Today we celebrated 2 milestones.  My uncle’s 80th birthday and my cousin’s 16th birthday!  Both pretty important numbers as birthdays are concerned.  I gave my uncle a card that was for a 40th birthday, but I wrote “times two (x 2)” in front of the 40.  My rationale was that I hope I look half as good as my uncle when I’m 80!

It’s amazing how fast the kids are growing.  Look at Kyle, Cody, Kevin, Kenny and Emily in these photos starting just 5 years ago when I first moved to LA:

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Meanwhile, I’m just getting greyer and fatter.  LOL.  Here are a few more pics from the party.  Have a good week everyone!

Christmas Eve Eve is the birthday of one of my oldest and one of my newest friends.  And they’re both divas in their own right.  So here’s to Hugo and Christine!!  Oh night divine , indeed!!  GLY.

I know I’m going to regret this one day…but here goes nothin…. 

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Guess who’s feeling better!!!  I’m so happy little Colin is out of the hospital and will be spending a Merry Christmas in Hong Kong with his Mommy & Daddy.  Thanks for the “Jungle Bells” Colin.  You’re my Christmas angel. xoxoxoxo

Merry Xmas, especially to Ma me Ma, 公公, Mummy, Daddy and Uncle Carey!

媽咪媽，公公﹕

多謝你哋照顧我，陪我玩！雖然我成日玩媽咪媽，其他我都好錫你哋嫁，第日大個一定會好好孝順你哋！ merry Xmas!

Hello Uncle Carey:

Thanks
for your blessing again!  I’ve told others that you’ve sent your best
wishes to me on your weblog!  Thank you!  Hope you have an enjoyable
and lovely Xmas!  I’d like to send a song “Jungle bell” to you all!

Yesterday was Darlene’s birthday, so the family gathered at a pizza/pasta place and celebrated.  The kids played video games and a good time was had by all.  I had to go into my office yesterday so I took the dogs and then Lisa came to pick them up, so they played with her dogs all day.  I have a couple of friends in town this weekend, so will probably take a couple of days off blogging.  I hope everyone has a nice weekend. –Carey

 

Here are the last of the weekend photos, and a video of a drunken Daniel, channeling Mick Jagger.  As you can see from the pictures, I didn’t get much sleep at all.  What else is new?

Oh, and I guess now we know why Mike Tyson looked so pissed in the photo below that I took of him on the plane to Phoenix the other day.

Mike Tyson pleads guilty to drug possession

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MESA,Arizona (Reuters) – Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson pleaded guilty to drug possession and driving under the influence in an Arizona court on Monday.

His plea stemmed from an arrest last December in which authorities said Tyson, who has a long history of legal problems, admitted to using cocaine that day and to being addicted to the drug.

He now faces up to three years and nine months in prison for the felony possession charge and up to six months in jail for the misdemeanour DUI count. The 41-year-old boxer is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19.  Read more…

And speaking of “Tysons“.  This year’s token Asian on Beauty & the Geek is Tony, who distinguished himself in the first episode as the most sensitive of this year’s crop of geeks, without being characterized by many of the typical Asian stereotypes.  Not since Tyson, has a contestant portrayed himself so well and tried to break the mold (Remember Piao?? Ugh).  Spoiler Alert….

Unfortunately though, Tony was the first to go.  (Rapping for 3-6 Mafia, just wasn’t his forte, LOL.)  Tony we hardly knew ya.

You can’t deny he’s adorable.  In one scene he’s crying because he’s afraid of getting hurt by a girl.  Sound familiar?  Farewell Tony.  (Is my ”favoritism” that obvious?  LOL)  P.S. If that “beauty” Sam isn’t gay, then the Pope doesn’t wear Prada.  That guy is so botoxed it’s ridiculous.  I’m wondering if they didn’t just find an actor to play that part.  I wonder if Tyson can find out?  Sam’s ridiculous profile:

UGH!  Spare me the rhetoric!

We drove home from San Diego yesterday and this morning I flew to Phoenix to attend my best friend Daniel’s surprise 40th birthday party.   It’s late and I’m tired, so I’m just going to post a few pics and will write more tomorrow.   Peace.

On the way home, the border patrol stopped traffic and caught three people being smuggled in.

And took them right back to Mexico

Guess who was on the flight from LA to Phoenix??

Sophie & Nina

Mia & Lemony Snicket

Daddy & Gabriel

Carey & Sophie

Sophie & Abby

Daniel looking surprised

Daniel & his hero, James Joyce

Channeling Mick Jagger

• Bassam, if I am a naughty, nasty, bad boy, then I’m in good company with you and Bill Clinton (and now good ole’ Larry Craig):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Vs5570pKw 
• Carolina, if I’m the glue, you are the varnish.  I hope we’re able to spend more time together this year.
• Hugo!  What can I say?  You’re the Keats to my Yeats, the Stones to my Beatles, one of the truest, brightest shining stars on this planet.  Your words as always are overwhelming, and I look forward to the next 15 years.
• Bine, lovely wife.  Even though you’re cheating on me with another man, you remain my first love   It is you, with your selfless passion and your kind soul that reminds me every day how to be a better person.  I love you. (You too, Alan)
• Drizinha – The little sister I never had.  You are an integral part of this family, and you bring so much to our lives.  Though you are thousands of miles away, your light shines brighter than the Brazilian sun.
• Mom & Dad Diversi, I don’t know that you know how much it means to me when you write me notes, in English no less.  I feel as welcome in your home as I do in my own, and that is a true testament to what wonderful loving parents you are.  My fondest memories in life, are in your back yard with good food and good friends.
• Beate & Matthias, since you entered our lives we have learned so much.  We have learned what true love looks like, and I have learned to take better pictures!  For all of that, I thank you.
• Sweet Joelle, I too treasure our friendship.  As fellow Chicagoans we have always been kindred spirits.  I will be here to hold your hand as you slowly enter the 21st century!
• Claudio, you are my oldest friend (not that kind of oldest, but Happy Birthday to YOU too!), and though we seldom see each other, the laughter we share whenever we are together will last a lifetime.  See you in the nursing home.  Practice your cartwheels (and your English).
• Emily, our junior member!  Your poise and grace are the perfect complement to your husband’s samba flare!    I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you and your family, and I’m so glad you’re in our lives.
• Beautiful Eva, you speak from personal experience.  Of the literally thousands of photos I’ve taken of you, I don’t have any without a smile on your face (save for one blurry moment in Seville years ago)   I am honored to share my stage with you and hold your hand always.
• Vonda, Vonda, Vonda – what can I say?  You said it all in your own inimitable style!  Thank you for being the mother of of this far flung flock.  You’re so very good at that.
• Tom & Cathy – How wonderful it was to see you last weekend.  Your son is the testament to a life well lived and a love that makes us all gush.  I look forward to many more visits to your palatial gypsy homes!
• And last, but certainly not least, Marcelo, my brother.  You pulled off the coup of the century.  Who would have thought that the least organized member of our family would be the driving force in a tribute that paled in comparison to anything I’ve ever done.  You have taught me tolerance, kindness and compassion.  Your music and passion are always in fashion.  You were the impetus 10 years ago that merged people from different backgrounds, orientations and views into a cohesive family not bound by blood, but by love.  How do you measure a year in the life of friends?  How about love.

Apparently my birthday messages to all of my far flung friends have not gone unnoticed,  because when I woke up this morning I had been sent this wonderful PowerPoint presentation, that touched me like no other birthday gift I’ve ever received.  Marcelo even recorded himself playing the guitar and singing!  You’ll have to hear it to know how beautiful it is.  Thank you to my fabulous friends and thanks to all of you who sent such nice birthday wishes.  I’m truly touched.  Thanks also to my family for such a nice time tonight and to my parents and everyone who called today.  42 isn’t bad at all!  Thanks again.  –Carey

GLY,  friend!!!

May this day be even kinder to you…

Here is a techno-humble gift from us.  Forgive my incompetence in packaging the power point slide show with the audio file I made to go along with it.  Daringly, I am asking you to download the music file so you can play it in the background as you watch the slide show.

Some of us are tech-challenged.  Some of us aren’t but can’t be bothered with it.  But together we have the warmth of a mother’s hug…

Marcelo

This is Marcelo, playing the guitar and singing “I Will Survive”  Gloria Gaynor’s got nothing on Marcelo!  Sorry girls (and boys),  I know his accent is dreamy, but he’s happily married.

The “gang” in Brazil on New Year’s Eve

And here are a few photos from dinner with my family tonight:

Andy & Tressa

Where’s Andy?

Guess who climbed into the basketball machine??

Tommy’s toothless smile

Cole & Dar

Andy & Lisa

Jenn & Dar

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
“After a B-52 pilot flew over several U.S. states carrying nuclear warheads, the Air Force said that it would discontinue its use of MapQuest.” — Newsweek satire columnist Andy Borowitz

Bassam flew in from Jordan on Thursday and spent the night at the Hotel Careyfornia.  Friday morning we headed 90 miles north to Santa Barbara to meet up with Eva & eventually Tom & Cathy who were in Portland visiting Marcelo & Emily the first few days.  The heat in California this weekend broke all records.  We mostly hung out at the water and went to a few movies and had many good meals.  (My diet starts….tomorrow, LOL)  We spent Labor Day lounging around.  Tom & Cathy flew in that afternoon with baby Patrick (how he’s grown) and immediately moved into their new, completely furnished house.  We got some sausage and salmon at Trader Joes and had a BBQ topped off with a flourless chocolate birthday cake.  The perfect end to a perfect weekend.  Here are all the pictures, and below the slide show I’ve included some of my favorites from the weekend.