Look what just arrived on my doorstep!




Chock full of musical goodness...



What to listen to first?

AUGH. Decisions, decisions...

There's a special birthday today-- this lovely lady always makes it a point to post lovely pictures in her LJ, commemorating whichever birthdays happen to be going on within her flist.

Well, today it's her birthday and it's our turn.

For saputnam, have a happy, happy birthday! For you, a quintessential picture commemorating my home state:

Space shuttle, night launch.

Not too bad, all things considered.I know everyone said I needed to grow into my looks, but jeez, waiting until my 40s seems a little much, dontcha think? Then again, 42 is the new... what? Twenty-eight or something like that? Honestly? I didn't look this good at 28. Perhaps not saying much, but I'll take what I can get.

Thanks so much, everyone for all the good wishes. I've had a lovely, lovely day with the family, eating barbeque, and what else? Buying books. And I had cupcakes. Now onward into the next year. Here's hoping it's a good one-- my own personal goals are to continue getting healthy again, to keep improving my craft, and to have faith that talent and hard work still count for something.

To that end, this shall be my theme. And yes, it's cheezetastic, but it's earnest and so real and that's what makes it wonderful.

Why yes, it's my own personal national holiday, my birthday! And I get to share it with some wonderful people, which makes it all the better-- so a happy birthday shout out to my darling amazoniowan, dre_l, and my super speshul Wonder Birthday Twin, suricattus. May your days be filled with awe, wonder, cake, and the alcoholic beverage of your choice.

And Cabana Boys! (Why yes, we're unabashedly shallow 'round these parts. What of it?)

Isn't he pretty? Just saw him in an ad in this month's GQ and went "humina!" Or sumptin' like that.



And of course, Nacho is so, so lovely and smoldery. (Has to be in order to overcome a nickname based on tailgating fare.)



( Of course there's more behind the cut. What kind of birthday girl would I be otherwise? )

And one final pretty of Ryan, just because he's so danged hot. Lucky Scarlett. Lucky, lucky Scarlett... (He seriously looks like he's up to something, doesn't he?)



Now if only I could get Jeffster to sing The Beatles' "Birthday" life would pretty much be complete. Ah well, I'll console myself with one of my favorite songs from a couple more cabana boys of note: Sting& Chris Botti (and of course, our already mentioned boy, Josh).



Let's see if Douglas Adams was right and if 42 is really the answer.

*MWAH*

ETA: For suri, here you go, dear:

It's my darling, darling amy37's birthday today!

Boys! Boys just for Amy! Supernatural boys! Nearly nekkid boys! All for Amy!






How about a Nice Mormon Boy for you to corrupt?



Or a fireman for you to play "Rescue Me" with!



Any others you'd like, pet? I'd be happy to search them out for you. *grins naughtily*

Ask and ye shall receive...

Because a) it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day and last thing I want is to be made to walk the plank, mateys.



But more importantly, the pouting must cease and desist immediately because it's that International Holiday known as gaelbrady's BIRTHDAY!

(and yes, I totally pilfered this, like a true pirate, from somewhere on the 'net.)

First off, thanks to everyone for all the lovely birthday wishes! My husband brought me barbeque and an orchid plant. It's lovely and I'm going to attempt to keep it alive.

With respect to the geekery, it involves having downloaded the Torchwood soundtrack from iTunes. Really, not so much with the geek-factor because it's really very, very good-- great combo of techno-sounding charts and classic orchestral score music.

And it makes me remember all sorts of scenes from the series, some of which make me very weepy. (Owen! Tosh! Waaaaahhhhhhhhh!)

Imagine my glee when I realized my birthday fell on a Monday this year. Cabana Boys? For me??. Even if I'm the one doing the giving, there's something a little extra-special about it. I mean, at the very least, it means I get to be overindulgent, right?

I can do Cabana Boys on the rocks...



Drowsy Cabana Boys...



( There's more... you know you want it... )

And there's just so many, many more, obviously. We just loves our boyz around here, don't we?


And as far as my birthday's concerned, so this is what forty-one looks like?



I'll take it. Now Ian, darling, fetch us something frosty and cold, will you?

AKA aimeejmc

Lotsa May birthdays, y'all. We need us some more boys. So a Speshul Birthday Edition Cabana Boys for szandara, inkgrrl, and most especially, since today is her day, for my darling sartorias

Jason will be serving your drinks...




( Boys Ahoy! )

Happy birthday, darlings! Be good to the boys.

Erm... it's Tuesday, right?

Right.

Sorry, I was cavorting this weekend



And sort of lost track of time.

However, I was also a Good Daughter of the highest magnitude. I took my mother to a booksigning. No, not one of my own. I'm not likely to have another one of those until sometime next year. No, no... I had to drive down to Coral Gables on Saturday, with monsoon-like weather, in order for my mother to meet Mario Lopez of Dancing With the Stars notoriety. Also known as he whom my mother has a mad crush on because he reminds her of my father Way Back When.



And yes, she did say to him, "You remind me so much of my ex-husband."

Admittedly, he didn't miss a beat, responding, "Good memories or bad?"

*pauses to give grudging props*

So you can understand why I felt the need to cavort after that, right? Although more props to the new Borders at Village of Merrick Park—y'all were absolutely excellent and give Good Booksigning.

So anyhow, Cabana Boys, a day late. Let's see...

Well, because at least for this week I am Number One Best Daughter, I'll make Mario a Cabana Boy for Mom.



Okay, now I need one for me. Who to choose, who to choose...

How about some Hugh? Saw the previews for Australia when I went to see Indy 4 and started squirming in my seat like a five year-old. After all, what's not to like? Hugh, Nicole, and a Baz Luhrmann film. All sounds good to me.



( More Boys Be Here )

Okay, back to work with me, head down and double time because I got nothing done this weekend. Probably good for the overall sanity, but the anxiety, she is up.

Oh, and a belated and quite heartfelt Happy Birthday to carrielofty. Here, have a Doctor for your birthday:



ETA: Also added because I have long promised hilleviw her own Boys for her birthday which was this past Sunday. Bad Barb, no biscuit, for forgetting.

*slaps wrist, regretfully returns Cabana Boy Hugh as penance*

Here, love, a selection.



And for extra beefy goodness...

Erm, one boy in particular. For the beauteous ladystarblade her Boy of choice:


Why yes, I'm beckoning you with one glance...



Sit a while in the garden. We can play footsie.



Come on in, the water's fine.

I mean, I know it's the 14th, which is a Very Important Day, seeing as it's my sister's birthday. But literally, I keep losing track of what day of the week it is-- I don't know if it's because we had the day off on Monday in observance of Veteran's Day or what, but I'm utterly discombobulated and quite Put Out by the sensation.

But it is, as I said, my dear, lovely, fabulous sister's birthday. She's turning... uh, older than me. :-P Actually, she's fourteen years older than I am, but despite the large age gap, she's always been my best friend in the entire world-- many times I wished I could be just like her, in terms of her fearlessness and outgoing personality and utter lack of shame, but then I realized the world could only handle one Maria and I'm exactly the way I'm supposed to be-- kind of a yin and yang sort of thing, I suppose. *g*





And of course, it wouldn't be a proper birthday celebration if I didn't give her her Very Favorite Cabana Boy:

Oh, Kurt...



*in aside to readers* She's had a thing for him for YEARS. Pretty much since he looked like this:



But this is definitely her preferred look:



Funny how Maria and the CP both love the scruffy, haven't showered for a week sort of look. And in Maria's case, if he comes with boots, so much the better. Like I said, very yin and yang, we are.

Jasmine's all legs and goofiness.

It's chewy and good...



What?





And for my darling gaelbrady and belatedly for indyjane:

Birthday Cabana Boys

I've got shades, I've got palm trees, I just can't get my damned CD shipped. Sorry. I can, however, arrange for fruity tropical drinks.



I can take care of everything else...



Happy Birthday my darlings.

ION, KT Tunstall's new release, Drastic Fantastic really is fantastic. Especially love "Little Favours."

ETA: For newport2newport...

PIRATE CABANA BOYS!

dre_l, amazoniowan, and definitely gotta wonder if we were separated at birth, suricattus--

The most wondrous of days filled with the best of everything, because darlings, we deserve it.

Oh, and Cabana Boys all around!

To the Clairee to my Ouiser (or is it the other way around?), aimeejmc the happiest of birthdays and may there be much frippery and frivolity in the coming year, because honey, you deserve it!

To the lovely debg and the equally fab Nic!

May it be a good, peaceful day that leads into a good year.

For my darling arliss.

Love, light, hugs, and of course, cake.

To the lovely mfnlaw and an extra speshul squooshy birthday hug for pix_kristin.

See? I managed to quit dithering about tours and unsupported boobies long enough to reflect on the important stuff. :-)