Friday, December 29, 2006

BETTY: FROM MEDIA TO SANTA CLARA TO WEST CHESTER AND FINALLY TO STOWE, VT

The Honda has exchanged hands......MofC is now the new owner!

The passing of the keys ceremony commenced today at 4:30pm.

Safe travels with Betty, Chuck!





Chuck & the vehicle (notice the new license plate is conveniently blurred out for future ops)





Happy Trails!

Friday, December 22, 2006

TREEHOUSE FIRE

Yes, there was a small pyrotechnic display in the kitchen at 11:30pm this evening, but all is okay, and Lt. Gold Dust is fine, recuperating with a bottle of Italian Sauvignon Blanc and Valium.

Here is what happened:
1. Ak left the treehouse at 10:30pm for PHL to pick up his mom, after her being delayed in ATL and extra 3 hours due to weather issues.

2. Jn takes shower, moisturizes, then proceeds to the kitchen to prepare a late dinner.

3. Dinner is progressing like clockwork. I was preparing Pad Thai, substituting thinly shaved beef for the ususal chicken. I was almost done, frying the noodles, when all of a sudden there was a POOF noise. I immediately looked at every wrong place in the kitchen-the fridge ice machine? the humidifier? outside the window? No....the flames were right in front of me, and I almost lost a $10 Old Navy fleece top. My adrenaline immediately went through the roof-I could actually feel it.

4. Calmly, I deduced that the flames were coming from under the pan, not in it. I removed the pan to the sink area, then used the lid to cover the flaming burner. My heart was racing, especially since the flames did not abate because the lid was not airtight. As the flames were about to reach the microwave above the stove, I calmly proceeded to the laundry room, grabbed the fire extinguisher, returned to the kitchen, put on my oven mitt, grabbed the lid, aimed the extinguisher, at the burning burner, depressed the lever, and with a clould of white dust, it seemed to be over...NOT!!

5. A large amount of black smoke congregated in the kitchen...not the usual smoke we promote over here at akjn. I immediately traveled back in time and became the 9th grade 100 yard dash sprinter that I had been and ran to open every window in the treehouse, and the front and back doors within 10 seconds.....my worst fear was that the smoke would activate the sprinklers for the entire building, and then I would be forever known as that tenant that ruined Christmas with Pad Thai.

Anyway...all's well that ends well. I managed to save dinner by putting the pan out of the way of the extinguisher dust, and if I do say so myself, it was ouststanding. Ak's mom finally got here safe and sound, with all luggage accounted for, and my wine/valium buzz is kicking in.

Is this a set up? Is some on trying to rub me out over the covert Saturday party debauchery mission? Check your phones, people, and stay in public places.

Lt. Gold Dust out, but eyes wide open :)




As the dust settles, Lt. Dust photographs the scene

Burnt burner

Crazy powder messed up the Salt/pepper utensil station.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

A BIRTHDAY MONTAGE : CHUCK **THE DIRECTOR'S CUT** INCLUDING DELETED SCENES!

Poker Pro and CNN
Chuck, Blake & Pinf
Flash, Rob & Sophie
Flash, Noel, CNN & Jojo
Rob, Chuck & Pinf

Just a few more pics depicting the "party of the decade", quoting the birthday boy himself.

One thing is plaguing me, though. Where are the pictures of the Frenchman....I have none for some reason.....sacrebleu!

A BIRTHDAY MONTAGE : CHUCK

Word: party

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: gathering

Synonyms: affair, amusement, at-home, ball, banquet, barbecue, bash, bee, bender, binge, blowout, brannigan, bust, carousal, carousing, celebration, cheer, clambake, cocktails (MAN-POLITANS), coffee klatch (morning after), coming-out, crush (ours with a "K"), dinner, diversion, do, entertainment, feast, festive occasion, festivity, fete, fun, function, gala, get-together, hop, hullabaloo, jag, jig, jump, kegger, patio social, luncheon, mingle, moveable feast, orgy, prom, reception, riot, shag, shindig, social, soiree, splurge, spree, stag, tailgating, tea, tear, time



Chuck arrives! (finally, after
hanging outside for 5 minutes)


















Sophie, Chuck and cake


















Flash working his magic in
the Ponderosa kitchen

















Krush Groove and a
Birthday Rap (?)















Jojo & party favor Sophie















Community card

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

CRUISIN'

The cruise was awesome, of course! Ak's mom and friends were like "Seniors Gone Wild". Ak and I often felt like the parents with this gang. We went to Grand Turk, Tortola, St. Barth, St. John, St. Maarten and St. Thomas....the weather was perfect the entire trip, and we both managed to gain a few pounds. Chuck-you'll be pleased to know that there were no Norwalk breakouts; however, the 2 other ships that were in port with us in St. Maaren both got quarantined in Miami a few days before we got back.

I can't believe Christmas is around the corner!!! Ak's mom is coming up here, and we're doing a nice Xmas Eve dinner together with my mama, then we are all jetting to New York on Christmas Day to go to radio City, and hopefully to see Wicked the following day. **If anyone has any NY theater connectins, please let me know!)

Here are a few pictures from our trip:


(left) St. John / Caneel Bay Resort, path to the beach!

(below) ak realxing on our veranda, catching some late afternoon rays













(left) Caneel Bay Resort Beach -we enjoyed a wondeful outdoor lunch here, including 4 bottles of wine and 4 pina coladas between 5 of us.






(below) Tortola BVI / Cane Garden Beach









Huge poinsetta tree on Tortola



St. Maarten /gorgeous beach view from the cafe



St. Barth / our personal favorite - check out the plane in the middle of the picture - their airport is in the middle of the mountains - watching the take offs and landings was very cool.






The ship in port in Tortola.