Fantasmic

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Whirlwind Weekend

It was Gay Pride in Los Angeles weekend. There was also a big show downtown at the convention center that Lyle's company participated in. That meant that Lyle and I did some hard labor (think moving company with a U-Haul) and then setting up (like open a store for three days) and then worked the show while losing all my senses due to the overwhelming noise and crush of humanity.

But on Sunday I took the day off (Lyle was not so lucky). I headed towards West Hollywood for the festivities on foot.

I greatly appreciate the effort to wear coordinated outfits.

My friend Tony Sweet had a float in the parade to promote his radio show (and because I am such a good friend I will mention that it is available for download on iTunes, On Air with Tony Sweet) and I stopped by to catch him before they took off down the route. My friend Brad helped him build the float. I was unavailable to help due to the working downtown thing. But Brad stepped in and gave it four hours of work at the end of his 16 hour day. I kept telling Brad, "THANK YOU!"
Tony's show is about being gay and being spiritual. His theme was "You are a gift from God" and that, on the truck my friends, is his Big Package (see the bow on top?).

I attended a brunch. For four hours. Never quite made it to the food portion. That was actually my plan. It was sunny. The company was entertaining. The champagne was flowing. I was in the zone. I didn't take any photos.
In the evening my friend Brad came out and I decided I would return a favor to him, tonight, he was my guest and I would treat him to Gay Pride. I think you can see, I am an excellent host.

I'm sure I am glossing over a few spots here and there... and there... and uh, maybe there... but later we were back in the festival and I nabbed a photo with an American Idol I actually enjoyed.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Blake Lewis!

(oh, and for the record, I am almost standing on my knees so that we could be in the same photo together.)

Mama was a giant glowing disco ball of fun.

Lyle finished work downtown and left the convention center about 8:30 pm. Apparently if he had left at 9:00 pm he would have been surrounded by all the Laker looting craziness so I am very thankful he got the hell out there before that. He phoned to tell me he was picking up me and Brad at 9.

But I'm having fuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pick a corner, I'm picking you up.
Noooooooooooooooooo....... we're in the latin hottie disco tent!
Nine. Corner.
Join us!!!!!??
Nine. Corner?
Make it eleven?
Nine. Corner.
Fine. Pick us up at Melrose and San Vicente.

At which point I turn to Brad and tell him that Lyle is picking us up at 9 at the corner.
and Brad says, "But I'm having fuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Sorry, he's picking us up.
Noooooooooooooooooo....... we're in the latin hottie disco tent!
Nine. Corner.
Will he join us!!!!!??
Nine. Corner.
How about we make it eleven?
Nine. Corner.
Fine.

And we leave and Lyle picks us up and we go to dinner. I know we are drunk. I know we are obnoxious. I also think we are HILARIOUS. Lyle tells me later he totally agrees with my assessment. Especially the part that I think I am HILARIOUS.

After dinner on the ride home Brad and I both thank Lyle for making us leave and giving us a ride and feeding us.

The next day I am at the convention center for tear down at 8 am.

I have no idea where I got this possible cold.

Volunteers

Squirrelly

We've surrendered to the inevitability of squirrels eating all the bird seed in the back yard. Instead of filling up the bird feeder every other day, just to watch the squirrels pull the food out with their paws, throw it to the ground, then get down and eat it... we've just put a big bowl of food out for them on the ground.

I think this squirrel looks like he is having a great spa day out on his gracious lounge.

Seattle snippets

I uploaded some photos out of my camera (finally!) and here are some late photos from our quick tour of Seattle at the end of May.

From our room at the Fairmont Olympic,
we could see the Olympic mountains.

Cupcakes from the Yellow Leaf Bakery.

Two things that make this more interesting. I found out about this via the Seattle Stranger "Slog". My family in Seattle found it funny that I know more about what's going on in Seattle than they do, because I read the Slog every day.

The other interesting tidbit is I am a bit of an experienced cupcake hunter. A friend of mine in Los Angeles wrote an article on the cupcake craze and where to find great cupcakes in Los Angeles. It took a lot of dedication, but I helped her sample many, many cupcakes.

My verdict is, DELICIOUS. I would go back. They are not over the top, huge, or overly fancy. They taste like the BEST cupcake you ever had in grade school when someone's mom brought them in for a birthday. Cake-light and airy. Frosting-Italian butter cream that literally melts on your tongue.

Working the outdoor runway on our way to the airport.

The weekend was overly filled with way too many things and I regret not being able to call friends and fit in more visits. I apologize. Lyle and I were both really drained by the end of the weekend. I remember taking more naps than usual at the hotel. On the plus side, I was really working that Hermes belt.

Beam me

So while Lyle and I are setting up a trade show booth at the convention center downtown, we are having a friend do some "detail work" on the house. You know that long list of stuff you really want to get done but never seem to get to? We out-sourced.

First stop was the beams in the living room. From all white to painted brown.

Odd, Cooper is in the same spot every time I take a photo of this room... You can still see the ladder in the house because there's more to do!

Up in your grill for dinner

It's been a while since we talked about food. We've been busy. We've been dining outside the house more than usual. It was nice to get back to home cooking last weekend. Especially when "home cooking" means Lyle does all the work.

Grilled asparagus with a mayonnaise and mustard glaze. He found the recipe in a recent Food & Wine)Recipe:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grainy mustard
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 pound thick asparagus, trimmed

Light a grill. In a shallow dish, whisk the mayonnaise with the mustard, oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper. Add the asparagus and turn to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Grill the asparagus over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until the spears are tender and lightly blistered in spots, about 6 minutes. Serve the asparagus hot or at room temperature.

We made a ton of food. And it was only three of us for dinner. But I can tell you with GREAT CERTAINTY that the asparagus was delicious cold the next day.

We also had grilled shrimp, clams and peppers.
Lyle recently purchased a "mesh frying pan" specifically for the grill.
It cooks all those little things that normally fall through the grill, but still gives them a good barbecued taste.
Add some fish with a citrus pink peppercorn sauce and you are good to go!

Okay, you might also want to add some white wine, french baguette, butter and a dessert.

I freely confess...

I have been OBSESSED with Gucci for some time now.

It started last Thanksgiving when I was Christmas shopping (for myself) and found a pair of striped pants. I was at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills and they didn't have my size. They also didn't even have the pants at the Gucci store on Rodeo Drive. They did however, have my size at the Neiman's in the Topanga Mall, but since they were very new, none of the places I went had them on sale and I am an alleged fugal shopper.

We went to Vegas and the Barney's in the Venetian had my pants in my size at full price. I was cranky and I wanted shopping therapy. I visited those pants every day we were in Las Vegas. But they never went on sale.

Two weeks ago, a friend tipped me off to a "one day sale" at Barney's. I went in as all good shoppers do, the day before. I found my pants. I tried on my pants. I asked if my pants would be on sale tomorrow and the answer came back "Yes. 40% off."

I bought my pants.
I also bought a pair of shoes.
They were 40% off and I always need a pair of black loafers, I told myself.

There was a matching belt that I did NOT purchase that day. I wanted to, but I thought, no. It would be too matchy and over the top. I walked away. I did not buy that belt. I did not need that belt. I walked away.

Then last weekend while in Seattle I was in the Gucci boutique when a sales person came up and said, "Has anyone told you about our sale that starts tomorrow?"

And my reply was, "Not yet. Show me which belts."
It arrives on Thursday.

Last weekend

So uh, it was quite the rollercoaster.

We had planned to go to Seattle for my (MUCH) older brother's 50th birthday party. Weekends with the family always get too packed so on purpose I try to leave a lot of "free time" that automatically gets eaten up with lunches, brunches and driving from place to place.

As we were packing I got word that my great aunt passed away. And now I would be taking something to wear to the memorial service.

It's one of those awful Broadway reviews, "I laughed! I cried! I ran the gamut of emotions!"

I was going to to do a dodge on all this and just post a very funny story about myself involving the church where the service was held. However, my iPhone did a big poopy crash and I lost whatever photos I had recently taken, so that story will have to come later.

I guess this post is here to share why I may be a little less wordy this week and to remind you to appreciate your family.
Uh, we don't normally all wear tropical wardrobe, but my (MUCH) older brother's birthday was themed, "Gary Five-O."