Liz's Snack-Based Bday

i didn't expect this, but as the snacks started rolling in, i realized that obviously the only theme party appropriate for liz is a snack-based theme party.  This is the snack conga line after only a couple of guests had arrived.  

and it kept growing.....

and growing....

and growing....

liz also brought fifty balloons that i rounded up in put in the corner the next day.  party ratio - one balloon for every bag of chips.

happy birthday liz!

The S.S. Workout

 Workout had a show on a boat and everyone was in appropriately high spirits for the high seas.

None of my sailor gear really fits anymore (whoops!) but there were definitely some fancy dressers ready for cocktails on the yacht.

 You just cant fake this sort of enthusiasm!

Pre-gaming with a little top forty, I'm sure. 

Its been a while since I've seen all our friends in the daylight.  With summer upon us and BBQ season knocking on our doors, I expect to see more of everyone's pores, scars and imperfections but honestly it was WONDERFUL not being in a bar at 2am or in a house filled with Camel Light smoke or in a cab racing somewhere drunk.  We got to see eachother.  In the day light. On a boat.  It was a really big treat.

People in general look healthier on boats too.  

And then workout played.....

 Annnnnnnnd! Handsome Jim managed to crowd surf!

Thanks again Workout for providing us with such a fine evening!  

Hall Of Famers

Second Annual Best Party Of The Year

Thank god Jim has a birthday every year and thank god he always celebrates with an inter-galactic Jersey-themed party.  

This party will make you act very 'athletic' or like a 'baller.' 

Couples in Jerseys is a cute look.  So are Jerseys over haute couture outfits, like the look Ren sports here.

 The Celtics Bunny!

 Birthday boy in his element.

 Friendships were struck, rekindled, cherished.  Memories, made and then forgotten.  Thanks, Beer!

 This was probably around 9pm.  Whoops! 

Whats the point of wearing Jerseys if you don't take them off on the dance floor?  Things unraveled into a good old fashioned living room dance party as soon as the keg was tapped.  Shirts came off and songs were played on repeat.  Thanks again Jim!  Already looking forward to next year!

Loot Meter!

Check out Loot Meter, Chris Smith's amazing new blog where he tracks all his purchases.  What a Champ!  This guy is so good at spending money, what an inspiration!

TODAY IS MICHAEL MCDONALD'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Pour one out for the siberian tiger of soft rock.

New Xmas Eve Tradition

Chris and I went to the Museum of Natural History today and surprisingly, it wasn't a CF!  All the kids were busy sitting in Santa's lap.

Neither of us had ever been, so calling it a revelation would be an understatement...

This is Chris communing with some form of Plains mammal.  They look like they are begging him for food.

The Blue Whale was an obvious highlight.  Did you know their hearts are the size of Volkswagen Beetles and some of their arteries are so big, a human can swim up them?!?! 

Also, please note my new camera's indoor setting.  It was like night time in there, and I didn't even use a flash!

This made me want to own a fur...WHOOPS!

Twins!

A+ for the great efforts to make the place really feel like a menagerie.  I felt like an 8 year old discovering kangaroos for the first time!

Look who got all tuckered out from learning!  NAP TIME!!

Next year its mandatory for all New York Christmas orphans to do this. 

Staying Busy Pizza Partay!!!

Monday's project was pizza dough.  I don't really know dough, so texture, consistency, color - that was all a guessing game.  After a few spins in the bowl and a few kneads of the knuckle, it looked good enough to me, so I threw it in the fridge over night and waited for it to rise.

Homemade sauce was easy - just tomato paste, water and olive oil.  I also included dried rosemary (crushed), basil, oregano and chopped garlic.  No cooking necessary!!! 

All the other stuff was pretty intuitive.  The best pizzas always have basil, mozz and any combo of olive, mushroom, artichoke, tomato, etc. 

Making the dough into acutal pizza was a little aggravating.  Dough is stupid and stubborn, so getting it into a form that looked like it could accommodate toppings was a process that took a lot of finessing.  But in the end, ta da! Motorino, Roberta's, Paulie Gee's - all rolled in to one! 

DUBLIN!!!!

Can't you see Bono jumping from roof to roof?

1995?

There was so much 'trad' music. EVERYWHERE. In every bar, in every restaurant, in every store. On Saturday night, there were drunk girls at this pub who were all dressed like Samantha from Sex in the City and they were grinding to a two man Irish Trad band! And the best part was, they were doing that thing where they scream all the lyrics loudly into each other's faces. Tim was turned on.

Surprisingly, there was some good design there.

Pilgrimage to see Phil's statue. When we were taking pics of him, this creepy ex-pat who called himself Johnny Coup came over to us and started talking about the magic of Phil all wide-eyed. He was in a TL cover band. No surprise there. He kept saying silly stuff like, 'its all happening here' as if Dublin was some bustling hub of culture (it wasn't, just a bustling hub of drunks). Anyway, he told us to call him and gave us all his info. Tim said he was definitely from LA. Zing!

Ahoy thar, BEER TRUCK!

Tons of cathedrals. To be expected.

I don't think I saw a single building in Dublin over ten stories high. Such a short city! Also, on the pavement off curbs, painted on the ground were the phrases 'look left' and 'look right' for the dumb foreigners so they wouldn't get hit by cars. Government: They think of everything!!!