"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.

THE AGONY OF DEFEAT

Once again, we are disappointed.

MOM IN THE CITY

5th Avenue and Central Park South.....Felicia.
This is now my favorite picture of my mom.
She will be turning 77 on the 24th of this month!

2007 Treehouse Report

First things first, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Next...something dawned on me today, so I checked it out. My first post was on December 15, 2005! What a long strange trip it's been.

Well, since Chuck's party, things have been a whirlwind here. We should install a turnstyle at the front door with the amount of people that have been though here and stayed here.
The mamas were here for 2 days, then we jetted to NYC (pictures/post coming soon) for the holiday. We got back, cleaned up, then our next guest arrived Saturday, Andre, to ring in the New Year with us. He left today at around 2pm, and now I am running around cleaning for the next arrival, Armand, coming in from ATL. He actually just called to say he missed his plane, but will catch the next to arrive into PHL at midnight.

So I am taking a break from the Swiffer and the Dyson, enjoying some champagne, and writing this. After a thrilling late afternoon watching the Birds triumph, we mellow-ly rang the New Year in, watched tons of funny stuff (richard in a box 20x, borat, clerks 2), danced to Madonna's Confessions concert broadcast(okay, only I danced), had lots of laughs, and mountains of food.....we were constantly eating!

That's all for now, peeps!


New Year still life


















Jojo and Andre


















Alaska drinking champagne

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!

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.

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

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.

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PINF!!

CELEBRATE IN GRAND STYLE!

Heading South for Turkey

We are furiously packing here in the treehouse. We leave on Monday for Melbourne Bch to spend Thanksgiving with ak's mom. Then, on the 25th, the three of us head to Miami and get on the Crystal Serenity for a cruise to the Caribbean. About 10 of Ak's mom's croney crowd is going as well, and as usual, we'll be the youngest by three decades. We have been looking forward to this for nine months - no cleaning or cooking for 10 days! The ship will be stopping at: Grand Turk, Anguilla, Tortola, St. Barts and St. Thomas.

Pinf-I am all set for my JGlow mist tan inFL, and I have 4 kinds of sunscreen at the ready.
I am trying to get ak to take a dancing class they offer on board ... so far it's a no go, but I am not giving up. I may try snorkeling or scuba, but considering that the excursion is called "Stingray Encounter", I think I will pass. I fear the stingrays and believe that they are rising up against humans.

Okay, break time is over. Back to laundry and outfit decisions. Don't even get me started on the product restrcitions on the plane!

Finally ... a BIG WELCOME for Sophie's World - the newest blog from our youngest posse member!! Chuck, did you send the Fresca?

I'll holla next from down south ....

DANISH TREAT

We received an excellent phone call on Monday - Ak's niece Rikke (Rick-ah) called to tell us that she was #1. in the states, and #2. in DC. She is currently working on her thesis - establishing legitimate businesses in 3rd world countries so they can stop exporting opium, guns, etc. Rikke spent most of last year in Laos working for the UN inspecting boats for the above mentioned items, and also teaching independent villages how to sell/market their handmade goods. She has been conducting interviews with various experts and former teachers in DC and NY, and is hoping to finish her thesis by Christmas.

Arrangements were made, and Rikke took the train from DC to Wilmington on Thursday afternoon. It was so good to see her! We saw her last in Denmark in July '05. It was great to catch up, enjoy a good meal together and a few bottles of bubbly :) Today was spent on tech support for her laptop, picture viewing/taking, and eating. Her laptop has been on the fritz the last few months, so ak gave it the TLC Deluxe- updated her Windows (72 updates), imported her old Outlook files, hooked her up with a wireless card, a new smaller brick, and topped it off with a complete clean. That's what uncles are for!

We dropped her back off in Wilmington at 5pm today, so she should be already in NYC at this time. It would have been nice to have more time to play, but this trip was about her gathering information to complete her work. After she turns in her paper, she is taking 9 weeks and going on a super trip: Burma, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Laos again. After that, who knows....

So, we are all smiles in the treehouse tonight. Oh-we found a great new restaurant in Glenn Mills called the Big Fork. It is off of 202, across from the Glenn Eagle shopping center. Just to tempt you to go, my appetizer was a puff pastry stuffed with beef short ribs-holy magnolia!


Jojo & Rikke

Bar Standoff In Aston

Total craziness today in Aston, especially since my two cousins, Alexis (12) and Andrew (17), were caught up in this, and were "locked down" in their two schools until 6pm. I talked with Alexis after she got home, and she said that the "lock down" = classroom doors automatically lock from the outside so no one can get in, the blinds are drawn, and the kids and teachers all go to the back of the room so that if a crazed gunperson looks in the classroom window, he/she will not see any students.

According to the 4pm news, all parents had been notified via phone and email, and were asked NOT to come and get their kids. This was total BS!!! I talked to their mom (my 1st cousin Maria) many times today, and not once did she receive a phone call to the situation from either school. The only reason she knew what was going on is because her husband is a fireman in Aston, and he got the news over his pager at 1pm today. Both kids were able to use their cell phones to call Maria and let her know they were okay. JGlow might be placing some calls tomorrow.

This upset me greatly - I was so worried that someting would happen to my precious cousins before they even grew up; I love them so much. How dare! I recall the biggest worry I had in highschool was if my bloomers were on straight under my cheerleading skirt. It really sucks to be a kid these days.

Here is the report form the NBC 10 site:

A gunman has surrendered after a standoff at an Aston, Pa., bar near two schools. Nearly 2,000 students were stuck at school during the afternoon.
The gunman surrendered peacefully at 6:30 p.m. after a standoff that lasted 4 1/2 hours. He had been talking with police for several hours.
Gunshots were reported inside a bar just before 2 p.m. The bar, Harrykat's Pub & Grille, was then surrounded by police.
Northly Junior High School and Sun Valley High School were under a lockdown. The schools have 1,800 combined students and they were evacuated safely.
A source told NBC 10 that a bar patron was in the bar and was refused service by a bartender. The man then pulled out a gun and shot several times in the air.

Per Maria, the bar patron recently lost his business that was right next door to the bar, as well as his home. However, this is NO excuse to put my cousins in danger.

JGlow out.

TRICK OR TREAT

What an evening! We are exhausted, and all set with birth control for the next 5 years. Observing 6 children on sugar was quite something - the highs and lows, tantrums, candy swapping, etc.
It was a beautiful night for the kids to go out, and we saw some great costumes: a boy with a milk carton on his head as the "have you seen me" kid, Carmen Miranda complete with fruit headgear, Napolean Dynamite, and lots of princesses.
We noticed that all kids were accompanied by an adult or two....long gone are the days when we would be out for hours on our own, making multiple candy drops at home base, and racing out for more.
I was in charge of the door/candy - it almost felt like Sligos, meeting and greeting! I was impressed that all the Halloweeners said thank you after getting their candy. Good manners go far!
Enjoy the pictures!



NICKY GETTING READY TO GO!


















QUEEN BEE ARIANNA



















NICKY MORE INTERESTED IN THE COMPUTER THAN CANDY












YO HO HO - ALEXANDER THE PIRATE


















MOM AND THEA ANNA-FRIENDS SINCE '67

HALLOWEEN POETRY

SPIRITS OF THE DEAD
by Edgar Allan Poe
(1827)

Thy soul shall find itself alone
'Mid dark thoughts of the grey tomb-stone;
Not one, of all the crowd, to pry
Into thine hour of secrecy.

Be silent in that solitude,
Which is not loneliness- for then
The spirits of the dead, who stood
In life before thee, are again
In death around thee, and their will
Shall overshadow thee; be still.

The night, though clear, shall frown,
And the stars shall not look down
From their high thrones in the Heaven
With light like hope to mortals given,
But their red orbs, without beam,
To thy weariness shall seem
As a burning and a fever
Which would cling to thee for ever.

Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish,
Now are visions ne'er to vanish;
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more, like dew-drop from the grass.

The breeze, the breath of God, is still,
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy, shadowy, yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token.
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries!


HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!