The End

Well, my loyal readers... I am afraid this may be the end of my blog. As you know, I have often struggled with topics to write and it has started to feel more like a chore than an outlet or a fun venue. I never wanted my blog to be stressful for me to come up with topics, but sadly it has, and given I know I have a lot of people reading... I do not like to disappoint. Each week I felt pressure to update... sometimes more than once a week. And I have just struggled to always come up with new topics. So, I am starting a new chapter in my life soon... new job, and being married. I feel this may be the right time to put the blog to bed for good. As always, I would welcome your comments. And I do thank you for reading through the years... it has been fun and I love knowing that so many of you actually took the time to read what I had to say... regardless of how silly it often was. So again, thank you for reading!!

Moving On

I wanted to let everyone know that I will be leaving my position as Program Director at the Roitenberg Residence effective September 8. I have accepted a position with Bloomington Public School's Community Education as the Out of School Time Programs Manager. In this position, I will supervise 12 people... each of whom is responsible for all "out of school" programming at one of the elementary schools in the district. They in turn will each supervise a handful of people as well. There are many programs in my department including before and after school care, summer programming, musical opportunities, academic programs, and much more. If you are really interested, check out this link: http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/community_ed/youth_development/index.html
I will supervise all programs except Galaxy and the Volunteer program listed on this page.

Needless to say I am extremely excited about this opportunity as it is a very large step-up for me in my career. I will begin in Bloomington on September 13. As always, you can e-mail me or comment below. Thanks for reading my blog.

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We Have A Winner

This time seven people turned in answers for the unscramble blog post below. Four people had them all right and were entered into the drawing for the prize. Chad picked the winner, so if you are unhappy... be mad at him. The winner is...

Allison Rosenthal

For those who wanted answers... here you go.

1. Theater

2. Sweets

3. People Watching

4. Money

5. Camp

6. Mountains

7. Walgreens

8. Love

9. Air Conditioning

10. Tattoos

11. Gifts

12. Vacation

13. Kansas

14. Aruba

15. Comedy

16. State Fair

17. Entertaining

18. Survivor

19. Haircuts

20. Cereal

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Who Will Win?

I have done this before, and thanks to Kerry's suggestion, I am doing it again. Today's blog is completely interactive. Below are 20 things I like. All you have to do is unscramble them. The fun part... a prize is at stake. Last time, Wendy Beth Gahm was the big winner. Will she get it again, or will someone de-throne the Unscramble Queen.

Once you have unscrambled all 20 words, send me your answers via e-mail (ablocke10@gmail.com) or a message on Facebook. Don't leave your response as a comment here or you will be giving your answers away. Please note numbers 3, 9, and 16 are two word answers separated by a //. Some are definitely harder than others... Good luck!

1. T R H E E T A

2. E S E S W T

3. E P L P O E // H G T W C A I N

4. O E N M Y

5. C P A M

6. N T U I O S N A M

7. S G E W A E L R N

8. E L V O

9. R I A // I G I N C O N N T D I O

10. S O T A T O T

11. F S G I T

12. N V C O T I A A

13. N S K A A S

14. B A R A U

15. Y M E O D C

16. T T E S A // R F A I

17. G T R I N N E I T A N E

18. V R I S O V R U

19. I R A T S H U C

20. E C L E A R

Remember, these are all things I like. You have until the end of the day Friday to submit your answers via e-mail or message on Facebook. Someone wins a prize... good luck!

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Herzl's Not-So-Top 10 List

I have been experiencing writers block lately, and that is not a good thing when you have a blog due for Herzl Camp. So I thought I would do a Top 10 list of something and post it on my personal blog too. But suddenly, this got harder than I thought…

Top 10 Famous People at Herzl Camp
1. Bob Dylan
2. Bryan Greenberg

Well, that did not get me too far. Okay… how about another topic…

Top 10 Colors to Wear on Shabbat
1. White

I think we have exhausted that list.

Top 10 Old Flag Songs
1. Oh Canada

Hmmm… bad idea. Next?

Top 10 Old Herzl Programs
1. N’Divim
2. Maba

Yes there are others… but there are certainly not 10. These were the two best programs no longer in existence.

Top 10 Herzl Words
1. Ozo
2. Koontz

And the list was over. No word is better than Koontz!

Top 10 Hot Tubs
1. Ozo Mo

You cannot come up with 10 when there only is one in camp.

Top 10 Optional Breakfasts
1. Cinnamon Rolls

It used to rotate every other week between the cinnamon rolls and bagels, but alas, still not 10 to choose from.

Top 10 Herzl Stories
1. Rosemary
2. The Clown
3. Kundra

Okay… this is getting scary. I need to stop.

Top 10 Herzl Colors
1. Orange
2. Brown

That’s a pretty boring list.

Top 10 Herzl Sports Gone by the Wayside
1. Teatherball

I am still in shock that it is gone.

And then it hit me… a Top 10 List that could work…

Top 10 Places to Spend Your Summer
1. Herzl Camp
2. Machaneh Herzl
3. Herzl
4. Machaneh Paradise
5. Webster, Wisconsin
6. The shores of Devil’s Lake
7. The former Log Cabin Inn
8. The town next to Siren, Wisconsin
9. Theo’s Summer Shack
10. The greatest place on Earth

Okay, it was a stretch, but you get the point. Dorothy says “There is no place like home.” But I say… There is no place like Herzl Camp!

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The Invites Are Coming, The Invites Are Coming

That's right... with 72 days until the wedding, tomorrow we are sending out the invitations!! I am really excited about it. Each thing we do it feels more and more real. But now... we are actually inviting people to the event. It appears that our final number will be 158 invited. We both know (and are hoping... lol) that not everyone will be able to make it. We are anticipating around 130 people coming. There are also a few people I feel bad about not inviting, but things/circumstances/relationships change, and therefore, you cannot invite everyone you know. If we had more money, I would invite a lot more people, but we don't, and so it is what it is.

We received our official bid from our new florist... we just need to make a few adjustments and we will be all set with that.

We have cocktail napkins ordered for the cocktail hour and the sweet table.

Almost all of the attendants have been measured for their tuxes. A few have not... you know who you are... grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Other than that, I think I have shared all of the latest information. So tomorrow the invites go out, and then we will already be getting response cards back by the end of next week. Fun!!!

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You're Such A Character

I have not done one of my "top 10" lists for awhile, and I am sure you miss them... especially because it means I am not going to be yakking on about the wedding. So today I have for you my top 10 favorite TV characters of all time. Granted, these are only from the shows I watched, so I am sure there are some better ones out there, but this is my blog, and so I get to tell you my favorites. These are, in order:

10. Jo Polnachek (Facts of Life) - A true lesbian ahead of her time. Clearly if they re-made that show today, she would be out of the closet and not dating men. She also always had some great one liners and I loved her relationship with Blair.

9. Addison Montgomery (Private Practice) - She is the brains behind the operation. A world-class surgeon who is not only down to Earth, but beautiful as well. She definitely has herself some drama, no question, but she definitely earns her #9 spot.

8. Abby Lockhart (ER) - There was just always something I liked about Abby. I actually miss seeing her on Thursday nights. She was full of drama, and even went through some REALLY annoying points in the show, but she triumphed through the crap and came out on top.

7. Mike Sever (Growing Pains) - Who didn't want to be like Mike when they grew up? He was a good kid at heart, but always got into a little bit of fun. Mischief was his middle name, but somehow, there was always a "learning experience" for everything he went through.

6. Brian Kinney (Queer as Folk) - Brian made no bones about it... he did not give a fuck. Not about you, me, or anyone else. Yes, he had great friends and a good job. I would NEVER in a million years want his lifestyle, but I always had a soft spot for Brian Kinney. He just needed a hug and to know someone loved him.

5. Maxine Gray (Judging Amy) - Talk about someone who did not give a fuck. Maxine would do it her way, no matter what. She was above the law, and had a mouth that would make a sailor blush. She always had great lines and I wish they would have given that character her own show.

4. Roseanne Conner (Roseanne) - Easily one of the trashiest people ever on TV, but so damn funny. She also did not really care what people though and she totally embraced her "trashiness." Her character was written very well, and I am sure a lot of it mirrored her own life.

3. Rachel Greene (Friends) - I did not really fall in love with Rachel until the series ended, but they wrote her lines SO well. And not only was she written well, but she delivered them well. She was such a good comedian and I just wish I could pull out lines like Rachel did.

2. Amanda Woodward (Melrose Place) - The chief bitch... and I loved her. Amanda was rotten, nasty, and said things that everyone was thinking. She is another one who did not care about anyone else... she was all business and she did not mess around.

1. Karen Walker (Will & Grace) - This was an easy one. There is no doubt in my mind, Karen Walker was the best character ever on TV. True, her character evolved as the show went on, but she was funny from beginning to end. And they could not have found a better person to play her than Megan Mullally.

There you have it... my favorite TV characters of all time. Who are yours? Did I miss any?

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Goodbye Lindsay

Lindsay Lohan can rot in jail for all I care. She is a fucked-up, sick, twisted girl, and she needs help. I grant you, her parents should be shot and killed too... they are pretty awful. But that is no excuse for her. She continues to break the law, disobey her parole, and act like a complete moron. In the end, she thinks she won't go to jail and won't have to pay for her crime because she is Lindsay Lohan. Well guess what... that is exactly why she is going to jail. This judge has had enough of her, just like the rest of us. I am so glad she stuck it to her... I just wish her sentence was longer. Because in 23 days (the expected length she will serve), that twit is going to be back on the streets drinking, snorting, and annoying the hell out of me.

Mel Gibson and Oksana are another pair of people I would not mind if they fell off the face of the Earth. He is a disgusting excuse for a human being, and I do not think she is much better. They deserve each other.

Yes, I go to tmz.com, people.com, and usmagazine.com daily. And yes, it is their responsibility to deliver all of the gossip to us, but enough is enough. They need better subjects. Come to think of it, I think I have blogged about this before. Maybe I am the one who needs new material!!

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An Update on the Wedding

You asked for it.... you got it. I have to say, I am surprised though. In my last blog post, I left it up to the reader to vote on what this post would be about. I only got three replies, but all of them wanted an update on the wedding. I assumed everyone was sick of hearing about it. Well, if you are... stop reading now. If you want more... read on...

Things are really moving along swimmingly. Let's catch everyone up-to-date. My second mother, Linda Gersick, who happens to be my mother's best friend, and one of my best friend's mothers (let's see if you can translate that) is serving as our wedding coordinator. She is SO damn good. She thinks of things like... "how will the butter be displayed on the table?" We met with her and got a list of more things to do and figure out... but they are all things I am glad we now know.

We had a mock-up with the linens and our florist. Without going into any details, things looked great, however, we have changed florists. We will now be using Richfield Flower and Events for the big day. They do many, if not most, of the Jewish weddings here in town, and we are excited to have them on board. We know everything will go off without a hitch.

We had a second tasting with the caterer because they changed chefs. Needless to say... the food is still great and we were all impressed with Chef Eric at Joseph Catering. He is really into presentation, and it shows!!

The invitations are stamped, addressed, and just waiting to be sealed. Once that is done, we will get them in the mail August 1. Well, August 2 actually because the first is a Sunday.

Our guys are all busy getting fitted for their tuxes. The ladies are dealing with their dresses and "purple accents."

This Sunday, we have our first shower!!! We are so excited for it. My friends Alli, Andrea, and Danny, along with their three wonderful spouses, are doing a brunch/shower. It should be a blast.

Linda, the wedding coordinator, and another friend of my mother's, Shelly, will also be giving us a shower. I believe that one will be on Sunday, August 15. I also think my friend Jen is doing a shower for me at work. I am truly blessed to have all of these wonderful people in my life.

Let's see, what else... the program for the ceremony is typed, our cocktail (ha ha, you said cocktail) napkins are ordered, kippot are in hand, items are disappearing off of our registries, and all of our vendors are making their lists and checking them twice.

So what is next? We need to get fitted for our tuxes as well, programs need to be printed, invites need to be sent, speeches have to get written, Hebrew names need to be learned to be written for the Ketubah, place cards need printing, and tables need to be decided, though those cannot happen until we get RSVPs back.

So that is where we are. I know there are a million more things that need to be done, but that is a quick snapshot for you. It is amazing how fast this past year has gone. I know the 87 days coming up will go even quicker. Fell free to check out our wedding website for some new pictures and updated information. http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/AlexLocke&ChadHewitt

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The Choice is Yours

Once again, I have hit writers block. I am not quite sure what to write. So... I am leaving it up to you, my loyal followers, to vote on what you would like me to write about. Below are a few options. Please vote by leaving a comment. If none of these ideas strike you, by all means, propose something new. In any case, please vote... the top "vote getter" wins, and will be the subject of my next blog entry.

- An update on the wedding

- A "random ramble" where I throw out random thoughts

- A rant on people not RSVPing, calling back, replying to e-mails, etc.

- Favorite vacations/destinations to date

- The top 10 ice cream flavors around

Well, the choice is up to you. What would you like me to write about? Leave your vote as a comment below.

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The Name Game

Everyone is pregnant. If they aren't pregnant, they want to be. Others are adopting. In any case... children are inevitable whether you want them or not. Personally, no thank you.... no kids for us. But for those of you planning on one in the future, here are some name suggestions for you. You will notice a couple names on the boys AND girls list. They just work well for either. Also, you will see 10 boys names, and only six girls names. Back when I wanted kids, I always wanted boys and no girls. Still must ring true today because I could not come up with more than six girls names. In any case, in no particular order...

Boy Names:
1. Noah
2. Kyle
3. Jackson
4. Jake
5. Loren
6. Nathan
7. Logan
8. Jesse
9. Austin
10. Max

Girl Names:
1. Molly
2. Maxine
3. Amanda
4. Lauren
5. Jordan
6. Victoria

There you have it. Feel free to offer other names in the comment section.

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Here's to Dear Old Herzl

This weekend, Chad and I were lucky enough to spend Shabbat up at Herzl Camp. It was SO fun being there while camp was going on. In fact, this was my first Shabbat since I was Papa Ozo being back at camp with campers. It was so fun. Everyone has heard about the AMAZING new cabins, the gorgeous Mercaz with backs on the benches, the accessibility of the waterfront, and of course, the new Haks. So... I am not going to talk any more about that, other than to say they are all awesome additions, and it still TOTALLY feels like camp.

Instead, I am going to give you some of what people have been asking for. A comparison of what traditions are still around, and what is new at camp. Here we go...

Same Old, Same Old
- Shabbat caravan with everyone in white
- Good old matzo ball soup
- People walk around in pairs with candles during song session Friday nights
- Cinnamon rolls for optional breakfast
- Mama and Papa still yacking on the mic through optional breakfast
- Beautiful services at the Mercaz
- Shabbat rotations with the same offerings (though Ultimate only had about 10 people)
- Chicken nuggets for Saturday lunch
- Salad for dinner Saturday night
- Dancing and music for breakfast
- Camp ruach
- Awesome staff
- Campers having the time of their lives
- Lem Lem

New Traditions
- Counselors write the flag songs
- No more Shabbat packets with songs and readings... just services
- Chicken breasts on Friday night, instead of whole chicken parts
- Rice on Friday night instead of those little potato thingies
- Different songs Friday night... a lot more English and modern songs
- Following Oneg, no one stays in the mo... no more Foosball
- Throughout services, staff remind everyone to drink water in the mic
- Potato latkes accompany the chicken nuggets
- Typical ruach session after lunch, not all of the old schtick
- Shabbat Sichot are assigned by cabin, not an option of different topics
- Ranch dressing now offered for Saturday dinner
- Chipwiches instead of Eskimo Pies!!!
- Town nights are only Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Older staff... Papa Ozo is 24
- No more teatherball
- Very different staff structure
- Head staff all use walkie talkies
- Much better ratio of staff to campers

Though camp certainly looks different, and many of the things have changed over the years, it is still the same Herzl Camp we have all grown to know and love. Some people reject the new, but in truth, having been there and seen everything with my own eyes, change is good. It is for the better. Sure, kids are no longer slipping on the floor of the old chadar with a tray of food, but isn't that a good thing? No, Papa Ozo isn't 20, like when I was, but again, he has four more years of life experience than I did with the same job. And yes, the staff have walkie talkies, and you could argue that we did just fine without out them, but you know what... it is a lot safer to have them.

Things will always change. There will always be new traditions. But what still matters is the ruach and magic of Herzl Camp that will be there for years to come, regardless of if we have a Chipwich or an Eskimo Pie!

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The 4th

I love the 4th of July... I always have. In fact, it is one of my favorite holidays. Partly because I love fireworks, but also because I love being patriotic. It is an opportunity for our entire country to be on the same side... to celebrate our freedom.

Last year, we went to Door County over the 4th. It was really fun, and we saw some of the best fireworks EVER. We were on a dinner cruise, so we were in the middle of the lake. Those were awesome fireworks.

This year, Chad and I are going up to Herzl for the weekend. I am SO excited to be there. Minus the reunion in 2004 and Alumni Camp is 2009, this will be my first time experiencing a Herzl Camp Shabbat since my last summer in 1997. I am really excited to be there, with campers, for an actual Shabbat. I am also excited for Chad to experience a real Herzl Shabbat as well.

That does not help with plan for the actual 4th of July. We will be home Sunday in time for fireworks. So... which ones should we go to? Any ideas?

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Pride and More

This weekend was Gay Pride in the Twin Cities. Though I did not used to go, it is now a tradition for Chad and I. We park in the same place, watch the parade from the same place, and then tour the festival at Loring Park. Because I am proud of who I am, I think Pride is important for me to go to now. I do not go to wrap myself in rainbows, wear glittery lipstick, and call everyone I see "guuuurrrrrl." I go because it is the one time each year that Chad and I can hold hands in a public place and be in the majority. For once, each year, it feels safe and comfortable to be just one of the many, instead of the token.

That said, I still cannot believe some of the shenanigans that go one. Women dressed as men, men dressed as women, woman going shirtless except for little sparkly things over their nipples, and don't even get me started on the amount of rainbows! I am gay, and I am proud... but I still do not see why Pride turns into this weird-o naked thing for some people. I mentioned the topless Lezbos... what about the men in barrels who want to show you their junk, of the guys who wear these TINY banana hammocks that leave nothing to the imagination. I just don't understand. Be out, be proud, be gay, but why do you have to be so weird.

I love Pride, but I also realized it is part of what gives many of us a bad name. For better or worse, that is how it is. I am glad I went, I will continue to go, and I will still hope that one day what is normal for me, is normal for the rest of the "straight" world.

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Some Random Thoughts

For lack of anything to say, but in the interest of giving my loyal readers something to read... here are some random thoughts:

- I miss Herzl and cannot wait to go next week

- Will & Grace is my favorite thing to watch before going to sleep

- I wish my back, tailbone, feet, etc. were all better than they are

- I bought something called a "Tush Cush" for my tailbone... lol

- Flavoring your water makes it easier to drink more

- It is almost 100 days until the wedding

- I wish you were entitled to unlimited days off at work, provided you still get your work done

- My family has been doing so much for the wedding, and I really love/appreciate them

- This month I tried fried green tomatoes, alligator, green beans, and bratwurst

- I am going fishing today and HATE fish (both touching and eating them)

- I really dislike when people around me use speakerphone... LOUDLY

- I get bored easily

- I also have a secret

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Thanks For Last Night

Hey Anna, thanks for last night! What a blast!!!

So last night, Anna Simon invited a bunch of Herzl alumni over for a potluck, in honor of Flip Frisch and her daughter, Scout, being in town. It was SO much fun! First, as promised, I have to give a shout-out to all of those in attendance. Apparently, a lot of them read this blog, which I love. So, here is all of the people who attended:

Robyn (Friedman) Wetter, Stacy (Kaplan) and Jesse Simon, Jesse Zimmerman, Cory and Jenny Friedman, Hope (Frisch) and Jeremy Kalin, Rachel (Tolles) and Sam Rosen, Marlene and Jim Bukstein, Roni (Kornblum) and Mike Falck, Kim (Schneider) and Aaron Gelperin, Debra Fiterman and Alex Arbit, Jon Gilbert, (Jenny) Javitch, Alyssa and Barry Golob, and of course Anna Simon, Flip Frisch, Chad, and me!

My sincerest apologizes if I left anyone out or misspelled any of the names.

So, it was a great crowd. As everyone arrived, we were all catching up. Someone of us have not seen each other in MANY years... others get together on a regular basis. It was so fun schmoozing and chatting with everyone. At one point I commented on all of the occupations there... doctors, lawyers, politicians, IT professionals, camp directors, teachers, and several non-profit workers. It is so fun to see what people choose to do with their lives.

We all talked for a long time, mixing between the groups, going from one circle to the next. There was a ton of food there, though my only complaint is I wanted to know who made what. Next time everyone needs a little table-tent in front of their dish saying what it was and who made it. The curiosity of it all was too hard on me. lol

Eventually, those who were left, made our way to the grass. We sat in a circle, Flip busted out the guitar, and we had a little lights-out song session. It was great. Following that, it was time for Havdallah. Who does Havdallah every week? No one, which is why it was so nice and special. After that, we all helped clean-up and we were on our way.

Herzl is a magical place. You spend umpteen years there as a child and then as a staff member. After camp, you go your separate ways, but eventually, it always brings you back together for a little potluck, song session, and Havdallah. It links you to these people forever and that is a powerful thing. On the drive home, Chad commented on how much he wishes he had something like this growing up. He cannot believe how close and tight people are, even after they have not seen each other for years. There was also a huge age range, but everyone was together as BFFs and it was so fun. Chad also commented that he wants to donate more money to Jewish camps because it gives kids who cannot afford it, the chance at a lifetime of memories. And that, is the power of Herzl Camp. Chad and I are going up for a weekend July 2-4, and I am so excited... as is he. He got his own Taste of Herzl last summer at alumni camp, but this year he will get to see camp in action. A full on, white filled, Herzl Shabbat. And while he is not a 10 year old boy, I already know that these Herzl experiences, will give Chad a lifetime of Herzl memories.

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New Orleans Reviewed

Well, sorry everyone. I just wrote a VERY long and detailed re-cap of my trip that took about a half hour to write. But then, something got fucked up when I went to post it, and it vanished. I am NOT about to re-write everything I did, but suffice it to say.... it was a SHITTY place that I never plan on returning to. Chad feels the same way. Here are a few bullet points as a re-cap:

- Disgustingly hot a humid weather... heat index of 107 each day
- Found a place we liked to eat called Gordon Biersch
- Another great restaurant was Louisiana Pizza Kitchen
- Got a bobblehead after a long and exhaustive search
- Stayed across from the casino
- Had a king size bed despite being told we could not get one and would be in two double beds
- Took a city tour that included Katrina destruction
- Walked the French Quarter
- Have beginets and cafe au lait at the world-famous Cafe Du Mond
- Stopped and took pictures at Brad and Angelina's house... someone was watching TV inside
- Took a tour of the Laura plantation
- Got first class seats and a free ticket on the way home to give up our seats; we will use the free ticket to go visit Chad's family sometime next year.

And that is pretty much the condensed version minus a lot of detail. NOLA sucks... big time!!!!

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Off to the Big Easy

On Sunday, Chad and I are going to New Orleans for the week. He has a conference there, and I have never been, so I decided to tag along. I am looking forward to it, as I love to travel, and often enjoy new places. However, the weather is supposed to blow. It is supposed to be in the 90's, high humidity, and stormy the entire time. So basically, I will get really used to seeing the inside of our hotel room. Which, by the way, only has two double beds. That pisses me off, but the entire hotel is booked and that is what they have us in. I am hoping when we check in they will have something better. I would even settle for a queen at this point.

So, that is pretty much it. I won't be blogging from New Orleans, but will certainly write when I get back in a week. Have a wonderful week, and thanks for reading.

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Random Update

Good morning everyone. First, Happy Memorial Day, and a BIG thank you to the men and women who serve our country and defend our freedom every single day. We would not have the lives that we live without all of you, so a true heartfelt "thank you" to each and every one of you!!!

Second, I have totally neglected my blog this week. I am sorry about that. I am not sure how many readers I have any more (though I would love to know so shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment so I know who is still reading), but my apologies for not writing last week. It was just a crazy, busy week. Today, I have a bit more time, so thought I would update you on a few things.

Of course, my biggest thing was the tattoo this week. I absolutely LOVE it. I am not going to be one of those macho men that says, "eh, it barely hurt." I am here to tell you, it hurt like a bitch!!! But, I am really glad I got it. I have always wanted one, and am so happy with the way it looks. Poohki at Steady Tattoo is amazing. If you are ever in the market for some ink, go to Poohki. I believe Chad will be going to him coming up soon.

We also finally finished our registration. That is NOT an easy process. However, it is done, and I am really excited with the things we registered for. Ultimately, we have registries at Bed Bath & Beyond (our main registry), Specially Yours (our "fun" registry), and Sears (our small and random, but important registry). Now the fun part will be seeing what we actually get. Good times!!

I also had my cavities filled. Nothing too exciting to report there, but again, major kudos to my dentist, Dr. Bomberg. He gets me numb every time (not an easy task), and I do not feel a thing, not even the novicaine shot (also not easy). The nitrous oxide also helps!!

This weekend, Chad and I each bought a Nintendo DS. A smart buy? Probably not... we have no money!! A fun buy? Absolutely!!! I love it, and to set the record straight, I AM smarter than a 5th grader (one of the games I bought)!!!! Having the DS will definitely keep me busy next week in New Orleans, and then on the 14-night honeymoon. It will be great to have.

So, that is pretty much the excitement these days. Today I am at work for Memorial Day and will be showing "The Blind Side" to my tenants during lunch for the Cinema Cafe. They love it, so it makes it all worth it.

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Update

Update to the post below... we are now also registered at Sears. Follow the same link below to access our registry.

We Are Registered

Well, we are registered for the wedding, but man, what a process!! We started at 10:00am on Saturday morning and did not finish until 5:30pm with only an hour break for lunch in between.

We started out at Specially Yours in Hopkins. As you may or may not know, this is my favorite gift store. They have the cutest things in there. Cindy, the owner, could not be sweeter, and even e-mails me when she gets new things in that I may like. We registered for a lot of fun things there... serving pieces, bowls, candlesticks, dessert plates, candy dishes, and the list goes on. If you have not been in the store, you need to go. It is the best. There is a link from our Wedding Website, so check it out.

After Specially Yours, we had the daunting task of tackling Bed Bath & Beyond. That said, it is my favorite store, and I could live there. However, registering in a place like that is absolutely exhausting. We were in just the first section for over an hour. That, of course, was the kitchen part. You have to get the smallest of things. It is just nutty. But we did it, and got some great things. By the end though, my feet were bad, my mom's knees were terrible, and Chad was just plain pooped. One of the best parts about BBB is their return policy. They let you return things as long as your registry is posted, and all registries are posted for AT LEAST two years. That is amazing.

Our last stop was Target. I have to say... MAJOR disappointment. Everyone and their brother loves Target... who wouldn't?!?! They have everything. It is the classic story... go in for a pack of gum, and come out $100 poorer. But to register there... sucks! First, they only allow you to return things up to 90 days after your event. Well, given we do not have our house yet, that would never work for us. Also, things you scan, and verify with the scanner gun, do not show up on your registry. There are at least four things (and probably more that we have not figured out yet) that we scanned, but when we got home and checked online, were not there. All things considered, we eliminated Target from the registry, and moved most things over to BBB.

So that is my tale. We are registered at Specially Yours and Bed Bath & Beyond. If you want to see our registry, go to our Wedding Website and click on "registry" on the left side. Our address is: http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/AlexLocke&ChadHewitt

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Week of Pain

Well, next week would be considered a normal week... except for two BIG difference. On Tuesday, I am getting three cavities filled! On Wednesday, I am finally getting my tattoo!!!

I try to take good care of my teeth. I go to the dentist for my regular cleanings, as well as brush, floss, and garggle with mouthwash on a very regular basis. Still even that, won't prevent cavities. I was at the dentist a few weeks ago and found out I had not one, not two, but THREE cavities. My teeth were also stained. This shocked me to be honest. Upon further chatting with my dentist and hygienist, we realized that the culprit was Slim Fast. Those damn shakes!!!! The were barely working anyway, and then they stained my teeth and gave me three cavities?!?! Needless to say, I was not happy. As is, I hate the dentist, and now I have to go and get three fillings in one day. Yuck! Wish me luck... my anxiety that day will be through the roof.

Then, the pain continues the next day with my tattoo. However, this is pain I am excited about. I have wanted a tattoo for a long time. But, instead of talking about it, I am finally doing it. After finally deciding on what I wanted, and where on my body I wanted it, I did extensive research. I looked around at many shops here in the Twin Cities. I also studied up on SEVERAL tattoo artists. Slowly, I narrowed down the list to two. I knew which one I really wanted, but then put a survey up on Facebook. Low and behold... everyone agreed with the same artist I wanted. So, I will be getting a smiling sun with sunglasses on my left ankle from Poohki at Steady Tattoo in Minneapolis.

I am definitely nervous about the tattoo, and I know it hurts. It hurts even more on the bone, which is where mine is. I also know people have passed out before, so Chad said to make sure I have a fan on me. I have already put my deposit down, and purchased the specific soap and lotion I will need to care for my new art after it is on me. I know my mother, an avid read of my blog, hates, detests, and despises the idea of my tattoo. But I also know that I am a 33 year old man who makes his own choice, and whose mother will love him no matter what. She doesn't have to like it, but she does need to accept it.

In any case, it will be the week of pain. Both activities I am excited to have done with, and then I will be really happy once my tattoo is on me, cleaned up, and ready to look good.

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Games Galore

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to play games. You just can't beat sitting around with family and friends, having a good time, making each other laugh, and see who can kick whose ass in a round of whatever game you happen to be playing. So, today's blog post is my favorite 10 games. I should mention a few things... 1. These are in no order and 2. I would not exactly call this a comprehensive list. My mind can only reach so far back, so while I think these are my top 10, I could certainly be missing some. Okay... on with the games...

1. Candyland - This should be an obvious choice for anyone who was ever a child. To this day, when we get bored at home, Chad and I will still play it. And somehow, he wins EVERY time, without fail.

2. Operation - Remember the buzzing game that required a battery? It was always so fun, and truly a challenge. I think even now, as an adult, it is still not easy to do.

3. Apples to Apples - Definitely one of my newer favorite games. It is just so funny to hear how people would define a word. Definitely a hilarious game... and can also get downright offensive!

4. Uno - An old standby. Not much skill involved, but fun to sit around and watch people collect more cards, skip each other, and try to remember to shout "UNO!"

5. Yahtzee - I never played Yahtzee much growing up... I have played more as an adult and really love it. I even have it on my phone as a game I downloaded. It certainly makes you think, and moves pretty quickly.

6. Rummikub - Hands down, this one is in my top 3 games. I love it!! It is the perfect mix of strategy, luck, skill, and brain-power. True, the game can be extremely frustrating at times, but is so fun to play.

7. Scattergories - Another great game. This is one where sometimes even the simplest answer is hard to come up with, but where a completely obscure response will get you points. So fun... I even played it with my tenants this morning.

8. Friends Trivia - Not actually one of my top 10, as I have rarely actually played, but it is definitely a fun chance for me to utilize my extensive and useless knowledge of all things Friends.

9. Clue (regular and VCR) - Chad and I recently played on our cruise, and while it had been years, it is still a fun game. I also used to play the VCR version which was also awesome!!

10. Balderdash - Since my days in USY, this has been a definite fave. People can come up with some of the funniest things and you wonder where it came from. Other times, you cannot even tell which is the real definition and which are made up. Lots of creativity here, but you have to be in the mood for it because creating those definitions is NOT easy.

So there you have it. Please let me know what your faves are by leaving a comment. Also be sure to tell me if you particularly agree or disagree with any of mine. I like to hear what's on your mind!

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A Random Ramble For You To Enjoy

I have no blog topic today, so I am going to do one of my "random rambles" of things on my mind...

- I am REALLY sick of the rain

- Those lesbians on The Amazing Race are vile people

- I love that the brothers won The Amazing Race

- It would be great if Chad's townhouse sold

- Betty White on SNL was awesome... I hope you did not miss it

- My wedding is less than 5 months away!!!!

- Sometimes, with certain people, you just need to let it go

- Facebook is really just a fancy word for gossip

- I am excited to go to New Orleans next month

- I actually have "blog followers"... how cool!!

- I have the world's smallest bladder and am already sick of peeing today... damn flavored water

- I wish there were an easy way to get healthier

- Three hours of Survivor on Sunday... get excited

- Winning the lottery would not make everything better, but it would make a lot of things easier

And on that note... I will sign off. Do you have anything random to ramble about? If so, leave a comment.

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I Want To Win

I do not ask much, but dammit, I want to win the lottery!! Now, I know there are people who say "You cannot win unless you play," which is true, but I do play. No, I am not a crazy ticket buyer, but I do purchase some occasionally. And I think it is about time I win. Granted, everyone wants to win, but we can't all win, so I will do everyone a favor, and I will win for you!!

So, what would I do with the millions? Well, it depends on how many millions I got. First thing, I would definitely take the pay-out-over-20-years option. That would give me twice as much money. I would also find an accountant, because I want someone to manage my money so I do not have to deal with it. I would also not quit my job. I love what I do, and would get bored without working. As to what I would buy...

First, both Chad and I would pay of all of our debt. That means credit cards, cars, student loans, houses, etc. Once that is squared away, we would start taking care of our family. Not everyone would get the same amount, but here is the time you would get out of something what you put into it. Invest in me, and it will come back 10 fold. Screw me over... you can go fuck yourself! I know AP wants a fence. Missy wants to adopt two children. My mom wants to be able to retire. All of those would be great. I have not heard from Chad's family what they want yet, but I am sure we could work something out.

Of course, there will still be plenty left over for LOTS of vacations/cruises, massages, theater tickets, and other luxuries. We will invest some as well, so we should be able to retire quite happily. And for sure, we would finally move to one of the many tropical places we have talked about.

But for now, all of this is a dream until my numbers finally come up. And when they do, we will all be better off. So... what would you do if you won the lottery? Let me know by leaving a comment.

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The Dells

This weekend, Chad and I went to the Dells. Instead of giving each other birthday gifts this year, we decided to do what we love most... travel. So, we took a quick weekend trip to the Wisconsin Dells.

Really, there is nothing that stands out to talk about. We stayed at Hotel Rome at Mount Olympus. The room itself was weird in that it had Pergo floors, not carpet. It did, however, have a HUGE whirlpool that we used several times. The hotel also had an indoor water park, that was okay, nothing special. Chad and I did learn, however, that hiking up all those stairs to get to a water slide, is definitely child's play, and adults should learn their age. None the less, we did several slides, and enjoyed their lazy river. They also had an indoor and an outdoor amusement park, so we did some roller coasters, and that was about it.

Food was fine... again, nothing that was to die for. I had good Chocolate Chip Pancakes at the Wintergreen Grille. Chad really loved the ribs he had at the House of Embers. We also had a restaurant deliver to us one night as we stayed in, watched TV, and used the tub again.

We also went shopping at the Tanger Outlet Malls. We both bought a new suitcase which we desperately needed. I bought a few new polos and Chad bought a new sweater and swimsuit.

So, overall, it was fun to get away and relax, but nothing so amazing we could not believe it. Still, I love travelling, and even these short weekend trips are great. Next up... a week in New Orleans in June!

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Bathroom Etiquette

I am really sick of walking into the bathroom at work and finding an unflushed toilet. A few things... this is a bathroom that only staff uses, so it cannot be blamed on a tenant. Also, because it is a one person restroom, there is no urinal, so you are forced to use a toilet. That said... FLUSH!!!! Is it that hard? I know you don't like touching the flusher on the toilet, but neither do I. I still do it. It is the polite and right thing to do. I am getting really sick of walking into the bathroom to find a toilet full of piss. It's really not that hard.

As long as I am on the topic, I really do not like the smelly poops. I know they happen, and no one can be faulted for it, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. So... what do we do about it? Well, for starters, flush on contact. Instead of letting your poo sit in the turlet for awhile, flush right away. That gets rid of a lot of smells. Second, I do think it would be nice if all public restrooms provided room spray. It would certainly freshen things up. I hate walking into a bathroom and am then forced to breathe out of my mouth because the odor is so bad. Sprayers would be nice.

And what's with leaving used paper towels on the ground? You would not do that at home, so why on Earth would you do that in public. Here is a novel idea... after you wash your hands (and I truly hope everyone does), dry them off with a paper towel and then throw it in the wastebasket. Interesting idea, huh?

Okay, I realize this was kind of gross, but with a little cooperation, we could all have nicer and cleaner bathrooms.

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Wedding Update

If you can believe it, the wedding is less than six months away. So fun!!! Here are a few updates for those who are curious...

- We met with the Rabbi last night to really go over the nuts and bolts of the ceremony. We went through each prayer that will be said so he could adjust the language if it said things like "bride and groom." He has been very thoughtful and wonderful through this whole process. He is even trying to do things like say "Chad and Alex" one time and then the next time say "Alex and Chad" so that we both go first at different times.

- We have actually decided that the rehearsal for the ceremony will be at 1:00pm on Saturday. This is great because the Rabbi will actually be there. I have never been to a rehearsal where the Rabbi is present, but he said he could be there if we wanted, and we definitely do.

- We've got the invitations. They really have nothing to do with our colors, but most importantly, Chad and I love them. I am excited to send them out.

- We also have our rings. I have been really anxious to wear mine lately for some reason. Well, in less than six months I get to wear it for the rest of my life. Good times!

- We have chosen our musician for the ceremony. We will be doing a single violinist which we both think will be really pretty. We went back and forth about a pianist too, but ultimately decided on just the violinist.

- Next up on the list is to order the kippot for everyone. I am pretty sure we know which ones we are going to do, we just need to order them.

- Another thing we need to decide quickly is the tuxedo situation. Chad and I both have our own, so we need to see them next to each other. That will help us determine if we are going to have everyone rent the same one, or allow people who own their own to wear that one. In any case, the vests and ties will be rented to match each other. This applies only to the wedding party, obviously.

And there you have it. That is the latest and greatest. I will post more information closer to the event. Get excited... only 171 days!!!

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Greatest Musicals

Everyone knows I love going to see musicals at the theater. Is it because I am gay? Maybe. But in any case, I love seeing shows. It is two hours where you get transformed to another place, and in some cases, another time. You leave your worries behind, and sit there and enjoy the performance, and sing to yourself. That said, today's blog will be my top 10 favorite musicals of all time. I tried putting them in order, but that proved an impossible fete. So... here they are in no particular order:

1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - If there were an order, this and Mamma Mia would rank in at a shared spot for #1. I love this show. It is fun, colorful, musical, and seeing some hot guy with a good body run around in a diaper for 2 hours is not so bad either.

2. Mamma Mia - As I just said, this would share the spot of #1. This show not only has AMAZING music, but I love to laugh, and I laugh plenty every time I see this show. Side note... this one also has hot guys running around in little clothing... or at least in wetsuits.

3. The Wedding Singer - Likely not in anyone else's top 10... probably not even their top 50. But, I loved this show. I only saw it once, and laughed through the entire thing. Perhaps it is because I grew up in the 80's, or because it has a rockin' soundtrack with killer 80's hair, in either case... a show that will likely never tour again, that I will always appreciate.

4. Fiddler on the Roof - An oldie, but a goodie. This show is actually pretty funny too, when played by the right Tevye. It also shows hope, struggle, loss, family, religion, and a lot of other important messages.

5. Aida - A musical that people often forget about. This one has an AMAZING soundtrack and a great story line. It has a completely tragic ending, but still one of those shows I love to see.

6. Les Miserables - Another old school musical, but still a great one. Truth be told... I have seen his show probably 5 or more times, and still do not always understand it. But it is extremely powerful and one that almost everyone has seen at some point.

7. Avenue Q - I saw it again last night, and I almost wet my pants whenever I see it. If you like to laugh, this show is a must-see. There are songs like, "Everyone's a Little bit Racist," "The Internet is for Porn," and "I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today." You cannot go wrong with a show like this. That said, if you get offended easily, stay away. This musical will offend every single person somehow... and I love it!!!

8. Cabaret - A very dark show, but another good one. They have very interesting characters that make you want to know more about them. A good soundtrack, but it is always better in person. Listening to it in my car, I often skip most of the songs, yet I still love this show.

9. Rent - The latest cliche to hit the stage. I almost did not want to list this one, because EVERYONE loves Rent, but the truth is... so do I. It is an awesome show, with wonderful music, and very real stories. It certainly impacts everyone who sees it one way or another.

10. Wicked - You didn't think I would forget this one did you? Another that makes me laugh. Glinda is everyone's favorite "blonde" and Elphaba is certainly the underdog. This show has taken the world by storm, and I love, love, love it!!

So that is what I have. Leave a comment and let me know which ones you agree with, and which ones I may have left out.

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A New MOT

I am so proud of Chad. Tomorrow, he officially becomes an MOT (Member of the Tribe). Yes, tomorrow Chad completes his conversion and will become Jewish. It is such a big deal, and I am so proud of him.

When Chad and I met, he told me that he had been interested in Judaism, and had previously thought of converting. Once we began dating, he knew this was something he wanted to do. He went and met with the Rabbi, and his Jewish Journey officially began. In addition to regular meetings with the Rabbi, Chad was also doing a lot of studying on his own. He was reading, discovering, and researching all things that are Jewish. He started becoming more involved in the Jewish community by attending services, volunteering, and donating.

Eventually, the "Fundamentals of Judaism" class at Temple started, and then Chad really got the nuts and bolts of the Jewish religion. Clearly, there is a LOT more to our religion that can ever be taught in a 17-week class. Also leading up to it, Chad had his ritual circumcision (I say ritual because he already was circumcised) and had to write an essay on a variety of Jewish topics. Now, we are at the final stage.

Tomorrow Chad will go to the Mikvah. First he will meet with the Bet Din. This is a panel of Rabbis and scholars that will talk to him about his intentions. It is not a quiz so much as it is a group to make sure he is doing the right thing and for the right reason. After they agree that he is, Chad goes into the Mikvah. This is a cleansing process and almost like a re-birth. After the Mikvah, some prayers are said, and the Jewish population will grow by one.

I am getting emotional writing this. To some, it may seem like not a big deal. But it is a big deal... a HUGE deal. To find a religion, and a spiritual connection that finally gives you meaning and the desire to belong is an incredible thing that not all people find. Watching Chad continue on his journey is a true pleasure. Chad wants to make sure he is doing things because it makes sense for him, not because it is how I do it, or how my family does it. I love watching him and seeing him grow.

As I said, I am so proud of him for all he has accomplished so far, and all that he will continue to accomplish. I am proud to be marrying my b'sheret in 180 days, and I am thrilled to continue our Jewish Journey together for years to come.

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Top 20 Shows

First off, everyone should thank Danny Cohn for this blog. He gave me the idea, as I requested in my previous post. No thanks to those of you who did not offer any suggestions. You know who you are. Well... pretty much everyone in the world other than Danny Cohn.

Now, onto the blog. Here are my top 20 TV shows of all time. Yes, I have done a similar post in the past. Yes, I am missing a LOT of shows. But you try to come up with only 20. It's hard. Here we go, and in no particular order:

1. Friends - Okay, this one is in order. Best TV show of all time!

2. Facts of Life - You've got a fat girl, a lesbian, a spoiled brat, and a black girl on roller skates. What could be better?

3. Roseanne - I still love this show. As disgusting as this family is, they make me laugh... HARD!

4. Will & Grace - This show did a lot for the gays. That said, there isn't a character on TV (past or present) better than Karen Walker.

5. Big Brother - I love the reality shows (as you will see), and Big Brother is one of the reasons I look forward to each summer.

6. Amazing Race - This show really is amazing. The things they do and the places they go are unreal. Now if only they would let me cast the show.

7. Survivor - Sticking with the reality theme, I have not missed one of the 20 seasons thus far. They have a good thing going and it is still fun to watch.

8. Saved by the Bell - Come on... Zack Morris had the biggest cell phone in the world... not to mention the most "plastic" hair do.

9. Baywatch - You've got eyes, right? Enough said.

10. Beverly Hills 90210 - Everyone of us wanted to be just like them in high school. Don't deny it.

11. Melrose Place - They call it a spin-off from 90210, but it had nothing to do with this show. This one did just fine all by itself. However, the current one needs some help, and it is going to take more than Amanda Woodward to fix it.

12. Different Strokes - Everyone wanted a limo and a housekeeper!

13. Judging Amy - Likely not on many people's list, but if you ever watched Maxine work people over, you would be hooked instantly.

14. Golden Girls - Each one of those ladies was funnier than the next. We can all see ourselves in one of them... clearly, I am Dorothy.

15. Night Court - An oldie, but a goodie. So unrealistic, and yet, so fun to watch.

16. Private Practice - Currently on TV, and such a good drama. They have AMAZING writers that keep coming up with these story lines that just pull you in.

17. The Mole - Easily one of the best reality shows EVER. They kept trying to bring it back, and it never did stellar in the ratings, but let me tell you... the show was AWESOME!

18. Love Boat - As everyone knows, I love being on a cruise. I believe this show is part of the reasons. Just call me Julie McCoy.

19. Small Wonder - I always wanted a talking robot.

20. The Real World - I am definitely partial to season 9 (New Orleans). This was the first of the reality shows, and it was always a favorite. It is too bad the show has turned to such trash... I have not watched in several years.

There you have it. Alright, lay it on me... which shows did I forget?

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A Ramble Just For You

It has been almost a week since my last post, and I am still at a loss for what to write. Yes, once again, I am having writers block. So, for all of my loyal readers who expect me to keep writing, I expect you to offer some blog topics. Please do so by leaving a comment below. In the mean time... here are my random thoughts for now...

- I love my job, but sometimes it is so sad. Three tenants died this week.

- I still think about becoming certified as an EMT. Not to be one professionally, but I have always wanted to have the skills.

- Chad got a new car and now I want one... I am only a year and a half into my six-year car loan.

- My next cruise is still SO far away.

- I am already EXTREMELY sick of Passover... bring on the pizza, pasta, bagels, and other delicious carbohydrate delights.

- This months is CRAZY!!!! (See previous blog post)

- I am both excited, and nervous about getting my tattoo.

- My tattoo artists nickname is Poohki.

- Charley does not get his stitches out for another week, and I am scared his fur is going to grow in over them.

- I love summer and cannot wait to wear flip-flops.

- My sister-in-law (an avid blog reader) is naughty in an awesome way!!

- I despise when people screw you over... NEVER cross me!!

- I love April Fools and yet I am not creative enough, nor motivated enough to pull off a good one.

- This has been totally uninteresting for you to read (I assume), so I will be done.

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Busy Busy

Holy crap!!! When does the world slow down? I really think it is spinning out of control. March is crazy, and it looks like April is going to be worse. I need a personal assistant. I am now accepting applications. Yet, I do not see anyone submitting.

So let me catch you up to speed on what has been going on. As people know, we finally sold the townhouse. That is AWESOME!!! But with it, comes so much work. The biggest challenge is all of the packing, moving, and figuring out where things are going to. Chad is moving from the townhouse into my house AND into a storage locker. I already have a storage locker in the same facility. So we have been doing a lot of schlepping back and forth of things to be stored and thrown. We have also been doing a lot of re-organizing. The good thing... I have thrown out a HUGE amount of crap. All of this continues well into April as closing is not until the 23rd. Lots more packing, cleaning, schlepping, loading, unloading, and plenty of schvitzing!!!

In addition to that, we are currently getting ready for Passover. If you know me, you know that it is not my favorite holiday. I enjoy Seder, but that is pretty much where it ends. Having 26 people over for dinner and being constipated for 8 days is not my idea of a good time.

To add to all of this, we are now on a kick to get Chad a new car. Granted, I am TOTALLY in favor of this, but it is just more back-and-forth and something else to do. That said, it looks like he has narrowed it down to one car, but I won't give it away until the deal is done.

Tonight is Paxton's 10th birthday party, so my aunt is having people over for that. It is just one thing after another. I feel like things will never get done. The good news is, I know they will and at the end of the month, we are relaxing.

As I said, we close on the 23rd. On the 24th we are getting massages. I love a good massage. That night we are going to the Melting Pot for dinner to celebrate our birthdays (his on April 18 and mine on May 9). The next week, April 30 - May 2 we are going to the Wisconsin Dells for a mini-vacation. We both love to travel, so we decided that for our presents to each other this year for our birthdays, we are going to go on a quick trip to the Dells. We got a great deal as we certainly need to save money.

Money could be a whole different blog. We have to sell this townhouse, eventually buy our own new house, pay for the wedding, and on and on. If anyone knows a good money tree, please let me know.

But... lots of fun to look forward... in June we are going to New Orleans. We are going up to Herzl for the weekend of the 4th of July. Our wedding is 10-10-10. At the end of that week, we are doing a mini-moon in the Wisconsin Dells (a different resort than the place we are staying in April). And finally, next January is the honeymoon... a 14-night cruise to Hawaii!!!

Needless to say... we have a shit load going on, but it is all good things, and things we are super excited for. Now the only question is... where should we go after the honeymoon?

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No Family?

I was recently reminded of a guy several years ago that I went on a date with. We had a nice time, but certainly nothing special. After our date, we were talking on the phone and started discussing family. Obviously, to anyone who knows me, family means the world to me. That's when he told me the funniest thing I had ever heard in my life. "If you want to have a relationship with me, you need to forget your family. I want to be in a relationship with you, not your family." After falling on the ground, I picked myself up, and politely told the guy to FUCK OFF.

Seriously... that is the funniest, dumbest, lamest, rudest, and most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Let's see how many things we can find wrong with this:

1. My family means the world to me. You think I am seriously going to give them up?
2. I had one date with you... you think I would pick you over my family?
3. I am pretty sure no one tells me what to do... certainly not something like that.
4. That proves what a low self-esteem this guy has because he does not see room for a family and a partner.

And the list could go on. The reason this came back to me is I recently became friends with someone on Facebook, who happens to be dating the guy. It is even more funny because how involved he is the this other person's family, as demonstrated by the pictures.

In any case, I would never have considered dating anyone that said something so ridiculous to me. Thankfully, I have the greatest person in the world as my partner who not only loves me, but my family as well. And of course, I love his too.

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It Feels So Real

As all of you know, my wedding date is quickly approaching. When Chad and I officially decided on 10-10-10 as our date, it felt so far in the distance. Part of that is we have already been engaged for over a year, so it really was far away. But man, how time flies. Before we know it, 10-10-10 will be here and we will be happily marching down that aisle.

What got me realizing how "real" it is... our invitations arrived last night!!! They look so good, and Chad and I love them. We also now have our rings, which are beautiful as well. Don't forget the Ketubah (thanks, Mom), thank-you notes, and of course all of our vendors. It is amazing how real it feels, and yet, I am so excited. Finding Chad is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I am so excited to spend the rest of our lives together.

Now, before the wedding, we have quite the list of things going on... Chad's conversion (which will hopefully be official within the next week), Passover, closing on the townhouse, moving, a trip to the Dells for our birthdays, a Shabbat at Herzl, and at least a million other things we have going on. Keeping busy always makes time fly by. And this time, I am excited it is flying because as soon as we blink, 10-10-10 will be here, and we will not only get to commit to each other, but we will get to celebrate with all of our loved ones. And of course, then we get to go on our 14-night Hawaiian cruise. Damn I love vacations.... especially on a ship in the ocean!

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Another One Bites the Dust

Hey, Hollywood... lay off the drugs. Once again, we find another washed up star dead from an overdose. This time it is 80's movie star Corey Haim. What is it about Hollywood that they all get so hooked on drugs?

Don't we see a pattern? People get hooked on drugs and die. If you are taking drugs, don't you want to get help. Even you are not blind to the fact that others around you are dieing. Do you want the same thing to happen to you? I guess it is the "I am invincible" attitude, and the fact that they think they are in control, and "it would never happen to me." But it is sad.

I guess those of us that are not into drugs and do not have an addiction do not understand. I am on the outside looking in, and it is easy to judge them. But when it comes down to it, it is just sad. Stars are using drugs to escape. They don't know what it is doing to them until it is too late, and they RARELY get help on their own.

I wish we had a generation in Hollywood that would forget the drugs and become good role models for kids/teens today. But it looks like it is already too late for this generation thanks to people like Lindsey Lohan. Perhaps the next generation will wake-up and realize what they are doing to themselves and to society.

Until then... just say no!

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How Do I Love Thee?

Chad decided last night that I need to write a blog about the reasons I love him. Given I have no other topics, here goes...

1. He is my heart and soul (our wedding bands even say it).
2. We have more fun together than two people should be allowed to have.
3. We have so many of the same interests.
4. We totally "get" each other.
5. He's cute.
6. I am treated like a king every day.
7. We are both ready to live somewhere tropical and "beachy."
8. He loves Charley like his own.
9. He is part of my family, and I am part of his.
10. He is my B'sheret (intended).
11. I am happier than I ever knew I could be.
12. We keep each other laughing.
13. We listen and give each other advice.
14. We are equal partners.
15. We make sacrifices for each other.
16. He accepts my faults.
17. We would give anything for each other.
18. He is the love of my life.

There are hundreds and thousands of more reasons, but I had to cap the list somewhere. So, I left it at magic #18 (life) to represent the long, happy, and healthy life we will live together for many years to come.

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Bling for Ms. Thing

Congratulations to Simon Cowell and his fiance, Mezghan Hussainy (however the hell you pronounce that). I am very happy for both of you. Now comes the scolding...

A ring that costs $750,000?!?!?! Are you kidding me?!?!?! I understand that celebrities have a lot of money, and most often do not know what to use it on. But a fucking ring that costs $750,000 and will likely end in divorce anyway? That is ridiculous!! Send some more money to Haiti or Chile, help the homeless, hell.... pay for my wedding. But a ring?!?! Most of us will never even see that kind of money in our lifetime, and they drop it on a ring.

I'm sorry... I am just baffled by this. It seems like such a careless use of money, power, and fame. I will keep this short and end my tirade now. But seriously... almost $1 million on a ring? Someone needs a reality check.

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Cruise in Review

Well, I cannot say that I like going from 80 degree weather back to the 20's, but it is always nice being home... especially after sleeping in your own bed. Chad and I had an AMAZING cruise. We loved it and would not mind being back in the Caribbean right now. Next cruise leaves January 29, 2011. That is our 14-night honeymoon cruise to Hawaii on the Sapphire Princess. Less than a year away, but who is counting?

For this blog, I have decided to do a daily re-cap instead of by sections (i.e. food, entertainment, ports, etc.). Okay... now on to the cruise in review. Hope you enjoy!

Saturday, February 13 - Embarkation/Sail Away
As soon as we got on, we toured the ship. Now I have already been on this ship (went to Alaska on it in 2007), but Chad clearly wanted to explore and I wanted a refresher. We took a lot of pictures which you will eventually get to see on Facebook. Luggage was amazingly quick and we unpacked by the time we had to go to the safety drill. One new thing to note, you no longer bring your life jacket to the safety drill. This was a welcomed change. During our tour we went to the spa and booked a scalp massage for the first sea day and a full-body couples massage for the last sea day. That night for dinner I had prime rib and Chad had the pork chops. I also enjoyed the chilled rhubarb soup. The entertainment for the night was a variety show which Chad and I wound up being in. We were in a game where I had a tray velcroed to a helmet on my head. He had to stack food on my tray, and I had to dump it into this huge barrel without using my hands. Needless to say, we won the game, and were recognized for the rest of the cruise around the ship. That night, it was EXTREMELY choppy out and the ship was a-rockin'. But all was well and we were ready to turn in.

Sunday, February 14 - Half Moon Cay
Today was not only Valentine's Day, but also a stop at Holland America's private island. This was my 3rd stop at a private island, and I can easily say this was the nicest... absolutely gorgeous! In fact, you would not realize this was a private island, you would think it was one of the other ports we went to. Side note... before we got off the ship, we had breakfast in the main dining room. I had french toast that they made out of banana bread. Can you say DELISH?!?! Now, back to the island. Chad and I rented a private cabana for the day. It was AWESOME. We basically had our own little hut complete with fancy lounge chairs, a kitchen table and chairs, a shower, air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and tons of snacks and drinks. We also had hammocks on the outside that we enjoyed for quite a bit. It was a wonderful and relaxing day, minus the part where the loose chickens on the island tried to kill me. I hate things that fly.... they most definitely are an animal meant to be eaten!!!

When we got back to the ship, I had surprised Chad with chocolate covered strawberries and a dozen red roses that were delivered to our stateroom for Valentine's Day. He got teary and I loved every minute of it. That night I had filet mignon for dinner and Chad had a New York Strip. I also started with the mixed berry chilled soup. Again... delish.

After dinner, we saw the show "If Walls Could Rock" done by the cast. It was a great show. Now, a brief bit about entertainment/activities on the ship. In a word... they SUCKED!!!! The shows done by the cast were great, but there were only 3 of those. The rest was awful. Our Cruise Director, Eric, was atrocious. Hands down my worst cruise director ever. He never planned ANY activities to participate in. He was never around schmoozing with guests. And other than the cast, the nightly shows were terrible. You will see all of this played out as the blog continues because we skipped several shows and did a lot of movie watching and board game playing. Ultimately, we did not care because we liked the time spent together, and we made our trip wonderful and memorable on our own, without the dumb cruise director and his lack of activities.

Monday, February 15 - Turks and Caicos
We were not docking until 12:30, so we woke up and had breakfast in our room. Then we went to hear a talk about our next two ports, Turks and Caicos, and Samana (in the Dominican Republic). As we were having lunch, the ship's alarm went off and alerted everyone to a fire. To make a long story short, it was just a copy machine that was smoking, and there was nothing to be worried about. They did a GREAT job keeping everyone informed though and making sure no one was panicking. When we got back to our cabin to get ready to get off the ship, we got a message saying our power snorkeling excursion was cancelled because the weather was too choppy. That was a huge bummer as we were really excited about it, but you could see it was bad out. Finally, time to get off the ship.

This was a port I was extremely excited for. You see all of the celebrities going here and it looks gorgeous. Well, T&C is made up of several islands, and all I know is that where we went, Grand Turk, is NOT where the celebs go. There was a BEAUTIFUL brand new cruise terminal. Lots of shops and fun places to poke our heads in. But beyond the terminal.... nothing. So, we walked over to Margaritaville and thought it looked fun. Then we saw the swim up bar and said we have to do it. So, we got in the pool and swam over to the bar. Chad had a margarita and I had a daiquiri. They were great. Not long after, it started to rain, and did not stop the rest of the day. So, we called it a day and went back to the ship.

Back on the ship we played Scrabble, watched Scary Movie 4, and went to Canaletto (which we called Camel Toe) for dinner. It is their specialty Italian restaurant and it was great. I had chicken marsala and Chad had their lasagna. We met a Jewish couple at dinner and chatted with them for awhile. The show that night was a comedian. He was AWFUL. We left after about 20 minutes. Then, we called it a night.

Tuesday, February 16 - Samana, Dominican Republic
This was a port we were warned about. Basically they said there is NOTHING to do. Three small shops and that is about it. So, we did a Whale Watching excursion. It was awesome. We saw a lot of whales and it was really cool to be so close. The down side, for the first time in my life, I got sick from the motion (again, very choppy water) and to make another long story short, I threw-up twice over the side of the boat. Well, misery loves company and there were a few more people who did the same. It was not pleasant, but we still enjoyed the whales.

Back on the ship I had a New York Strip for dinner and Chad had a prosciutto wrapped chicken breast with Gouda. He loved it... mine was great too. That night I bought Chad's chain for a Jewish star, once he completes his conversion. (Funny I talked about his eating prosciutto and converting in the same paragraph). We also gave each other massages in our room, did some star gazing from our balcony, and skipped that evening's show... some tenor who was going to sing for the old people. Instead, we watched the Exorcist. I was all excited to be scared, but, as always, the movie bored me and I laughed at what should have been the "scary" parts.

Wednesday, February 17 - Sea Day
This was our first sea day. Of course, there were virtually no programs planned, so we had to do it ourselves. First up... banana's foster french toast. Yummy! We went to an art auction and it was terrible. The guy was not showing anything people had tagged. He talked FOREVER on each piece and was only showing things that were thousands of dollars and he knew, as we could all tell, no one was buying anything more than $200. So why keep showing that crap instead of the things we tagged?!?! Chad and I probably tagged 10 items between us... one was shown. So annoying!!! That day we also went to a talk to hear about the remaining three ports. We also enjoyed our scalp, neck, and shoulder massages that afternoon. For dinner, we went to the Pinnacle Grill which is their fancy restaurant that you have to pay for... $20 per person. It was SO worth it. We loved it.... they had the most amazing French Onion soup either of us had ever had. Unbelievably good. We also both had filet mignon as our main course, among some other delicious treats while we were there. After dinner we went to the "Ballroom Blitz" show done by the cast, did some star gazing on the top deck of the ship, and played a few games of Yahtzee before turning in.

Thursday, February 18 - Bonaire
We had heard that snorkeling was the thing to do in Bonaire. They were right. We did a beach snorkel excursion and it was amazing. Tons of coral right off the shore. So fun to see all of the fish, turtles, eels, etc. We truly enjoyed this excursion. After all of that, we did a lot of shopping. They had some cute stores, plus a market with all the vendors. There was not one port where they heckled us and pushed us to buy things. It was a nice change from other ports we have been to.

Back on the ship people thought we were twins (this happened quite often), we watched Beauty and the Beast, gave each other foot massages (we did a LOT of walking), and got ready for dinner. That night I had an NY Strip again and Chad had a blackened sirloin. He had his allergic reaction again, so we know it is really time to go to an allergist. That night was an impressionist for the entertainment. He was so bad, we lasted less than 20 minutes this time. Afterwards we had a drink in one of the bars, went to the Marriage Game (their version of the Newlywed Game), and went back to our room for some room service before heading off to bed.

Friday, February 19 - Aruba
We finally made it. My favorite port, and now Chad's favorite as well. They flip-flopped Aruba and Curacao on our itinerary, so we wound up being in Aruba from 7:00 in the morning until 11:00 at night. While there, we did a ton of shopping again. This time, we were hot to find a Jewish star for Chad. After dozens of stores, we finally went back to one of the first places we looked. We got one that we both love. I cannot wait until he gets to wear it every day. We also had a drink at Starbucks, saw a ton of wildlife (Iguanas, Geckos/Lizards, and Crabs), and went up to Palm Beach. To me, Palm Beach is the most gorgeous of any beach anywhere, so I really wanted Chad to see it. He loved it as much as I did. Absolutely gorgeous. That night there was a BBQ on the deck along with a pool party. We did the Macarena and the Electric slide before heading to our cabin for the night.

Saturday, February 20 - Curacao
Because our Jewish heritage tour was cancelled when they flip-flopped the ports (we were now here on Shabbos), Chad and I set out to find the synagogue on our own. We really wanted to go in because it is the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, but we knew chances were not good. Indeed, once we finally found it, (it took forever because the map given to us by the ship was wrong) we were not allowed in. And it was not much to see from the outside, so it was kind of a bust... but we certainly gave it our best shot. We did a little shopping in the town. Chad bought me this painting that I liked and after he paid for it the vendor gave him a note. He opened it up and it said "Jesus Loves You!" We got a big kick out of that. Back on the ship we bought Chad a silver bracelet for every day wear, skipped the Celtic Music show that night, and watched Zodiac instead. Dinner for me was a chicken breast and Chad had a pasta. That night was the dessert extravaganza which we enjoyed seeing and taking pics of, but neither of us had any interest in eating it. They always look good, but taste like crap, so we did not even bother.

Sunday, February 21 - Sea Day
The ports were all done, and now we were headed back to Florida. Two sea days ahead of us as we wind down the trip. On this day we went to a travel trivia game, dipped our toes in the pool, went to a talk by the environmental office to learn all about the ship's water, waste, and more. That was actually pretty interesting. We also played Clue and Rummikub that day and Chad tried to teach me to play Chess, but it did not work out so well. That night we went to dinner and both had filet, enjoyed the final show performed by the cast called "That's Vegas," and went to a late night game called the Liar's Club, which I always enjoy. One thing we learned... the word "farding" means putting on make-up. As in... I always knew my mom was farding in the bathroom.

Monday, February 22 - Sea Day
This was our final day on the ship. Always sad to leave after a cruise, but all good things must come to an end. This day we went and sat by the pool for a bit before lunch. In the afternoon we looked at some art, printed our boarding passes (it was a BIG fiasco that I do not want to get into), and finally had our massage. We both said it was one of the best massages we had ever had. Super relaxing and really good!!! For dinner, we went to Pinnacle again because we needed to have that French Onion soup and filet mignon one more time. After dinner we skipped the final show which was the awful comedian and the tenor again. Instead we packed and then watched "The Guardian."

Overall, it was a nice and relaxing cruise. The activities and the entertainment were embarrassingly bad. Part of that was a change in focus for Holland America. Where they used to cater to older adults, now they cater to people who should be dropping dead any minute. The food was good although the choices were a little too fancy for me. The service was good, although not at all what I expect from Holland America, given I had been on this ship before. What I know is that I would not cruise on Holland America again, but I had a wonderful vacation with Chad, and cannot wait for many more ahead.

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