INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (11479,1,'2012-10-19 10:57:49','2012-10-19 17:57:49','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-19','','','2012-10-19 10:57:49','2012-10-19 17:57:49','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(11470,1,'2012-10-19 10:50:35','2012-10-19 17:50:35','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11454\" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463   \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11464\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11459\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11460\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462  \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-10','','','2012-10-19 10:50:35','2012-10-19 17:50:35','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(11469,1,'2012-10-19 10:48:35','2012-10-19 17:48:35','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11454\" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463   \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11464\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11459\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11460\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462  \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-9','','','2012-10-19 10:48:35','2012-10-19 17:48:35','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(11474,1,'2012-10-19 10:53:07','2012-10-19 17:53:07','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-14','','','2012-10-19 10:53:07','2012-10-19 17:53:07','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(11471,1,'2012-10-19 10:51:15','2012-10-19 17:51:15','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11454\" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463   \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11464\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11459\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11460\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462  \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-11','','','2012-10-19 10:51:15','2012-10-19 17:51:15','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(11472,1,'2012-10-19 10:51:24','2012-10-19 17:51:24','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11454\" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463   \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11464\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11459\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11460\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462  \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-12','','','2012-10-19 10:51:24','2012-10-19 17:51:24','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(11473,1,'2012-10-19 10:51:28','2012-10-19 17:51:28','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11454\" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463   \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11464\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11459\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11460\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462  \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-13','','','2012-10-19 10:51:28','2012-10-19 17:51:28','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(11475,1,'2012-10-19 10:53:20','2012-10-19 17:53:20','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-15','','','2012-10-19 10:53:20','2012-10-19 17:53:20','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(11476,1,'2012-10-19 10:54:13','2012-10-19 17:54:13','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-16','','','2012-10-19 10:54:13','2012-10-19 17:54:13','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(11477,1,'2012-10-19 10:54:21','2012-10-19 17:54:21','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-17','','','2012-10-19 10:54:21','2012-10-19 17:54:21','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(11478,1,'2012-10-19 10:55:37','2012-10-19 17:55:37','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was loud.  It was enormous.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI guess he didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests.  \"Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-18','','','2012-10-19 10:55:37','2012-10-19 17:55:37','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(11480,1,'2012-10-19 10:57:54','2012-10-19 17:57:54','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-20','','','2012-10-19 10:57:54','2012-10-19 17:57:54','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(11481,1,'2012-10-19 10:58:22','2012-10-19 17:58:22','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was in fact Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-21','','','2012-10-19 10:58:22','2012-10-19 17:58:22','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(11482,1,'2012-10-19 11:35:38','2012-10-19 18:35:38','','IMG00297-20121012-2118','','inherit','open','open','','img00297-20121012-2118','','','2012-10-19 11:35:38','2012-10-19 18:35:38','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11483,1,'2012-10-19 10:59:44','2012-10-19 17:59:44','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-22','','','2012-10-19 10:59:44','2012-10-19 17:59:44','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(11484,1,'2012-10-19 11:36:51','2012-10-19 18:36:51','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-23','','','2012-10-19 11:36:51','2012-10-19 18:36:51','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(11485,1,'2012-10-19 11:36:58','2012-10-19 18:36:58','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-24','','','2012-10-19 11:36:58','2012-10-19 18:36:58','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(11486,1,'2012-10-19 11:38:01','2012-10-19 18:38:01','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a smallish Greek Festival in a parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-25','','','2012-10-19 11:38:01','2012-10-19 18:38:01','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(11487,1,'2012-10-19 12:38:34','2012-10-19 19:38:34','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-26','','','2012-10-19 12:38:34','2012-10-19 19:38:34','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(11488,1,'2012-10-19 12:40:08','2012-10-19 19:40:08','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454 \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Bread on the circular table. All desserts on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-27','','','2012-10-19 12:40:08','2012-10-19 19:40:08','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(11491,1,'2012-10-19 12:43:23','2012-10-19 19:43:23','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-30','','','2012-10-19 12:43:23','2012-10-19 19:43:23','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),(11489,1,'2012-10-19 12:40:44','2012-10-19 19:40:44','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454  \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads are on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries are on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-28','','','2012-10-19 12:40:44','2012-10-19 19:40:44','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(11490,1,'2012-10-19 12:41:17','2012-10-19 19:41:17','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.)  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!  (Like you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-29','','','2012-10-19 12:41:17','2012-10-19 19:41:17','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(11492,1,'2012-10-19 12:45:05','2012-10-19 19:45:05','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-31','','','2012-10-19 12:45:05','2012-10-19 19:45:05','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(11493,1,'2012-10-19 12:50:06','2012-10-19 19:50:06','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHowever, if you ever feel the urge to plunge yourself into a sugar coma, please note that Baklava Sundaes <em>do</em> exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe declined th\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-32','','','2012-10-19 12:50:06','2012-10-19 19:50:06','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(11494,1,'2012-10-19 12:51:06','2012-10-19 19:51:06','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHowever, if you ever feel the urge to plunge yourself into a sugar coma, please note that Baklava Sundaes <em>do</em> exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe declined the coffee and the sugar coma.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-33','','','2012-10-19 12:51:06','2012-10-19 19:51:06','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-33/',0,'revision','',0),(11496,1,'2012-10-19 12:52:06','2012-10-19 19:52:06','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-35','','','2012-10-19 12:52:06','2012-10-19 19:52:06','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-35/',0,'revision','',0),(11495,1,'2012-10-19 12:51:20','2012-10-19 19:51:20','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancee (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe declined the coffee and the sugar coma.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-34','','','2012-10-19 12:51:20','2012-10-19 19:51:20','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-34/',0,'revision','',0),(11497,1,'2012-10-19 12:57:51','2012-10-19 19:57:51','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancée (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-36','','','2012-10-19 12:57:51','2012-10-19 19:57:51','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-36/',0,'revision','',0),(11498,1,'2012-10-19 12:59:29','2012-10-19 19:59:29','&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancée (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBa-dum-bum.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOpa!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-autosave','','','2012-10-19 12:59:29','2012-10-19 19:59:29','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(11499,1,'2012-10-19 12:58:25','2012-10-19 19:58:25','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancée (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-37','','','2012-10-19 12:58:25','2012-10-19 19:58:25','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/19/11452-revision-37/',0,'revision','',0),(11500,1,'2012-10-20 18:41:02','2012-10-21 01:41:02','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11458\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11458\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11458\" title=\"IMG00289-20121012-1858\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00289-20121012-1858-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you attended a Greek Festival?  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI <em>think</em> the last time for me was when I was in high school.  It was in Houston, and I <em>think</em> it was a Greek Festival in a smallish parking lot of a local Greek Orthodox church.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSorry for the hazy recollection, but my memory (or lack thereof) scares me.  (Help me out here, sis and Carolyn!  I\'m sure one of you were with me circa 1986!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'ve <em>heard</em> of the Greek Festival here in Phoenix for years, but I had never been.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, I couldn\'t escape the advertising.  Everywhere I looked or listened, it was \"Greek Festival\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOddly, most of the sightings were at work.  There was a never-ending supply of Greek Fest Flyers in the small coffee nook.  There were full-colored Greek Fest pullouts from the<em> Arizona Republic</em> in the lunchroom.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I worked with any Papadopouloses or Onassises, but I didn\'t <em>think</em> so.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Where was all this Greek Fest propaganda coming from???</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI think I even heard a Greek Fest commercial on the radio.  I <em>think</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRemind me to take more fish oil.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed to check out this Greek Festival to see what all the fuss was about.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI convinced The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous to escort me.  I envisioned us walking up to a smallish parking lot, snarfing a bit of hummus and falafel, and then wondering what to do with the rest of the evening.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was before the shuttle bus pulled up to the church with a sprawling campus that resembled either a small liberal arts college or a Kennedy compound.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have thought I would have caught a clue about the size of this festival when we boarded a shuttle bus.  Sadly, I did not.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have also thought that a fully occupied bus heading to a Greek Festival would be full of rowdy festival goers shouting \"Opa!\"s, but yours truly was the only one in The Greek Fest spirit!  Even The Buckeye refused to cooperate.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs we deboarded the  shuttle bus, we noted swarms of people crossing an extremely largish parking lot to get to both indoor and outdoor festivities.    The indoor festivities contained the food and shopping, so it was logical that we head there first.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11454\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11454\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11454\"><img class=\"wp-image-11454   \" title=\"IMG00287-20121012-1856\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00287-20121012-1856-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Breads were on the circular table. Never-ending array of pastries were on the long rectangular table. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11463\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11463\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11463\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11463 \" title=\"IMG00291-20121012-1932\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00291-20121012-1932-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Hummus, no falafel, spanokopita, homemade pitas that The Buckeye had to hunt down and beg for (Stacy\'s pita chips are neither acceptable nor authentic -- Opa!), outrageously delish potatoes, chicken[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye\'s Hands do not remain anonymous.  Because this was too quirky-funny to not share.  He cut my meat for me.  I ribbed him.  We laughed.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since I was now 3, I contemplated this:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11464\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11464\"><img class=\"wp-image-11464 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00292-20121012-2006\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00292-20121012-2006-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut then I remembered <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">that I had been there done that.</a>  </strong>With The Buckeye\'s college roomie\'s fiancée (now wife at the time of this writing) no less!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike you really care.  Thank you for humoring me in my game of Six Degrees of Bouncy House Separation.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11459\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11459\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11459 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00293-20121012-2025\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00293-20121012-2025-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11460\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11460\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11460 alignnone\" title=\"IMG00295-20121012-2028\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00295-20121012-2028-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t kidding about the shopping.  There was a full blown bazaar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPurses!  Jewelry!  Belly Dancing costumes!  Pillow cases!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11462\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11462\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11462\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11462 \" title=\"IMG00296-20121012-2032\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00296-20121012-2032-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> If I had realized how dirty that pillowcase was as I did tonight when uploading this photo, I would have never touched it. Very soft though. 1500 thread count or something like that. Opa![/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked the blond pillow salesman if he were Greek.  He looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads.  (I\'m trying to <em>think</em> of a Greek mythological creature with 3 heads, but I\'m too tired.  It has nothing to do with my memory.  Honestly.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI reminded the blond pillow salesman that we were at a Greek Festival.  He blinked approximately 3 times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suggested to the blond pillow salesman that one might assume vendors at a Greek Bazaar might be . . . well . . . Greek!  He blinked 3 more times.  Then a baby wave of comprehension crossed his face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBlond pillow salesman chuckled and said that he was not Greek, but Greek Festivals are very good for business.  Opa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOf course, there was Greek dancing and music on a mainstage.  It was ginormous.  It was loud.  Would you expect anything less from a Greek Fest on steroids?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wanted to worm my way through the crowd and start dancing right along with them.  But The Buckeye is averse to eardrum-shattering music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #0000ff;\"><strong>I guess The Buckeye didn\'t blare his Sony Walkman circa 1986, therefore <del>deafening</del> prepping himself for future rock concerts and Greek Fests. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\'Tis a pity.  He\'s really missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, The Buckeye requested tea.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know....Greek tea?  To go with the delectable pastries purchased at the World\'s Longest Dessert Table (pictured somewhere above).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDon\'t alarm yourselves if you\'re confused.  Greek tea doesn\'t exist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe know this because when we approached the Greek Coffee and Baklava Sundae stand and inquired about Greek tea, the vendor looked at us like it was all Greek to him.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBa-dum-bum.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat \"joke\" really doesn\'t make any sense because the vendor was Greek, but I am personally enjoying the irony.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd so, after snarfing a bit of hummus, no falafel, but surprisingly delightful potatoes, etc., The Buckeye suggested that we depart the Greek Festival in search of tea and quiet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich we did.  At one of my favorite Indie coffeeshops.  Where we indulged in those pastries which were Greekilicious!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11482\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11482\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11482\" title=\"IMG00297-20121012-2118\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00297-20121012-2118-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOpa!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time you got your Greek on at a festival?  Any funny stories, favorite foods, Greek tea sightings?  Please share in the comments section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #41:  Opa! and Other Greekiness','','inherit','open','open','','11452-revision-38','','','2012-10-20 18:41:02','2012-10-21 01:41:02','',11452,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/20/11452-revision-38/',0,'revision','',0),(11501,1,'2012-10-24 01:11:04','2012-10-24 08:11:04','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPrimal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','publish','open','open','','playdate-42-m-m-are-back','','','2012-10-23 20:26:25','2012-10-24 03:26:25','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=11501',0,'post','',4),(11502,1,'2012-10-22 10:42:01','2012-10-22 17:42:01','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision','','','2012-10-22 10:42:01','2012-10-22 17:42:01','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/22/11501-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(11504,1,'2012-10-22 20:55:50','2012-10-23 03:55:50','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-779','','','2012-10-22 20:55:50','2012-10-23 03:55:50','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11505,1,'2012-10-22 20:59:28','2012-10-23 03:59:28','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-2','','','2012-10-22 20:59:28','2012-10-23 03:59:28','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/22/11501-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(11506,1,'2012-10-22 20:59:37','2012-10-23 03:59:37','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-3','','','2012-10-22 20:59:37','2012-10-23 03:59:37','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/22/11501-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(11509,1,'2012-10-23 16:13:04','2012-10-23 23:13:04','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-5','','','2012-10-23 16:13:04','2012-10-23 23:13:04','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(11542,1,'2012-11-03 01:11:43','2012-11-03 08:11:43','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Outcome:</span>  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>Current dilemma:</strong> </span> On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Outcome of Sinus Hell:</span>  </strong>I am still in it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures in the comments below.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you for your support.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m off to use my Neti Pot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheers, dahlings.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','publish','open','open','','playdate-43-plays-with-needles','','','2012-11-02 18:20:56','2012-11-03 01:20:56','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=11542',0,'post','',2),(11508,1,'2012-10-22 21:01:45','2012-10-23 04:01:45','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-4','','','2012-10-22 21:01:45','2012-10-23 04:01:45','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/22/11501-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(11510,1,'2012-10-23 16:29:05','2012-10-23 23:29:05','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends who you can check out here and here and here.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar who hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited yearly for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day when her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <strong>insane blog project</strong> followed by a <strong>much saner blog project</strong> but still squawked about \"lack of time\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLife changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they start first with their Very Special Friend\'s Open Mic Night at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  Who in the World Knows Where?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-6','','','2012-10-23 16:29:05','2012-10-23 23:29:05','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(11511,1,'2012-10-23 16:34:05','2012-10-23 23:34:05','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends who you can check out here and here and here.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar who hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited yearly for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day when her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <strong>insane blog project</strong> followed by a <strong>much saner blog project</strong> but still squawked about \"lack of time\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLife changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they start first with their Very Special Friend\'s Open Mic Night at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  Somewhere on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . This may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because this is how artistic people think.  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOverheard at Rehearsal Reunion:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle:  This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie:  Say that again?  (Not because she\'s hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMich\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-7','','','2012-10-23 16:34:05','2012-10-23 23:34:05','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(11512,1,'2012-10-23 16:35:05','2012-10-23 23:35:05','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends who you can check out here and here and here.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar who hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited yearly for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day when her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <strong>insane blog project</strong> followed by a <strong>much saner blog project</strong> but still squawked about \"lack of time\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLife changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they start first with their Very Special Friend\'s Open Mic Night at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  Somewhere on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . This may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because this is how artistic people think.  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOverheard at Rehearsal Reunion:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle:  This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie:  Say that again?  (Not because she\'s hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle:  THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not France.  Not etc and etc.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-8','','','2012-10-23 16:35:05','2012-10-23 23:35:05','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(11513,1,'2012-10-23 19:31:43','2012-10-24 02:31:43','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends who you can check out <a href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here</strong> </a>and <a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here</strong> </a>and <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar who hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited yearly for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day when her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <strong>insane blog project</strong> followed by a <strong>much saner blog project</strong> but still squawked about \"lack of time\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLife changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they start first with their Very Special Friend\'s Open Mic Night at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  Somewhere on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . This may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because this is how artistic people think.  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOverheard at Rehearsal Reunion:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle:  This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie:  Say that again?  (Not because she\'s hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle:  THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not France.  Not etc and etc.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-9','','','2012-10-23 19:31:43','2012-10-24 02:31:43','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(11514,1,'2012-10-23 19:37:43','2012-10-24 02:37:43','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends who you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar who hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited yearly for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day when her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <strong>insane blog project</strong> followed by a <strong>much saner blog project</strong> but still squawked about \"lack of time\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLife changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they start first with their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  Somewhere on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . This may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because this is how artistic people think.  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOverheard at Rehearsal Reunion:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle:  This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMelanie:  Say that again?  (Not because she\'s hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle:  THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not France.  Not etc and etc.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-10','','','2012-10-23 19:37:43','2012-10-24 02:37:43','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(11515,1,'2012-10-23 19:58:44','2012-10-24 02:58:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited yearly for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project fun, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M&amp;M World Tour):</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he falls asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-11','','','2012-10-23 19:58:44','2012-10-24 02:58:44','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(11516,1,'2012-10-23 19:59:44','2012-10-24 02:59:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited yearly for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project fun, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M&amp;M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he falls asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-12','','','2012-10-23 19:59:44','2012-10-24 02:59:44','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(11517,1,'2012-10-23 20:00:55','2012-10-24 03:00:55','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project fun, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M&amp;M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he falls asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-13','','','2012-10-23 20:00:55','2012-10-24 03:00:55','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(11518,1,'2012-10-23 20:02:09','2012-10-24 03:02:09','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOnce a year, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project fun, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M&amp;M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he falls asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-14','','','2012-10-23 20:02:09','2012-10-24 03:02:09','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(11520,1,'2012-10-23 20:07:27','2012-10-24 03:07:27','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOnce a year, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at Tempe Center for the Arts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-16','','','2012-10-23 20:07:27','2012-10-24 03:07:27','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(11519,1,'2012-10-23 20:02:42','2012-10-24 03:02:42','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOnce a year, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at Tempe Center for the Arts.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports her in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why they are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M&amp;M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503\" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he falls asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-15','','','2012-10-23 20:02:42','2012-10-24 03:02:42','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(11521,1,'2012-10-23 20:08:27','2012-10-24 03:08:27','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOnce a year, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school .  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-17','','','2012-10-23 20:08:27','2012-10-24 03:08:27','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(11523,1,'2012-10-23 20:11:22','2012-10-24 03:11:22','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEach Spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-19','','','2012-10-23 20:11:22','2012-10-24 03:11:22','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(11522,1,'2012-10-23 20:10:18','2012-10-24 03:10:18','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOnce a year, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-18','','','2012-10-23 20:10:18','2012-10-24 03:10:18','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(11524,1,'2012-10-23 20:11:47','2012-10-24 03:11:47','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who hosted the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-20','','','2012-10-23 20:11:47','2012-10-24 03:11:47','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(11525,1,'2012-10-23 20:13:26','2012-10-24 03:13:26','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-21','','','2012-10-23 20:13:26','2012-10-24 03:13:26','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(11526,1,'2012-10-23 20:14:25','2012-10-24 03:14:25','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-22','','','2012-10-23 20:14:25','2012-10-24 03:14:25','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(11527,1,'2012-10-23 20:15:03','2012-10-24 03:15:03','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-23','','','2012-10-23 20:15:03','2012-10-24 03:15:03','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(11528,1,'2012-10-23 20:15:43','2012-10-24 03:15:43','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-24','','','2012-10-23 20:15:43','2012-10-24 03:15:43','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(11529,1,'2012-10-23 20:17:13','2012-10-24 03:17:13','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-25','','','2012-10-23 20:17:13','2012-10-24 03:17:13','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(11530,1,'2012-10-23 20:25:37','2012-10-24 03:25:37','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEnough already!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt didn\'t cost me a dime.  I traveled less than 15 minutes to my friends home.  Primal soul food.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-autosave','','','2012-10-23 20:25:37','2012-10-24 03:25:37','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(11531,1,'2012-10-23 20:17:36','2012-10-24 03:17:36','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-26','','','2012-10-23 20:17:36','2012-10-24 03:17:36','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(11534,1,'2012-10-23 20:21:12','2012-10-24 03:21:12','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-29','','','2012-10-23 20:21:12','2012-10-24 03:21:12','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(11532,1,'2012-10-23 20:20:29','2012-10-24 03:20:29','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-27','','','2012-10-23 20:20:29','2012-10-24 03:20:29','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(11533,1,'2012-10-23 20:20:29','2012-10-24 03:20:29','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-28','','','2012-10-23 20:20:29','2012-10-24 03:20:29','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(11535,1,'2012-10-23 20:21:19','2012-10-24 03:21:19','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-30','','','2012-10-23 20:21:19','2012-10-24 03:21:19','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),(11536,1,'2012-10-23 20:21:58','2012-10-24 03:21:58','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-31','','','2012-10-23 20:21:58','2012-10-24 03:21:58','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(11537,1,'2012-10-23 20:24:33','2012-10-24 03:24:33','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-32','','','2012-10-23 20:24:33','2012-10-24 03:24:33','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(11538,1,'2012-10-23 20:24:33','2012-10-24 03:24:33','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.  Primal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-33','','','2012-10-23 20:24:33','2012-10-24 03:24:33','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-33/',0,'revision','',0),(11539,1,'2012-10-23 20:26:17','2012-10-24 03:26:17','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11504\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11504\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PA210003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOnce upon a time there were two music teachers who sang for their supper.  Literally and figuratively.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs life went on and they parted from their school, the two music teachers remained soul sisters and singing partners.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring one glorious Season of Life, they sang together at a Very Special Open Mic Night each and every Wednesday night.  They made many new and talented friends whom you can check out <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <strong><a href=\"http://onesheet.com/briantrueproject/splash/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a href=\"http://www.gooderrules.com\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong> and  <a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>here.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis Season was the definition of \"The Good Ol\' Days\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then the economy tanked, the wine bar which hosted the Very Special Open Mic Night closed, and the two teachers and their friends drifted into their separate ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEach spring, the Open Mic Night Family reunited for a Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert in conjunction with the local high school.  Everyone got a warm-fuzzy AND raised money for a cure for cancer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil the Hostess with the Mostess who organized the Very Special Relay for Life Benefit Concert called it a day as her children fled the nest.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then one of the (now former) teachers took on an <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>insane blog project</strong> </a>(followed by a <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/\" target=\"_blank\">much saner blog project</a>)</strong> and squawked about \"lack of time\" for her music.  The friends still saw each other for meals, laughs and blog project antics, but no singing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah, yeah.   Life changes, life gets in the way, we all get busy, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEnough already!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Melanie and Michelle are back and ready for their World Tour!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLegends in their own minds (obviously), they kick off the tour at their <strong><a href=\"http://www.walterrichardson.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Very Special and Locally Legendary Friend\'s Open Mic Night</a> </strong>at <a href=\"http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=725\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Tempe Center for the Arts</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNext stop:  <em>Somewhere</em> on this Big Blue Planet!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow . . . <em>Somewhere</em> may mean Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, or another city in the Greater Phoenix Metropolis, but Michelle always dreams big and prefers not to limit herself.  Melanie, of course, supports Michelle in this because *news flash!* all artistic peeps are dreamers!  <em>This is why M &amp; M are soul sisters. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Overheard at Playdate #42 (The first rehearsal for the M &amp; M World Tour):</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> This is my favorite playdate of the year!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Melanie: </strong> Say that again?  <em>(Not because Melanie is hard of hearing, but because she wanted to reinforce an important and powerful point.)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Michelle: </strong> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAYDATE OF THE YEAR!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  Not <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/29/photo-du-jour-annecy-by-night/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>France</strong></a>.  Not<strong> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/07/27/playdate-27-the-100-investment/\" target=\"_blank\">The World Domination Summit.</a>  </strong>But singing with a friend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPrimal soul food.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_11503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11503\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11503\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11503 \" title=\"IMG00305-20121014-1600\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG00305-20121014-1600-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Rocco the Rescue Pooch. Over the years, he has fallen asleep at our feet as we rehearse. Hopefully everyone at Tempe Center for the Arts will stay awake. :-D[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAh, the Good Ol\' Days!  What is something from <em>your</em> Good Ol\' Days that you would like resurrect in <em>your</em> life?  Please share in the comment section below.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #42:  M & M are Back! ','','inherit','open','open','','11501-revision-34','','','2012-10-23 20:26:17','2012-10-24 03:26:17','',11501,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/23/11501-revision-34/',0,'revision','',0),(11540,1,'2012-10-10 20:31:53','2012-10-11 03:31:53','[caption id=\"attachment_11407\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://press.sundance.org/press/category/festival-photography-and-coverage\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11407 \" title=\"14143\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/14143-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" /></a> Photo Credit: Jill Orschel[/caption]\r\n\r\nI am friends with my massage therapist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/12/23/day-86-tis-the-season-for-a-home-massage/\" target=\"_blank\">You\'ve met her before. </a></strong> She\'s the greatest.  If you live in my fair city and need some TLC, write me and I\'ll give you Melody\'s number.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, since Melody and I have become friends through many massages throughout the years, we talk a bit before I pass out on the table and drift to lala land.  We share the latest goings on in our lives.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMelody is not only World\'s Best Massage Therapist, but she\'s also Volunteer of the Century.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s true!  The woman is always volunteering.  She\'s either at <a href=\"http://www.fmsc.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Feed My Starving Children</strong> </a>or leading hospital patients in song or showing patrons around the historic Orpheum Theatre or you name it!  She\'s there!  Melody makes the world a better place one volunteer gig at a time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMelody\'s latest massage table announcement was that she applied to volunteer for the <a href=\"http://www.sundance.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sundance Film Festival.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then proceeded to tell me that she convinced our mutual friend Sarah to apply.  Would I consider applying as well?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDouble wow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I\'m not sure I even knew that one could volunteer for Sundance.  Did you?  I suppose that I never stopped to think about it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut when I heard that the opportunity exists, and I\'m on a mission to live playfully and curiously and all that jazz, how could I NOT apply?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11404\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11404\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11404\" title=\"Screen shot 2012-09-30 at 4.22.10 PM\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Screen-shot-2012-09-30-at-4.22.10-PM-1024x697.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"418\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCan you say, \"OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME???\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy the way, application doesn\'t necessarily mean you\'re \"in\".  Volunteers are handpicked.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMelody and Sarah have already been interviewed by phone.  I am next.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSundance January 2013 or Bust?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #39:  Sundance or Bust?','','inherit','open','open','','11402-revision-17','','','2012-10-10 20:31:53','2012-10-11 03:31:53','',11402,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/10/11402-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(11541,1,'2012-10-25 16:15:08','2012-10-25 23:15:08','[caption id=\"attachment_11407\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://press.sundance.org/press/category/festival-photography-and-coverage\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-11407 \" title=\"14143\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/14143-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" /></a> Photo Credit: Jill Orschel[/caption]\r\n\r\nI am friends with my massage therapist.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/12/23/day-86-tis-the-season-for-a-home-massage/\" target=\"_blank\">You\'ve met her before. </a></strong> She\'s the greatest.  If you live in my fair city and need some TLC, write me and I\'ll give you Melody\'s number.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, since Melody and I have become friends through many massages throughout the years, we talk a bit before I pass out on the table and drift to lala land.  We share the latest goings on in our lives.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMelody is not only World\'s Best Massage Therapist, but she\'s also Volunteer of the Century.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt\'s true!  The woman is always volunteering.  She\'s either at <a href=\"http://www.fmsc.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Feed My Starving Children</strong> </a>or leading hospital patients in song or showing patrons around the historic Orpheum Theatre or you name it!  She\'s there!  Melody makes the world a better place one volunteer gig at a time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMelody\'s latest massage table announcement was that she applied to volunteer for the <a href=\"http://www.sundance.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sundance Film Festival.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then proceeded to tell me that she convinced our mutual friend Sarah to apply.  Would I consider applying as well?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDouble wow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I\'m not sure I even knew that one could volunteer for Sundance.  Did you?  I suppose that I never stopped to think about it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut when I heard that the opportunity exists, and I\'m on a mission to live playfully and curiously and all that jazz, how could I NOT apply?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=11404\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11404\"><img class=\"alignnone  wp-image-11404\" title=\"Screen shot 2012-09-30 at 4.22.10 PM\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Screen-shot-2012-09-30-at-4.22.10-PM-1024x697.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"418\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCan you say, \"OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME???\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy the way, application doesn\'t necessarily mean you\'re \"in\".  Volunteers are handpicked.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMelody and Sarah have already been interviewed by phone.  I am next.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSundance January 2013 or Bust?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUPDATE 10-25-12:  I had my phone interview today, and . . . .  I\'M GOING TO SUNDANCE!!!!    :-)))))\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #39:  Sundance or Bust?','','inherit','open','open','','11402-revision-18','','','2012-10-25 16:15:08','2012-10-25 23:15:08','',11402,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/25/11402-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(11543,1,'2012-10-30 16:28:16','2012-10-30 23:28:16','','accupuncture','','inherit','open','open','','accupuncture','','','2012-10-30 16:28:16','2012-10-30 23:28:16','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11544,1,'2012-10-30 16:23:19','2012-10-30 23:23:19','That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.  Nope.  I tried acupuncture. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nSinuses -- for the love of all things holy and sacred, share your allergy and sinus cures below.','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision','','','2012-10-30 16:23:19','2012-10-30 23:23:19','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/30/11542-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(11545,1,'2012-10-30 16:29:47','2012-10-30 23:29:47','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix. \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.  Nope.  I tried acupuncture. \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSinuses -- for the love of all things holy and sacred, share your allergy and sinus cures below.','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-2','','','2012-10-30 16:29:47','2012-10-30 23:29:47','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/30/11542-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(11546,1,'2012-10-30 16:30:03','2012-10-30 23:30:03','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix. \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.  Nope.  I tried acupuncture. \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSinuses -- for the love of all things holy and sacred, share your allergy and sinus cures below.','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-3','','','2012-10-30 16:30:03','2012-10-30 23:30:03','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/10/30/11542-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(11615,1,'2012-11-19 20:18:28','2012-11-20 03:18:28','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','Sarah and Ruby who was freed from a puppy mill that week!  I will let Sarah share her story in the comments section.  JUST SAY NO to puppy mills!  (That means ALL pet store puppies, some \"backyard breeders\", and some breeders advertising on the Internet!)','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-784','','','2012-11-19 20:18:28','2012-11-20 03:18:28','',11587,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PB040003.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(11548,1,'2012-11-02 18:11:38','2012-11-03 01:11:38','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.  Nope.  I tried acupuncture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThank you for your support.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCheers, dahlings.','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-4','','','2012-11-02 18:11:38','2012-11-03 01:11:38','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(11552,1,'2012-11-02 18:15:51','2012-11-03 01:15:51','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\n\nThank you for your support.\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCheers, dahlings.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-8','','','2012-11-02 18:15:51','2012-11-03 01:15:51','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(11549,1,'2012-11-02 18:12:03','2012-11-03 01:12:03','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.  Nope.  I tried acupuncture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you for your support.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheers, dahlings.','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-5','','','2012-11-02 18:12:03','2012-11-03 01:12:03','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(11550,1,'2012-11-02 18:13:13','2012-11-03 01:13:13','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.  Nope.  I tried acupuncture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThank you for your support.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCheers, dahlings.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-6','','','2012-11-02 18:13:13','2012-11-03 01:13:13','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(11551,1,'2012-11-02 18:14:51','2012-11-03 01:14:51','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThank you for your support.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCheers, dahlings.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-7','','','2012-11-02 18:14:51','2012-11-03 01:14:51','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(11553,1,'2012-11-02 18:15:58','2012-11-03 01:15:58','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\r\n\r\nThank you for your support.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheers, dahlings.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-9','','','2012-11-02 18:15:58','2012-11-03 01:15:58','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(11554,1,'2012-11-02 18:16:18','2012-11-03 01:16:18','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\r\n\r\nThank you for your support.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheers, dahlings.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-10','','','2012-11-02 18:16:18','2012-11-03 01:16:18','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(11555,1,'2012-11-02 18:16:56','2012-11-03 01:16:56','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome:  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Current dilemma:</strong>  On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Outcome of Sinus Hell:  </strong>I am still in it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you for your support.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheers, dahlings.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-11','','','2012-11-02 18:16:56','2012-11-03 01:16:56','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(11556,1,'2012-11-02 18:17:50','2012-11-03 01:17:50','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Outcome:</span>  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>Current dilemma:</strong> </span> On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Outcome of Sinus Hell:</span>  </strong>I am still in it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures below.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you for your support.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheers, dahlings.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-12','','','2012-11-02 18:17:50','2012-11-03 01:17:50','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(11557,1,'2012-11-02 18:18:58','2012-11-03 01:18:58','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloushe/5766748184/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-11543\" title=\"accupuncture\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/accupuncture-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>That\'s right.  I experimented with needles.  I was feeling awful, and I needed a quick fix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down, Mother.  Your daughter is not a Late Blooming druggie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNope.  I tried acupuncture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/05/05/owie-has-this-ever-happened-to-you/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Remember when I waaa waaa waaa\'d about my RSI?</strong></a>  Not one, but TWO friends told me about their TWO friends and so on and so on whose RSIs were cured by acupuncture!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the spirit of serendipity, I just so happened to come across a Groupon offering two acupuncture sessions for $29!  At that price, how could I not give it a try?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCalm down again, Mother.  I, of course, checked out <a href=\"http://www.hiddenrhythmacupuncture.com/Tempe%20Acupuncture%20Clinic/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine/Acupuncturist%20Craig%20Amrine.html\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>the credentials of the acupuncturist</strong></a> who was too legit for me to quit my acupuncture experiment.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Outcome:</span>  </strong>Holy Human Pin Cushion, Batman!  Getting stuck with countless needles can be a little freaky, but sometimes it\'s not such a bad thing to get your freak on.  I think the acupuncture may have helped my RSI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>Current dilemma:</strong> </span> On the day of my second appointment, I was in sinus hell.  Yes, while many of you are currently freezing your tushies off, the denizens of my fair city are still enjoying (?) 85 degrees and never-ending sunshine which equates to never-ending pollen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI figured that I would get my sinuses acupunctured as well.  You know, two ailments for the price of one?  (Did this make the Groupon quadruple in value?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #339966;\">Outcome of Sinus Hell:</span>  </strong>I am still in it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>For the love of all things holy and sacred, please share your allergy and sinus cures in the comments below.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you for your support.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #339966;\"><strong>Oh, and if you\'ve ever tried acupuncture, please tell us about that, too.  </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m off to use my Neti pot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheers, dahlings.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #43:  Plays with Needles','','inherit','open','open','','11542-revision-13','','','2012-11-02 18:18:58','2012-11-03 01:18:58','',11542,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11542-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(11558,1,'2012-11-08 01:11:09','2012-11-08 08:11:09','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/dragaroo/7601391746/sizes/l/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11577\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-11577\" title=\"7601391746_d1ae66f5e4\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/7601391746_d1ae66f5e4-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" /></a>\"Twas the night before All Hallow\'s Eve.  My bright idea was to watch a scary movie on Halloween Night.  That\'s the kind of thing that you\'re supposed to do on Halloween, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI thought of which <del>sucker</del> friend would join me in this nonsense.  The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous was game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI then flashbacked to Halloween 2010 when I was double dog dared to see <em>Paranormal Activity 56</em>.  Or was it just <em>Paranormal Activity 6</em>?  Or maybe it was <em>Paranormal Activity 2</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhichever one it was, I was so creeped out when I returned home from the movie that I promptly found the contemporary Christian radio station on my TV and blared Jesus throughout my house.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided right then and there that I would NEVER watch a scary movie again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut since my memory is not the best, I forgot all about my solemn and scaredy cat vow.  Until the morning of Halloween 2012.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI called The Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Listen.  I know I said that I wanted to get in touch with my inner 16 year-old and see <em>Freddy and Jason Take Manhattan...Again </em>but . . . . \"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye surmised, \"You\'ve chickened out?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Ummm....My inner 5 year-old wants to come out and play instead!  She requests <em>Frankenweenie</em>.  Please.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye sounded confused.  \"Isn\'t that a children\'s movie?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"She\'s 5!  And she asked nicely.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"O.k.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Buckeye Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous showed up on Halloween Night with an illegal stash of movie candy:  Sour Patch Kids, Mike and Ikes and Raisenettes.  Purchasing candy at the movie theatre is so much more expensive than when we were really 5.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>My Review of<em> Frankenweenie</em></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTwo enthusiastic thumbs up.  Waaaaayyyyyyy up!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n100% fresh tomatoes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA must-see for dog lovers!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTake tissues!  Lots and lots of tissues!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Do not ignore my tissue warning!  Trust me on this one.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know those movies when your throat hurts from trying to hold back the sobs because you don\'t want to embarrass yourself in public?  Even though that \"public\" is sparsely populated with . . . . oh . . . . 5 or 6 kids and their parents because the rest of the nation is Trick or Treating?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTHIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOVIES!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThankfully, <em>Frankenweenie</em> is for 5 year-olds and Inner 5 year-olds which assures blessed relief by the time the credits roll.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut you may need to stay through the very end of the credits to fully regain composure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt least that\'s what The Buckeye and I had to do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat was your movie pic this past Halloween?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWould you rather be 16 again or 5?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #44:  I\'m a Halloweenie','','publish','open','open','','playdate-44-im-a-halloweenie','','','2012-11-07 11:04:17','2012-11-07 18:04:17','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=11558',0,'post','',2),(11559,1,'2012-11-02 18:38:29','2012-11-03 01:38:29','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','11558-revision','','','2012-11-02 18:38:29','2012-11-03 01:38:29','',11558,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/11/02/11558-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(11731,1,'2012-12-16 19:50:22','2012-12-17 02:50:22','','Coyote Poop.  Yay!','This is what coyote poop looks like.  ','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-793','','','2012-12-16 19:50:22','2012-12-17 02:50:22','',11730,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PC070014.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),