No good deed goes unpunished!

Never a true aphorism hath been spoken. So, some months ago, I conceived an idea to throw Roommate a surprise party for a milestone birthday this year. I thought and pondered and finally came up with what I thought was a brilliant party idea...

Night of the Living Dead
Surprise Birthday Funeral for Roommate

Brilliant, I know, right? I wanted a theme party with zombies and shit, so I sent out invites like a month or so before the party so that people would have time to find costumes. Since it's not Halloween and costumes are not readily available.



I even enlisted Roommate's brother and sister-in-law in helping keeping him out of the house during the day of the party and getting him home when I wanted him to be there. Roommate's mom called me a few weeks ago and said she'd be in town as well...Perfect I thought...more conspirators to control Roommate's movements on party day.

I even went out to a local second hand store and bought a suit to tear up and make into Roommate's costume. I thought ahead and ordered my Beetlejuice (the host with the most) wig and makeup. I did even think ahead to get a little extra makeup to help out those who wanted to dress up but were unable to find anything.



So, here it is, the week of the party. I took two days off of work to start getting stuff ready...there was a cake to make, decorations to get (thank you Friend and Princess for all your help in arranging, setting up and everything!).

I spent pretty much all day Thursday making and decorating Roommate's birthday cake. This is only my second fondant cake...and while there were a few hick-ups along the way, I'm pretty damned pleased with how it turned out. And for those of you who are wondering...the cakes (the middle and top tiers) were made from a box mix, the bottom tier is made out of rice crispy treats, the frosting (fondant and butter cream) are both homemade complete with almost two bottles of Wilton Black Icing Coloring. I also did the flowers myself. And I purposely used dead and dying flowers to complete the effect of this Funeral/Death themed birthday cake.



Now, I'm sitting here a few hours before Princess and I start decorating for the party. And yes, I know this will be out there before the party, and there would be a chance Roommate could come across this posting before the party. Except for two things tell me that's not going to happen...first...he only reads this blog when I tell him I posted something and second...HE WENT SKIING!!! Yes, the @#$*! went skiing. All of my best laid plans of him working then going to dinner with his mom, brother and sister-in-law...he blew them plain out of the water by his last minute decision to go skiing with co-workers. Of all the mother f'ing days do go skiing, why did he have to pick today? Oh, and now, instead of him going from work to dinner and then home when I want him here...he will now be home around 5:00 p.m. So, I'm to the "So What!" point. I'm just going to decorate and put it all together how I was planning. And when he walks in the door at 5:00 p.m. to see a house full of Halloween props, I'll simply yell "Surprise! Now go away!"

Even if you do end up ruining your surprise party, Roommate, know this...I still love and cherish you. You are the best friend that anyone could ever ask for. We have our different thoughts and opinions on a shit load of topics, but I wouldn't change you for a god-damned thing in this universe or the next! Happy 40th Birthday Roommate!!!

XOXO
~Flamingo

Ode to the Avocado

Went to my local Subway this morning for a sandwich, I'm a big, big fan of their breakfast sandwiches. And I always go to this one certain Subway even though there are like two other ones that are probably just as close and perhaps a bit more convenient. But I go to this particular Subway because they have avocado. I do love avocado on my sandwich. Whether I get the ham and egg breakfast sandwich or the turkey breast sandwich (both of which are on the honey oat bread of course).

So, standing in line waiting for my ham and egg breakfast sandwich to be toasted, I happen to glance up at their menu board. And, under the extras or add-on (whatever they call it) section, the avocado portion of the menu is ominously whited out. Then comes the what do you want on your sandwich portion of the ordeal:

SUBWAY-WORKER-GIRL: What would you like on your sandwich?

ME: Tomatoes. Green peppers. Avocado...

SUBWAY-WORKER-GIRL: We stopped carrying avocados about two weeks ago. They kept going bad.

ME: Well, that's disappointing.

SUBWAY-WORKER-GIRL: However, you do have enough points on your subway card for a free six-inch sandwich on your next visit.

ME: That's nice. Can I bring my own avocado? Or is that considered "outside food or drink"?

I think she's probably still standing there with a blank look on here face some few hours later.

Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands

I know, I know...I'm more than just a little behind the times...Yeah, I am, in so, so many ways. But it's kind of a shitty snowy, dark and dismal day, so after coming across this on yet another blog, I decided I'd give in and give it a whack...

RULES:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag whoever you want including me
5. Have Fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) [More English Extended Mix] - Pitbull

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Because of You - Kelly Clarkson

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
Horrible Credits - Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog (reflecting on recent events...nothing has ever been so true)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Caring Hands - Felicia Day/Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog (yes, I made sure it really is on random...)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis (Don't even want to comment)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Beverly Hills - Weezer (is this a motto or aspiration?)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
If I Can't Have You - Kelly Clarkson

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Gimmie More - Britney Spears (that's a kick to the throat...lol)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Loves Me Not - t.A.T.u.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FIRST KISS?
This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race - Fall Out Boy (haha...I think that's an apt description)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND(s)?
Face Down - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (is this what I think about them, or they think about me?)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Bad Influence - P!nk (not sure what to say to that one...)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Las de la Intuicion - Shakira

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5 (is this a bad omen?)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
A Man's Gotta Do - Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion & Felicia Day/Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Laisse Tomber Les Filles (Chick Habit) - April March

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Amigo Vulnerable (Tired of Being Sorry) - Enrique Igelsias

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
When I Grow Up - The Pussy Cat Dolls

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Ladies' Choice - Zac Efron/Hairspray (Really now?)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood (hmmmm....)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands - Lee Greenwood (Don't ask...)

It's the little things...

Hey Friend, thanks for coming over and keeping my company while I was doing this cake. Not sure if you know it or not, but your friendship means the world to me. I love that we both do the cake thing and that we like silly, stupid, sappy movies (even when Roommate doesn't). And thank you for the little note...I had a big ole grin on my face when I found it.

Also, want to say thank you Boss for giving me all the great tips on working with fondant. I have a long way to go to get to your level (your cakes are stunningly amazing and breathtaking), but I think I did pretty well on my first real fondant attempt. I love doing the cakes, just don't really do it all that much. It also give me a chance to work with flowers for the cake. Holy hell, I love flowers and since no one ever gives me flowers...I'll just content myself with using them for decoration.



So, I guess this is a "hey, look at me and what I can do" as well as a "thank you" post. I have some of the greatest family, friends and co-workers that anyone could ask for!

Not necessarily a "Monday Mourning"

Yeah, here is it, Monday again. In general, I loathe Monday's...but not always...just usually. Today though, Monday is feeling a bit different. Nothing is really out of the ordinary, good or bad. In fact, there is snow on the ground, and that alone should have me in a horrid mood, but it doesn't. I have a bit of a headache, which is usually a bad thing too, but not so bugged by it today. Wish I could pinpoint the X factor here and clone it on every Monday. Could it be that I found a new cake decorating site (see it here)? Maybe...

Today is seeming pretty random in that fact, I'm in a oddly good mood for a Monday. Chuck is still alive (in case anyone was wondering). Although, I think he's due for a good aquarium cleaning, a very good cleaning actually.

Maybe it's optimism for spring to come sometime soon. So many things to look forward to when the weather is better...ultimate frisbee, roller blading, hiking (I will spend more time outdoors this spring/summer), etc. Yeah, maybe that's it...

Roommate and I had friends over for our weekly Sunday dinner/movie night last night. We have a very interesting and eclectic group of friends. I like that, not having a group of carbon copies doing and thinking the exact same things. I even made it through the night without killing Roommate for his need to correct everything I did in the kitchen. So when you read this Roommate...you may be the expert on frisbee, finances, computer stuff...but in the kitchen...you're not...so there! I still love your guts though...and imagine I always will.

We watched Twilight last night. I'd seen it before and think there were a few areas it could have been better, more like the book. But honestly, I did like it. As for a book to movie, it did pretty good at staying true to the story, unlike some books to movie, such as The DaVinci Code. Sorry Tom Hanks...you're just no Robert Langdon. I completely understand the need to sometimes change, add or remove elements from the book to make it into a movie format. But why change the major plot points of the book, when they would have fit into the movie beautifully...why? I'm not looking forward to Angels & Demons being made into a movie.

Movies I am looking forward to though...

1. Star Trek
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
4. Terminator Salvation
5. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

So, take your pick...or maybe it's me that should take my pick...anyhow, for some god-only-knows-why reason...I'm having a great Monday!

Someone needs to get fired over this....

So here it is, March 26, 2009...6 days after the official start of spring. And where is spring you ask? My answer, who the hell knows?!?

The picture is the same tulips from my "Things that make me smile" list from a couple of days ago. Look at the poor little things, all covered in snow. On Sunday, the tulips were all open and star-shaped...and now, they're all back into a tight little bud, probably freezing their little tulip-y testicles and ovaries off! So...Mother Nature, Old Man Winter...please, get your shit together! And do it now...it needs to be warm (like 70 degrees last Saturday). And let's not have the usual Utah bull-shit of months of winter, a week of spring and then just jump into a ball-bustin' summer. Okay? I really don't think that's too much to ask. Let's just have a nice leisurly beautiful spring for like 3 or 4 months.

Things that make me smile...

So I'll admit it, I'm a bitter and jaded bitch at times. A lot of times according to Roommate, but he's allowed to have his opinion, even if it is always usually wrong. And yeah, it came out BIG time in my post yesterday. So, to balance it out...here are some things that make me happy as of today (in no particular order). So, onto the making me smile....

March 24, 2009 Edition

1. Yoga (especially Thursday)

2. Battlestar Galactica (I know it was on my last list...but I've been watching the latter half of season 4...and it's making me smile again, dammit!)

3. Sunday night dinner with friends

4. Kelly Clarkson's new album



5. If You Seek Amy ~Britney Spears

6. C.J. Cregg as the new kick-ass White House Chief of Staff (thank god for the West Wing on DVD!)

7. Garfield

8. Spring (when it finally does get here)

9. Tulips (at least I think they are tulips) in my front yard



10. Eliza Dushku and Dollhouse