Random Musings From A Storied Life

Friday, 10 July 2009

  • Posted by CareyGLY

    Gute Nacht from Bavaria


    We made it through the Alps in Youenn's little car!  I must admit, I had my reservations:



    ...but the trip was breathtakingly beautiful.  I've done it a few times now and the scenery never gets old.  The weather was gorgeous most of the way through Florence and all of Italy.  We hit an awesome storm in Austria, but emerged to blue skies soon enough:


    Click for full size

    We're in Munich now, staying with Mick & Miggl and I must admit it's nice to have high speed Internet again and a long hot shower (the beach house's hot water didn't last long with 20+ people staying there!).  It's unseasonably cool in Bavaria, but feels good after the heat and humidity of Italy.  Today Alan and I headed to the Marienplatz to buy him an iPod Touch.  His poor wife Bine is about to become an iPod widow.  Boys and their toys!  Tomorrow we will spend the day visiting Mick & Bine's families and get to see Tom, Cathy & Patrick who just arrived from San Francisco.  I'm looking forward to seeing them all.


    Miggl prepared an amazing dinner for us upon our arrival in Munich.


    The girls made paella for lunch.


    And we had yet another delicious meal together!


    Mick's aunt, the soccer playing nun, even stopped by from her Swiss mountain abbey and brought Toblerone!

     
    It's Gay Pride in Munich this weekend.






    Mick's 68 Beetle is still going strong!  Here I am reenacting the time I had to push it at the World Cup three years ago.



     

     


    Say gute nacht Carey!


    Best of the rest...

Wednesday, 08 July 2009

Sunday, 05 July 2009

  • Posted by CareyGLY

    Bon Giorno America

    Update:  Sabine & Alan's wedding party was a sumptuous feast for all the senses!  The Tuscan hills will be whispering about this party for years to come!  About 35 "GLY" members old and new were in attendance from 7 countries and a good time was had by all.  The air card I have for Internet here is pretty expensive and we're pretty remote, so keep checking this link for new pictures as I won't always be updating Xanga.  Until next time, I leave you with our party pictures. 

    Happy 4th!  We're celebrating Bine & Alan's marriage in grand style.  The party is in full swing at our Tuscan villa.  We have 6 Americans, 1 Czech, 3 French, 1 Togolese, 6 Italians, 1 Englishman and 12 Germans.  I can't begin to describe how difficult it has been to get these pictures uploaded.  Suffice it to say, it was very involved, nothing is easy in Italy.  I think we've got it worked out now though, so here are the pictures from yesterday.  I've had to shrink them to a small size to conserve my SIM card credits, but you get the idea.  We're having a lovely time...hope everyone else in the States is having a Happy Independence Day.  Sorry I'm not going to have much time to comment back or email.  Thanks for all your well wishes though.  And a special thanks to David for making this all possible!  Ciao!

Thursday, 02 July 2009

  • Posted by CareyGLY

    Arrivederci - Ciao Xanga


    Update:  I'm in the Washington airport waiting for my connection to Rome.  The flight was uneventful.  I played with Dave Grohl from Nirvana and the Foo Fighters daughter.  What a cutie she was!  Just catching up on email now thanks to the Red Carpet Room.  See you all on the other side!  Ciao.

    P.S. I've set up a Google account for this trip.  I may not be blogging much, but I'll try to post all the photos at:
    http://picasaweb.google.com/CareyGLYItaly/ItalyGLY#




    It's 1 AM and I have to wake up at 5 and head to the airport to catch my flight to Rome.  If you need me for the next two weeks, I'll be at the "B" below...for beach:



    Claudio & Chazz came down tonight to "help me" pack and get ready.  This was them 3 hours ago:  LOL



    I hope to be updating my blog from our Tuscan villa.  David was nice enough to send me a European phone and an air card that I can tether to the phone from the remote Italian countryside.  Trust me, it's not easy dealing with Italian bureaucracy.  I even needed to get a taxpayer ID number to get a SIM card in Italy.  And today, after DHL arrived with my international shipment, I discovered that my laptop didn't have a PCMCIA slot.  It had one of the newer slots that wasn't compatible.  Since there was no time to order an adapter (and they're hellishly expensive), Seth was kind enough to swap laptops with me for 2 weeks.  So...if all goes well, I'll be connected.  It's been a comedy of errors so far though, so if you don't hear from me for a while, you know why.  I hope everyone in the States has a Happy 4th.  It's my least favorite holiday, so I'm happy to spend it abroad. 

    Here's where we'll be staying.  I'm not sure where we're all going to sleep.  There will be 25 of our friends from all over the world.  Should be fun!  I best get to bed.  Luckily I'm flying first class.  Thank goodness for frequent flyer miles!  Ciao Bello! --Carey



Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Sunday, 28 June 2009

  • Posted by CareyGLY

    Elmo & Jacko


    20 years ago, I worked for a bank in Chicago that used a vendor that I worked with extensively.  Eventually, I became friends with one of the vendor's employees, Todd, who lived in Portland, OR.  One thing led to another, and long story short I went to work for the company, and worked there for 13 years while traveling the world.  When I met first met Todd and his wife Laura, they were newly married and had no kids.  17 years ago, Taylor was born.  He and I were always close, and when Oreo died, Taylor was only 5 years old, and he took it particularly hard.  He had a stuffed animal that he had also named Oreo, and he wanted me to have him.  I convinced him to take care of "his Oreo" for me while I traveled and he faithfully did. 

     
    Taylor & "Oreo", 1997 and Taylor, and his sisters, Katie & Sarah with me in 2001

    Fast forward 12 years, and Taylor is going to be a senior in high school!  He's in the Future Business Leaders of America and is staying with me for a few days to see the sites and look at college campuses.  He wanted to see Michael Jackson's star, so this afternoon we braved the crowds and headed to the Walk of Fame.  Later we went to dinner and to see The Hangover, which was hilarious.  I'm dog sitting again, so we took Garbo & Ruby for frozen yogurt at midnight. 




    We thought it was funny that Elmo was wearing a "RIP Michael Jackson" T-shirt.  LOL


    Thriller moment!  Was that Michel or a zombie??


    You could barely see the star!












    Marilyn Monroe standing over a subway grate while Superman poses behind her.  Only in Hollywood!






    We got to see the cars from Transformers...then we took Garbo & Ruby for frozen yogurt!


    Tay had to try the "Lesbionic Tonic"!


    Garbo & Ruby!


    Best of the rest...

Thursday, 25 June 2009

  • Posted by CareyGLY

    I Sell The Dead


    The LA Film Fest is in full swing and tonight Vince and Wendy were nice enough to invite me to a screening of "I Sell the Dead" starring Dominic Monaghan (of "Lost" and "Lord of the Rings" fame) and Ron Perlman of "Hellboy" fame). 
    In 18th century England, Arthur Blake is a day away from the blade of the guillotine. Charged with a lifetime of grave robbing, Blake confesses his past crimes, but his stories quickly turn from standard cadaver thefts for science to peculiar things that go bump in the night. Juggling a mad doctor, a nefarious rival gang, a beautiful but ambitious apprentice, and a scary spectrum of creatures, Blake and his partner Willie Grimes somehow always lived to tell the tale . . . that is, until the pesky death sentence was served.

    Filmmaker Glenn McQuaid's gleeful period comedy horror romp portrays its heroes as two average men simply trying to make a living by trafficking the undead. A marvelous cast of veterans skillfully treads between laughs and cries, including Ron Perlman, Dominic Monaghan, Larry Fessenden, and even Phantasm's Angus Scrimm. Meanwhile, McQuaid pays homage to Hammer Horror with foggy graveyards, bustling taverns, and creepy characters, while comic book flourishes recall the eerie delights of 'Tales from the Crypt' in this film that is certain to thrill boys and ghouls alike.


    I'm not a huge fan of horror movies, but this was really well done and had something for everyone.  It was deliciously macabre, frightful at times, and laugh out loud funny.  All in all a great night.  Thanks Vince & Wendy! 



    Here are some photos from the Q&A with the cast and producers:


    I found Charlie from "Lost"!


    Angus Scrimm, Dominick Monaghan, Ron Perlman and director Glenn McQuaid












    ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
    “MySpace has fired 60 percent of its workforce. They notified workers as fast as possible. They left messages on their Facebook pages.” -- Craig Ferguson

Monday, 22 June 2009

Saturday, 20 June 2009

  • Posted by CareyGLY

    Coyotes, Crocodiles & A Dragon Named Henry


    Since I usually go down to the O.C. on Thursdays, Lisa has been watching Chazz and he's been pretty good.  The last two weeks however, she was busy so I had to make alternate arrangements, as I'm usually gone 12 hours.  I called a couple of doggie day care places and they were all about the same price, $35-50/day.  On a whim, I called a new place on Santa Monica & Highland called, "The D".  It's like "The W Hotel" but for dogs.  I thought it would be ridiculously expensive, as that's where all the A-List Hollywood celebrities take their dogs.  Surprisingly though it was only $35 for 8 hours and $45 for 12 hours.  Before Chazz could go though, he had to have a "temperament test".  I felt like I was trying to get him into an elite private school!  I coached him before we went in..."No humping Chazz", "Keep your nose where I can see it", etc.  Needless to say, he passed the temperament test with flying colors.  Then the gal at the front desk gave me a tour of the place.  It really is like a luxury hotel for dogs.  When she told me that every room had a flat screen television (with remote), I didn't know whether to laugh or ask the obvious question! (Do they watch it?)  Then she told me that they play a dog friendly Disney movie in the common area every night at 7:00.  They also have a spa, gym (for dogs) and a grooming salon.  I kid you not...see for yourself:


    Deluxe rooms complete with queen size beds and flat screen TVs for your dog!

    So that's where Chazz went the past two Thursdays, and yes I've officially become one of "those" dog owners (and he's not even MY dog!).  I'm not one to gossip, but I will say the names of the owner's of the dogs that Chazz hob knobbed with the past two weeks, rhyme with Donny Repp and Lennifer Caniston!  So fast forward to yesterday when Lisa said she would be happy to have Chazz for the day.  She only needed to leave the house for a few minutes to pick up the boys from their last day of school.  Since we all know that Chazz doesn't like to be left alone, she figured he'd be OK in the backyard for 20 minutes with her two dogs.  Guess again:


    Who knew that Chazz could fit through a doggie door made for a shih tzu?  He can...and he destroyed Lisa's blinds in the process!


    Andy reprimanding Chazz



    Poor Chazz and his abandonment issues!  Needless to say, we'll be going shopping for new blinds soon.  In the meantime, Andy and I took him on a nature hike last night and saw all kinds of imaginary wildlife and made some new friends as this video will attest:


    "Coyotes & Crocodiles...Bye blog readers!  See you later!"

    After we made it to the park, Lisa & Tommy picked us up and we went to dinner.  It was a beautiful Southern California evening!



      












    Best of the rest...

    Oh, and speaking of flat screen TVs, I went on Best Buy's website the other day and noticed that the new TV I bought 2 weeks ago was on sale for $200 less than what I paid for it.  So, I went to Best Buy and demanded my $200 and got it!  Time for a Blu-Ray??

     

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

  • Posted by CareyGLY

    Who's Afraid of the Chazzmanian Devil?


    Ever since I got this text message from Paul a couple of weeks ago, I've been nervous about how this week was going to go:

      

    As the proprietor of a world class, luxury, fake boutique hotel, I want my guests to be comfortable.  But, needless to say, Chazz comes first...so if they don't like the dog, they best call the aptly named Ramada Limited!  Admittedly, when you see some of the damage that Chazz has done, you might think he's a little wild.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  He just doesn't like to be left alone!

    Well, I'm happy to report that Chazz has cured Emili's canine phobia.   In fact, they're becoming the best of friends.  Prior to meeting Chazz, she would never have gotten this close to a dog!





    In fact, Emili has been making friends all over town!



    We've had a few great dinners and the weather has been nice, despite June Gloom!






    French Canada & Vietnam meets Guatemala, meets America!








    A peaceful dinner with Chazz the Uniter

CareyGLY

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About Carey Anthony

  • I was born and raised in Chicago, and have lived in Los Angeles (West Hollywood) since 2002. For the 5 years prior to that however, I literally had no home. I simply traveled. I owned nothing but clothes, books and my camera. Since 1990 I've traveled to all continents and have learned many things. I like to read and write. I love movies. I tend to be prolific in a scarce world. I value humor in every relationship. I'm prompt to a fault. I'd rather spend time with children than adults. If you like what you read or see here, leave a comment or send me an email at careygly at gmail dot com. Thanks!

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