I know many of you don't celebrate this holiday, but I'd like to spread the joy anyway.  HappyNGLPday, gorgeousgays&girls!

One of my favorite yearly traditions is going to the US Open.  And why not??  It's a 45 minute subway ride away on the (ghastlyghettogross) 7-train.  It's a stone's throw away from mom & dad's house, so I can crash there afterwards instead of hauling ass back to NJ.  And it's fun quality (eating)time spent with my brother & (pregnant!)sister-in-law.

Stepping off the 7-train and on the ramp pathway to the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park.

 

It's 7pm for the night session, and we hit the awesome food court.  The selection here is amazing, with everything from lobster roll stands to crepes, pizza, burgers, cheesesteaks.  The Fish & Chips tantalized me, so we got that with yummy waffle fries.

And a selection of just-made crepes.  3 kinds for us:  Chicken/ham/cheese; Spinach/mushroom/cheese;  Turkey/cheese.  TSAYVORY!

After our bellies were full, we joined the masses inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium for some 1st Round action, where you are guaranteed a few big names playing.

 

me with Rosa and her adorable cousin Sherina.  Rosa & Yud, 8-mo-preg!

Our seats were high, but it's nothing I'm not used to.  In this arena, you get a great view from anywhere.  Being just the second night of competition, it was pretty packed.

First up: VENUS vs. who cares (Samantha Stosur).  Venus won easily. 

 

 

Whattabeast.  Her wig is terrible.  She was practically bald at the Olympics, and now she's wearing the Beijing Bird's Nest on her head.  I've seen Venus play live so many times, I've lost interest.  I wanna see Ivanovic!  So pretty.

Then Darth Vader, Roger Federer played.  No joke...when he came out, they played the Darth Vader theme.  It's bc last year he wore all black and Darth Sidious (Anna Wintour) always hangs around him.

 

The match was over in a blink.  We weren't so much watching the match as we were trying to locate celebs thru binoculars.  We located Anna Wintour sitting with Federer's chubby girlfriend Mirka (or Orca to some).  We also spotted Mary Jo Fernandez, and Julie Chen (host of BigBrother) sitting with her husband, CBS honcho Les Moonves.  Julie Chen....now I ain't saying she's a gold-digga, but she ain't messin' with no broke broke.

Sitting in Arthur Ashe is a dramatic ethereal feeling that everyone must experience. A feeling my dear friend and tennis-freak Wehoroy will never get to experience.  tso tsad dear.

 

It was 10:30 when we left, the earliest exit ever from a night session.  We exited thru Flushing Meadows Park and took a leisurely night stroll thru the park to the car.  My brother dropped me off at mom&dad's house, where I got to see....

 

Buddie Buddie Buddie!  My parents were dogsitting while we were at tennis.  He's the cutest!  If Federer is Darth Vader, then Buddie is most definitely an Ewok/Wookie....an Ewookie. 

 

(My apologies for the atrociously long wait between parts!  I was sidetracked by a Tennessee excursion (Gatlinburg, not Nashville), the Olympics (watching, not competing), and the remainder of the lazy August week (at home sleeping till noon and lounging at the pool for 3 more days, not at work crying into my keyboard).

SO, WHERE WAS I??  Oh yes, part 2 of the amazing Bed & Breakfast getaway to upstate NY. 

All 8 of us proud marys went rolling....rolling....rolling on the river....doo doo doo doo....





We were transported to the drop-in spot at this bridge, and the Delaware River handled the rest.
 


We split into 2 rafts.  Bob & Michael in the back; me & Todd handled the front.  And by "handled", I mean we held the oars for the picture, then dropped them and let the white guys do all the work. 



Things were a little more serious on the Aaron, Bennifer, Gary, P.diddy craft.  They got into proper rafting formation and stayed a gay mile ahead of us the whole time.  (Gay mile = the distance within which posing for a picture is still suitable). 

 

The river was not so wild, and we brought food and drinks, so it was basically a picnic on the river.  The weather was perfect too:  low 80's and cloudy so we weren't burnt to a crisp.  No crispy gaysians here.

There were 2 shirtless fatties in a canoe together.  They looked gay and ashamed as we passed them.  I think I chipped a nail trying to paddle. 

We stopped paddling for a while and joined rafts. 

I wanted to play in the river, but no one was backing me up, so I jumped in myself and scraped my toes on the rocky bottom, muddied my shirt, got swept off my feet by the deceptively strong current, and basically made a complete fool of myself.

 

Towards the end of our journey we found a nice calm shady stretch of river, and we all jumped in for a swim.   

With all the seafood I eat, you'd think I'd have fins, gills, eight legs, claws, and a scrumptious crustaceous coating.  You'd be wrong!  I can't swim and this life jacket is the only way I dare go into waters taller than me.  And in the open waters, the tables are turned and the seafood is free to eat me.  just EAT ME.  I'll be returning the favor soon enough.  

That's me behind Bob in the distance, posing for pic/waving for help.  The current was taking me away slowly but surely.  bubbyMichael would have to swim out and drag my helpless ass back to shore (by the hair). 

After rafting and after soothing showers, we gathered on the Ecce terrace for a late afternoon light cocktail party thrown by Alan & Kurt for their guests.

No one enjoys the sun more than P.Tanny.  He hits the tanning grounds first, always.

Only 3/4 of us made it out.  Princess Bennifer was having some diva alone time in his tub, and Aaron drifted into afternoon aloofness.  The rest of us lounged, gabbed, nibbled, sipped, and savored.

 

Aaron surrenders to an afternoon nap.  I summoned the energy to stay awake to drink and eat.

Kurt & Alan presiding over their Ecce queendom, and joining us for cocktail hour.  Michael with Bill Clinton.

For the siesta fiesta, Kurt & Alan presented us with a gorgeous 7-layer dip of olives, sour cream, guacamole, 2 kinds of cheeses, salsa, and beans.

This was the perfect afternoon amuse-bouche, esp with some chilled pinot grigio and the waning sun.  The dish in the middle with the tongs was a truly yummazing root vegetable I'd never heard of, sliced thin and fried.  It was soft-crunchy and lightly-decadent.  I couldn't believe there are foods out there I've never had.

 

Gary & Aaron pose for their next xmas card.  Michael feeds Jason, I mean, Todd.

Bob, Michael, Gary, Patrick

More breathtaking views of the river valley.

More breathtaking views of me.

For dinner, we piled into cars and drove to a neighboring town's local fancy restaurant, 15 Main. 

8 pretty gays commanding a long table in the middle of a quiet classy restaurant in a sleepy upstate NY town.  I noticed the stares and trepidation of nearby patrons, some of which were old couples or families with children.  It wasn't an issue at all, but these things are never lost of me.  I watch and I take notes, fuckers. 

This seared scallops appetizer was one of those perfect dishes that makes me squeal silently with each savory succulent bite.  Immaculate.



Beef short ribs, and a pan-roasted fish. 



Molten chocolate cake with caramel ice cream; Cheesecake with ginger ice cream.

SUNDAY MORNING in the mountains produced a certain kind of enveloping misty fog that is less Stephen King and more Ansel Adams.  Unfortch, I didn't wake till 8:30 and missed the early morning mystique, but our official phoToddgrapher captured it all in these next few breathtaking shots.  

Kurt told us about some large weird winged insect pteradactyl beast thing that flies around up at this elevation.  Maybe it's a good thing I slept in and completely missed The Mist!

Kurt's insanely good breakfast foreplay:  Monkey Bread.  For those unfamiliar with monkey bread, let me break it down for you:  soft cinnamon-bunny bread puffs, fused together by an toothachingly ooey-gooey hot mess of warm sugary caramelized honeyesque joy, topped with a thundershower of walnuts and raisins.  Bennifer and I devoured this portion ourselves.

We go to Bed, we wake up to Breakfast.  What a life here at Ecce!  A few of the white guys (bubby & p.diddy) had the foresight to order iron chef Kurt's version of Eggs Benedict.  The egg whites are whipped and baked into this heavenly souffle cloud, with a drizzling of Hollandaise, and eggs, canadian bacon and english muffin nestled underneath.

My dish:  an Italian french toast casserole bake of eggy bread, mozzarella, tomato, red onion, and basil.  This was YUMMAZING!!!  

One of Kurt & Alan's impeccable floral arrangements of fiery sunbursting sunflowers.

A picture-perfect ending to a pleasure-perfect weekend at Ecce, a treasure of a nearby retreat that we are sure to be returning to often.  Needless to say that I strongly recommend anyone treat themselves to an Ecce weekend.  And if you do, make sure to mention "jasonbasin's blog" to Alan & Kurt.  No, I don't get a cut of the bookings, but it may just get me an extra breakfast entree on my next visit!  jackpot!

On the way out, we stopped at a local farmer's market.  Bennifer & Aaron went hogwild with the fresh produce.  For me, just a new backdrop for the usual vanity.



And that's how you do a Bed & Breakfast weekend, gays & girls!

The blog-tease is over!  (Although I know some of you kinda enjoyed it).  Thanks for your patience, friends and stalkers!  It was supposed to be a simple weekend getaway with 4 couples and 1 camera (mine) and a couple hundred pictures, but quickly got out of control with 3 cameras and over 1,000 pics!  So I have to divvy up the entries to minimize computers crashing from picture overload.

Last Friday evening as we all arrived to begin our weekend away, we discovered peace, traquility, and much gaiety high up in the Catskills region in serene Barryville, NY.  Who knew a 90-min drive from the NYC can reveal a life that feels worlds away.

Our spot was high up on a cliff overlooking the Delaware River that cuts thru NY & NJ.

 

We pulled up to a large well-kept house nestled in the mountain woods -- our Bed & Breakfast.

 

The B&B's name is ECCE, bitches.  ("Et-chay" is latin for "Behold"...ok, "bit-chays"?).  That's the name, learn it well, because there is lots of beauty to behold here. 

 

Upon arrival, camera in hand, we came around the house to the expansive rear terrace and immediately lost all respect for skyscrapers and population density.  It was serene greenery and blue skies as far as the eye could see, and waaay too much fresh clean air for my nose and lungs to handle.

Ecce flirts with the gorgeous landscape with perfectly situated large outdoor terraces and balconies. 

 

We arrived rather late and hungry, so we began to prep our noshy food spread.  The gaysians are put to work, slicing, dicing, pouring, and plating.  As if you needed to put a gun to our heads?  I do this shit in my sleep!

  

Voila!  4 kinds of cheese, 4 kinds of hummus, toasted pita, 4 kinds of kettle chips, bruschetta, sliced baquettes, hot salami, cracked pepper salami, pepperoni, 5 kinds of wine, and 8 hungry gays.

 

Michael, Bob, Gary, Aaron, Aaron again, my head, Ben.

 

me and the bubbs.  Todd and Bob, right.  Before I go on, it needs to be said that this weekend was not possible were it not for Bob.  Having been to this B&B b&before, he absolutely loved it and wanted to share it with his gay family.  He TREATED 3 other couples (the Tsaychockis, the GAarons, Bennifer & P.diddy) to this weekend and we are forever indebted and grateful for making this a weekend we'll always remember and savor.  THANKS AGAIN BOB!!!

 

me and my new bff, Todd.  The running joke of the weekend was that we were twins.  Same skin tone, same twig-frame, same irresistibility.  At quick glance, when we're both wearing our (freakishly similar) dark-framed glasses, we are easily mistaken.  In fact, when they came to our house to pick us up, my neighbor waved hello to Todd thinking that was me.  It's fun having a twin, but I work alone.  Thank god I'm a foot taller!  Even though Todd is 13 lbs lighter than me (biiiiiiitch!!!!!)

bubbyMichael manages to lift all 113 lbs of my fat ass, as I demonstrate my wing-span with my freakishly long arms.  The better to reach out and slap someone, I always say.  Or to steal food over someone's shoulder. 

 

The wine was flowing profusely on the terrace, and before we got too drunk on the first nite, we took a group tour of each other's rooms.  Each couple had their own room, each room fabulously decorated with highly tasteful gay perfection by Ecce's wonderful owners, Alan & Kurt. 

 

I believe I said, "wow, that tub's so big we can ALL get in!"  On the left, asian sweet & sour soup.  On the left, cream of potato!  (pause for cackles!!) Bob plays whirlpool receptionist. 

  

This was our room, the Tsaychocki suite, with the only king size bed of all the rooms.  Turndown service with nightly chocolates.

  

I believe I said "wow, this bed is so big we can all fit!"  and Wii Fit.  4 pairs of legs like a succulent dungeness crab. 

 

Not to be outdone, the white guys desecrate my bed as well, and Michael starts a feet-fight with old bud, Gary.

As the nighttime country chill set in, the gaiety moved indoors to the family room.

 

We were in the country, but the only cowtipping we did was done by the glass.

 

Escaped convict-shirt-wearing Bob cozies up to Todd and Bennifer.

 

Aaron and P.undies.

 

Drunk & frisky go hand in hand....or ass on back, or tongue in ear.

  

Bennifer & Aaron are such domestic divas that they clean other people's homes, on vacation!  It's getting embarrassing taking them places (but not as embarrassing as Gary breaking a wine glass, shattering it to an O'briezillion pieces, which would go on to cut B&B owner Alan's leg TWICE the next day as he took out the glass-shard-filled trash.  Poor Alan...amputation is likely). 

 

Todd stuck the camera in everyone's faces all night, so I stuck my ass in his camera.  Bootylicious or bonylicious?

 

And so we've reached the ass end of night one.  We all crawled up to bed to refresh for the next day's eating & drinking adventures.

 

SATURDAY MORNING, I was woken up not by garbage trucks, or noisy neighbors, or screaming children, or a dreadful alarm.  No, I was woken by the penetrating aromas of sauteed onions, crisping bacon, and coffee, permeating the crisp country open-window air, along with hint of sunlight peeking over the mountain ridge.  It was 7:30am and I was being summoned awake by these powerful forces of nature.

 

After my morning primping, I emerged from my room to see everyone up and about below on the terrace.

  

The circus must've rolled into town overnight and dressed Bennifer.  Good thing he changed out of these PJ's, or we would've run out of SPF-75.

Morning fresh and ready for the day.

  

Breakfast foreplay:  a spread of fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt & granola. 

 

Business as usual.  I flutter from dish to dish snapping xanga content.  My gays all know me well enough to drop the fork and step away till I've done my thing, for everyone's safety.  Gary is compliant. 

 

Warm peach crumbcake to wet our fatppetites.  And then the parade of otherwordly country breakfasts rolled in, cooked by owner/chef Kurt, served by owner/hostess cupcake Alan.  All of Ecce's country breakfasts come in the ingenius form of personal casserole bakes.  Each casserole baked with cut up egg-coated french toast - in sweet or savory orgasmic combinations of various fresh ingredients.

 

On the left, an egg bake topped with olives and a cream cheese center.  Oozing bready and eggy goodness within.  On the right, a sweet French Toast bake with fresh berries, bananas, powdered sugar, and a chocolate treasure center.

And here, my Summer Casserole bake with eggs, bread, broccoli florets, zucchini, tomato, mushrooms, and cheddar.  OMFG, this was supremely yummmmazing!!  I've never seen or had anything like this!  I'm thinking of stealing Kurt's recipes and franchising a chain of bruncheries that serve all these casseroles.  I could make meallions!  At Ecce, the Bed is great, but the Breakfast is better!!

 

If you think all we did was sit around the house to eat & drink....think again.  We got into our cars....

 

...and went to the source!  Basha Kill Vineyards, 30-mins from Ecce. 

Vanity in the vineyards.

We lined up at the bar to begin our 6-course tasting.

 

Vineyard's cute owner and wine-pourer, Paul, who tattooed his wine labels on his arm.  I wonder if he has a corkscrew tattooed somewhere.

Look at me here, pretending to understand a technical answer to a question I asked, "how did this red come out so light in color?"  I nodded in fake comprehension.

 

Is it tacky to drink every last drop of each tasting?  I saw others pouring out after each little sip.  I saw the bottom of my glass on each tasting. 

Bob and the white guys actually know a thing or two about wine.  The gaysian just chug and ask for more.

 

More vamping in the vineyards.  Todd is officially my new favorite paparazzi.  He frames, composes and times every shot with an artistic perfection.

 

omg...a photo being taken without me!  Must. Get. In!

 

bubbyMichael plays fetch with vineyard mascot, Shania.  He always manages to find a shady spot to sit no matter where he goes.  He'll find shade in a desert.

 

ugh...enough with the pics, Todd!  At least give me 2 seconds to strike a proper pose. 

 

BACK TO ECCE

It's a 5-guest-room house, each with its own private bath.  A living room, a family room, a dining room, huge kitchen, indoor dining patio, and these awesome outdoor patios. 

I could live out on this patio. 

 

Taste and elegance are not a state of mind.  It's a state of gay.  Sucks to be straight.

 

Ecce's hallways are an ersatz art gallery.

 

Ecce's wonderful owners Alan & Kurt, who I've Brangelina'd them as "Kulan" (like a mongolian Disney warrior princess) or "Alurt".  I like the latter better, because Alurt is alert of every need of their guests.  Fresh flowers throughout the house are a beautiful touch. 

 

Ecce's grounds serve as a sculpture garden of metalworks of art.

  

More Ecce art.  While my camera is used to capture food as art, Todd's camera captures true art, like this ornate post that I would never think twice to photograph. 

 

Todd sees art in the simplest things like shadows(left) and devil pentagrams(right).

 

Floral beauty abounds here as well.

A weekend at Ecce will have you appreciating things you're too distracted by everyday life to even notice.  Like the clouds that feel an arm's reach away from up here.

Ecce...I see a butterfly.

(Part 2 to come) 

Hi, sorry for teaser #2!  So unexpectedly busy at work this week (kill me now!)... no time to post the Bed & Breakfast weekend getaway yet.  Will get a chance soon.  Stay tuned gays & girls... there's gaysians and white guys in tubs, and much more jasonbasin gorgeulicious goodness!

 

Had a most glorious weekend in the Catskills/Delaware River region with my gays.  Working on the monster entry now.  For now, enjoy the breathtaking view from our fabulous bed & breakfast, Ecce, high up on a mountain cliff....

 

Another photo-laden entry.  2 Fridays ago on an immaculate summer evening, bubbyMichael and I went on 103.5KTU's Circle Line Cruise around NYC, courtesy of our friend and Boatworks neighbor, Cubby.  It was a Listener Appreciation Cruise to celebrate Cubby's 6 months on the air doing the KTU morning show (without Whoopie).  A few weeks ago we ran into Cubby at our local Dunkin Donuts.  I go: "so Cubby, I heard on the radio about your upcoming Listener Appreciation Cruise".  Cubby goes:  "yeah!  You guys should come!"  Us:  "really? can we??"  Him:  "sure, I'll put you on the list and Facebook you all the details."  Done and done.

We boarded the KTU Circle Line boat at Pier 83 at West 42nd on a Friday evening.  It was in the 80's, sunny, not humid.  You do the fab-weather math.

Before taking off, the food buffet was ravaged by all and drinking was under way.  It was nearly impossible juggling a heaping plate of food, a cup of pinot grigio, a tiramisu, and a camera on a rocking boat, so the camera sat this one out.   

 

I can't even begin to guesstimate how many hundreds of people were on the KTU cruise.  They sure had a lot of contest winners.  All I know is, it was a predictable sea of guido douchebags and bootyunlicious skank-hos.  More trashy than classy.  On the right, a group of 5 or 12 black women sat together and as the DJ started spinning, Big Sheniqua Mama here got up and got busy.  I'm talking rumpshakin, tubthumpin, shaking & baconing, jello-jiggling her own one-woman so-you-think-you-can-dance competition.  And her girls were egging her on and causing a fun ruckus like only black chicks can do.  I turned around to take a picture and all 12 black women look over at me and started pointing at the chink taking pics, and I got nervous.  I couldn't tell if they were pissed or delighted to get media/japanese-toursist attention.   All I know is, my life flashed before my eyes.  So did my xanga entry. 

 

Some random chickette we met, Karen.  She was sweet and came up to chat us and we hit it off right away.  Figures, we're both Jersey gals.

On the right, we ran into a familiar face -- Pat, from Bayonne, the receptionist who worked in the Boatworks sales office when we bought our house from sales-agent-turned-dear-friend Lori 4 yrs ago.  Pat was with her husband, 2 daughters and 6 friends.  She won 10 tickets on the radio.  She's delightful, and we hung out all night.

  

Obligatory vanity shots, and I promise the rest will be pretty scenery.

Lower Manhattan & Battery Park City, from the Hudson River.  That tall new building going up is not the new World Trade Center.  As if.  The WTC site is nowhere near starting construction.  Shameful. 

The World Financial Center.

On the opposite side of the river, bustling downtown Jersey City.

Lower Manhattan.

Verrazano Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the US.  The toll:  $10.  ouch!

The boat gains distance from lower Manhattan as we inch towards....

Ellis Island....

...and the Statue of Liberty.

Liberty Island

Since 9-11, I don't think anyone's allowed to climb up anymore. 

bubbyMichael and Lady Libitchy.

 

#1 hubby.

a passing garbage barge, the front barge carrying flattened cars.

An added bonus to this cruise is getting the chance to see The New York City Waterfalls, a public art installation.  Four waterfall towers situated in New York Harbor from now thru Oct.  Waterfall #1:  Governor's Island.

 

the BK Bridge.  um, not Burger King.

 

Perhaps the most favored object of movie mass-destruction:  Deep Impact, Godzilla, I Am Legend, Cloverfield. 

 

Waterfall #2.  This is just magnificent.  I took a video as we passed under the bridge....

The video follows the waterfall, the BK Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and to the next waterfall along the FDR Drive.  The DJ was playing the perfect awesomest song at the right moment...."Faithfully". 

Williamsburg Bridge. 

The cruise rounded the southern tip of the island and went up the East River to midtown Manhattan. 

Empire State Building and on the far right, her (prettier) little sister, the Chrysler Building.  The beautiful sunset is occurring on the other side of the island.

The flat green United Nations building.

Finally, the man of the hour, Cubby, makes his way thru to the upper deck to greet his fans, and everyone wants a picture with him.

 

...including us.  Cubby really is the sweetest guy.  He's such a joy to have in Bayonne, running into him at DunkinDonuts, A&P, our block.  He didn't even put us on the guest list with the common contest winners.  We got up to the boat, said "we're Cubby's guests", and the line thugs rushed us onto the boat without hesitation.  He really came thru for us on this. 

Waterfall #3:  off the FDR Drive.

Like the Gates exhibit in Central Park years ago, there's really no point to these waterfalls other than looking cool.  Art...a cultural necessity or a waste of money?  Discuss.

 

Passing the Brooklyn Bridge on the return trip, as my camera struggled with the nighttime scenery mode.

 

Looks like the BK bridge is throwing up.  Liquor before beer, never fear.  Beer before liquor, never sicker.

The cruise was the perfect way to pass a gorgeous summer evening, and renew my appreciation for this pretty little city. 

WE DRINK. WE PARTY. WE BOOZE. WE POSE.  After birthday dinner came birthday buzz, worthy of 136 hubbilicious spanks.  I chose the bar/lounge SOLAS (East 9th bet. 2nd & 3rd Ave), because it's cool, casual, no attitude, accommodating, and below 14th St.  Drinking above 14th St. gives me (and my wallet) a nosebleed.  So SOLAS was the absolute perfect place.  They gave us the private Red Room upstairs and we had no trouble filling it with our gorgeous garrulous crew.  Here's how it all went down...

(forewarning:  even though this was not my b'day, I do dominate most of the photos.  But this was to be expected, as I am jasonbasin after all.  Vamping on!)

In our private room, I stood up on the go-go dancer stage for an aerial shot of the couchy corner.  Overseeing the action and making everyone fun was my #1 priority.

 

The party started with the 12 of us who migrated from dinner to the bar, waiting for other friends to migrate to us from Queens, NJ, Chelsea, etc.

 

Our dear friend Bob and new friend Todd made everyone look bad by presenting each birthday boy with a most excellent, most creative, most thoughtful gift.  Michael, Patrick & Gary each got a wine box, customized with their names on the cover in cut-out craft lettering.  Inside was all the necessary wine gadgetry:  corkscrew, stopper, foil cutter, pourer, and drip-protector.  But that's not all!  The heartstopper was a bottle of red wine with a special label -- a photo of all 3 birthday guys and the caption: "Like a fine wine, getting better with age".   SO NICE!!  And supremely thoughtful!  Michael was especially in love with it, as he clutched it all nite like a child with a new toy.  Yay boxes!

   

For making everyone look bad with the priceless gifts, we stuck Bob (above in pinky-orange) with the pricey bar tab.  Here's the drunken good time he paid for:

Take a look at my all-ho'ing look.  I'll be using it all nite long.  I'm not gonna lie...I stole this look from my BitchFF, wehoroy.  Roy calls it his "all-knowing look", and I redubbed it his "all-ho'ing look".  I also realized when you turn your head a little, it creates a very flattering photogenic angle.  Just ask Mariah.

  

My adorable cousin Jennifer and Joe.  Fun-fabulous Caroline, bubbyMichael, and my bro Yuddie Yud.

 

Gary, me, Ben.  The coveted crowded couch corner.

 

This is our signature pose.  I've noticed my once-bony ass has gotten a tad huger over the years, and Michael struggles a little more to maintain the hold.  Sorry bubs!  I'll eat more salads.

Todd, Patrick, moi, Michael, Bob.  Not too drunk just yet....we're all still sitting upright.

 

Mojito, Backyard (Stoli Rasp & Cran), Cosmo.  Me and adorable cupie-doll Skion in white (he's my hubby's ex. Yes, we're friends and I truly adore him!) and Todd.  Skion pulled me over to the bar a few times to do shots.  I recall a disgusting tasteless Lemon Drop, and a decadent creamy Slippery Nipple (or is it Buttery Nipple?).  Baileys, Kahlua, creme...it was just delicious. 

I hopped back up on the go-go stage to, um, just take pictures. 

 

Bubbie & Bobola.  The brothers Suchocki.

 

Gary & Aaron (GAaron).  Bennifer & P.diddy.

 

Phil & Heather (PHeather).  M & J Tsaychocki.

 

Steven & Steven (the Stevens).  Bennifer, me, the elusive Edward.  We see Edward once every 5 years. 

Center of JAttention.  I made sure to shift my weight to my left ass-cheek, so as to maximize pressure and pain on Bennifer's balls.  It's payback for barely lifting a finger to help with this party.  It was all me, bitches!!

 

Michael w/ Darwin & Jhonson (far right).  It was a very busy nite, with friends arriving every few minutes.  I made sure everyone felt welcomed and introduced everyone around as much as I could.  That's the ultimate job of any good hostess.  The worst is when someone arrives and doesn't talk to anyone or make any effort and you have to babysit them or pawn them off on someone else.  Ugh...dead party weight.  P.diddy shakes someone's hand.  I have no idea whose hand.

 

There was A LOT of grabbing and groping at this party.  If you got too close to the couch, you were grabbed, groped, poked, spanked, yanked.

Mi familia gorgeousa:  Joe, cousin Furfur, sis-in-law Rosa, us, Yud.  I can always count on my family to come out and drink with us.  And now that Furfur is of drinking age, it's extra fun!

 

us with wonderful Caroline, who gave Michael a $200 restaurant gift certificate.  $200!!!  We are terribly humbled and terribly hungry.  THANKS SO MUCH, CRAZYLINE!!

 

Mark and Furfur help with the photogging.

 

I look much drunker here than I really was.  In fact, I was pretty undrunk the whole nite, as I had to look after buzzyMichael and other friends.  Gary steals a peck on Edward. 

 

Over in the Irish corner, Darren uses Patrick as a pillow.  And here I'm joined by new pal Ian, whom I'd never met.  We've been facebook friends for a short while.  I invited him to join us since we have some mutual friends here, and he actually came!  I applaud that.

 

Furfur proves to be Funfun.  She matched me mojito for mojito.  And even after I stopped drinking (bc I kept misplacing my drink), she went on and on and on like any good 21-yr-old college senior.  Darren & me.

 

the gaysians were all very touchy-feely...with each other.  And the camera was always rolling.

  

more gaysian lesbian action (note to self:  sticking out your tongue gives you double-chins on film).  Bennifer & Todd formed a dangerous alliance that evening.  Destruction & devastation soon to follow.

 

I got too close to this section of couch and got grabbed.  So did Darren (left).  The Irishmen sure are grabby when boozey.

 

Later on a mixture of cutie and skanky gaysians arrived, but it was too late.  Everyone was sufficiently shitfaced and didn't care to meet new people.  Bob, Todd and Michael vie for the drunkest-of-the-nite award.

supercute Skiddoo, supertan Patrick, superfabulous me, Superbitch Bennifer, superwild debut Todd, superdrinker Bobola.

 

By 1:30, there were only a few of us left, and our 'private' room was getting invaded by straight white kids.  Michael was having such a good time, he didn't wanna leave.  He kept slurring "I just want one more drink...one more drink!"  But we all know where one more drink leads -- straight to pukeytown and hangoverville.  So I called a car service back to Bayonne (Delancey Car Service to Bayonne, $45), and took Phil & Heather with us.  The car came quickly with the most awesome stylin new SUV and we enjoyed a smooth relaxing traffic-free ride home.  Bubby clutched his wine box gift the whole ride home and savored the luscious open-window breeze from the NJ Tpke, saying "this ride is so NOT making me sick!"  I was so appreciative of the luxurious ride, I tipped the driver $10.  We all popped Advils, downed some water, and hit the pillows happily. 

The next morning, we all woke just fine, but very hoarse from shouting all nite over loud music.  We compared notes on the nite's events, thanked the lord we weren't nauseous, and met up with local friends for omelettes and pancakes at Little Food Cafe in Bayonne.  A perfect nite out partying is not complete without a perfect next morning.  This time, we achieved party perfection.

 

In my busy little J world, July and November are the busiest birthday months.  This July marked milestone(ish) birthdays for my hubb, Aaron's hubb, and Bennifer's hubb, who are all the same age.  So we did the only logical thing to do -- we activated our wonder-triplet powers and created an effortless, memorable, fun and frolicsome late July combined superparty for MichaelGaryPatrick's 136th Birthday!

This entry is only PART 1:  WE EAT.  After all, a proper birthday requires a proper meal.  After all, we needed suitable sustenance for the ensuing nightlong drinking.  After all, we're just fucking pigs.  I know you've seen this place & food on my site a jasonbasillion times.  I know you know I don't care that you know and don't care.  But THAI TERMINAL continues to be a favorite spot of ours, for everything from the food to the service and location to the decor and intimacy.  The hostess is always thrilled to have us and treats us like VIPs.  And we've never had a less than stellar meal here.  So, let's eat first, then we play.

 

Appetizers galore included Chicken Satay, Crab & Shrimp Roll....

 

...Chive Pancakes and Fish Cakes....

 

....Fried Tofu and Crispy Calamari....  and others that didn't last long enough for the camera.

 

Dinner entrees includes Crispy Basil Duck (the dish that converts many non-duck-eaters) and Pineapple Fried Rice, and of course Pad Thai.

 

There was Red Curry w/ chicken, Green Curry w/ Squid, Massasman Curry Avocado, Seafood Tom Yum Soup,....

and Hot Sweet Basil Fish.  Simply yummazing!

Our party of 9 became 10, then 12, and we occupied half the restaurant.  We'll make all the proper people introductions in the next entry. 

 

The staff came out singing with 3 of these signature Birthday fried ice creams, filled with vanilla and green tea.  Finally, hostess Ae joined us in a round of sake. 

So we ate.  Next, we play!

Over the weekend was bubbyMichael's birthday, and while he wanted to play it all humble and "let's just order pizza", I had to take Legal action.

 

I insisted we do Legal Seafoods with our friends Steven & Phyllis.  Stephyllis then turned the tables on us and treated us all to dinner.  We went to the one at Short Hills mall, NJ. 

The big birthday kahuna.  Before you get excited about seeing lobsters, scallops, and shrimp, I didn't take any real food pics.  When the food all came, I thought about interrupting everyone and be that food-pic nuisance.  I refrained.  I just wanted to eat ok?  I had grilled scallops with a lemon-garlic-chive butter, which was divine.  Bubbs had surf & turf.  Around the table, everyone else had seared tuna, steamed lobster, etc.  I know I know....not fun without pics. 

But when desserts came, with candle, singing waitstaff and all, the camera came out.

Strawberry cheesecake

Boston Creme Pie.

Bananas Foster & Vanilla ice cream.

So, just a birthday dinner quickie for now.  This weekend is the blow-out bash with monster xanga entry to follow.