Tuesday, July 20, 2010

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!!

Check back often for more Random Ramblings!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

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

Check back often for more Random Ramblings!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

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.

Check back often for more Random Ramblings!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

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.

Check back often for more Random Ramblings!

Monday, July 5, 2010

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!

Check back often for more Random Ramblings!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

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?

Check back often for more Random Ramblings!

Monday, June 28, 2010

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.

Check back often for more Random Ramblings!