I seem to recall, many many moons ago when I got my first computer, someone explained to me that computers are binary– that they convert everything to ones and zeroes and then do the arithmetic really fast. It is a fleeting memory and was honestly of rather little help to me in trying to decipher just one of the items on my friend Holly’s scavenger hunt list.
I’ve long known that I am very much an odd duck. I am probably the only person you know who does not own a cell phone (and doesn’t Want to; though I am hoping to buy an Android tablet this month). And not having a phone, I’m also one of the only people I know who doesn’t regularly take pictures. (The fact that I’m really not good at it seems to matter rather more to me than it does to most folks who lack skills photographic.) While I suppose I could spend a bit of this post fussing at Holly for her very un-writerly emphasis on pictures, I decided instead to try to address every item on her list over the course of three blog posts, this being the last of those three.
I keep odd hours, and my personal “first thing in the morning” is liable to be at most any hour on the clock. I truly love being retired. I go to bed when I feel tired. I wake up when I wake up. And in between I pretty much only do what I feel like doing, when I feel like doing it. But even if I got up at a regular time each morning, I don’t think I would be willing to share with you a picture of what I look like at that hour. Holly on the other hand, is I believe a morning person. I picture Holly first thing in the morning like Lily Tomlin in the movie 9 to 5: in the sequence where they fantasize about killing the boss and Tomlin’s character sees it as a very Disney like affair, in a colorful costume surrounded by legions of animated animals. My favorite song is Billy Joel’s Say Goodbye To Hollywood. The lyric “you say a word out of line, and find that the friends you had are gone forever” is very, very true in my experience.
So happy birthday, Holly. While I did not exactly follow any of the instructions err rules, I believe over these three blog posts I have addressed every item on your list. And finally, I am at heart a New Orleans boy, even though I haven’t lived in that city for many years now. And even the poorest New Orleanians know that the cake for any birthday is a half lemon, half chocolate doberge cake. Now that Beaulah Ledner has passed away, most folks in New Orleans buy their birthday doberge from Gambino’s Bakery, which bought out Mrs. Ledner’s recipe and continues to make and sell these wonderful cakes. If you can’t get to New Orleans for your birthday, click on the picture to order one from the Ambrosia Bakery.
Happy Birthday, Holly! =)
Thank you, LeiaD!
Happy Birthday, american awesome writer…
Holly, you are replying at 2:42 AM? Didn’t you sleep?
Abhi! Thanks so much for coming over here to wish Holly a happy birthday. I am checking out Allie’s blog now. Will get to yours in a bit.
Abhi, Alan’s blog is on Australia time, or something – of course I wasn’t up at 2:42 AM! LOL
Happy Birthday, Holly
Thank you, Shahid.
Happy Birthday Holly…enjoy your cake!
Thanks, Vicki! Wish I could share a piece with you.
Happy Birthday Holly!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday Holly! The cake picture looks so good! I hope you get to enjoy one twice as delish as that looks! 🙂
That looks AMAZING, doesn’t it? I’d never heard of this kind of cake, but I’d love to give it a try one day. We’re actually having dinner here: http://www.fogodechao.com/index.php?id=171 – not sure I’ll have any ROOM for dessert!
ooooo, I’ve always wanted to try a Brazilian style restaurant like that where the carvers keep bringing meat to your table. (Though if I’m ever in Houston on my birthday I want to be go to Papa Deux’s 🙂
Happy Birthday, Holly!
Thanks, Steve!
Happy Birthday, Holly!! Wow, nice cake!! 🙂
Isn’t it? I looked at the page it links to, and pricey as it is, I think it must be worth every penny. I cannot imagine how long it would take me to MAKE one, and how many failed attempts would precede success!
I lived in and near New Orleans from birth to age 20 or so and never once knew Anyone who made a doberge cake at home.
That only makes the challenge tempting, now, Alan. You should know me too well for that.
Well….I would Totally welcome a guest post from you featuring an image, images or video of your trying to make a doberge cake. I’m sure you can google up a recipe if you try.
Happy Birthday, Holly! This blog just like a coffee or tea for me. I drop by everyday to see any update to my friends 🙂
Coffee or tea with Alan is always a pleasure – he serves up such good conversation, not to mention lovely cakes and pies, to go with it!
Tea and cake is always a good combination for me. Happy Birthday, Holly!
I’m thrilled to host this little coffee klatsch. Thank you both so much for being regular visitors.
Reblogged this on Ransae's Blog.
Happy Birthday, Holly!!
Thank you.
Happy birthday dear Holly 🙂
Hi, Anne! Thank you. It’s good to see your smiling face here at my party! (Alan throws a great party, doesn’t he?)
Happy birthday, Holly! I hope you had a successful scavenger hunt!
Hey, Liz – thank you! It’s not too late to join in the fun, you know. Deadline’s noon tomorrow – Pacific time.
Happy birthday, and hope you enjoy time away from the computer today, too 🙂
Thanks, Saulman. I intend to! (You know, it’s really only 3/2, here, still.) In the morning, my son’s got his first Fencing tournament. He’d originally told his coach he couldn’t participate, since it was my birthday. Sweet kid! I told her he could, if he wanted to – what better way to start my birthday than watching him in a swashbuckling duel, eh? Think winning thoughts his way, come morning!
that’s a nice thought.
Happy Birthday
Thanks, Gayle.
Happy B’Day Holly. Have a great day an awesome year ahead. Cheers. 🙂
Thank you, Srivatsan. I had an excellent day, indeed. If it’s any indication of the year to come, it’s going to be one of the best, yet.
Very happy birthday Holly 🙂
Thank you, Jon! 🙂
Many Happy returns of the Day i.e. Happy Birthday Holly and may the universal power grant you your wishes for your benefit, Always Smile, Cheers , Have a Good one today !
I made my wishes carefully, and I can only trust they’ll be granted! Thank you, Geoffrey.
Happy Birthday Holly, As it turns out its mine as well the 3rd of March except your wonderful and young 22, I an old grump at 29, All the best
Happy birthday, Barry!
Barry, Barry – I’m older. By 20. Cheer up! And happy birthday to you, too!
you just had to go and tell them your age didn’t you? 🙂
Am I supposed to be ashamed of that?
My new goal is to try to get into shape like Madonna and Tina Turner, so folks will think I’m part vampire, too. 😉
lmao. You rawk the gym, my friend. all joking aside, I am proud of every one of my 47 years of experience on this planet. And I love birthdays!
Have a very happy Happy Holly!
Thank you, Peter!
Happy birthday Holly. Have a wonderful day.
Thanks, Wayne! I did have – for sure.
Happy birthday Holly. All the best for the years to come.
Thank you, Majdi. I appreciate that. This was quite a surprise Alan cooked up! (Better, even, than cake or pie!)
Happy Birthday Holly. Life only gets better and better!
What a wonderful birthday thought, Judy. And you know, I do believe it’s true.
Alan I believe it as well!
Alan!! Oh my goodness gracious. I love your rebellious, color-outside-the-lines approach to my Scavenger Hunt! You GOT it, without ever asking me one question. That’s worth bonus points, right there. (I have to be honest, I have loved being fêted – not foetid, fêted! – over three posts on your blog, too!)
What did you do, Alan? Change your blog’s TIME ZONE in my honor?? I love it. Can you make March 3 last all week? I’ll dedicate my Hugo-winning story to you, if you can!
Thank you ALL for the sweet birthday wishes.
My blog is on, I believe, an Australian time zone where the WP.com servers live. Midnight in that time zone comes at 4pm my time zone each day. (6pm your time I think.) I set every post to go live at 12:01am server time on the post date. So I am always ahead of most of my US friends on this blog…..maybe that’s another reason I no longer keep regular hours 🙂
Happy Birthday, Holly! I hear you are the muse for the ages as well as many stories that have painted you as a classic heroine, possibly even demigoddess.I am celebrating your birthday by listening to 9-5 (The Dolly version), but as a twist I am imagining you killing off every food pornish dish featured on these backgrounds for the whole year, calorie free, and full of rich flavors! Just because I’m weird, I imagine you doing it with singing and dancing utensils. I can’t deliver on that though so suffice to accept my warmest wishes for a wonderful year filled with people you love.
Mandy, with an imagination like yours, you really ought to enter my Scavenger Hunt! There’s still time. I understand if you don’t want to compete with our buddy Alan, here, but I think you’d have fun with it! Deadline’s noon tomorrow, Pacific time. And thank you. 🙂
Have a very happy Birthday Holly!
G’Day! Thank you. 😀
Happy Birthday Holly!. I have to confess that one of the best things about joining Empire Avenue has been meeting you and your little dust bunny sidekick. Your warmth, sense of humor and sense of fun light up The Avenue. I am so honored that I’ve gotten to know you and you know who. I hope this birthday year is the best ever.
Huge,
Karen Marie
I’m going to dye her hair tangerine orange while she sleeps. That’s going to be MY birthday present to our favorite author. Do you think she’ll squeal with delight in the morning, when she sees herself in the mirror?
Muahahahahaha!!
I’ll be sleeping with one eye open. I wonder if Fencing regulations would allow you to ride the button on my son’s foil at his first tournament tomorrow, Prunebutt?
We all know I’m what you look like, first thing in the morning. No matter what anyone drew for your little Scavenger hunt, you look JUST LIKE ME.
I’ve been having a bit of a belly ache all day. Not like I ate to much or something disagreed with me…like the muscles are sore. And I just now realized that it is an after effect, a sort of laughter-related hangover from all the laughing I did during this great birthday party. (Thinking next week I will get my #definethis tweeters to say something to you again, @Prunebutt1)
that’s the nicest thing! And from me too – Happy Birthday, Holly!
Thank you, saulman.
Sent to all my networks Happy Birthday dear Holly.
Wow! Thank you, G’Day!
I would love to thank each of you individually, but WordPress keeps telling me, “You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.” Even my fingers talk too fast!
sheesh. I hate it when WordPress acts like Facebook 😦
Happy Birthday Holly
Hi, Michelle. I have no idea why my reply to you, yesterday, ended up several comments below this – blame it on the mojito, maybe? Or an overdose of lamb and red velvet cupcake? Thank you for joining Alan’s little “surprise birthday party” for me, here!
Happy birthday Holly, have fun
Thank you, Leo.
Hope your birthday is wonderful and your day is a special one, Holly!
Thanks, Lindy! It was great. 🙂
All day, my cell phone bleeped with “happy birthday” messages from all over the world. I didn’t answer most of them, because I was completely away from the PC for most of the day – having fun offline!
Thanks, Michelle!
Happy Birthday Holly.
Thank you, anyanon!
Happy birthday, Holly! Have a great time on your special day!
Thank you, Emmanuel! I have had a great time all weekend.
Happy Birthday Holly !! Have a Super time 🙂
Thank you, Geoffrey! I did have. 😀
Happy Birthday Holly!! Wish you fabulous time ahead!!
Hi, morninglilies – thank you, I did have a fabulous day! An excellent weekend, in fact.
Happy Birthday Holly
Thanks, Barry!
Hi Holly,
Have Super Happy Birthday, and wishing you many many many more to come.
Love and hugs,
Gaye
Thank you, Gaye! Yep, it was super – and yep, I’m hoping to celebrate many, many, many more to come!
Many many returns of the day!! Happy Birthday to you Holly 🙂
Thank you so much, Mithu. I appreciate your taking time to wish me a happy birthday!
Happy birthday Holly. Have an amazing day
It was amazing, Wayne. Thank you.
Bon anniversaire Holly 🙂
xx
Merci!
Happy Birthday Holly!! Have the best birthday ever =)
Thank you, Mary. 🙂
Feliz Cumpleaños!
Gracias, Greg!
Happy Birthday!
Great effort from great people! *_*
Thanks for being a part of my happy birthday, primaqea!
You are very welcome! Best wishes frwd! 🙂
Happy Birthday, Holly! 😉
Thank you, alessandrorea!
Happy Birthday Holly!
Thank you, Mefance.
Wishing you a wonderfully wicked happy Birthday Holly !! enjoy yourself…. Edu
I enjoyed myself a lot – not sure I did anything “wicked,” exactly, unless making the guy with the lamb chops come by our table every 5 minutes or so, and indulging in not one, but TWO Crave cupcakes counts!
Sretan rođendan, Holly
Hvala, Leo!
Happy Birthday Holly!!!
Thanks, Candace! It was great.
Happy birthday Holly – enjoy the day!
Thank you, Thomas. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Holly!
Thanks, LG!
Wishing you a marvelous happy birthday Holly!
Jan! It’s always good to see your smiling face at the party – thank you for the happy birthday wishes. It WAS marvelous!
Happy Birthday Holly
Thanks, swishthings! 😉
Happy Birthday Holly
Tom, thank you for coming by to wish me a happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Holly!
Thank you, Shahid! I had a fun day.
Huge happy birthday Holly!
Thank you, PDQ Trader. 🙂
Hey Holly. Word of mouth says you’re getting younger! 🙂 Happy Birthday.
Hmmm… whoever this “Word of mouth” is, they’re crazy – but I love ’em!
This is one of the few posts where a three word comment is acceptable.
Happy Birthday Holly!
(again) lol!
LOL – I think that after the photo, the videos, and the other happy birthday wishes you’ve sent me all over my favorite sites, a three word comment IS, indeed, acceptable! Thank you, Boo. I loved One Day – and I do hope “one day” we get to sit down and enjoy that salmon together!
Lleane, thanks so much for coming over here to add another happy birthday for Holly. (Honestly I had no clue the ones and zeros were about creating a meme– I was just trying to attract lots of comments as any savvy blogger would 🙂
happy birthday Holly 🙂
Thank you, Elza. Sorry it’s taking me all weekend to catch up – but I read every message as it was posted, yesterday, and spend the day grinning from ear to ear.
Happy Birthday Holly, and here is to many more!
Thank you, topbullet1! I’m hoping for many more!
Happy Birthday Holly, hope you have a great day 🙂
Thank you, lsmn364! (Is that your real name?)
Happy Birthday Holly 🙂
Hope your day was the best of all the few birthdays you’ve had!
Finally in your 30s, enjoy them !!! 😉
Yes, Hank – though I’ll happily take a few more just for comparison’s sake, you know. Not to be a greedy little thing…
Happy, happy birthday! Happy, happy birthday! Happy birthday, Holly! Happy, happy birthday! ; )
Thanks, Liz! That it was – happy, happy! I think each birthday is more fun than the last – that, or maybe I just grow a deeper appreciation for one more year breathing. 🙂
Happy Birthday!! 🙂
Thanks, flaughed! (How do you pronounce that?)
Today your friends and family are celebrating someone very special – YOU! Happy Birthday Holly.
Thank you so much for posting the 100th comment in this thread, Diana. I was really impressed by Holly’s attempt at thanking each of you commentators individually (and normally I do try real hard to reply to every comment, but I am just not up to it today 🙂 I am so grateful to each and every one of you who stopped by to wish Holly a happy birthday. You’re the best!
I had to give it up FOR my birthday, you know – I wasn’t near a PC most of the day! But I did smile every time I saw “happy birthday” messages on my phone. (My big fat fingers like to reply on a real keyboard, though, unless it’s an emergency.) Thank you, Alan.
Thank you to all of you who answered Alan’s call, too – it’s really sweet of you to wish me a happy birthday!
Thank you, Diana. 🙂 I certainly felt “celebrated” yesterday! Pampered, too. I had a lovely day, and I’m glad that you came over here to be a part of it.
Happy Birthday Holly. So nice when friends go that extra mile to make your day special!
That it is, Sharon. Alan has really outdone himself, throwing me this online surprise party!
Oh, Alan, thank you for the fruit basket today – I’m in need of fruit, after yesterday’s carnivorous escapades at Fogo and all the cupcakes!
Well…the day changes so quickly here sometimes. The fruit basket has given way to a Spanish torta 😉
Well, I think I’ve already wished Holly a Happy Birthday on Facebook. Figure I should do the same here. Happy Birthday Holly!
LOL, Aldon, yes – hard to keep track!! Cover all the bases! Thank you – I’ve had a fun birthday weekend (and SO glad I have a Sunday to recuperate and catch up!)
A most happy birthday wished to you Holly, cheers to you from the Empire!
Thank you so much, Sia A.
Happy birthday Holly! Hope you are having a great day 🙂
It was wonderful, Daria, thank you!
Buon Compleanno Holly :)) –> Happy birthday!!
Grazie mille! I did enjoy it! 😀
Happy birthday Miss Holly 🙂
Thank you, Sharon! 😀
Dear Holly, I wish you a happy birthday! Best, Lucas
Thank you, Lucas! I had a wonderful birthday.
Great Holly! You deserved it!
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, (e)ABSYS!
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, spainfootball!
Happy Birthday, Holly! All the best from Europe 😉
Thanks, detart! And to all the world, http://youtu.be/kZmphu1HUxE !
And again!….Happy Birthday to You
Thank you, Victoria!
I just realized that the way your birthday is running, we’ve celebrated it like 4 times…did you age 4 years! OMG! If so you need to beat our friend about the head and shoulders with crisp broccoli and use harsh old English to punish him for it! But seriously, a very happy birthday and many more! Not too many, but just the right amount. You’ll know when that is. For me it’s the 6th year in adult diapers or 4th year I’ve done nothing but drool, but that’s my fault as my advanced directive explicitly states I be plugged into the car cigarette lighter to keep me going if necessary – just in case the zombie apocalypse does happen so I can join them. I’d be a rockin’ zombie!
I think I’m going to age 4 years, just trying to catch up with all the lovely birthday messages that have been posted for me here and on Facebook and Twitter – oh, Alan, yes, I figured it out – this WAS your #10, wasn’t it??
Thank you, mandyf. I’m with you on “just the right amount”!! I want my head in a freezer next to Disney’s. Mainly to be a freaky footnote in the topic of cryogenics in future encyclopedias, but – you know, there’s that tiny grain of optimism that says they might be able to thaw it and attach it to the body of a sexy 18 year old in the year 2476.
But what if some clever future sadist attached your long frozen head to a monster? (don’t think I want to try the cryogenics thing) And as I commented somewhere above…I hadn’t a clue what the 1’s and zeroes were Saying. (I don’t speak binary.) This was just my little way of getting a lot of comments. Allie should have put it on her list 🙂
What’s really funny is that the folks who did understand and convert the binary message replied in kind, but DIDN’T really attempt to follow its instruction. YOU created a meme (or sort of attempted to) without reading the instruction at all!
To me it speaks to and reinforces my belief in a higher power. But I am loath to say anything that might start discussion of religion or politics both of which are verboten on this blog 🙂
Looks like you gave Holly one of the best presents ever! And yes, loved your entries.. congrats! 🙂
Hajra, I had SO much fun with this. And for me having fun is really the point of blogging and social networking 🙂
Holly just redefined blogging contests!
Oh, yes – didn’t I, though? Goodness! Thank you, Hajra!
Perhaps I’m a bit tardy but… Happy B’day Holly.
Guy, my mother has long observed her “birthday season”. As best as I can tell it makes presents and kindness appropriate right up until one’s next birthday 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by.
Green pie with maraschino cherries doesn’t belong on a lavender plate. Just sayin’. That looks like something straight out of a 1950s Jell-O cookbook, Alan. I’m kind of afraid to ask.
well….it is to match the post that will be going live in about an hour. STAY TUNED
and just curious…did you read Ron’s review of the 1950-something jello cookbook on the books blog?
I think I missed that.
I saw this utterly horrible savory Jell-O mold concoction with beef flavoring and mushrooms, or something, and the morbid fascination makes me wish I had the recipe (or assembly instructions) or something – it was a remarkably stunning visual. I am guessing it’s either really tasty or really nasty.
That is more or less the appeal the book had for Ron 🙂
Ohhh, I found the picture – anyone have the instructions for concocting this monstrosity?
This one’s pretty darned impressive, too: http://rock-ur-party.tablespoon.com/2011/05/23/spiked-rainbow-salad/
Thank you, Guy! Alan, I do like your mother. She’s a wise lady. And a fun one.
I tried to get her to leave you a Happy Birthday….not sure if she saw the msg and didn’t reply or…..????
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