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Celebrate zorkmidden!
Today all the Ferkakta residents have gotten together to present you with a birthday card, to honor the day you first graced the earth, December twenty third, ZST!
Click on images for full size. Something about zorkie? According to numerous sources, zorkie's voice does sound like Henry Kissinger speaking Valley Girl... :) If I could post anything relating to Miss Zorkmaiden, it would be how much she and Evariste have made Bloggie a real home for the people posting here. I can't think of another blog like it. Not Lucianne's. Not Protein wisdom or LGF...heck I can't think of a single place or blog like it! Happy birthday, Zorkie! It's so nice to have a friend in sunny Thessolonika once more, especially since the last one kept insisting that I write Telly Savalas on his behalf every week. Is that some kind of Greek folk custom? In any case, thanks for providing this cast of characters a home and a place to talk to friends. I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Take it easy on the ouzo. Jourdan Happy Birthday, zorkie dear! I wish you joy and laughter A cake, balloons, and curly cues And a bit of cognac, after. I wish for you a million smiles And days filled with delight A dream, good friends, and cozy warmth On this, your birthday night!
From airforcewife ~
From AM42 ~
zorkie, did you check your mail?
From annie ~
My message to you is: Thank you for giving us such a wonderful place in bloggie. It is truly a gift for us to find a blog where the owners combine such a deep love of Israel, a real appreciation and love of America and democracy in the truest sense of the word, a very high level of erudition and education, biting humour, slapstick and laughs, and of course, cheese.
May you continue to enjoy good health and happiness and may bloggie continue from strength to strength.
Since I know of your love of Israel and of course your affinity for all things Greek, I wanted to combine the two, so I thought to introduce you to the wonders of Greek-Israeli music as your birthday present. The singer most identified with this kind of music is Yehuda Poliker.
Here are a couple of clips of his: from his song Chalon el Yam Hatichon (a Window to the Mediterranean), and from his song Devarim sheratziti lomar (Things I Wanted to Say). Both clips are from this site: Hebrew Songs, a website of many Hebrew language songs and artists - this is the page on Yehuda Poliker.
Yehuda Poliker's father comes from Salonika. Yehuda made a documentary about his father's experiences during the Greek Holocaust: Biglal Hamilchama Hahi (Because of That War). Here is a link for the film with English subtitles.
From aridog ~
From bloggie
Happy Birthday, dear zorkie, ftu ftu ftu!
From cba ~
The Simple Life
From Dances With Typos ~
Zorkmidden's Birthday
'Twas two days before Christmas, and down there in Greece,
Everyone was relaxing, enjoying the peace.
Except Zorkie's poor Mama, with Belly so big,
Who screamed, "What am I carrying, this time, a pig!?"
The nurses in their whites, and Doc, in his cap,
Were wishing for headphones, or at least a flap,
To cover their ears, as Zorkie's Mom screamed,
"This is even much worse, than I ever had dreamed."
Throughout the whole labor, Mama she pushed,
When all of a sudden, everything just gushed.
The doctor who caught, the squirming little tyke,
Thought, "Thank God for the quiet,
Now this I sure like."
She had a cute face, and a round baby belly.
And a few hairs, that were golden, and yelly.
The doctor upended her quickly, then smack!
And all of a sudden, the noise, it was back.
The doctor handed her, to a nearby nurse,
Then out through the labor room door,
He did burst.
As the nurses did clean her, and check all her signs,
A dark shape appeared in the room, drinking wine.
One of the Fates, scissors clutched in her hand,
Who said, "Don't you worry, this one'll be grand!"
"She'll go to America, just to add some grace,
And believe me, she's going to brighten that place."
"She will make up fun games, raise silly little dogs,
And start a great international cheese blog!"
Then they heard her exclaim, as she faded from view,
"Take great joy in this child, and Zorkmidden, Bless You."
From evariste ~
My dear zorkie,
You make me happy to know you, each and every single day that I've known you. I've never gone to bed mad at you and I've never woken up without looking forward to our adventure for the day-that's a lot more than I can say for anyone else I've known this long! It's a pleasure to work with you, a joy to get to know you, and a pleasure to be your friend and your partner in this crazy get-rich-never scheme we call Bloggie. Your sense of humor is wicked and you repay my endless stream of inane slice-of-life anecdotes and offensive jokes with delightful peals of laughter: why, woman? I'm not sure I deserve this! :-D
You present a lot of faces to me, and I love all of your faces. From one angle a choosy, self-posessed, and refined lady, and from another angle, bursting with boyish boisterousness, boundless energy and excitement, you are my quite simply my favorite paradox, and my very favorite person of all the amazing people I've met since I stopped laughing at all the retards who make friends on the internet and became one of them.
My sincerest desire is for everything you desire come to be. Your grace, patience, and instincts are an example to me which I will always strive to emulate, but I doubt I'll ever live up to the standard you've set. I love hanging out with you, I love working with you, I love playing games with you and making games with you, I love laughing at your dog behind his back with you, and...well, I love it all. Thanks for introducing me to so much great music, too. I can't name all the reasons I'm thankful to have you in my life, but these are a very few of them. Thanks for all the fun times we've had, and for all the crazy adventures we've had, and all the even crazier adventures we're about to have. I wouldn't trade a minute of it for a million dollars. The love you're getting from everyone on your birthday is just a pale shadow of the love you deserve for being the beautiful soul that you are.
Happy birthday, dearest :-)
Ev
From floranista ~
Love you, zorkie, and hope you get all the things you wish for and truly deserve!
From Frank IBC ~
From gutterfiend ~
*this is an original drawing by gutterfiend
From Jauhara ~
Is Discarded Lies up for nominations in the Weblog of the year award?
Jewel aka Jauhara, member of the Infidel Keyboard Warriors Loosely Configured Alliance.
From Jefe ~
Bella Ciao
*The instruments Jefe plays in the song are mandolin, bouzouki, and accordion.
From joem ~
Happy Birthday and Yom Huledet Sameach, zorkie!
From Jourdan ~
From kianb ~
From Lady Redhawk ~
---------- 
--------
From levi from Queens ~ 
There was a fair maid named Zorkmidden
Who didn’t do what she was bidden
She blogged with brass cheek
Whilst she claimed to be Greek
But Evariste said she was kiddin.
All of the blogs had grown dorky.
The internet felt fat and porky.
Puzzles were needed
And this need was heeded
By a beautiful lass known as Zorkie.
From The Lewis's ~
From Lyana ~
Maybe we can't take zorkie to Salonica but we’d like to bring some of it to her...
A street near the center of Salonica, Aristotelous square and Salonica by day.
A walk by the White Tower, the Arch of Galerius, Salonica by night and The Wharf.
From Mauro ~
The Birthday
“Can’t miss it. Can’t miss it for love or for money…well, I’d miss it for proper money but who’s offering.” I thought when it hit me.
I am in a bare Arabic deco anonymous room in Marrakesh. There’s no proper hot water, forget internet facility. If she wasn’t so mysterious, I’d just giv’er a call, you know, Happy Birthday girl an’all that. I like the girl. She’s so cool when in the mood. But I ain’t got no number, just an addy…I need a computer. Can’t miss this really, I know I am supposed to stay put, stay under-radar but I’ll be in and out. Plus, Marra is soothing at this time, dark alleys, suk lights, old Medinas, old people and swarms of youngsters. Fake bags, glasses, trainers. Fake hospitality and friendship. Fake food. Real taxy rip-offs.
Odd people, mysterious, fascinating, infuriating, hostile and friendly.
I swear that if you try to sell me that bag again I will do you in.
But once beyond the suk, I’ll be ok walking the open street without being noticed. I am not even there, stay in nobody’s field of vision for any longer than a few secs. Nice cap, slide past shop windows, I am in front of a screen in a flash. The net-café is full of teens, head-scarved and not. Healthy mix.
By what I see, I can only foresee this being the last half westernised generation. The new ones be like us, you can just tell.
Log in.
Happy Birthday girl and thanks for DL. Xx
Click post.
Close window.
Delete History.
Wipe keyboard.
I’m out. Done the deed. She’ll be happy with that. She knows I am a busy guy.
From Mr. & Mrs. RadioMattM
At last! The shocking truth can be revealed! Who amongst you knew that zorkmidden isn’t zorkmidden’s real name? Yes! It’s unbelievable, but it’s true.
Here, for the first time ever, we reveal the true identity of the beauty known only as zorkmidden. We have spent countless hours and untold amounts of money to bring the Comrades the truth about zorkmidden.
On this anniversary date of her blessed birth, we reveal to you the truth about zorkmidden.
The Real ZorkmiddenFrom packen ~
Greek Army!From papijoe ~
This is a huge needlepoint that's hanging in a banquet hall where we are temporarily having our church services. The owners are apparently Macedonian because your hometown Salonika is in the back ground.
From Pamela ~
Dear Zorkie,
Thank you for telling us stories of life in Greece, because of you I have learned so much. You are an inspiration to me. You and Evariste make me laugh so much. You've brought light in some dark days in this world. Be well, live, laugh, and love as you always do.
Wishing you the Happiest Birthday ever!
-pamela
From RayH ~
She Walks In BeautyShe walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lighten o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And so that cheek and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
by George Gordon, Lord Byron.
From RC neo-Jew ~
There was a young woman called zorkmidden
Whose age was extremely well hidden
When the date of her birth fell
And her age she did tell
They all gasped and cried - "No! You're kiddin'!"
From RIP Ford ~
Centuries from now, archaeologists struggle to understand the importance of the conflict between the mythical zorkmidden and spammers. Battles that are now heralded in countless songs, dance, Greek Amphorae and taught to every young child of programming age.
The birthday celebration at Aristoleous Square ~
From RWC ~
From skoi ~
I can't write a rhyme
Or anything real clever
So Zorkie
Just have the best birthday ever
(I'm spending way too much time reading Dr. Seuss and books like But Not the Hippopotamus- that's becoming increasingly clear!)HAPPY BIRTHDAY from skoi and the minor horde.
*then this is the perfect place for levi's 3rd limerick...
A young hippo once was quite happy
Gamboling at DL, quite zappy
Bauhaus came in
The hippo was sin
And lfq felt very sappy.
From solus rex ~
"And zorkie sounds like delicious, heavily-accented honey being poured down your ear."
These words, for some reason, instantly reminded me of:
Золотистого меда струя из бутылки текла
Так тягуче и долго, что молвить хозяйка успела:
-- Здесь, в печальной Тавриде, куда нас судьба занесла,
Мы совсем не скучаем,-- и через плечо поглядела.
Всюду Бахуса службы, как будто на свете одни
Сторожа и собаки,-- идешь, никого не заметишь.
Как тяжелые бочки, спокойные катятся дни.
Далеко в шалаше голоса -- не поймешь, не ответишь.
После чаю мы вышли в огромный коричневый сад,
Как ресницы на окнах опущены темные шторы.
Мимо белых колонн мы пошли посмотреть виноград,
Где воздушным стеклом обливаются сонные горы.
Я сказал: виноград, как старинная битва, живет,
Где курчавые всадники бьются в кудрявом порядке;
В каменистой Тавриде наука Эллады -- и вот
Золотых десятин благородные, ржавые грядки.
Ну, а в комнате белой, как прялка, стоит тишина,
Пахнет уксусом, краской и свежим вином из подвала.
Помнишь, в греческом доме: любимая всеми жена,--
Не Елена -- другая,-- как долго она вышивала?
Золотое руно, где же ты, золотое руно?
Всю дорогу шумели морские тяжелые волны,
И, покинув корабль, натрудивший в морях полотно,
Одиссей возвратился, пространством и временем полный.
(--Осип Мандельштам, 11 августа 1917, Алушта)
And this time, luckily, there is a translation:
A river of golden honey from the bottle was pouring
So long and so thick that the hostess had time to speak:
"To this sad Taurides, where life does not get boring,
We jouneyed through fortune" -- and looked over the neck.
There are Bacchus's services everywhere, as if in the whole world
There were dogs and janitors only. Walk -- and no one will notice.
And like heavy barrels, the days, calm and temperate, rolled.
From far in the mountains a voice: "You won't answer, or know this."
We entered a giant brown garden when done with the tea,
With curtains like eyelids the windows were sealed over
We walked past white columns to look at the grapes swinging free,
With air like with glass strands the enchanted mountains did shower.
I said that the grape plant, like an ancient battlefield, lives
Where curly-haired horsemen battle in frizzly order,
The stony Taurides remembers the science of Greece
These rusty rows, ten of each, noble and with gold sealed over.
And in a white room, silence stands like a hiding wall,
Smells are of vinegar, paint, and fresh wine from down under.
Remember, that in a Greek house the wife was beloved by all,
Not Helen but -- for as long as she wove - another.
Golden fleece, please tell me, where are you, golden fleece --
All the way rose and roared on the journey the heavy sea waves
And leaving the ship, having labored the canvas at seas,
Odysseus was coming back home, full of time, full of space.
From Sojourner ~
Greek flowers
From Spiny Norman ~
From Stormi ~
From TalkinKamel ~
Attack of the Nazis!(In our last episode, which I really do not remember all the details of, Jessie, our Sea-monkey obsessed heroine, is reunited with her former boyfriend, Dimitri, the misunderstood Russian Dog Boy, and discovers an apparently dead Knight Templar on her kitchen floor. Subsequently, she eats a zucchini pancake whipped up by Mrs. Mildooney, her crazy neighbor. Said crazy neighbor also brains her abusive boyfriend, Jason, with a jar of blackberry jam---or was it boysenberry?
Then, the not-so-dead Templar springs back to menacing life, a gang of Nazis burst into the kitchen, and---and---oh, I forget the rest! But who needs details? This is modern fiction! Coherent plot-lines? Believable characters? That’s only for RedstateRedneckChristianistaZionistNazis, who like romance novels, comic books and Nascar races! We’re intellectuals here! We’re above such things! We got angst, baby! We got emotional turmoil! We got postmodern stress, misunderstood Russian dog boys, murky memories of childhood abuse, all sorts of deconstructed post-tramautic stress---all this, and Nazis too!
So, happy birthday, Zorkie! I hope you appreciate the intellectual uplift of my ongoing modern novel! Now, if only Oprah appreciated, I could make some nice, un-deconstructed big bucks. . . )
“Ha, ha, Fraulein!” The tall, blond Nazi Commandant gave a sinister laugh as he strode forward, in a highly sinister manner, sticking a monocle over one sinister blue eye, “Ve are, indeed, Nazis, und ve haf come here on a most sinister purpose!”
“Don’t worry, dear,” said Mrs. Mildooney. She sat at the kitchen table, knitting what looked like a magenta tent, “I’ve called for back up!”
Meanwhile, the Templar, who’d sprung back to menacing life, was lurching around, waving his broadsword in a most menacing manner. “Deus Lo Vult, God wills it!” He bellowed, “Help for the Sepulchre! Baldwin IV is my Home Boy! Hand over the Bo-Peep Code, or face the wrath of something or other!”
“Oh, shut up!” cackled Mrs. Mildoony. Humming sweetly, she reached into Jessie’s cupboard. She pulled out a big jar of marshmallow fluff and flung it at the Templar. It struck him right in the breastplate, sending him staggering backwards and sideways, into the living room, just as Jason, who’d regained consciousness, emerged from it.
“JESSIE!” roared Jason, “I’M HUNGRY, AND MY HEAD HURTS! WHERE’S MY TOASTED BAGEL?” The Templar crashed into him. The two of them went spinning back into the living room, out of sight. There was a another terrible crash, then silence. Neither Jason nor the Templar emerged, though a voice continued happily squawking from the T.V. set in there, “. . . And then I just add the teeniest, weeniest bit of garlic paste! And a little fresh basil, and some chopped capers, and melted tootsie-rolls! Mmmmmm, Yum-oh!”
The football game must have ended, and the Vachel Fay cooking show come on in its place, Jessie realized, as the insufferably perky female voice quacked on, “. . . And you can serve this on some nice pieces of lettuce, with maybe a dollop of chicken gravy, or some yum-oh whipped cream!” Jason loved Vachel Fay. He was always telling Jessie how Vachel was the perfect female, and how Jessie should be more like her. That always made Jessie feel like a tiny sea monkey, flushed down the john, or maybe one of Vachel’s capers, whirled in a blender.
“It’s---it’s Jason’s favorite show,” she murmured, tears filling her eyes, “He’ll be so angry I made him miss it!”
“Never mind him, Jessie, my little liver-flavored dog biscuit!” growled Dimitri, springing in front of her, “I shall allow nothing to harm you!”
At these words, the sinister Nazi laughed, most sinisterly. Dimitri snarled at him, barring his teeth. The Nazi snarled back. They both snarled at each other. There was a whole lot of snarling going on! Men, thought Jessie, when they’re not playing football, they’re snarling at each other! Her head spun. She tried to focus on what was happening, but all she could think of was sea monkeys, and her unhappy childhood; all the days they couldn’t afford food because her father had spent his entire paycheck buying himself new Sudoku puzzles, and Jessie and her sister had to eat play-doh for supper. (Pink play-doh was okay, but the yellow stuff was really yucky!)
“. . . And then I just dump the whole thing in a blender, with a lotta guava paste!” announced Vachel Fay incongruously, as the back door was smashed down, and a tall, dark form stalked into the kitchen, through the rubble.
“Here’s our back up!” shouted Mrs. Mildooney, still knitting her magenta tent, or whatever the heck that thing was.
“Ach du lieber!” shouted the Nazi commandant, sticking his monocle back in his eye.
“Jinkies!” shouted Dimitri, scratching a flea behind one ear.
“Sea monkeys,” whispered Jessie, and slid to the floor in a dead faint, as the newcomer came forward. . . .
TO BE CONTINUED
*Illustration drawn by Fritzie, the TalkinKamel.
From Thousand Sons ~
Somewhere within the area of space known as the Eye of Terror, loyal servant and majordomo Toad seeks his masters attention to an urgent matter...
"Lord Thousand Sons? Master? Are you there?"
From some distance away a voice calls out. "In the lab, Toad, where else?"
Toad made his way to the lab. Various esoteric junk filled the room.
"Master, its time to send birthday greetings to a one 'Zorkmidden'. On Earth. Goes by Zorkie."
Thousand Sons rummaged around the wreckage of his workbench. He scratched his head and blinked at Toad.
"My goodness! Has it really been another year already?"
"Yes sir, it has."
"Hmph. Time really is a bother, isnt it Toad?"
"Yes sir."
"Take a note to remind me: 'Do something about this infernal time thing!'"
Toad rolled his eyes. "Very good sir."
"Now about this 'Zorket' person..."
"'Zorkie', sir."
"Yes, Zorket, whatever. Humans love gifts dont they? Send her something...significant. Something valuable. A small moon, perhaps."
"A moon of gold, sir?"
Thousand Sons frowned.
"Silver, Toad, silver. Gold is so gauche."
"Very good, sir."
"Send a card along too. Hmmm.... Dear Zorkie, have a fabulous birthday, love you, may you live a hundred years...that sort of thing."
"I'll send it at once, sir."
"Oh, and Toad?"
"Yes sir?"
"Charge the moon to that Stormi person. She owes me. And bring me more wine!"
Toad sighs. "Yes, of course sir, right away."
From Throbert ~
I have no mouth, and I feel to scream...
From V the K ~
I did a Google Image search for "Zorkie" and it came up with this picture. I think I can get 10 caps out of it.
From zulubaby ~
I would just want to say that I've liked her since I "met" her on LGF and that she remains one of my favourite people. Well, now that I know her I love her :-)
She is so steady, so funny, so inspired and inspiring and just a genuinely special human being. I wish her only blessings for her year ahead -- sunshine, big fluffy clouds, majestic sunsets, smelly cheese, gorgeous shoes, love, health, happiness and luck. And magic.
And a big thank you to Fay for getting this project rolling.
237 comments, latest by Pamela on Suomessa at 8:37 am 12/23
Happy birthday habeebti mou! :-)
We love you, darling zorkie.
Have a wonderful day
She's peeing, just so you know. She needed to go pee at exactly 12:00 AM.
OH MY GOODNESS.
The Happiest of Birthdays To You Zorkie Mou!
This birthday card for zorkie is the single longest entry that's ever been published on this blog. It ended up exceeding the column type's limits in the mysql database table, so it was truncated in the middle of Thousand Sons's part. I had to go change the column type to one that can accept more text for florrie to be able to fit the whole card in one entry. That's how much bloggie loves zorkie ;-)
LMAO! joem's golems are adorable! I'm gonna listen to Jefe's now.
Omg, I can't even speak.
Jefe, awesome, man!
LOL! I figured you'd be with us in about 20 more minutes :-)
I see the Greek army has good taste in dogs, packen :-)
I'm just clicking on everything and I'm laughing and crying at the same time. You're all wonderful and thank you so much. florrie and Fay, this is above and beyond :-D Thank you!
I just listened to joem and the band :-D Poulakia mou! LOL!! That was lovely, thank you so much!
Off to listen to Jefe now.
You guys are the SHIT!
Thank you for the lovely card, AM42!
zorkie, this card was made by everyone, I am so impressed with the talent of all the comrades!
Jefe, that was fantastic! Thank you so much! Off to listen to annie's links :-)
I am overwhelmed by all this and I don't deserve it. Thank you all, you're the best.
This thread rocks!
You deserve all you wish for!
When I think of the thousands of hours you were out killing mammoths for us bloggie comrades...
Hapy Happy Birthday zorkie mou. You are loved.
Finally, that phrase isn't a lie!
RIP stayed up, yay!
Before I get too giddy I will have to wish you all good night since it's an early day for us.
But I'll be back in time for more partying :-)
Many happy returns, zorkie mou!
I am overwhelmed by all this and I don't deserve it. Thank you all, you're the best.
Nonsense, if anyone I know deserves this it's you. Smile and enjoy it.
Oh and don't thank me, thank the always wonderful florrie and bloggie comrades.
I just read DWT's poetry and that was very sweet, thank you so much dear Dances. And cba, I'm laughing with the slide show, they're lovely. I love Yehuda Poliker, annie, and thank you. This is too much and you're all incredible.
And a big kiss to poor, long-suffering Toad.
Before I get too giddy I will have to wish you all good night since it's an early day for us.
But I'll be back in time for more partying :-)
Many happy returns, zorkie mou!
It's two in the morning here, staying up is easy. And, it's zorkie, I wouldn't miss this for the world.
God, did I just say that about someone I haven't met before? Yes, yes I did. :)
I didn't know gutterfiend was an artist, that's a gorgeous drawing.
V the K, LMAO! I love that pic :-D
And zulubaby, thank you darling :-)
Ferkakta Water Works! LMAO!!! RIP, thank you for everything, this is wonderful.
I had to re-read Dances' poem it was so sweet :-D
Thank you for the cognac Aridog! And I love levi's limericks! We have so many talented people on bloggie :-)
Poor zorkie. There's just one of her, and dozens of you people.
solus, thank you. Being in your company makes me feel very grown up and sophisticated.
LOL!! And I'm crying, I'm laughing, I'm snorting, I don't know what to do first.
Happy birthday, zorkie!
Throbert and TalkinKamel, LOL! Throbert, you anthropomorphize food like no one else and TK your post-modern prose is frightening! :-D
LOL! All of us love her!
Bed beckons, Happy Birthday once again zorkie mou.
Thank you Spiny! And thank you for the lovely card :-D
Sweet dreams Fay darling :-)
Thank you ev, smootches...
Smooches Fay and Matt :-) Thanks for setting this all up with florrie, you girls did an amazing job of coordinating everyone!
Spiny, welcome to the party :-) Have the drink of your choice. As long as it isn't underaged, you pervo.
Fay mou, thank you for everything. Good night darling.
LOL!! And I'm crying, I'm laughing, I'm snorting, I don't know what to do first.
Smile.
It was one hell of a response. :)
Smile.
It was one hell of a response. :)
{{{RIP}}}
I've heard about your late-night romps with a certain Dalwhinnie...
And I love Mrs Lewis's card too :-D
It was florrie, really,
Good night all.
I don't know what this blog would do without florrie.
I'm re-reading all this and I'm crying.
Watch out for that San Quentin quail, brother.
Look around you and see how many people are posting well after their normal bed time. :)
Know that you are loved.
I really can't overstate my case, you've built something wonderful and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Know that you are loved.
I really can't overstate my case, you've built something wonderful and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
I feel privileged to be a part of it too. Bloggie has made me a better person.
And the code, mustn't forget the code...
Watch out for that San Quentin quail, brother.
15 will get you 20. I, for one, do not cavort with underage spirits.
Fetching as Alice Krige may have been in Ghost Story, I'm pretty sure she was legal...
Late to the party... On the other side of the world, I sleep through your parties, and then wake up when you're all lying drunkenly on the floor, snoring, among discarded drinks' glasses and squashed bits of cheese.
(Whispers) So, zorkie, how, er, old? You can trust me. I won't tell anyone... Honest.
/adjusts microphone behind lapel.
I hope I didn't forget to thank anyone. I read everything and I'm re-reading things and I'm still crying and laughing and snorting so if I forgot to thank you please don't delete us from your bookmarks.
LMAO!
I feel privileged to be a part of it too. Bloggie has made me a better person.
Remember that the next time you get tired of the nonsense, the agravation and the drama.
(Whispers) So, zorkie, how, er, old? You can trust me. I won't tell anyone... Honest.
/adjusts microphone behind lapel.
LOL!!!
Remember that the next time you get tired of the nonsense, the agravation and the drama.
You mean like tomorrow morning? :-P
Remember that the next time you get tired of the nonsense, the agravation and the drama.
I know she does because we both do...some days are stressful, but it's all worth it. It's wonderful to have the privilege to host such a fun space for all our friends.
LMAO!
You mean like tomorrow morning? :-P
LOL!!
I feel privileged to be a part of it too. Bloggie has made me a better person.
There is certainly no other place quite like this. I feel like a member of an exclusive club.
Thanks, zorkie (and ev).
Thanks, Spiny. We're delighted to have you :-)
There is certainly no other place quite like this. I feel like a member of an exclusive club.
Thanks, zorkie (and ev).
Well, there ya go. See?
LOL, RIP!
LMAO!
How can anyone not love our bloggie :-D
Oh my goodness, I have not laughed so hard in a while. You guys have really made zorkie's birthday special. Thank you so much. I was crying too when I was reading it, so she's not the only sap in the house.
We're so bitter...
Beats me, vre.
Especially zorkie's fan club in here. They're just oozing bitter venom from every line. She's gonna die from radiation poisoning and it's all thanks to the bitterness on this blog!
Bloggie is like the neighborhood bar that lets you stay after closing.
Cheers, Spiny and everyone! Stin iyia sou, zorkina mou, and l'chaim to all :-)
Prost!
LOL!! Cheers Spiny!
I used to work at that bar that let you stay after closing. We'd clean and close up, and then a few of us would sit at the bar with a couple of trusted regulars and drink on the house and smoke a few dozen cigarettes till 6 AM. We always tried to make sure to skedaddle to somebody's house before the morning crew came in. Fun times.
Stin iyia sas magkes!
And I was so worried about missing this tonight.
Then I realized that the drinking gods saw fit to make Central Time two hours ahead of Pacific, and all was good. I'm glad I'm here.
Prost!
Now explain what Prost! means.
Morning crew?
Good lord, we didn't open till 4pm.
Then I realized that the drinking gods saw fit to make Central Time two hours ahead of Pacific, and all was good. I'm glad I'm here.
You're on central time too? That's crazy. For some reason I figured you for Mountain Time. We're so far away, yet we're in the same time zone. This country is hella big.
Prost!
Now explain what Prost! means.
It's German for Cheers.
Yeah, even the crazy Mediterraneans around here :-D
Morning crew?
Good lord, we didn't open till 4pm.
Heh. People started showing up for work at this brew pub about 9 AM, and the place opened its doors around 10. Great breakfasts, too. I still remember that salmon omelette, and the eggs benedict. Brunch on Sundays, too, Bloody Marys and football on the big-screen. I kinda miss working at the bar. The restaurant industry is like no other. I still have so many friends I made when I worked in restaurants, the friendships made in restaurants seem for some reason to be more durable than friendships that originated in white-collar jobs.
It's German for Cheers.
I knew that.
You're on central time too? That's crazy. For some reason I figured you for Mountain Time. We're so far away, yet we're in the same time zone. This country is hella big.
Hella yes, it is.
Denver is Mountain, as well as El Paso, but everything else west of the Appalachian Mountains is Central for the most part.
From the top of the page, I have to hit Page Down 26 times to get to the end of zorkie's card. Even after almost 100 comments, I only have to hit Page Up 18 times from the bottom of the page to get to the end of zorkie's card.
This is really amazing, guys and gals. I'm so touched, and I know for a fact that so is zorkie :-)
Here, I wrote you a birthday poem in Actionscript:
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
var zork:Object = _root.bloggie.authors['zorkmidden'];
var sean:Object = _root.bloggie.readers['Sean Gleeson'];
var todays_date:Date = new Date();
if (todays_date.getMonth()+1 == 12 && todays_date.getDate() == 23) {
zork.happiness++;
trace("Happy birthday!");
if (zork.happiness > sean.happiness) {
zork.happiness = sean.happiness;
// no point in overdoing it, though.
}
}
}
I'm gonna fill my glass once more and toast zorkie and then call it a night.
I'm a lightweight nowadays.
Cheers! Prost! Salut! L'chaim!
Umm, what's the Greek term?
Spiny, the Greek term is either:
Stin iyia sou!
or
L'eviva!
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
var zork:Object = _root.bloggie.authors['zorkmidden'];
var sean:Object = _root.bloggie.readers['Sean Gleeson'];
var todays_date:Date = new Date();
if (todays_date.getMonth()+1 == 12 && todays_date.getDate() == 23) {
zork.happiness++;
trace("Happy birthday!");
if (zork.happiness > sean.happiness) {
zork.happiness = sean.happiness;
// no point in overdoing it, though.
}
}
}
ROFLMAO!!
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
var zork:Object = _root.bloggie.authors['zorkmidden'];
var sean:Object = _root.bloggie.readers['Sean Gleeson'];
var todays_date:Date = new Date();
if (todays_date.getMonth()+1 == 12 && todays_date.getDate() == 23) {
zork.happiness++;
trace("Happy birthday!");
if (zork.happiness > sean.happiness) {
zork.happiness = sean.happiness;
// no point in overdoing it, though.
}
}
}
LOL
*Yes, the sexy waitress you flirt with at your favorite restaurant is probably fucking the bartender. Deal with it.
Hmm. Managed to screw that up.
Ah!
L'eviva!
'Night Bloggie!
If this thread rocked any harder, we'd need to wear helmets.
...I wouldn't trade the restaurant/bar memories for the world though.
zorkie, on the other hand, has a very bad memory of restaurants, my poor sweet thing. Her first job as a busboy...do you want to tell it, zorkie?
ROFL! No you didn't. I love the way the chair's layer is between "THIS THREAD" and "ROCKS".
Ooh! Hey hang on... if there's stories coming up I'll wait a bit.
Good night Spiny! Thanks again!
(Why is it that every doggie has a set of big plastic dentures? I have one for my dog too! Why is it that we find dentures irresistible on doggies but not so cute on humans?)
Sean, btw, we got to 24 ("sight") in the puzzle. We'll probably try to finish it tomorrow.
Stay up a sec, Spiny, she's gonna tell it :-)
Gee. I'm finally home from work and the party is still going on -- or at least it was still going on a short time ago.
Happy birthday, Zorkie. I really appreciate
what you and Ev have blessed us withthat with which you and Ev have blessed us. The knowledge and insight from the Bloggie Comrades keeps me in touch with things, and also gives me a sense of optimism that there are many good people in the world.Oh, and RC neo-Jew -- Zorkie is 29. Don't you read the FAQ?
It wasn't just my first job as a busboy, it was my first job in America! My whole life and future depended on this! (Okay, not really, but it sure felt like it, first job in a foreign country and all that.) The first night when I got home and looked at my share of the tips, I just about fell over. I didn't realize I'd have tips too, so I just started crying from happiness (Yes, I'm a sap, we already established that.)
Unfortunately I was fired after a week because I sucked at cleaning tables. So I had to go to college, I had no choice.
Yay! Matt's here! :-)
I've seen so many people with a bf/gf etc start working in restaurants and evenctually dump the partner to start see someone they work with. Like I said, it's te stress you experience with others in your team that brings you together. Soon enough you hav a lot more to talk about with "that" work-mate than with the partner at home.
Greece borders with Finland now?
BELLA PATATONA WE LURVYAH SO MUCH !!!
It's dripping on your shirt, isn't it?
Happy birthday, Zorkie. I really appreciate
what you and Ev have blessed us withthat with which you and Ev have blessed us. The knowledge and insight from the Bloggie Comrades keeps me in touch with things, and also gives me a sense of optimism that there are many good people in the world.Oh, and RC neo-Jew -- Zorkie is 29. Don't you read the FAQ?
Thank you Matt :-) I am thankful that you and Fay are part of this community.
I know what you mean about tips. I was kinda bowled over at How. Much. Money. it was the first time I worked for tips (it was only about $20, but I was young and poor and it seemed like the gateway to infinite riches). And it's cash in the pocket! No waiting for some crummy check!
Yes, I let her come back. It was neither the first time, nor the last.
Any cognac left? I don't have to drive now.
The amazing thing about the restaurant industry, though, is that a middle-aged single mother with no education and no marketable skills can earn a solidly middle-class income from waiting tables, be able to own her own home and a nice late-model automobile, and raise her kids in comfort. At least, that's true in America, where the tipping culture is quite generous and 15-20% tips are a cultural norm. The restaurant industry is in many ways a social safety net that can never be surpassed by government programs.
(Seriously, Greek banks don't offer personal checking accounts, only business checking, so no one uses checks other than businesses using them as IOUs :-)
Any cognac left? I don't have to drive now.
I think Aridog gave zorkie a year's supply, so go for it :-)
Any cognac left? I don't have to drive now.
Remy Martin, courtesy of Aridog. Cheers!
OK, I'm crashing as it's late. I'm absolutely honored to have been a part of this, thank you both.
Happy Birthday Zorkie. :)
There's a whole side-economy in Greece based on post-dated third-and-fourth party checks.
Happy Birthday Zorkie. :)
Thank you darling, I'm so happy you were here tonight and thank you for all the fun you bring to bloggie :-)
::nudge nudge::
I always reported about 10-12%. Our managers warned us never to report under 10% because the IRS would get suspicious. I usually made over 20%, almost every night. I counted it a bad night if I made 15%, because I had a lot of generous regulars. I usually ended up getting paychecks for $0 or a few pennies, because $2.13/hr minus the taxes on 10% of my tips = less than 0.
G'night RIP Ford!
That's funny. Especially since it was like that where I grew up... a resort town in California, no less!
That was a long time ago. It ain't like that now...
It is great that I am able to join the party. I read alot more than my limited number of posts would indicate. It's just that everybody
already has a hangoverhas already go for their restful night's sleep by the time I get home.Ev, agreed 100%
That ndustry is great for single parents, students, newcomers and people that needs ready cash. If you put in the shifts, you definately get the money out and it's mostly taxfree as the basic wage would normally be the minimum wage in place...but still, the best part of that job is its social side. You really get close with your workmates and you do get to know a lot of people. The downside is that it takes a long time to wind-down after work as (expecially if it is a busy place) the "high" you will reach when busy is still buzzing in your head a couple of hours afterward.
It's great to hang out with you, Matt. Got any funny stories since last we spoke? :-)
I was a dishwasher a couple of times -- I never worked in the dining room.
::nudge nudge::
I always reported about 10-12%. Our managers warned us never to report under 10% because the IRS would get suspicious. I usually made over 20%, almost every night. I counted it a bad night if I made 15%, because I had a lot of generous regulars. I usually ended up getting paychecks for $0 or a few pennies, because $2.13/hr minus the taxes on 10% of my tips = less than 0.
The fact that she was a hottie and knew how to play for tips helped....
The fact that she was a hottie and knew how to play for tips helped....
I made my best tips from three kinds of customers:
—the long-time regulars who liked me and asked to be seated in my section
—girls' night out
—gay boys' night out
The waitresses usually make the biggest bucks, and cocktail section is primo server-real-estate. It's harder to get scheduled to work cocktail if you possess a penis.
My biggest night ever, I think I made $400 at the brew pub. But it was also a nine-hour shift and I was ready to be cremated by the time I was finally off work.
The worst tippers on earth: German tourists.
Ev....and how many times the friends/partners wished you changed job? Or got jealous? It's just that it really canget under your skin andthe politics, the aggro, the participation..it's like a drug really :-) And yes...alcohol and drug abuse is rife too..well, in my case very little alcohol but plenty of Marja! :-)
German, French and Italians! Pidocchiosi! the best are Amerikanz an the Brits ;-)
florrie mou, I want to thank you not just for this but because you make bloggie a home for us. Having you on bloggie feels like having my mom here baking bread and making the house smell good. Thank you for everything you do for us.
And I forgot to thank Frankie, (bloggie's official historian), probably because I can't even picture bloggie without him so I take his presence for granted.
And Kevin, not only it's a Greek custom that you must write to Greek-American actors on behalf of Greek people, but it's also a bloggie requirement. (Psst... Jennifer Aniston is Greek.)
I just listened again to joem and the kids - that was perfect :-D and Jefe's Bella Ciao and to ev singing happy birthday :-) And the "Imoun Aggelos tou Tsarly" ("I was Charlie's Angel") song from my favourite Greek show, "Sto para pente".
Sometimes it takes a long time to wind down after driving a bus. I usually don't have anything to drink when I get home, because I don't have anything here -- and I am not supposed to buy alchohol when I am wearing my bus-driver suit. So I come home and get on the computer.
Even though we don't work side-by-side, we are friendly at work because we see the same things. We talk about the passengers, too. Driving at night, especially, we know the same people. I happened to find out the (first) name of one of them, a rather anal-retentive kind of guy. You tell him "Good night," and he is likely to ask you why you said "Good night" instead of "Good bye." That sort of thing. Anyway, I started saying, "Hello, Steve," and that really through him in a tizzy. I told another driver his name, and that probably did a number on him. Form time to time, the guy will ask me, "How did you find out my name? Did another driver tell you?"
Thursday of last week, three of us got to sit around and talk for 7 1/2 hourse because our power was out because of the wind storm. I got stranded at 5:15. We finally got rescued at 12:45. One of those "bonding experiences" between co-workers.
That reminds me of a sushi chef we call the sushi nazi, who gets really pissed off if you're a new customer because he doesn't want new customers. "How you find out about this place! Who told you!" I'll have to tell that one another time, because I'm exhausted and falling asleep. Sweet dreams zorkina mou, and good night everybody. Thanks for giving zorkie a wonderful birthday, you guys are truly the best!
My son's girlfriend just quit from a restaurant -- she was an assistant cook. Seems there were several guys from a country to the south. These guys would talk about the other people in the kitchen, -- in unflattering terms. If someone that these guys knew could understand them came by, they would shut up. There was one guy, however, who could understand them -- but they didn't know it. This guy would fill everyone else in on what these guys were saying.
LOL!
That reminds me of a sushi chef we call the sushi nazi, who gets really pissed off if you're a new customer because he doesn't want new customers. "How you find out about this place! Who told you!"
G'night ev.
ev, I read your post last because I knew it would make me cry even more. (And it did). Thank you, habeebi. None of this would have happened if you weren't here. You're a joy to be with and I feel privileged to be a part of this wonderful adventure with you. Every day I look forward to what trouble we'll get into and indeed, we haven't been bored yet :-D I love working with you, I love exploring with you and I love creating with you. You're truly a remarkable person evariste mou, and I'm very lucky to have you in my life.
And thank you everyone again for the songs and the poetry and the stories and the pictures, no wonder I love bloggie so much, it's inhabited by very special and talented people.
And I'm going to bed too, good night everyone and good night bloggaki mou, you sweet bloggie you.
G'night zorkie.
The politics are everything! FoH against BoH, managers againsts everybodyand everybody together against stroppy customers. The ones that will eat everything and then say it wasn't too good, it as cold, there was a hair....once there was this woman with 3 kids, blond kids, long hair...and there was me and a shri-lankan chef...and she found a long blond hair in the pizza...and she complained!
My girlfriend was always jealous of the pretty waitresses and the female customers and to be honest i wasn't exactly sainty-nnocent ;-) Theflirting is outragous! You've got to anyway; it's the job, part of the service and food i sexy! Like I said Ev, so many enters the job with a partner only to end up ith someone from the environment...unavoidable sometime as you get so involved is unreal. Things do become unreasonably parmount and you know what? It's so funny!
Good night Spiny :-)
G'night Spiny, and kalinixta kai oneira glikia, vre zorkina mou :-)
G'night mauretto :-)
Oneira glyka vre evaristouli mou!
Have a good day mauretto!
Wine out my nose! Ow!
You're off to sleep Ev? Buonanotte amico mio...
Buonanotte!
Buonanotte Zorkina bella...have a good exploration? beware the reating part of it though :-) rsrsrssrsr
Zorkie;
I am glad you like the goofy little rewrite of Clement Moore.
I hope you are continuing to have a wonderful birthday.
I'm not around much, just lurking a little, because, God help me, I am working retail at Christmas. I comehome exhausted, go to bed exhausted and wake stiff, sore and exhausted.
But I would not have missed your birthday for anything less than major surgery.
Happy Birthday, dear zorkie! I tried to stay up, and I made it! It was twelve midnight, but I forgot MY midnight is not zorkie standard time! (That would be 2 AM here!) I wish you all the LOL's and LMAO's one day can hold!
I think I've used up my quota of exclamation points for the day. Sheesh.
RIP, your contribution has me howling with laughter. At the same time I'm bawling from reading ev's! sniff
Fay and florrie, you did an amazing job putting this together.
I"m so sorry I got to the party late! But I do love you, zorkie! Happy Birthday! *smooch*
re: restaurants... I worked at Denny's in Monterey and made VERY good tips doing so (surprisingly enough, yes, VERY good tips. At Denny's). I would never have been able to finish college without it.
I worked in restaurants when I was young, too. Denny's, Sambo's, K-Bob's, etc. It was good, tax-free party money.
Best tippers: the geriatric cocktail lounge crowd. Five hour shift, $300 plus a night.
Worst tippers: the Sunday after church crowd. Ten people crammed in a 6-top, run you ragged for two hours, leave a handful of change on the table. Grrr...
Wow...talk about late to the party, I must be clueless. Checked in last night in the middle of the night and it looked like those up were playing some game or puzzle...Gak!
So I took the dogs outside, as they've been getting a diet of raw beef bones (big ones....I use these to occupy them on long dreary rainy days) that they crush up and eat...which means they need to go out f-r-e-q-e-n-t-l-y. If unaccompanied they'll romp in the mud and bring it back inside.
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Zorkie. You are a rare person, one I am very glad I've met, even if only virtually. Your support, along with that of a few others, last spring and summer was literally a life saver. How you and Ev manage this unruly herd amazes me, and the composition of the greeting put together by Floranista tells me I am right, your're amazing....and that we all know it.
Many happy returns of this day.
Worst paying job ever: playing gigs. Two hours to set up, thousands of dollars worth of equipment, four hours playing time, an hour to tear down. $300, split five ways. And that's not even counting practice time.
Some nights my bar bill was more than that. ( The band's booze was always free, but I had a bad habit of buying for the crowd).
I loved every smoke-filled, wailin' second of it.
Happy Birthday Zorkie!!!
Happy Birthday, zorkie!! I feel so lucky to be a part of it.
I hear you, lady redhawk. It would be nice to break even at some point, but with all the money spent on instruments & equipment, that may never happen. But I wouldn't trade it for anything!
As for the restaurant culture, I've never worked in one, but reading the comments makes it obvious that it's not just my neighborhood hangout. It's like a freaking soap opera. With a cast that keeps changing because of the stress level.
Happy birthday, zorkie mou. I am echoing Aridog's words, it's an honor, privilege and delight to know you. You definitely changed the last couple years of my life for the better.
florrie and Fay, what a great card and what a wonderful idea to have it written by all comrades, I've been laughing my head off all morning. And thank you for making the type BIG for those of us hearing impaired.
Oh my, that will teach me to oversleep!
zorkie, I don't need a special day to tell you how wonderful you are. You are one of the most remarkable people I have ever come across in my life, and you and ev have created a wonderful community that means so much to me.
{{{zorkie}}}
Now off to read the thread...
When I think of the thousands of hours you were out killing mammoths for us bloggie comrades...
If your birthday is less than two weeks from Christmas, that means you don't have to buy separate presents for each occasion, right? :)
But seriously, Zorkie, have a wonderful birthday AND a wonderful Christmas.
[Invis-O-Text™: ON]
Er, is the bolding intentional?
[Invis-O-Text™: OFF]
Happy birthday! You are the most wonderful, patient, forgiving and talented lady I know in the whole entire blogosphere (especially the most patient) and I am lucky to know you.
Hmph. I should have stayed up. And written a poem. Even though I can't rhyme.
And after reading all the restaurant posts, I count me glad, once again, that I decided not to continue with a career in the culinary arts.
Funny thing about people who work, or have worked, in restaurants and dinner spots, clubs, etc. When I was a manager in the private sector and we were looking for a new employee....bar tending, waitressing, being a waiter, etc. was a g-o-o-d thing to have on the resume from my perspective. I'd take a Tech School grad with a couple years or so as a waiter or waitress over almost any University grad with serious degrees, but no experience with retail or dealing with John Q, who can be an ass. Part of that reasoning was based upon the simple fact that I know without doubt I could never have done it for any extended period of time. A person who can smile, through anger, and satisfy a customer, a buyer, a project manager, is priceless....those skills do not OJT well, in my opipion, you have them, or you don't. I don't. So I admire those who do.
I knew I was going to miss the party as soon as Fay emailed me about the birthday thread and I looked up the date on the calendar and saw it was a Saturday, and there was not a darned thing I could do about it besides change my religion or my time zone :-) But never mind, I've gotten here, late but not hungover (yet) so I can still post my birthday wishes.
Happy Birthday zorkie! יום הולדת שמח, שתזכי לשנה הבאה עד מאה ועשרים שנה.
I just can't imagine my life without bloggie any more and I can't remember what I used to do to fill my time. Like so many others here have said, you together with ev have created a special place like no other, where we can all feel at home amongst friends even though most of us haven't a clue what the others look like or sound like. Bless you and thank you.
If all the other treats are gone, I've brought chocolate glazed hazelnut mousse torte:
The whiskey's for the chef. But I might be persuaded to share.
The hell with the whiskey, gimme some torte!
I was sure it was going to be Efi. :)
Happy Birthday zorkie! We love you and really feel privileged to know you and have this little place on the internet to call "home". You've created something unique and wonderful - because you've put your heart, soul and ideals into the creation of this corner of the internet. You've done something amazing here, and we're blessed to be part of it.
An florie, this is an extraordinary card - what a creative bunch! Thanks to you and Fay for putting it all together.
I was sure it was going to be Efi. :)
I was sure it was going to be Efi. :)
As if I would do that!
As if I would do that!
LOL!!
Happy birthday, Zorkie. I really appreciate
what you and Ev have blessed us withthat with which you and Ev have blessed us. The knowledge and insight from the Bloggie Comrades keeps me in touch with things, and also gives me a sense of optimism that there are many good people in the world.Oh, and RC neo-Jew -- Zorkie is 29. Don't you read the FAQ?
29?
They all say that
Thank you all for the wishes and the very kind words :-D
Hi zorkie mou, are you having a lovely day?
Hey, this party's going on a long time. I've just been out and climbed up a
nice little mountain in the Lake District and got back again - and everyone's still partying.
Any drinks left?
Happy birthday, zorkie!
Great thread!
I gotta go - not done Christmas shopping yet.
Yes, yes, I know you're all shocked - SHOCKED! - at this stunning development.
Hi zorkie mou, are you having a lovely day?
A wonderful day! I slept in too :-)
Thank you Lewis!
I got a great present from a friend, I got a bread machine! I will make bread and stun everyone into silence!
29?
They all say that
LOL!!!
zorkie - you see what a big party you inspired. It will go on for so long that by the time it's over, you will be - oooh, I don't know (thinks of a big number) - 29!
LMAO!
I got a great present from a friend, I got a bread machine! I will make bread and stun everyone into silence!
With the bread? Do you expect it to have a very hard crust?
With the bread? Do you expect it to have a very hard crust?
LMAO!! You kill me, RC :-D
LMAO!! You kill me, RC :-D
No, no! I don't intend to do that! Please keep on enjoying this party for so long that it lasts until the next one (your 30th) and then your 31st, etc and so on. One long party for many, many years, please!
And that bread will go very nicely with the cheese, by the way.
Sounds good!
Oh my gosh, yes you do zorkz, this and so much more... I'm just a mess reading through all of this, you are so loved and treasured!
We are so blessed to have you and ev and bloggie. You are so good to us.
God bless you zorkz-mas, I hope you have a wonderful birthday and years and years more of them. We love you so much!
Amen and LOL packen :)
Thanks, Sojo! It's good to see you again :-)
Sleet, snow, sprinkles, work, holiday traffic in L.A. - NOTHING could keep me from bloggie on zorkz's birthday :)
Happy Birthday, zorkie!
I hope you're having a wonderful day : )
LOL!! Thank you AM, and yes, this was fantastic :-)
Happy Birthday, zorkie mou!!
Wishing you all the best and many, many happy returns!
Thank you joem! The song was lovely, give the kids a big hug from me :-)
Happy Birthday Zorkie!
I prolly won't get to read everything until Tuesday.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thank you, papi! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
The Hell with the torte, gimme some Jamesons!!!
Although, for now, eggnog with 100 proof bourbon seems to be turning the trick, as it were.
I'm going to have eggnog with brandy later :-D Put your feet up and relax, dear Dances, the stores are a nightmare (for shoppers, I can only imagine how bad it is in the other side of the counter.)
Happy Birthday!
(Sorry so late, I've been in retail hell too.)
Thanks for the forum you've created for us.
And here's some more
and 
for you.
Thank you Mrs Lewis! :-D Merry Christmas to you and Lewis and the little Lewises.
I love the card and you Comrades! Happy Birthday Zork! Wish you the best and enjoy your party!
Thank you, kian! We're doing puzzles in the other thread, Sean Gleeson got us hooked :-D
Here's a trackback.
That's very sweet, Sean, thank you :-)
Happy Birthday Zorkie, I know it is a little late. Been dealing with the blizzard and in clean up mode after.
I hope today was a great day for you. You honeslty deserve the very best1
Thank you, Pamela! How's your visit with your friend going?
A bit belated but please accept my best wishes and for many, many more Happy Birthdays
Zorkie:
I'm far too drunk to have read all of the earleir posts so I cannot comment on them but I want to wish you a great birthday, zorkie.
zorkie, I missed your birthday, but my wishes are there to you! xxx
belated wishes for the Happiest Birthday EVER!
HUGS and more!