Once again, my wife (The Most Wonderful Girl In The Universe) asked me what I’d like for my birthday.
– World Peace.
– More common sense. For everyone.
(She thinks empathy should be added in, I think “common sense” implies empathy.)
– Empathy.
(What? When TMWGITU asks you for something, you do it.)
– A new bike.
– The ability to play guitar.
Well.
– More time to sleep.
– More hours in the day.
– The ability to understand stupid people.
– Fewer stupid people.
– A winning lottery ticket.
– The next season of Dr Who.
Now.
– A long weekend with TMWGITU, spent entirely in bed.
In a few days, I’ll wake up a whole year older.
And as long as I’ve got my girl beside me, the rest of the stuff on that list can wait.
Today’s Music: The Kinks – You Really Got Me
Note on Today’s Music: I have no idea what the hell is going on at the end of this video.
What a week! I was barely around for most of it. But the stuff I read kept me coming back for more!! Here’s some of what I saw… H.E. Ellis got the graphic novel of Reapers With Issues on shelves! Eric Murtaughback-country sauna, and Marsha gave me a Shine On Award. Probably because of that one time I stuck a flashlight up my nose.
Still, you should check out her site – always great stuff over there! Something else I saw were the answers to last weeks poll, where we asked about your favorite 80s dance. Which made me realize, some things are best left unspoken.
Here’s what you said. (As always, my comments flail out of rhythm in italics.)
Moonwalk (is that 80’s?). I still do it down the grocery store aisles. –Lily In Canada (‘Cause these are Chillerrrrs, in the Dai-ryyy Aisle…) Wait, are the 80’s over? Ginger Snaapped (Well, I still have a bit of them tucked into my thick socks with my jeans.) The Madonna Mirror (Whatever dance Madonna was doing) ~RunningOnSober (Nowadays, isn’t that the Adopt Everyone dance?) Pole dancing without a pole. Long live sleaze! sandylikeabeach (That’s like chili without the spices…jello without the wrestling!) Spinning on one foot on a paper plate dance. Easy when sober John Phillips (When done drunk, there’s still pizza on the plate.) The Oscar Levant Stumble and Fall into a Coma- Linda Vernon (I told them it was a dance.) brickhousechick was brickhousing, macarenaing &bumping (What, no Axl Rose Sway dance?) Headbanging. I’m not ashamed to admit it – should I be? (Stacy) (I smacked my head against many a desk in frustration at 80s music too.) The awkward sweaty palm dance (i was hopeless) Sadly Marie Nicole (WE HAVE A WINNER!!!) The “Parents Just Don’t Understand” Fresh and Jazzy Shake. thematticuskingdom (Now known as the “Whatever happened to Jeff?” Dance) The Amoeba Soccer Shuffle. thematticuskingdom (If only the dancers were old enough to appreciate it…) The Duke Nukem Two Step. thematticuskingdom (Leisure Suit Larry was doing that dance before it was cool.) NO… the 80’s are where music went to die in bad outfits and big hair,,, PMAO (…says the man with the Risky Business shades in his avatar…) Whatever looked good dancing to Brickhouse (my nickname) Benzeknees (Sitting. In the 80s, sitting looked good.) The Turtle Head Shuffle, invented after a mishap at a friends house. JoeHoover (We called it The Tequila Faceplant.) what? dances have decades?! omg. it all makes sense now. (UndercoverL) (Some of them need expiration dates.) Shovel Dancing to the Cure ~ Rutabaga (I thought all dancing to the Cure involved tears. ) I think it was called the “Trying to Get Laid” dance. rossmurray1 (for me, that dance always ended alone.)
(Sigh…) The I’m too wasted, the room is spinning & I am on my butt dance. (SilkPurse) (Oh, that dance transcends a particular timeframe.) the Mattress Mambo, but don’t worry. I practice Safety Dance – Revis (Doesn’t anyone just call it the Lambada anymore?) that thing Kevin Bacon did in Footloose SnB (You got to yell at John Lithgow?) Of course, the Poll Dance. (Frank) (It’s always the quiet ones…) The fully-clothed-dancing-like-an-Egyptian-bar-dance. Kayjai (What happens in the Crypt stays in the Crypt.) I did “the worm”. Don’t laugh. It was the 80’s – Twindaddy (Must have made you paranoid when Bird was the word…)
Congratulations to Marie Nicole for this weeks winning answer! And from the offered choices, the most popular were The Peepee Dance. (Still is.), The Trip-and-turn-it-into-a-dance-move-so-no-one-notices Dance, and The Electric Slide (but don’t tell anyone. It’s my secret shame.). So congratulations to everyone who didn’t write in “Sweatin To The Oldies”!
The Gripping Eyes see all!!!
But this week, it’s a very special poll. Dare I say, a Gripping poll?
Indeed, I dare.
Because the very day this post is published is in fact the birthday of everyone’s favorite wordpress Surrogate Mom.
I speak of none other than A Gripping Life. But how do you wish a happy birthday to a woman who’s traipsed her way to Dover? Who’s seen the movies? Who even finds the best music you’ve never heard of?
Well, you wish her a happy birthday.
And then you write her a poll!
So this one’s for you, Grippy. Thanks so much for your words and your company. I hope you have a fantastic birthday, and that every day gets better after that. And of course, Happy Birthday!
Now it’s your turn. How should Grippy spend her birthday? Answer soon, answer cheerfully.
But answer by 2359 EST Wed, 31 July. because that’s when this one ends. (And if you leave an “Other” answer, leave a way to identify you, and I’ll link back next week.)
And while we tally all the ways you’ve wished Grippy a great birthday, I leave you with this…
Have a great week everyone! Hopefully I’ll get to see you during this one.
Everyones favorite psychopathic mother-figure, H.E. Ellis, thought that for Megans birthday, a drink menu would be nice.
Psychopathic.
It isn’t like Megan doesn’t have her degree. It isn’t like she isn’t building her own life out there in the real world in the wilds of England.
And nothing was said about how well she writes. I’ve been in the sphere about a year and a half. I met Megan early on in my time here. In all that time, she’s been posting her fiction on her blog. Musings, serials, stories that just flowed and stuff she had to work hard at to make as good as it is.
We weren’t asked to mention all of that.
We were asked to make drinks.
Psychopath.
I’d like to say I did this because H.E. asked.
And she scares the crap out of me.
But the truth is, I’m honored to asked to help celebrate Megan’s birthday here.
So pull up an easy chair by the fire, go read some of her stories, and enjoy a fine drink.
*Whatever you do after is not my fault.
The Birthday Girl at Disneyland!
The Appetizer The Buzzer (This drink was actually made and named for me. How cool is that?) To start… Pour 3 parts rum over ice (I like Pussers. Not only does its history tie back to the British Navy, defenders of Megans home, but if I run out of gas after a night of drinking it, I can always vomit in my tank and move on.) Fill glass with Ginger Ale
Add a splash of Amaretto
Add a cherry.
Sip, enjoy, and repeat until warm all over..
Now that you’re warmed up a bit, lets move on to something to round you out nicely.
One of the things the greater UK(Scotland specifically) is known for is its Scotch.
The history, the techniques, the flavors.
But how to combine this treasure from Megans general part of the world for a concoction worthy of celebrating the anniversary of such a wonderful woman’s birth?
Royal Lochnager had a Royal Warrant to distill for the Queen.
Now, their product is used in Johnny Walker Blue and Black labels. The Main Course The NutMegan Highland
Pour one part JWB
Add a dash of bitters (Angostura, because really, how many bitters makers are there?) Add a splash of orange juice
A few drops of sweet vermouth Gently float in a touch of lime juice. (You may want to make a batch of these before you start drinking, Megan, or the dashing and splashing may get a bit out of hand.) Scratch a bit of nutmeg dust on top.
Sip…and…savor.
Since we’ve been to the Caribbean and toured the Highlands of Megan’s land, lets wrap up in one of my favorite distilling parts of the world, Mexico, for Dessert
At this point, you probably can’t feel your lips. Or your feet. The room is spinning. Your liver has crawled out your ear to have a serious talk with you, but got caught up in the drinking songs and camaraderie, and now it wants to do shots.
I remember the cactus being greener. Oh, wait. That was me.
Tequila Shot glass filled with TequilaI recommend Porfidio Cactus. Not only does it taste great, but when you’re this drunk, you can spend hours wondering how they got that little glass cactus in the bottle.) Lime Salt
(If everyone is drinking the same as you, it is totally acceptable to throw the condiments at any and all.) Three empty pint glasses/one large empty pitcher (The bartender will appreciate your foresight in having receptacles to throw up in.)
Don’t worry if tomorrow you can’t remember what happened. I’m pretty sure many of your friends have recorded it and uploaded it to you tube!
Happy Birthday, Megan, and happy every day after.
And I hope you find everything you’re looking for!
Back when I started blogging, I found a lot of the blogs I follow by reading the commenters on other blogs. Good comments led to a link click, and to some of my best online friends today.
Except for one guy. He was on a lot of the blogs I read, commenting, back and forthing with other comments. But his link was just a gravatar pic.
One of the first things I learned about him in those comments was that he loved goats (seriously).
I kept an eye on him. Because he’s weird.
Then one day, the blogosphere was awhirl. Atwitter. Agog, even!
After months of gentle berating and cajoling, this whackadoodle got his own blog!
But it wasn’t all things animal. For instance, he doesn’t speak cat. For goodness sake, he drove a Vega!
Vega! Don’t laugh. Well ok. But not too hard.
But before you mock him too harshly, he’s one of the few I know who’s successfully used vomiting as a pickup technique. And there was a sci fi convention involved, so he’s got that in his favor too!
Mel: Thanks! I’m excited for the big 21 this year! Finally. I can drink!!
– Above taken from twitter conversations. At different times.
Have you ever seen such a happy couple?
Today is a big day. A special day. Yes, it’s a birthday-versary!
It’s the *mumblemumble*th anniversary of Melissa’s 21st birthday!
But what do you get the blogger who has everything? One with a successful loving husband who works to fill in gaps in her education and help shore up her geek cred. (Even if his sense of smell is lacking)
What do you get the woman who has two adorably cute children – ones that can play with each other while dressed as superheroes?
She’s a super hero too!
They’re both really very sweet. One of them will remember to say goodnight to the evil giant crab under the bed, while the other sends his Mom the sweetest text messages.
What do you get a woman who is creative enough to regularly enter Trifecta or 100 Word Song? Who is fearless enough to tell you things she is afraid to tell you?
Do you get her a trip to a city? Nah, she’s already done that.
…after that, the city was never the same…
Do you set her up a second blog? Nope, she’s got one of those too
(Before I tell you what you get an incredible blogger, a spectacular wife and mother, and a good friend, I just want to let you know that she does have a dark side as well.)
Obviously, you get her a blog post, and join a bunch of really cool bloggers simultaneously yelling out HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEL!!!!
It’s a pleasure reading your posts, tweets and emails, and it’s an honor and a pleasure to know you. (And if you’re late getting to this post, I’ll know it was just a phone reception issue.)
Hope you and your family have a fantastic day in your honor, and many many days to come!
Guapola 