The Beautiful People

Many months ago tickets were bought and a ladies night was planned to see Marilyn Manson at the House of Blues. A few days before the scheduled show Marilyn Manson was injured on stage by a giant prop pistol and he cancelled nine tour dates. Last night the makeup date finally arrived.

Before the show at Yard House

We met up at Yard House for some pre-show drinks. The bartender probably thought we were a little nuts but he was a good sport.

Waiting in line

The main event

The show was great. Manson sang all my favorites and the crowd was really into it. It was a much better show compared to the last time I saw him.

At the end of the night.

It was slow going this morning but I persevered. Next up is AWOLNATION which will also be at the House of Blues. I love concerts but ticket prices seem to be increasing at a rapid pace. I'm going to have to be a little more picky about who I choose to see. Sorry Justin Timberlake but I'm not paying $80.00 to sit in the rafters of the Garden where I can barely see the stage.

Can you spot me?

I'm the one with the flailing arms having a good time at my birthday party.

Back to Waltham

We had a busy day yesterday that included a trip back to my home town of Waltham. I picked up Bosco's ashes at the vet. They also include a paw print in cement with his name on it. It's a nice keepsake. I did get teary unpacking the urn and the paw print. I miss him and the apartment still doesn't feel right with out him.

Since the vet is not far from my home town we decided to have lunch at Jake n Joes and then go food shopping at Market Basket.

My new favorite sangria

The food was good and the red sangria was even better. After lunch we braved Market Basket. We don't have a Market Basket near us and I'm still amazed at how much cheaper groceries are there. The only downside is how busy it is. This plaza didn't exist yet when I lived in Waltham which I'm a little bitter about. It's close to where I lived and would have provided more restaurant and shopping options.

Saturday night we went to Golden Temple for some dinner and dancing. Derek doesn't like to dance but there's beer to keep him entertained. The music was a little odd. There was a lot of lesser known 90s music and I'm pretty sure Despacito was played 3 times. I did get some dancing in though.

The dance floor at Golden Temple

The crowd is always interesting at Golden Temple. There was one guy who looked like he came straight out of an 80s hair band. He had acid washed jeans and one long earring. I used my cousin Lauren to try to get a picture.

Mysterious 80s hair band guy and Lauren

Our last stop was Washington Square Tavern. One of the guys at the bar said he used to work there and remembered me and Derek. I didn't quite remember him but I had had a few beers at that point. The bar was pretty dead which was nice after Golden Temple.

The rest of my long weekend will be a little more low key but I'll take the extra day off.

It's feuerzangenbowle season

It's been a minute hasn't it. I've been busy at work and at life in general hence why the blog has been a bit quiet. Let's jump right in. I'VE GOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!

I would love poinsettias everywhere but Bosco would eat them. Did I tell you how I found him inside the garbage can when we came back from Thanksgiving? He was busy picking out chicken bones. He's still a pain in my ass even when he's sick.

I ordered 4 bottles of wine on my phone right after this photo was taken. I then realized I'd have to pick them up in Everett. No thank you. I assumed I could have it shipped to my house but SURPRISE you have to pick them up at some random liquor store in Everett. Debating cancelling the order and finding the wine closer.

I've already been to a Christmas party too. The feuerzangenbowle was especially good this year.

Made it through Elf and half of Christmas Vacation before I left. Warm drinks and lots of food makes Ginny sleepy.

Now it's time to make a rice and sausage stuffing for a friends Thanksgiving today. So much food....

Germana and Andy's wedding

My phone charger stopped working so I only have before and after photos from the wedding. Note to self: bring digital camera to future weddings.

Wedding highlights:

Actually getting to eat the appetizers.

Sam Schoenfeld's bar mitzvah. He's a man now!

Lil Anne smuggling meat in her napkin for later.

Derek actually making an appearance on the dance floor.

Jamie being accused of stalking the New England Patriots. "You know what you're doing here." "No I don't. I'm trying to find my room."

Bugles aka America's #1 finger hat snack.

Noise complaint on the hotel after party. "I bet it was Tom Brady!" Hotel security saved the day by lettings us party in the hall by the lobby.

"You could make a banana pie with that banana!" "I don't know why I just said that..."

Party in the White Mountains

I'm back from the mountains of Lincoln New Hampshire. The bachelorette party was so much fun and I think the bride-to-be really enjoyed herself. I know I certainly did.

I left Thursday night with Fiona and Kerry to head up to the cabin in Limerick, Maine. The three of us stayed up until the early morning hours talking and listening to music around the fire. The next morning we were a bit tired but rallied with a good breakfast at the Hungry Hallow.

lake view from the cabin in Maine

It was tough to say goodbye to the lake but the mountains and the bride-to-be awaited us. We took the Kancamagus highway which goes through the White Mountain National Forest. I don't think I've been up that highway since I was a child. I forgot how beautiful it is. We pulled over a couple of times to take in the mountain views.

mountain selfie

After our scenic stops we finally arrived at the house on Loon Mountain. The house was beautiful and huge. We had no close neighbors so we didn't have to worry about disturbing anyone else with our bachelorette shenanigans .

view from the balcony

getting ready for the bride-to-be's arrival

Friday night we hung out at the house eating pizza and listening to music around a campfire. There was dancing and glittery temporary tattoos. Saturday morning was a little rough after staying up late Thursday and Friday. I took a nap to rally for Saturday night.

Saturday night we had dinner at a Mexican Restaurant in town called El Charro. The waitstaff was excited to have a bachelorette party and enjoyed our music selections on the jukebox. We also brought an inflatable blowup man we named Bernie. He was a big hit especially with a toddler at the table next to us.

Dinner at El Charro with the girls and Bernie (bottom right corner)

One of the waitresses suggested that we check out Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery since they usually have a live band on Saturday nights. After consulting the bride-to-be we decided that's where we'd head next.

Bride-to-be with her lightsaber.

The Brewery was packed and there were a lot of bikers who were in Lincoln for a bikers rally. We met Spyder, Buddy and Froot Loop. Sadly I did not get any pictures of them. The band was excellent and so was the crowd. There was one intoxicated woman who latched on to Germana and became a bit obsessed with her lightsaber. Germana's wedding is Star Wars themed so it was a necessary prop. Luckily she got distracted on the dance floor and we made a quick escape to the other side of the bar. We also met a bride who had just gotten married at the Brewery. We were all a little bit tired from Friday night so we headed back to the house around 12:30. and watched a movie on Netflix before bed. Partying in your 30s.

Sunday morning came all to quickly. We cleaned up the house and headed out to Benton's Sugar Shack for breakfast before the ride home. After we were full of pancakes and bacon we said our goodbyes.

Benton's Sugar Shack.  Worth the wait.

I would love to go back to the White Mountains with Derek at some point. I need to go to the mountains more often.

Mountains everywhere you look.

The best piñatas

Include nips, candy and pencils.

Also note favorite polka dot dress.

A true treasure for all cat lovers

The weekend has blown by and now it's Sunday night and I'm bored. I'm waiting for my kindle to charge so I can read the new book I downloaded. I did laundry and cleaned the bathroom and walked to the supermarket and bought groceries. Boredom makes me productive at least.

Friday night I had dinner with friends at Live Noodles.They are known for their hand pulled noodles.

Lanzhou beef lamian, or Lanzhou beef hand-pulled noodle, is a type of Chinese noodle dish originated in Lanzhou, China, and generally popular in China. It is referred to as "beef noodle" or "beef big bowl” in Lanzhou. It is sometimes simply called lamian , which means hand-pulled noodle in Chinese, or "beef lamian" elsewhere in China.

Kit ordered for everyone and it was delicious.

Mmmm now I'm hungry for noodles and scallion pancakes. I ended up not making it to a friend's birthday party after dinner. Just too tired. Friday's are rough I tell ya.

Saturday I traveled to the far away land of Chelsea for an ugly sweater party. I mean you have to drive over the Tobin bridge which costs a small fortune in tolls. My co-worker Dana picked out this sweater for me because cats. I should also point out that my sweater is not ugly. It's beautiful, a true treasure for all cat lovers.

Target was out of adult sizes so this is actually from the kids section. I definitely am not kids sized so I really have no idea how this fits. My red hair has faded so much and I didn't blow dry my hair so it looks like utter crap in these pics. I'm still posting them though to show off the sweater.

Why you live so far Lilly? Thank you for hosting. I better win the guess how much candy is in the jar contest. I can't eat the candy but I'll take the money thanks.

Besides the excitement of cat sweaters and cleaning my bathroom I watched a lot of Psych. I've seen episodes here and there but now I'm watching it from the beginning. The show speaks my language which is sarcasm and witty retorts.

I have to actually do some Christmas shopping this week. Everyone's getting bacon, how about that. Easy and delicious. I have no clue what to get for my boss. Suggestions welcomed.

Halloween recap. They weren't kidding when they said "brilliant red".

I've been meaning to dye my hair for a while and Halloween seemed like the perfect time to do it. I let Derek pick between dark brown or red because I couldn't decide. He picked the red and wow is it red!

I should have been Poison Ivy for Halloween. Instead I was a ghostly/whitchy figure. This last picture was me waiting for the bus at the end of the night. It never came so I ended up walking. My cape was collecting leaves the whole way home.

 My friend Fiona hosted a Halloween party and the decorations were amazing. Well done Fi!

How is October over? All the stores are already putting out Christmas displays. I love the holidays but after that it's just the never ending Boston winter. I think I'm still traumatized from last winter.

Look for the giant giraffe

Today is the big St. Patrick's Day Parade in Southie. I went one time a few years ago and I'll never go again. It's not worth the hassle of getting there and dealing with the drunk crowds. Thank God the parade is nowhere near where I live.

Last night Derek and I journeyed to the other side of the river to Somerville for my old roommate Todd's birthday. The T ride took forever due to a disabled B line train but what else is new? We finally made it to the new Assembly Square station and attempted to find food. Every restaurant was packed. One restaurant had an hour and forty-five minute wait. Yea, no thank you. We finally got a table at Tony C's and showed up to the party late but we made it.

Todd and Julie coordinated their outfits but Julie is not pleased.

I was very impressed by Julie's doodling skills.

Todd lives near Legoland and had mentioned a giant giraffe as a landmark to find his apartment building. Of course I needed a picture with it.

Our trip home home was quicker but full of your usual late night drunk folk. We ordered late night pizza (calzone with no sauce for me) which I'm paying for with some heartburn today. That's what I get for eating before bed.

I should probably be a party planner

My response to my friend's birthday party invite.

I’m going to bring a dead guy and prop him up likes he’s alive Weekend at Bernie’s style. He will be the “life” of the party. Then at the end of the night I’ll be like “it’s on that guys tab” and we all leave.

I see a party planning career in my future.

My name is Helvetica and I have a laughing condition

 This is my Hipster Ariel face. How did I do? (Not so good ha ha)

I love this picture of Derek. I like pretty bad but I figure I should post it since it's a nice one of him.

Germana and I both won for sexiest costume. Our boyfriends were the judges. I think they felt like they had no choice. Honestly I don't care but I found it funny. G-Dog was a nurse shark.

I like the Last Drop but last night one of the bartenders was being a complete ass. Derek was trying to cash out and I went over to see why it was taking him so long. I mean I had a drunk Irish guy trying to hit on me for at least 15 minutes. So I go over to the bar and I stand there for another 5 minutes as Derek keeps trying to flag down the bartender. The guy finally looks at Derek right in the eye and then turns and asks someone else what they want. What a jerk! Finally the guy comes back and Derek very nicely (despite being really pissed off at this point) if he could cash out. I don't know what the guys problem was. Derek was being very patient and the bartender was just being a jerk. He got no tip.

At some point this girl came into the bar and was like "oh is there a costume party tonight?" The bouncer was like I have no idea what's happening.

I saw a commercial yesterday and I think I might have this!