••And On A More Serious Note•

Finally! Someone asks the question I have been stewing over for months.

"Is it acceptable to answer a phone call with an email?"

I have a friend who does that. ALL. THE. TIME. 

Oh, I'm sorry, did I email you? No, I called you. 

Makes you feel like the few minutes it would take to look-up your phone number, to actually talk to you is too much for them, or that you're standing with them is too little.

Did they forget that you too had to take that time to look their contact info up and call them.

And if I actually leave a message, seriously?!?!

I understand if your busy, CALL me back later.

I even understand the quick text, that says: in class can't talk now or on the other line, etc. Because my phone actually gives these as phone call auto-rejection options.

I don't think I am the lone victim in this. I think this person does it to most friends.

I think what burns me the most is that when you couple this behavior with other poor friendship things like constantly standing up or canceling on the other person with excuses, expecting them to always come to you, or making them work around your schedule instead of including them into it.

Balanced effort from both sides in maintaining friendships is important.

Especially in our busy multitasked lives. Or for those separated by distance.

Long gone are the days of uniformity. 

Of growing up, going to school, marrying, working, and raising a family in the same neighborhood your parents did.

I consider my self a loyal friend.

My frequent flier miles could attest to that.

But man, once you burn bridges, abuse trust, or lose my respect...

Good luck getting me to answer an email.

•••

Just a taste

•••

••LT••

••and so it begins••

welcome to january. welcome to 2012. what does my little counter down there in the right corner say? as of this typing it says 171 days. That may seem long to you, but considering that it started off saying 1,096....well, you get the point. Thankfully the panic remains at a low simmer, and has not yet reached a boiling over point. I can't believe the true end is so near. the terror of being out there. alone. very alone. no real overhead. no easy walk down the hall to similarly minded colleagues. it is almost too much at times. i am doing my best to stay out of my own head. i made my first list today. the first of many. so many questions. so many needs. so much. all at once. i really hope there's a blueprint. because starting something up from scratch is virtually terrifying. okay let me stop. i'm getting caught up again. we'll come back to this at later date. when i come to grips with reality. when my flaws and faults aren't hopefully glaring in my face with a big flashing red light, saying stop. stop. stop. you're not ready. no choice. must be ready. you are better than this. confidence. that's all you need. see. don't you feel better now?

•Can•You•Hear•The•Bells•

Ah, December the month o' false greetings, forced gathering and merriment, seasonal affective disorder, and the roulette of holiday celebratory options. My interest in seasonal involvement varies so much from year to year a 10 year old's tic frequency could be my metronome. I attribute it mostly to my severe lack of desire to have to put forth extra effort for just one person, because as much as I'd like to think so, I just don't know that Cheeks appreciates the trimmed, garlanded, and lit, Walmart perma-tree I own. I really went all out one time, about 5 years ago, with printed cards and a tree, just to stop and think on Dec 26- "Hmmm, darn now I gotta put that crap away. And no one else even saw it, what a waste." Sure some may argue that it's just for you and that it can bring brightness to your holidays, but inevitably it just makes me recognize how alone I am. Thanks Charlie Brown tree. As such I think the tree has seen the light of living-room once since then. This year I was resolved to stick with my M.O. [still being single, natch], but wouldn't you know...I've got the itch [no, not that kind]. I blame nostalgia. Every person has some memory that has them harkening back to times of old, be it naughty or nice. My accursed affliction is The Temptations. Every year, my mom would wear out the cassette tape playing the 'Love Comes With Christmas' album. That darn thing is as old as me. Nether the less, those songs I know word for word & whenever one pops up I still conjure some of those warm-fuzzies. Something recently reminded me of the album, and I wouldn't rest until I owned it myself. Well, 40 iTunes dollars, and 3 hours, later I not only have it, but also She & Him's christmas album and some a-cappella group's TWO christmas albums [amongst other non-holiday music]. I can't promise this will lead down the path least travelled [aka Christmas decorations], but you might catch me humming a little ditty. Maybe music is my holiday tradition, and The Holiday.

 Oh yeah, and I totally love that my pastor and I are on the same page! 

Christmas was today in my world...

And I already got my share....you better believe it. Merry Christmas to me.

=LT=

PS. You know you hail from SoCal, when one of your top 3 holiday songs is- Mi Burrito Sabanero :0)

Things That Go Bump in the Night•••

Oh Halloween. The one night of the year drag queens get out dressed. 

We have a fickle relationship, you and I. Hot and heavy one year, cold and old the next. I was ecstatic about costumes and the whole she-bang back when I was a wee lassie with a candy goal, but alas the curtains have since been pulled back and the great Oz was revealed a fraud. I took me a bit to realize that for the kiddos it was all fun, the sugar high, and dress up...but for more discerning adults it was for fun, disinhibition, and dress less. I, on one hand, have never been one to want to freeze my tuches off. But I do love me a good gimmick in lieu of any serious attempt at seduction [hello, "Miss Most Likely to Crack a Joke During a Choir Concert- 1994"]. So I am often akin to a naive Cady Heron in Mean Girls when she ghouls out for Halloween amongst the leotards and fluffy tails, as I am cheap and hate to plan an outfit in advance, usually throwing on something I own, but remixed. This year was no different, with the decision to dress up occurring approximately 8 hours before actual buffoonery commenced. So after compiling my most obnoxiously colored articles of clothing and raiding my bag of sport props, I was set...

The Ultimate 80s Tennis Playing Aerobics Instructor

I will neither confirm nor deny that I *may* have been drunk singing in that picture. 

I think the impromptu shenanigans were a smashing success if the pictures speak for themselves :0)

•••

The Cast of Characters

Cruella and Red. She's either cunning or Vampiric...

I work out. Like totally. 

The Witch 

 Well hello Rainbow Brite... Are you scratch and sniff? Or is that only Strawberry Shortcake?

Well, THERE he is... 

'Ozzy' before the bat. I vote he likes it. 

Remember that one time Bernie Madoff mated with the Godfather?

 Whelp, he is who we got... 

The Artist known as the Jack Black...he asked for no photos to protect his notoriety.

Indy and Honey Nut Cheerios Killa Bee

•••

The Scene: H Street Bound on a School Night

Getting into character... note the bat, natch.

•••

The Overture

Earlier that evening..... Da Bee and her pumped up kicks sets a plan in motion...

Da Bee has spotted Red and her goodies....victory! Or so she thinks...

 Red, revenge driven and empty basketed, asks 80s to show her a few swinging moves...

 En garde. Such great forehand technique. Always protect the basket.

 Da Bee attacks again...but they are not fooled...

Smack down ensues... 

Da Bee surrenders for the chance to live and play air guitar another day. The End.

 Red. Victorious. 'Finds' her man and so begins the wild rumpus!

•••

The Finale

Red's feeling invincible. Indy got owned...

 Even Killa Bee is shocked Carmen San Diego was really Rainbow Brite.

Waldo Exposed. Jack White acquiesces.  Bernie II in his natural habitat.

Deadmau5 dropped in.

Cruella thinks bat is the new....

 Chew toy? Oh, Ozzy...

Open-mouth inebriated photobomb.

•••

The Encore

Get it!

Isn't playing dress up fun?

•••LT•••

**Artist disclaimer- some photos pilfered from the second camera from that night***

•Numbers 5 and 6••

Who needs to catch the bouquet nowadays? Certainly not me. Do I need some strange single dood, who got stuck with garter as it was kicked towards his feet, try to shimmy it up my leg? No thanks, I'm good. Anyways, I have so much wedding karma stored up from this year alone, I've gotta be 'next' on someone's list, right? I think what it really means is that I was blessed to have not just 1, not 2, but 6 awesome couples want me to be apart of the start of their new journey together. Pretty sweet if you ask me. Jer, Sandy, Inessa and Steve wind down and wrap up my wedding bonanza that was this past 8 months. Great memories, Great Friends. Fun Pics. :0)

•••••
The Place: Omaha, St. John's Chapel, Creighton
The Date:  Sept 3
The Situation: Baby Jake's date again :0)
The Why: Granger Takes a Bride

Must say this is my first time being on the groom's side of the preparation, especially when you love the bride equally as much. Granted it was Ris as the groom's attendant, but where Jakey goes, LT will travel.

Tell me you don't love him.

Ris and LT. She has one with me on the party bus drinking beer, but I refuse to post that since I was far too sober to be drinking beer willingly at that point :0)

Mr. Bear stow-a-way.

'I say a little prayer for yooouuu....'

'Aah, I'm getting married!'

Ris escorting her bridesmaid buddy.

Get down, get down. This bridal party travels in style. None of those stuffy limos for this crew.

Why yes that is a baby on party bus. And yes, he is the life of said party.

Picture. Picture. Picture. I love that we all have a different angled version of this.

 Typical J face.

Quick! The dance floor's open and I hear music! Go!

 Matron of honor, aka sister of the bride, was a Godsend and definitely on her game. 

Hello, reception FLIP-FLOPS. Bonus.

How do I love thee, and your faces in this pic, let me count the ways.

Rhodica macking on my date.

•••••
Match #: 6
Locale: ATL Midtown
Digits: Oct 8
The Storyline: Inessa finds the very BEST man
Note: My Russian is VERY rusty, Candy Stations are en vogue, and PACKERS fans are everywhere [shout out Best family]

The date says Oct 8, but some may remember it as when ATL Pride took over midtown. Ugh, the crowd was a b*tch to navigate even by foot. Thankfully caught up with another friend that weekend and still watched the game live [as did the groom's family, natch].

Doubling down on the parental escort. 

Sisterly officiant. Sweet touch.

Mr. & Dr. Best••••

••••••
And as an after dinner kicker, my penchant for random signage has struck again. Enjoy.

I can only assume this Prius was extremely liberal from its bumper stickers. Pink sticker stopped me in my tracks when heading into a store. It reminded me of a snide come back in response to a 'Save the Babies!' comment you might have heard in a verbal spat between high schoolers, promptly followed by someone in the crowd yelling- 'Ooh, buuuurrrnnnn!' [No, just me? Totally product of the 80s and 90s]. BTW, I totally want that black sticker.

Acceptable?!?!? That's all you're going to give me? Acceptable as compared to what? And what am I accepting at this level?

Hello to you to Mr. RideOn Bus.

Always. There might be more fun signs about.