Sunday night dinners with my urban family are sensational.  It's so chill. Rose made the most incredible spaghetti sauce and Unkie Troy supplied the meat (doesn't he always). Seven of us crowded into the living room to watch "VH1's Least Metal Moments" and howled with laughter. Images of Celine Dion playing AC/DC air guitar and hopping on one leg across the stage were only upstaged by the horrific sight of her thrusting hips. I will never be the same.

Thursday, June 30

More than 50 people in inspired costumes popped in and out of the Monsoon Room's Pirates of Polynesia theme party. The smart owners of Monsoon had a basket full of sarongs ready for people who dropped in unaware of the party and had them don a sarong. It was wonderful.  And there was a great rum punch that slipped down like water. The food, catered by Primo Grill, included smoked salmon, tasty cheeses, grapes, raspberries and prosciutto rolled around greens and herb spread. Yum. The vibe was so San Francisco chic. Art and film master James Hume even made an appearance before whisking The Frenchman off to a house party. The Model Squad was in effect in a major way. BLUE wore a yellow polyester suit with white piping and a wife beater baring the design of a creepy pirate face with "Butt Pirate" in black letters.  Yeow!  GG was the sexiest pirate of all, and The Benders showed up in true island garb. The Frenchman sported a baby blue ruffle front tuxedo shirt with mirrored aviators. Go Music had an eye patch as a costume attempt. Thanks to Laura and Kansas for the dope party.

Fourth of July weekend

I have never been a big fan of the Fourth of July. It always seems like a tedious waste of cash to blow stuff up in the name of our country's freedom. Plus, the big firework explosions, you know the ones that shake the ground with the huge boom, scare the crap out of me.  So this year I opted to run away.

While I didn't dig the four-hour drive to Lake Chelan, it was totally worth it.  The condo was awesome. Thank you, Derek and Jason. You guys really know how to treat a girl. Two bedrooms, fully stocked bar, swimming pool, wi-fi, fully stocked bar, private balcony with champagne, Seadog for the lake, fully stocked bar. Did I mention the FULLY STOCKED BAR?  The touring musician even had time to come out for a day and enjoy some of the scenery. And I finally got some - some vacation time that is. Hah!