All Dressed Up and No Place To Go

Some new stories and pictures? Funny thing you should ask that because that's exactly what I have. James visiting, Tiff's going away party, Musik Fest, NYC and getting dressed up to go to Pittsburgh for lunch. Why don't you have a seat and perhaps get a drink because this is going to be a long one. Let's start with the ever interesting events of yesterday.

Pittsburgh.
So yesterday Marcus, Steve (Mur's dad) and I went on the 5 hour long journey to Steelers country, but not to watch a game of tossing the pigskin. Why then, you might ask? Well for that you will need some vital background information. Here's the scoop. Marcus's dad has, to my understanding, a butt load of siblings and in the past 6 months or so they have been dying off one by one. I know, very sad. Well, once again death has waved his black finger and so we end up in Pittsburgh. This time it's because Marcus's aunt has passed away..in prison. Yup, you read that right. Apparently about 25 years ago this woman killed her husband, her reasons are her own, but anyway until 3 years ago she thought she was Scott free. This of course did not hold true after the body of her husband and/or evidence against her rose its ugly head thus proving her guilt and landing her in jail. And there she staid for the past 3 years up until recently when she got sick and passed away.

Cabaret- The front

Now you know what us brought us to Pittsburgh, lets not waste anymore time and get to the good part. To start the journey to the city of black and gold we woke up at 4:30 IN THE MORNING, showered, dressed and left to pick up Steve at 5:30. At 6 we hit the road to begin the less than anticipated 5 hour trip. After long last we arrived around 11 to the funeral home where there was...no one. After a quick call we found out that the memorial service was not until 2 so we mutually decided to get some lunch. Italian, always a good choice except when the noodles are over cooked and mushy. The Bruschetta was good though!! Once done Steve and Marcus decided that it would be a good idea to find out where the memorial service was before it started so we wouldn't be late. Down the street and around a couple corners and there it was? Wait a second...where are we? Is this it? We better go around back and make sure.



 Please read the sign and allow me elaborate. You are not reading incorrectly. This, my friends, is a bar. Bar 'Cabaret' specifically. Yup, the memorial service is being held at a bar. But wait, it gets better.

Bar AND Dance Club.

Standing behind the bar and waiting for some sort of life, anybody, to ask for information proved to be...interesting. While waiting outside we found a door that lead down to the basement where only the most questionable looking of people came out. Of course the lack of intelligent life coming out lead Steve to descend the stairs in pursuit of someone. He made it half way down before deciding that waiting at the top of the stairs with us was probably a safer idea than going down. About 15 minutes and 30 people later, out came two people that looked a little more promising than the rest. While they were locking up the door we asked  about the pending memorial service. This proved to be most informative. For one thing we found out that all the people coming out of the basement of this bar were there for the AA/NA meeting that just let out. We were also informed that the aunt who's memorial service we were suppose to be attending is an ex member of this particular AA/NA group. Upon finding out that we knew this woman, and therefore deemed not threatening, we were invited to come and join this particular groups meetings anytime we were in town. But what about the memorial service? Well that's on the 20th isn't it? Today is the 13th. Oh no, we're a week early. Yup, we woke up at the crack-ass of dawn, got dressed up, drove 5 hours, and had lunch only to find out that we were a week early. After hearing this we got back into the car and started the drive home. I'll guess we'll try again next week??

Since Bobby Jo didn't come along on this little road trip I didn't have anyone to keep me company or to talk to really. I of course brought my 600 GRE vocabulary words, Zen and The Art of Motorcycle maintenance and The Black Ninja (my iPod) to keep me company but that wasn't enough. After  handed a baggie of gummie bears and already armed with my phone and an IKEA magazine I was occupied for at least an hour.

Mur and Gummies

Gummie Pyramid

First they Fell in Love

How Gummy babies are made

Gummie babies!!

 And then I bit off their heads. Yum...I mean...aw :-(

Home is the place we love best and grumble the most. -Billy Sunday

After 2 long weeks in New York I am home. Home to enjoy family, say good-bye to a good friend (just for a little while), and to enjoy things that don't exist in Elmira. Peepers, silence and family mostly. While home I of course went to visit Lauryn and Mr. Brody spending the majority of the afternoon playing and chatting. B-Lee now has a swing on the newly cleaned off porch where he likes to sit, giggle and throw a number of things you give him. These 'things' include, but are not limited to, pirate swords and blankets. What a monkey. Between UFO's and pushes on the swing I introduced Brody to 'twisting' the swing. This encompassed me turning him around in the swing multiple times until the swing ropes were everything except a knot and then releasing. Once released and Brody was turning in a near constant 360 degree circular motion shreaks of joy and giggles rang out. So began a marathon of 'twist' swinging.

Later on in the evening after Brody went to bed a stranger graced us with her presence. Who? Well Samara Sage of course!! How wonderful it was to see her, even if it was just for a little bit. Such a rarity to see that girl now that she's all grown up and at NYU. What a wonderful and beautiful young woman she has become, I can hardly believe it. During her stay we all gathered on the porch to catch up and exchange current events in our individual lives as well as with what all is going on in the family. A lot has happened so far in 2011 and much more is expected. May it run as smoothly as possible.

So of course, since I was visiting Lauryn, a comment was made about the blog. Where, or more like when, are you going to put up a new blog she inquired in a motherly nagging way? I tried my best to explain that there isn't a lot going on and therefore I lack material to write about. Well, unless you want to hear about an endless sink full of dishes, what I'm making for dinner and mounds of laundry that needs to be folded. Ick, writing about it is even boring. Nope, not doing that. With that said I did tell her that I had started several entries but decided they were shit so I just didn't post them. I saved them to my blog, of course, because I use this as a sort of journal and record of my life but just didn't put them up. Her reaction was something to the effect of, who really cares, put it up anyway. Okay, you win and here it is. This current entry was written above a previous one that, again, I think is complete shit. But Lauryn wanted it so if you don't like it blame her.

Saturday is Tiffany's final going away party. I'm prepared with lots of goodies for her apartment and her tummy. Marcus is working until Monday so again he will be missing it. I was told today that Chris is coming up and that our other friend Sam is working out a way to be present. It should be a good day. Must make sure that I am armed with plenty of tissues.

On that note I leave you with this: Tut tut it looks like rain. Much needed rain.

Originally titled: 'Just remember..'
7/7/11

 This week I discovered StumbleUpon.com and while browsing I found a couple unexpected tid-bits of wisdom and somethings that are just awesome to see..Enjoy!

"Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away."-Hitch (I understand the cliche)

Sky Lanterns. Amazing.

This song makes me cry. The only other one besides 'Hey Dad' by Good Charlotte. I can't explain why. Don't just read it, think outside the box and find a way to listen to it.

Warning Sign
Cold Play
 A warning sign,
I missed the good part then I realized,
I started looking and the bubble burst.
I started looking for excuses.

Come on in,
I've gotta tell you what a state I'm in,
I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones,
That I started looking for a warning sign.

When the truth is,
I miss you.
Yeah the truth is,
That I miss you so.

A warning sign,
You came back to haunt me and I realized
you were an island and I passed you by,
You were an island to discover.

Come on in,
I've gotta tell you what state I'm in,
I've gotta tell you in my loudest tones,
That I started looking for a warning sign.

When the truth is,
I miss you.
Yeah the truth is,
That I miss you so.

And I'm tired,
I should not have let you go.

So I crawl back into your open arms.
Yes, I crawl back into your open arms.
And I crawl back into your open arms.
Yes, I crawl back into your open arms...

I want to find this tree and sit in it while reading a good book.