Great title, eh? Wish I could claim it. Unfortunately for me, it’s Faulker’s. No – not that Faulker (sigh). Rather,T.A Faulker.

Who the f*#! is T.A. Faulkner you ask? Check out this hardcore reading: From the Ballroom to Hell.

Yes, I spent more time than I’m willing to admit reading T.A. Faulkner’s missive. While obviously hideous and completely unfounded, his work was somehow compelling. I could not, and did not, stop reading until I was done. Fortunately, this Faulkner is not so verbose. Plus, after four chapters or so, how many other ways can one say that you are a whore if you dance? That’s right…DANCE. I’m not even a dancing type and I still think this Faulkner is lame. DANCING? For real? Get over yourself.

As much as I hate new year’s resolutions, I figured it couldn’t hurt me much if I used the first of the year to begin focusing on my wandering, er walking about town. I’ve been an avid wanderer since I’ve been a citizen of this fine city. Unfortunately, I’ve let my wandering get away from me (if that makes sense to you then… score!). I’m now working to ensure 2010 is not lost on my sloth, and to actually enjoy my wanderings about town. To date, I’ve walked/wandered every workday since the 4th. I may actually prove to be serious here…operative words being ‘may…be’ and ’serious.’

With a mere five full days left in this year, it’s time to look back at how all we beachcombers did in the Death Pool 2009. Admittedly, I haven’t done a thorough double-check to make sure the list is entirely updated, I’m rather confident it is. If you see anything I’ve missed let me know. I somehow doubt it will matter much, however, since we have Eeyore running away with the contest, having an unprecedented 50% correct guess count. /Que scary music. Looks like we have a new Angel of Death 2009 on our hands.

Now’s time to start thinking about your 2010 picks. Rules are the same as always. Submit to me 10 names of celebrities/well-known people that you think will die in 2010. You can post your picks as either as a comment to this topic, or if you want to keep them private until all entries are in, email me (thegullreefclub -AT- gmail.com). The people on your list cannot currently be hospitalized (care facilities like nursing homes and drug/alcohol rehab are acceptable), nor can they be on death row. If the person on your list can not easily be found by a wikipedia or google search, then that person is not famous enough to be valid. If one of your picks happens to pass away in these last few days of 2009, you be permitted to pick a replacement. If there’s a tie in the end, winner will be decided by whomever’s picks died earlier in the year.

The deadline to submit your list to me is 11:59 pm eastern, December 31, 2009. Once I have all the entries, I’ll post all the picks in a static page.

As usual, there are no prizes other than holding the title Angel of Death for 2010.

So start thinking of your picks, beachcombers. Happy New Year.

Being of short memory, it is imperative I remember my…the…birthday weekend. The food is what is worth remembering. Let’s reminisce.

It all started last Thursday – my actual birthday. Lunch was had at a fancy Savannah club. I’m not at liberty to share many details- but rest assured – I had the 2nd most expensive dish on the menu…. Thursday night was take-out bbq from a local place.

Friday was my ‘pretend’ birthday – turning out to be just as great as a regular birthday – probably better. Dinner was mussels on the half shell, sauteed in a white wine/butter/garlic sauce. Mike is the best.

Mike managed to top himself when it came to dessert. I had asked for a simple vanilla ice cream ball, rolled in pecans, with chocolate syrup. Mike took that idea, deep fried some flour tortillas, dredged through sugar & cinnamon, and served that ice cream ball with his very own chocolate syrup. For real! Mike makes chocolate syrup – get – in – line!

I was a very lucky girl this weekend. Thanks Mike!

Your Innkeeper is the unfortunate recipient of health news today – I have killer high blood pressure for a person my age (low 30s in case you’re counting). Sigh…a lifetime of gyros, mac and cheese, plus pork of all variants have done me in…

This puts a real wrench in my choice of birthday dinners. I am now leaning toward a mussel piccata but have yet to find a real recipe. Have any of you Beachcombers tried this? I’m certain it has to work; it would just be nice to have a go-by. How hard can it be to combine mussels, white wine and citrus?

Even if we can’t find a recipe, I almost doubt that I may be challenging Mike with this idea. He’s the birthday dinner bringer genius, and to date, has not disappointed. If you’ve not had a Mike bday dinner…well, you just can not know. He is the best. I am a lucky girl.

I think I need to avoid the crab stew and braised beef ribs this year…

I came across this Chinese artist today, Liu Bolin, and am loving his work – first link I saw:

Liu Bolin…The Invisible Man

Then, of course, I GIS’d him and found many, many more.

Fascinating.

After over two months at the Gull Reef Club, I am extremely pleased to introduce to you, my Beachcombers, OSCAR! One of the coolest kitties to ever grace the Club. Yes, our fourth kitty (still no human babies, yet – I consider that a win).

Who needs kids when you have cats?

Here is Oscar at about 2 months, when we first got him:

Here he is now, about 4 months, well entrenched in the Gull Reef Club:

I think he’s fitting in well.

I adore my Oscar. Don’t you?

Another point for DaffyGrl in the Death Pool 2009. Patrick Swayze has passed. I wonder if there is dirty dancing in heaven? I wonder if wondering secures my spot in hell?

Ted Kennedy is dead.

Bambi’s bunny-friend Thumper’s mama once said, ‘If you can’t say anything nice…’ You beachcombers know the rest.

I suppose I have something, at least, quasi-nice to say – which is that I may now have empathy. To wit, when Ronald Reagan died, some of my liberal friends were nearly gleeful over it. Not being a Reagan worshiper, but not a hater either, I didn’t quite understand the smug happiness they felt over his passing. Then Senator Kennedy passed, and my empathy for my liberal friends surfaced. While I can’t say I completely understand the Reagan-death-love, I think I can sort of empathize with it. As Mike said on last night’s America’s Debate Radio, Ted Kennedy was “what’s wrong with America.” I can’t sum it up better than that.

Without remorse, I write to share that we have four winners in the Death Pool 2009 because of Senator Kennedy’s passing. Congrats and kudos to DaffyGrl (her 2nd), Eeyore (his 4th – scary!), and to Ted and Mike for scoring their first hits. I’m kicking myself for not going with the obvious choice. I guess they’re always obvious after they’re dead. Congrats, all.

Was it good or bad juju that just the other day I was complaining that I was lagging on the Death Pool 2009 and today I score? Hmmm…

Turns out the easy pick of Henry Allingham gets me a point. /obvious much?

Love that wiki though. Screen shot I caught:

I note upon final edit that I failed to highlight a few ’sexy’ references, his birth place of ‘County of America’, his birth year of both 1600 and 1660, and the pink camera with polka dots.

Eeyore and our late Wertz have both struck again on the 2009 Death Pool. This is their third in so many months. I’m almost feeling inadequate. Your Innkeeper usually wins this game. Good (?) job, guys.

The remaining mutual pick for Eeyore and Wertz is Fidel Castro. If he’s not actually already dead – B E W A R E. He’s next.

Muera Fidel!

Score two more for both Eeyore and the belated Wertz for their picks of Robert McNamara for this year’s Death Pool. Creepy they should come so close together!

Moribund congrats to DaffyGrl, Eeyore, and the dearly departed Wertz* for scoring a point in this year’s Death Pool – thanks, or sadly enough, due to the passing of Karl Malden.

Congrats to you all, you now tie me, your Angel of Death, for the lead.

* Please be advised that Wertz submitted his list before his dearly departing and, as far as your right, honorable Innkeeper knows, he had NO inside information on any of his picks

A perpetual curiosity for me – why do some women pluck out their eyebrows only to draw them in again with a ridiculously expensive eyebrow pencil? Really. I seriously don’t get this.

An aside to these plucking ladies: stop. Stop. STOP. No one cares but you. Get over your eyebrows. Your obsession is so beyond silly words cannot express.

No one and I mean absolutely not one living, breathing person on the earth but you has ever given more than a second’s thought to the naturally growing hair above your eyes. So why pluck, tweeze and restyle that which nobody else really even sees? Get over yourselves. This has to be one of the STUPIDEST trends since powdered wigs.

Is losing a friend anywhere akin to a punch to the face? It certainly feels like it. Though truly -I’ve no point of reference – having never actually been punched in the face…

Yet, sadly, a week and a day ago today, I learned of the tragic news that my dear friend Wertz passed away. I wanted to share this sooner, but I’ve had some trouble articulating this. The punch analogy is the best I can surmise. The loss of Wertz hurts so much, it’s dizzying. Sometimes you just can’t get up at the 3 or 4 count. Sometimes it takes almost to 10 before you can stand on your feet again, and even then with a semi-clear head, but a time comes that you must acknowledge the new reality. Thus it is with our loss of Wertz.

My Wertz, your Wertz, our Wertz. We all have so many reasons to celebrate his comforting mix of sarcasm and serendipity that he managed to share with and bestow on us. How was that even possible? How am I even lucky enough to have known such a person? A man who stumbled upon America’s Debate nearly seven years ago and subsequently made it his home, his volunteer workplace, and where all his friends knew his name. Wertz helped me mature in my political and philosophical growth. There are very few who could even near the credit he deserves in this. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t known Wertz, and suffice it to say, I live the happy life. Bits and pieces of that are solely because of my friendship with Wertz.

I am proud to say that I am part of the Wertz Generation. We will live on forever because of you, Wertz. I hope you’re enjoying the great debate beyond – and making them cite their sources.

It’s hard to believe it’s nearly 1/2 way through 2009 and only one entry is now eligible to be marked off in our 2009 Death Pool.

Who was this fabulous prognosticator you Beachcombers ask? Why, your insightful Innkeeper, of course. I pegged the oldest Titantic survivor as not seeing the end of 2009. It appears I was correct.

This has been an unusually slow year for the Death Pool. In previous years, we would have had a number of points scored by now. Not sure why 2009 is different. Maybe we’re just so overwhelmed with all this hope and change.

Regardless – you know what this means, right? I remain Your Angel Of Death. I’d bow…but Americans bow to no one…so…enjoy my creepy awesomeness and move on. Good night.

Clearly not an issue of pressing concern, more slight amusement, your right honorable InnKeeper has been blocked from FaceBook. Truly, Beachcombers, is there anything more satisfying than having the ‘big boys’ block you from playing on their turf? I’m quite pleased, really.

The reason for Facebook’s blockage of my account is because I would not reveal my ‘real life’ surname and, instead, simply went by the moniker of ‘Jaime LastName’ in their conglomerate of loserdome. I’ve assumed this name for at least two years. Not sure why FaceBook decided to notice, and subsequently block, me now.

Regardless, I won’t alter my account. FaceBook can cancel me. I’m not all that interested in ‘reconnecting’ with dorks I knew from high school (if I knew you in HS and I still talk to you, you’re in, if not, you’re likely in the dork category, so don’t bother me). Plus, I’m really not interested in ‘networking’ with, well, anyone in my current life.

Bored, boring, boringest. Such is the time wasted at FaceBook. Thank you FaceBook for blocking me. I don’t need any more time eaters in my life right now. The Gull Reef Club is very busy this time of year.

I wish the South liked Hockey more. Guess the climate isn’t exactly conducive.

I confess, I prefer the days when players weren’t required to wear helmets. Yes, I’m that old I almost remember those days, certainly “grandfathered” players anyway.

Still- Go Hawks!

Today marks 6 years since Mike and I assumed the Deed of ye olde Gull Reef Club (aka our house aka the America’s Debate Radio studio).

Come May, Mike and I will have been together 13 years. Thus, for almost half that time, we have lived here. Here, in this house. In no place else.

I’ve never loved a house the way I love this one. Sure, it’s old (89 years this year), sure it needs a hell of a lot of work, but sure – it’s ours. I’ve always had a bit of amazement we scored this place when we did. The odds usually aren’t in our favor. Yet, somehow, we managed to merge my childhood and adult dreams regarding homeownership and landed a huge place in Georgia, with lovely white pillars, within city limits. We never win anything; yet we won with this place. I’m certain I will have to sacrifice my first born for this.

Yet, it’s home. The real, true definition of home.

Home, home again…I like to be here when I can…

Beachcomers, have you noticed the death of all things funny? Your Innkeeper has.

Comedy’s been dying for awhile (at least the last 81 days or so). We just can’t laugh anymore. The only exceptions are a few Canadian sitcoms* and the occasional 30 Rock. What is wrong with us? Why can’t we laugh anymore? This sucks. Loosen up. Laugh. It’s healthy. I’m sick of sighing and harumphing.

*Corner Gas and Less Than Kind. The former going off the air this year, and the latter, in it’s first season. Let’s hope it sticks around. We seriously need to laugh, even if we must resort to imported funniness. Is this covered by NAFTA?