I never really gave a full recount of Christmas. It was a very nice holiday season this year. My mother was elated because my sister is finally home from Chile and so now, we can start celebrating holidays again. Secret yay for me since we didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving… MZ and I went to a few parties. I am sad that neither or our offices had work parties – those always make for a good story.
Here’s a recount of some of the those more social events…
One party we went to has a tradition every year of playing Dirty Santa with Alcohol – where everyone brings an alcoholic gift and then we play the mean swapping game with all the libations. Last year we were supreme winners in that MZ got a bottle of Glinlivit and I got a rather expensive bottle of rum. We acquired the Glinlivit because the guy who brought it wasn’t quite told the full rules of the game and he thought he was more bringing it to drink and possibly share, not to be stolen mercifulessly from someone … but after our calculated rounds to make sure we were the big winners MZ still shared the bottle with everyone. I should say that last year we brought a bottle of Pucker and something else equally atrocious. Therefore, we totally came out ahead on that one. This year I would say we faired pretty well again. We came away with a bottle of Hypnotic and a bottle of some sort of whiskey. We came with some type of off brand Jaeger – yes, it was equally disgusting when shot alone; and I actually don’t remember what else we brought… oh well.
Our Jr. League New Member group had an ornament exchange Happy Hour one evening at Hog Haus. It was a great time and good to see everyone and relax since December was so busy. I really wish more people would have come, it was a great time!

Dear weatherchannel.com and Weather Channel iPhone app:

Why are you so different?
In this case, opposites DO NOT attract – they irritate us all!
Yesterday as I was tracking the pending ice storm, I was getting totally conflicting reports. wc.com said that there was only a meager 4% chance of precipitation at 4 pm while the iPhone app for the weather channel stated a whopping 80% chance of precip – ice, sleet, freezing rain… basically threats of armageddon actually, yet the computer base forecast was light and airy…

Please get it right going forward, especially as we move into TORNADO season here in Northwest Arkansas!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear channels 5, 7, 8 & 9:
THANK YOU!!!
Of all my years here in NWA, this is one of the few times that you all agreed AND you were all right!
NWA was ready and prepared and you are definitely to thank for that!
Good Job!
Here’s hoping to even more shared and complete info agreement going forward!!!

Friday is always oh so fabulous but this on is especially fabulous because it’s been one heck of a week!
So the goings on are…

• there is apparently a dancing albino Scottish pony troupe in town… probably won’t attend that but ya know… maybe some one will – if you do – please let me know how that one goes.
• Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boy’s will be making a 2nd appearance at George’s Majestic Lounge Saturday night… and we will miss it for the 2nd time
• Drumline is at the WAC
• OZARK POETS AND WRITERS COLLECTIVE: Begins its 15th year featuring local, regional and national wordsmiths and providing an open mic for community writers. Readings are held at 7 p.m. the last Tuesday of every month at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville. Admission is free, but a hat is passed to support the artist and to defray expenses for the monthly event. The open mic is limited to four minutes for each performer. 443-2080 – this could be super fun!
• The Hogs take on Auburn – dear goodness please let us win a game…

Those are a few of the things happening, for more info check here (Fayetteville Free Weekly) or here (Fayetteville Flyer).

Friday:Arsaga’s Crossover: Scott HarrisonBoom Boom Room: Elise Davis BandFroggy’s: Randy Crouch, 1 oz. Jig, Ringo Alcoa BandGeorge’s: Lucero, Cory Branan, Eoff Brothers, FOS Project,Goodfolk: WheatfieldGypsy: Joey Farr and the Fuggins Wheat Band, TastebudsSmoke & Barrel: Lucio’s Grown FolksSpeakeasy: DJ GregTangerine: DJ JuxTeatro Scarpino: Salsa/Swing DancingWalton Arts Center: Drumline

Saturday:Arsaga’s Crossover: The Philly JoesArsaga’s Gregg: Scotty WaltersBoom Boom Room: Bob Kramer IncidentFroggy’s: Black Water, Bombay BlackGeorge’s: Mixmaster MikeGypsy: Pope County Bootleggers and Deadman FlatsSmoke & Barrel: Matt Smith and GuestsSoul: JazzSpeakeasy: DJ GregTangerine: DJ JuxTeatro Scarpino: 70’s Dance Night

Sunday:Common Grounds: Nathan Hancock, DJ SoulFreeDickson Theater: Drag ShowGeorge’s: Ben Miller BandGoodfolk: Eliza GilkysonGypsy: The Bling Grenades, The Inner Party, Lethal Red, AugerPesto Cafe: Shannon WurstWalton Arts Center: Brian Regan

I take my ID everywhere I go – mainly because I always carry my purse – I just feel naked without it and all my crap. I don’t yet have an entourage so I just have to make sure I have a lot of shit to follow me around – that’s my rationale at least – HA! Laugh… I’m not that shallow… that was funny, please laugh.

My sister (23)and my mother (50)apparently don’t have the same feeling about their belongings… they never ever never bring their id’s or purses or debit cards or anything with them if they go out. They don’t feel the need, but I say, what if you’re in a horrible accident and you are not immediately recognizable – then potentially if you have your ID on you, it might be easier to contact your “next of kin” or something – assuming it survived the firey hot mess. I know it’s morbid sorta but these are the things I think about!
I guess it normally proves to be in their advantage because I can’t remember the last time either of them picked up the tab when they were out with me…. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm? Note to self – free beer may be better than being recognized after a fiery crash.

TOPIC CHECK (who hasn’t taken her drugs today) – so we went to dinner as a “family” a while back, my dad orders a bottle of wine for the table. The snarky little hippie waitress demands to see everyone’s ID – uh oh – this WILL NOT END WELL! Feisty mom retorts back with “really, no you don’t” waitstaff disliking father pops off that well he will just vouch for my sister – I immediately crawl under the table and enter the fetal position, but I left my ID on the table – I figured I’d need that wine super soon! Well the shithead waitress says that NO ONE drinks until she sees EACH ID – really? Power trip much? I have my ID – I’m legal – give me my f-ing drink! Crying sister feins alcoholism and is escorted back to the house to reclaim her ID (if she can find it…) and …………… it gets better! Hold on tight!

Scene: me, mom and our good buddy silencio sitting at a table in an Italian restaurant – yeah the song goes a bottle of red a bottle of white – what’s missing from the equation? My f-ing drink!
ME: “She’s gonna check your ID.”
Mother: “NO, she’s not!” emphatically and might I mention loud.
Waitress: “YES, I am” oh she shouted across the room… I can feel my teeth grinding down to my gums…I text my sister to ensure she also grabs my mothers purse…
Father and sister return with both ID’s – wine arrives, W checks “the ladies” ID’s – then GRAVE mistake, she does not even check for my dad’s ID – my mother gets up, dislodges his ID, chases W down and slaps it on the counter… CHECK THAT BITCH!

I started praying a novena that there might only be one bodily fluid in our food and not multiple….

This is a friendly reminder to all the lovely ladies out there to get out your razors (or wax or whatever else suits your fancy). For Monday, 1/19 is the LAST DAY OF BUSH!

Must give partial credit to AD for this, she sent me a reminder text a few weeks back.

On a more serious note:
I hope everyone plans to watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday. It is an amazing time in all of our lives and I hope you are able to share it with those in your life!

I thought I’d do a little promoting and PR today for my very good friend Ari and her business partner Mandy.
They live in Central Arkansas and have a great “full-service” boutique design company that specializes in floral arrangements and wedding planning as well as some super swank party creation and orchestration!
Their company is Little Black Dress Brigade, here is their latest newsletter as well. If you can’t read it, just simply click on it and it will take you straight there!
I wrote about their talents in a previous post… LBDB did some beautiful things for JC’s wedding in April.
They are very fun gals and great to work with so I’ve heard, although I’ve not worked directly on any events with them, I’ve had the pleasure of attending plenty. Please check out their site and subscribe to their e-newsletter!

This is a prelude to a new chapter on graciefabulous.com – I’m going to start FABULOUS FRIDAY’s – showcasing all things I consider fabulous going on in the local/ semi-local area. Not to say that everything else on here isn’t truly fabulous, but I want to be able to focus on some local businesses, events and happenings that are truly FABULOUS!

I’m doing a lot of projects that revolve around Internet search terms so I thought I search myself – this is the coolest thing I found! The Gracie Awards – named for Gracie Allen… “Say Goodnight Gracie.” I’ve attached the link below so you can find out more about it as well!

For 57 years, AWRT has served as the voice and resource for women in the electronic media. And for more than three decades, the Foundation of AWRT has been a leader in celebrating and honoring programming created for women, by women and about women, as well as individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the industry. The Gracies strive to encourage the realistic and faceted portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features and other programs.

And here’s what I would look like if I were an award… I think it needs a bit more sparkles, but it’ll do! =)Other sites I found were:
www.graciefilms.com – producing the Simpson’s – I always love when the Simpson’s is over because I love the tag line for the Product Company!
www.goodnitegracie.com – a jazz and martini bar trio in Michigan… who knew??