Me in Anime....

How cute is this?

Someone drew me in Anime-style!

I love it because I look so young and skinny!

I'm the one in red. I always did look good in red.

Irony of "The Beer Barrel Polka"

Failing to mention that I am putting together a CD of family favorite songs....I found out that my maternal great-grandfather's favorite song was "The Beer Barrel Polka".
As I listened to it, I realized it was the same song I would dance to when I was a little girl.

My paternal grandparents owned a bar....and I would get on the bar and dance with my piggy bank for tips.

I recall my favorite songs were "The Beer Barrel Polka" and "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"
There was a legacy to my music choices.

Happy to report...

I have begun my reunion revenue project.
The worst part is starting.....now it is started and I find myself flooded with more ideas!
Hurrah!

I will only write this here....because none of these family members know about this blog...but this particular branch of the family tree tends to be on the 'cheap' side of the spectrum.
This reunion takes place every year. Same weekend....and the dues are $5 per person. $3 if you are under 18. (a few years ago the price went up to $7 per person and people nearly split a gut in anger....thus we returned to the $5 fee)
Each painful year, each family brings their lunch, something to bbq for dinner and a dish to share with the whole family.
Oh...and lets not forget the cake for the cakewalk. Which is not a normal cakewalk and just serves to irritate everyone.
On top of that you pay $5 which goes to beer, soda, water, charcoal, lighter fluid and the rental of the pavilion. The entire production costs the family a whooping $300. Not bad for 34 households.
Have these people not heard of the cost of living increase? Are you telling me you can't fork over a couple extra bucks and have this bad boy catered?!
It is a pain to bring 2 meals to an outdoor picnic in the stinking hot.
It is a pain to sit at any family gathering that lasts 7+ hours...can't we do this in 4?

Anyway...back to my project. As I am in charge of the reunion next year, I have a sinister plot in mind.
I plan on raising money with my project....and using the funds to cater the event next year!
genius!
We will not vote on it.
This is not a democracy...This is a family function. I never got to vote on bad food, $5 and stupid cakewalks.
It will be catered.
Leave your bologna sandwhich, hamburger meat, nasty pasta salad and stale cake at home!
No more runs to get more beer and water because we ran out!

The power I feel is overwhelming.....bwah hah hah hah! (that is my sinister laugh)

My new favorite hobby....

at least for today is procrastination.
Nearly a year ago, I found out that I would be responsible for the 'games' at an upcoming family reunion.
No big deal. Piece of cake.
I can handle family entertainment. I am filled with ideas!
I don't want to do the corny egg toss, the water balloons, the family softball....I want interaction on a deeper level....fun that they never thought they could have at a family reunion!

Now it is less than one month away....and I am painfully aware that my biggest idea..(and revenue generator)...is going to take some more effort than I had imagined.

I suppose I had better get to work.
ugh.
Wasn't this supposed to be fun?

Youth in a jar.....

I know. I obsess about age. I never thought I would be an age obsessor....but here I am.

Those who know me, know that each night, without fail - I complete "the routine".

The Routine consists of the following:

• hair pulled back off face


• eye makeup removed with cotton balls


• face cleansed with either DDF brightening cleanser or DDF glycolic exfoliating wash


• toner applied with cotton ball


• teeth brushed


• wrinkle cream


• eye cream


• night cream


• aloe lip balm

Without fail I perform the routine. Transatlantic flight? yup. Saturday night after going sans makeup? yup. Sometimes, I have to forgo a step....usually the eyemakeup remover - because I can't always fit it into my quart bag for the airplane. To remedy that, I sometime use those pre-moistened cloths for the eye makeup when I travel.

The sad part is, if I don't do the routine, I can't sleep well. The ritual is almost the signal to my body to go to bed. I know what you are thinking ~ perhaps a slight case of OCD Annette

Perhaps, but so what.

Every person I know has teased me about the routine. Most especially other women. My job requires that I attend meetings thru the year, we always have another female roommate - and inevitably there are late nights of cocktails. Most of the women come back to the room and fall face first onto the bed - eyeliner and foundation still on!!!!Oh the horror!

No matter how tired, I do the routine. Always telling myself, that if I don't....I won't sleep. I will just lay there, wide awake. Thinking I should have just done the damn routine.

As I look closely at my face each day....do I see a difference? No. Do I continue to age? Yup.

But vindication was mine.

I was carded! Me! Carded when trying to have some wine at a restaurant! I thought the waitress was joking.

"No, I really need to see your id please."

I handed her my id.

She looked at it and said, "1972" then began to count the decades on her fingers.

"1982, 1992, 2002......crap! you are old!"

The best part was, she was in her 50's , not some 20 something thinking anyone over 25 is ancient.

I performed the routine with glee that night.

Hangs head in shame...

This blog makes me feel guilty.
I have not posted in many, many weeks.

I hate feeling guilt from something of my own creation.
To feel guilt from friends and family....the church....ok.
But a blog?!

I need to get over it.

Young, gay and fabulous

Time sure flies when you are having fun.

Since my last post, I have taken a fantastic trip to New York, been ensuring to get my groove on every weekend and just returned from a very inspiring trip to my home office for work.
I am feeling energized and the positivity of 2008 continues.

New York was incredible. Everytime I go there ~ I decide that I should live there. Unfortunately, my bank account will not afford me that luxury.
In the course of 3 days I managed to spend enough money to take me round trip from DC to Rome. It is enough to make a girl think......was that money well spent?

Hell yes it was.

Did I buy expensive clothes and shoes? See multiple shows? The answer is no.
I spent money on food and alcohol.
And it was yummy.

My friend and I went to great restaurants and ate great food. On Friday night we also hit the gay bars.....
I met a most fantastic photographer named Jean-Francois in a gay bar. I decided that Jean-Francois is the best name for a gay man from Belgium. He and I were pals the whole night. He even bought me drinks. At the end of the night, I felt bad that Jean-Francois could not get any action, but we formed a nice little friendship and he said I didn't look 36....so I love him very deeply.
I was also decidedly happy to not be a gay man. Oh the pressure.
I thought being a woman was tough. Try being a gay man over 30. Most of the men in there were young and a collection of the most beautiful people I have ever seen up close. It was like watching proud peacocks march around all trying to outdo the next one.
My friend that I was with (not JF....but the friend I went to NY with) is 45. Poor guy. Can you imagine having to compete amongst the beauties? Why are we so shallow? Granted, one is hardly going to meet the man of thier dreams in a gay bar....but you should at least be able to feel like you can be yourself and still get noticed. He didn't get noticed.
I enjoyed the night. I was one of 3 women in the place...and everyone told me I was pretty...and if they didn't like boys, they would like me. I also was touched inappropriately but felt no threat...just flattered. (that's what a girl gets for having boobs amongst young gay men)