If it's not Raven, it's crap.

Artist rendering

I'm short two batteries to make my digital camera function, so I created this picture to give you an idea of what my new bike looks like. Admittedly, I took a few liberties in it's creation -- for instance, you can't see the awesome high-security ABUS lock that Frosty contributed. Otherwise, it's a pretty realistic rendition, I think.

I got off work a bit early today so that I could spend some quality "get to know you (sober)" time with my new set of wheels. However, in order to get to know someone, you first have to know their name, right? And just a plain old factory name won't do. So, I rode around for awhile and pondered what I was gonna call it.

On the one hand, it's a pretty bad ass bike, you know? I mean look at it. Do it. It says Avalanche on the side, which immediately makes me think of the baddest bad ass ever -- MacGyver...cause you know he was caught in an avalanche once, but totally survived and I can really relate to that.

But then, it's got the shades of baby blue and if you look closely at the cool design and you can clearly make out some hearts and butterflies and whatnot...which is way girly, for sure.

I decided that both of these aspects definitely needed to be reflected in my bike's name

Then, while I was riding around, the following song started to play on my mp3 player:


ACDC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

And...for some reason...the word "obliteration" popped into my head.

As such, my new bike's official name (if were to have something such as a "birth certificate") is The Obliterator Bicycle, which shortens to Obie Bice... or just plain Obie (or O.B. if you're lazy). Bad ass...without losing that feminine edge. Get it?

It works on so many levels. I asked Obie and she's totally cool with it.

At the moment, this is the only (flattering) picture from my birthday party this weekend. The pirate hat and Mardi Gras beads are courtesy of Pickles and were a big hit, while worn in conjunction with my giant Mercedes symbol necklace (not pictured, unfortunately). Here, I'm reading the birthday card from Remy, Cris and Pickles and trying to contain my laughter.

Like I said awhile back, I wanted to do something different this year (read: have an actual party) so I rented a bar and invited some people -- many of whom actually showed up! Jk...the turnout was great and the bar was comfortably full at some point, which warmed my little Mulatto heart.
My big surprise present was that all of my awesome friends pitched in to get me a really nice bike. When I say nice, I mean like -- I probably wouldn't have even bought myself a bike this nice. It's real purdy. I will put up a picture as soon as I take a picture of it...

The awkward part was when people were like, "Go take a spin on your new bike!" This was around midnight, after I'd been drinking for like 4 hours. And in my mind I was thinking, "Hmm...a whole bunch of people gathered in one place, who more or less think that I don't suck...and now they want me to ride on a two-wheeled contraption...drunk." I declined at that particular moment, because the last thing I need to hear in five years is the story of how I busted my head open at my birthday party by falling off my new bike.

However, around four hours (and many more drinks) later, riding my bike didn't seem like such a bad idea at all. At that point, there was only seven people around and they were all drunk, too. I was still slightly worried about the falling down thing, but the experience German bike riders assured me that if I just kept the bike pointed straight and rode as fast as I could, I'd be just fine.

So, I said my goodbyes, mounted my bike and wove my way down the rode -- and toppled over two blocks later. But I don't think anyone saw... or at least I didn't see them...which is almost like the same thing.

After falling down, I got back up and corrected my mistake (faster with less swerving?) and rode straight ahead. So straight ahead, in fact, that I missed my turn and got lost. But I persevered and eventually made it home...just in time for Schmidt to call me and ask if I had made it home ok. Good times.

I will have to have another party like that someday. It was way better than a water balloon fight or a giant sandwich

...though a giant sandwich at the party wouldn't have hurt.

My birthday party is tonight...in about 2.5 hours to be exact.

Frosty's in town, two of his friends from Dresden are staying with us as well.
Schmidt has been hiding my present in his room for the past couple of days -- in addition to hijacking some birthday mail from Pickles (yes, it got here on time, but Schmiddy won't let me have it til tonight.)

I'm kind of nervous/excited in a way. I don't really have an accurate head count. So, I'm mostly going to just let myself be surprised. Either way it'll work, I think. If the turnout isn't so big, then it just means more free drinks for the people that do show up and a nice and comfy third-party location in which to celebrate. And if a whole bunch of people show up...then I will not complain.

Pictures and post-party report to come later...

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Big Bear - Doin Thangs

It's kind of sad to think how long it's taken me to get around to posting this (awesome beyond words) album cover. Ah yes, 1998 -- back in the good ol' days when a feisty No Limit Solider inspired rap cover designers everywhere to say "Uhhh! (uhhh!) ph-photoshop, ph-photoshop!"

Like Mr. Bear, I have also been recently involved in a number of nondescript and vague activities that are probably most effectively categorized under the heading of "doin thangs". What kind of "thangs"? I'd say that'd have to be mostly "big" and "lots of".

Thank goodness it's May, though. My Schedule of Thangs is a bit more open. With two federal holidays, my birthday party + one vacation day, followed up by a 3-day airplane expo (wherein I look forward to consuming free "business juice" (i.e. alcohol) and passing around my business card) -- I really will only have "worked" slightly under 3 weeks out of the entire month. No bad at all...

I should really write more, but instead I'm gonna get out of the apartment and, you know, do some other thangs...

There was a time when I was a kid that I used to always incorporate water balloon fights into my birthday parties. Looking back, I don't really understand what I thought was so great about water balloon fights, aside from the idea of gathering around 15 of my closest friends and pelting them with water balloons. The ammunition is relatively cheap (which I guess my parents liked) and the territory (my house) was pretty familiar. All in all -- a pretty fun time.

As I got older though, water balloon fights seemed kind of lame and for some reason I thought giant sandwiches would be awesome. So, I had a couple of birthdays in a row (my "Super Sweet 16" included), where I skipped out on the whole cake thing altogether and just got a giant 6ft (1.8m) "Party Sandwich" from Subway. I guess part of me thought that blowing candles out of a ridiculously long sandwich was totally something that I needed to cross off of the To-Do list for my life.

My last birthday in OKC before going off to college (my 18th), was kind of about me celebrating my Trinidadian heritage and loving Ben Affleck... erm... I guess you just had to be there.

My next notable birthday was Number #20, where I said goodbye to my teenage years and smoked my first joint. Then, my dorm neighbor and I invented a very fun game that was kind of like table tennis. Except no table and using an actual tennis ball. Oh yeah...and instead of little tennis table paddles, we hit the ball with scuba diving flippers. Someone, somewhere may have pictures of me running around wearing a lab coat and goggles with an orange placed between my cleavage. Whatever...I was high and had declared myself "Tri-Boob" -- it totally made sense given the circumstances.

For my 21st, I was in Hamburg. That was an awesome party. It ended with me slipping and falling nearly face first into Schmidt's crotch, while simultaneously pouring a half a liter of beer into Toby's lap. Then I cried sad little beer tears until someone put me to bed.

I haven't really had an organized birthday party since about 2003 (my 22nd birthday), the year I graduated from college. Last year, I spent my bday with a couple of people in RLH. The year before that, I was recovering from a root canal/pulled wisdom tooth. There's really no place to go but up.

Last night, I went to Down Under (home of chicken wings) with my nearest and dearest. It was fun and we drank a lot. My official birthday party won't take place until May 17th, but there are some occasions that you just want to spend with the people that really know you best -- and like you in spite of the knowledge they possess regarding your inner workings. For some reason, people who enjoy my company (even though they have plenty of reason not to) truly amaze me.

Also, it's nice to have four strapping young men serenade you with a round of 'Happy Birthday'. If you don't know, as they say, you betta aks somebody!

This morning, I woke up and spent about 4 1/2 hours relaxing in the sun eating picnic food prepared by Frosty. He done did a good job.

I didn't take any pictures from Down Under or from the picnic, but I will take some from my big party in two weeks. Hopefully, I'll also get around to writing more entries by then.

Two more days, until I say goodbye to my mid-20s.

My second to last day was pretty swell. Frosty got into town late last night and today we crammed in a full day of action and adventure. That's the thing about a long-distance relationship. We see each other once -- maybe twice a month. I prefer having the home field advantage though. Maybe because I like being the hostess, rather than the host-ee...

We went out for brunch, bummed around town, then went on an "alternative tour of the harbor" where we learned about Hamburg, the shipping industry and its relationship with third world countries. The weather was awesome and it was nice to have a day off where I didn't have to think about anything except relaxing. It's something that I haven't had the chance to do in a long time...

Re: Frosty's veganish ways...

well, it's stressful at times, which I knew it would be. I've known a lot of vegans in my time and pretty much everything that involves food procurement can be tough because, well, animals are somehow in everything. We managed though.

Thanks to a friend who works at nice hotel, Frosty and I spent the evening swimming and sauna-ing in private at the aforementioned nice hotel and even got to stay in a room overnight -- except said room was actually a small apartment -- but it's not like we complained.

Tomorrow evening, we're going to Down Under, which is an Australian bar/restaurant and self-proclaimed "Home of Chicken Wings". It will be a small gathering of close friends. Frosty will have to deal with the meat part, because well -- it's my bday and he has to obey my commands.

I'm kidding about that last sentence...sorta.