Hi!

BOO!

Forgive me, there's been a lot going on. In the last 10 days, I've been to L.A. and back, surprised Bryan with a trip across the country to see his long-lost best friend, and co-organized a scavenger hunt for Sue's 30th birthday. Of course, you know what this all means: Photos! There's a lot to cover; I'll try to keep it short. In reverse order --

SUE'S SCAVENGER HUNT
Aw yeah, you know we love our custom-made t-shirts! Here's how you can get your own, in case you like the concept.

Despite the rain, Saturday's party-goers kicked ass with the challenges we created, really impressing the judges. Judge Sarah came up with the brilliant idea to have teams check in midway at Yancy's pub, where we stayed dry and warm. Meanwhile, others got a bit wet.

Thanks to that company offsite of a similar nature, I suggested a set of photo challenges in additional to the usual scavenger hunt tasks. The results were inspired. Bryan was able to secure a projector from work so that we could allow hilarity to ensue on a big screen. While I could surely go on and on, I'll wrap it up with my top 5 favorite entries:

1. This series tied for first in the "take 5 photos to tell a story" category. How could they lose, with Farley Farts as the closing frame?

2. Um, Montine laid in front of the Muni.

3. Meanwhile, all three other teams chose to "do something daring" by sharing their most intimate parts: in a park, in front of Andronico's, and -- in a winning gamble -- inside a church.

4. Johnny Internet, world's "ugliest baby."

5. There are some hilarious videos, but none funnier than this team's interpretation of "parallel park in the smallest spot you can find."

BRYAN AND EUGENE'S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
I kept it from Bryan for as long as I could, but when he finally learned last weekend's final desintation during our layover in Dallas, his reaction was: "Orlando?? Um, okay. Like, Paris, Barcelona, and Orlando: my top 3 dream destinations!"

"Trust me," I said.

Luckily Eugene also trusts Heather, as she dressed him up like a hostage for Friday night's big reveal at the airport. Look how happy our husbands are when they learn the true surprise!

One day of Disney itself was plenty, made truly perfect by the coincidence of a national cheerleading competition and a waitress who takes her Disney role *very* seriously. While Pirates of the Caribbean is best left a pre-teen memory or a Johnny Depp movie, the Tower of Terror at MGM is truly terrifying.

Day 2, a.k.a. Day of Bryan, started with a batting cage outing for the boys, and ended with a crazy-expensive dinner that was worth every penny for the birthday presentation. And the Kobe beef.

Finally, Monday found us with the entire raison d'Orlando: The Richard Petty Driving Experience. The boys got into cute gear and then drove a real race car around a real race track really really fast.

We had a totally awesome time. Take that, Barcelona.

24 HOURS IN L.A.
Two days before Orlando, I went down south for a meeting with one of our video partners, resulting in both my first introduction to Jeremy Sandler and a tour of the Paramount lot.

Since I was forbidden to take any photos of celebrities (unacceptable!), you'll have to take my word for it that Virginia Madsen is extremely tiny, Pat O'Brien is extremely nice, and Kyle MacClachlan is extremely weathered.

- - - - -

Ok, I think that covers it.

Friday's show went remarkably well, despite the absence of one Popvulture. Carrion Boy and I had "an excellent rapport," one listener commented. I'm glad we could ably fill in, as the show's fearless leader reports to have, in the meantime, experienced an event "even better than Burning Man." You heard it here second.

I won't bore you with the play-by-play, but I do want to point to this photo sequence of the ailing Pope. I tried to relay the dove-attack story on-air, but apparently mere words fail to describe it. Then we debated if there is some religious/prophetic/apocalyptic siginficance to a dove attacking the Pope, and then the Pope falling gravely ill a mere day later. I don't know, you tell me.

All I know is that I love a good Pope pic.

Then, last night, Joe and Vivian got married. Here are some photos. The bride looked predictably gorgeous in orange (that's right, be impressed) and Bryan gave a signature choked-up, heartfelt speech.

Congratulations to the sassy couple!