sunset

  • Christmas Eve in the Emergency Room (Twice!)


    T’was the night before Christmas, and down in the kitchen.
    Little Andy was running, soon his head would need stitchin’.
    The stockings were hung by the chimney with nails,
    In hopes that dog Sadie would not them inhale.
    Cole & Tressa were bundled all snug in their beds,
    While Lulu was hurling and needing some meds.
    So off to the hospital again we did race,
    And we whistled and shouted and picked up the pace.
    Dear Tommy and Andy and Tressa and Cole,
    We hope you like Christmas…it sure takes a toll!

    With apologies to Clement C. Moore

    Well, boys will be boys, and this afternoon while 5 year old Andy was running around playing with all of his cousins, he slipped and hit his forehead on the edge of a chair.  It was a pretty deep cut, but luckily very straight.  He took his 10 stitches like a trooper, and was back home in time for a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner with pasta, turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and lots of other delicious food.  After the gift exchange, we headed back to Dar’s to await the kids in the morning for even more presents.  As soon as we got home, Grandma got very sick to her stomach and was throwing up for an hour.  (No, she didn’t get run over by a reindeer!)  So, back to the emergency room!  I wonder if they have a 2 for 1 special?  She’s currently on an IV now to help with her nausea and replenish her fluids.  Still waiting for a doctor.  It’s going to be a long night!  Merry Christmas everyone!

    UPDATE:  Grandma was released from the hospital late on Christmas Day.  I drove her to Dar’s house so she could open her presents and see the kids, and then drove her back home for some much needed rest in her own bed.  She’s still weak, but on the mend.  Thanks to everyone for their concern!  She must be feeling a little better, because when she heard my poem she rolled her eyes and gave me the raised eyebrow!

    UPDATE II:  I have come down with the stomach flu, as have 8 of my cousins.  We’ve all been puking our guts out the past two days.  It truly was the gift that kept on giving this Christmas.  I hope to be all better by Wednesday when I head up to Pacifica for our annual GLY NYE. 


    What a brave little guy he was!


    I always marvel at the Hollywood sign on a clear day.  Even though it took me 2 1/2 hours to drive the 60 miles to my cousin’s house, I listened to Christmas Carols and was in a good mood.


    I took this from my sunroof going 70 mph down the 5 freeway.  This is just past Disneyland.


    As I pulled onto Jennifer’s street, this is what I saw


    Kenny, Tressa and Tommy


    No Italian Christmas is complete without pasta and meatballs!


    Before Grandma got sick :(


    The kid’s table!


    Apparently he didn’t get his two front teeth for Christmas…but he does look like Harry Potter now!


    T’was the night before Christmas…


    Buster, the one eyed horndog and Roxy…waiting for Santa


    Best of the rest…

  • Civil Lights? Do Smokers Have a Right to Smoke Outside?

    “It’s called smokism.  The systematic oppression of a minority, simply because they were born smokers.”  –Stephen Colbert.  Watch, and laugh at the absurdity.  (Click here for an equally funny bonus clip from 1999)

    The city I live in, West Hollywood, California, is considering a ban on smoking at outdoor patios in restaurants and bars.  It’s already illegal to smoke inside any business in California, and it’s becoming the norm in most of the world.  I recognize that my views on this subject may be considered a bit radical and ostensibly selfish.  Some of my best friends (hi Hugo), disagree with me on this subject.  I maintain my position however, as is stated in these Facebook exchanges with fellow Xangan, David.  This all stemmed from a quote by city council member John Duran:

    “People who want to avoid second-hand smoke already have a place to eat, inside the restaurant. So will this stop people from smoking? Or just keep smokers and their friends from coming to West Hollywood?” West Hollywood Council Member John Duran


     

    If you saw (if not you should), the movie “Thank Your For Smoking” you know how downright criminal the tobacco industry is.  If you read the New York Times article about tobacco companies actually increasing the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to make people more addicted; then you know how desperate they are.

    Drinking is not a crime.  But if you drink and drive and end up hurting or killing someone you go to jail.  Being overweight is not a crime.  You won’t end up hurting or killing someone if you’re overweight, except yourself.  Smoking is not a crime.  Yet every smoker who smokes in public runs the risk of hurting or killing someone through secondhand smoke.  And let’s not forget about third hand smoke.

    My mother has always smoked.  She smoked in our house the whole time I lived there, despite me being very asthmatic.  The older I’ve gotten, the more allergic I have become to smoke and the more I’ve resented smokers.  If I even get a whiff of it in a hallway or elevator, I feel my lungs begin to tighten.  That’s how bad it is.  Perhaps some of it’s in my head, but who cares?  I have a physical reaction to smoke.

    I understand that tobacco is one of the hardest addictions to curb.  I understand that tobacco lobbyists are still huge political contributors.  I understand that most smokers want to quit.  But the more I have to walk past a building where people are huddled around smoking, the more I begin to hate smokers.  I shouldn’t hate smokers, I should hate smoking.  I know that.  But I’m beginning to hate smokers, and that’s really sad.  It’s going to be something I have to deal with, because I know, like any addiction, people won’t quit until they want to, and I don’t want to hate every smoker I know.

    If you were a smoker, smoking in a public place, and I walked past you fanning my hand in front of my face with a disgusted look; would you be angry at me? Offended? Would you think I was an asshole?  What about if we were both at a restaurant sitting outside where smoking was allowed.  How would you react if  I came over to your table and politely told you that the wind was blowing your smoke towards me and that I’m allergic to smoke and it was really bothering me?  Would you be angry? Offended? Would you think I was an asshole?   


    Here’s a picture I snapped a couple of years ago at a stop light. 
    This repulsive beast was actually smoking, while driving, while talking on her phone with her foot out the window!!     
    When I snapped the photo she gave me a truly evil glare.  When the light turned green, she put the hand with the cigarette on the wheel and sped away.  Classy.

    I’m writing about this because I’m literally at my wit’s end.  It’s getting to the point where I hate going out to public places that allow smoking.  Here in LA, all of the malls are outdoors.  On a Saturday afternoon it’s like being in a wildfire in the Hollywood Hills!  So, back to the the title of this post.  Is smoking outdoors a civil right?  As defined by Wikipedia civil rights or liberties are:

    …the name given to freedoms that completely protect the individual from government. Civil liberties set limits for government so that it can not abuse its power and interfere with the lives of its citizens. See also civil rights and human rights.

    So, is smoking a civil liberty?  Please weigh in. I’m going to go get my inhaler.

    smoking2smoking2smoking2

    P.S. Here are some photos I took from my roof of the sunset tonight.  All the smoke in the air sure made it pretty! LOL.


    My lens had a smudge on it!

  • Chasing Rainbows for $46,008.02

    My mortgage was sold to Chase Bank last month.  This month I got this email notification that my payment had been made:

    Gmail Carey Anthony
    Your home loan payment alert from Chase
    1 message
    From: Chase Manhattan Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 6:44 PM
    To: Carey

    Chase
    For your account ending in 0950: Thank you for your recent payment of ($ USD) 46,008.02.

    This Alert was sent according to your settings.

    Excuse me!!!???  I mean, I know The Hotel Careyfornia is one of the finest boutique luxury hotels in Southern California, but if my mortgage payment is $46,008.02 per month, I’m going to need to raise our room rates!!

    A day later, they sent this message.  Not a great way to start a business relationship Chase!!  FIGURE IT OUT!!  You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry!
    		 

    Dear Valued Customer:

    We’re writing to let you know you received an Account Alert on 12/06/09 that contained inaccurate information about your mortgage payment. Please disregard the Alert, and accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience it may have caused.

    If you have any questions about this message or your mortgage account, feel free to call us at 1-800-848-9136. Our service representatives are available to help you Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 9 PM Eastern time, and on Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern time.

    Thank you for your business. We look forward to continuing to serve you.

    Sincerely,

    Alexander Krantz
    Senior Vice President
    Customer Care

    Speaking of Chase, people in West Hollywood were chasing rainbows yesterday all over town (how cliche, in a gay city)!  This one was snapped from my rooftop and it ended right at Ryan Seacrest’s office on Sunset Blvd..  Damn that Seacrest.  Does he really need more gold?

    It doesn’t storm very often here in Southern California, but when it does, I head to my roof to take photos as the sky is usually beautiful. The first 13 photos in this video and are all from last night between 4:30 and 5 PM. The rest are from other storms we’ve had the past two years.

    The rain made for some beautiful skies for Chazz to pose against.  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas:

    Tonight, Seth and his band played a set at Crane’s Tavern in Hollywood:

  • A Stoked Anniversary

    3 years ago today I started my humble little blog.  In that time, I’ve written 641 entries and have devoted this space mainly to my photos and random musings.  Blogs are like clothes.  Sometimes you look back at them and wonder “What was I thinking!!??”


    Future Xangan

    Some people have suggested that I rename my blog:

    “Kids, Dogs, Sunsets & Sarah Palin“ 
    and the occasional rant against corporate America

    When I look at my most common “tags“, this rings somewhat true: 

    Tommy and Andy seem to be most popular.  Followed by Chazz and other family members!  American Idol is pretty highly ranked too, as tend to run into Idols all over Hollywood!

    Speaking of Chazz & sunsets, I just took this photo in the front yard:


    Chazz looks good in red!


    I took this picture an hour before the last one.  I like how it looks like he’s shooting a laser beam from his eye!


    Who’s a good dog?

    I went to 2 Christmas parties this week, and I have 2 more next week.  ‘Tis the season!


    Aunty LuLu put up her tree before Thanksgiving!


    At a work Christmas party on Thursday

    I’ll leave you with a final thought on this Xangaversary.  Are we doing enough to warn our kids about the dangers of getting stoked?

  • Swimming With Dolphins and A Shark Attack!

    What a weekend!  Too bad it had to end, because today the Sarah Palin media blitz began. 
    I’ll get to that waste  of brain matter in a minute, but here’s a quick recap of the weekend:

    • Drove up to Santa Barbara…managed to avoid a speeding ticket despite a few close calls.
    • Eva, Bine & I hung out with Rob & August all day Saturday; enjoying:
    • I caught a cold Saturday night as the temperature in Eva’s house was about 20° cooler than I keep The Hotel Careyfornia.
    • Claudio & Ryan found a Chocolate Lab on the street in Oxnard Saturday.  She and Chazz became best of friends.  We’re calling her “D” (for dog) for now, and searching for the owner, but it’s been 2 days.  Story developing…
    • Claudio & Ryan drove up to Santa Barbara with aforementioned new dog and Chazz, and we had dinner on the beach to yet another breathtaking sunset
    • Drove home and have been drinking lots of hot liquids.
    • Tonight, Bine & I are going to go see the movie Precious.
    • Tomorrow Carolina is coming for lunch and then Bine & I are going to The Jay Leno Show(we were supposed to go last week, but changed the tickets).  Tyra Banks will be the guest.

    Here are my favorite photos from the past 2 days:


    That’s Bine, swimming towards the dolphins…she eventually caught up with them…and loved it!


    Gross, but pretty cool, huh?  They said it was from a Great White, but Joelle said that the bite looked small for a Great White and why didn’t it eat the whole thing??


    A crowd gathered around the departed seal


    Father & Daughter (with bird hat)


    Rob congratulating Bine after she swam with the dolphins


    The winning shot??  Nope!


    The full size photo is even more vivid


    Bine was freezing as she was still wet from swimming with dolphins


    Best friends


    August brought the Filipino pork from Carson and Rob grilled it up perfectly!


    Bine, Eva, Rob, August, Thine & Puneeth


    I woke up Sunday with a bad cold


    I love the back turtle’s legs


    State Street, Santa Barbara, CA


    Sunny Breakfast

     
    In front of the courthouse…and a Tibetan Terrier


    Real trials are still held in this room…but Rob & August are innocent


    The hills of Santa Barbara and the infamous Tea Fire


    August, Riley & Me


    Who’s a good dog?


    Our “new” Chocolate Lab, “D” with Ryan & Chazz


    A great end to a great weekend


    The beautiful Santa Barbara seafront


    Click here for the best of the rest…

      Palin Roundup

    “Prepare for the latest Palin media onslaught. An hour with Oprah, a multi-parter with Barbara, and appearances all across the country. An initial read shows Going Rogue doesn’t reveal much. No surprise there. This isn’t about the book, it’s about the book tour — which includes a politically convenient stop in Iowa — and the money. Besides, it’s not like there’s much we haven’t already learned about Palin since she burst onto the national scene. We even know when her water broke during her last pregnancy. Talk about overexposed. In the end, I expect this will be one of the most mocked books of the year — and one of the biggest bestsellers. Palin fans will find much to love, but I doubt a single doubter will be converted. It’s a 400 page Rorschach test. With no index.”

  • Halloween in Hollywood

    It was a hot Halloween in West Hollywood this year.  The temperature reached 93° (34° C).  This morning I walked to Pavilions to buy my balloon for my costume.  Claudio, Ryan & Chazz showed up later and I took Chazz up to the roof for sunset.  There was almost a full moon and the sky was beautiful:


    Chazz on the roof with downtown LA as a backdrop
    Lisa sent this picture of Andy in his costume.  Cute huh?

    On Halloween night every year, West Hollywood stages perhaps the most extravagant Halloween party anywhere. The City of West Hollywood calls the Costume Carnaval the largest adult outdoor Halloween event in the world. Santa Monica Boulevard, one of the busies streets in Los Angeles, is converted into a pedestrian only zone between Doheny and La Cienega Boulevards.

    So, when it got dark, it was time to hit Santa Monica Blvd. where 500,000 costumed revelers flooded the streets for the Annual Halloween Carnaval.  I took some “before” pictures this morning, to compare to what it looked like tonight:

    The most popular costumes this year were Lady Gaga and “Where the Wild Things Are“.  Of course there were a lot of Michael Jacksons, and several “Balloon Boys“, though the were all older than me.  LOL


    Me, as Balloon Boy’s Dad amidst a sea of balloons.  And yes, I’m holding a Tupperware barf bucket for the Balloon Boy(s) to puke in, just like he did on national TV!  I’m also wearing ABC Wife Swap credentials!


    Chazz was Balloon Dog!


    “Friend in my head”, Levi Johnston was even there with his manager Tank Jones!

       

     


    That’s LaToya Jackson (Michael’s sister) in the orange wig

     


    Pregnant Dorothy


    This was my favorite costume of the night…from “Up“


    Wild Things!

    So there you have it another Halloween has come and gone!  Here’s the best of the rest…


    A slideshow of all the photos from today.  Happy Halloween!


    ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

    For Halloween, President Obama wore chinos, a white button-down shirt & crewneck sweater. So Obama went as the whitest president in US history. -Conan O’Brien

  • Yes We Did – Get Over It (Levi Johnston Reads my Blog)

    9 PM:  UPDATE to the UPDATE:  Levi Johnston just posted my blog on his Twitter page and I got like 300 hits in 30 minutes! Which means that right now, Levi Johnston is sitting in a hotel room in New York looking at picture of Chazz!  LOL!!  Then I got a message on my phone from him that said this:

    Thanks Levi!  I appreciate the help!  If my blog can change one person’s mind about ever voting for Sarah Palin again, I’ll have done my job. 

     

    And Levi, I know you “dated” Kathy Griffin, but did you know she also loves my dog Chazz??  And Chazz knows President Obama, so it’s like 3 degrees of separation!  The four of us should do lunch next time you’re in LA! 


    Chazz, with Kathy Griffin and her Mom at the Prop. 8 rally in West Hollywood in May.


    7 PM:  UPDATE:  Well, Sarah Palin’s daughter’s baby  daddy, Levi Johnston, confirmed today, what I blogged about months ago:  Sarah Palin hates retards!  Now I just need him to confirm that she’s the mother of Michael Jackson’s son, Blanket!  LOL.  I just started following him on Twitter, so hopefully he will follow me and read all of my posts about his whack job, almost monster in law:  He’s actually a pretty funny kid.  He just sent this tweet from New York:
     

    Clever, right?  Of course, 5 minutes later he tweeted this:

    LMAO!!  Sarah must be SO LIVID!!  Actually, she’s already slamming him for “selling his body to Playgirl“.  And he slammed right back with a tweet about her selling her soul!!!  LOL.  Keep up the good fight Levi!!

    1 AM THIS MORNING: 1 year ago today, I wrote a post called “Yes We Will – Count On It“.  It was a exactly one week before the presidential election and I had a conversation with someone who could not fathom a black man in the White House.  This week that same person had the unmitigated gall to send me one of those ignorant emails that spread racism and hate (that I refuse to repost here), telling me I can’t deny “history” and espousing the same disgusting “we’re the greatest country on earth” blah blah blah rhetoric that angry white men like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh puke out (because an ‘uppity negro’ in power obviously makes them sick to their stomachs).  Guess what?  Racism is still alive and well in America one year later.  I am looking forward to this documentary on HBO next week though (almost as much as I’m looking forward to Levi Johnston’s revelations about Sarah Palin tomorrow).  Check out the kid in the beginning and end of the clip.  His name is Lorenzo.  He’s nine years old and he’s priceless:


    Because of copyright, this video only plays in the U.S., so here’s a news piece about the documentary that shows the kid I was referring to and some other nice scenes of the President with his kids and reflecting on his accomplishment.


    The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
    George W. Bush’s Motivational Speech
    www.colbertnation.com

    Meanwhile, George W. Bush is giving boring speeches, charging $4.95 admission fee.  Oh, and the lecture series is being arranged by a former drug dealer.  LOL, what a buffoon.  Clinton is rescuing people from North Korea and W is resigned to meet and greets in Wal-Mart parking lots!

    The documentary looks good, right?  It’s so amazing to think that a year ago today, no one knew for sure that Obama would/could win.  It was also around this time last year that I went to the pumpkin patch with Hannah and Arielle.  Since this is Chazz’s first Halloween, I took him there on Sunday.  When we arrived, there were a ton of paparazzi snapping away as Christina Aguilera was just leaving.  Of course, once we got there, they fixed their long lenses on Chazz, and how great he looked against the backdrop of orange pumpkins and crimson sky:


    If you look closely you can see that as Christina Aguilera exited the pumpkin patch to the stars, the paparazzi waited for the perfect shot of Chazz!

     


    He even went on a hay ride!


    He also got to hang out with his pal Roscoe while Ann & Arielle look on


    On the way home, LA Lakers star Ron Artest was making milkshakes, and Chazz had to try one!  Just another day in Hollywood for a famous dog who has met the president and written his own children’s book!


    Click here for the best of the rest…

  • The Baffled Narcissist – Everything’s An Event

    Recently, my cousin told me about some people who read my blog regularly but don’t really know me that well.  They remarked to her that, “Everything with Carey is an event!“.  I chuckled when I heard that but laughed even harder this week when I watched the TV show “How I Met Your Mother“.  If you haven’t seen it, it’s a great show that stars Neil Patrick Harris and an ensemble cast.  It’s basically a 21st Century “Friends“.  In this week’s episode, Marshall is derided by his wife Lily for creating another photo montage that drove his friends away.  It seems that Marshall was addicted to creating photo slideshows with music, documenting the most mundane events in his life; like pet-sitting or ordering Chinese food.  LOL, remind you of anyone??    Take a look at this clip, it’s hilarious: 

    Heck, I admit I’m a narcissist, but isn’t every blogger to an extent?  (By the way, it’s not narcissism if you truly are better than everyone else!)  It’s baffling to think why total strangers should be interested in looking at my pictures and videos, but yet I post them and expect feedback like any good narcissist.  So I guess Marshall and I have a lot in common.  (I could be in worse company.)  Though, if I start adding my own signing to too many of my videos, feel free to tell me to stop.  I’ll try to spare my readers that indignity!  So without further ado, here are the photos from Lisa & Shelby’s birthday celebration tonight (hardly a mundane event!), set to the tune of Lisa’s favorite singer (and a narcissistic song!).  (YouTube wouldn’t let me post the slideshow with the music, so you’ll have to look at the pictures and listen to the music the old school way!)  Happy Birthday Lisa!! xoxo

     
    Click the photo for the best of the rest…


    “I’m in love with myself and nobody else, I’m in love with myself…”

  • Mail Bonding and a Geo Quiz


    I finally opened my mail the other night.  The stack was over a foot high because I hadn’t looked at it since February.  Anyone who knows me, knows of my aversion toward snail mail and my quest to live in a paperless society (with the exception of a few Christmas Cards that have been grandfathered in).  Yet some of my die hard friends persist, which I do appreciate:


    This was just sent in August, so I wasn’t too late!

    Here’s what I missed:


    Such a cute thank you note from Arielle’s Birthday Party!!


    This was my stack of unopened mail since February (I do pay my bills, I just do everything online!)


    I found three checks, one of which was void after September 15th.  Oh well.  What am I supposed to do with a check anyway??  The 60′s called they want their payment type back!


    This is what the pile looked like after I sorted through it.  The pile on the left is actually important mail, dentist bills, tax stuff, etc.  The middle pile is all JUNK and being returned to sender.  The pile on the right is work related statements and finances.

    So, I ordered a self inking stamp for the pile in the middle.  Think it will work??



    This has been a long week, due to a family emergency.  I’m currently traveling, and here are some photos from my hotel room today.  Can anyone guess where I am?  Hint:  Despite the fog, I’m not in San Francisco or the Bay area.


    Sunrise over ??












    Bye bye sun!


    Sunset over ??


    Night in which city??

    I’m not sure when I’ll be able to write again.  I hope everyone has a nice weekend!



  • Believe, Achieve, Succeed!

    Today was the first day of school for Tommy & Andy.  Growing up in the Midwest, the first day of school for me always involved getting up early, the cool air hinting of autumn and me and my brother walking to the bus stop hesitantly, wondering what the new school year would bring.  (I wasn’t a popular kid until I got to college believe it or not….I was kind of the class clown in grade school, but then withdrew in junior high and high school.)  I even remember my first day of Kindergarten.  I cried and screamed…and didn’t want my Mom to leave.  Andy however, took it all in stride today, bounding off with his teacher ready to start his academic career.  He insists on being called “Andrew” in school!  When his Mom showed up to pick him up, all the kids were lined up in a row.  They were allowed to leave when the teacher called their name.  When she said, “Andrew, you may go”, Andy let out a loud, joyful squeal and ran into his mother’s waiting arms saying “I missed you Mommy”.  (Sound familiar??)  That’s a memory Lisa will cherish the rest of her life.  Good luck in school this year boys!  xoxo

    Unfortunately, Andy & Tommy missed President Obama’s speech to school children on Tuesday.  Tommy would have surely enjoyed it.  Speaking of the President, I was appalled last night as I watched his speech to Congress.  I immediately posted this on my Facebook page and apparently I wasn’t alone in my outrage!

    Glee was on later that evening though, and it put me in a better mood.  Just like this video always does:

    Lastly, the fires here are mostly under control, but the sunsets are still spectacular.  We took Chazz up to Runyon Canyon the other night and I got these shots:


    He met up with another Rhodesian Ridgeback (Chazz is Rhodesian mixed with Boxer) and they played so well together.  Apparently Rhodesians always play the same way with each other and they had a ball!

    Here’s my post last year on September 11th:


    I took the center photo in the summer of 1997 while sailing around the island of Manhattan on my boss’s yacht.  It was a picture perfect New York day.  One I’ll never forget.  I took most of the other photos on September 11th, 2002.


    ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
    “In an interview, President Obama has said that picking up his dog Bo’s poop is one of the highlights of his day. The interview was published in ‘The Journal of Depressing Metaphors for the State of America.’” — Conan O’Brien