Filipino New Year's Eve Dinner- The Main Course

Hamm-y New Year, you fat pig.

Sally's Letter To Santa

Dear Santa Claus,

How have you been? Did you have a nice summer? How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents I want. Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too compliccated, make it easy on yourself- just send money. How about tens and twenties?

Merry Christmas, readers!

Ernie + $350 Toy Store Giftcard =

Well. This is just...great. Great. Perfect.

I knew something was happening...I now have koilonychia, a condition where my nails are flat or concave, rather than convex. It started on my pinky toe, traveled to the index toe, and then crossed over to the other foot.

Koilonychia is probably caused by an iron deficiency. It can only be treated with extra iron in my diet or iron supplements. But since my iron levels seem okay, the doctor wants me to get an MRI or CT scan to detect whether I may have liver cancer.

That's just great.

It's a wonderful lilfe. Merry Christmas.

And Just When You Thought You've Seen (And Smelled) It All...

Play-Doh Cologne.

I have no idea how I stumbled upon it.

Why pay $30 for the spray when you can buy a $2 can of the real stuff and smear it all over your neck?

Oh Wise You, GQ

On the way back from New York, I read the December issue of GQ "cover-to-cover" (code for "the articles on fashion".) Men, here's a re-cap to keep you dap:

*Keep your look to one style only. If you're going to wear a suit, wear a nice topcoat and leather gloves, not a ski jacket and gloves for a snowboarder. If you're doing professional, do professional in its entirety. Your nice black casual shoes, no matter how comfortable they feel and look, will not go with a two piece business suit. And switching from your Ferragamos to your trainers for the walk home is unacceptable.

*Your clothes should fit you well. You're not a rap star, so your shirt should never billow in the wind. Pants should be at your waist, not making a coin slot, and your inseam must hit and break properly where it meets your shoe, whether you're dressed up or doing casual. If need be, invest in your good wardrobe pieces and get those things hemmed and tailored. Let the tailor rid you of excess swatches of fabric. And just because your off-the-rack suit had its sleeves and cuffs taken up does NOT mean it fits you well. Have the entire jacket and pants cleaned up by a reputable tailor.

*Messenger bags and soft-sided briefcases should be worn on one shoulder, not slung across your body like you're a NYC bike messenger. It could wrinkle your clothes, especially your shirt, and cut your overall look into halves.

*People notice details. People look at you, on the bus, on the subway, in the meetings, at the restaurant. You may not notice them, but they're taking inventory. Take advantage of that. Tuck in your shirts. Wear belts that coordinate with your look. Keep it nice and clean, sloppy is naughty. Your shoes say so much about your personality. So does your form of entertainment, whether it's a book, the sports section, or the earbuds and mp3 player. (Speaking of which, get a decent pair of earphones with quality sound. The stock ones that came with your music player cost the company two dollars to make, and people notice them as well. Nice earphones will make your music truly sing.)

I'm 38, But I Act 8. Truly I Do.

Tbis is a picture of my Brio train set on the dining table.

(No, this picture wasn't taken thirty years ago.)

In A New York Minute.

Five rest'raunt meals

Four Christmas shows

Three freezing days

Two toy stores

And a wedding in Hoboken.

Jangle Bells

Everyone knows the chorus and the first verse to "Jingle Bells", but what about the second?

*"We got into a drifted bank and then we got upsot!"

What is that? "Upsot"? Barbara Streisand's version of the song questions it. So should we. Is it a play on "upset"? I looked up "sot" in the dictionary and it basically means "to get drunk". Is that what you do? Get sloshed when you, your girlfriend, your horse and sleigh get into a wreck?

To Chemo And Cancer

"So what?!
I'm still a rock star
I got my rock moves
No I don't need you
And guess what?
I'm having more fun
Now that I'm done
I'm gonna show you tonight
I'm alright
I'm just fine
AND YOU'RE A TOOL so
So what?
I am a rock star
I got my rock moves
And I don't want you tonight."

(Thanks, Pink.)

The Fog

I started a new cycle of chemo last Thursday. The weekend came and went with me being only half there mentally. The other half felt like a hazy dream, where I'm covered in a greasy, syrupy goo that completely covered me. Everything in me and around me seemed to move in a sluggish molasses-like motion.

And I can't help but feel like being alive like this sucks. No matter how much I get, or what time of day it is, my body and brain feels like it's always 4AM.

I'm always glad when the day is over with. I don't need to have energy, I don't have to smile and pretend I'm okay, I just wipe away what cloudy memories I have of the day, crawl into bed and dread waking up just to do it all over again.

A Collection I Never Knew Existed.

Takashi Murakami and Vuitton teamed up this past summer and released a limited production of luggage and accessories with a camouflage print, some called "monogramoflage". It was sported by Kanye West, Rihanna, and Lindsay Lohan, among others.

I was not aware of it until an LV representative in Vegas informed me Monday.

"21"

That's the number people wanted at the blackjack table.

I wanted the number "23", as in my 23rd piece of Louis Vuitton.

And I got it!

Paul gave me my Christmas present early- presenting Icare, a wonderful messenger bag/soft-sided briefcase named after the Greek mythology character, Icarius.

Icare is big enough for a laptop, contains many pockets, and comes with a padlock to make it a great piece to travel with.

Me so happy!

Vegas- Last Call!

Well, it's been fun. Time to head back to normal life the cold weather, and that ice cold reality that I no longer can drive. (sigh) (whimper)

But before we board the plane, I have the morning and a little bit of the afternoon to run around and pick up some last minute things. (Hopefully I can get some cash at the craps table.)

Need anything? Call my cell phone- not sure I'll be able to check e-mail before I leave.

Reve-d Up

Happy Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Poor Man's Saturday.

I've been in Vegas for the past four nights with Paul. Headlines:

*I have a love/hate relationship with the roulette wheel: one minute I'm winning, enjoying the payouts, and generously tipping the spinner, the next I'm regretting playing in the first place and wish I could just break even.

*I love the hotel's bath soap. It's lemongrass citrus. We've collected 14 bars so far.

*Saw Tony Bennett live in concert last night at the Hilton. Simply wonderful. He's 82 years old, but man, he still got his pipes. I'm pretty sure we were the youngest people there.

*Move over Cirque Du Soleil's production called, "O". We watched "Le Reve" at The Wynn tonight and I liked it better.