Vibrant.(Still) Unrepentant. Badass. Old. Queer

Good morning, Kittens. Guess what day it is? WEDNESDAY!!!! duh. But, it is also some sort of charity day in the DC/Metro region called "Give to the Max Day." Now, I know a Max, and I wouldn't suggest giving him any moneyz (I won't say why, but it rhymes with "Bot Brustworthy." It could also rhyme with "Bill Bonly Bend Bit Bon Brostitutes." No judgment, just sayin'). However, if you have a few pennies to throw at some local charities, you might want to consider it. There is a cute story about how I came about learning that today is "Give to (not just any but) the Max Day" ... A friend of mine (who happens to be a well-hung 26-year-old ex-Marine) mentioned that he is wanting to volunteer to help the homeless. And, I just so happen to have two very wonderful and generous-with-their-time neighbors (K-Factor and the Canadian) who volunteer with a local organization, Miriam's Kitchen . So, I shot them an email to get the contact i...

Good Morning, Kittens. Not that I need new snow boots (I have a rockin' pair of Doc Martens ... who knew they even made snow boots?), but I've spent the past week trolling Zappos ... I totes love these two pair: Polo Ralph Lauren Ranger Sherling Rolldown and Polo Ralph Lauren Tavin Rolldown If you had unlimited funds, which one would you buy? (and you can't say "both") Lessee ... I am still snowbound in Adams Morgan. I left work last Friday at noon and haven't been back. And, I don't have to go back until Tuesday. Oddly enough, since I'm going a little stir crazy, I'm thinking about heading to the office later today or tomorrow. What up with that? And, where is my NOOK? WHERE? It's been in Columbia, MD since February 9th according to the tracking website. Anyone want to drive out to Columbia? I hear the snow isn't bad there. Yesterday, I did my taxes (partially. I realized I'm missing two forms). Which reminded me that I need ...

Good Morning, Kittens. As some of you may know, in a former life, I was a high school biology teacher in a rural North Carolina town. The students were, how should I put this, not the brightest or the best behaved. Some days, my supervising teacher, after watching my students leave the class, would come across the hall and say, "you've earned another star for your crown in Heaven today." On Saturday, Ms. Bluestockingtales and I met my friend, Carolyn, for the Breathe DC Clean Air Walk, a 5K walk around the Tidal Basin. The weather was beautiful and, afterwards, we walked up to Dupont Circle for margaritas at Alero. Yay. Once home, I took a nice, long nap. Then, SCGB came down for drinks. Yay. Drinks. I spent the rest of the evening getting the house ready for Crazy Neighbor's Going Away Party. To give you an idea of what I had to deal with for this party, here are a few pictures of things she had been dropping by my door "for the party": But, the fo...

Good Morning, Kittens. Hope all is well in your world on this gloomy Wednesday. Hard to believe that we're two weeks into June and (a) I'm still unemployed and (b) it's in the 70s. Not that I'm complaining about either (especially the cool temperatures). The Board meeting last night was not entirely awful. Other than, the Crazy Neighbor was crazy. And, two of the Board Members hate each other and are on opposite sides of an issue we are having. Joy. Fortunately, the Crazy Neighbor is moving at the end of the month. Although there will still be a major disagreement about the issue, at least the discussions won't be as uncomfortable. On the bright side, we should be getting a new fence in the next few months. Hurrah. The old one is collapsing in places. Meanwhile, Operation Get a Job in New City is in high gear! If you define "high gear" to mean "I haven't really done anything yet." I did stumble across two rather interesting positi...

Good Morning, Kittens! It's a bright sunshiny day out there (but coooooooooooooold ). At some point, I need to venture forth unto the bank, Whole Foods, and likker store ( I iz almost out of GINZ! ), but it won't be today unless it gets a bit warmer. Yesterday was mostly a wash. I scoured several job sites with no luck. Bah. On the bright side, I did manage to set up a simple spreadsheet to keep track of participants and donations made in the 10% Refund Challenge. Are you participating? [Visit the Facebook Event page here .] Have you made your donations yet? When you do, please let me know. Really, it's just resume fodder so I can be all "organized a fund-raising event which donated X dollars to Y organizations." Well, it's resume fodder ... and a whole heap of dogooderyness. I *heart* dogooderyness! Also, pottery class was mostly successful. Even though I didn't throw any new pots, I trimmed the two vases and 3 mugs I made last week. Plus, I pulled handle...

Good Morning, Kittens! Happy October! So many exciting things happen this month ... like ... um ... Columbus Day! and ... um ... Putting Up the Christmas Decorations in All the Stores Day! And, of course, the SOCIAL EVENT OF THE SEASON: VUBOQ's 6th (7th?) Annual BYOP Pumpkin Carving Party (stay tuned for details)! Also, it is the time of year when VUBOQ needs the influx of Good Karma and he gets crazy ideas in his head that in order to mitigate all the BAD things that have happened recently he should do some GOOD things. Like the DC AIDS WALK. Which is what he did last year, and -thanks in large part to you beautiful people- he surpassed his goal of $500 and in less than two weeks raised $815 for the most deserving Whitman-Walker Clinic. So, guess what? These past few months have been even worse than last year's past few months. And, VUBOQ has decided he needs Extra-Good Karma and will try to raise $1000 for the DC AIDS WALK ... which is on OCTOBER 4th. Raising $1000 in four d...

Good Evening, Kittens! The drawing for the winner(s) of the 10% Refund Challenge has just taken place! I know you are excited to find out who will be receiving the fabulous yet to be determined prizes!!! First, I wrote all of the 10% Refund Challenge participants on slips of paper: Next, they were folded in half and placed in a small bag made from recycled juice bags from Bazura Bags (not one of our sponsors). I reached in ... and the 1st Prize Winner is ... [drum roll please] ... Mel! Yay! Congratulations! But, wait! There's more! I decided to have a 2nd Prize Winner ... And, the 2nd Prize goes to ... [another drum roll please] ... Dorothee and Jay! YAY! If you would email me [environy(at)gmail(dot)com] your mailing addresses, I will send you your fantabulous prize packages (as soon as I figure out what they are going to be)! Thanks to everyone who participated in the 10% Refund Challenge . To me, and the charities to which you donated, you are ALL winners! *smooches* Stay tun...

As you sit there, rumpled, in need of a shave, surrounded by adding machine tape* and coffee-stained files and chewed pencil erasers and forms with odd names like S-4B/2104: Withholding Allowance for Pet Apes Who Eat Only Organic Bananas, and you're thinking "Where in the hell did I put that Organic Banana receipt," there is a bright spot, a beacon of hope. There! On the horizon! Do you see it? Glistening in the distance? Beckoning you to move towards the light? What could it be? You squint, and, yes, it's ... it's ... It's the Last day to enter VUBOQ's 10% Refund Challenge ~or~ the Poor Bastages Who Owe the Tax Man Pity Party ! You have until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT to either leave a comment or email. There will be prizes and fun! And, most importantly, dogooderyness !!!! Don't wait. Enter NOW!!! Drawing to be held April 15th (possibly around 7PM). Employees of vuboq.blogspot.com not eligible to win. *and the children born after 1985 think "What?"

Last night, after folding all my laundry, I invited a few neighbors (DUN, SCGB, Tomokito) down to help me perfect the drink recipe I created for the Helix Lounge Spring/Summer Cocktail Contest . After a little trial and error (and a lot of gin), I think I hit upon a winner. The suckiest thing is that, since it's Alcohol-Free April, I couldn't sample my own creation. Poo. I emailed my recipe to the bar this morning. If you'd like to play along, email me (or leave a comment) and I'll send you the recipe. The drink, which I have dubbed the Blueberry Collins , is a lovely purple color and is YUMMY (or so I am told). And that's all the news that's fit to print. More later. *smooches* PS. Don't forget you only have a few more days to sign up for the 10% Refund Challenge or the Poor Bastages Who Owe the Tax Man Pity Party ! Fun! Prizes! Dogooderyness!

I know some of you are dreading the Ides of April , BUT there is something to look forward to! On the Evening of April 15th , the Winners of the 10% Refund Challenge *and* Poor Bastages Who Owe the Tax Man Pity Party will be announced! [Fantastic Prizes still TBD.*] Of course, there is still time to sign up for either FUNTASTIC drawing. You must email me or leave a comment on my blog by 11:59PM EST April 14th . Although not a requirement, it would nice if you told me to which organization(s) you are donating (so I can provide that organization a little linkyluv). So, far the Good People of Vutopia have donated to: Campus Cats Care Food and Friends Kiva Medical Students for Choice Operation Migration Ornicus Seva Foundation Washington Animal Rescue League Keep up the good work :-) *smooches* *Is it my fault the kiln is broken? Is it? I think not.

Here's an interesting tool to check on the efficiency of your donated dollars (y'know, the 10% of your tax refund which you are planning on donating): Charity Navigator These are the reports for two of the three charities to which I donated: Food and Friends Washington Animal Rescue League Medical Students for Choice hasn't been evaluated by Charity Navigator.

Look over there --> Three people (so far) have participated in the 10% Refund Challenge!!! *w00t* And, two poor bastages are entered in the "We Owed the Tax Man" Pity Party! You can play too! Donate 10% of your refund to the charity/charities of your choice and let me know. If you have to pay, you won't be left out ... drop me a line and I'll put your name in the hat for a separate drawing! Yay! Last night, I completed my 10% challenge by donating to a very worthy organization, Medical Students for Choice . Considering that more medical students learn about Viagra and hair replacement than providing the full range of reproductive healthcare, I think it's money well-donated. I also put some money into my Pax World Roth IRA and opened up an ING Direct 6 month CD (3.65%). In these uncertain times, perhaps it is best to squirrel away the extra cash for a rainy day rather than spending it on frivolous things. OK. I admit it. I did set aside some of my refun...

Guess what, kittens? My federal refund has been deposited into my bank account. YAY! As you know, I issued forth the challenge of donating 10% of our tax refunds to our favorite charities. This morning I gave money to the Washington Animal Rescue League and DC's Food and Friends . I am planning to throw some pennies at one more organization this evening. I can't from work, because its website is blocked by the Evil Firewall of Doom . *sigh* Once I make that donation, I will have met the requirements of the 10% Refund Challenge ! YAY! If you'd like to join the cool kids ( Earl Cootie and Mel ) over there on my sidebar, donate 10% of your tax refund to your favorite charity (or my favorite charities). Then, send me an email or leave a comment on teh blog. The drawing for the fabulous (yet to be determined) prize will be held on April 15th. On your mark. Get set. TITHE, BITCHES! *smooches*

Friday night was rather uneventful, so we'll skip right over it and move directly on to Saturday. Saturday morning, I did my taxes. And, for those of you, like me, who have to pay PMI*, we must give Congress a big SMOOCHY thank you, because ... PMI is NOW DEDUCTIBLE! Yes, kittens, yes, it is. I checked to make sure in my March issue of Kiplingers . It almost makes having to pay stupid PMI to the blood-sucking mortgage companies worthwhile. Almost. So, this year, VUBOQ is having Super-Happy Refund ! YAY! We *heart* Super-Happy Refund ! * super-happy refund booty dance* (_\_) (_/_) (_\_) (_/_) doot doot doot. doot doot da doot doot. Now, I'm sure you are asking yourself, "What is VUBOQ going to do with his Super-Happy Refund ?" I'm so glad you asked. I'm going to put most of it in savings and my Roth IRA! YAY! PLUS, and here's where you come in, starting today, VUBOQ issues forth his 10% Refund Challenge ! VUBOQ challenges everyone who gets a refund this ye...

For DC/MetroAreans: Bone Marrow Drive for a Member of our Community (Cheek-Swab Test — you do not need to give blood) Saturday, December 15, 20073 pm – 6 pm Location: Janney Elementary School4136 Albemarle St. NW, Wash. DC (intersection of Albemarle St. and Wisconsin Ave NW, across from Best Buy and the Tenleytown station on Metro’s Red Line) A local parent of South Asian descent is battling CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), a form of blood cancer. She is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant. Because there are so few South Asian donors in the national registry, finding a match for her may be very difficult. By registering with the National Marrow Donor Program, you may give the gift of life to this special person, who is a friend, daughter, wife, and mother. We are most in need of donors of South Asian descent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, East Africa, Guyana, Afghanistan). Donor registration is free for these individuals as well as those of African-American, Hispani...

(Not the rest of the Ture Story , that's finished, over, done, kaput! ... This is the rest of what I did yesterday, because I know you all find my life terribly exciting and you wish you were me, and, if I didn't tell you what I did yesterday (and this morning!), you don't know how you would be able to continue plodding through the drudgery of your lives ... or my life ... whatever.) Yesterday, I did laundry. I ate soup. I knitted the Never-Ending Afghan of Doom. I watched Hollywoodland . [Adrien Brody is *so* dreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeamy.] I drank a bit too much wine. I went to bed. This morning, I came to work. I blogged. I went to the bank. I deposited my check! I made a donation at Heifer International in honor of Pacalaga . $100 sure does buy a lot. I bought honeybees ! and a couple of seedlings ! and a part of a knitting basket ! Perhaps, you, too, might want to consider making a donation . A little good goes a long way. I told Y that I would go to some LGBT event at UMD ...

Several weeks ago, I received a letter from the management company of the apartment complex where I used to rent. The letter stated that I was entitled to a refund of my deposit. All I had to do was fill out a (simple) form and mail it to them by mid-Decemember. Well, VUBOQ may be more pretty than thinky, but he ain't no fool. Even though I have a vague memory of receiving a refund of my deposit when I moved out (over two years ago), I thought, "What the hell" and sent in the form. Today, the check arrived. TWO HUNDRED FORKIN' DOLLARS!!! Suh-WEET! And, on the spur of the moment, this is what I decided to do. 1. Put $100 into my recently opened ROTH IRA (Pax World Fund Balanced! 8% Annualized Return! Socially Responsible Investment Company!), and 2. (this is where you, the reader, come in), Make a $100 contribution to a charity the first commenter chooses * . So have at it. Someone leave a comment. *subject to VUBOQ approval because I's not gonna gives my fr...

Here's a fun vocabulary game that also feeds the hungry . Go. Play it now .