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What a week.

So it's my last night in the Mob-town, and I must say, I'm gonna miss it. I had a good time here. Particularly Thanksgiving day (and night, oh what a night)

Thanksgiving day is probably my favorite day of the year. It's not about gifts, it's about family and food. And we had a LOT of both. Now most people who know me know that I'm the baby of 5 children. Being 25 years old, this means the family has expanded a bit since many thanksgivings ago...

We've got my mom and dad (Stella and Gerald), My Aunt Debbie, My brother Travis, his wife Carol, their baby Gabby, My oldest sister Kerry, her husband Chad, their two girls Jillian and Camryn, my sister Deanna, my sister Katherine, myself, my dog gretchen, and a partridge and a pear tree. WHEW!

Now don't be jealous, but we had two fried turkeys, a turducken, about 10 different sides and about 5 desserts, and we cleaned house. Amazing. It was a great day. The most fun, however, came later that night. It's pretty well known that Thanksgiving night is one of the most popular nights to go out, and I was definitely feeling like it after being cooped up almost all week. We go over to sister Katherine's friend's Lee and John's house for a little pre-party. These boys are so nice-they have a really cute house in midtown (the coolest place to live for someone in their 20s or 30s in Mobile) There's a pretty good crowd there-mostly of the gay persuasion, so the pressure is off. Just how I like it. We're having a great time, and Lee mentions that they're going to BBob's downtown afterwards for the drag show. I'm so intrigued (yes, I know I hate that word, but really it's the best one for how I felt)-I've never been to a gay club or seen a show, so I was all about it.

This is getting lengthy so I'll sum this up as best I can. Deanna conked out on the couch at Jana's house (where we were staying since she lives within walking distance of every bar) so Kat and I proceeded to Bbobs. Two rum and cokes, two beers, and about 6 hours later, Kat and I sweaty, surrounded by shirtless gay men, and I've got some guy with nipple rings trying to kiss me. Awesome-the first guy who tries to kiss me in months is gay. (He did not succeed)The show was amazing, and I can not say enough nice things about Lee, John, Ken, and whoever else I met that night. Definitely the most fun I've had in weeks, maybe even months going out. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy, followed by a tribute to the night with the two gayest things I've ever seen:

Gingerbread, ghetto style.

So I made a gingerbread house with my 4 year old niece/heart Jillian.

The results are here:

ah. such is life. For the record, I broke it. not her.

I'm sorry, did you say "shingles"?!

So I've got shingles.

I know what you're thinking: "Shingles? really? Isn't that one of those diseases that never happens to anyone like scurvy or leprosy?"

Well it happens, and it's ugly. I woke up Tuesday morning with what appeared to be a bad case of bug bites on my neck. So naturally, I felt creeped out and moved on. I went to work. I thought about going to the doc that night, but in my grand tradition of making bad decisions, I went to a thanksgiving party instead. So Wednesday rolls around, and I definitely choose this day to NOT be the doctor day because I have a drum lesson. Nevermind that the right side of my neck and the right shoulder are barely movable because of (what I understand now) is nerve endings being attacked by my (no longer) dormant chicken pox.


I went to see Harry, because I love my time with him. Drum lessons are important to me, and not just because it's the coolest thing I've ever decided to learn to do, but because it's MY time. For one hour, every Wednesday, it's just me and him, rocking out (whether it be on drums or in conversation) It's really nice to have something all your own, that you don't share with anyone else that is a constant in life. And I don't meant that harshly-I mean it in the way that everyone needs to have their kind of "baby." Anywho, I wasn't about to give that up for two weeks in a row (seeing as I would be in Mob-town the next wednesday so we had to skip it) so I persevered.

We had an awesome session, and he reaffirmed my belief that I can actually get the mechanics down enough to learn the mental part of it. (he talks about this in his blog too, along with an awesome pic of me playing around) and I'm glad I went.

But-back to the shingles. So I had already planned to go to the doc in a box this morning, because I thought this thing hadn't gone away and maybe I should get it looked at. She took one look at my neck and said "shingles."

Shingles? really? this is when the terror kicked in. I had previously googled shingles (don't do it, it will scare the hell out of you) and I had heard some real horror stories. My first thought was of the pictures I had seen, followed by the question "Am I contagious, can I go to work?" and then the fear when she said "yes, and absolutely not." This was not going to go over well. I'm supposed to be out all of next week, I have various things to do. So I begrudgingly call my boss, and get my good friend Rhonda on the phone first. She pumps me up with courage by reaffirming that my doctor told me not, and they would just have to get over it.

I'm close to tears at this point, because I realize that I will no longer be able to have the fun-filled vacay chock full of nieces time that I had hoped for. Stupid motherf'ing shingles. So I let my boss know that I'm not allowed into the office, go home and pack for my week of quarentine.

I'm home now, and hoping and that this will not spread anywhere, especially my face. And making various phone calls to family members letting them know I might as well be a leper for the next few days and to not come around. At least I have my fearless mother, and my precious baby gretchen. I don't have my drum kit like I had hoped, but I felt that I would be in a world of pain the next few days and wouldn't be able to do it anyway. Who knows? Maybe this experience will make stella-claus a little more generous this year and I can get a full set? Please call me if you get a chance. Cabin fever is sure to set in by sunday. Later gators!

Harry has a blog now!

Hooray! By far, my coolest friend, Harry Miree, (sorry everyone else) has a blog now. Please check it out:

http://harry-metroyo.blogspot.com/

Maybe I can start barking for the yak-woman or sprinkling pixie dust on the tilta-whirl

I need a new job. Bad.

Wheeeeeeeew it has been a while since I blogged. I got all serious for a minute, and decided that was best left for my friend's ears, and not eyes. Joy Klutts Allen is right, so let's start fresh, shall we?

Let me see if I can catch you up (both mentally and visually) from the last time I posted:

Funtober. What a doozie.

The month started off a little rocky (I even recall a day or two reffering to it as "suckstober"), but it soon began to pick up in it's happiness and good times. Sarah's big 2-7 was a blast, and thus began the "Charlie Hill baby pool"

A brain child of sarah and myself, it started off as a joke. I mean, who would bet money on the delicate life of a tiny babe at the mother's expense? we would, that's who. In all fairness, we let Jamie participate. Hell, she was incubating the thing-she might as well earn a good $70 off of him. (yes, the pot got that big. Apparently Sarah and myself know a lot of good, southern gamblin' folk) Congrats to Carly, who, after picking a date none of us thought Jamie would ever make it to, won the pot by choosing (without her knowledge) the inducing date. Lucky bastard.

In the spirit of Funtober, this is also the month I decided to truly get cracking on that before 30 list I had so often spoken about to my friends. I called up Harry Miree (the sweetest 20 year old boy you will ever meet) and we set the stage for a regular drum lesson. So now, mixed with my favorite Rojo trivia, every wednesday I spend an hour with my dear Harry learning how to "rock out."

What else, what else.....

Ah! yes. The farm. now for that, I have pictures. It needs no explanation. It is simply stunning.

Don't be fooled-one of those pigs nearly took my hand off. Were it not for my cat-like reflexes, my drumming career might have been over. (or I would have been forced to continue learning, def leopard style)

The next weekend is funtober was nothing short of amazing. First, I went to Zydeco that Friday night to see the wonder that is 17th Floor. (Zydeco, for those who are not familiar, is a tiny, crowed bar (club?) that is frequented by people not much older than 21. I was far, far too old to be there, but it was 17th Floor. Seriously, what could I do?) It was hot, sticky, and my (possibly)broken foot was stepped on many, many times, but it was still a really good time. Here are so good key pics:

The next night, John was in town so he, myself, his wicked awesome friend Dan, Shrop and Lucy went to see the magical Ben Kweller at workplay. I fall in love every time I go to workplay. It's that damn romantic lighting, and it's all cozy in those booths, and I am seeing someone like Ben Kweller almost every time I go....

Needless to say, I became obsessed with the song "Falling" and had a dream later that week that I bet Ben, and we hung out and fell in love after one evening. Damn you Workplay, and your incessent goodness!

That next Thursday, I experienced the Fox and Hound for the first time. It was everything I expected and more. The evening started off pretty innocently enough. Sarah invited me to go to a "Reformation Party." It's a protestant thing, so, of course I asked her if I needed to start some good old Catholic trouble. It was a costume party, and I went as my harry potter thing from last year. I was clearly saving all of my real efforts for actual halloween, so I thought it was good enough. Dave, Zach, and fun Bobby were there, and so it was guarenteed to be a good night. The party was fun enough, and here are some good pics:

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is, in fact, mayor Larry Langford.

The real fun of the night came at the after party (the Fox and Hound, as previously mentioned)

It was me, Dave, Zach, Sarah, Bobby, Jenny, Clayton, Pauley Bleaker (whose real name I can never remember,Bryan, maybe?) and a very forward girl named Rebbeca. She did not come with us, she was just a huge part of the story. So we had a few drinks, a few laughs, Bobby/Larry did a striking rendention of karoke "thong song" but we ultimately knew it was time to start packing things up when Rebecca entered the picture. First, it appeared she wanted Dave. Dave, being the gentlemen he is, pawned her off on Zach by telling her that Zach would be more than happy to sing a song from the broadway hit "Rent" with her, duet style. He somehow managed to shake her, and turned her interests back to Dave, who then, turned her interests to me. I tell you, it's interested to hear someone seriously ask you "what team do you swing for" while they are giving you a shoulder massage and asking if they can dedicate a song to you. So I say sure, why not? She seems harmless enough. So what song does she choose? "I kissed a girl." By Katy Perry. She even stuck my name in a few times. Nice.

Oh, but the fun didn't end there. As we paying our tabs and deciding it is DEFINITELY time to go, I feel something cold and metal slip onto my wrist. It's handcuffs, I discover to my dismay. And who am I handcuffed to? Rebecca. Zach says the look on my face was devastating.

So the next night was Halloween. Geeez this post is excruciatingly long. It's a whole month though, and this is the last night of, it I promise. So, like I said, it's halloween!

I went as Where's Waldo. One of my better costumes, I must admit.

We went to a party at Stewart's, Casey's, Connor's, and John Hunter's house. It was a fun filled night of flip cup, costumes, booty dancing and photo bombing. Just how I like it. We tried to meet up with Zach and Dave later at the Rare Martini, but the line was re-donkulous, and we were right under a heat lamp, and there was a weird blue guy with a nose ring trying to talk to me, so we peaced out and headed back to Stew's. So that was my funtober. I won't get into November yet. That will be a blog for another day. If you're still reading this, props to you! It's a long one. I'll be back soon!