Showing posts with label birthday bash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday bash. Show all posts

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Birthday Bash and the man who helped cause it all. I know this guy was really, really smiling 53 years ago today....


He was the funniest man I ever knew. He was also the funnest. The kind of guy that the neighborhood kids come up to the door and ask if "Mickey can come out and play?!"
Uncle Mickey fought a brave and long fight against cancer. He finished his earthly battle while I was in Panama. I missed his funeral as I did my stepdad's, my grandmother's, and my stepmother's. There was a time I thought work must be finished no matter what. A smart man clued me in later that the Army's work would never be finished and no one was indispensable. I eventually learned that but not because of the wise and caring Captain Donovan, but because life has a way of teaching even the most typical TYPE A's.
Not many years later, Tonya, his daughter, his only living child, would be diagnosed with breast cancer and wake up out of surgery bearing her first mastectomy shortly before the age of 40.
She is a warrior, and I hope she'll share some of her war stories with our readers sometime, but mostly, I just hope she'll be her cute and patriotic self. She is America's cheerleader and no one in this world can help from falling in love with her because as much, no, MORE than anyone I know, Tonya loves LIFE! Needless to say, Aaron and Tonya were tight and usually on the same wave length.
Anyway, there's so much more to learn and that's what this is about today. I want my family and friends and stories and history and photos and funnies up! up! Up! here on gUnZ uP, you guys, so welcome to Tonya's Birthday-Bash-Slash Marathon. Well, actually I welcomed you all hours ago, but now you're up here instead of down there.
The Birthday Bash consists of test questions worth a penny a point. The sum total will go to Semper Fi Mom's bunch who are linked later on. When I say sum total, I'm thinking of the cost that it would take to stuff a stocking in 2007. Do you remember I told you I have about $89.45 saved? Well, I'm willing to give up $35.00 of it to send a care package overseas, but I don't want to do it alone, so help me stack some of it up, okay.
Most of the questions are family stuff, but easy and just for fun, guess! I may even take the test later, but Good Lord, no, not right now, so there's no real deadline. It's a for fun thing.
Images are cut size LARGE, but if you are real Seniorly and on your 4th or 5th pair of bifocals like I am, then just click on the images and some of them will be very easy to see!

Tonya's Birthday Bash and Blog Invitation, along with photos from the Pechanga in 2004

401.Who talks with their hands and from which McCurry woman did they inherit this trait?-- 2 questions 2 points

a. Tonya. MeMa
b. The Princess. Her paternal grandmother, my maternal.
c. The charming young woman who turns 53 today.
d. The woman who said she'd love to blog with us but didn't know that comments were not counted as authorship. Now she can blog at random like all of us here and use as many squares as she wants. (if she decides to check her email and doesn't forget to accept her Blogger Invitation. She is 53. I said that. Right.
e. The woman who runs out of room in her little squares.
f. And forgot her password
g. Is probably out at some game and dinner right now whilst elder cousin slaves over numbers and alphabets.
h. All of the above.

Isn't she cute? She's my favorite cousin!

About 12-16 of us met in California during the Marine's 229th Birthday, 2004. It was a time that will always be cherished and turned out to be just a great 2, 3, 4 hour luncheon for many of us the day after the Marine Ball. This photo was taken the night of the Ball.

Tonya's Birthday Bash and forever Internet photo/memory album


301. Who is holding whose purse?

Tonya, you and Allie saw Aaron for the last time one day after Lisa, Kayla, Greg and I did. You, Eric, Juanita, Tiffany and Allie visited this museum in Canyon, Texas. 302. What holiday weekend was it? And

303. What is your family's link to Canyon, Texas? This is just a friendly little getting to know you question but you can still have one penny from heaven for a little FYI here!



304. No real words for all the links here in these few photos....

Birthday Bash: Fluidity, except for test numbers. Their series has changed to 200.



201. Name those who enjoy red. -2
202. Beige. -2
203. Name those whose favored-color trend remains fluid. -2
204. Name 2 Marines- 2
205. Name their Uncle who fought in WW 2 -1

And Aaron picked out his own clothes at even age 3. I wonder if Uncle Bennie did at such an early age as well?

206. Which cousin of yours, Tonya, did my Dad claim to favor Uncle Bennie's mannerisms and personality? one lucky shot and one point!

Birthday Bash and Pennies from Heaven

Well, this brief intermission has caused a bit of brain dullness as it were, so I can't remember what number we were on so no problem we will just begin with
Marine Ball Preparedness 101.

101. Who is night night?

102. Who is getting the wax job? Has the man no shame?

two questions two answers. That's the way it works. And it's a penny a point for the winner. Each penny will go to support, yep, you guessed it LUBBOCKMARINEPARENTS, after all, it was the Birthday Girl who claimed my last cookbook put together by some great people and one great Semper Fi Mom.

I haven't thought of the Birthday Girl's gift yet. Any help from any? 103. Which person seated at the table was Aaron's gunner?
name and description (2 pts.).

104. The two other Brothers pictured here were with us again at the luncheon given for all of us at Oscar's after the Marine Ball 2004--True or False.

105. Fill in the blanks
Pictured Marines are: Brandt ____ and Jamie ____.

106. Which person in either black or blue borrowed their mother's black socks to wear to the Ball and never returned them?

107. Which person in either black or blue was late to the hotel because he was best man at a wedding?

108. Who got married on that night? 1 couple, 1 point, 1 tardy Marine, still, one point.

109. Who was right on time and the most handsome Escort Service in San Diego?

Birthday Bash: Back to the test...

July 1, 2004. It would have been Aaron's 22nd birthday. You've always been like this. Thank you. Now, back to your test.

19. What color looks good on VB?

20. Who truly is the toughest lady?
a. my mom or
b. the lady she sits with

21. Is the yellow ribbon I am wearing in this photo of Aaron's arrival into Lubbock now torn and tattered, or is it still without wrinkle?

22. Who is the blonde and who is the brunette? Is one of them still out running all around town? :) 3 questions=3 points!
23. Name the dancer. Come on now, no one should miss this one!
a. Kayla De'on
b. Elfin Magic
c. Tiny Dancer in my hand

24. Name the state and the restaurant
a. Texas and Cagle's
b. Texas and County Line
c.
Texas and 50-Yard Line
d. Texas and Stella's
e. Texas and Abuello's
f. Hungry?
g. Am I still mean?

Birthday Bash! "She's my friend, he's my friend, she likes me, he does, uuummhh, I need to work on her a little," said the Princess as she mulled over

her high school year book, or De'on and Tonya begin to come unto their own sweet little selves! Selves! That's right! I didn't say elves and the word is pepper not paper, you know, black, duh, I'm at a fast food joint, not shopping for school supplies!" "Tonya looks sad. Maybe it's coz I have all the friends."
"Be happy, Tonya, here's some friends! (Pppsss... your parents paid them to play with you. Yes, I know Mama Curry is your great grandmother, but they paid her extra! :)"
"Wake up over there! Look at me! When you grow up I'm going to make you stay awake all night at my self-appointed slumber party or I will threaten to cut off that little pinky fingernail you're so proud of!"

Birthday Bash and the oldies just keep coming....

We like a little potatoes with our meat. And really, I'm not entirely opposed to a little animal hair with mine from time to time, though racoon wouldn't be my pick!
Cool family. Our dads were best friends and then brothers-in-law. Oh, dear. But how many fight songs did the 4 of us listen to at the Amherst Bulldog Football Field? For 5 easy points Tonya, sing us the Bulldogs Alma Mater!


And who is this handsome young Marine?

***I had a lamp just like that not too long ago. I loved it but we got worried it was dangerous (or Greg didn't want to fix it), so it's gone, but it once shined right under Aaron's Silver Star Medal.

Birthday Girl, Lisa's going to hate you over these "oldies" posts. Your pictures way out-number hers!





Just for fun? Name all the "Dora's (and Happy Birthday my elder by a few hours), then name the De'on's, then the Tonya's and last but not least, sort of, depending entirely upon how you look at it!! Forget middle child syndrome and name the little Lisa's! Grow up, good grief!

Birthday Bash- A Pin Up, just for you, Ton.... It's always hard to beat a black and white from back in the day!

18. Who was most likely the best looking man in this world in 1955?

a. Duh.
b. You mean right after Mickey Pickrell and Harvey Grigsby?

19. Who kept a poster of James Dean up in her utility room in the early 90's?
a. De'on, until Greg made her take it down.
b. Lisa, until De'on made her take it down.
c. De'on, until they moved. And she is still just sick inside that she no longer has that poster. You know, it was the one of him leaning back in that old chair in that old house. Thinking. Just thinking. Deep, deep thinking. De'on likes a real Thinking Man and that's why she married Greg.

Birthday Bash: "Say one could remember...."

... Ya Ya, this is your teninytiny birthday scrapbook....

4. The photo of Tonya (in the flag shirt-bottom right) and Eric Austin has
a. been ripped down the middle
b. has a bad tape-job
c. was used in 2004 as a Christmas decoration on the small tree that Aaron once decorated his bedroom with
d. has a hook
e. all of the above
f. none of the above
g. b, c, d
h. xyz
i. a, b, c, d

5. Which Aunt gave us the three bottles of perfume pictured in the eeansy scrapbook?
a. Linda Gay
b. Linda Dale
c. Virgie Bell
d. Shirley
e. You're crazy, I don't see any perfume .

6. And who would be crazy enough to put perfume bottles on a scanner?
a. De'on

7. So yes, we've established the perfume bottles are indeed there. Trust me. On what birthday did we receive said three perfume bottles? You didn't get more than three did you?
a. the number of testing
b. 40th
c. You may have a hard time remembering this one, Ton.
d. You wore a turban
e. Many were there but the party was for you, me and Dora.
f. all of the above.

8. On what date was the photo taken of you and Allie looking all sleepy-eyed?
December 11, 2004, 2005, or 2006?

9. Who took the photo?
Mitch or Tiffany?

10. Where did we go to eat the night before? Cattle Baron, 50-Yard Line or the geriatric Furr's across from the apartments?

11. Notice the teeny-tiny Tootsie Roll. Why has the editor not yet devoured it along with the other 10 mil she's downed since? Could it be because of the note next to it? Huh? Could it be?

12. So it must be the note. The note most likely concerns the title of which work?
a. Short End of the Libman
b. Joy Comes in the Mourning
c. The Ticket Stub
d. Dollops

13. The beautiful picture in the far right corner was taken on what date?
a. December 11, 2004
b. April 26, 2004
c. May 3, 2004
d. July 1, 2004

14. The photo was taken by which Aunt?
a. Linda Gay
b. Linda Dale
c. Shirley
d. Virgie Bell

BONUSes!!!!
15. and you're thinking does this woman save everything?
No comment.

16. The pink wand was given to you as a birthday gift, True or False?

17. Two twisted ties of dirtied, tattered yellow ribbon are found in this photo. TRUE. From whence did they tatter?
a. a tree off of South Loop 289
b. near Apt. # B106
c. 2003
d. Yellow ribbons were everywhere there.

Yep, pretty close to it and the yellow ribbon that is not tattered is the one I wore when Aaron joined us to pick him up at the airport. For 20 points Tonya, tell us a little bit about Aaron joining us to pick him up after OIF 1.... :)

Birthday Bash-Test 1

What? I didn't tell you we take tests at gUnZ uP?
Tonya, here is your birthday test. Others may join in the fun and frolic of it all. As my brain begins to thaw I will think of a prize for the winner and of course, one for the Birthday Girl! Each answer is worth 1 point except for bonus questions. Leave correct answers in comment section and wrong answers too. While I've cut most of the prints to Senior Size, feel free to CLICK ON IMAGE IF YOU NEED IT MORE SENIORY.

Begin.
1. What number is most likely missing on this photo (195-)?
5, 8, 0
2. True or False: The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees.


3. Specialist Austin and Specialist Miller earned the National Defense Ribbon because of their service in Panama during this war.
Just Miller?
Just Austin?
No, this couldn't be?
YES.