tommy

  • The Best Little Kennel, Boutique Hotel & Parking Garage in Southern California

    It was a busy afternoon at the Hotel Careyfornia.  Lisa ,Joel & the boys are going to Hawaii for 9 days and I’m watching their dogs, Shadow & Oreo (named after my Oreo!).  They’re parking their car here at my place (just like Claudio is), so now I have 3 cars.  That’s kind of ironic seeing that my own car was in the shop for four months up until recently.  So when Lisa & Joel got here, I took a late lunch and we went to Jerry’s Famous Deli.  After that we headed to the airport, where, coincidentally, Vivek had just flown in from Delhi, India, by way of Seoul, South Korea.  He’s here for an internship, and will hopefully get some good news about the Project Runway application he submitted.  (I’m really hoping for a ticket to the Oscars next year Vivek, especially since you didn’t bring me a souvenir from Korea!!)  Vivek was super tired after his whirlwind trip to Korea and flight to LA, so we did a quick drive down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and the sites of Hollywood (Grauman’s, the Kodak Theater, etc.) before he retired for the evening to get a good night’s rest and start the first day of the rest of his life tomorrow!


    The obligatory pose!


    A very dangerous picture!


    Waiting for the valet at the H.C.


    “This is is the day…your life will surely change.”


    …and Pet Motel.


    Blog buddies!


    I hope this song is good luck for you Vivek.  It was playing on a fateful day in 1990 when I made a decision that would change my life forever.  It involved switching jobs, agreeing to take care of two children and moving from Chicago.  I never looked back, and I hope that this too “is the day your life will surely change.”


    ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
    “More
    bad news for air travelers. Earlier today, U.S. Airways began charging
    passengers on its flights for water. Even worse, the oxygen masks are now
    coin-operated.” — Conan O’Brien

  • Up Up & Away in my Beautiful Honeymoon

    Tonight we took the kids to The Great Park in Irvine.  They have a huge, tethered helium balloon that stands 118 feet high and holds 30 people.  It flies 500 feet above the park, which used to be the El Toro Air Force Base that was closed in 1999.  We timed our visit perfectly.  We only had to wait about 1/2 hour and the sun was just starting to set when we went up in the balloon.  It’s really a great park, and the balloon ride is free.  We all had a great time.

    P.S. When I was little, I was fascinated by hot air balloons, but I before I could say “hot air balloon”, I simply said “honeymoon”.  For some reason, my parents never corrected me, and as I grew older, I continued to call them honeymoons.  Once, when I was in college, I saw three hot air balloons and announced to my friends, “Look, honeymoons!!”  Suffice it to say, I was the laughing stock of the dorm.  Sad, but true!


    Best of the rest.

    Here’s a cheesy blast from the past


    ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
    “The
    earthquake [in Los Angeles] was powerful enough that an entire group of people
    lined up outside to see ‘Batman’ ended up lined up to see ‘Mamma Mia.’” –
    Comedian Jimmy Kimmel

  • Civil Twilight – “I Want the Sun Back”


    Carey Anthony

    Re: Dinner Tonight
    4 messages

    On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 8:16 AM, Carey wrote:

    This is just an idea, but what if we got something to
    eat tonight and took it to Laguna Beach and watched the sun set?  Would
    the kids be into that or no?

    Carey

    On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 8:25 AM, Lisa wrote:

    I think that’s a wonderful idea!  I could get
    subway for the boys (and for us too if that’s what you want) &
    I’ll pack a cooler of drinks.  We could put a blanket down on the grass at
    Main beach in Laguna & have a great picnic.  Gosh, every once in a
    while, you come up with some good ones!  See, that’s why you get to make
    all of the decisions!  We could pick up the sandwiches right after
    gymnastics & pick you up at your office…it’s on the way.  What time
    are you off?

    On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 8:28 AM, Carey wrote:

    Sounds great!
    You don’t have to rush though.  Pick me up whenever.  The sun doesn’t even set until 8:03, and civil twilight ends at 8:32!
    http://aa.usno.navy.mil/cgi-bin/aa_pap.pl
    See you later! xoxo

    Carey

    On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 8:30 AM, Lisa wrote:

    Civil twilight?  Did you make that shit
    up??? 


    Who’s your favorite cousin???


    If the video below doesn’t work, click here.


    Laguna Beach Sunset – As the sun disappeared, Andy said, “I want the sun back!” 


    Best of the rest!

  • “And the Rockets’ Red Glare”

    Best of the rest

    jiazhousarcasmo‘s excellent summation!

  • T’was the Night Before Fireworks


    As I’ve recounted before, I’m not a big fan of the 4th of July (Independence Day in America).  This year should be fun though, as I’m spending the night with my cousins.  This morning we’ll take the kids to the parade and then we have a cabana rented by the lake for the day.  We’ll watch the fireworks, and then I’ll head back up to LA to greet yet another guest at the HC.  If any of you Orange County Xangans are going to be at the parade or lake tomorrow, text me.  My # is on my Facebook badge to the left. 

    We took the boys to Chick-fil-A tonight, and then took Tommy to get a birthday present.  Here are a few snaps:


    Notice the sign to my left.  LOL

     


    I love Chik-fil-A!  Instead of giving out horrible plastic toys in their kids meals, they give out CD to help kid learn another language!

     

    fireworks
    Have a safe, happy 4th everyone!

    It’s OK Or!! xoxo

  • Steve Carell’s Doppelganger, Hillary’s Not Going, Knocking With My Cousins & Muskrat Love


    Carey Anthony

    get smart
    2 messages


    From: Tony
    Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 12:03 AM

    To:
    Carey Anthony

    hey carey
    so i’ve always thought u
    look a bit like steve carell.  so i made one of my movie profile pics
    thingy for ya.  hope you like it!


    From: Carey Anthony
    Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:05 AM

    To:
    Tony

    WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love it!!   You’re the best!!!
    I’m
    also a huge Get Smart fan (I loved the original TV series, it came out the year I was born, 1965), and you’re not the first person who’s
    noticed the Carell resemblance.   Thank you so much.  And thank you
    for not thinking I look like Dewey Cox!!!!    If I knew PhotoShop,
    you would definitely be my Brad Pitt! 

    Thanks again!

    Carey

    Speaking of not knowing PhotoShop, I created and wrote this today after reading David’s entry about Hillary and listening to Jennifer Hudson’s latest single (which is quite catchy) on her website:  www.jenniferhudsononline.com.

    Sung to the tune of “And I Am Telling You, I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls

    And I am telling you
    I’m not going.
    This is the best race, I ever ran.
    Even though he’s a black man,
    No, no, no, no way,
    No, no, no, no way I’m not livin’ in the White House.
    I’m not not livin’ in the White House.
    I don’t want to be beat.
    I’m stayin’,
    I’m stayin’,
    And you, and you, you will elect me.
    Ooh, you will elect me.

    And I am telling you
    I’m not going,
    Even though the rough times are showing.
    There’s just no way,
    There’s no way.
    We’re not part of the same place.
    We’re not part of the same time.
    We don’t share the same blood.
    In fact he’s a black guy.
    And time and time we have not much to share,
    No, no, no,
    No, no, no,
    I’m not wakin’ up tomorrow mornin’
    And findin’ that Bill’s not even there.
    Darling, there’s no way,
    No, no, no, no way I’m not livin’ in the White House.
    I’m not not livin’ in the White House.
    You see, there’s just no way,
    There’s no way.

    Screw Martin Luther,
    Yell, scream and shout.
    You can say what you want,
    I’m not gettin’ out.
    Stop the convention,
    Push, strike, and kill.
    Just like Ralph Nader,
    There’s no way I will.

    And I am telling you

    I’m not going.

    This is the best race, I ever ran.

    Even though he’s a black man,

    No, no, no, no way,

    No, no, no, no way I’m not livin’ in the White House.

    Oh, I’m not not livin’ in the White House,

    I’m not not livin’ in the White House.

    I don’t wanna be beat.

    I’m stayin’,

    I’m stayin’,

    And you, and you,

    You will elect me.

    Oh, hey, you will elect me,

    Yes, ah, ooh, ooh, ‘lect me,

    Ooh, ooh, ooh, ‘lect me,

    ‘Lect me,

    ‘Lect     me,

    ‘Lect     me,

    ‘Lect     me.

    You will elect me.

    This still gives me goose bumps when I watch it.  I remember seeing it at the Arclight when it first came out.  There were a bunch of celebrities in the audience, including Whoopi Goldberg and Ron Howard.  Everyone stood up, in the middle of the song and started applauding until it was over.  It was the first time I’d ever seen that happen in the middle of a movie!

    Lisa and I took the boys to Costco tonight to finally return my third camera.  They took it back, no questions asked (2 1/2 months after purchase), and gave me cash.  Gosh, I love Costco.  (The only thing that bummed me out was that my SD850 (that I spent an addition $100 repairing) was on sale for $275 and it came with a free flatbed printer scanner!!)

    After shopping we took the boys at met Joel at Pei Wei, where they both tried their hand at chopsticks, with a little help.


    Andy and his knock knock jokes.  LOL.
    By the way, check out YouTube’s new annotation feature.  It’s not available yet for embedded videos, so take a look here:  http://youtube.com/watch?v=gJ8XpEHrjQg

    When I got home, this little fella was blocking my way into the garage.  I got out of the car to try to shoo him away and he was hurt and moving really slow.  I felt kind of sorry for the ugly bugger, and directed him toward the bushes.


    I know it’s not a muskrat, it’s a possum, but it gave me the opportunity to post this ridiculously cheesy song from the 70′s.  LOL


  • Speaking of Faith

    The Flying Spaghetti Monster (also known as the Spaghedeity) is the deity of a parody religion called The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and its system of beliefs, “Pastafarianism” The religion was founded in 2005 by Bobby Henderson to protest the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to require the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution. Because intelligent design
    implies the existence of an intelligent, but not necessarily omnipotent
    or omniscient designer, some, like Henderson, argued that this designer
    could, in fact, be anything imaginable. (Source: Wikipedia and  Haochi)


    Cole had his First Communion this past weekend.  It brought back many memories of my own First Communion as well as some of the more ritualistic things I actually enjoy about the Catholic Church.  Coincidentally, on the way home, NPR‘s weekly religion show “Speaking of Faith” departed from their usual format to “listen to a spectrum of lay Catholic voices on the force of vast and ancient tradition on their lives, the way they struggle with it, the sources of their love for it. Even to be a “lapsed Catholic,” we hear, is a complex state of being.“  It was really interesting, and helped me understand some of my current struggles with religion a bit better.  At any rate, it was a beautiful day, and Cole seemed to have a great time!

  • Carey the Human Trampoline

    We went to Cole’s Little League game tonight, and I’m a heck of a lot more sore than any of the players!

      

  • Cubing With “The Luckiest Kid in the World…”

    Lisa, Joel, Tommy & Andy met me at the Discovery Science Center today, which was hosting the World Cube Association 2008 competition.  Since Tyson is moving to New York next week, this was my last chance to see him for a while.  He competed in the blindfold solve (see video below) and did great as usual.  Tommy really took a liking to the whole “cubefreak” phenomenon.  When asked if he would rather go to the dinosaur exhibit or go meet Tyson, he opted for meeting Tyson.  At one point afterwards, he said to me, “I’m the luckiest kid in the world.  I just got to meet Carey’s famous friend.”  (I had explained to Tommy that Tyson was on Beauty and the Geek and had taught Will Smith how to solve the cube for The Pursuit of Happyness.  That really impressed him!)  After they got home, apparently Tommy donned a blindfold and gave it a try.  LOL.  He was also infatuated by the video of Macky I had on my iPod where he solves the cube with one hand, while juggling 2 cubes with the other.  See for yourself:

    Tommy has now proclaimed himself, “Tommy the Science Nerd”.  It’s going to be an interesting next 12 years.  LOL.  Best of luck in New York Tyson!

    BTW, the movie “Cubefreak” is premiering next Saturday at the Newport Beach Film Festival.  If anyone wants to go, let me know.

  • Burgers With Smeagol the Iraqi Lizard

    Most of the family was busy tonight, but Lisa was nice enough to bring the boys to meet me at Fuddruckers after work.  I got there a little early and struck up a conversation with a young marine named Frank.  He was there with his wife and step-daughter and his pet iguana, Smeagol.  Since you don’t see an iguana on a leash every day, I asked him if I could take a couple of photos.  He graciously obliged, and gave me his email address to send them to him.  Later, we all talked as he played video games with the kids.  At only 20 years old, he was really just a kid himself, and had already completed one tour of duty in Iraq, and was about to leave on his second tour; leaving his wife, step-daughter, and presumably Smeagol, behind.  (I doubt he got the iguana in Iraq, I embellished that part, to make the title of this post more dramatic.  LOL)  He was limping, and I asked him if he had been injured while serving, but he told me it was a skateboard accident.    “No fucking hadji is going to hurt me.”, was his response, which was remarkably similar to how the kids in the movie Stop Loss spoke.  Nearly verbatim in fact.  (I asked him if he’d seen it, he hadn’t.)  I’m troubled by the hate of other cultures we’re breeding in our military.  It’s probably nothing new though.  Nonetheless, he was a charming young man, who like James and Jimmy, I’m glad to have on our side.

    From www.lewrockwell.com:

    There are basically
    two types of soldiers in most units. There are the career guys who
    have more than a decade invested and have seen so many commanders
    like this they believe them to be the norm rather than the exception.
    Then, there are the young soldiers who have fallen for the line
    about killing as many of these “rag heads” as possible
    because of 9/11 and protecting “the folks back home.”
    Soldiers, who see this war for what it is and voice those thoughts,
    are reported up the line as malcontents and enemy sympathizers.
    The vast majority of soldiers would rather live through the lies
    and atrocities than be labeled a traitor and the ramifications of
    that label once they return home. So, many just hope to survive
    and get the hell out of the military and away from the madmen who
    lead them.

    This
    nation, its political leadership and the vast majority of its religious
    leaders, have thrown away their moral compass and replaced it with
    a rabid nationalism unseen on the world stage since Germany in the
    1930s. Torture and murder of hundreds of thousands are readily accepted,
    as long as it is done for the graven image called the State. Eventually,
    unless we take a different path, the number of those tortured and
    murdered will include those in this country who refuse to submit
    to the State as it pursues its “mission
    from God.”     The venom readily spews forth from the shills
    for the State now, building a hate and resentment in the masses
    for any who would challenge the official position of perpetual war
    for peace.

    Since
    our nation and its civilian leaders have lost their ability to judge
    right from wrong, why should we expect anything different from our
    military?

    On a side note, my crazy neighbor, who I blogged about a while back, finally moved out.  But not before leaving this note, on my other neighbor’s door!  (Not mine, thank goodness.)  I would love to know what it said.  LOL.