Part 2 - The Excited

So yesterday we covered the hardest part of my day which is getting out of my head and getting out of the house... so let's see, where were we? Oh yeah, Memorial Day Weekend!!

Friday night I met up with friends and we enjoyed bottle service at The Standard. It was nice, but we were on the front patio which left us separated from the music and trapped with the smokers. Plus, I wasn't so into drinking and honestly didn't have that great of a time. My friend Phil and I shared some casual observations, but I was ready to go home.

Saturday after a harrowing experience for HarMar at the vet, I cleaned the house, and Des and I headed off to eat some Pho at New Stars. Then we went to our friend Johns graduation party. That was fun, but I'm still an old lady and despite great chips & salsa, a vodka red bull, and a free shot of Patron - I got tired and we went home to go to bed.

Sunday morning Des & I stumbled out into the hallway at the same time and she suggested we go for a walk. I needed that walk. I grabbed a sandwich and then I went and did one of the bravest things of my life. I went somewhere ALONE. No safety net. No possible idea of what to expect. AND where everyone else already knows each other. My entire plan involved sitting in the corner and use my iPhone for the next several hours.

To my most pleasant surprise I was taken by the hand and welcomed into the Antidote group! There was awesome house music, lots of drinks, great weather, and a phenomenal group of people! I had so much fun. Shoot, I think my name was even scrawled on a "GUEST LIST" so basically, I was a veritable celebrity! Daytime drinking is an acquired art though. Have enough drinks and this old lady needs to go home and take a nap. I HIT MY COUCH RUNNING AND TOTALLY CRASHED OUT!

I woke up just in time to make a delicious taco dinner head back out to see Little Dragon. It was just about the coolest thing ever. After Antidote and thanks to Twitter I'm pretty sure I knew or knew of 50% of the people in the room. This is where my reporting gets faulty. I really stopped worrying about writing stuff down and memorizing important details and linking to stuff. Instead, I FELT IT.

You know those moments when you are driving alone in the car and your favorite song comes on? Those seconds where your problems accidentally fly out the window? Time comes to a screeching halt and sound isn't just something you hear, but instead something you do. It's the something that tickles your nose and brushes against your skin and tastes like heaven.

I don't want to say anything more about it. Here's one of their songs... Listen... Feel... Take a Journey...



PS: If you want a really good and serious review of the show, Go Here.

Part 1 - The Bravery...

Well, this last weekend proved to be insanely busy and quite wonderful, but first shall we take a journey?

Truth be told, I'm a chronic doubter of myself, which is funny (OK not funny) because typing it out just sounds ridiculous. Doing new things though usually leaves me crippled with fear. What if I don't know what to say? What if I wear the wrong outfit? What if my sarcasm is taken wrong? What if I know someone but I don't remember their name and they hate me? What if... what if... what if...??

Maybe I have no self-perception? This is kinda untrue as I'm pretty introspective and spend the majority of my time in my head, but also kinda very true because when people tell me how they perceive me, I never see it coming. Like if you locked me in a room and said, write down everything you think I'm thinking, I probably wouldn't come up with it. Damn you people are strange and unpredictable. Which is also funny because 99% of the time all I have to do is be within 5 feet of you and I will feel in my stomach whether we can be friends or not.

Usually when I first meet someone, I'm pretty much a dud. I sit and I watch and I listen. How do you talk? What do you think is funny? I watch how you blink and how you segue and how you move your hands when you talk and how you raise your eyebrows. I notice your shoes. I smell you. I fully envelope myself in you. Now you think I'm a total stalker. I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!

I just want to know how I'm supposed to be. Its like learning the steps to a newly choreographed dance. Should I be excited or quiet? Do you need to be the center of attention? What are your motivations? Are you religious? What's your favorite drink? What type of music do you listen to? What are you passionate about? You know, all the standard things you need to know when you are trying to assimilate someone. JUST KIDDING!

Maybe you never see it...? Maybe you think I'm funny and talkative and happy and smart...? God only knows... BUT anyways... enough about that!

Remember, I said we were going on a journey?

I only say all of the above so that you know how much mental effort it takes for me to leave the house. It takes a lot. To overcome that MOUNTAIN of questionable data and still say I had a good weekend is the testament of all time!

Well, in telling you all of my deepest darkest secrets, we've completed phase 1 of this "journey" and you can now proceed down the long hallway to your right, to MY WEEKEND!

See you tomorrow for Part 2 - The Excited

Good times were had by all...

Okay, no no - that was a lie. See, I'm a great marketer. I lured you in with a catchy jingle and promises of whoozits whatsit, but the product was of poor quality and misrepresented. OOOPS! So maybe that title was a bit misleading, but no takesies backsies... You're here and now you have to read about it!

I guess, first, I'd like to say it started out really really shitty. If anyone has deduced that I may not be a morning person, it won't really earn you anything because everyone on earth should know that. However, when my phone rang at 7:30am I knew something was wrong. I clamored out of the shower only to see my real dads number on the caller ID. Sigh.
I shouldn't answer...
But maybe it's important...
If it's important he'll leave a message...
For gods sake, how old are you anyways? Just answer the phone.

ME: Hello?
HIM: (Funny voice) Yes, this is the *company I work for* corporate office. We're sorry to inform you that we're going through another round of layoffs and unfortunately we're not going to be needing your services anymore... So luckily for you, you can go ahead and go back to bed.
ME: .........
HIM: hahahahahahahahahahaha

Am I the only one who thinks that is just about the shittiest most fucked up way to ask your daughter to lunch because you are going to be in town? What an asshole. There were two other jokes, one involving him leaving his debts and responsibilities to me should something happen during surgery and a follow up call pretending to be the doctor letting me know my father had passed away.

UMMMMMMMM?????? WHAT?!

I should mention that during the ENTIRE delivery of the aforementioned jokes, I continuously repeated "This is not funny, I don't think this is funny, this is not funny, please stop I don't find this even remotely funny" to which he finished and laughed heartily anyways.

I am ashamed that this is a part of me. I am also hurt. I am also so confused. Without the droning on of the poor me's and the is this normals... I'll just stop. No one wants to read all the drivel.

Everyone has their demons. Their hauntings. The shadow that follows them wherever they go.

Dang, this is a lot of work. Can I get some feedback here?

So, I'm struggling with this whole "city blog" thing. I'm no journalist. I don't want to be troubled with linking to others posts and be all responsible about accuracy with times and such. Can't I just say, "Dude, I like this. Here's how it made me feel. Just go there." ?? That would be easy. Now half of my wonder and grand fascination with my comings and goings are dampened because I feel like I need to pretend I'm a reporter or something.

Plus, I suck. Like, here I go to the Blogger Olympics and I didn't even write a post about my epic loss! Also, I wrote this whole thing about Pizza & Beer at Pizza Fusion and didn't even mention the PIZZA!! I even got an honorable mention for last weeks "goings on" over at FresnoMagBlog and didn't even say Thank you. Are you understanding my suckiness yet?

Then, last week, my real dad shows up at my work unannounced. I have A MILLION feelings about this and I wanted to write it out, but then I was like - dangit - now all these real people who might know me are going to read this and changing my blog focus sort of took from me my personal voice. Sigh.

I need feedback. Am I doing the right thing? I realize it's in its beginning stages and will slowly find it's groove, but is it okay to just do whatever I want? Does random pics, sad overly personal revelations, and product reviews go together? HELP!

Pizza & Beer - MMMMMM

I don't know if you've had a chance to eat at a Pizza Fusion yet, but YOU NEED TO!

This is my favorite place to eat right now! It's really no where in the scope of where I go in this town, but it's SO worth the drive over there!

I'm in love with every aspect! Delicious food, earth friendly, and even vegan options!

Here's what you HAVE to do:

1) GO THERE!!
2) ORDER ANYTHING!! MUST HAVES are the flat bread trio (w/ tapenade!) and the pear and gorgonzola salad.


I just recently attended an event there sponsored by New Belgium Beer. For $4 you got to taste all of New Belgiums brews (Which are on tap at Pizza Fusion), snack on delicious fresh pizza, and keep the New Belgium glass! It was so much fun!


Best part is, they are going to do this again on the 28th. I'm so there!

Silent observations of a perfectly sane person...

Here's a light and fluffy post with pictures because it's late and I want to go to bed...

Does anyone else find this 5' tall advertisement amusing? Not even just a little bit raunchy? Am I really that far in the gutter? (Side note, isn't "Grande Taquito" an oxy-moron? I don't see any advertisements for 'Big Small **whatever**' but hey, I don't get out much! Spanish is a funny language.)


Be honest with me my new virtual friends. Do these "Gummy Tummies" appeal to you?
(1) I find the penguin to be a quite adorable creature personally. Therefore the thought of eating it isn't first on my mind. (Also there's that lame vegetarian thing)
(2) If times get any tougher (It's a recession you know) and some rare minature migrating penguins overtake Woodward, and I am forced to eat the afore mentioned rare miniature migrating penquins, the part I think I would enjoy THE LEAST would be biting down on their still full bellies and having said contents explode in my mouth.
Too much? Too graphic? Yeah, it's hard to be me... That was THE FIRST thing I thought when I saw these at the checkout. The second was, "I have to write a blog about this!"


Alright... I'm tired and I'm going to bed. Catch you tomorrow.

Upcoming posts you can look forward to:

* The panini I made for dinner last night
* My review of the Pizza Fusion event I went to today.

I'm kick a$$ in my own mind... Also, patting myself on the back in a public forum is sometimes how I apologize...

Truth be told I kept re-reading my last post and am a bit worried it will be misinterpreted. I just wanted everyone to understand that I don't just love my neighborhood, I love all of Fresno.

Oh, and also, I will kick your ass if you aren't nice to me! LOL


Please be nice to me!


*Hair by Troy Newland - Makeup by Val Newland

Talkin' about Tower

Alright people - this is for all my Fresno peeps...

I read a lot of elitist snobby things on my twitter stream and even in my own blog comments about how you hate the north side and only love Tower... GAWD you people love the fucking Tower district. You all make it seem like I've never been there, but I got news for you, I'm older than half of you and have been going there since some of you were in junior high!

Yes, I live in north Fresno at Woodward Lakes, but that doesn't mean I only hang out here. I just write this blog reppin' the north side because I want you to know we have cool stuff too!

GASP, you mean you can get quaint and culture north of Herndon and not everything is plastic Stepford Wives and single occupied gas guzzing SUV's? Yup, that's right! WE ARE SLAYING GEOGRAPHICAL STEREOTYPES HERE AT It's worth recording... !!!

So, here are some things you may not know about me and my Tower district history:

•I met my (now ex) husband on the patio of the Java Cafe in 1996.
•I bought my 1st pair of steel-toed 20 eyelet Grinders from Valentino's in 1997
•I got my tongue pierced from Jerry at Spears of Shiva all by myself when they were still on the North side of Olive in late 1997/early 1998.

What else do you want to know about? I've done the drinks and appetizers at Livingstones, pool and drinks and pizza at Avalon (Now Babylon), dancing in the streets at mardi gras, the patio at Veni's, the dining at Palomino's and Rousseaus and everywhere, the New Years parties and open mics and poetry jams at Starline, the lunch at Peimonte's, and everything else you can think of.

SO FRESNO PEOPLE... What do you want from me? To listen to local bands at Bobby Salazars? Have lunch at Irene's? Watch a show at Roger Rocka's? Buy something at Retro Rags? OH WAIT, I've done that TOO!

So, this may seem like a bit of an aggressive blog, but I just hate the patronizing "You should come to tower" comments. Like that's the only place that privately owned businesses can operate. Like that's the only place you can walk on the streets or find unique purchases or see a good show. Like only places south of Shaw offer good service - wrong! Wrong! WRONG!

So thanks for letting me say my peace. I hope this post helps us all come together and roam this town with wild abandon. LET'S TEAR THE WALLS DOWN!! I hope to see you out there!

Pho Sho !!!!!

I have an anniversary coming up. I wish I would have written down the exact date, but to the best of my calculations, June will start my 7th year of being a vegetarian. It's a long story that I get many questions about. Mostly, people want to know why and I'll just say: ALL THE REASONS.

•It's unhealthy
•It's bad for the economy
•It's inhumane

Anyways, even though I am a strict vegetarian, I am a meat lover. I have every type of fake meat product in my fridge! I don't eat gelatin, fish, or stock which includes many soups, pilafs, caesar dressing, and even gummy bears. Most things I can replicate at home, HOWEVER, there are some things you just can't get. Fresno has really made some great advancements with Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and hell, even regular grocery stores can carry vegetarian products now, BUT...

As you can imagine, even though I love to cook, sometimes I just want to go out and get a good meal and not have to worry and quiz my waiter/waitress about how the food is made.

That's why I was so happy with the addition of New Stars Vegetarian. New Stars is at Champlain/Perrin in the FIVE and Sequoia Brewing parking lot. Unfortunately, their hours aren't the best - they close early at 9pm and are closed on Sunday-Tuesday, but PLEASE GO THERE! Most veg places go so hardcore that they go vegan! MARISA ALSO LOVES CHEESE AND BUTTER!! So New Stars has a selection of vegan, vegetarian, and even imitation meat products. They have all types of things, but mostly the fare is asian related.

Here's the whole reason of this post - THEY HAVE PHO !!!!!

I've been dying for Pho for YEARS now. I went this last Saturday and had some. It was PHENOMENAL. Anyone, call me and we'll go. I think I'm addicted. I could eat it every freakin' day. EVERY. DAY.

CALL ME... SERIOUSLY... I'M HUNGRY AGAIN...

This is sudden, but I'm coming out of the closet...

I've consistently had my nerd credentials revoked for random things, but I feel comfortable asking for them back now. While there may have been some sort of *other* inference in my title, what I'm really coming out of the closet to admit is:

I
LOVE
STAR
TREK
!!!!

I love it and I don't care what anyone thinks. No, I never went to any conventions, I don't speak Klingon, and... Okay, that was it... I did everything else. I read the books, I had all the scripts to the shows, and I loved EVERYTHING about it!!

I was more of a Next Generation person, (never really watched the original...)

but the new movie TOTALLY represented!

I keep feeling the urge to admit further embarrassing things to you guys, but maybe I better just sit this one out. I already lived through a year of high school hazing wearing my communicator pin, so... ummmm... we're gonna keep this "reveal" to a bare minimum!

Have a great night and when you get up tomorrow, go see the new Star Trek movie. Even if you don't like Star Trek or don't know the story line, you will love it, I PROMISE!

PS - I saw it in the IMAX. It was like a little girls first trip to Disneyland. Larger than life FTW!

It's becoming clear to me that my expectations are waaay too high...

I'm going to complain, make fun, and generally be a catty bitch in this post... so move right along if you're not into that kind of thing.

Five things you need to know, do, or point and laugh at...

1) I have a problem with commercials. This is why I pay for TiVo. I compulsively fast forward, but every once in a while I'm assaulted by something truly disturbing. Has anyone seen the one where mother nature is an evil woman who shows up carrying a red box and gives women their "monthly gift" at uncool times like on a first date or as you are wearing all white and landing your private jet on a Hawaiian beach with girlfriends? Really? And I KNOW the illustration didn't just show a red box bouncing around in there trying to get out. Yeah... Seriously... Personally, I don't think a white bathing suit is a good idea ever, but really? I could talk for hours about this.

1a) It's about drinkability. REALLY? This is your beverage marketing slogan? It's DRINKABLE? I find this to be SOOO HUMOROUS that it is, in fact, bothersome. Not better tasting, not less filling, not low calorie... IT'S DRINKABLE? hahaha *puke* hahaha

1b) Okay, I have a serious commercial problem!!! The Charmin Toilet Paper Company MUST BE STOPPED. These filthy disgusting bears and their love of public defecation MUST BE STOPPED. I just saw one last night where they all drive around together in a car, stop in the woods, and take a big family dump. There are no words to describe my horror.

Moving On...

2) I was at Dollar Tree the other day. It was clearly the first time the lady in front of me had been there. She asks the cashier, "How much are the balloons you have over there?" He says, "I think they are a dollar." She counters with, "How much are the foil balloons?" He says, "Actually, those are a dollar too." Does she have a vision problem as well, or are the 75 EVERYTHING'S A DOLLAR posters really really confusing?

Then the people behind me bust in and ask the cashier, "How about these candy bars? The box says 59 cents." The cashier must get this a lot because he says, "Then they must be 59 cents." I however observed the sign says "2 for $1." It's a little scary going out in public sometimes. Very simple concepts confuse people and I'm terrified for the future now.

3) I have a tax man who lives up in Oakhurst. He is a strange man, but his dad used to do my dads taxes so it's sort of a family thing. Once a year I have the privilege of driving up north to cram myself into this strange uneven room. His table is just a GIANT tree stump and the ceiling slopes so that you sort of have to crawl into your chair. It's a crazy HEAVY old orangy chair and there are papers EVERYWHERE. He always keeps an ice chest behind him with Hansen's soda in it and when I leave, I come home with a little tidbit worth sharing.

A few years ago, he shared with me that he enjoys taking a dip in his spa in the morning before coming to work. Fairly normal and not noteworthy right? Did I forget to mention he is always joined by his pet turkey? HAHAHA Uhhh, what?? I was too shocked to really ask any questions, but isn't that called making soup? Isn't that how you cook lobster? I mean, turkeys shouldn't be in the spa, right? Tell me that's strange so I feel better about myself. (PS - he is the nicest guy and does a GREAT job, but I had to share the turkey thing.) I can't make this up people.

4) I had a Mountain Dew "Throwback" the other day. I don't think I have a clear understanding of what the term "Throwback" means. To me it has negative connotations. If it's no good you throw it back, right? As a dew purist, I thought it was gross. I'd rather have the original or nothing at all. High fructose corn syrup FTW!

5) I just want to talk to people who work in the food industry here at good ole #5. I know your job is hard. I know everyone is different and most people are douche's to you. I know most people don't tip well. Now that we've covered a few of the basics that I know, can we talk about some stuff? Friend to friend? I LOVE FOOD. Food and me go WAY back. It's ritualistic and comforting and practically orgasmic. That being said, I think you should understand that I am happy and excited to be in your establishment. However, lets just set a few ground rules here.

The last 3 restaurants I ate at totally fucked up the dance. Don't act like you didn't know eating out is a finely choreographed dance, it SOO is.
*Please allow me to sit down and put my purse down before you are already spewing off your specials. I'm still standing... REALLY?

*Please follow the order of things. I just ate at a place that brought my chips & salsa, guacamole, bean soup, AND entree all at the same time. Then they took my drink order!! The food was DELICIOUS, but I was so disappointed because it was too much.

*Allow me time. Speed is not everything!! Sometimes my entire plan for the night is to enjoy my companions company. I want to chitty chat and savor my tapenade and flatbread. I want to tell a funny story and then get really excited about my beet salad. I want time to reminisce while waiting in hungry expectation for my designer pizza. Get it? The waiting, the expectation, the tease... It's like sex. Can I get a little foreplay PLEASE?**

So anyways, that's what was on my mind today. :)




**Now is NOT the time for your comments to offer advice on my sex life, I'm just trying to be funny here...

And everyone wonders why I never leave my house...

I don't think my little town of Fresno gets enough credit. They say we're the armpit of California. Well, those people are retarded because everyone knows that's Bakersfield. HAHAHA. No, seriously, it may get hot in the summer, but right now the weather is just about DIVINE.

Here at Woodward Lakes things couldn't be more perfect. There are so many trees and the rain made everything super crisp and green. The lake is beautiful and there is a breeze, and I'm going to share with you my hidden little sanctuary.

Sitting out here is so relaxing. I don't worry about anyone or anything. HarMar explores and my mind drifts off. Nature releases me from my judgments and labels and expectations carry away with the breeze.

Why would I leave when I have my own little slice of heaven right here?

Finger Update

I'm not quite sure if my mild observations should be changing to serious concern, but now that the bandages have come off, I can't feel my finger tip. OH. MY. GOD. It's only been 4 days. If I don't get more feeling back by Monday, I'm going back to the doctor.

It doesn't look that gnarly, but if you look at it logistically, you can see that it's cut straight back from side to side about 1/4 inch. OUCH! Yeah, I pretty much removed the pad of my index finger. YOWZA!

Teazers Schmeazers - E.M.W. Tea is where it's at!

OOHHHHHH YEAH, I SAID IT!! I said it and everyone in Fresno just did a collective cringe. You people love that Teazers place. Actually, I've never been there, so my crap talking doesn't hold much validity. Since we're friends, I'll let you in on a little secret: I don't even like tea! I'm more of a Mtn Dew girl if you can imagine that!

However, I think you all need to take a little trip to the north side. We have a tea place too and I come here often!

E.M.W. Tea is located on the South West corner of Champlain and Perrin. It's in the Savemart and Campagnia parking lot.

To save you hours of contemplation, EMW stands for East Meets West. (Took me forever to figure that out!)

There are so many cool things about this place. I think it's deserving of bullet points.

• They are open late! Sunday - Thursday 11am - 10pm and Friday - Saturday 11am - 11pm.


• There are cute little seats outside.


• Besides rows and rows of teas to choose from, they also have slushies, and my new obsession BOBA!


• The most expensive thing on the menu is $4, the slushies are only $1, and with the card every 6th one is free!!


• They have THE COOLEST lid maker. My friends no longer enjoy going with me because I get SOO excited about this sealer thing. I tried to take a video of it, but I chickened out at the last minute. JUST GO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF!


• Head on back and there are cute little chairs and couches and a TV with board games and video games.


• The greatest Super Nintendo Tetris Attack player of all time, Roger, will come out from behind the counter and destroy any sense of pride, skill, or self esteem you considered having. Okay, that one may not be a selling point, but it was memorable that's for sure!


• Roger, the self-esteem slayer from above is on twitter! Follow him @emwtea

What are you waiting for!?!? Come check this place out! I recommend the Thai Iced Tea with Boba. MMMMM

I'd say near death experiences deserve a chocodile... (NOW WITH UPDATE)

Today, I deserve a chocodile.

• Did you forget so quickly that I am the clumsiest person you know?
• Did you forget how much I hate myself for being the clumsiest person you know?

Yesterday I flooded my car. NO, I'm not a dumb girl, the car is just incredibly fussy about starts and stops. I moved it out of the driveway so my roommie could leave and didn't let her run for a while cuz it was early. Yup, that's all it takes. Luckily my dad came and we followed the 2 page instruction manual for how to deflood the car (yes, I keep the printout in my glovebox as it does this often or has to get towed to the dealership!) and it worked.

Today I was doing dishes at work in our kitchen because there are some nasty lazy people around here who just schlep their half full bowls of food into both basins like neanderthals! This means the rest of us can't even clean out our water thermos without picking up after their nasty mess first. There was a platter that had chocolate dipped strawberries on it from 2 weeks ago (my platter that disappeared) that I was going to soak. Apparently the side had chipped and a 1" diameter flat piece of porcelain was stuck like cement from 2 week old dried up strawberry juice to the platter. As I used my hand with some force to push the leftover food into the disposal, I met my demise and my index finger was sliced from the top straight back.

I held it over my head, I applied pressure, I cried, and then I was escorted to the urgent care because it was still pouring blood everywhere!

In the end I declined stitches cuz I'm a wuss and would rather break a bone than deal with a needle.

Here's me with my chocodile.


And should you feel free to click any of the random links above, I expect many sympathies for how embarrassingly lame and easily injured I am.

---------------------
Yeah, I think most of the time I have a fabulous life. And little things I laugh off. And mostly I just like to tell a good dramatic story. HOWEVER... Today I'm being paid back for all the wonderful Mondays I've had. List of tragedies include but not limited to:
1) I have been sick. I fear it's bronchitis. You can rest assured I do NOT have scurvy though because if it's possible to O.D. on vitamin C then I'll post my formula for that next week!
2) Cut finger off. (well, you know... it sucked)
3) Spider in my office. (Read Here or Here for how I feel about spiders.)
4)Start Period. That's not a tragedy and I guess it's TMI, however, majorly uncool!
5)Randomly I just got a wicked nose bleed. Okay, I know right? What the hell? Apparently whatever this plague is that I'm receiving, the method of delivery is to bleed to death.
6) Get in golf cart to drive across work lot, tire goes flat.

Just a day in the life. I'm scared to move. Can someone come carry me to my car and drive me home? Please?

My Wonderful Roommates - oh and also, I am a giant.

Just wanted the world to know what beautiful, wonderful, kind, perfect, supportive, loving, and classy people I have in my life. These are "my girls" and I love them.

These are also my best friends. Aren't they pretty?

Last night we went out to The Standard which is right next to our house on Friant & Fort Washington. I've been there a few times and have enjoyed it but last night was FABULOUS. I've never seen the place so packed.

In humorous typical Marisa fashion, I spent the entire night being the tallest person in the room! My cute new platform Guess by Marciano heels are 5" which actually makes me 6 feet tall (I'm 5'7") I actually believe I asked everyone I talked to if it made them uncomfortable that I'm a giant. HA! Guys and girls together being so itty bitty leaves me with legs of steel I tell you. Ever spent two hours doing squats and lunges? That's pretty much what it's like when you are a giant and you want to talk to or dance with or take pictures with all the miniature people in this town!

I have been sick though, so I was happy they close early (I think they close at 1am... it used to be midnight, but now it's 1..? I suppose I should pay more attention to detail here, but whatever... it's not 2am I know that much)

Anyways, it's time for bed. Make sure you look at the next post to view my Kentucky Derby Day pictures too!

Derby Day Delights

Well folks, my moms "Run for the Roses" Kentucky Derby Party is being declared a success! Of course, I don't really have contact with the outside world so mostly the success declaration is me patting myself on the back for my part in the party.

To be honest, my mom and dad only remodeled their entire house and my mom claims she ran all the errands and got all the food and decorations... so their part was marginal in comparison to the fact that I plagiarized an invitation and made a list one time, but you know, people are like that.

ANYWAYS! I'm sure what you want is photos... Here's the invitation:

Secondly, here I am with my Mint Julep:

And I need everyone to recognize that HarMar's bow matches my shirt:

I made pinwheels:


And fruit w/ a coolwhip/marshmallow cream dip:

Overall it was a pretty good spread:

Then after a very exciting viewing of the Derby, we moved on to dinner. I made a yummy salad with parmesan, carrots, red peppers, and cannelloni beans:

And here I am next to the rest of the spread which included salad, 3 bean salad, corn, rolls, homemade scalloped potatoes, baked beans, and BBQ'd chicken:


Truthfully, my parents house is perfect for hosting a party and they have a dream kitchen to cook in and she has every cool gadget and plenty of space. My mom has always been the ultimate hostess and it was neat for me to be able to do some of the hard work that would impress her friends and free her up so she could actually enjoy her party. Overall, a success!