California, here we come!

Gold Dust and the new digits.











The abode.














The back patio.













View down our street.


We have made a huge leap forward in our quest for the west! After an intense week of searching and often being disapppointed, we found our pot of gold in beautiful Los Gatos, CA.

I am eager to host the 2007 Blogger's Convention!

Estoy buscando una casa nueva....

Nestled among majestic oaks, the picturesque and historic village of Saratoga is just minutes west of San Jose, California. Saratoga features many fine restaurants, specialty shops and unique galleries. Saratoga also hosts a summer concert series and the 175 acre Villa Montalvo estate—home for performing and fine arts. Recreational opportunities include horseback riding, hiking, camping, and touring the local wineries (Garrod Estate Vineyards & the Mountain Vineyard)—all under the serene redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

We are going next week (finally!) to find our new home in Saratoga, California! We are pretty much set on the location, and hope that we are successful in finding something we like. I'm feeling pretty lucky, as this is the exact timing of our first CA home search mission in 3/99.

Maybe the wind today will blow the roof off of the treehouse and scatter our belongings so we don't have to pack. Wishful thinking? Toto?

pssst....

'cuz that's how we roll

Beautiful mural, as seen from the 19th floor/Bellvue Hotel

The kids at 19

Pro, Glow and CNN

City view

The Turk's cab taking us to Rittenhouse Square (do you like baklava?)

On Saturday, CNN, PP and myself journeyed to Philly. First order of business: Dim Sum at the Imperial Inn. It was delicious, of course, and better when we found out how PP found the place. He's been going to this establishment since 1985, when he and a buddy skipped out on their stock exchange field trip, and ended up at the Inn eating sweet buns and drinking Tsingtaos.
After our bellys were full, we ventured down the street to the smallest Hello Kitty store I have even been in. PP almost got kicked out when he asked which character was HK's boyfriend and contemplated if she was sexually active.....the store owner exclaimed "Hello Kitty doesn't do that-she's not old enough". I guess there ARE bigger HK freaks than myself out there - I want HK to hook up.

Next stop-I purchased a duck for Alaska's later dining pleasure, then we began our bar crawl. PP set the rules-2 drinks at each establishment. We finally ended up at the Plough & Stars for our ever-tasty Hoegaarden served by our favorite barkeep, Randall Park. The 2 drink limit went out the window at that point.

We received word that Mr. Beebe was in Media at the Plummy, so we set off for State Street. After imbibing many Blue Moons, the blog posse stumbled to CNN's to watch some interesting documentaries...I am game for Smooshing if anyone else is!

Great day, great friends, 'cuz that's how we roll!!

p.s. the duck was incredible!

p.p.s. thanks to Pinf for coining "Pro & the Glow"

V-Day 2007

Hope everyone had a happy heart day! We did, although our dinner didn't show up until today (Thursday). Good thing, too! We've been on snow-lock-down since Tuesday, so supplies are getting slim. I thought Alaska was giving me love pinches, but I think he was actually checking me for tenderness. He admitted that if we were ever in a "cannibal" situation, I am the logical food choice...he'd be stringy and tough.

Needless to say, George and Gracie were delicious. The 49th state did an amazing job cooking and cracking. Of course I screamed and hopped around like a nut in the kitchen until they entered the pot...then I felt less threatened. Say goodnight, Gracie.

Movies that we've enjoyed during the weather-imposed lockdown:

Marie Antoinette: Fascinating, and since I read the book the movie was based on, it was especially satisfying. Sophia C. did a great job, and the flick definately has her flair. She was given permission to film in and around Versailles, so it made it more of a beleivable period piece.

Dreamgirls: We liked it, but agreed it was only worth watching for Eddie Murphy. The true story of the Supremes, Dianna Ross, Barry Gordy, etc., is even spicier than the movie.

The Good German: Excellent. We love the Deutschland history, of course, and were able to discuss with Alaska's mama for her take on the whole Berlin thing, as she lived there through the quartering of the city.

The Last King of Scotland: Superb. Disturbing. It makes you appreciate living in the USA. Check this out-Alaska's mom and dad actually met Idi Amin in Uganda in the 70's...alaska's dad had just finished working on the Namibia airport, and Idi invited them over to check out the Uganda airport...freaky.

Blood Diamond: Watched it twice....the scariest because it is currently happening. Makes you think twice about the bling, but I love me some Leo!

The Departed: Classic. Viewed twice, also. I am finally getting over Matt Damon's Chicklette teeth. And there's Leo again!

Next up in the projector room: Babel, The Queen, The Good Shepard and Pan's Labyrinth. I'll let you now how they are. You think we are on the Academy committee, or something :)

For everyone except PinF-STAY WARM! Chuck, our shovel-challenged friend, we are working on a care package for you.

AKJN are California dreaming on such a winter's day........

2006 Gold Dust and Friends

January


Slumber party @ CNN with FL girls






February

My other Valentine







March

Happy Hour in the city.






April

Bloggers @ the Riddle Ale House






May

Spring flowers







June

Very Important Princesses








July

Bobby of the Corn










August


Summer Pollyanna









September

Naggs Head sunset with Susan & Kim







October

Halloween treat









November

Most important man on the cruise-Head Sommelier Mario









December


PARTY OF THE YEAR

So Chrissy comes over for Tech Support and.....

...good wine, foodies, and some conversation, when out of the blue some alarm starts screeching. At first we though it was our smoke detector, and started freaking out, opening windows and waving blankets (lest we forget the recent pad thai fire), but after Alaska ripped it out of the wall, the screech did not stop-it was the real deal fire alarm. So we ventured out into the hallway, and realize that the whole building is screeching from the inside out, and that everyone is leaving their apts and gathering down in the parking lot.
We get bundled up, grab our drinks and head downstairs. Once we got down there, we see that one of the first floor garages is just leaking water-totally streaming down the door, and making a nice river down the drive. It resembled a garage door waterfall sculpture. The garage owners are actually our neighbors up here on the 4th floor. There was no fire, and the sprinkler activated in their garage only-Thank God!! We surmised that the sprinkler pipes must have frozen and burst. So, we talked to the neighbors a bit (lots of German folk here - SAP), petted the neighbor's dog Guiness, and then just got too darn cold and had to come back in.

Ak taped one of our scarves on top of the alarm on the wall to muffle the sound a bit, we freshened our drinks, and then sat down to enjoy Scarface and appetizers. Eventually the alarm did turn off; however, it was during the early shower/chainsaw scene of the movie, so we eally didn't notice because of that scene's noise!

Never a dull moment in the treehouse. Oh, and Chrissy forgot her Shepard's Pie.



WCFD response time was POOR >



Scarf taped over fire alarm>

Neighbors creepy gnomes >

BOWL # 41

ONE COUCH. ONE TV.

We enjoyed the game thoroughly-nothing like a mud bowl! Way to go, Peyton!

How funny was it that there was no sunshine in Miami? How South Beach was the opening???? I love the Cirque, but it wasn't the right venue for them. The Super Bowl always needs a hard rock opening, like ACDC. The de Soleil singing was more suited for a lawn party at Gloria Estefan's.

Overall, the commercials were not all that special, but there were a few standouts: all of the Coke ads had amazingly gorgeous graphics, The Slap ad(Bud Light?), Oprah and Letterman together-classic, and I have to admit the K-fed ad wasn't too bad-at least he can make fun of himself.
















Besides the great game, the halftime show was one of the best! Prince was fantastic, and looked good even in the rain with his hair net! That light up stage was crazy...no one really looked concerned about electrocution.

...and now we wait patiently for next season to see what our Birds will do.

Shout outs:
*Poker Pro-had a FAB time with you on Sat nite!

*CNN-VH getting back together...time to play StupidGuy/Girl with "Runnin' with the Devil" blasting in a freon room.

...don't forget your blog babes on St. Valentine's Day!

PLAYIN' PAYNTERS

Scotty P. in the place to be....Sligo's









On Thursday pm, CNN and I met at Sligo's to enjoy the most recent musical transplant to Media, Mr. Scott Paynter. The music was fantastic, especially with the accompanying brother musicians, Will and Flash.
Scott-cheers to you and your new ventures, Irish Car Bombs and all!

2006: The Year in Buzzwords

CNN EFFECT (the network, NOT the woman) n. The negative effect on the economy caused by people staying home to watch CNN or some other news source during a crisis such as a war.

MILITAINMENT n. News coverage of, or television shows about, war or the military

CELEBUTARD n. A celebrity widely perceived as unintelligent (i.e. Paris Hilton)

SEASON CREEP n. Spring seemed to come early this year-and summer lasted a bit longer. Most scienists blame global warming. Duh.

WIKIALITY n. Wikipedia + reality = truth based on consensus rather than fact. The growing popularity of the online encyclopedia, for which the public writes and edits entries.

LIQUID TERROR n. After terrorists plotted to board planes in London with liquid explosives, this term was coined for the latest suspected terrorist tactic. (Aqua Net hairspray is my own personal LIQUID TERROR)

FAKESTER n. A person who puts up a profile on a social networking website such as Friendster or MySpace that contains false or misleading information, or that is dedicated to another person or to an object.

VAJAYJAY n. A euphemism for the word vagina, created on the Oprah show.

GUERRILLA GARDENER n. The surreptitious or unauthorized planting of flowers, shrubs, vegetables, and other flora in a public space.

MANCATION n. A vacation in which the participants are all men.

MANPOLITAN n. Big Plow's version of the Cosmopolitan, so he doesn't feel less manly drinking them.

...and finally, my personal favorites:

BROKEBACK MARRIAGE n. Thanks to Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and their celebrated screen tragedy, there's now a term to describe a union between a gay man and a sraight woman, or a gay married man having an affair.

BROKEBACK adj. Used to describe any time 2 or more men are talking on the phone, together in a group, or out in any public scenario.

C+S+CR VERSION 2

Is this a more accurate depiction of the current Stowe conditions?

CHUCK + STOWE + COSTA RICA

VAPORTIZATION REQUIRED

AKJN Weather Station, approximately 100 views per day














Close-up of indoor temp, evil face, indoor humidity


We are having quite a time stabilizing our moisture saturation level in the treehouse, mainly due to the forced air heat. We have 4 humidifiers going all day, and they get filled twice a day. We had a bottle of champagne last week when we got the humidity up to 42%...that is the first and only time that evil little face has smiled. It mocks me daily.

This is true crisis for the Glow....sufficient moisture in the air is essential for healthy young looking skin, and maintaining moisturization. I've had to step up my game over here, as I also have to counterbalance the smoking.

PinF, I may need some super humid FL crack lotion STAT.

HAPPY 28105th DAY ON EARTH, MOM!

Mama and Jojo at the Townehouse tonight. Guess who had 4 drinks.

This is truly my favorite poem, and I dedicate it to my mom on her day.


i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate,my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

"2006" POLLYANNA

Missy & Meesh







CNN & Gold Dust in the Plummy.

Mr. Maxwell making his annual appearance...he is the only man to have entered our pollyanna sanctuary. Go figure.

Fun was had by the ladies Saturday night! We started with some bubbly at CNN's, then hit Sligos. We didn't stay long, as the Irish band that was playing traditional Celtic music was making us loco....I felt like slitting my wrists. Onward to the Plummy where we ran into the usual class of '87 suspects. Fran was off but there, and was able to enjoy some drinks with us.
Finally, back to CNN's for the slumber party, then started off the day with tasty mimosas and Parliament Lights.
Thanks girls....love ya!

HOLIDAY IMAGES

The Goose

Mom & CNN
Clean-up, Aisle 2

View of Central Park from our room

Mama and me

Radio City, Christmas Day

Rockefeller Center

AK taking in the view

This is a Christmas we will remember forever. Going to NYC with our moms was incredible. Not just the sights we saw, but being together made this holiday different. Christmas Eve Day we hosted an open house, and then had a wonderful dinner including CNN. I find it amazing that I had all the people I love most surrounding me at one time-it was invigorating, and truly the first "good" holiday I've had since pop has been gone. Finally.