My Birthday Party Weekend - Saturday

Well it started last night with the arrival of Jes, Brett, Rupert, Olivia, Dallas, Robert, Doug, Kevin, Jessica, Aaron and of course Chris who arrived on Wednesday. Most folks were up at 8am and I began to make breakfast, this morning was biscuits and gravy. I made 60 biscuits, 24 sausages and 4 cups on gravy. While we ate breakfast we watched the "classic" movie marathon flick Galaxy Quest. Everyone loves it and it's always fun to watch first thing in the morning (we normally watch on Sunday morning, but instead watched on Saturday morning).  During this time brothers Josh and Justin showed up. Of course if you read my blog you know Josh has come to previous movie marathons as well as being one of my besties. I meet Justin briefly while going to the movie theater that they both work at a few months back. We continued our friendship over facebook and this was Justin's first movie marathon.  They shared what little of the biscuits and gravy were left.

After breakfast and Galaxy Quest half of the folks went out for a walk, while the other half played some extreme bocce ball. We played for about half hour before it got too hot and everyone wanted to go back inside. The group who went for a walk were still gone so the rest of us got a fun game of Card Against Humanity going. We were well into it when the walking group got back. I gave up my spot in the game so I could prepare to make lunch. My buddy Jared arrived next and lunch was ready (sandwiches and chips).  The CAH game ended and everyone had some lunch.

While having lunch we started our second movie The Incredibles. It's one of my favorite Pixar movies and it seems to be a favorite of a lot of others. Next to arrive to the party were Jennifer and her husband Matt then my buddies Adam and Anthony. Soon after my bestie Will arrived.

When the movie was over Adam presented his short fan film / resume "SHIELDED". I introduced him and he went through the entire story on how this all came to be. It's a pretty amazing story, you can check it out HERE.

After we watched SHIELDED, we played a game of Celebrity. If you don't know what this game is I'll try and to quickly explain it. Everyone who plays writes down ( 5 to 10 ) names of a fictional or non fictional character on a piece of paper and those names go into a hat. There are three rounds, round one you can say anything to your team mates to have them guess who your are talking about. Round two you can say only one word to get your team mates to guess who you are talking about. And finally in round three you can't say anything, it then becomes a game of charades to get your team mates to guess the persons name. It's a fantastic game to play with a lot of people and at the time we had 19. Halfway through this game three more arrived, Luis, Jennifer C and her boyfriend Patrick. We got through round 2 of this game when I realized that it was 5:30 and I had to pick up dinner (El Pollo Loco) at 6. So Chris and I left the party and headed to El Pollo Loco.

When we got back with the food the folks were watching some Doctor Who. We figured they finished the game of celebrity but come to find out later that they didn't. I put out dinner and everyone dug in, El Pollo was a big hit. During this time my mood changed. I don't exactly know why but up until this point I was having the best time then one of my guest just rubbed me the wrong way with things they were saying and I got super annoyed. At this point there were just so many people and so much noise that I think it was partly sensory overload. Once dinner was over my buddy Will had to leave so we said our goodbyes.

Chris gathered everyone outside around my large garage and pulled most of the geek mob to the front and then brought me up front and rattled off a list of names; Chris,  Scott,  Rupert,  Luis,  Thomas,  Dallas,  Jes,  Robert,  Will,  Aaron,  Anne,  Nicki,  Jen,  Olivia,  Josh and Jennifer C.  and informed me that all of these folks contributed to this large gift that was in my garage. They opened the door to reveal the Gauntlet II stand up arcade game that was shipped to my brothers house a few weeks ago. I blogged about this and even played the game.  I was under the impression that Chris had purchased this for himself and was going to store it at my place, until he moved back to Cali. On Thursday he rented a truck and went to my brother's house to load up this system by himself. He then drove to my place and unloaded it in my garage. Chris has been working on this plan for months. I was totally oblivious to the entire thing... well done Chris and everyone involved for keeping this a secret from me.

Once back inside the shots started flowing. I put on Sandlot for those who were not drinking to enjoy. I had several shots in a row and then drank another three glasses of coconut rum and diet coke. I was feeling pretty great. Wasn't worrying about folks spilling drinks all over my hardwood floors or couch. By 9pm most folks were drunk and I was sobering up and not liking what I was seeing. The funk that start started during dinner sprung up again and all the spilling and disregard for my house started to get to me. Friends went missing, folks locking themselves behind close doors. Some of my friends were acting out of character (alcohol induced of course) and all these things combined started to annoy me. My day went from good to awesome to down right horrible.

I put on Dogma once Sandlot was over and everyone seemed to be having a great time, everyone but me. The host part of me was very happy that everyone was having a great time, I live to make others happy and this party was doing just that. But part of me is getting tired of always being the one who makes others happy. This is my birthday party.. I should be having the time of my life yet I wasn't and nobody seemed to care.

I went outside to get away from everyone and relax on my deck. Jared came out and joined me for a bit  which was great as he and I haven't really talked in a while and we got to shot the shit for a while. A few other friends came out and joined us.

A little before midnight I went out back again to find some friends out there lying on my deck looking up at the stars, though it was very cloudy. Midnight came and my friend Rupert said "Happy Birthday Kenny" and there was a few murmurs and a feeble attempt of a high five from the group lying on the deck. Needless to say I was disappointed. It kind of added insult to injury. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't that. More people started to come out and it started to get loud. I asked if they could keep it down, though my neighbors are pretty far apart it's so quiet out where I live that any sound is amplified. Unfortunately no one listened to me, so I asked again and once again I was ignored. I think that was the final straw. I got up, slammed the door behind me and headed inside, I had it, it was time for bed and to end this horrible night.

The day started out so great and then just took a nose dive. I swore right then and there that this would be the last party I would throw. I was disappointed in my friends and myself. All I could do now was go to sleep and try and salvage the weekend by having a great Sunday.

42 Pixs til my 42nd Birthday - Days 40 & 41

Age 40

Age 41

I've been wanting to get a tattoo forever and I finally did it on the day after my 40th birthday. For my first one I got the Hogwarts School Crest. It turned out so great.. I love it. I actually got another one for my 41st birthday of R2D2 but for my 41st birthday picture I chose my friends. The best thing in the world happen to me along with the worst thing in the world. Harry and I broke up after eight year and I was on set of The Guild for season five and found the group of friends I've been looking for my entire life. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Let The Party Begin

Work was actually not as horrible as it had been the past week. It did feel like the day just dragged as I wanted it to be over so quickly. Finally 7pm arrived and I headed home. Chris was hanging out at my place all day long. He did a bit of yard work, took down my deck railing and a few odds and ends around the house (it was very much appreciated). I picked up some Taco Bell for our dinner as we had folks arriving tonight to kick off my birthday weekend.

Got home around 8ish and at the same time my first guest Robert arrived. We ate Taco Bell and kind of hung out for a bit before more arrived. Within the next few hours Chris, Brett, Robert, Dallas, Rupert, Kevin, Jessica and Aaron arrived. We started up a game of Cards Against Humanity and was having a great time. Doug arrived shortly after we started the game and joined in.

We finished around midnight and decided that we were going to go to bed as we had an early day tomorrow. I was still awake around 1am when I heard Jes and Olivia arrive so I ran out for a minute to give them a hug hello before heading back to bed excited for this upcoming weekend.

Space Shuttle Endeavor

Today was a special day.. not only was the it the beginning of my birthday weekend. The shuttle Endeavor is being transported to Los Angeles Space Museum but first it was going to be traveling all over southern California doing a low fly over for all to see. Several of us in our office decided to go out and see if we could see it as it was flying over Santa Monica Pier and I work fairly close to that. So we headed out around 11:45 is what we hear would be the time of the fly over. We waited, and waited for about 15 minutes when other people from surrounding offices started coming out. They said the shuttle was due to fly over at 12:10 and soon after there is was and WOW. It was much closer to use and much closer to the ground then I expected. It was pretty EPIC. It only lasted a few seconds as we were standing in between two large buildings so our view was limited but it was enough to give me chills and stare in awe. I plan go visit the shuttle once it's placed at the museum but to be part of it's last flight was pretty incredible.  (the picture to the left doesn't do it justice, it looked so much closer in real life)

Bros and Steaks

Today started off nice as I crashed at Robert's place with Jen and Chris. Robert was out first and I left second. Instead of my 2 hour commute it's 15 minutes. Work as crazy as usual, nothing new there. But it was tough to work knowing that my best friend was in town and I couldn't hang out with him. He was up to some shenanigans and wouldn't tell me what was going on. I assumed it had to do with my upcoming birthday. I did manage to get out of work a little early at 5pm at the same time Chris arrived at my office. We headed back to my house but first stopped by a grocery store to get food and supplies for the birthday weekend.

Shopping with Chris is always fun... we are like an old married couple, bickering back and fourth about what should be purchased. It's always fun bantering back and forth. The more he told me not to touch his basket the more I had to touch it. :) After shopping we headed home. Chris gave me one rule, to not go into my large garage, I knew he was up to some shenanigans. 

I spent the evening cleaning up the house. Occasionally I would watch some TV with Chris (mostly Doctor Who specials). For dinner Chris BBQ some delicious steaks (oh how I have missed those). Chris also introduced me to blended wine (red and white) and it was very tasty. Soon it was bed time. I so wish it was Friday but atlas it is only Thursday and I still have one more day of work before I can start my Birthday weekend.

Guild Wrap Party Surprise

Today didn't start off so great. I was up working until about 4am. Went to bed and slept to about 8am and then back to work I went. Was another busy day here at the office but I had planned to do something fun during the evening.

It was The Guild's sixth season wrap party. They were having it at a bar/restaurant in Hollywood. It started at 7pm but I didn't get off work until around 7pm. I was able to bring a plus 1 and asked my buddy Robert if he wanted to join me since he extra'd on season six. He of course said yes so after work I headed over to his place and Robert drove us to the venue.

We got there around 8pm and there weren't many people there yet. We got some drink tickets and headed to the bar. We were standing there when I looked over my shoulder and was excited/surprised beyond belief, my best friend Chris (who lives in Montana) was standing behind me with our friend Jen. This was a total surprise. He had told me that he wasn't going to be able to make it down for my Birthday (which is the coming weekend) or to the Wrap party. He had come down a few weeks prior to work on The Guild season six so I figured he couldn't take the time off or afford to fly back down so soon after.

I was on cloud nine, not only was I going to be able to hang with him tonight but he was going to be here until Monday afternoon.. I got an entire six days to hang with my bestie.

After that surprise nothing could damper my spirits. The four of us (Jen, Robert, Chris and myself) found a table and sat down. This was the same group of friends that I went to Disneyland earlier this year and had the best time I have ever had there. It was fun as folks would come to us and say hi and chat. I was so hungry and kept taking food from waiters whenever they came by that one of the waitress would come directly to me knowing I would take something. We chatted with cast members like Felicia and crew members who have become good friends.

Over all the night was a success, I was super tired as I didn't get much sleep the night before but Robert and I called it a night at midnight. We did mange to get our Cast and Crew Guild Tshirts, which were pretty EPIC... Chris and Jen stayed a few more hours and closed down the place. We all crashed at Robert's place.

Can't wait for this weekend...

My Hobbit Life

So I've always consider myself a Hobbit. I mean I am short (not as short as a Hobbit, but short) I love nature, good friends, love to eat and partake in the drink from time to time. Only thing that is not very Hobbit like is I'm not a smoker. Hobbits are hard working, salt of the Earth and I've always identified with them. I even choose to be a Hobbit when I started to cosplay at cons. That costume and me just seem to fit. I would love to live in a Hobbit hole if I could and if I can one day will build my own Hobbit hole.

The past few months I've been thinking of tweeting as a Hobbit. So I started a new twitter account for my alter ego Frodo Gamgee. Now if you know your Lord of the Rings lore you know Frodo Gamgee is Samwise and Rosies first son, who was named after his master Frodo.

Not sure what I'm going to tweet, but I hope it will be fun for me and for all those who read it. You can follow Frodo Gamgee at @MyHobbitLife

42 Pixs til my 42nd Birthday - Days 36 & 37

Age 36

Age 37

Here I am at Age 36 & 37. Two more years in my 30's. I loved my 30's I had some of the best times then. I wasn't a huge party person in my 20's and I was in the closet for most of them. So my 30's is when I really felt like I was starting to live my life. Picture on the left I'm wearing a t-shirt of one of my favorite podcasts Treks in Scifi. It was one of the first that I listen to and participated in. It made me the podcaster that I am today.. Thanks Rico. The picture on the right is when I was a groomsman for one of my good friends Chris. Chris and I meet while I was working on the Dating Game many years ago and have been good friends since. We don't see each other as often as I would like but he is one of those people that when we do get together we pick up right were we left off, like no time has passed us by. Less then a week until my birthday!!!

Calorie Counter App

My boss talked about this app a few months ago when I started this job and then this past weekend several friends were telling me about this calorie counting app that really helps them stay on track and lose weight. So I thought I'd give it a go. My boss told me it was called "Lose It" so I downloaded it (it was free) and checked it out. It was a really cool app that kept track of everything you ate. When you signed up it would ask you weight, your goal weight, your height, age and how much weight you wanted to lose a week. When all that information is in it gives you the number of calories that you can eat a day and lose the amount of weight you requested.

I was so excited for this new app that I talked my buddy Robert into downloading it. And he really liked it. I then talked to my friends who were talking about it over the weekend and found out that it was actually a different app called My Fitness Pal but it is essentially the same app. Since there is a "friends" function where you can see and motivate your friends so both Robert and I switched to My Fitness Pal.

Will see if I can keep up with it. But honestly it does stop me from snacking. I really want to make sure I stay under my calorie count. I'm currently allowed to eat 1600 calories a day in order to lose 1 pound a week and it will take me 43 weeks to reach my goal of 165. It seems like a slow process but hopefully during that time I learn to each different so I can keep the weight off for good.

Comikaze Con - Day 2

 So I woke up around 7:30am and went to check out my ears as the ace bandage that I had wrapped around them moved a bit. And as I suspected the ears didn't look so hot. I figured it was easier for me to remove them then try and save them so I pulled the ears off. I've dressed as a Hobbit for several years but never put on my ears by myself so this morning was going to be a challenge. But honestly I think I put them on faster then anyone else has. I blended the make up and I think they turned out pretty good. I was done and out the door by 8:30.

Once again I got to the convention center and this time got to park under the convention center. Put on my feet, wig and cloak and walked directly into the convention center. No waiting in line this time as I had my wristband already.. woo hoo.

The main floor was going to open in a few minutes so I put the call out for friends who were around. I did manage to find a few when I got inside the showroom floor and over to the Team Unicorn booth. I met up with my buddy Brett who walked around with me for a while. Then my friend Adam showed up and did the same. It's funny because I was being passed off from friend to friend. As soon as another friend would show up, the one with me would go do or see someone else. I always had a posse with me. 

I did my one and only panel at 1pm Geek Girls Create. On the panel were three friends Cricket Lee, Teal Sherer and Bonnie Burton. Along with Kristen Nedopak and Stephanie Thorpe whom I don't know but admire very much. It was a great panel and afterwards I got to talk with Cricket and Bonnie. I really wanted to talk with Kristen and 

Stephanie but they had to head out to other things. I was hoping to catch them later at a signing. Which I totally missed.

After that I continued to walk around having pictures taken and taking pictures of the other cosplayers. I got interviewed by an online TV show, which was a lot of fun.

I ate, watched some Quidditch (yes they played Quidditch in the convention hall). There was a Zombie Apocalypse maze over on the other side but never did that.

I got to hang out with my good friend America, who has to be the nicest person I know. 

One thing that I noticed from the weekend is that people love Hobbits. Saturday I had someone yell from across the hall.. "I have the urge to kidnap you and take you to Isengard". Then another person who I didn't know.. looked at me and said, "Wow, that was the strangest pick up line I've ever heard". I had a guy say from behind me "I'm going to hug you" and then he did. I'm a little guy and this guy was pretty tall and kind of encompassed me. He said how much he loved my costume and he's the biggest LOTR fan. I had another girl run up to me and then stop inches from me and say... "oh can I hug you" and then proceeded to hug me very tightly. When folks would take picture with me they would be so close to me I could feel their heartbeat. I don't know what it is about Hobbits but they are some well loved characters. 

The con ended at 6pm and I was of course hanging with friends at the Team Unicorn booth. Everyone cheered as they dimmed the lights and I made my way out of the convention center and back to my car.

Got home around 8pm, made some dinner and relaxed the rest of the night.

I had a fantastic weekend, got to spend lots of time with friends, got to hang out with friends I haven't seen in a while. Got to bring a bit of joy to LOTR fans. Though it was a bit crazy at the beginning of the con I only have fond memories of the experience. Can't wait until next year.

And I think I might have to retire my Hobbit feet. I noticed that some cracks are starting to appear on them. But I have to say I'm impressed, these feet were made for San Diego Comic Con 2011 and were used for not only SDCC 2011, but SDCC 2012 and Wondercon 2012 and now Comikaze Con 2012. I think I got some great use out of them.

You can see more pictures from my Comikaze Con weekend HERE

42 Pixs til my 42nd Birthday - Days 34 & 35

Age 34

Age 35

Two more days done.. getting closer to my 42nd Birthday. Age 34 picture was taken at the beach. Harry and I wouldn't go to the beach very often but when we did we went up north a bit to a little known section that was very secluded and rocky. Age 35 picture is of me and our little girl Daisy. We got Daisy to keep Harry company while I was at work. When we broke up Daisy accompanied Harry to Austria. She was truly his little girl but I miss her everyday. This picture was taken up at a lake where my mom has a cabin.