Full Metal Lunchbox

Here at last are some pictures from last Friday night.


Here we are at Dragonfly.

The food was even better than expected.

And Justyna is a new convert to BYOB.






We hustled out of Dragonfly to make open bar at Buzz.

It was a good place to catch up with everyone who couldn't join us for dinner, and our Dragonfly party package got us in free (and Justyna got free shots).  But, I admit, this bar royally sucks, and I'm glad we got out of there as soon as the drinks got expensive.



Much more fun was Liars Club.  This was where Erika had recently celebrated her birthday and danced in the presence of naked guy (the unofficial Liars Club dancing mascot), and Justyna wanted to go back.

Among those with us at Liars Club were: Erika, Jim, Kelly, Steve, Antonia, Dave, Laura, Shea, Kathleen, Jeanne, Jared, Maritza, Art, Loreen, and Darryn.

We danced until about 2AM.

Much to everyone's delight, Naked Guy put in an appearance.

And a longstanding bet among my friends concerning another friend was finaly settled.

In the spirit of all those Internet quizes floating around these days, I offer you the Desperate Housewives Quiz.

Which housewife are you?

I haven't taken this quiz yet myself but I'm guessing I'm the dead one.

This morning I rode home from work and the conditions were just perfect!

Weather: Sunny, low '70's, slight breeze

Traffic: None. The joggers were all on the sidewalk and off the bike path

Music: Radio 4 - Gotham
(samples: Calling All Enthusiasts,  The Movies)

Tired of studying (I've begun preparing for my final Microsoft exam) and unable as yet to get any real sleep at work, I found myself embarking on a Wikipedia hyperlink journey.

Each of the following articles led me to the next by following links within the text of each article:

Cheese
Nonsense
Voynich Manuscript
Alchemy
Kabbalah
Golem
Pokémon

All knowledge is related, or at the very least, the concepts of "cheese" and "Pokémon" are arguably within six degrees of separation.

Hmmm... Now that I think about it, Pikachu the Pokémon does sorta look like a walking, talking hunk of cheese.  But perhaps that's just because it's nearly four in the morning and I'm a bit hungry.

I'm in the middle of a long, boring night at work.  My co-worker isn't here because she called in sick, and the people I support haven't needed my help much so far tonight.

To kill time, I did a Google Image Search for "Katrina," expecting to find images of devestation in New Orleans and the Mississippi gulf coast.

Here's what I found instead:




Here's what I've learned:

• There are lots of women named Katrina.
  
• A few guys, too!
  
• Also lambs and llamas
  
• Few remember the 80's pop group "Katrina and the Waves."
  
• The Internet is chock full of cutsey dolls for sale, many named Katrina.
  
• Farm machinery is not for giving rides.
  

None of the "Katrinas" pictured above have ever likely hurt anyone.  But the famous hurricane has screwed up the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.


Since the hurricane, The American Red Cross has housed more than 207,000 survivors in 709 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia, and is relaying financial assistance to nearly three quarters of a million survivors.  If you are among the few who haven't pitched in yet, now is the time.  They even take airline miles and loose change.  Imagine everything you own is covered by 10 feet or more of toxic sewage and you are stuck sleeping in a school gymnasium in West Armpit New Jersey without a job and/or access to your Social Security check.  Tell me that doesn't suck.  Lend a hand.

6:00AM.

Time for Jamba Juice.




I noticed for the first time that the skies are still dark as the first wave of early commuters come out of the train stations.  Summer is truly over.

Seven months after starting my job I now finaly have a title:  Technical Production Analyst II.

This title comes with only half the annual vacation time I was originaly promised, but at least I get paid overtime now.

Even United Airlines couldn't keep me away.

Delayed!

In Nicole's back yard with Ozz and Andy.

This is how Labor Day was meant to be enjoyed.  People who spend the entire holiday buying school clothes for their kids really miss out.

Early this morning Ozz and Anna took me whale watching.  The above snapshot is the best picture I have to show you of a finback whale.  We saw about a dozen of these creatures a bit closer than this photo suggests.

The boatride was also enjoyable for its pictureasque view of Gloucester Harbor.

Strolling through the cemetary behind the witch memorial in Salem.

Fantastic chowder!

The Lobster Shanty of Salem is now my favorite restaurant in the greater-Boston area.

Portugease breakfast with spicy cod cakes.

Anna and her amazing swimming cat.