Miss Arizona 2012 Piper Stoeckel

I had the privilege of meeting Miss Arizona 2012 today, Piper Stoeckel.  She was a guest on the show.

She was all the things you'd think she'd be to have a title like Miss Arizona.  Articulate and smart, funny, and beautiful too.  All the things I'm not.  Except for the beautiful part!  (I hope you're laughing right now).

Piper will be competing in the January 2013 Miss America pageant.  If she wins, I'm going to claim it was because she had the chance to sit on a couch with me.

Ken Carr and Miss Arizona 2012 Piper Stoeckel.
Tom Bergeron is stalking us in the monitor behind.

A Lucky and Ken Photoshoot

The camera was out shooting the cutting of brownies on my birthday, and it seemed like a great time to grab Lucky for a few photos.

He doesn't like cameras.  Its all part of his "I don't like any gadget I do not understand, that makes noise, has lights, or bright colors" philosophy.  Consequently, I had to hold him to make sure he was part of the photos.  Otherwise, I would have looked pretty stupid holding an armful of air.

Here are a few photos of a boy and his dog.

(The other boy that owns the dog -- Anthony -- is playing photographer).  Hair by Ken Carr, lighting by Ridgepointe, clothing by Target.

Lucky and Ken.
One of us doesn't like the paparazzi very much.

Lucky's already over this photoshoot.
I had this look on my face because one of us farted.
I am not saying which one of us it was.

I sat down on the floor trying to make Lucky more comfortable.
Lucky was contemplating his own death at this point.

I gave Lucky a kiss.
Lucky wished a meteor would fall out of the sky and kill me.

I tried to give Lucky my usual end of a date good night lick.
He's a heartbreaker.

Happy Birthday To Me Part Two

The Ken Carr birthday fun continued after work today.

But, before I left work, tragedy struck.  The wonderful pair of dark blue khakis that Anthony got me for Christmas have developed a hole.  I didn't notice until middle of the day.  Fortunately, they're near a belt loop and not in the crotch so I was able to deal with wearing them the whole day at work.  One of the only not wonderful things about my birthday.

Once I got home from work, I took a little nap, and then got ready and Anthony and I had dinner at El Taco Tote.  I like that restaurant... they make delicious top sirloin tacos.

After dinner, we took a drive out to Desert Diamond Casino.  I figured since it was a lucky month during a lucky year (according to numerologist Patricia Kirkman), I have a dog named Lucky, its almost a full moon, and my birthday, it was about as much luck stacked on as could be imagined.  I hit a hundred dollars on a quarter machine five minutes after getting there which at least funded the remaining fun of playing other slots with Anthony and I.  Unfortunately, I didn't win a jackpot.  But, there's almost a full month of luck ahead according to Patricia so I have that to look forward to.

Once we got home, it was time to cut the brownies frosted with cream cheese frosting, blow out a few candles, and end the birthday on a delicious note.

Overall, a good 46th birthday.  Except for the hole in the pants part.

Anthony gets a refreshing drink from the amazing Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine at El Taco Tote

Birthday tacos!  Om nom nom.

Anthony still eats his nacho chips with a fork.
This habit may or may not be turning him into a zombie.

I hoped I had enough breath left in me at the age of 46 to blow out four candles

20 minutes later I had two down...

Fudge brownies with cream cheese frosting baked by Anthony.
Amazing!

I would have gotten away with eating this whole thing myself if it wasn't for those meddling kids.

Anthony neatly cuts the brownies.

Anthony gets ready to neatly dish out the brownies.

Anthony breaks the first brownie in half.

Anthony dishes out the next one.
Neatness isn't counting anymore.

He arranged the now destroyed brownie on a plate.
I didn't care... it was delicious!

Happy Birthday To Me Part One

I decided on my way to work to stop and buy a few lottery scratcher tickets.  My thought process was... if there was any day I'd win something it would be today since its my birthday.

I WAS RIGHT!

I won't be able to retire but I spent $20 on three Arizona Lottery scratcher tickets and all three were winners for a total of $70.

Birthday luck rules!

The winning lottery scratcher tickets on my birthday.
Since I'm old I can't get too excited or I'll have a heart attack.

Birthday Eve

Tomorrow is my 46th birthday.

I've already received a gift:  Anthony got me a bottle of Bavx cologne from L'Occitane.  I like it cause I think it smells like cookies.  Thanks Anthony!

I was thinking today about some of the 45 birthdays I've had previously.

As a kid, birthdays are always a big deal.  I got an AM radio for my 5th birthday.  I got a yellow bike with a red flag on it for my 7th birthday.  My 16th was a big deal because I got a used car... a 1974 Mercury Monterey (it looked just like this except it was brown).  I had to pay for the gas and upkeep out of the money from my job at Boogaart's grocery store.  I scored that job shortly after my 16th.  I got my driver's license minutes after the motor vehicle department opened on that birthday.  That may be the best birthday I've ever had.

Moving into adulthood... there was my 21st birthday (most everyone looks forward to that one).  I drank half a bottle of vodka (the first and last time I've ever done that) on my that birthday and passed out before the party my friends threw for me even started.

My grandfather (my dad's dad) told me once on his birthday, "I've survived another year."  I thought that was a good philosophy and I remind myself of that every year.

I'm working a regular workday tomorrow and Anthony has already baked some brownies which are sitting on the counter with a few unlit candles on top of the lid.  Eating one of those will definitely be a highlight.  I like food that is covered in frosting.

Thanks to Facebook and Twitter, it's likely I'll receive lots of birthday wishes.  I'll treasure every one.

One other milestone will occur in my life this week:  Thursday July 5 will mark the 25th anniversary of my career in broadcast media.  Its challenging enough staying alive for 46 years... I've kept a career alive in an often difficult field for 25 years.  Now that is amazing!

The biggest downside to turning 46:  I'm still not old enough for the senior citizen discount at Denny's.  But, time seems to go faster as I get older... so cheaper Grand Slams will come soon enough.