"I have no expenses. I own 40 pairs of underwear, a car and a suitcase."

I've always wanted to visit NYC ... the lights...the action...the potential to see 'famous people'...Central Park...possibly a broadway show...Letterman...Ground Zero...oh, and the Naked Cowboy, of course. Well, I've never yet been, and the jury's out on whether I ever will. I suppose if it ever does come to fruition I may have to scratch one of the "must-sees" off my list:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Naked Cowboy might be considered a quirky asset to New York City's tourism industry. Now the Times Square traffic-stopper says he'd make a mighty fine mayor.

Robert Burck made his candidacy official Wednesday. He aims to give the buttoned-up, third-term hopeful, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, a run for his money.

Burck says: "Being naked is a whole lot more than having no clothes on: It's about transparency in politics, it's about telling the naked truth."

When not going political, Burck does a brisk business posing for pictures with tourists. His standard fashion statement is a cowboy hat, boots and white briefs. Oh, and a guitar strapped to his bare chest.

As for campaign funds, he says: "I have no expenses. I own 40 pairs of underwear, a car and a suitcase."

Source: http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/underwear-1264954-cowboy-mayor.html

Last Man Standing

Well the volcano erupted...and despite a momentary pause with Reid declaring his delayed undying love for her, Jillian ultimately picked Ed to walk through life's path (however long that path may be in reality show-life). I have to admit to having no sense of surprise - mistakenly landing upon a spoiler that declared Kip as the next Bachelor (who knows how much fact it had...however, wouldn't that just be wonderful? A whole new season of his ripply handsome goodness??!). Had the finale been done differently - had Reid actually landed upon Jill's hotel room prior to her standing at the Bacherlorette-altar he may have had a chance to make her reconsider, maybe?? Perhaps not; perhaps she had her mind set on Ed all along. But you coulda fooled Kip; and you coulda fooled Reid; and, you coulda fooled me. Case in point of just how horrific a show it really is...but I love it just the same :)

Julie J, Julie R, Tanya, myself, Susan & Rosanne met at Erin's for our Bachelorette finale show, amongst to-die-for treats (including chocolate covered strawberries!!...and a terrific dip I need the recipe for, and some more Lonestar salsa!). Sure the show's premise is terrible, and unrealistic, possibly scripted, and wrong...but the time spent with good friends and escaping into a whole new 'reality' is so worth it. I had a fab time girlies :) Let's reconvene next season when Kip (?) finds his 'true love'?

Girls, they wanna have fun

Shout out to Rosanne for hosting an awesome girls night last night! Me, Julie J, Erin, Tanya, Julie R, Rosanne, Sue Ellen, & Susan were in attendance, and a fab time was had by all. We snacked on Rosanne's apple dip (which, to my surprise, tasted like bacon dipped in maple syrup when I tried a pretzel dipped instead of the traditional apple! If you think I'm off my rocker, ask Susan - she agreed!), and Erin's Lonestar salsa! Oh, and a few bevvies, of course :). We chatted about everything and anything, and laughed til our tummies were sore. Thank you, thank you girlies....love ya'll :) xoxo.

Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera out last night, but I stole a few of Julie R's Facebook photos. We never even got a group pic, either...cause for doing this again - and soon, before the girls 'from away' have to go back home!

This is me 'n Sue Ellen. I look very happy and Sue Ellen very amused. Perhaps she's giggling at the idea of dressing up Craig's "head" in holiday attire?

A great shot of Erin and her sister in law, Sue Ellen :)

Likewise, a gorgeous one of Julie J and Tanya -two of my favourite besties :)


Tonight I'm heading out to April's cottage with a few of my work girlies. There will be snacking; there will be laughing; there will be more cold bevvies; there will be unwinding; there will be de-stressing; there will be FUN! Happy Saturday!!

Totally random

Last night at about 10:30pm I could've sworn there was a big thunder storm coming toward us. I was mistaken. In reality, it was a motorcade rumbling through, stopping at the neighbors across the road. I have a lot of friends that drive bikes, and if I'm being honest, I enjoy the rumble and someday hope to hop on one myself. However, driving through a neighborhood at 10:30 (10 to 11 when they rumbled by to leave the 'hood)...? Not my idea of respect for your fellow man...(then again, we are talking about the 'hood though, aren't we?).

Anyway. Chris finally gets home tonight - and I think that's it for the travelling (for this gig anyway). While I have thoroughly enjoyed living in a peaceful, clean house all this time, I do admit to catching a bit of the lonelies and will be glad to see him home. I'm working on my inner embracement for the upcoming sock & drawer trail, too.

I've kept myself busy, truth be told...

Monday night the house was like an oven. Lana called to see if I wanted to go for an ice cream to cool off. At first I was hesitant...as I was waiting for a supper date. My friend Alan, visiting the Island had stopped into my work to see me. I couldn't get away to see him, so he advised the girl who greeted him to tell me that he'd be back at 4:30 and was taking me to supper. I waited at work for him until 5 before leaving, figuring he must be on Ontario time, and going home would allow me the option of changing and freshening up, so I wasn't overly annoyed. Lana called at 6:30...and there was still no sign of him, so I grabbed a snack at home, and then joined her at a local dairy bar for a delicious peanut butter cup flurry. Nobody stands me up! He called as I was about half through the ice cream treat. He ended up coming to the dairy bar himself and we had a little visit there. He always was a bit of a flake! :P

Tuesday night myself, Erin and Julie J took a walk on the boardwalk and then we came back to my place to catch up on each others' lives and share any known gossip. It was so much fun. How much I've missed time spent with my besties :). I hope to take advantage of as much time as possible to spend with Julie. While the girls were over, they opened my eyes to the reality that is my hairy eyebrows. Never before have I given them so much scrutiny ... I mean I haven't neglected them completely. I've taken the tweezers to them and taken care of my unibrow and a few stray hairs here and there, and never thought much more of it. Upon closer examination, however - by Jebus, I do have monster brows.... and an appointment today with an esthetician to get them cleaned up, pronto! Why didn't anyone say anything before now??!

Wednesday night I joined Lana, Lori & Tracy for supper at the Pilot House. A long-overdue gathering, for sure. They are some of my oldest, dearest friends - and we must make an effort to do things together more often. I do request perhaps a locale without the need of in-town-on-street-parking however...and that will ensure a much happier, less cranky Amber to dine with.

Friday night, Rosanne is hosting a girls night at her place, and then Saturday me and the work girlies are getting together for a night of eats and drinks at the cottage. It's gonna be a busy weekend!

In other news.......the car still stinks. I've added one of those little puck deodorizer things that are supposed to suck up all the stinks. It now smells like a public bathroom. *sigh* Anyone wanna do a lease take-over on a slightly driven 07 VW Golf? Preference given to those individuals not having an overly sensitive sense of smell.

Bookworm

When I was young, I was an avid reader. Some weekends I'd hole up in my bedroom and get through an entire book between Friday night thru Sunday. When we moved here from Ontario, books were my solace during a lonely summer not knowing any of the neighborhood kids. Over the past few years, I let my reading habit slide...replacing my free time with too much reality tv, and *gasp* Facebook. Just recently, I've really tried to get back into reading. The warm sunny days have aided in it, mind you, as it's nothing for me to sit out on the deck for a few hours and pore through a book. In the past week I've finished up two really good reads - "For One More Day", by Mitch Albom, and "A Lion Called Christian", by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall.

"For One More Day" is an amazing story...it's heart-wrenching & thought-provoking, and I guarantee you will cry. Imagine the ability to have a do-over...to have just one more day with a loved one whom you've lost untimely... What would you say to him or her? This book examines that, and the end ties the story up in a neat little bow. I don't purposely read books/watch movies that will evoke that emotion in me, because let's face it - I'm a wuss, and cry way too easily on my own. That aside, the story just for the telling is so worth the read, despite a moment of emotional weakness.

"A Lion Called Christian" explains the YouTube phenomenom that is "Christian the Lion". I can't watch that video clip and not shed a tear and want to go hug my kitties. A baby lion was purchased by two young gentlemen in England at Harrod's Department Store. Back then, apparently it wasn't uncommon for the purchase of such an unusual and extravagant gift. Obviously a lion can't be a pet, and when he got to the point that his size warranted it, he was given a chance to live the life he was intended for - in the wild in Africa. It speaks of the importance of conservation of life's precious creatures, of course, but most importantly it is a love story between an animal and its "master"....and the special, unending, bond between them...a very sweet story.

Aside from these most recent reads, I've also devoured a few chick lit books by Sophie Kinsella - "Confessions of a Shopaholic", and "Can you Keep a Secret?" Both quick, mindless fun...great company as you soak up the rays of a warm, sunny, summer day. I do plan on getting my hands on the rest of her Shopaholic series. In addition, Jodi Piccoult has also become a favorite author of mine...so far love all the books that I've read that she's penned (aside from "Second Glance" that is).

Go on and get your own read on. And feel free to comment with any title suggestions you may have :).

Oh I wish I were an......

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wisconsin

An iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile crashed into a southern Wisconsin home as the driver tried to turn around the giant hot dog on wheels.

The hot dog company's promotional Wienermobile crashed Friday into the deck and garage of a home in Mount Pleasant, about 35 miles (56 kilometres) south of Milwaukee.

The 22-year-old driver was trying to turn the Wienermobile around in the driveway and thought she was moving in reverse, Mount Pleasant Police Chief Tim Zarzecki said. But she instead went forward and hit the home. It sat in the driveway as if it were stuck in the garage...

She obviously didn't have much experience with maneuvering a wiener :)

Full story: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2009/07/18/10181041-ap.html

Truths and roses have thorns about them...

Sorry I'm a little late with my routine post-Bacherlorette post. Without further ado...

The 'men tell all' event lacked a bit of the luster I was so hoping for....namely, witnessing the entire audience and stage of men berate the scumbag that is Wes. He, conveniently couldn't be in attendance. Perhaps he was busy doing a concert in Chiwahwah, Mexico?? The next best thing to seeing him on the hotseat, I suppose, was the compilation of Wes' scuminess with clips of his time on the show. I loved how Chris didn't try to hold back his own feelings toward him. If anyone was giving him the benefit of the doubt previously, seeing the compiliation would secure that he deserves no benefit. Damn it all to heck and back...revisiting the show to write up this post, I now have that g.d., "Thaaay say...they saaay that love....it don't come eeeeeaasssaaaay", in my head. There, now don't you, too? ;)

I totally miss Tanner P.

Mathue was fricken HOT, wasn't he??

I'm still totally convinced that David is unstable.

Something awfullllly suspicious was Reid's MIA status on the show, as well...due to a prior commitment? And the teaser showing him at the finale show in the preview...with a ring? He's totally coming back and confessing his undying love for Jillian...cue the draaama...and, I think she's going to pick him. We're planning a girl night next Monday night to celebrate the finale and the "final" rose. Can't wait :)

P.S. Shout out to Rhonda M - and thank you for reading ;)