Tri-County Saturday Night

So Saturday night Frank and I headed to New Delhi to meet his sister and brother-in-law for dinner. I'm definitely cultivating a taste for Indian food, and New Delhi does it right! Food and conversation were great. We chatted away until 9 or so then headed out to see The Loop at RP McMurphy's.

RP McMurphy's is in Holmes so we headed to 95 and made our way to Delaware County. After negotiating parking and running across 4 lanes of McDade Boulevard we plopped ourselves into a booth and ordered drinks as the band took the stage. As Frank pondered a screwdriver that was just not the right color, the music started. Now, Frank went to high school with one of the guys in the band, so his sister leans forward and asks which one. Frank takes a beat, then says he's never seen any of these guys before. This is not The Loop.

After a little investigation we learn that there was a mix up in the schedule, they played Friday night. Saturday they were at Reed's in Blue Bell. So we finished our drinks and after a horrible version of a Phish song decided to strike out for Montgomery County and Reed's. We found our way to 476 and made it to Reed's by midnight. Happily we had found The Loop!

Drinks were ordered and we held out through some terrible music courtesy of Wired 96.5 until the band took the stage. They were quite fun, it was nice to dance and yell lyrics again. But no evening would be complete without some bazaar happening. In this case, it was the lady's room.

I walk in and join the inevitable line, stepping over the broken beer bottle. Soon a girl emerges from a stall asking me and the girl behind me if her bra was showing. The girl behind me stepped up and began adjusting the offending garment as the young lady complained about a lack of bra support. Okay...

Then came the shrill voice from another stall talking to another occupant about how she showed her panties for Phillies tickets and they turned out to be sucky seats so she didn't even go. But it was okay, because she didn't show off good panties and they were on backwards anyhow. Oh to be young...

Next the handicapped stall opened and two sober women wandered out. I'm not even going to speculate...

Finally I'm up, but am warned that the toilet in the newly available cubby doesn't flush...I'll wait. Finally I'm in! I do my thing then head out...to run into a very excited girl beckoning to her friend to come into the stall and see what she's done before she flushes...And here I thought that was just a guy thing. Learn something new every day. Gross, but new.

Once the set was over my wagon was draggin and the smoke was wearing on me. I felt like a bit of a wet blanket, but I was ready for a change of scene. Soon we headed up the road to a diner where the girls had cake and the boys had another dinner. Or perhaps an early breakfast...either way we talked and laughed until the wee hours then headed back to the city to pass out.

I suppose it could be considered club hopping...or blind wandering in search of a good band and a decent drink. Whatever it was, it was a lot of fun!

Holiday Body Count

This year while I managed to not have any further adventures in pain after the Target incident others took up the torch.

My poor Monie was sick on Saturday then took a nasty spill on Sunday while working on her kitchen. Aside from a rather angry looking bruise/scrape she sounds like she's in one piece. Now we just need to get my heart to slow down a bit...

Bill took a hockey puck to the eye yesterday and is in the hospital until this afternoon. The doctor says it could be a lot worse, he could have lost the eye. The puck shot up under his mask and nailed him in the eye socket. He was lucky he was wearing the mask...usually he doesn't. To quote Dan, "What have we learned?"

My boss wants to get him a "You'll shoot your eye out" t-shirt and I think I'm joining Tony's campaign for Bill's retirement from hockey. I know, one injury shouldn't mean you should stop playing, but this is one in a long line, and none of them are pulls or strains. They've been breaks, concussions and nastiness. But we all know I'm a worrier.

My holiday? Fantastic! Frank and I enjoyed a turkey day filled with side dishes and movies. Friday was snuggling on the couch watching Muppets and Saturday night we went out with his sister and her husband. It was quite the adventure, deserving of its own entry so stay tuned!

Subtlety

Sometimes the universe, in its infinite wisdom, decides to send you subtle messages...last night was not one of those "subtle" nights.

I've been going at a semi-mad pace for the last few days, good reasons all around I am happy to report. Anyhow, last night I decided that I would launch an assault on Target to get Zoe Barbie clothes for Christmas and run a few other errands. I'm desperately trying to avoid toy stores after this Friday.

So I dropped a prescription off at Giant and wandered to the Michaels while they filled it. That's when my eye got that familiar swirly feeling that foretold a nasty migraine. But I marched on. On to Target and Barbie Hell.

What happened to Barbie's fashion sense? I remember dressing up Peaches and Cream Barbie in some of the prettiest gowns and coolest outfits when I was younger. She had jeans, shorts, sweaters, skirts, dresses, coats...and oh the shoes! She had outfits for ice skating, roller skating, horseback riding, evening, picnic...you name it. This new stuff isn't even hoochie wear or ghetto fabulous...it's just ugly. Sad really.

Anyhow, I managed to find a few interesting things then made my way to housewares in search of a bathroom scale. I stopped in my tracks when I found myself in front of the Hello Kitty Alter of Kitchen Appliances:

Witness the Hello Kitty waffle maker, toaster, toaster oven, popcorn popper and much more.

In my stupor of pink cuteness I turned to head up the isle and continue my search for a scale when I suddenly found myself sprawled on the tile. Knee screaming, the skin on the heel of my hand polished to a mirror finish by skidding across the floor, and yes, my head hurt. Was it a seizure? No. Did I turn an ankle? No. It was one of those *#@*% plastic things that they use to keep the prices on the shelves. I'd slipped on it.

I then did the human thing when we bruise not only our bodies but our pride as well: I looked to see if anyone witnessed this graceful display. I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that several people saw but not only weren't laughing or offering aid, they didn't even bother to pause their cell phone conversations to look concerned. So no laughter, but perhaps a comment on society. Thank God it wasn't Black Friday, I could have been trampled!

So with a throbbing head, arm, hand and knee I found the scale and limped to the register. Once in the car I gave myself a pep talk, got to Giant to get my prescription and drove home.

Now, when this grand plan was hatched that morning I was going to come home, do some cleaning, maybe make a pie and work on some sewing. As I gingerly hauled myself up the stairs that evening I decided no, I was going to drug myself and lay on the couch until I felt like I could keep food down.

I sat down, took off my shoes put away a few things that required refrigeration and then headed back to the living room...where I stepped on something that caused a stabbing pain in my foot. It seems I tracked glass into the house and it was now embedded in my foot which was bleeding onto the carpet.

Sigh.

I relocated the shard to the trash and in a fit of annoyance, exhaustion and defeat wrapped a scrap of cloth around the wound (remember that sewing project?).

Eventually the headache subsided, I got dinner and even managed to get a few things accomplished. Then I went to bed.

I was relating my tale of absurdity to Connie when she pointed out the one thing that made it all make sense...It was Tuesday.

My only other theory is that the gods of commerce didn't want me to miss out on the Black Friday blood letting.

But I survived!

Have a great holiday all!

Jill and Dan's Not a Halloween Party

So the final gathering for pumpkin day was on November 3 at Jill and Dan's. There were stories to swap, yummy food to nosh and of course the colorful characters...

Our lovely island hostess and her hubby, Captain Goody!

The cannibalistic and possibly dead Andi with her lovingly geek victim Adam as Ed Grimmly.

The butterfly fairy thing that I turned out to be and my favorite Jedi.

Monie is the breakfast of champions: Poptarts and a Coke.

And of course Charlotte as the cutest puppy with Julia and Chuck staring as very proud parents.

Mischief at Monie's

Last night was the largest gathering of pumpkin carvers I think I've ever seen at Monies. It was great fun as always, with roasted pumpkin seeds, spiced cider, pizza and Kristen's yummy pumpkin pie made even fancier by Tara and her nutmeg grinder!

But don't take my word for it...

Frank and I dressed up...I made a goofy looking puppy and Frank ended up as Obi Wan Esquire after altering his Jedi garb to fit work's dress code.

There was the traditional pumpkin carving on the porch...








Mmmm...guts!

Monie and Frank dig in...






A break with some warm cider and Fred...

I think Monie's pumpkin ate one of the others...

Who can resist a barfing gord?

A-oooooh!

Need a hand?
Frank's fangy little

friend...

Kristen's handy work...

All together now...

Happy Halloween!