Wow, TV suddenly got interesting again - and all the good stuff seems to be on HBO. Yay, yay, yay - my favorite British comedy of late has premiered in an American version - but instead of recasting and retooling for the States, the original creators and performers are now on this side of the pond in "Little Britain USA." The U.S. critics are hating it - saying it is only potty humor - but the premiere was awfully funny to me. And it has to assuredly be better than the remake of "Kath & Kim." Can't wait for more!

I'm enjoying the new HBO vampire series "True Blood." Like "Six Feet Under," I wasn't thrilled with the first couple of episodes, but the characterizations are growing on me. And hoo-faa! - Whoever cast this show deserves an Emmy - all the men are off-the-charts in terms of hawtness:

Been thinking about getting an Amazon Kindle for a while - and after a woman in Hawaii let me play with hers, I had to have one. It really works well - you can store a couple hundred books, downloads of new books from Amazon are fast and cheap, and reading from the screen is easy. I know, I know, I am a technology freak. There are worse vices.

Outdoor Italian restaurant, Four Seasons Manele Bay Hotel...

Female Diner: "Can I have a copy of this wine list? I'm a meeting planner that will be hosting a gathering of our TOP PRODUCERS here in a few months. Only the TOP PRODUCERS will be in attendance, and we need the best wines."
Waiter: "You can have that copy, yes, but the wine list changes often."
Female Diner: "Will the beverage manager be available whenever I need him?"
Waiter: "I'll have him come speak to you."
Female Diner: "I mean like, I might need him at 1:00 am. This sorbet on the menu - can I have it warm?"
Waiter: "Um, by definition, sorbet is cold - it's frozen - a palate cleanser."
Female Diner: "So I can't have it warm, then?"

Read quite a book over the Hawaiian vacation: "The Resurrectionist" by Jack O'Connell. A quite unnerving suspense-noir blend that made me think simultaneously of "Twin Peaks," "Carnivale" and "Kingdom Hospital."

Philip and I have been captivated by the Hawaiian island of Lanai. With a population of 3,000 and no traffic light in sight, it has put us into a state of relaxed bliss.

The Four Seasons Manele Bay and Lodge at Koele are superlative in every way, from the outstanding service to the delicious food. We've spent days lounging on the beach, horseback riding and driving a jeep all over the island. At one point we were on an 8-mile stretch of beach...all alone.

Lots more pics on my Travels - Lanai page.

Don't know why this summary is proving difficult for me to write...I guess there was so much weight to the event in my mind that I still don't have the proper words to describe it, so these will have to do:

Black wool suits instead of tuxedos. Went early to the restaurant to check out the flowers, cake and musicians - all wonderful. Guests started arriving at 5:00 p.m. Lots of chatting and visiting on the patio until the ceremony at 6:30, with a beautiful golden sunset to light our way. Philip's brother Marc and his partner Bill from Key West surprised our guests by getting married as well - a double wedding! I got emotional as the minister spoke about the life that Philip and I have shared for 22 years, then I completely lost it when it came time to put the ring on his finger. He was trembling so much...I wasn't prepared for that and it blew me out of the water. Much rejoicing when it was all done - including unexpected bubbles provided by coworker Barbara. Dinner was fantastic, as the food at The Raymond always is. Now it's off to Hawaii for a week of fun and relaxation.

My one big thought from the evening: Even if that hateful Proposition 8 passes in November, for at least one brief shining moment I was legally married to the person I love.

No pics from the photographer yet...will update this post when I have some.

Well, the day has arrived...it's been a good one so far, featuring breakfast with my immediate family and a couple of hours at Burke Williams Spa and a sushi lunch with Philip - but the big moment we've been waiting 22 years for is still three hours away. Lots of mini-dramas have swirled into town with the arriving guests: folks getting lost on the way from LAX, screwed-up flight connections, a missing (and presumed stolen) purse, at least one case of food poisoning, a hospitalized parent of one of our invited friends, and of course the prerequisite wedding day jitters. I'm actually pretty calm and relaxed, thanks to the time at the spa. This evening should be a lot of fun.

Britney Spears' Cheetos Chicken Casserole

Ingredients: 4 to 6 chicken breasts cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 can of cream of chicken soup
4 hard boiled eggs
1 onion diced
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/4 to 1/2 c. chopped celery
1 bag of Crushed Cheetos for topping

Directions:
1) Mix above ingredients together and put into casserole dish
2) Crush enough Cheetos to cover top
3) Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes