I Promise: This Is My Last "Lake" Post

Raystown Lake

Via Wikipedia:

Raystown Lake is the largest lake located entirely within Pennsylvania. It was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers around 1913 by the damming of the Juniata River which created a lake in the river valley. The current 8,300-acre (34 km2) Raystown Lake was completed in 1973 by the Army Corps of Engineers. The lake was created primarily to control floods, provide electricity and support recreational activities. 

Part of the town of Aitch is now under the level of the lake. While it is rumored that there are entire towns (and dead bodies of towns people who refused to leave) still intact under the water, only a few more permanent structures were left in place. Some roads, a bridge over the old river, the original power station and the original dam still remain.

On our way to the lake, my brother told me the story (above) about the Army flooding the existing farms in the valley to create the lake. When I asked him why they would do such a thing, he replied (matter-of-factly): "Zombies". Someone needs to change the Wikipedia entry to:

"The lake was created primarily to control floods, provide electricity, support recreational activities and to destroy a colony of Zombies."

Sister-In-Law Bunny and Brother Bunny
Brother Bunny has to wear a long-sleeved shirt because
he's a soulless Ginger extremely fair-skinned

Boat Dock (one of many)

There were lots of shirtless guys on boats, although I couldn't
take pics while drinking beer swimming

Moi and Papa Bunny

Sister-In-Law Bunny and Charlie

Stepbrother Bunny and Stepmom Bunny - back at the cabin

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Programming Note

Blogging will be much lighter than usual this week/weekend, as I will be getting out of the City and heading to beautiful Raystown Lake (above) with my Dad, Stepmom, Brother and Sister-In-Law.

My family has taken this trip for years, and they've always wanted me to join them. However, I've always refused due to the fact that NO AIR CONDITIONING + FAT SWEATY DIVA = EVIL MISERABLE FAT SWEATY DIVA. Which, BTW, is also the name of the drag queen heavy metal band I manage in my spare time (below). Look for our album - Evil Miserable Fat Sweaty Diva "Live In Times Square" - to drop in the fall.

Anywhore, don't you know that - in order to accommodate his favorite Fat Sweaty Diva - Papa Bunny went and found a fully furnished cabin at the lake WITH air conditioning!! So now it's safe (?) for me to go. Papa Bunny, in case you haven't figured it out, is a Saint.

Here's a heads up for the Lake Raystown Paparazzi (above): I'm certain that pictures of moi FISHING AND DRINKING BEER FROM CANS could fetch a pretty penny from the National Enquirer, Gay Field & Gay Stream or maybe Ripley's Believe It Or Not.  However, much like Lindsay Lohan when she tips off the Paps before drunkenly staggering out of rehab a nightclub, I require a percentage of all profits. Coors Light and live bait ain't gonna pay for themselves, you know.

Papa Bunny Is Doing Much Better

Last week I told you about my Dad going into the hospital with pneumonia. Well, it turns out it wasn't pneumonia, but an extremely severe case of bronchitis and was able to go home after only two days. I spoke to him yesterday and he's relaxing/recovering at home and feeling much better.

Thanks to all who sent good wishes, comments and emails about Papa Bunny - it means a lot.

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Family Pets

My brother's dog - Charlie (who just happens to be female) 

Dusty's VERY big brother Simon (left) and half-brother Bentley

Christmas Cookies Are Baked !

Mama Bunny and I successfully baked five different types of cookies yesterday - including our patented Gingerbread Doggy Biscuits:

This cookie (I was trying to make a 'bell') wins the "Ugliest Cookie" Award:

And even though Mama Bunny and I had a couple of cocktails, we luckily never got THIS drunk:

Today's Project: Christmas Cookies

Mama Bunny and I are baking Christmas cookies today ... yum!

We started this little tradition just last year - and it didn't go so smoothly. In the midst of making cookies, we discovered Mom didn't own any cookie cutters at all - let alone any Christmas cookie cutters. So she went digging through her crap treasures and found DOGGY BISCUIT cutters which were included in a "Make Your Own Dog Treat" kit she once received as a gift ...

So we cut out doggy-biscuit-shaped cookies and baked them - and they looked like this ...

They CRACKED US UP. Mom and I couldn't stop laughing - those cookies were too funny.

Mom even took some to her new neighbors (she explained that the cookies were gingerbread, and were for humans) - but they never spoke to my mother again. I guess some people just don't "get" my family's humor...

This year we have real Christmas cookie cutters, but maybe we'll whip up a batch of "doggy biscuits" for old times sake.

Blogging/Recapping Update

I will be spending a nice long weekend with the family in South Central Pennsylvania (around the "A" below), so blogging will be lighter than usual until next week.

On Friday I'm hanging with Mama Bunny, on Saturday there's lunch with my bestest gurlfriend "Vera", Saturday evening/Sunday afternoon will be spent with Papa and Brother Bunny, then it's back to Mama Bunny's on Sunday night.  Monday morning it's "all aboard" an Amtrak Keystone train for the return to NYC and to back to work.

As far as recaps go, there is about a 50% chance of a Top Chef recap this week (have laundry, packing and other things to do tonight), and a 0% chance of a Project Runway recap (my old roommate is visiting from Chicago tomorrow).

I'm hoping to start recapping Project Runway NEXT week, but that's still "iffy".  I'm not crazy about the 1 1/2 hour format and I'm still not convinced there's a sufficient number of DustBunny viewers to justify all the time spent.  We shall see...

My Second Stop After Hitting The Lottery...

My FIRST stop?...

Speaking of delicious roast beef, I'm going back to PA to visit my family in two weeks (it will be the first time I've seen my Dad, Stepmom, and Brother since finding out my HIV status).  Mama Bunny is picking me up at the train station in Harrisburg, and has promised to take me DIRECTLY to the nearest Arby's for lunch.  I love that woman...

Fellow Facebook Haters: I Have Sinned Against You!

Many of you know that I'm NOT a fan of the BookFace - I always say that if someone wants to get in touch with me, they have my telephone number (or email address).  Besides, maybe we've lost touch for a reason - like the fact that I haven't wanted to talk to you since 1985. Therefore I spend very little time on the Evil Facebook.

However, on Sunday I found myself spending an inordinate amount of time on BookFace - after I discovered how many of my cousins can be found there.

I have 7 cousins on my Dad's side, and 8 cousins on my Mom's side - and I'm not particularly close with any of them (with the exception of my youngest cousin Mollie).  But unlike old friends you don't feel like talking to anymore, cousins are family and I would actually LIKE to stay in better contact with them.  So after one of my PA cousins friended me, I went on a cousin-finding crusade and located many of them.

And I have to tell you, it wasn't horrible.  But this DOESN'T mean I will help you get a new cow for your sorry-ass farm - don't even try it...

Off To The Great Breakfast Buffet In The Sky

I was so sad to hear that country music star, television host, and sausage wrangler Jimmy Dean died on Sunday. But my sausage-sadness lessened when Michael K at Dlisted reminded me of one of my favorite YouTube videos EVER. Listen all the way to the end - it's worth it.

I'm not kidding, I think this recording was made by my Uncle Jim Bob (even though he says his name is "Randy Taylor"). Yes, I REALLY have an Uncle Jim Bob who lives in Texas. He is married to my Aunt Dixie Sue (seriously) and they happen to have three kids - 2 boys and a girl (who are now adults).

Coincidence???