I suppose I could go into a whole conversation about what I accomplished this year... or what I didn't... what my resolutions are... what I'm thankful for...  and what I am looking forward to... I just don't feel like it.

Have a safe, fun night tonight... and best wishes for health, wealth and happiness in the coming year! 

Some Xmas Leftovers

This is my favorite retro card...

Treat? Is ashtray mouth a treat?

He's Santa... he can pee wherever he wants to

Surely, the decoration handiwork of a redneck

This is definitely manscaping to the Nth degree.  Love the tree on his belly though

This could really be a bargain, depending what Michael looks like

Yum !

Home Sweet (Prior) Home

I got into Philly yesterday.  After living here for 12 years, it seems like I never left.  It was around 50 degrees in Pittsburgh/Philly when I left to go to Florida back in early December... so all I brought was a hoodie... BIG mistake... and I left that in my truck and didn't take it with me anyway.  Even in the baggage claim area, I was freezing.  I do love the crisp air though... there's something about it being so easy to breathe (when it doesn't freeze in your throat).  Yesterday morning in Ft. Lauderdale, it was only 48 degrees... still not a formidable lead-in to the temperature here.

I'm still up in the air about New Years.  There's this sense of urgency that you have something to do, but I think that I'm just going to do nothing.  Feeling displaced, I think that I just want to be around my own surroundings, so I may head home a little later.  One good thing about here is the gas prices.  With gas being around $2.75 at home and in Florida, it's only $2.41 here... AND they pump it for you.  I don't get why it's so much cheaper, but I think I will fill up the back of my truck bed with gas as well.  Can't get too much of a good thing. 

I'm meeting with a friend of mine to get my massage table back from the class and possibly meeting with someone from the class.  It will be good to hang out with other friends too.

On My Way

Bye bye paradise.  I'm finally at the airport... my plane takes off in a bit... it's a beautiful day here, although it was about 48 degrees this morning with a high of only 73.  It looks like great, clear weather all the way up the coast, so it should be a good flight, less any screaming children.  This airport rocks.  It's newer, clean and with Southwest (which I never fly), the seats at the gates are all plush leather, have plugs and there are even little internet pods set up, with free wifi throughout the gates. 

After being up without sleep yesterday, I zonked out last night around nine.  With everything cleaned up and looking nice, it felt like, for the first time, that I was there on vacation.  I almost wanted to fight the sleep to actually do something fun... with a clear head and no time constraints. It was good to just sleep though.

I'm not sure still what I'm doing for New Year's Eve.  Friends in Philly have a party that they'll take me to.  I figure it out when I get to Philly.  I'm kind of itching to get back into my own truck and driving though.  Me and the open road have a special relationship. 

UPDATE to Previous Post

Maybe I'm not supposed to ever get home.... my flight was delayed twice in the last hour... must be a problem somewhere... so we changed it to tomorrow morning since I would have gotten in pretty late. 

After seeing the movie 'Final Destination'...  I always feel like I'm either going to avoid an accident on a flight that I was supposed to be on... or walk (fly) right into the path of doom by being on a flight other than the one I was supposed to be on.  I never switch seats either... and although I am not religious, I say a prayer upon take-off.  I don't really believe in any of the superstitions that deal with good luck... more about bad luck... like walking under a ladder... and I will pull off the road and turn around if a black cat crosses my path.  I can't resist picking up a penny if it's heads up... and will throw salt over my shoulder if spilled. That's pretty much it for me... .I don't know where these come from... but I think that I might be suffering from BOS... Borderline OCD/Superstition.  Is there a pill for that?

SUPERSTITION:  Irrational belief: an irrational, but usually deep-seated belief in the magical effects of a specific action or ritual, especially in the likelihood that good or bad luck will result from performing it. 

I'm Leaving, On a Jet Plane...

My head feels like I'm in a blizzard.  The last 24 hours have been pure hell.  Yesterday, I was trying to get all the sanding done so I could start painting... which I started last night at 7 p.m.  I finished the bedroom and the bathroom by 3 a.m. and then had to keep going to get everything uncovered and put back together.  I finished at around 11 a.m this morning, pulling an all-nighter.  I was doing real well, hardly tired, until I sat down to write this... and it hit me like a brick. 

My flight already has a delay, and it doesn't take off until 7:10 p.m.  With the bomb threat the other day, I'm expecting long lines through security... and heard they're doing cavity checks... which is good... because I actualy had a dentist appointment scheduled for this morning back in Pittsburgh (before the extended trip) to get a cavity  filled...  So, I'll be killing two birds with one stone?

My plans for New Years Eve are still up in the air.  Although NYC with Elaine is a great opportunity to do something that I've never done... there's some situations happening that could make it a real pain in the ass.  If there's one thing that I don't want to be in the middle of on New Year's Eve... it's drama... especially since whatever you're doing NY Eve is what you'll be doing the whole year.  Anyone else believe in that?  I may hang out with friends in Philly... or head home.  Who knows?

Or Lack Thereof...

It's kind of funny how this sign is true-to-life.  If you look at anything but the word 'focus', things are all swirly in your head.  The same rings true in your day-to-day life... and can be minutely  disected down to, say.... a painting project.

The condo always looks so put together.  It's not until you start moving things or really looking can you see what condition it's really in.  I GROSSLY underestimated this project... and perhaps I would have been a little more focused in the beginning, instead of feeling like it was manageable.  Since Scott's guests are coming in tomorrow... I have to wrap things up by the time I get out of here myself tomorrow.  Sadly, I'm nowhere near being done.  So all I can do is finish painting the two rooms today and try to put things back together enough for them to enjoy their week.  Right now, it's a disaster area... wire shelving off the walls... blinds down... towel racks, bric-a-brac everywhere... D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R. 

I woke up this morning and tried to clean up a bit... thinking that I would be able to focus more on the task at hand.  And it worked.  I think over the last couple of weeks, when I looked at all the mess, I felt overwhelmed and, more recently, backed into a corner.  It's hard too because it's been difficult with me trying to live there as well and daylight being over at 5 p.m.  I have made a lot of progress, and what I have done looks incredible (before and after pics to follow).  To that end, looks like I will be coming back here in a week or two once the guests leave to finish.

Just in Time to Put Out Post-Holiday

Yum!

Woe is Me

This project has become the project from hell... it seems like everything that could go wrong, has... creating more work for me each time.  I was feeling pretty depressed about the work leading up to the last couple of days.  Then, once I started paint, all the spackling made it worth it.  Finally, a sense of accomplishment and hope.  After pretty much rebuilding the wall in the bathroom and then painting it... I was just shutting the lights off in the room when I noticed a bubble, the size of a tack head.  When I pushed on it (because I just had to), it turned into this huge thing (in the picture).  I almost cried.  Now that the wall is ruined, I have to try to fix it before I slit my wrists and give up altogether.  I'm very ready to get out of Florida.

The Day After

Well, I made it through unscathed... although it was pretty much like it never happened... no presents, visitors or even a holiday cookie.  Or like the Grinch stopped by for a feast... bitch took my crimples... my whahoozits and even my roast beast.  I actually had pizza for dinner.  Most of the restaurants were packed... with all the Jews, old people and lazies living down here.  I was painting all day and didn't want to take the break to get cleaned up, so I just went for take out.  I worked late... then got tired and tried to go to bed, and got up and did some more.  I'm feeling the pinch now to get this stuff done.  I'd like to be shopping, although I don't need anything... but alas, the paint brush awaits.

Merry Christmas

Yesterday, I was able to get two coats on the one room... trim, clean and put back together and that room will be done.  Santa didn't bring me my wish... two cute guys who can paint... so I'm on my own today. Not to be greedy, I would have just taken the two cute guys even if they couldn't paint.

I hope everyone is enjoying the day... (no sarcasm)... Oddly, I miss snow and holiday cookies the most.  Every year, my Dad would buy me a box of Italian nougat candy... and he'd make his pizelles. I miss that too.

I'm lost without Barnes and Noble today... I'm out on the balcony hanging over the edge trying to steal wifi.  I will be going for my Xmas dinner later on at the Japanese place... probably the only place open today, just like in The Christmas Story.  Fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra!  If I only had a Red Rider BB gun... I'd shoot myself.  I'm ready to get out of here now.

Check out this light display...

Incredible Light Display
http://www.flixxy.com/best-christmas-lights-display.htm

Serenity

It's Gay to be Gay!

Just another example of how the word 'gay' meant something altogether different in days gone by.  Even still, I don't know any of my gay friends that would use this on their packages... it wouldn't look good with the gold embossing, fresh pine branches/exotic flowers or raffia that a gay would use to decorate the gifts the proper way... the way it outlines in the gay manual under 'How to be a slice of fabulous'.

My Gift

I already received the best gift... a first coat of paint on the one room.  It feels so good to finally be painting, although there's still some spackling sanding to be done.  I had to take an internet break before everything starts closing down.  I'll be painting all evening, although the lighting in the condo is very dim... it makes it difficult to see. 

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Christmas full of love, family and friends. I'm thankful to have all of you in my life and hope for the best in health, wealth and happiness in the coming year.

Those Were The Days

When we were little, my Mom would tuck my brother and me into the bed and read us "The Night Before Christmas".  I can remember trying so hard to get to sleep... thinking that Santa wouldn't stop by if we were up... and in the morning, I was always the first one up, but we'd have to wait until our parents got up... and we unwrapped our presents... and played with the boxes... while the dog chewed on the wrapping paper (which I think back then it had lead in it).  In elementary school, we would get $5.00 from our Mom to go shopping in the Santa's workshop they set up.  We'd buy some crap for our parents... they'd open it and be surprised... my Mom probably would have rather had a pack of Pall Malls... her carcinogen of choice.  Then my Dad would make his pancakes... and we'd get ready for guests to arrive, followed by the traditional spaghetti dinner.

Progress

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day.  It was hard not to blow off work for a beach day.  In my mind, the 28th was on Tuesday... and now I found out that somebody switched it, and it's on Monday.  Starting to feel the pressure again... but fortunately, only a small bit of spackling needs to be done... I'm out getting the paint, finally, and put up a ceiling fan earlier.  Things are getting done... and the weather is supposed to be scattered storms over the next couple of days, so that'll keep me on track.

Misc. Funny

I'm not one for making cookies, especially when you can get them somewhere already made up... but these melted snowman cookies look fun to make and eat!

In the 'gifts you shouldn't give' series...  Despite what they say in the ad, nothing say's "Merry Christmas, honey"... like a vacuum cleaner that screams "now clean up this mess, bitch!".  Trust me, she won't be happy with it, or you.

Next time that you are hoping that the sidewalk shoveling fairy could come by, be careful what you wish for.

Just another Pittsburgh happy hour...

This was actually my friend Matt's Christmas decorations outside of his house... he said it got some funny looks... and people slowed down to possibly help...

If You Forget Me

This is the ultimate in vunerability and love.  One of my favorite poems... this embodies human nature... to love so deeply, yet retain a sense of security or self-protection.  Read by Madonna, not only is the choice of words beautiful, but what it says, more importantly...  and to have (and be able to verbalize your) feelings for someone in such a deep manner is incredible.  And just when that happens, your protective nature comes through and then you realize that it's all worth it in the end and let go.  Basically stated, this poem says... I love you so much... and as long as you love me back, it will continue... but if not, then I will forget you... unless you really do love me, then I'm here whole-heartedly.

Snowflakes

Yum!