Bring it

It snowed!

OK, not nearly as much as I was hoping for (I'm so annoyed that they got more snow in Houston, of all places), but it's very cold and I know there is more to come.

Welcome back, winter. Woo hoo!

P-H-A-T

I am aware that I have a bit of an inclination to make up stories. And I am aware that you are aware of this. And I would think that if you are reading this, you are also fully aware of my exaggeration techniques. Having said this, I was completely validated tonight regarding a story that I've been telling since 1996 - and it's all true.

Well, most of it anyway.

Tonight I spent happy hour with my friend Nikki whom I haven't seen since college. It was fab to catch up with her and I can't even tell you how jealous I was that she hasn't aged a bit. Anyway, we started talking about our time as wing-women in college and she confirmed that although my story is a bit exaggerated, it is mostly true...

In 1996, I was a senior at Westminster College and had the pleasure of being stood up for a date. I was dressed and ready when I got the call from the hot Wash U co-ed that he wasn't coming into town. Devastated (well, as devastated as you can be at 22), I called my friend and soccer teammate, Nikki, for support. She arrived at my apartment with a bottle of wine and as we drank away my disappointment, we dressed for an evening on the town. We both ended up in black knee-high boots, too much eye make-up, and we both remember that I wore velvet shorts (very short). What can I say - I was 22!

That night we went to Columbia, Missouri to hustle some pool and ended up not paying for a single drink and even making some money. My story usually includes the fact that Nikki is quite the shark. Well, she's not sure she was ever that great at pool, but does admit she felt "on fire" that night. I'm guessing the wine might have contributed.

So the topper of our evening was as we we made our way to this very strange goth-like club where you had to go downstairs to enter. A bald guy in a wheelchair, covered in black electrical tape and chain link, rolled over to me, grabbed me by the shorts and said: "Hey, baby. You are fat."

I was mortified and turned to Nikki for help. Could these shorts be unflattering? Had I eaten too many sliders at Booches'? What the hell!?!

Perhaps sensing my distress, the bald man spoke up yet again: "No, baby. You are P-H-A-T!"

Oh yeah. He ain't lyin'! And neither am I.

Well, most of the time anyway.

Quote for Your Day

"People think they know you. They know the things about you that you have forgotten."

Dancing with the Semi-Stars

When Mom asked me if I wanted to see Dancing with the Stars I immediately said "no, thanks." But when I realized she didn't mean the TV show, I was curious. Then, I learned that my friend Danny would be one of the "stars" and knew I couldn't miss it.

Danny and I have been friends since I was in middle school. Mom was directing the high school musical and I was at nearly every rehearsal of Damn Yankees to see him perfectly cast as the Devil.

So I knew Danny could dance, but it has been a while since either of us were in high school...to say the least! For this show, he was so lucky to be paired with local dance celebrity Theresa Ferguson. I actually took some classes with Theresa when I was younger. She taught class just like Debbie Allen in Fame and I loved every minute of it.

The charity event began with the usual rigmarole of introductions and thank yous and then the couples hit the floor. You could tell they were trying hard, but there was nothing exciting happening. The couples danced slowly, their mouths counting out the beat and their brows furrowed in concentration.

Then, Danny and Theresa stormed out in a flourish of sequence to the Latin beat of the rumba. They were en fuego!! I can't even tell you how proud I was of my friends or how loudly I yelled my encouragement. Easily the most exciting moment of the night: Danny lifted Theresa up over his shoulders and swung her around his head. WOW!

Did I mention Theresa is 60+?

Schoolhouse Rock!

I've found a place to live and I'm just thrilled. It's an old elementary school from the 1920's and it's very me.

Moving into a new apartment is not fun for everyone, but I ADORE it! OK, so carrying all my crap to the second floor was not fun, but now that I'm in, it's all good. My view isn't bad, either.

Now I just have to find a place for everything. Man, I love projects!

I Did it My Way

Well, I made it back to Missouri just in time for my birthday and used the geographical opportunity to gather some of my very best friends for a celebration - my way.

First, I spent the afternoon with Kimmy getting our nails done. Then, as we were getting ready for our night out on the town, she put together an amazing spread of prosciutto, grapes, brie, baguette and champagne complete with wild hibiscus flowers. She is the best boyfriend ever!

At dinner, guests arrived to find green crocodile place cards with glitter and antique buttons, blood-red Gerbera daisies at each place, cigars and free-flowing champagne. We ate at my favorite restaurant, Le Fou Frog.

It was such a great mix of old and new, friends and family. My parents joined in, and of course the Tribe was there and so was my Aunt Nat.

Those who couldn't make it for dinner met us down the street at Anthony's for serenading by the infamous Frank, shots of VO, and the absolute best toasted raviolis (served by the hunky Vito). There were lots of laughs, many at my expense, and lots of catching up with friends.

Anyway, it was certainly a birthday to remember - and the first in a long time that I've spent in Missouri. It was awesome!

Quote for Your Day

Harry Flugelman:

"Do you boys know what the word nada means? In all those Mexican movies you made, did you ever hear that word?

Dusty Bottoms:

"Isn't that a light chicken gravy?"