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:
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!
While much of America digs out from record snowfall from a storm that originated as 6 days of rare rain here in California; we ended up having a pretty beautiful Christmas Day. I am very glad that I did not fly anywhere for the holidays. The rain we had most of last week was complete with mudslides, hail and the now obligatory double rainbow. The week of crazy weather didn’t phase Santa however, and the kids in our family (including me) had a wonderful Christmas. It was certainly better than last Christmas, when 2 of us ended up in the emergency room and 9 of us came down with the stomach flu! Here are some images and videos from the week, including my favorite Christmas present:
If you’d like to know the story behind this, click here!Thanks Lisa & Joel!
To explain how the week ended with me in the back of a police car, we have to back up to the beginning. It was another busy week at The Hotel Careyfornia. Mike was in town on yet another stop on his trip around the world. Darlene came home from her summer in Michigan with fresh pasties. I took Arielle to the pumpkin patch, which has become somewhat of a tradition. The night before Halloween was spent at Griffith Park Observatory with Sam & Charlotte. It was an unusually clear day in Los Angeles and as the sun set into the Pacific, Halloween was upon us. As I wondered how I could top my outfit 2 years ago, when Sarah Palin was running for vice president and I was a moose in a bulletproof vest; and last year, when I was Balloon Boy’s dad, taking pictures with all the cute Balloon Boys; it struck me. This year I would take the conservative route, and dress as a nice, Midwestern, pedophile priest! It was a lot of fun. Surprisingly, no one was offended by my costume. Even the (real) cops asked to take my picture. The best costume of the night for me was the BP Oil Spill. There were lots of Chilean miners and Snookies and of course standard Lady GaGa fare. Let the fun begin:
I had never been in the back of a police car before…it was REALLY uncomfortable!
Bless me father for I have sinned!
No trick or treating, but there was plenty of eye candy…tricks and treats!
I got to hang out with a lot of other priests, nuns and popes…even Jesus and the devil!
For those of you unfamiliar with Ms. Grandin’s work, I highly recommend the movie, which is available on HBO On Demand in the U.S. There are also several clips on YouTube. I’ve been a fan of Temple Grandin for quite some time. Her insights into autism are truly ground breaking. I also encourage anyone with an autistic relative to take the time (3 hours) to watch her fascinating C-Span interview:
…brings us together with our dogs by making us understand that in essence dogs feel the same things that we as humans do. Grandin is a person with autism and acutely understands how dogs make us human. She tells us that dogs share the same basic emotions that we as humans do. They feel joy, sorrow, fear, happiness and unhappiness. This book teaches dog owners how to best set up their dogs to live a full and happy life.
In the touching book, the sentimental author shows us how she thinks like an animal in that she pictures words not as letters but in pictures and thus can relate to dogs on their level. It is intriguing and awe inspiring to read how she looks at the world and learns how she believes we should relate to our dogs. It is a fascinating read full of insight and great tips on how to keep your dog a happy one. Anyone who loves dogs will enjoy this book thoroughly. There isn’t a book like it anywhere that’s for sure. Read more…
So congratulations to Temple Grandin. I’m sure this Emmy will will expose her important work to many more people around the world. See? Hollywood ain’t so bad! Here are a few more photos from the week:
Great photobomb Cole!!And I didn’t even have to use this:
A friend of the family sent me this the other day:
“Despite the premise of the 1980s animated film series, “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” many fundamental Christians believe that their pets have no souls. When the end of days finally arrives and Jesus returns to earth to gather up his saints, all of the believers’ beloved cats and dogs will be left behind to starve and face the apocalypse alone. So, what is a devoted pet owner and firm believer in the Rapture to do? Hire an official blasphemer and card-carrying atheist, who has been thoroughly vetted as a profane sinner with no chance of salvation according to Mark 3:29, of course! A company called Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, USA has gathered a motley crew of about 100 reprobates in 22 states, who are also animal lovers, and will rescue pets abandoned after theRapture for a small, non-refundable fee of $110.
Eternal Earth-Bound Pets is the brainchild of Bart Centre, 61, a retired resident of New Hampshire, who apparently became bored working part-time at the local Home Depot and decided to try something different. Why not make a buck off of the crazy Christian fundamentalists waiting for the Rapture to occur? Centre’s sales pitch, inscribed on t-shirts, coffee mugs, bumper stickers and the like says it all: “The next best thing to pet salvation in a post rapture world.”
“If you love your pets,” says Centre, “I can’t understand how you could not consider this.”
“You’ve committed your life to Jesus. You know you’re saved. But when the Rapture comes what’s to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind. We are a group of dedicated animal lovers, and atheists. Each Eternal Earth-Bound Pet representative is a confirmed atheist, and as such will still be here on Earth after you’ve received your reward. Our network of animal activists are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus.”
Centre assures potential clients that he screens all pet rescuers to make sure they are indeed atheists and have no plans “to meet the Lord in the air” when the second coming arrives.” Read more…
Man! I wish I would have thought of that! It’s a perfect example making money off of fundamental Christianity run amok! As the website states:
“Once you pay your fee of $110, the rapture pet rescue contract is good for 10 years. If the rapture doesn’t come by that time, too bad. What if blasphemous loved ones are left behind and are able to care for the pets — Will they receive a refund? No. How long will it take for the atheist pet rescuers to arrive? Fluffy and Rocky will be rescued, as soon as possible, considering there will be widespread destruction and chaos”:
“Naturally, we must anticipate that there will be widespread chaos and confusion immediately following the Rapture that could impact travel times. Thus, we are targeting a maximum of between 18- 24 hours from realization of the Rapture, to animal rescue.” Read more…
Love it! And seeing how the current “Rapture Index” of 173 is close to the all time high of 182, time’s a ticking. As a card carrying atheist heathen, I’m glad to know that Chazz and I will face the rapture hand in paw.
This is a great piece on fundamentalism…Christianity has its flaws but at least I’m able to criticize the current criminal pope without fear of a fatwa!
UPDATE: The creator and co-owner of the website “Eternal Earth-Bound Pets” that I refer to here, just wrote me with the following comments regarding the article I quoted. I had a discussion with some Facebook friends about whether the company has actually collected revenue for their services, and Mr. Centre has confirmed that fact.A true Atheist American success story!
Carey,
Thank you for your discussion of my post rapture pet rescue business.
Just to correct two small errors:
1)We do not have “a motley crew of about 100 reprobates” rescuers in 22 states.At the time the article was written we hat 26 rescuers in 22 states, and one-hundred paying rapture believing clients.As of this writing, we have added 3 additional rescuers and have just under 200 clients under contract for our post rapture pet rescue service.
2) As for being “motley” and/ or “reprobates,” actually all our rescuers are gainfully employed, have families, love pets, and have no criminal record per our criminal back ground checks.All are financially solvent as confirmed by credit checks also conducted on all our rescuers.
Speaking of heathens…I went to church yesterday! No, it wasn’t to pay my respects to a cosmic Jewish zombie, and no I didn’t burst into flames upon entry. I went for Tressa’s First Communion. I was there to support her and her family who I love very much. As I’ve stated in this space before, going to church does bring back some fond memories of the more ritualistic things I actually used to enjoy about Catholicism. (I was never molested by a priest…guess I wasn’t cute enough.) A few times yesterday, I found myself reciting rote responses from memory and my cousin leaned over and said “It never quite leaves you, does it?” How true! (Though I must admit, I felt a little queasy when they asked us to pray for the current Pedo Pusher Pope. In my opinion that slimeball should rot in jail!) At any rate, it was a beautiful day and Tressa looked so pretty! She had a really great time, as the photos in the slideshow below should attest; and in the end that’s what’s most important!
As I was packing today for a trip to my childhood home of Chicago, I came across a poem I had written as a child of 7, in 1972. It was in the same suitcase I stuffed it in when I last found it two years ago. (I’m such a packrat!) It’s good to know that my poetry hasn’t improved much in all these years. (Exhibits: A, B, C, D, E, F)
Toot toot indeed!
It was a busy week at The Hotel Careyfornia. I was dog sitting Roxy all week, and she garnered a lot of attention in West Hollywood! A pregnant Christine, with her husband Drew and cutie pie Lance checked in on Friday. We had a wonderful visit. On Wednesday, we had a mini Xanga/Tumblr meetup with Sion, Jimmy, Brian & Jedd. It was fun hanging out with all of them. On Tuesday, Mica and I went to a free screening of a film called “Mother & Child“, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Naomi Watts and Annette Benning. It was a really powerful film, and I highly recommend it when it opens in May. Samuel L. Jackson showed up for a Q&A afterward. Oddly, he didn’t remember me from the Vanity Fair party on Oscar Night. LOL. Thursday, Lisa and I took the boys for an earth day dinner at Dove Canyon. When I asked Andy and Tommy about what Earth Day was, this was their response:
No mention of eating worms!
Some photos from the week:
Mica fell in love with Roxy, and I thought she might dognap her before Dar & Gary returned from their honeymoon last night!
Mother & Child screening with Sam Jackson at the LA Film Institute
The event went off without a hitch, save for me forgetting the exchange of the rings before I pronounced them husband and wife. Minor detail. Since I was busy performing the ceremony, there’s no viral video of the event. (I’m usually the one video recording and snapping photos at family events. I did threaten to attach a “preacher cam” around my neck prior to the ceremony, but in the end opted for decorum. LOL.)
The wedding was at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach and the whole thing took about 5 minutes. I was warned to keep it short, as I have a tendency to be loquacious. Even so, I did manage to work in a slight jab at Sarah Palin, by explaining to the assembled guests that because of the groom’s upper Midwest vernacular, if he said “You betcha” instead of “I do“, it was NOT a nod to Caribou Barbie. I also managed to give Apple some free advertising by pulling out my iPod Touch for the official part of the ceremony, joking “There’s an app for that” and hoping apple would give me a free iPad once they got wind of iVows.
I also threatened to sing “A Whole New World” from Aladdin…in Italian and quoted from “Rent” and La Boheme. The reception was on Lake Mission Viejo and afterward the newlyweds checked into The Hotel Careyfornia for a 2 hour nap before their 5 AM flight to Cancun. Today everyone is resting after a whirlwind few days. I’m readying for the next wave of guests next weekend and then I’m off to Chicago for a week. Congratulations to Darlene & Gary! Thanks for asking me to marry you!
It’s amazing how much the kids have changed from just last Easter. Chazz however, hasn’t changed much. He’s still as rambunctious as ever. Though I’m pleased to inform you that the reports of the Easter Bunny’s death, have been greatly exaggerated:
We had a nice weekend. Andy climbed his first tree on Friday and in the process created the title of this blog entry:
On Saturday we colored eggs and on Easter Sunday we hit Laguna Beach to scout the spot where I’ll be performing Darlene & Gary’s wedding ceremony in two weeks. It’s a beautiful location! Just after we left the beach, the earthquake struck. Though it wasn’t The Great Quake of ’09, it was long and rolling. I’ve never felt an earthquake while driving. It was like going over hills even though it was flat. I thought my transmission was dropping out!
I’m starting to get the hang of my new camera, and like it more each day. Yesterday, we celebrated Colby’s 9th birthday at Knott’s Berry Farm (America’s first and oldest theme park) and the kids really had a great time. This was my favorite shot of the day:
For a full screen version, click here. Even though Colby wasn’t smiling, I didn’t use this. LOL
I didn’t do anything special…just waited for the light to be right, and used a manual setting at 1/60 of a second, 200 ISO, F 2.8, average white balance, and Canon’s vivid color setting. I’m admittedly still leaning how to use some of the touch screen’s focus and balance features. I haven’t even played with the blink detection yet, though it seems like more of a gimmick; along with the smile detection. I wonder if they will ever add any of these features??
LOL
By the way, this was my first camera ever. I got it from my aunt when I was 8 years old in 1973. It cost $9.95, and I still have it. I don’t remember what film and flash bulbs cost back then…not to mention developing. I’ll have to dig out some of the photos I took with this camera and show you guys some time. They weren’t bad!
I’ll have a lot more practice later this week, as we’re having another mini-GLY reunion. Sabine is flying in from Germany and Marcelo and Emily and Vonda & Nate are coming down, along with a few other surprises. Should be a very busy visit, but we’re all looking forward to it. Here are a few more photos from yesterday. Enjoy!
I got soaked on the log ride!
Tommy went on his first big roller coaster and wasn’t too sure at first; but he eventually loved it, as did his friends!
OK, let me rephrase that. I 
LOL 
