I have insomnia again. I slept okay last night, but for awhile now, I’ve been waking up, and been up, for a few hours.

I am really mad. Greek yogurt, sleep, coffee, books, black hoodies, hoop earrings–my life necessities. Item #2 has been missing lately.

The birthday was wonderful! Thanks to everyone who stopped by and spared a kind thought, even if you did not post a comment.

There was dim sum, big cocktail rings, hoisin sauce, pix, awesome gifts (go, Netflix!), sushi, hugs, tear-worthy cards, delish dessert, sake, more hugs, more pix, and lots of non-stress. A good day.

The only thing missing was Clive on my doorstep, but pursuing your dreams is what makes you push forward in life, right?

Today looks to be good as well, with some writing planned. Actually planned!

Yay!

(Yes. It does feel weird for me to be so content. My brain is looking for some potential area of stress. Whatever. It’s all good).

Yay! It’s my BIRTHDAY!

A few nights ago, the Spouse and I caught the end of Spinal Tap. Fine, you say. Funny. You’d be right. But Spinal Tap–and the impending Frantic City trip (it’s a bachelor party, yo)–made him fire up Amazon and download some REAL Spinal Tappish bands. Like Rainbow. And “All Night Long:”

You’re walking up with your eyes on me
It’s looking good but I just don’t know
I need a girl who can keep her head
All night long
You didn’t came just to see the show
I guess you know what you wanna see
The way you smile lets me know
I can’t go wrong
I wanna touch you
I wanna feel you
I wanna make you mine
I wanna love you all night long
I wanna be with you all night long
I wanna love you all night long
I wanna be with you all night long
I saw you standing down by the stage
Your black stockings and you see - through dress
Your mouth is open but I don’t wanna hear you
Say goodnight
You’re sort of young but you’re over age
I don’t care ’cause I live your style
I don’t know about your main but
You look alright
I wanna touch you
I wanna feel you
I wanna make you mine
I wanna love you all night long
I wanna be with you all night long
I wanna love you all night long
I wanna be with you all night long
Your mind is dirty but your hands are clean
You show no class but your legs are long
I know I can’t stand another night
On my own
Hey girl would you like some wine
What’s your name are you by yourself
Are you the one what do you say
Can I take you home
I wanna touch you
I wanna feel you
I wanna make you mine
I wanna love you all night long
I wanna be with you all night long
I wanna love you all night long
I wanna be with you all night long

There’s so much wrong with this, it’s hard to know where to start. First of all, though, is that this incredible lameness DOESN’T EVEN RHYME! And if it does rhyme, sort of, he rhymes “long” with “long.” Nice going, asshat. And third? Third is that if he chose NOT to rhyme, the least he coulda done is come up with some interesting lyrics. No, instead we have “Hey girl would you like some wine?” I’ve heard better repartee in a Kate Hudson movie.

The Spouse played it for me, I listened dutifully, and then I gave him the Look. “You know I can never get those three and a half minutes back from my life, don’t you?” I asked. He just howled some more.  If you wanna see the horror in person, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvd8RR0wvNg

The Spouse is in Frantic City (thanks, Fred Flintstone!), the Son has a sleepover, and I am wiped out from the week of whatever.

Go on over to the Riskies today.

Chuck E. Cheese. Downtown Brooklyn. Summer vacation. A hot day.

77 frantic kids, their parents, their younger siblings, their strollers, their shoes, their older siblings with pants hanging completely off their butts, the constant, frantic whine of the games attempting to lure the kids in to spend their tokens, the monitors showing revamped videos of old ’80s songs replaced with Chuck E. Cheese-related  content. The horrible, sugar-infused pizza, the too much information outfits on many of the moms. Gah. Gah, gah, gah.

I have just found the eighth circle of Hell.

You find yourself reading Project Runway blogs, and you are so totally on the fence about this season.

There aren’t any designers I like, and plenty I absolutely despise (Stella! STELLA!).

So if you’ve come by recently, you might think I am just a vain so-and-so what loves to show off her gowns, her family, and her recent ink.

Not so, grasshopper.

So in the WRITING thing, let me just say my new agent is pitching That Subtle Knot to editors this week. And that I am HALFWAY DONE with the super-sexy novella, because I have discovered a new place to write that feels more creative than here in front of the iMac. And, thanks to the Faux Critique Partner, I have come up with a much more complex reason my hero in On Bold Adventure is on his particular mission.

Yay!

Okay, so I look kinda odd (I am NOT drunk here!), but the rest of the fam looks fabulous–the two ladies are my two aunts. The dark-haired one is the total kick-ass survivor sister of my mom (she has lupus, and has had other big deals in the course of her life), and the blonde is my dad’s youngest sister, who is finishing her degree after getting all of her kids through school. I love both these women, and they are both inspirations. The Spouse Scott is on the left, my paternal aunt’s husband is the older gentleman, while the guy on the right is my cousin, her son, who just graduated college. And in the middle, of course, is the hammy child.