Holiday weekend recap

On Fri morning, July 4th, tropical storm Arthur blew through the area.  But my office was open 1/2 day, so I had to dash through the puddles to get to work at 9am.  Arthur was pretty much over by 11am, and the office closed for the holiday at 1pm.  Spouse & I had lunch together and picked up some things from the grocery store.  About 4:30 folks began to arrive at our house to watch the Doo Dah parade, have dinner, and then watch the fireworks.   I took Big Ella for a spin to make sure she was running smoothly, then got into the parade line-up.  Steven & Thad, Joe P, Jack & Alisha, Mike, Dan, and Spouse walked over to the parade route together.  The weather was absolutely dreamy and the parade was really fun, as usual.

Big Ella was a big hit, as she always is at this parade.
Afterward we all returned to the house and had dinner.  Spouse grilled chicken in advance which he warmed up and served with tzatziki, hummus, olives, feta, warm pita bread, and Greek salad.  We ate on the screened porch since the weather was so nice.  It was delicious and a nice change from all the burgers and dogs we'd been eating since Memorial Day.  Joe P brought chocolate cake and apple pie for dessert.  After dinner we drove down the street to the public beach and settled in to watch the fireworks.  They were good, but not as good as last year's.

Sat I had to work again, so Spouse went to the beach with Steven & Thad and Joe P.  Late that afternoon we stopped in briefly at our neighbor's open house (they bought the old church on the corner, gutted it, and turned it into a home) so we could see how it turned out.  It was nice but too stark and modern for my taste.  After that we met up with some other neighbors for a little BBQ.  We took my special barbequed baked beans.  We had a nice time and again, the weather was delicious.

Sun I had to work yet again, but we invited Steven & Thad and Joe P over to eat left-overs from Friday's Greek dinner.  Again we enjoyed being on the screened porch since we knew it was the last "nice day" we'd have for a while.  (Today and tomorrow are scheduled to be well into the 90s.)  

So it was a nice holiday weekend of fun, food, and friends despite my having to work all 3 days.

Lovely weekend recap

Sat was a work day for me, but I did something a bit unusual:  I hosted a public open house.  My team doesn't do a lot of open houses because in this area they are not effective in selling homes.  They are often attended only by nosey neighbors rather than home buyers.  Serious buyers almost always work with an agent.  But I agreed to do this open house for my client.  He bought this house which was in very bad condition, completely remodeled it, and is now selling it.  Unfortunately the open house was very poorly attended.

My client's house for sale

That evening I met up with Vic & Mike and our mutual friend Kevin and his new boyfriend Scott for dinner at Saketumi.  I hadn't seen Kevin since sometime before we moved from VA in Jan 2007 so it was great to reconnect.  Everyone enjoyed their dinners and the conversation.

Vic's lobster dinner

Although I was not on the schedule to perform in that night's Legends show, I received a call on Fri asking if I could fill in for someone who had a family emergency.  Of course I said yes.  So after dinner with the guys, I went to the Blue Moon to become Neil Sedaka.

My version of Neil Sedaka

Sun I met Steven for breakfast at the Crystal.  Thad went to yoga, Joe P had brunch plans with a visiting friend, and Spouse stayed home to make potato salad.  After breakfast Spouse & I went to a small car show where we ran into Rick & Nick.  

A rare AMC Ambassador

Later we went to Steven & Thad's for a BBQ celebrating the birthdays of 1 of the Bobs, Joe P, and Jack, and the retirement of Robin.  As usual, we brought Spouse's legendary potato salad.  The weather was absolutely stunning, about 80 degrees, low humidity, and a nice breeze.  

Making a wish!

 It was the perfect way to end the weekend!

Weekend

I wasn't scheduled for office duty on Sat or Sun, so I was kind of "off" from work, except that I had to go into the office and meet a client who was signing an offer which I had to upload to finicky website, then meet another client to let them show their visiting parents the home they are buying.  So I was working from 1-4pm on my "off" day.  Other than that Spouse & I didn't do much on Sat, honestly.  Spouse was feeling kind of lazy and didn't feel like doing anything I suggested.  We did have dinner at Dos Locos with Steven & Thad, Robin, Alisha & Jack, and 1 of the Bobs.  I tried the spicy pork tomatillo burrito and loved it!  Why had I never tried it before?  Its my new favorite item there.  I also had a jalepeno margarita which was muy sabroso.  Afterward we went to Steven & Thad's house for dessert and saw that they had gotten new living room furniture!  Spouse & I both really liked the colors and style.

Not our actual garage

Sun Spouse & I had coffee/breakfast and then decided to be productive.  I had been wanting to clean out and organize the garage for several months but it had been too cold or I'd been too busy.  It was a nice day (close to 60 degrees) so we got started.  I acquiesced to Spouse's insistence that I throw away the pile of odds and ends that didn't sell at my yard sale 3 years ago.  I'd been saving them for the next yard sale, but decided to "just be done" with the stuff and tossed them into the trash can.  There was nothing of any real value; just stuff that I thought might fetch a dollar at a yard sale.  I also organized the salvaged construction materials from when the side porch was removed and the garage addition built. I have a project in mind that will utilize some of the materials and just can't bear to throw away good wood.  I will offer the remnants to my neighbors and handymen I know.  Now that the materials are organized and stacked, they take up less space and I know exactly what's there.  I also organized the stuff so that all the Christmas stuff is together on 1 side of the garage and all the construction stuff is on the opposite side.  I swept the garage and threw away the cardboard boxes that lay on the garage floor (absorbing Big Ella's drips) and replaced them with new boxes.  It didn't take that long and I feel so much better about the organization of the stuff.  Now I know that if I need the pruning shears or a hammer, I will be able to find them.  After completing the task I learned that April is National Garage Organization Month!!  Leave it to ME to be on-trend.

Sun I also received a response from a potential buyer via email, wanting to see a home on Sun afternoon, so I cleaned up and met them for a showing.  They were very nice; looking for a vacation home since they are outgrowing their vacation travel trailer.

When I got home Spouse & I decided to take Marvin for a walk on the boardwalk.  It was rather warm (again in the 60s) but turned out to be rather windy on the boardwalk so we still needed jackets.  Marvin seemed to really enjoy the walk and the exposure to different people, dogs, and smells.  We stopped at Lowes on the way home to walk through their garden center.  We are planning to freshen up our yard for Spring and wanted to see if there were any unusual/interesting low-maintenance plants on sale.  We left empty-handed.

That evening we went to Steven & Thad's for pizza. Our friend Michael was there, and we enjoyed teasing him about his new long-distance boyfriend's 1st visit here in a few weeks.  He says he's not letting him anywhere NEAR us!  For dessert we ate what was left over from the night before.

Not according to plan

After attending the car club's meet-n-greet Fri night I was all ready for the big car show Sat morning.  Unfortunately Big Ella was not.

After numerous attempts, I just could not get Big Ella to run.  She would start up but then conk out a few seconds later.  I tried everything I could think of and Spouse even ran out to the auto parts store for some carburetor cleaner, bless his heart, but it did not remedy the trouble.  I resigned myself to the fact that Big Ella was not going to make it to the car show.

At first I was completely pissed off and utterly disappointed.  I wait all year long for this car show and she chooses this day to act up.  But after a few minutes I decided to heed the advice I would give to Spouse if it were him that was pissed off and disappointed.  

Don't let this disappointment ruin the entire day.  You can still attend the car show and look at all the fantastic cars.  The day does not have to be a total loss.

So that is what we did.  Spouse & I met up with Jack & Alisha, Steve & Thad, and 1 of the Bobs at the car show and really enjoyed ourselves.  There were lots of new cars I'd not seen at previous shows.  And the weather was nice and warm and sunny, unlike last year which rained out the car show.  In fact, it was such a beautiful day that after we finished at the car show we grabbed a quick lunch and then went to beach for the rest of the afternoon!

That night I attended the cocktail hour followed by the dinner and awards banquet.  It was a lot of fun!

Weekend highlights

As usual I worked on Sat. but it felt like a short day because I was only in the office until 1:30. Then I met a client and we spent a good while at a new home neighborhood pricing out a new home with the sales consultant there. Afterward I stopped in at my client's place to check in on painter. Changing the color from mauve to medium brown made a huge difference. I told the client "Your home is feeling younger by the minute!" That evening we met up with Steven & Thad, Jack, 1 of the Bobs, and Joe P for dinner at Dos Locos.

Sun morning we had breakfast with Steven & Thad at Crystal. It was super cold and windy. Later Spouse & I did some window shopping and then he took a nap while I caught up on some shows on the DVR. I also made a large piece of art. I'd bought a huge painting at a thrift store for $35. that had a hideous 1980s Grace Jones-like print on it. I could never have purchased a blank canvas that large for $35. So, I just painted over top of it.
That evening we went to Steven & Thad's house for dinner and to watch the Golden Globes. We made Weight Watcher-friendly pizzas using Flat Outs (oblong whole wheat flour tortillas), mushrooms, turkey pepperoni, olives, low-fat pizza sauce, and low-fat cheese. They were really good and I didn't feel like I was dieting. Joe P stopped over after dinner to watch some of the awards with us. Like most 'normal' gay men, most of our commentary was about the gowns and hairstyles worn by the nominees.

Spouse had today off since it is MLK day. My office was not closed, but I was not scheduled for phone duty and I had no appointments so I took the day off so we could be together. Hopefully Spouse will help me take the ornaments off the Christmas tree today and pack up the rest of the Christmas decorations. As much as I love Christmas, its time.

Weekend highlights

This was my weekend to work both Sat & Sun, but I still managed to squeeze in some celebrating and fun.

Sat evening we joined a bunch of friends at Saketumi for Jason's birthday dinner. The food was delicious as usual, and the company was fun. Then I was off to Blue Moon for the Legends Christmas show. It was really fun and the crowd was very responsive to our performances.

Sun after work we went to Steven & Thad's for dinner with Joe P, Alisha & Jack, and the Bobs. Steven made enough spaghetti for an army! We had a great time and it was a great way to end the weekend.

Weekend highlights

Since I had an appointment for a 2nd showing of a house at noon on Sat, Spouse & I went to the car show when it started at 10am. The weather was very chilly and overcast. Unlike past years when everyone was in shorts and t-shirts, this day they had on jeans and jackets. We walked around and admired the lovely cars and chatted with a few friends we met along the way. This year's theme was "In the lap of luxury" so many of the club members with multiple cars brought their most luxurious models. There must have been a dozen Cadillacs which delighted me immensely, a few Lincolns, and even a 1960 Rolls Royce. We left at 11:30 as it began to rain, so I could drop Spouse off at home and then meet my client at the house. I felt bad for the guys at the car show.

My client brought her architect brother along for the 2nd showing to give her ideas. She liked the home's size and location a lot, but its style was a bit too modern. Her brother and I both had some great ideas to make the home feel more cottagy. She promised to call me later that afternoon with her decision. I had a good feeling!

My plan was to pick up Spouse after the house showing and go to DE Pride, but it was raining pretty steadily by then. Since the entire event is outdoors, we thought that if we waited for a while the rain might pass on and we could go to Pride later when the entertainment was scheduled. So we met up with Steven and Alisha & Jack for lunch, then hung out at home for a while. I played a few turns of WWF and tidied up the house a bit while Spouse took a nap. My client called to say they wanted to write an offer on the house I'd shown her twice so I met them at the office to prepare the offer. By the time we finished it was 5:00 and it was still raining so we gave up on attending DE Pride and seeing Taylor Dayne perform. That night we went to our friend Doug's surprise birthday party at their friend's house. They had great food and we had a good time.

I was supposed to work on Sun but my colleague asked me to switch Sundays with him so he could be off next Sun. This gave me an entire weekend off (with the exception of the showing and the offer writing). Our friends Koset & Jim were in town and texted me so we met them for breakfast. Afterward they invited us to their house since we'd not been there before and we talked until noon. I hoped the weather would clear up so we could go to the beach in the afternoon but it was cool and overcast instead. Again we relaxed at home for a while until it was time to have dinner at Steven & Thad's. Thad's mother was visiting so they invited us and Robin and Joe P over for dinner. Spouse was helping to set the table for dinner in the sunroom and looked into the kitchen window and made a comment about being the 'zany next door neighbor' from a 1950s sitcom stopping by to gossip, and we all cracked up! Joe P took this photo.We had a delicious meal and a fun evening!

Weekend highlights

Sat I worked until 3:30. I left early so I could go home and run through my Legends show routine a few times before heading over to Steven & Thad's cookout. Spouse made potato salad and helped Steven & Thad get ready. Here's a photo of my back and ass in the background and some of the food in the foreground.
From left to right: Steven's macaroni salad, Steven's black bean and corn salad, and Spouse's potato salad.
They had a great turn out! Jason & Kevin, Chris & Jason, Jack, Allen, Joe P, Robin, the Bobs, Rusty and other friends and neighbors came. The food was great and we had fun talking and laughing. The weather was perfect for a cookout. I left at 8:30 to go to the Blue Moon for the Legends show. Our friends Marty & John and our neighbors Jim & Barb came to the show!

On Sun I went to work again and Spouse met up with Steven & Thad, Joe P, and Allen for the annual Drag Volleyball game. For years now 2 teams of volleyball players dress up in themed drag and play. There's always a dramatic introduction and a 1/2 time show too! Here's a photo from this year's game:That evening Spouse & I met up with another bunch of friends for a birthday/cocktail party. It was fun to hang out with this group of friends again as well as meet some new friends. Afterward many of the guys went to a big dance in town but Spouse & I picked up an ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery (an early birthday treat for Thad's upcoming birthday) and took it over to Steven & Thad's and visited with them and Allen and Joe P.

This morning Spouse & I had a quick breakfast, packed our stuff and arrived at the beach at 10:15. The weather was mostly sunny, breezy and about 80 degrees. Steven & Thad and Allen were already there, and shortly after we arrived Joe P showed up too. We had a great day hanging out at the beach. We saw lots and lots of friends, including the guys from the previous night's birthday/cocktail party. The sun disappeared behind the clouds for an hour or so, but came back out again later. We'd brought lunch so we were able to stay until 4:15. What a great beach day! Once back at home we showered, dressed, and headed over to Steven & Thad's for dinner. Steven used the leftover chicken to make chicken enchiladas which we ate with the leftover salads. We ate outside in their yard and enjoyed the great breeze until it got dark and the bugs started biting. We went inside and had cherry pie and watched "True Blood".

It was a terrific holiday weekend filled with friends, food, celebrations, beach, and work.

Weekend highlights

On Fri Ron & James arrived at about 12:30. Spouse took the day off work and I wasn't on phone duty so the 4 of us went to lunch together, then I headed back to work. Mike & Clark arrived at about 4:30, just after I got home from work. We enjoyed cocktails on the screened porch as we began to catch up on the goings-on in each others lives.
Pictured above are Mike & Spouse.
Pictured above are me, Ron, and Clark. (Please note that my flip flops match my shirt.)

That evening the 6 of us had dinner at Saketumi, which was fabulous as always.


Once back at the house we decided to go for an after dinner walk and wound up making a stop at Dairy Queen. A Peanut Buster Parfait was calling my name!


Sat morning we all had coffee on the porch and chatted a bit. Then we walked over to JD's Filling Station for breakfast, and I headed off to a property showing appointment and then to sit at an open house. Spouse and the guys went to the farmers market and browsed some of the antique shops and boutiques downtown, then headed back to the house for naps and reading. I got home at 3:45 and we visited on the porch for a while. That evening we had dinner at Hobos and then went to the Legends show at the Blue Moon. Coincidentally I was performing as Neil Diamond that evening so Ron & James and Mike & Clark got to witness my celebrity impersonation. Jack and Joe P were there and Joe P took this video:

After the show I ran into my friends Marty & John and Deb & Greer who stopped in to see the show. The audience was great and very receptive to the show. Afterwards the 6 of us walked to the boardwalk and got ice cream at that crazy ice cream place. I got beer flavored ice cream and rum raisin... YUM!!

Sun morning we returned to the Blue Moon for their legendary Sun brunch where we were joined by Joe P.I had eggs benedict with lump crab, sausage links and fried fingerling potatoes and coffee. It was a wonderful, relaxing brunch. Once back at the house the 4 guys packed up their gear and headed home. Spouse & I met up with Joe P, Steven & Thad, Robin, and 1 of the Bobs at the beach. It was a bit overcast but we had a great time relaxing and talking with our friends. That evening we all met up again for dinner at the Tuscan Grille. There was much discussion of the mystery of the ceramic banana. Anne Marie said it was not her, and I'm very skeptical of it being the nephews, so the mystery deepens.

Weekend highlights

I worked from 9-5 on Sat, then came home and rehearsed my routine for the Legends show that night. Spouse & I had dinner at home, then I went to the Blue Moon to perform as Neil Sedaka in the Legends show. Jack, Alisha, and Joe P came, and Joe P took these videos of the 4 songs in my medley:



After the show I changed into my street clothes and hung out for awhile with a few friends. One of the bar backs who works there stopped me and said "Every week you're the best. It doesn't matter who the other legends are, you're always the best." I was so stunned by this totally unsolicited and generous compliment that I didn't know what to say. I just replied "Oh... thank you!"

Sun I worked from 9-4. It was rather quiet for the 1st 3 hours but then I got a call from a guy asking about 1 of our listings. He said he owned the house across the street but his good friend who was visiting was thinking about buying a 2nd home. I knew the home was empty so I offered to show it to them. I also found 2 other homes in the same community around the same price that were also vacant so they could make some comparisons. When they showed up I learned that Sean & Mike live in Philly but own a 2nd home here, and their good friends Kevin & Andy were interested in a 2nd home too. They liked all 3 homes I showed them but felt the 1st one offered the most space and ability to update it and create equity. I met up with them later that evening to show them info about comparable home sales and review the sellers disclosure. We also talked about the elements of making an offer and having a home inspection. We agreed to meet up again on Mon.

Then I joined Spouse, Steven & Thad, Alisha & Jack, and Joe P at Cracker Barrel for dinner. Apparently while they were all at the beach together earlier that day (while I was working) they had talked about having meatloaf. Our waiter was surprised when all 7 of us ordered meatloaf!
After dinner Spouse & I relaxed at home and watched the campiest of camp classics "Mommie Dearest" on cable.

This morning I met up with Kevin & Andy and Sean & Mike and showed them 2 other homes, just to confirm that they had picked the correct 1. We returned to the home they liked the most and they signed the contract! It was presented to the sellers who countered their price. My clients countered the sellers counter offer, and the sellers accepted it. Hurray - ratified contract #3!!!

Weekend highlights

Fri evening Spouse & I were invited to dinner at Jason & Kevin's. We were surprised to find Steven & Thad right behind us. Jason & Kevin grilled steaks which were delicious, even to me who usually couldn't care less about steak. We also had corn on the cob, also grilled in foil, which was so sweet you'd have thought they dusted it in powdered sugar. We brought my Gram's recipe for butter basil peas. Its so simple: boil peas, drain, add butter, salt, pepper, and dried basil. Its so delicious and reminds me of my Gram who lived out in the country and had a huge vegetable and herb garden. When I was a kid I used to spend a couple weeks at my grandparents' house in the country, swimming in the creek, helping in the garden, and enjoying a very different landscape from my suburban home. My grandparents passed away when I was 26.

Sat I worked from 9-5. Spouse's family (sister, brother-in-law, niece, 2 nephews, and mother) arrived in the late afternoon. Shortly after I got home from work we left them behind to go to 1 of the Bob's birthday barbecue. Many of our friends were there (both Bobs, Steven & Thad, Joe P, Jack & Alisha, Robin & Bill) plus several other friends of Bob that I didn't know well. We had great food and a very nice time. Then we swung back home so I could brush my teeth and pick up my black shoes, and then I was out the door to perform in the Legends show. Spouse's 81 year old mother really wanted to come, so he brought her and his sister and brother-in-law to the show, which is held in a gay bar. Performing that night were Gladys Knight, Etta James, and Neil Diamond. Spouse's mother was dancing in front of the stage with some anonymous gay man who took a liking to her. In reality she's never met a stranger. Immediately after the show the Legends and I came out in our costumes to be with the audience and have our photos taken and Spouse's family shared with me how much they liked the show. It was fun to have them in the audience. They left shortly thereafter so I changed back into my street clothes, got a drink, and hung out with Jason & Kevin for a while. It was a fun night!

Sun I worked from 9-4 and Spouse & 'the family' went to the beach all day. When I got home we hung out for a while, then 'the family' and Spouse & I went to dinner together at Jake's Seafood. It turned into a beautiful night weather-wise, so we all sat out on the screened porch for a long time talking and laughing. The kids decided to watch a movie but it was after 11pm so Spouse & I went to bed. After all, they're on vacation - I'm not.

Since I worked Sun I took today as my day off. I thought everyone would have breakfast and we'd go to the beach together, but it didn't quite work out that way. Since the kids stayed up late, they slept late. None of the adults was willing to wake the kids so I basically sat around all day. Had I known they were going to wait for the kids I would have gone to the beach myself. As it turned out we didn't go until 2pm. I was kind of disappointed when they were ready to come back home at 3:45. It felt like my 1 day off this week was spent waiting around on others who have the entire week to do whatever they want. Oh well... there will be other days to go to the beach.

Now that we're home, everyone has showered and we're thinking about what to have for dinner. Burgers and dogs on the grill? Pizza?

Festive Fourth

We had a festive 4th of July weekend!

Sat I worked until 5, then Spouse & I met up with Steven & Thad, Allen, and Joe P for dinner at Saketumi. Afterward we went to see the Legends show. Patti LaBelle, Liza, and Alan Jackson performed! We hung out for a while afterward, then sat on a bench on the boardwalk and talked. It was a beautiful night.

On Sun we arrived at the beach at 10 and stayed until 4. It was 1 of those days when the sun kept darting in and out of the clouds. We were joined at the beach by Steven & Thad, Allen, Joe P, 1 of the Bobs, Robin & Bill, and John. We also saw many of our friends at the beach. That evening we met up with everyone for burgers, grilled dogs, and salads at Steven & Thad's house. I was amazed at how much they'd done to get settled in and organized.

Yesterday Spouse went to the grocery store early in the morning - I will still in bed when he left! Then we had coffee together when he got home and planned our day. He was responsible for the food and I cleaned the house in preparation for our 4th of July parade/dinner/fireworks. That afternoon we met Steven & Thad, 1 of the Bobs, and Joe P over at Joe P's pool. We hung out for a couple hours, then came home and finished getting ready. Robin & Bill, Steven & Thad, 1 of the Bobs, Allen, and Joe P came over to watch the Doo Dah parade. I drove Big Ella in the parade, of course.


After the parade we had grilled chicken, rice, and sauteed veggies for dinner on the screened porch and hung out until nearly dusk. Then we headed to the beach to watch the incredible 'volunteer' fireworks display. It seems each year they're bigger and better. The weather was dreamy and we really enjoyed the colorful celebration.

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget, yet too small to be their own post.

What is WRONG with this picture???

Bugs & Roger supposed to come today and spend the holiday weekend with us. However, Roger's parents were in a car accident about a month ago so they are going to spend the long weekend with his parents. I'll miss them!

I've been working with a couple from CT since Tues. I showed them homes on Tues and Wed, then took them back to 1 home for a 2nd showing. Today we wrote up and offer on that house! I hope it works out. Its going to be a very busy day at work tomorrow. I'm scheduled to show property to 3 different people/couples!

So, what's in YOUR back yard?

Tonight we're going to a smart dinner party at Joe P's. Steven & Thad, Jack & Alisha, and the Bobs will be there as well. Afterward I'm singing a song in the Divas Show at the Blue Moon. One of the perks of winning the Rehoboth Idol contest is being paid to sing in Blue Moon shows. Tonight's the 1st night of this perk for me.

Weekend highlights

This was my weekend to work both days.

Sat. I worked until 5 and the day seemed to drag on because we weren't busy.

But our good friends Kerry & Hugh were in town so we invited them to dinner with Steven & Thad and Jack & Alisha. Kerry & Hugh and Jack & Alisha have a lot in common so we thought they'd enjoy meeting each other. We had a good meal with great conversation.

I worked Sun until 4 and again it was slow in the office. That evening we met Steven & Thad for dinner and then watched a DVD for the last time at their old house. Moving day is coming!

This evening we went to Jack & Alisha's for dinner to celebrate Jack's birthday. The food was good and we had a very nice time.

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget, yet too small to be their own post.

My friend Larry supplied me with this gem.

Videos have been added to yesterday's post about the Rehoboth Idol finale. Click here to open the post in a new window.

My twisted friend and frequent hilarity contributor Jared sent me this ditty!

After what feels like forever, Project Runway season 9 starts July 28th! I'm so looking forward to it!!

Since I was not on phone duty today I decided to take the day off, as did Spouse, to help Steven & Thad prime and paint their house. Steven had work but Thad's nephew Jack was able to come and the 4 of us got a LOT done today. In addition to priming and painting we also assembled and installed 2 ceiling fans. It was a fun day!

Jared sent me this, which made me chuckle.

Have you seen the parody of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" by Weird Al Yankovic? Its called "Perform This Way" and I think its hilarious. Check it out! I've been a fan of Weird Al's parody songs and videos for years.

Spouse & I tried a new restaurant tonight called Bay Leaf. Its kind of like a diner and an Italian restaurant and brick oven pizzeria all wrapped up into 1. I had a large crab cake over macaroni & cheese. It was actually better than I thought it would be. Spouse had lasagna and said it was good too. It was nice to not be disappointed by a new place.

Here's hoping everyone has a great weekend!

Weekend highlights

As usual, I worked on Sat. We received a response from the seller's agent on the offer I wrote for my friend. The seller countered at a price not much lower than their unrealistic asking price which left my friend with the impression that they were either not well-informed about the current market and the value of their home, or were greedy. My friend decided not to counter their counter and withdrew instead. So I'll find him some other homes to view and hopefully he'll find something else he likes as much if not better.

That evening Spouse & I met Steven & Thad and Jack at a new Italian restaurant called Tuscan Grille. The food was okay but nothing special. With all the Italian places around here I was really hoping for something better than just okay. But we had a nice time anyway.

I left them at the restaurant and walked over to the Blue Moon to get ready for the Legends show. It didn't take long for me to get into my costume to impersonated Neil Sedaka so I just hung out in the dressing area and talked with the other singers and the back-up dancers as they got ready. Eventually it was time for the show to start and I was surprised that I wasn't really nervous. I was excited but not really nervous, which sort of made me a little scared. But then I told myself I wasn't nervous because I'd practiced a lot and was well-prepared.

Roxy was the 1st to perform her medley as Gladys Knight, then me as Neil Sedaka, then Tom as Tim McGraw.

I had so much FUN doing my medley and the audience was great! The spotlight was blinding most of the time, but when I'd move to the front left or front right of the stage I could see the audience. It felt great to see Spouse and several of my friends (Steven & Thad, Jack, Jason & Kevin, Rusty, Bryan) out there cheering me on!






My medley seemed to fly by and before I knew it my part was over and I was leaving the stage. I quickly changed from my silver ruffled lame shirt into my finale costume and got prepared for the finale song. After the finale we came back into the bar area for a little meet-n-greet with the audience. Then I changed back into my street clothes and joined my friends.

Spouse & I planned to go to the beach on Sun but the weather didn't cooperate. It was very overcast and actually sprinkled a few times, so instead of going to the beach we met Steven & Thad for breakfast at the Long Neck Diner. Afterward we went to their house to listen to some Broadway song options for the upcoming Broadway themed night of Rehoboth Idol. Spouse & I ran a few errands and relaxed at home for a while, then met Steven & Thad, Joe P, and 1 of the Bobs for dinner at Conch Island Key West Bar & Grill, followed by ice cream on the boardwalk. What a splurge that was! But my motto is: All things in moderation.

Weekend low lights

I worked on Sat and then met up with Steven & Thad, Jack & Alisha, Robin, and Joe P for dinner.

Sun morning we drove to Cherry Hill to get BoltBus. Since we hadn't driven there in over a year we decided to use our GPS. It took us different route but I remembered seeing the new route on the map so I wasn't worried. However, a few miles from our destination the GPS suddenly went crazy! It told us to make right turns where there was no street and to make a sharp left turn when we were on a divided road. It kept "recalculating" over and over and I was getting frantic. We finally got to bus stop... 30 minutes late. Obviously we missed our bus so I called to check on when the next bus would arrive. My heart sunk when I was told that all the later buses were sold out. The reality hit me that we weren't going to NYC. We were going to miss visiting with our dear friend Lisa, the jazz concert, and seeing Tornwordo and Serge. EPIC. FAIL.

We were so angry/upset/disappointed that Spouse & I drove the entire way home without speaking. I tried to salvage the day and get him to do something else fun like go to dinner and/or a movie but wouldn't budge. So we stayed at home that night feeling sorry for ourselves.

Weekend highlights

Sat I worked. I went along with a colleague to show several properties to her potential buyer. Our group has an agreement with the local hospital so that they refer doctors and nurses to us from other areas who have accepted jobs at the hospital and will be relocating. Great idea, right? Spouse went to the gym then relaxed at home. It looked like it was going to rain all day, then it finally started just about dinner time. Spouse & I were supposed to meet Steven & Thad, 1 of the Bobs, and Jack and his friend Jon for dinner but only I went. Spouse elected to stay home since it was raining hard and very windy. I had a good time with them but got soaked trying to get home.

Sun morning Spouse & I went to the gym together where we ran into Steven & Thad. After working out the 4 of us each had a healthy breakfast at Crystal's restaurant. Unlike Sat, it was bright, sunny, and warmer on Sun. That afternoon Spouse & I put the roof down on the Mercedes and went for a nice little drive. The sunshine felt so good! We stopped at a few stores to look but didn't buy anything. That night we ate dinner at home and watched TV.

Weekend highlights

Fri night we had dinner with 'the usual suspects' and then afterward, in a strange and likely unrepeatable fluke, I was able to convince Spouse to join me and Steven & Thad at the Divas Drag Show at the Blue Moon. (Spouse would be perfectly happy never stepping foot into a bar again.) It was fun and I think Spouse enjoyed it much more than he expected.

Sat morning I made my final trek north for real estate school. We reviewed of our 3 final exams, had an opportunity to ask questions, and heard tips about taking the state and national board exam. I shared the chocolate chip pecan cookies with everyone and then we received certificates. Once I got back in town I met Spouse, Jason & Kevin, and a couple friends who were helping move some furniture and stuff out of a storage unit. I helped rearrange some furniture but they were mostly done when I arrived. To thank us for helping, Jason & Kevin treated us to a late lunch at the Green Turtle. I had a California burger. Then Spouse & I did a little clearance shopping at the outlet mall. I got $130. unstructured sport coat from Ralph Lauren Polo for $32. and a $99. Kenneth Cole jacket for $29. I get tickled when I find such 'extreme deals' on things I'll surely use.

Later that evening we met Steven & Thad, 1 of the Bobs, Jack & Alisha, and Robin for dinner at Claws. I had fried oysters - yum! Jack is in law school and I just finished real estate school so those 2 topics and politics dominated the conversation. Once back at home Spouse & I watched 4th and final DVD in the "United States of Tara" series. It was really good and I can't wait for the new season to come on Showtime so that season 3 will become available on DVD.

It rained overnight so Sun morning we slept in, then met Steven for breakfast at the Long Neck Diner. Its especially fun to meet friends for breakfast on a rainy day. Afterward we met Thad at their house and watched "The Social Network". I'd heard mixed reviews of it from friends but I liked it. After returning home Spouse went grocery shopping while I watched some TV shows I'd recorded on the DVR. (I hate grocery shopping.) That evening we met Steven & Thad and 1 of the Bobs for dinner at Mixx since they had a 'Buy 1 get 1 free' entree special. I had the Chicken Roulade and Spouse had the Pretzel Encrusted Rockfish. We both liked our meals.

That was our weekend; plenty to do but enjoyable.

Weekend highlights

Fri night our friend Jody had a New Year's Eve potluck at his beach house. We met him at the beach this past summer, along with several other friends from DC and Baltimore who also came to the potluck. It was our 1st time seeing many of them since the summer and we had a great time. The food was amazing, too. Afterward most of us from the potluck headed over to the Double L bar, where we met up with several of our local friends too, to ring in new year. Even Spouse went to the bar, which is quite unusual. We talked, talked, danced, and had fun. At midnight we all toasted with champagne and wished each other a happy new year. At 12:30 we called it a night and went home.

We slept in until 9:30 Sat morning, then began preparing to have company. Steven & Thad hosted a retirement party at our house for our mutual friend Joe P so we cleaned the house and set up for party. In addition to Steven & Thad and Joe P, several other friend's of Joe's came such as Alisha & Jack, one of The Bobs, Chris & Jason, Allen, Deiter, Jim, Rick & Candy, and Rick & Nick. Thad brought balloons and made decorations out of 'vintage' photos of Joe P.

We had Spouse's cranberry/orange glazed turkey, pasta with meat sauce, pork and sour kraut, antipasto, potatoes au gratin, homemade cheesecake, pecan tartlets, and my cranberry/orange bundt cake. Everything was SOOO good, and we had a great time.

The last of the folks left just before midnight.

Sun morning we had breakfast at the Long Neck Diner with Steven & Thad. It was a rainy day so after we got home we just relaxed the rest of the day, watching TV and putzing around on our laptops. That evening we met up with Steven & Thad and Joe P for dinner at La Tonalteca. It was the perfect end to our holiday weekend.