It’s been a busy few weeks at The Hotel Careyfornia. Lots of visitors…lots of great meals and very little sleep. If you’re thinking of visiting Southern California, make your reservations soon; as we’re getting quite full for the summer, LOL! I’m getting great use out of my new camera. Here are some shots from the past two weeks:

B & L brought the kids up to Hollywood and we had a blast! Click here for more photos

The next weekend, B & L had us over for an oceanfront barbecue in Santa Barbara. Click here for more photos


Beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. Click here for more photos


The kids had a great Easter! Click here for more photos


Jennifer cooked a great Easter dinner! Click here for more photos

Hugo arrived from NYC last Wednesday and between that and the Royal Wedding, I haven’t slept since then! Click here for more photos

Of course Claudio hosted a Brazilian barbecue! Click here for more photos

Hooray for Hugowood! Click here for more photos

More satisfied guests! Click here for more photos

My neighbor’s new puppy…she’s a Chiweenie (Dachshund and Chihuahua mix!)

I managed to squeeze in dinner with Owen last week. Click here for more photos

Our traditional Thursday family dinner. Click here for more photos

No, I WILL NOT fix your computer! LOL Click above for video

We were driving home from the Hollywood Sign last night when the Twitterverse exploded with the news.
I was with these guys on 9/11 and the year after in NYC. We all watched the President’s speech together last night.
Now THAT’S what I call “mission accomplished” GW!

Thanks to everyone who made my 45th birthday yesterday, so special.  The festivities actually started Thursday night when I had dinner with my family and then drove up to Oxnard to celebrate Claudio’s birthday.  This is our 20th year celebrating our birthdays together.  Last year I made him sit through the Rodger’s & Hammerstein retrospective at the Hollywood Bowl on my birthday.  This year, we celebrated in Santa Barbara on Friday and had a big Brazilian barbecue on Saturday.  The parties continued through yesterday, and I must say I am exhausted…and so is Chazz and his friend Blanca:

Of all the many birthday greetings I received on facebook and on cards and emails, a few really stood out:

This one referenced, one of my favorite songs, “Brimful of Asha” by Cornershop.

There’s a good breakdown of the lyrics here and a short documentary here; but basically, “on the 45″ refers to old fashioned record albums that played records at 45 rpm instead of the standard 33 rpm (rotations per minute).  A life on the 45 may be faster paced and generally more exciting??  That’s what I’ll go with anyway!  I’ve always loved the song…and now I’m 45 years old.  So bring it on life!  Here are more photos from the weekend:

Celebrating with Andy & Tommy!

Beautiful Santa Barbara, CA

The Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market

The dogs had a blast!

Ryan & Eva

The Gang

Claudio the grill master

A Bavarian Bretzel with Nutella!  Nom nom!

Dinner with Meghan, Roberto, their new baby Daniela, Eva, Bassam, & Ken

Ryan framed some of my Chazz photos!

Here are the best of the rest:

Really Sarah???

Exactly 20 years ago, one of my favorite bands Midnight Oil; played a half hour concert in front of the Exxon building in New York City:

And 40 years ago, the oil spill that spawned the modern environment movement, happened right here on the coast of Santa Barbara, where we visited this weekend.  As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald:

It took Santa Barbara decades to recover.  We may not be so lucky this time…and poor BP, just wants their old life back!  Suffice it to say if Sarah Palin ever becomes president, the number of disasters like this would increase ten fold.  Speaking of Santa Barbara, here are my photos from this weekend.

 

Best of the rest…

I also almost bought an iPad this weekend, but I decided to wait until they could do this:

I also took Chazz on a photoshoot recently, to showcase the beautiful flowers California constantly has blooming.  Enjoy the show: 

We had a great weekend in the San Francisco Bay area.  Bassam, Bine and I drove up Friday, and arrived at Tom & Cathy’s oceanfront home just as the party was getting started.  Youenn flew in from Boston and Mariana graced us with her presence all weekend.  Risa & Luis invited us to a most amazing brunch in the Castro on Sunday; and with our stomachs full and our hearts happy, Bassam and I drove back to Santa Barbara.  Bine flew back to Germany last night, but she’ll be back in LA in May.  It was a whirlwind 9 days with little sleep, but our GLY Gang had a great reunion, as the photos will attest.  Speaking of photos, have you seen the new “Content Aware” feature of the new Photoshop?  Watch the video on the left first, and prepare to be amazed.  The video on the right takes it to a whole other level.  I actually don’t use or know how to use Photoshop.  If I did, I would probably never leave the computer.  I use Picasa to edit my photos.  I typically crop them and remove the red eyes.  Sometimes I’ll saturate them, but lately since I got my new camera, I haven’t had to.  I do sometimes use the graduated tint filter if the sky is too bright, and I will occasionally warmify flesh tones.  That’s about the extent of my editing capabilities.  Nothing like this:

Saturday morning, Patrick and I had a treasure hunt.  Take a look at the video:

Here are a few of the weekend photos.  I’ll be in New York later this week and may have some exciting news on Thursday.  Keep your fingers crossed  for me and stay tuned!

Another beautiful sunset from Tom & Cathy’s back yard

Playing a new form of tag with Patrick

Body by Patrick

Self portrait at 2 AM in the back yard

4 hours later, we were up

And breakfast was served

Mariana playing with the kids

Seaside rock collecting

Buddies

Sun roof photo while heading to brunch in San Francisco, approaching Dolores Park

The brunch menu included:  Jalapeno Avocado Soup, Torta Rustica, Shrimp Etouffe, Arroz con Pollo, Pan Perdue & Strawberry Rhubarb Tart!

The Mission in Santa Barbara

Photo fun with Patrick.  Click for more…

Best of the rest…

“Tonight, we answered the call of history as so many generations of Americans have before us. When faced with crisis, we did not shrink from our challenge — we overcame it. We did not avoid our responsibility — we embraced it. We did not fear our future — we shaped it.” President Barack Obama

We got home from Santa Barbara last night just as the President was finishing his remarks.  Though the debate rages on via my Facebook page (thanks to both the Davids); real reform is on its way.  After this vile display last week, it’s pretty clear that the Republicans and the racist teabaggers really thought this was all about welfare:

Anyway, we had a great weekend with very little sleep.  Bine and Lindsay arrived Friday night along with Carolina, Eva, Vonda, Nate, Bianca and Julia.   We had 9 people sleeping in my little condo, so it was similar to this.  Saturday we went to Claudio & Ryan’s for a Brazilian barbecue.  Sunday we spent a hazy day at the beach in Santa Barbara before dropping Marcelo off at the airport.  Two hours later, I got a text that there had been a small plane crash in Santa Barbara, and Marcelo was being shuttled to LAX.  So off to the airport again I went, and we had him for another night!  Everyone woke up at 5 this morning, and we were on our way back to the airport at 5:30 AM.  Next weekend, Bassam, Bine and I will head up to Tom & Cathy’s in San Francisco to see little Patrick and Youenn (who I haven’t seen since we traversed the Alps last summer!) and Mariana.  Should be another great weekend!  Here are this past weekend’s photos:

Who knew Chazz was part giraffe and part Scooby Doo?

 
The gang at LAX and The Hotel Careyfornia

No caption needed!


Lindsay & Chazz


Ryan & Chazz

Good food, good friends

Bassam finally showed up!

Up on the roof

Eva’s neighbor’s front yard in Santa Barbara

Chazz & Riley the herbivore

The haze cleared when we went to campus

One last supper

Before heading back to Los Angeles

Best of the rest…

Seasons Of Love – Original Bro…

So yesterday, I’m walking down Santa Monica Blvd. with Heather & Brian’s son who’s 7 years old. While I’m holding his hand I reach into my pocket for my camera and discreetly take this photo while trying to distract him with conversation. I wasn’t sure if he had even noticed this person on the bike or that the “person” had a beard; but after we passed the bike, this wide eyed little boy looked up at me and said, “Well that was embarrassing!” I responded that yes, indeed it was. He asked why someone would dress like that. I told him that it was probably for attention. He asked “Why?”, to which I replied that the person on the bike probably didn’t have a mommy and daddy who paid a lot of attention to them, and that they probably liked to shock people to get attention. I told him he was lucky to have so many people in his life that love him. He looked up at me and said, “That makes sense.” (I didn’t tell him that the person has their own facebook page and Twitter feed and goes by “WeHo Tranny on a Bike”. I’ll wait until he’s 10 for that. More power to Tranny though. She says her calling is to spread joy and acceptance.

Recently my friend Doug sent me a link to this website:

  

It’s a site where you can submit photos similar to this.  As described on their website:

WHAT IS PEOPLE OF WALMART.COM?
You know that creature you spot every time you go shopping at certain chain department stores? That’s People of Walmart.  It’s like spotting the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot except, since it’s Walmart, way more common.  Take a picture of it then tell us about your creature and your spotting.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PICTURE IS APPROPRIATE?
If you think the person would be classified as “a Walmart shopper” then chances are good it works.  Funny looking people, crazy outfits, the creepiest of the creepy, and the ugliest of the ugly will do. HOWEVER, we do not wish to poke fun at people who, through no fault of their own, are handicapped. Absolutely NO pictures of someone mentally or physically handicapped will be added to the Website.

  

So…I submitted my photo.  The prize is a $100 Walmart gift card, which I guess would allow me to take more pictures of “creatures”.  LOL  It’s going to be hard to beat some of these past winners!  I’ll let you guys know if I win!!

In the meantime here are the rest of my weekend photos.  After our run in with the Fairy Godmonster, we headed up to Claudio & Ryan’s for a barbecue.  A good time was had by all.  Tomorrow we’re going to the Jay Leno show, so watch for us on TV!

Cuddling on Sunday morning


Living the Hollywood life

Another beautiful day at The Hotel Careyfornia!

Eva & Chazz, together again!


Claudio manning the grill


Chazz, Bine, Bassam, Eva, Ryan, Claudio, Alex, Danny & Steven

Who’s a good dog?

The whole gang together again!

Click here for the best of the rest…

Here at The Hotel Careyfornia, we pride ourselves on offering the finest accommodations of any fake luxury boutique hotel in Southern California.  This past weekend however, we were filled to capacity, and our guests had to resort to sleeping wherever they could find a spot. 

Is it too late to request bailout money to expand our facilities??

Of course there wasn’t much sleeping going on at all.  I don’t think I got more than 4 hours sleep since Friday, as these photos show:

Bassam managed to stay awake through the whole Rodgers & Hammerstein spectacular, even though he had just flown in from Jordan and his arms were tired!

They even surprised me with a cake!

None of my friends had ever been to the Hollywood Bowl…it was such a great show and I was so happy to share it with them!

Even Claudio, who pretended to hate Rodger’s & Hammerstein, secretly loved it!  He even invited our hotel’s maintenance man!  Love ya Ryan!!!!

A very happy birthday!

I wonder if Eva will make this her Facebook profile picture…the current one is just of her feet!  It’s not “Footbook” Eva!

The front lawn of The H.C. with the GLY Gang

Outside the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, from “Pretty Woman”

Carey’s Angels have halos!

Marcelo & Emily had this “5 Star Hotel Careyfornia” sweatshirt made for me…and on the sleeve there’s a drawing of Oreo with the words, “Dogs Welcome”.  Isn’t that awesome?  I’m acquiring a whole line of Hotel Careyfornia merchandise!  T-shirts, placemats, towels, and of course our flagship’s sign!  Thanks to my wonderful friends for an amazing birthday!

Click here for the best of the rest…

This song suits all of my friends! 
If you like it, support Sam Tsui..he’s amazing!

Hugo, Claudio & I have been friends for nearly 20 years.  As a child, Hugo had an dream that, without going into detail, prevented him from ever visiting the state of California.  When Claudio moved here last year, we both lamented the fact that our good friend would not be able to visit us here.  Fast forward to Thursday, when Hugo bravely flew from New York to Los Angeles, to help me and Claudio celebrate our birthdays; and a new tradition began.  Then Friday, Marcelo & Emily flew in from Portland and we headed up to Ventura County where we had a big Brazilian barbecue with Eva & Bassam in attendance.  Later tonight we head to the Hollywood Bowl for the Rodger’s & Hammerstein spectacular.  I’ll let the videos and pictures speak for themselves.  Ciao!

No, for once the title of this blog is not referring to Sarah Palin (though it’s an apt description).  “The Devil With Boobs” is a play, written by  Dario Fo.  He’s an Italian satirist and playwright who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1997 and in 2007 he was ranked joint seventh with Stephen Hawking in The Telegraph‘s list of 100 greatest living geniuses.  I went to see the show with Carolina & Bill on Friday night.  I was warned that the humor was “scatological” in nature, and I must say, that was an understatement!

Broadway World opines, “In THE DEVIL WITH BOOBS, Sub-Devil First Class Barlocco has an important mission: possess the crusading and chaste judge Alfonso de Tristano and turn him into a lecherous sex maniac. When Barlocco possesses the Judge’s housekeeper instead, insanity and gender bending wackiness ensues. Dario Fo’s THE DEVIL WITH BOOBS is equal parts savage political satire and wild lust filled romp!“ 

I must say, the play was brilliantly performed.  The lead actress, Katherine Griffith, was outstanding.  And Phillip Rhys, from Nip/Tuck and 24 was delightful to watch.  If you’re in LA, and don’t mind salty language and some nudity, check out this play!

 

Today, Eva & Bassam met me at Claudio & Ryan’s for another Brazilian barbecue.  Claudio’s getting quite good at making pao de queijo!

 
Though he still hasn’t mastered the blender.   This was some hideous papaya dessert that went terribly wrong!

   

Finally, here’s a little something to start your week off right:

It has been a crazy weekend, but a lot of fun.  It’s after 2 AM and I just have a few minutes to post these pictures and then I have to get ready for my trip tomorrow morning (this morning).  I still have laundry to do and I have to clean the house as Luis & David will be staying here while I’m out of town.  (The Hotel Careyfornia is even busy when I’m not here!)  Claudio’s Brazilian BBQ was a hit yesterday, and he even made feijoada.  Yum!  Chazz is still growing like a weed.  Afterwards I headed up to Santa Barbara to see Tom & Cathy and little Patrick.  Bassam hosted a great party last night and we all had a great time.  Today I came back to LA in time for two Oscar parties.  I thought the ceremony was fantastic this year…the best in a long time, maybe ever!  I got 19 out of 24 predictions right, and won the pool for the 2nd year in a row!  On the way home I walked down DeLongpre because I knew that one of the locks on the garage door of  the Sunset Plaza Hotel is busted.  I was able to sneak in to the hotel and take the elevator up to Sunset Blvd. next to where the Vanity Fair Oscar party was being held.  There were people who had been waiting there all day and I just walked out the hotel door and started snapping photos, LOL.  The LAPD were being assholes though, and it was really hard to get good pictures.  I had to get home but I hung out for about 45 minutes and got to see Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, Mickey Rourke, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams Frank Langella, Anne Hathaway, Jon Voight, Robert Pattinson, Gwen Stefani,  and that awesome Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto guy, hoisting his Oscar and waving to the crowd!     I don’t have time to go through all of the photos now, but here’s a sampling:

The Vanity Fair party 2 blocks from my house

Jon Voight

That’s Mickey Rourke in the white coat and hat

If you look closely, you can see Kate Winslet holding her Oscar

Kate Winslet again

I’ll have to through the rest of these later!

Let’s hear it for the boys (and Daisy, LOL)

Eva & Patrick

Breakfast with Patick

Ryan being butch

Click here for the best of the rest…

I took this out the sun roof on the way home from Santa Barbara