BY SPECIAL REQUEST...

Around the 80's, I went out to one of the hippest clubs, "TRAX" on a Thursday Night-College Night.
Ya see, It was free to get in BEFORE 9pm. After 9pm, you had to pay $10.00.
Having absolutely nothing to do,except play volleyball and watch the lightshow syncronized with un-club music before all the club music started to"Boom, Boom, Boom, deafing our ears,a friend of mine who was bored as I was, asked if I would go splits with him for a pitcher of beer.
Not thinking clearly from the boredom, I decided to make things interesting.
"I will pay for that pitcher of beer, if you would do a shot with me" I said.
Of course, he smiled and said, "Yes"
Another friend followed us to the bar as well as I asked the bartender to set us up with 3 Kamakazi shots.
Well, we must have had the foreign bartender in training that night because these shots were in a lowball glass. Excited, we all down that round and ordered another...and another...and another...chased with that pitcher of beer. Ughhh...And it wasn't even 9pm yet.
My friends were drunk and I,too was drunk, but became sleepy leaning on the rail. The management kept waking me up telling me, "You can't sleep in the club"
Finally, 10pm rolls around and a friend who just paid to get in, shakes me and says, "Hey, Boy! Wake Up" Instead of waking up, I started to spew a fraction into the dance floor below me to what was to become a disaster ready to happen. My friends stared to get nervous and said, "Joe, Bring Ron to the restroom". So he drags me down the stairs and into a crowded hallway.
standing right behind him I say, "Joe, I don't feel good and I don't think I can hold it. He yells, "You have no choice...You have to hold it" I yell back, "Joe, I can't hold it" He yells back, "HOLD IT!"
So, I place my hand over my mouth trying to hold it in. INSTEAD...It became a fountain of vomit all over this crowd of people. Ughhh..It was like a horror movie.
People were yelling ans screaming, "Ugh..Somebody threw up on me"
Joe didn't care about the crowd anymore and pushed his way threw the crowd and threw my drunk ass in a stall. The rest of the night from that stall, I was hearing men cursing the person who threw up on them as they were wringing out the vomit out of their shirts. I was way too drunk and scared to come out all night until the restroom sounded empty. Even my friend Joe left me. Ughhhh..As I promised the "Porceline God" many times..."Please..I will never get drunk again!

JEAN ANNE KAIN...

I always said, "You haven't worked Dinner Theatre unless you have worked with Jane Baeckman, Phylis Goldblait and Jean Anne Kain.
I got to work with these 3 dinner theatre divas in West End Dinner Theatre's production of "Mame" as "Ito"
Almost 20 years, I was performing "Mame" at Toby's Dinner Theatre and Jean Anne happened to be there in the audience.
Over the holiday weekend, I was sadden to learn that Jean Anne passed away on November 25, 2009. (Sigh)

PLEASE VOTE for ARIA

Today is the open online voting for the Washington Post Holiday Wrapping Paper Contest until December 4th

www.washingtonpost.com/postfun

Please vote for my daugther, Aria Curameng

Click onto "contest" and vote for entry #1 that has the teddy bears, jack-in-the -boxes and the international dolls.

I highly appreciate it! Thank you in advance! Spread the word!

DEER! WHAT NEXT?

Man! Just when our van just got fixed from my accident in Old Town, a deer runs out this morning in front of me while I am just pulling away from the house.
I hit the deer at no more than 20mph. The deer gets up and runs back into the woods.
I pull over to see the damage. Just bumper damage, but it just sucks knowing I just fixed the damn thing.
The year is coming close to an end and I think "Lady Luck" ain't gonna come our way before I start anew into 2010. Ugh...

ELVIS SANDWICH

I overheard some people at a store talk about celebrating Elvis Presley's Birthday, January 8th.

I was an Elvis fan, but became a bigger fan living in Memphis, Tennessee for 4 years while I was in the Navy. I even got to sing at Graceland during his Birthday in 1993 for the stamp dedication. (The most profitable stanp in US Postal History) amongst all the other famous Elvis Impersonators. Don't go thinking I was dressed in the famous White Elvis Jumpsuit....It was an official Navy gig and I was in a Navy Uniform.

Anyway back to the people at the store...They talked about serving Elvis' favorite sandwich.

Now as time rolled by, this sandwich has dwindled to being a Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich grilled on both sides with butter. (As these people thought) Of course being an Elvis fan, I had to correct them.

As many of us Elvis fans know and confirmed by being on the official Graceland Tour (I went through the Graceland Tour 3 times) The famous Elvis Sandwich is actually a mashed Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich with crisp (almost burnt) bacon, cut into fourths, BATTERED and DEEP FRIED in butter (Not oil)

While in Hawai'i, this sandwich evolved further for Elvis using Hawaiian bread, topped with powdered with sugar and drizzled with chocolate.

Elvis also loved another version of this while in Europe called, "Fool's Gold Loaf" a loaf of Italian bread filled with a pound of bacon, peanut butter, and grape jelly.

Ugh...Just thinking of the Elvis Sandwich makes my arteries harden...Though, it's close to lunch time!

AGAIN....

AGAIN...with food I didn't like!
I went to the fast food restaurant, "Booeymonger" across the street for breakfast. I asked for "Health Watch Bagel" It's a Whole Wheat Bagel with Low-fat Cream Cheese and Cucumber slices minus the tomato slices!
With my order bagged up, I crossed the street, took the elevator up to my office , sat at my desk and opened my bagged up order. Guess what? TOMATO!!!!!!! Ughhhhhh.....Even though I hate tomatoes, I ate it!
Would anyone do the same?

DON'T SHOP at WALMART

I was very disturbed to learn on the radio this morning from past and present Walmart employees that Walmart actually penalizes your employees for being sick with a point system. Even doctor's notes are not a "Free Pass" for them.
Walmart employees that have a number of sick days (Points), those Walmart employees go through a "decision conference" with their supervisor to either ternimate their employment or to keep them employed on a probation terms.
With our struggling economy these days and with the swine flu epidemic, this situation has been stressing out Walmart employees to be present at work sick and infected with swine flu. This will lead to infecting fellow employees and this will lead to infecting us as customers as well.
The only thing I did commend Walmart for doing was hiring seniors and those with disabilities.
Other than that, I hate staying in long lines just to save a dollar and Walmart has gotten so ghetto.
Now with this new information, I prefer to stay away from Walmart as a customer and recommend you all do the same.

WENT TO COURT...

Beng and I went to court as witnesses for the state against 3 out of 4 latino boys that stole our car back on Memorial Day weekend and totalled it.

One guy pleaded guilty the day before the court date to avoid coming in.

The main guy (The driver) didn't show up and his lawyer requested more time to actual talk to him about the case.

And the 3rd guy who did show up, pleaded not guilty saying, "I never knew the car was stolen"

Since no one was there to say different, he got off. Man! Is this justice?

WHERE the WILD THINGS ARE

I was truly excited in going to see "Where the Wild Things Are"
BUT after seeing it, I was a bit disappointed. My fond childhood memory of reading this famous book got lost with the whole physchological relationship of each "Wild Thing" and the young Max. This was alot more like seeing "Wicked" but with the pace of "Remains of the Day ".
The "Wild Things" were great. They literally are the same characters jumped right out of the book The artistry of each "Wild Thing" went into perfect detail. At first, I thought, "James Gandolfini as one of the Wild Things? This isn't "Where the Mobsters are" BUT..I honestly he and Forest Whitaker were absolutely perfect. It took me a while to get use to women's voices coming out of these "Wild Things".
Unfortunately, I cannot say that about the artistry of the location. It was too bare and uninteresting. Where are the palm trees and the lush foliage from the book?
I didn't say I did not like it. It was...clever. But try to explain clever to a child. As I observed in the theatre, the children became very restless and uninterested. Mark Minnick, this is definitely not your type of movie.

IT WAS A GOOD IDEA...AT THE TIME!

I had an unfortunate not-so-good lunch today! I thought I had made the perfect chicken salad wrap for lunch when I made it last night. baby spinach, shredded mozzerella and chicken salad. It sounds okay, but it really wasn't, BUT I ate it anyway. Unsatisfied, I ran to my co-worker and asked if she had anything sweet to get rid of the taste in my mouth.
Here's a question: "Are you the type of person that would eat what you made no matter what because you hate to be wasteful or are you the type of person that would chuck the lunch and go out and buy another lunch?" ALL my co-workers said, " They would had stop, thrown it away and went to buy another lunch across the street. I guess I can't see myself throwing food away.

CRAZ-E BURGER

Well...when ya think deep fried Twinkies and Snickers were crazy enough. Here's the Craz-E Burger. A Bacon Chedder Cheese Burger on a BUTTERED Krispy Kreme Doughnut.

A bar owner in Decatur, Ga., claims to have invented it in 2005 when he ran out of burger buns. He called it a "Luther Burger" after singer Luther Vandross, who is sometimes credited with inventing it. (No wonder why he's dead)

The Gateway Grizzlies, a minor league baseball team in Illinois known more for their death-defying ballpark food than their hitting, touched off the craze in 2006 by adding the Craz-E Burger to the concession lineup.
Going the extra mile, the Grizzlies deep-fried their Krispy Kreme Donuts before slapping it on the bacon cheeseburger.
Dinner or Death?

TANTALLON PLAYERS 25 KARAT REUNION REVUE

Aria and I got to share the stage again for Tantallon Players 25 Karat Reunion Revue celebrating 25 years in community theatre.

I've done 2 productions back in the 80's (One being "South Pacific" and Aria got to do a production of "Little Women" around Christmas 2008.

It was nice seeing Charla Rowe and very old friends again

PATRICK SWAYZE TRIVIA

In honor of the late Patrick Swayze, Let's see how well ya'll know about him. Good Luck!

1)What was Patrick Swayze's name in "Point Break"?

2)Early in his career, Patrick Swayze starred on Broadway in what musical?

3)Swayze was People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in what year?

4)What Patrick Swayze's new TV show?

5) True or False. Swayze treaten to turn down the lead role in the movie,"Ghost" if Whoopi Goldberg wasn't hired?

6)In the Hip-Hop world, the phrase, "I'm Swayze" means what?

7) Swayze played a drag queen in which movie?

8) What was the song that Patrick Swayze performed in the movie, "Dirty Dancing"?

9) What state was Patrick Swayze born?

10) What Francis Ford Coppola-directed movie was Swayze in?

11) What was the name of the character Swayze portrayed in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed movie?

12) What 80's TV mini series did Swayze star in?

13) What song was playing in the famous pottery scene in "Ghost"?

14) Who was the choreographer for "Dirty Dancing"?

15) Which line did Patrick Swayze NOT say in a movie?

a) "I'll see you in the next life"

b) "Ditto"

c) "I am an FBI Agent"

d) "Nobody puts Baby in a corner"

16) Swayze has been married to his wife, Lisa Niemi since what year?

17) What other movie besides "Dirty Dancing" did Swayze and Jennifer Grey star in together?

18) What was the name of the character that Swayze portrayed in "Dirty Dancing"?

19) True or False. Patrick Swayze broke his wrist during the pottery scene in "Ghost"?

20) True or False. Patrick Swayze trained as a Ballet Dancer?

Answers scroll down

1)Bodhi

2) Grease

3) 1991

4) The Beast

5) True

6) Disappeared

7)To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar

8) She's Like the Wind

9) Texas

10) The Outsiders

11) Darrel Curtis

12) North & South

13) Unchained Melody

14) Kenny Ortega

15) c) "I am an FBI Agent"

16) 1975

17) Red Dawn

18) Johnny Castle

19) False

20) True

GLEE

Watch 2 episodes of GLEE and I am definitely in love with this show....Nuff said! Gotta watch it!

NORTH BEACH, MARYLAND

Since we had to opt our Virginia Beach Trip due to a lack of funds, My family and I wanted to get in a Fishing Trip before the Summer ended. We first went to Lexington Park, MD on Paxtuxent River for ole time sake. We stayed from 7am to noon. Ugh...No fish!

Since we had nothing to do, I suggested to my Father we go drive and see a favorite fishing hole of mine, North Beach, MD that crowns the Chesapeake Bay. I haven't been to North Beach in a while for 5 years, but I always loved it because it was conveniently off the beltway to route 4 towards Upper Marlboro and a left onto Route 260.

This place has gotten bigger and better. Much more like a tiny version of Rehobeth Beach with it's new hotels, small shops, bars, restaurants, food vendors off the beach and pier areas, etc..

The place has gotten a bit more commercialized, but it's small town charm remains with it's historical background dating back to the 1600's, the Amish farmers markets, country cafes, the dog friendly neighborhood, etc.... I highly recommend a visit to North Beach. They recommend a visit in the fall due to Foliage festivals and we may just do that! BTW--we caught 5 fish. It could have been 6, but my Dad's Flounder was under measurement requirements. So, we had to throw the damn fish back! BTW--I am allergic to seafood.

WHEW!!!! PUBLIC SCHOOL....IS GETTIN' EXPENSIVE!!!!!

Beng, Aria and I went to Walmart to pick up her school supplies according to her list that was sent to us from the Public Middle School that she will be attending. Here is her list:



Language Arts
1 (3-inch) binder
(4) marble composition books (100+ pages only)
(4) pocket folders with prongs
loose leaf paper
subject dividers
pencils and pouch
black and blue ink pens
highlighters
erasers
3x5 Index cards
Post –It Notes
Science
(1) composition notebook
Pencils & Eraser
Blue or Red Ink Pens
(1) box crayons
Ruler
(4) red folders
erasers
glue sticks
(1) Pack Loose leaf Paper
Math
Pencil Case
No. 2. pencils with erasers
(1) Pack Colored Pencils
Pencil sharpener with cover
(4) Composition Books
Ruler (inches & centimeters)
Protractor
Compass
TI-84 Calculator (Please label with your child’s name.)
(2) Packs of Copy Paper
(4) Pocket Folders
(4) Packs Post-It Notes 3X3
Social Studies
Blue/black ink pens
Colored pencils
1 (3inch) binder
spiral notebook
(5) dividers
white out
loose leaf paper
pencil punch
highlighters
pocket dictionary
glue stick
Paper Towels
Kleenex Tissue
Liquid Hand Soap
Overhead Transparency Pens

We spent over $300.00 The TI-84 Calculator itself cost over $100.00 with tax
Mind you, these expenses is NOT including her uniforms.

WE WANT PAULA ABDUL!!!!!

Yes! She may have been drugged up! Yes! She may have been drinking! Yes! She can be annoying! BUT...She is a 3rd of "American Idol" It's Randy, Simon and Paula!!!!!! Nuff said!

Keep her on! Get rid of that other girl judge!

HARRY POTTER & THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE...Wasn't worth all the trouble

Last Night, I decided to take the whole "Curameng" Klan to the movies to see, "Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince" to help chase our blues away from our recent string of events. My wife, Beng, my daughter, Aria, My Mother-in-law and my parents.
I went online to purchase 2 adults, one child and 3 seniors for the 7pm show. 6 tickets in all.
When I got to the theatre, the machine spit out 3 tickets for the 7pm show and 3 tickets to the 7:45pm show. Huh?
We went to customer service to ask about this. They said, "This has been happening all day. Just go to the 7pm show in theatre 7."
When we got there, It was a madhouse! People were standing around and mad...VERY MAD!!! People were trying to find anyone in an AMC uniform yelling at them to get their manager! Managers came rushing in yelling and apologizing in the theatre saying, "They don't know what happened to the online ticket purchases for 7pm giving them 7:45pm tickets instead and why this all happened. They asked if anyone with the 7:45pm tickets could move out and towards theatre 6. Groans mixed with Boos and people trying to talk over this saying, "I have to see a 7pm show! I have a time schedule that restricts me to see another show time."
What frustrated me was NO ONE who wasn't handicap sitting in the handicap section was not willing to give up the handicap seating for my mother who was sitting in a wheelchair, my Mother-in-law with a walker and myself with a cane EXCEPT for 2 gracious african-american women who decided to move to the 7:45pm show instead along with us and 175 others. (Don't worry..I thanked them for their effort)
Now..as we 175+ were standing 5 feet from the door at theatre 6, the long roped line behind us for the 7:45pm show started to get mad, broke the roped area and demanded the AMC management. It was like a scene from an episode of "Twilight Zone" when the people start to panic in fear for survival due to "change" Hmmmm....People yelling, people cramming in to get closer to theatre 6.
Then an AMC Manager says, "We will opening up theatre 8 (Which was originally showing "Ice Age 3") behind you for 130 people wanting to see Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince" close to the 7pm showing. Then people started to race to theatre 8 and file in a hurry with that said. The managers tried to stop them by yelling, "STOP..Not Yet!!!" Hehehehe...Yeah....right!
Finally, they were ready for us in theatre 6. The same african-american women whogave up their seats for us yelled out, "Let's give alittle courtesy and let this woman in the wheelchair in first with her family before she gets mowed down by you crazy people!" I turned to them and said, 'Thank You again."
The management did let us in first and we were able to sit together in a great spot.
Unfortunately, to me, all this madness wasn't all worth for this movie....Don't kill me...Just my opinion.

IT REALLY HASN'T BEEN OUR YEAR...

I think last night's car accident coming home, put our life for this year in perspective....It really hasn't been our year!
I thank God that Beng and I are alive. I thought we were going to orphan Aria in this accident in Old Town during rush hour. To make it all worse...I get the ticket for "so-called" speeding. I am going to court for this, because the police officer had taken her word. No speed monitors, just her word that I was speeding. Let's see...I am going straight. The light is green. She comes from the opposite way and makes a left turn in front of me...AND I GET THE DAMN TICKET for SPEEDING based off of her word?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
But due to our Honda being stolen and totalled on the past Memorial Day weekend, our ONLY vehicle is now in the shop. I mean...It's fixable, but it's inconvenient. I guess my daughter, Aria summed it up by saying, "Why is all this bad luck happening to us?" I guess it could have been worse...

ARIA CURAMENG-Winner of the Bliss Kids Arts Festival

PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 29, 2009

Aria Curameng Named Winner of the Bliss Kids Arts Festival
Blissliving Home announces the winner of the Bliss Kids Arts Festival: eleven-year-old Aria Curameng from Fort Washington, MD. The winning design will be adopted for a special duvet set to be featured in the Blissliving Home Spring 2010 Collection.

Blissliving Home is thrilled to announce the winner of the Bliss Kids Arts Festival - eleven year old Aria Curameng from Fort Washington, Maryland. Aria’s winning design is a composition of Thai inspired elements including a Buddha head, a warrior, an elephant, and exotic birds in a bright color story of red, purple, blue, yellow, and green. Created in pointillism style, small distinct dots of color create the impression of a wide selection of other colors and color blending. “The moment I first saw Aria’s creation I thought we had a winning design”, said Mei Xu, Creator and CEO of Blissliving Home http://www.blisslivinghome.com. “The composition of motifs is amazing, and the layering of color is simply extraordinary.” Aria, who learnt about the Bliss Kids Arts Festival from a cousin, said her dad introduced her to pointillism and showed her how to layer primary colors to create secondary colors. For her design submission she wanted to create light and shadow and decided to apply the pointillism technique. “Aria’s design skills are truly extraordinary,” added Amber Levy, Blissliving Home Design Manager. “She will definitely go places in the design world. This kind of talent will only continue to grow.” The winning artwork was selected from nearly one hundred submissions. The design will be adopted for a special duvet set to be featured in the Blissliving Home Spring 2010 Collection (launching in January 2010) which will be sold via an online boutique, printed catalogue and select premium retailers around the globe. Ten percent of orders placed on the duvet set will be donated to Children’s National Medical Center http://www.childrensnational.org/ , one of the best pediatric hospitals in the United States. Aria Curameng will receive two sets of her very own bedding. A national bedding design competition for children, the Bliss Kids Arts Festival was hosted by Blissliving Home in association with Children’s National Medical Center. Boys and girls twelve years of age and under were invited to submit original art inspired by the “Kingdom of Smiles” – the beautiful country of Thailand. The event was launched on April 1 and ended on May 31, 2009.

FAREWELL...MICHAEL JACKSON: The KING of POP

Whew...2 deaths in one day! But this one caught me blind-sided. Someone is going to profit in making the "Neverland Ranch" the new "Graceland".
What can I say about the "King of Pop" that anyone hasn't said by now?
I still remember the "Ed Sullivan Show " performance of Micheal and his Brothers as the "Jackson 5".
Awkward enough, people in the studio audience began to laugh when Michael stepped/danced up and sang. Standing in front of the family Black & White TV set, I looked back puzzled at my family and asked, "Why are they laughing at him?"
Now looking back at that as an adult, I realized people laughed in a surprise reaction of seeing an African American child so young singing with the same heart, soul and passion of a man aged and experienced through the years with a story to tell.
Michael...You will may passed on, but your legacy will live forever as the "King of Pop"

FAREWELL...FARRAH FAWCETT

Farrah Fawcett, whose luxurious tresses and blinding smile helped redefine sex appeal in the 1970s as one of TV's "Charlie's Angels," died today after battling anal cancer. She was 62.

Man, I will miss her. I still remember owning that a poster of her in a clingy swimsuit.

RESERVE WEDNESDAY NIGHTS for "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE" and Vote for KARLA GARCIA

Please reserve Wednesday Nights to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" 8pm to 10pm standard eastern time on Fox Network and vote for my family friend and fellow "Fran's Studio of Dance" colleague, Karla Garcia!
She needs your help...She needs your vote! Thank You!

MEET OUR NEW EDITION: PUMPKIN

This lil' orange kitten (barely 6 weeks old) was literally abandon and thrown in a trashbin (Believe it or not) along with the rest of his brothers and sisters.
The Pennsylvania family that found these kittens and informed me about them could not keep these kittens due to already having a slew of dogs as pets. This lil' orange tabby was the very last one and he found a home with us. He is the 3rd kitten we rescued in little less than one year. I guess I am a sucker for a cute face. The weird thing is I mentioned it to Beng and I thought she would object with a strong, "NO!!!!"
But instead and to my surprise, she automatically responded with a smiling, "Yes".

THE 2009 ZAGAT FAST FOOD SURVEY

The 2009 Zagat Fast-Food Survey
Over 6,000 fast-food fans have weighed in with their opinions on the best bets in burgers, salads, coffee and more. http://www.zagat.com/fastfood

Fast Food – Large Chains*
1) Panera Bread
2) Chipotle
3) In-N-Out Burger
4) Chick-fil-A
5) Au Bon Pain

Fast Food – Mega Chains**
1) Subway
2) Wendy's
3) McDonald's
4) Taco Bell
5) Burger King

Quick-Refreshment Chains
1) Starbucks Coffee
2) Dunkin' Donuts
3) Cold Stone Creamery
4) Jamba Juice
5) Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops

Full-Service Chains
1) P.F. Chang's China Bistro
2) Cheesecake Factory
3) California Pizza Kitchen
4) Outback Steakhouse
5) Carrabba's Italian Grill

MOVIES in the REVIEW in the Fast Lane

"UP" was a bit too sad in places (even the Pixar short in the beginning), but I liked it. Hey, a fat asian kid...Hmmmmm....

"Terminator Salvation"...Ughhhhh...Very BORING!!!!

"Angels & Demons" I did find this too fast paced for a mystery, but I thought it was way better than "The DaVinci Code".

"Star Trek" I am definitely not a Trekkie, but I did enjoy this movie that I saw it twice. Zachary Quinto was excellent as Spock.

"Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" was only okay. I thought production was cheap and rushed.

"Drag Me to Hell" LOVED IT!!!!!! Scary and fun!

In conclusion, Thanks Alfred for the AMC movie passes! It kills the right amount of time waiting for Aria to be picked up from the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre

PUSHING DAISIES: The Last 3 Episodes

I was extremely excited to read in the Washington Post that ABC was going to show the last 3 Episodes of the cancelled, "Pushing Daisies" I was sad to learn that the show was cancelled due to the writer's strike, but was happy to learn that ABC was going to rap up the series with the last 3 episodes of Season 2. (We bought the first season) The show will air every Saturday (started last Saturday, May 30th) night at 10pm.

I love it for it's beautiful use of color against such a dark subject. It's as if the show was filmed against a green screen..It's so clever. Aria loves it because of Kristin Chenoweth singing in the show. That's Aria's idol!

MEMORIAL DAY to REMEMBER...NOT!

I always plan my annual trip to Virginia Beach every year on Memorial Day weekend for almost last 10 years. There is nothing I love more than sun, surf & sand. I love relaxing on the beach and I do mean...Relaxing, like sleeping under the sun near the surf on the sand. Virginia Beach is very special to me since I lived there during my time at the "Armed Forces School of Music" and spending alot of time teaching and producing Hawaiian Hula and Filipino Folk Dance Shows.
I always start my search for hotel rates in January and lock the lowest hotel rate in for the Memorial Day weekend before or within February.
This year, I wanted it to be a bit more special due to all that was happening with my wife, Beng being on disability and out of work, her brain tumor radiation treatment, Aria being shuttled Tuesday through Sunday to the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre for her show, all of us working around on my sole income and myself trying to work in auditions through all this. It was much needed "Family Time" and relaxation.
Well....this year, we planned for our family friend, Regina to house-sit and take care of the cats while we were away for 3 days.
The Friday drive to Virginia Beach took 6 hours (It's usually a 3 1/2 hour drive) The hotel this year was no where "Seaside" as stated, but 10 blocks away from the beach. It was also one step up from being a roadside, sleazy motel that smelt like smoke. Strange, the front desk customer service was accommodating and friendly. Disgusted by the hotel room, we went to see the movie, "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" at Lynnhaven Mall. It was an "Okay" movie.
Saturday's weather was absolutely beautiful for the beach. Though...I got seriously sunburned. What's new? I love sleeping under the sun and hearing the waves crash to the surf.
Unfortunately..."Black Sunday" rolled in. I asked Beng to hear my messages from my cellphone. There was an urgent message from our house-sitter saying that our 97 Honda is missing. She called the police and it seems the car was already in a high-speed police chase and the car was extremely "totalled" due to it being out of control, flipped in the air and landed upside-down. 3 of the joyriders were caught and apprehended, but the 4th gotten away. This is the second time our 97 Honda has been stolen and taken for a joyride. Ughhhh....
Right after receiving the urgent message and making a few phonecalls ourselves with the PG police department and our insurance company, Aria and I run to the hotel pool. Stupid me..dives in without taking out my cellphone or my wallet! Ughhhhhh...
Hoping to redeem the day, I decide we try "Carrabbas: Italian Grill" for the first time. Unfortunately...we found that this restaurant very disappointing! Sorry, Carrabbas fans.
My family agreed, "Carrabbas" was one grade up from opening up a can of "Chef-Boyarde" and a bit "too typical" out of all italian chain restaurants for my taste.
I guess we are just so spoiled from going to "Carmines" in NYC for Italian.
In conclusion, we even checked out early to return back to the confort of our own home and our cats.

FAREWELL..HAROLD GATES of Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre

On Monday, May 18th, Harold Gates, president and co-owner of the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre passed away.

In memorial of Mr. Gates passing away, the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre will be closed for funeral services on Friday, May 22nd

DISNEY coming to NATIONAL HARBOR

The Walt Disney Company has bought a 15-acres to build a hotel resort at National Harbor right next to my house.
This will be one of 5 planned travel resorts. Bringing in 1000 jobs in the PG county area. I just hope there's a job for me!

FX's version of SNAKES on a PLANE

FX channel had "Snakes on a Plane" and I was wondering how they would censor Samuel Jackson's famous "MF" cliche. This is what they came up with.

"Enough is Enough! I have had it with these MONKEY FIGHTING snakes on this "MONDAY to FRIDAY" Plane!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4t6zNZ-b0A

Ya know...I was sadden that George Lucas couldn't find a way for Samuel Jackson to sneak in a "MF" as Jedi Master Mace Windu.

DO THE HELEN KELLER?

I was driving into work and heard the lyrics to a song that went, "Shush..Girl, Shut your lips! Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips!"

It get's even more weird. Apparently, this song is performed by a group called "3OH!3" But it's only 2 white guys named Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte from Boulder, Colorado. Huh?

It seems "303" is the area code for Boulder, Aurora, and the Denver, Colorado.

Enough said, "TGIF!!!"

BOO on the Washington Post

Boo on the Washington Post!!! Why?

Last night (Saturday, May 2nd), Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines, won his sixth world title over Ricky Hatton from England in Las Vegas. TKO on Round 2.

Was there ANY news about it in the Washington Post today, Sunday, May 3rd? NO! Does the Washington Post have something against a Filipino being the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? Come on! What the hell is that? The Washington Post has ALOT of explaining to do!

I am cancelling my Washington Post subscription.

FAREWELL...BEA ARTHUR

Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star in the hit shows "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" and who won a Tony Award for the musical "Mame," died Saturday, April 25th. She was 86.

Arthur was born in New York City, but she grew up in Cambridge, Maryland. She became a medical technologist before World War II, when she volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps, becoming one of its first female recruits.

On a personal note, no one can delivery that "silent take" before a punchline so well. You'll be laughing before the punchline and laugh even harder when it's delivered. You'll be truly missed.

DISNEY's 1st AFRICAN AMERICAN PRINCESS:TIANA

That's right folks! Joining Snow White, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Cinderella, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Belle (Beauty & the Beast) and even Jasmine (Aladdin) and Mulan in the team of Disney Princesses will be Tiana from "The Princess & the Frog" set to premiere in November 2009. She will be Disney's very first African American Princess. I am extremely excited about this.
There is already 'talk" of it turning into a Broadway Musical! (What won't Disney put on Broadway? "101 Dalmations: The Musical" is already casting!)

PLEASE VOTE #16

One of my Godson's is participating in a marketing competition. Please, please read below and vote for #16. Thank you for your help!

Dear Friends,

One of our companies, Balaya, is involved in a competition, which if we win, would mean huge things for us. I won’t bore you with all of the details, but it’s BIG.
Bottom line, part of this competition is a video contest. Balaya and about 20 other companies made one minute videos to describe themselves. The company whose video gets the most votes moves on to the next round. Would you watch ours and vote for it afterwards? We think it’s pretty funny, and hope you might too.
The video can be viewed here:

http://tagtvonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=137

Balaya’s video is number 16. Please give it a look, then click the “Vote here” link near the top of the page. Pick Balaya from the dropdown menu and hit submit. Voting is open until April 29.

Thanks so much for your consideration!
Jerry Lustan
The Balaya Team
http://www.balaya.com/
P.S. If you like our video, and would be willing to pass this info on to any friends or colleagues, we would certainly appreciate that as well!

MUFFIN TOP

Just recently, Aria was getting dressed out of her school uniform and into street clothes. She was running around asking where a certain pair of jeans were.
I said, "What about the ones that I just washed? They are out of the dryer and I folded it. It's on the couch."
She looks at them and said, "I am looking for the darker pair of jeans that are capris."
I returned, "What's wrong with the one's on the couch?"
She says, "I haven't worn those jeans since I was 8 years old and they are small."
I then say, "No they aren't. They were huge when you wore them at 8. So, they should fit fine now."
So, she puts on the jeans from the couch just to appease me in front of the living room mirror and then quickly takes them off again. "I have "muffin top", she says and returns to looking for the darker pair of jeans.
I exclaimed, "What?"
She then explains what "muffin top" is.
It's when you have "extra" hanging over the pants.(Pictured above)
I never heard of this, but found it so hilarious and kinda cute in a way coming from Aria.
It must be a big trend that never dies, cause I have been seeing "muffin top" for many years. :)

25th HELEN HAYES AWARDS

My daughter, Aria was extremely excited about attending this year's Helen Hayes Awards because I promised her, "If I get nominated, you may go this time." Well....technically, I was nominated under the category, "Outstanding Ensemble for Resident Musical." So, Aria went to her first Helen Hayes Awards Ceremony last night and the 25th annual Helen Hayes Awards Ceremony to boot!

It was very nice to see my daughter all glamoured up with her hair and make-up done, the jewelry gleaming, working the high-heeled shoes, a sequenced cocktail dress and grandma's fur coat to top it off.

As usual, the ceremony ran an hour too long with the special recognition of Artistic Directors, the memoriam of actors that have passed away, The Washington Post Award and the new "Outstanding Actor Award in a Resident Play" renamed the Robert Prosky Award.

Actually, I found the musical numbers highly entertaining starting with the opening spoof off of "Lion King Opening", the "Fiddler on the Roof/Tradition" spoof about the people that make up a theatre production, the "Guys & Dolls/Fugue for Tinhorns" spoof to honor the HH sponsors and even the "Camelot" spoof to sing the 80 plus artistic directors to their seats.

Then something weird happened. They ended the evening singing, "Seasons of Love" from "Rent". People started to laugh thinking this was another spoof. but it wasn't...just awkward!

Overall, the evening was very exhilarating even though "Jerry Springer: The Opera" didn't snag any awards. Congrats to my friends in Signature's production of "Les Miz".

It's always nice to be with everyone and anyone who is someone in the theatre scene of the DC metropolitan area It's just one big reunion for theatre folks.

CROCS at POTOMAC MILLS

YEAH!!!! The Crocs Store is finally in the area at Potomac Mills.
I bought a pair of my favorite shoe, "The Venture"
$20.00 cheaper than what I pay for them online. Only $15.00 at the store.
I swear by these shoes. They got rid of some heel pains I was getting. They are made of that same lightweight molded foam rubber that absorbs any shock you may be experiencing. These particular shoes are very fashionable and don't look ugly like the ones with the holes. For the record, I have never owned a pair of those Crocs with the holes. My daughter, Yes with the shoe trickets as well to go in the holes.

DEPRESSED? LET'S GO to the MOVIES...

Lately, I have been trying to find things to do while waiting for Aria to finish each day from her show at the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre. I have been driving around seeing alot of businesses close around the Woodbridge area Just days ago, the Exxon on the corner of Jefferson Davis Highway and 123 closed. Pumps gone and store boarded up ...How depressing?! Woodbridge can be compared to the life of a rusty nail within days.

So, I have been wasting time at the AMC Potomac Mills. Here's the movies I have seen thus far.

Since Beng and Aria hate horror movies, I decided to go indulge myself in some horror movies. I went to see the remake of "The Last House of the Left". This type of horror movie is all about revenge on the "Bad Guys". It's really strange cheering for the most gruesome death on the "Bad Guys". It kinda makes you a Sado-Masochist.

On the other hand, there is supernatural horror. I went to see "Haunting in Connecticut". It's based on a true story much like "The Amityville Horror". Tjhough the story has a conclusion probably dreamed up by Hollywood.

Then it was enough of that and into a different type of supernatural film..."Knowing" with Nicholas Cage. It was a good movie, but wait is up with movies lately and Aliens? Are movies being influeneced by Scientology?

Last night, I really was waiting to catch something new. I didn't think I was going to make it to see the teen comedy, "Adventureland", since I was already 15 minutes late, but I guess movies have alot of commericials these days cause I got there at the beginning of the movie.

This movie was far from a comedy, but more of a sadden love story.

The movie was hard to swallow at first due to these reasons:

1) It was suppose to be 1987 and it felt more like 1979

2) These were students going into grad school and it felt more like high school.

3) The art of the movie itself was edited much like that grainy 70's porn feel rather than an 80's porn feel. The difference of 70's porn is shot on film and hairy actors with feathered hair and 80's porn is shot on video and overly manicured actors with permed mullets. Thanks to my friends who supplied me with the AMC movie cards. Overall, I have been enjoying my escape to the movies.

HOORAH..BENG will be OKAY!

Many of you may know...Beng's results on her brain tumor came in last Friday and the tumor is benign. Hoorah!

Now next week or so, Beng will have to undergo 25 days of radiation therapy everyday to shrink the orange-sized brain tumor.

Beng is very strong and positive about her next step into getting rid of this nasty tumor.

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words and your kind thoughts and prayers devoted in giving Beng strength and faith.

HOURS EYES? NEVER AGAIN!!!

I have ordered my glasses from the "Hour Eyes" store at Pentagon City, 1100 South Hayes Street, 3rd Floor, Arlington, Virginia 22202 back in February 2009. I was promised the glasses in 10 days due to a high prescription coming from corporate office in San Antonio, TX.
10 days went by and still no glasses.
2 weeks went by and still no glasses.
It's already almost the end of March and still no glasses.
What's frustrating even more is the different excuses I get for each time I call or arrive at the store. "The glasses are being polished at it's edges", "They broke your glasses while trying to smooth out the edges", Your prescription is too rare", "your glasses was just put in the mail", etc..
With all these excuses, they are nothing more but lies by now.
I just want my glasses!!!

BENG...

Beng just had surgery more than 3 weeks ago, when she has to have surgery again.
Beng was not feeling well with a spliting headache for weeks into her recovery from her last surgery.
Today due to cannot taking any more pain, we rushed Beng to the ER only to discover she has a brain tumor.
She was rushed to the Washington Hospital Center and they are conducting more test on the "grade" of the tumor. She is scheduled for surgery this Thursday, March 19th to have the tumor removed. Aria and I are hanging in there and parying for our Beng.