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:

It was nice to see the HBO film, “Temple Grandin” starring Claire Danes, take home so many Emmy Awards last night. 

 

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: 

The first book I ever read by Temple Grandin was called “Animals in Translation“. 

I’d love to read it again, but unfortunately when Chazz was six months old, he destroyed it, along with another book entitled “The Moral Animal“.  Apparently Chazz does not agree with the Academy when it comes to Temple Grandin!

The first time I ever left him alone, this is what I came home to.  See how guilty he looks?

He chose his books very carefully!

He focused in particular on a chapter entitled “Animal Feelings”

He knew he was in big trouble…he “felt” it!

And ripped out the page on “Animal Aggression”  I kid you not!

Another great book by Temple Grandin is called “Animals Make Us Human“.  In it, she:

…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:

I’ve been away from Xanga for over a month.  Apologies to my loyal readers…but I needed the time away to work on some other pressing matters.  I did manage to keep Facebook and my micro-blog at Tumblr up to date with photos, but that’s about it.  Thanks to those of you who wrote inquiring as to my whereabouts.  I’m still super busy with work, but something happened yesterday that was too good not to blog about.  The stupidest woman in America is at it again, as evidenced by a tweet she sent out yesterday:

Maybe she’s still reeling from the news that her daughter is engaged to my friend Levi Johnston, noted Playgirl model who she calls “Ricky Hollywood“, but “refudiate” is NOT A WORD even in Palinese!!  She also used it in an interview with Fox News:

She tried to smooth over her idiocy with another tweet invoking a Bushism and a hardly noteworthy lexical creation by President Obama, but the damage was done:

Some enterprising folks even bought the URL www.refudiate.com and are now selling T-shirts:

And now there’s a debate over whether to add the word to the dictionary!!??  Tell you what…you can add it, as long as you “refudiate” Sarah Palin!  As reported by Jacob Heilbrunn, author of “They Knew They Were Right:  The Rise of the Neocons“,

All the hubbub overlooked the possibility that perhaps Palin isn’t simply trying to bring down big government, but the English language as well.

It would be foolish to underestimate her ability to succeed, at least in the latter area. She’s already displayed great skill at mangling every word and phrase within talking distance. Imagine what she could do with the bully pulpit.

Indeed, if Palin becomes president, she might well enjoy the opportunity to rewrite not only history, but English itself. Here’s what a high school grammar test might look like under the Palin regime, requiring students to turn any word starting with “re” to substitute “v”s with a “p.” Correct spelling would be the following:

It’s become increasingly clear that President Palin is refolted by the idea that liberals continue to control the news media. She seeks to refair this problem. Refresenting the will of the people is the job of President Palin, who finds it totally refrehensible and refulsive that the media continues to refroach her for pursuing innovative ideas. Liberals, refent, the end is nigh!

Palin is reportedly (sorry, I meant refortedly) thinking of calling it a new campaign to mind your “p”s and “f”s.

Enough of the Wasilla Wombat.  Here are some photos from the past few weeks that you may have missed if you don’t follow me on Facebook or Tumblr:

With the kids at the 4th of July Parade…click for more

Looking forward to Cats & Dogs in 3D!

With Brent & Riye in Koreatown

A rainbow in Dove Canyon last week…click for more

Tressa and the rainbow!

Dinner with Ryan & Chazz

Hot Dogs

Poolside at The Hotel Careyfornia

The LaBrea Tar Pits with the kids…click for more

Welcome to the Hotel Careyfornia!

Hollywood with the kids yesterday…click for more

Yesterday, fellow Xangan and comic book letterer extraordinaire, CJ, competed at the Discovery Science Center’s Rubik’s Cube speedcubing competition.  He won 4th place in the blindfolded competition, and achieved a 10 second solve during a practice round!  More importantly, he spent some time with my cousin Tommy, teaching him the basics of cubing.  CJ and Tommy first met two years ago, when Tommy proclaimed he was “the luckiest kid in the world”.  It was meeting my friend Tyson, and CJ at that competition that first got Tommy interested in solving the Rubik’s Cube.  Later that year he was present for the Guinness World Record for the most people solving a Rubik’s Cube in one place.  Yesterday, Tommy’s mom, Lisa, also paid attention, and with CJ’s help and some additional instructions he provided from www.youcandothecube.com, Lisa solved her cube 5 times today!  Congratulations to Lisa and thank you to CJ for being so patient and kind.

Andy had a good time too, exploring the exhibits at the museum:

Mountain Boy

CJ also taught my dog Chazz how to solve the Rubik’s Cube last year.  Remember??

That’s a lot of cubes!

 
In the earthquake machine and outside the space shuttle


A good time was had by all!

Best of the rest…

Maybe in a year or two, Tommy will be able to do this:

 

Macky solves the Rubik’s Cube with one hand while juggling apples with the other:
http://careygly.xanga.com/664099326/a-kaleidoscope-of-mathematics/

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

Xanga Ramen Night!  More photos here..


With Tommy in Dove Canyon

Burger night

I like cherries!

The last time Drew & Christine were here, Lance had just been conceived.  Who knows what will happen this time?

Bottle brushes!

At the Pacific Design Center, before we were asked not to take pictures.  So stupid.

Our favorite breakfast spot


Lance & Roxy squared


Come back soon with your new baby brother Lance!

Best of the rest…and more photos from the week here

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!

Snoopy, Colby & Carey

The birthday boy

6 boys and 1 tomboy

The money shot

More of Shane’s crazy California hair

Taking the birthday train

More fun shots

Best of the rest of the 172 photos!

Aquarius, Let The Sunshine In …

Lisa, Joel and the boys moved into their new house over the weekend and our family gathered to celebrate.  The house is in Dove Canyon, but it might as well be called Hummingbird Canyon.  There were about 20 of the little buzzers lined up at the feeders to drink (as evidenced by this photo that Lisa sent last night).  They were really aggressive too, and didn’t seem to be scared of people at all.  They were no doubt celebrating the long overdue demise of the ridiculously gas guzzling Hummer.  (I had no idea how culpable Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the destruction of our planet.  What a hummer bummer!  Fascinating read though!)  I got pretty close to take these photos.  I’m still learning how to use my new little camera, but I’m pleased with the results thus far:

There are actually four hummingbirds in this photo!

Did you know that:

• Hummingbirds are part of the Trochilidae family found only in the Americas. They are unknown in the Eastern Hemisphere. With 343 species, hummingbirds make up the Western Hemisphere’s second largest family of birds.
• The most astonishing quality of hummingbirds is their ability to broadcast color. Hummingbirds radiate like hot coals in the sun. The color that reaches your eye is created by pigment, which absorbs some colors and rejects others. Like soap bubbles, hummingbird’s color comes from iridescence, not pigment. It winks on and off, depending on the light source and the angle of the viewer. This allows hummingbirds to flash colors or hide them which is useful for males who want to impress females or threaten other males.
• Hummingbirds are built for power and dazzle, hummingbirds are little more than flight muscles covered with feathers. 30% of a hummingbird’s weight consists of flight muscles.
• Hummingbirds require lots of energy. They have the fastest wing beats of any bird and their hearts beat up to 1,260 beats per minute.
• A Hummingbird’s flight speed can average 25-30 mph, and can dive up to 60 mph.
• In their non stop quest for fuel, Hummingbirds may visit 1,000 flower per day. For protein, hummingbirds eat spiders and strain gnats from mid-air. They will pull insects out of spiderwebs including the spider itself. Sapsucker holes are a double treat, netting both insects and sap!
• The hummingbird’s tiny brain, 4.2% of its body weight, is proportionately the largest in the bird kingdom.
• Many species that migrate to the U.S. travel impressive distances. Many ruby-throats make a 2,000 mile journey between Canada and Panama. The trip includes a non-stop, 500 mile flight over the Gulf of Mexico.
• Hummingbirds are very territorial and will aggressively protect nectar sources especially when migrating. It is important to have several feeders, out of sight of each other, to prevent one hummingbird from dominating your feeders.
• Hummingbirds have a unique way of keeping warm or conserving their energy – at night, or any time they cannot get enough food to fuel themselves – they go into torpor – a state in which their metabolic rate is only one-fifteenth that of normal sleep.
• A hummingbird can rotate each of its wings in a circle, allowing them to be the only bird which can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways or sit in sheer space. To hover, hummingbirds move their wings forward and backward in a repeated figure eight, much like the arms of a swimmer treading water. Hummingbirds can move instantaneously in any direction, start from its perch at full speed, and doesn’t necessarily slow up to land. Hummingbirds can even fly short distances upside down, a trick rollover they employ when being attacked by another bird.
• Hummingbirds have weak feet and are more at ease using their wings even to shift in the nest or on a perch.
• Hummingbirds do not mate for life – the female raises the young on her own. The male hummingbird is not involved with raising the young. The female does all the work of raising her young alone! Females will lay a clutch of only two white eggs and will produce only one brood per season. The hatchlings will remain in the nest for three weeks.
• Hummingbirds can live a decade or more in the wild.

I’m still out of town and very busy this week, but here are the rest of the weekend photos:

Sunset from my office

The Spectrum

A gorgeous morning in Irvine

Great Grandma & Andy, note the hummingbird

Favorite Cousins

Tommy got a merit badge this weekend!

Sandy Andy

Best of the rest…

I’ve been trying to get to Din Tai Fung with Lexi & Rita for over a year now, and we finally made it.  We ordered way too much, but the leftovers are always great!  I just wish it was closer!

Watching the dumpling makers

Keeping with the food theme, here’s Chazz staring up at my dinner the other night with his laser eyes:

The sunsets seem to be getting prettier each night, and they look so good with Chazz in the foreground:  It’s been in the high 70′s (25°) all week here and we’ve had some spectacular colors in the sky!

Sunset on Sunset (Blvd.)

Looking west on Sunset Blvd. at the top of my street

The kids went to Disneyland today for Dar’s retirement party and Andy fell asleep in the car on the way home and never woke up:

Chazz standing guard

Tommy and Mommy did homework, while Joel went for Chinese takeout and the dogs played:

Learning multiplication

I cropped out the bunny ears, LOL


Chazz & Oreo II

Best of the rest…including an encounter with fashionista Bobby Trendy (thus the drag queen in the title, though as you’ll see in the photos, he was dressed way down…not in his usual glam!) a visit with Roscoe & Arielle and yet more sunsets, dogs and kids (but I’ll spare you the Sarah Palin this time!)

And finally, it’s nice to know when your words inspire someone.  This was a great way to start the new year.  I’m glad I was able to help you Kevin.  Keep up the good work!

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…

Darcy The Dragon – Roger Whitt…