this was an excellent example of the style as it was being perfected during the 1920’s. From the perspective of story, there is not much here – mostly just people misjudging, miscommunicating, and behaving badly towards the nicest person they know. My father once told me that the more you do for someone, the more they will resent you.  And, in the world of Parade’s End, this outlook proves to be true.