Witches, Warlocks, Walt, and Ghouls

3 of these things are not the other. Although I am unsure which of the 4 mentioned items in the title post are the Scariest. I will let you all decide (and let me know in the comments).

First let me say Happy Halloween everyone. The weather here is better than it has been the past 2 years but overcast and dreary. Doesn’t matter much to me since I won’t be out Trick or Treating in it or trekking out to any parties. Just a simple dinner at home with the light off since I didn’t buy any candy and we never get any kids going door to door anyway.

So I may jump around a bit in the timeline of things just because I can so deal with it.

Monday night we had our annual election of officers at Drum Corps. Although there were originally 3 of us running for Drum Major, the current Drum Major, Myself, and the previous Asst Drum Major, the election did not go in my favor.  I was elected as the Asst Drum Major this year which makes me hopeful that next year I can be back in front of the Corps full time as the Drum Major. The current Drum Major removed his name from the ballot and the Woman who was Asst Last year had more family members in the voting population than I did it seems.

Tuesday night we were invited to attend a Gay Mens Social night that a semi-local bar/restaurant is trying to get going. It was a small crowd, most of which attend the First Monday of the month Social Night that we go to. It was a fun time and we look forward to going back again. We ended up joining a few of the regulars there for dinner, which ended with Flaming Shots. The video really is interesting, although the bartender had a bit of trouble getting his trick to work right every time.

Sunday we managed to harangue our Friends Walt and Ken (and by harangue I mean plan over a month ago) to meet for Brunch at the same place we met last time (July). We had a great time as always, enjoying the food, the company, and the eye candy, and judging others. Below is a pic of the one thing that Ruined Brunch.
This is where Ken would have sat had he actually showed up. He was called away last minute to his his grandmother who was ill.  I was gracious enough to text him this picture and tell him he ruined brunch. I’m such a good friend.

Saturday night we were invited to The International Conference of Witches Warlocks & Ghouls, an annual party that our friend Tom has been hosting for years. We met Tom through our friends Mike and Geoff who host Gayme Night every month.

I wasn’t sure who we would know at the party but we ended up having a great time. The crowd was very mixed, straight, gay, lesbian, man, woman, and in between. There was an abundance of Women dressed as Men but the costumes were all fantastic. There was the token Sexy Cop who brought her Boyfriend the Convict, who was HOT!

Here is the host of the party as the Mad Hatter (without his Hat). Those tights, that chest hair, the fancy Jacket, he had it all. I was unable to find a good pic of him with the Hat on but it made the costume that much better.

This is me with our friends Mike (the Military guy) and Sam (the Gladiator). Mike’s Husband Geoff was unable to attend the party with us as he had a ton of school work to get done and ahead of since he has family coming in to visit next week.

Here are the Hubby and I (and Mike) as we arrived to the party. I should say after we arrived to the party and there were last minute adjustments to the costumes, most notably me taking off my jacket and pants I wore in the car to get to the party in. WHAT it was cold Saturday night. We don’t really have a name for what The Hubby is, it was a costume I wore a couple years ago we said was kinda Anime. It looked good on him. The other person missing from these 2 photos is Sam’s Husband Josh who was in and out of Costume as he went as a werewolf.

And so October is coming to a close which means good things ahead on the Work front. The changes to the organization, notably my dept assimilating into the Sales Dept take effect next week. Monday starts the new journey and as I’ve said to others around here, it’s every man or woman for themselves.

TMI Thursday

RANDOMNESS

1: Could you go the rest of your life without smoking a cigarette? Yes, since I’ve gone this much of my life without.

2: Are you single/taken/heartbroken/confused? Taken, and then some.

3: What if I told you that you were handsome/pretty? Flattery will get you everywhere.

4: Ever been told “it’s not you, it’s me”? No, but I have some “friends” I wish I could say it to.

5: Are you interested in anyone right now? Does Cake count as anyone? I’m always interested in Cake.  No I’ve got my husband.

6: What are you looking forward to in the next week? Brunch with our Fabulous friends Walt and Ken.

7: Do you want to be single/married/in a relationship? I am married, so I guess I want to be.

8: Have you pretended to like someone? Daily.

9: Have you ever told somebody you loved them and not actually meant it? No if I say it I mean it, and not just in the love for the rest of my life as a partner. I truly love my friends.
BONUS 
Are you better at giving oral sex or receiving oral sex?? Most definitely better at giving.

Ain’t no sunshine in my disco break

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a very good friends very big night out.

My friend Steven is very passionate about raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, it’s one of his endearing qualities, we all need something to support. Aside from the local Light the Night walk he participates in with his Team from his company, he coordinates and Emcees Rock for a Remedy.

Rock for a Remedy 4 was last night and had a stellar crowd, from what I hear larger than previous years. What makes this fundraiser so great is that ALL the money collected between the Suggested Donation at the door and the money made from the Raffle prizes goes to LLS. How many fundraisers that you go to can brag about that. The Restaurant, Vintage Bar, donated the space, all the raffle prizes were donated and the Rock and Roll bands that performed donated their time.

The opening cover band was Father Nelson and the Backsliders who are very popular in the Westchester County NY Area. They performed last year and were very good, though I didn’t know all of their songs. The Main attraction was new this year and I applaud Steven for picking this awesome cover band for this honor. Ursuland was amazing and the short video below certainly do not do her Justice. I want to thank Steven for a wonderful night, I know he was very grateful we traveled on a work night (only about 45 minutes) to help support him, but it’s what friends do ya know.

To say things at the office have been a whirlwind of change and information overload would be an understatement. On Oct 1, after months of speculation and work on our part, we were told that along with getting the title change (to Project Coordinator) we would also be part of a reorganization and have a new reporting structure.

As I have said for the last couple years, I never understood how the Customer Support Team was umbrella’d under the Operations dept along with our Technology and Data Compilation teams. Well the time has come for us to be aligned with the Sales Dept once again. There wasn’t much information given last week other than we would be moved and integrated into Sales. This meeting was on the heels of finding out 2 Sales reps were on their way out of the company, one on Sept 30th, the other left Oct 4th, and now we find out today that a third one is leaving on Tuesday.

This past Wednesday we had another meeting with the VP of sales to further break down the new reporting structure. We were going from a Team of 12 all reporting into 2 different people, to being dispersed amongst the District Sales Managers in teams of 2 or 3. I for one am very happy with this change as I have been very unhappy with the 2 Leaders we are moving out from under. They are both staying with the company, one moving into sales with us, the other going back to the Data team where she was before she was flung into the Customer Support Team Leader role.  The team is split 40(happy)/60(more worried) on this move. I fall into the 40, I could go so far as to say I fall into the 20% who are Ecstatic. My new leader actually works remotely from his home in Iowa and I have started reffering to him as The Lumberjack because of his full beard, flannel, and laissez a faire attitude. He gets me. He knows I will do my job to the best of my ability and reach out to him for support and help when I need it. I like working this way. I know how to do my job and I do it well.

Today was the final day of me covering for my coworker (who also happens to be a good friend) while she was on vacation for 2 weeks. I am very happy she will be back Monday. I was so happy this afternoon I decided to take a Disco Break around 3pm.

And yes this disco ball DOES hang at my desk for all to see. The hubby was the one who bought me the cute little USB light I plug into my desktop and shine on for all to see.

Sunset Aug 28, 2013

No words can describe this video, and nothing compares to a sunset on a cruise ship floating in the ocean.

St Kitt’s August 2013

Well I finally got around to getting these videos off the phone and into my iPhoto library and Uploaded to YouTube for sharing.

This is  video I took while doing the the 3rd line in the 5 line course.

Here are some pics we took during the excursion.

This was one of the 2 guys who were our guides. They loved to show off.

This is another video of Brian in flight at the end of the line.

This one is the final run where we get to go 2 at a time almost as a race.

October Fest

Last night the Hubby and I went to a local restaurant to partake of their Oktoberfest menu. This is the second year the owners have created a special menu for the month. A little backstory about the restaurant is that the Chef has been seen on the Food Network as Alex Guarnaschellis sous chef on Iron Chef America. I will say the food there is amazing.

Here are the pictures of our meal.

It’s now early Saturday evening and I am on my way home from the last parade of the season. It’s bittersweet because I enjoy marching but won’t miss the craziness and antics of the members. I mean I will still see them every week at practice but it’s not the same as being trapped on a bus with them for a few hours. Below is some video I took of the first bagpipe band that marched by while we were waiting our turn.

TMI Thursday – How do you Like?

HOW DO YOU LIKE_____?

1. Your coffee? Black with splenda for everyday drinking, Frou-frou when I’m feeling special

2. Your sandwich cut? In half, square or diagonal? Crust or no crust? Crust, Whole, that is when I am eating a sandwich. Bread is a treat these days not a norm.

3. Your coffee or tea? Black Coffee, Tea with Honey.

4. Your alcoholic beverages? Strong and fruity (like my men LoL). With an umbrella sometimes too.

5. Your ice-cream served: cup, cone, soft or hard? Cup, hard, and chocolate over any other flavor.

6. Your hair–long or short? Up or down? Straight or curly? Permed or natural? Short. Haircut every 5 weeks.

7. Your cell phone? Working.

8. Your computer? Macbook Air Laptop.

9. Your web browser? NOT IE although that’s what I am forced to use at work.

0. Your car? Simple.

BONUS 
Your sex? Position? How often? Mild or wild? One or more? With a man, On my back, often enough, Mostly mild, the more the merrier.

3 Quarters gone

One left to go. Where does the time go. It seems like just yesterday that the summer and parade season was arriving and now it is gone. Well summer is parade season ends this coming Saturday with our final parade.

Well I thought today was going to be just like the last 4 month end days, very quiet, but boy was I wrong. I wish I could say I was busy with things for the 5 sales reps I have accounts with. The majority of the work came from the 4 additional sales reps I get to work with for the next 2 weeks while my coworker/friend is on vacation. It was so busy that the first paragraph of this post was written and saved at 12:35.

There hasn’t been too much happening around these parts, dinner with my Dad last weekend, work, more work, house work, yard work. You know the usual domestic stuff that keeps us all busy.

Last Monday was the annual nomination of officers for the Drum Corps. I am currently nominated for Drum Major and Asst Drum Major, I will see what happens come the end of October whether the group decides to elect me for either position.

Speaking of the Drum Corps this past weekend we went to The Big E, or The Eastern States Exposition, in Springfield, MA. This is the 2nd year in a row the Drum Corps has marched in the parade on the last Saturday of the 3 week fair. It was a full day of walking and eating and people watching. We had a wonderful day, the weather was beautiful, and we got to visit with about 160,870 of our closest friends.Seriously though we did have a good old fashioned tweet up. It’s not often you wind up in the same town as people you tweet with live, so when I mentioned we were going to the Big E, Eric (@darkraynbow) and Max (@JMaxR) tweeted back that they might join us. Now Max has never been to The Big E in all the time he has lived in MA.

Aside from just walking around and then the parade at 5pm we ate and shopped, it seems though all we bought was food. Deep Fried Pickles, Sausage covered in Pulled Pork and Bacon, Chocolate Covered Bacon, Maple Cotton Candy, Cabot Cheese (XX Sharp and Horseradish Cheddar),Beer, and Martinis. Oh and I can’t forget the Wicked Whoopie Pies I had to get, even though one didn’t last the bus ride home and the other we ate Sunday night. Max really got into the experience and had a Smoked Turkey Leg, guess he thought he was at a Renaissance Fair. We had a great time hanging out with both of them and hope to see them again sometime, especially since we live pretty close in internet standards.

So on a sadder note, not only was today Month End at work but it was all the last day for one of my colleagues who has retired. She worked in our database services dept and has sat on the other side of my cube wall for the last 3 years. Not only have I learned so much from her but she told me today she has learned alot from me and is impressed with my product knowledge. It just won’t be the same but she has earned this time to spend with her family and enjoy life.

Friday night, normally known as Date Night, the Hubby and I have made a plan to hit up a local restaurant The Redding Roadhouse to partake in their Oktoberfest menu. This also happens to be the restaurant that hosts our Monthly Gay Social Group the first Monday of the Month. Since they give to us, as good homos it’s only fair we give back. It’s a win for all because they get repeat customers and we get delicious delicious German food.

Here is just a sampling of what they have to offer:

Appetizer

Bit of the Wurst: sausage sampler of smoked bratwurst, weisswurst and bauernwurst steamed in beer with sauerkraut

Kartoffelpuffer: potato pancakes with applesauce & sour cream

Charcuterie Plate: zurgenwurst, teewurst, pepper-coated cervelat & wuerzburger, cornichons, purple mustard, grilled bread

Burgoo: german immigrant stew

Entrée

Wiener Schnitzel: breaded veal cutlet with lemon butter and fresh parsley

Schnitzel a la Holstein: weiner schnitzel with capers, anchovies, fried egg

Sauerbraten: bavarian style pot roast, sweet & sour gravy thickened with gingersnaps

Best of the Wurst: smoked bratwurst, weisswurst and brauernwurst steamed in beer & sauerkraut

Kasseler Rippchen: smoked center-cut pork chop baked in sauerkraut with apples & grapes

Dessert: Apple Strudel a la Mode, Black Forest Layer Cake

The hubby and I and some friends of ours (one of whom is German) went last year and vowed we would go back this year if they had the menu again. Now the only problem is to figure out what to eat.

On a recap note, the hubby got all the pieces he ordered for my laptop so I can now get a few cruise update posts, with pictures, and some videos posted now that I have the access to them. Look for those later on this week.

Happy 4th Quarter!

 

TMI Thursday – Sock it to Me

SOCK IT TO ME!
1. What’s your shoe size? 12
2. Do your socks and shoes stink? No, well maybe after marching a parade on a really hot day.
3. Around the house do you wear socks, slippers or go barefoot? Usually slippers but no socks, my feet get hot quickly.
4. What length and color are your athletic socks? Mid Calf White, Summer they are ankle socks
5. Do you wear normal dress socks or do you have some fun ones? Fun ones always rule over boring. Stripes and Polka dots.
6. Do you sleep with socks on or off? Off and sometimes with my feet hanging out from under the blankets.
7. During the summer do you go sockless? Yes, Socks are never worn with Sandals EVER, and barefoot around the house and yard.
8. Are socks on a man sexy? They are not a turn on but I do appreciate funky patterned and colored socks on man.
9. Have you ever used garters with socks? No.
0. Have you ever darned a sock? No, but I have said Darn you socks!

BONUS

Sex – socks on or socks off? Well now that depends, if they are on I may leave them on, if they are off they will be off. I don’t put them on just for sex.

Time keeps on slipping

I wish I had more to update you with but since we have been back from our trip there hasn’t been anything exciting to report.

Drum Corps rehearsal season has started again so the Hubby becomes a widow on wednesday nights again. We are down to our last 3 parades of the year over the next 3 weeks.

I was ready to work on more vacation posts but now I have to wait until another piece of fancy technology comes via the post so the hubby can get the pictures from his iPhoto library into mine.

We played Guncles on Friday night taking the niece for the evening. We went to dinner and had Froyo and her mom picked her up Saturday morning. It was a fun night for everyone, including the waiter and waitress at the restaurant.

Last weekend after my parade the Hubby and I met our friends Steven and Paul, and Mike and Geoff for dinner and then we retired to Steven and Paul’s for some Cards Against Humanity. Geoff won.

This past Saturday was Gayme Night and of course we played CAH again. It really is one of the most popular games, and it really shows peoples inner workings.

Tonight we ended up at my parents house for an impromptu family gathering. My Dad’s Aunt passed away yesterday, and my Grandma has been up here visiting because of that. It was nice to just spend some time with everyone.

Autumn seems to have arrived  little early, we still went for our lunch time walk but as the day wore on the temperature dropped.

Fall TV Season is starting, which is good since Burn Notice is done, Game of Thrones and True Blood are off until next year. Downton Abbey is still 3 months away, and we have already watched all of season 1 of The White Queen.

I think I got all that was swimming around in there…..