"Because living or dead, family is STILL family..."

Wishing you "Darkness, grief, and unspeakable sorrow." This Halloween!


-Mick-

What the FLOCK?!

It finally happened. Since I was probably 14, I have always dreamed about going into my favorite local thrift shot Value Village and find an aluminum Christmas tree for pennies just waiting for me... Last Thursday it FINALLY happened, 10 years and 10,000 trips later, for $5.35!!!

(Ignore the dirty paint room.)

I went to the thrift store to look for things to use on "The Addams Family"  musical set, and just happned across this sad little box marked "Flocked tree, give to AM VET'S". Picture my surprise when I lift a cardboard flap on the box and see those iconic aluminum limbs, I snatched it up (and more than likley gave a battle cry of "MY PRECIOUS!")  I couldn't wait to see what it looked like all together, so I put it together in the paint room at the theatre.

At one point in time this was provably a perfect 4ft Pom-Pon aluminum tree, but someone decided to spray flock it along its Christmas history.  WHO DOES THAT TO AN ALUMINUM TREE?! Once it was all put together it was kind of sad, but also kind of pretty...

Maybe with some turquoise ornaments? It is definitely an oddity, this also makes my fifth aluminum tree... I know that's a lot. I'm hoping to find a gold one, and maybe sell off one or two silver trees to finance it.

Hehe we're going to have a very shiny aluminum forest at the Casablanca this Thanksmass!

-Mick-

The Floor & Trim, We're Almost There!

(Ta-da! Dear Readers!)

Last week I was not only getting ready for the annual Costume Ball, but was in a mad and top secret dash to get some work done on the bathroom!

(Sunday Oct 12.)

After shopping around, I finally got all of the tile bought from Lowes, Friend Kyle came Monday and Tuesday to install, grout, and seal the tile on the floor.

 (Tuesday Oct 14.)

 (Fresh grout haze still on the tile.)

I was THRILLED that Kyle could do it before the party, all the other tile quotes I received said it would be after Christmas before it could be done. Kyle did a fantastic job, and said it would be fine to mop and walk on by Thursday afternoon.  Just by pure luck on Wednesday afternoon I had to go to Habitat for Humanity (the "Re"store) for the theatre, there found all of the base boards and wall trim (which would have been $80.00 at Lowes) for $12.58 FOR ALL OF IT!!! I was so happy!

(Thursday Oct 16, Jere painting base boards)

By Thursday afternoon I was gunning to get as much done for a bigger surprise at the party on Saturday! Jeremiah painted the trim out in the gravel pit, while I was measuring and cutting things to fall into place.

 (Thursday night, Oct 16.)

In just a few hours we had all of the border trim cut, painted, and installed. I finally getting to enjoy my color choices! I was worried about the burgundy being to dark, but with the two tone grey its just right. I would also like to say, I love paint! The 1x4"'s around the double window are reclaimed wood, I took them and pulled the nails out and sanded them down. Thursday night I caulked and smoothed the edges and bumps, and taped around the window so I could paint the trim first thing after work on Friday afternoon. 

(Saturday Oct 18.)

Friday night I painted the 1x4"'s around the window and they looked so good! But the windows were actually painted brown... and it bugged me. But the thing with these old double hung windows is, if you slop them with paint they'll just seal shut. So I taped and gingerly painted two very thing coats of white on the frames. I am glad I did because it really made everything look sharp!

Now all that is left to do in this room is, the quarter round trim around the ceiling, and frame both the doors with 1x4"s, and paint them white. Then the trim work will ALL be done and we can start moving in and installing the fixtures!

A big thank you to Kyle and Jeremiah for making this happen!

Now to decide what color the claw-foot bathtub will be... Hmmm, Burgundy, Black, White, or Turquoise?

What do you all think?

-Mick-

Having My Cake And Eating It Too...

This cake was just to cool not to have it's own post!

Thanks again friend Anita for the tasty treat!

-Mick-

The 1960 Casablanca Costume Ball!

It's that spook-tacular time of year again Dear Readers!


This years Costume Ball theme was "Broadway Shows" and our club members did not disappoint! (Of course it helps that we're all involved in theatre!) Characters from every show and decade turned out for some Halloween fun!

(The Noble Family- Caleb as Seymour, Craig as The Dentist,  

Collin as Audrey2, and Rachel as Audrey in  Little Shop of Horrors!)

(Josh and Jonathan as Newsies, and Kate as Babette the Feather Duster from Beauty and the Beast!)

(Kelcie as Peter Pan, Margaret as Spider Man, and Emily as a hippie from HAIR!)

(Patrica as Adelaide from Guys and Dolls, 

I went as Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls.

But of course as is tradition, we didn't get a picture of us together...)

(The Williams Family- baby Emma as Sandy, 

Spencer as Annie, and Lara as Daddy Warbucks!)

(The Jarvis Family Chris as Sweeney Todd, Sarah as Mrs. Lovett, and baby Liam as a little priest!)

 (Friends Luke as Prince Charming, and Mary-Grace as Cinderella!)

(Prince Charming,  and Friend Chan as Sister Mary Clarence from Sister Act the Musical!)

 (Jared as The Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz, and Savannah as Marie Antoinette!)

(Friend Seigen as Elder Price from The Book of Mormon.)

There were lots of treats to eat, and there was the annual Brasfield/Stimel hot dog dinner buffet!

(Friend Savanna's Mom, Anita made this fabulous cake for the occasion!)

After everyone had stuffed their faces, we moved into the backyard for some song and dance... We had originally had quite a few acts lined up as entertainment, but by the day of the party we had only two performers!

Next up was friend Kara as Fanny Brice!

Weren't they WONDERFUL?! Haha So much talent around here, we (as a group) decided that the "Casablanca" is equal parts-  "Mickey Mouse Club, Corny Collins Show, Holiday Inn, and Money Pit!" Haha! 

As the sun set in the west we readied the Flamingo Drive-In Theatre for a showing of Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" but before the movie, the time had finally come to vote for the Costume Contest! 

(The Winners- Second, First, and Third Place!)

First Place- The Williams Family as the cast of  Annie!

Second Place- Kelcie as Peter Pan!
Third Place- Kate as Babette from Beauty and the Beast!

Normally we don't give out an "honorable mention", but this year they were just to stinking cute! 

Honerable Mention- Collin Noble as The plant "Audrey2" from "Little Shop of Horrors"

And Liam Jarvis as "a little priest" from "Sweeney Todd"!

All of the costumes were fantastic! 

(Joe and Mick!)

Friends came in from all over to attend, Friend Joe conspired with Patricia and drove in six hours all the way from Fort Smith AR! Friend Ben (Who came a Johnny Warner-teenage nuclear zombie) Drove down from Ardmore OK, and Friends Savannah and Jared motored in from Waurika OK!

 The rest of the evening was spent with a movie flickering across the drive-in screen, and board games in the house. It was just a fun and festive time to be together. We have such wonderful friends, an I am so glad they enjoy the parties we throw. Our little club has come a long way in the last few years and I think I can say that most every member is proud to be a part of the Casablanca!

One of my favorite things to do during big parties is to stand outside and look into the house with all the lights on and the rooms full. To hear the music, the laughter, and fully taken in the merriment going on all around!

A special thanks to friend Russ for letting us use his sound system. Friend Kelcie for leading the convoy to the Casablanca. Patrica, Hannah, our decorations committee, Cindy and Seigen our entertainment committee, Margaret chairman of the "Eats" committee, and all our wonderful friends for coming and bringing food, drinks, and cutlery!!

I hope all your haunts are happy ones!

-Mick-

Just A Chip!

That's all you get, until the big floor reveal on Friday!

Hehehe I love it!

-Mick-

"BYE-BYE MARGARET"!

"BYE BYE MARGARET!
WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU SO,

WE'LL CRY MARG-ARET,

WHY'D YA HAVE TO GO?!"

 Well Readers, I hate to write these kinds of post... but it comes in the territory of running a social club. Our dear Margaret Head Pastry Chef and long time Chairman of the "eats" committee is moving to Tennessee in a few weeks, and we just hate to see her go!

(Friends Patricia, Jordan, Seigen, Jennifer, & Margaret!)

Margaret, being a life time council member of the Casablanca requested to have a small going away dinner party in her honor. She made the guest list, picked her own menu, and we did the rest!

To commemorate the occasion, we dined on the special I Love Lucy "American Ivy" Franciscan dishes, and sipped tea from the Libbey Golden Foliage Mad Men glasses! It was nice to sit around having a casual dinner of chicken and ravioli, after which we had a special cookie cake that Patricia made for dessert.

As a special going away present and inside joke, 

I used my artistic prowess to make Margaret her very own show poster! 

(A spoof on the hit musical "Bye Bye Birdie"!)

Gosh Margaret, we sure are going to miss you around here, why'd ya have to go?!  Luckily, having family living here, Margaret will be sure to come visit us every now and then. We are all so excited for your new life in Tennessee, and wish you all the very best!

"WE LOVE YOU MAR-GAR-ET,

OH YES WE DO, 

WE LOVE YOU MAR-GAR-ET,

AND WE'LL BE TRUE.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT WITH US,

WE'RE BLUE!
OH MAR-GAR-ET WE LOVE YOU!"

-Mick-

Reflections.

Tuesday, while at the lake cleaning I discovered a long forgotten surprise Dear Readers!
The mirror above was a "cabin warming" gift that my Grandmother gave me quite a while ago. Grandma used to write on everything (I guess to know who and and where things came from.) I have also picked up, and have been practicing this habit with things concerning the Casablanca for a while now.

(Not just a few words, but an entire essay...apparently.)

It reads as follows-

 Jordan Family Heirloom,
Given  to Mickey by his Grandmother LaDell on his 15th Birthday.
Originally from the Grand Lake O.K. home of Great Grandparents Claude and Helen.
^The mirror was "100yrs old" when presented to Mickey June 22, 2005.

Has hung in the kitchen of the Casablanca since that date.

I vaguely remember writing that so many years ago.
I'm pretty sure I put "100yrs old" in quotations because I doubted it was really that old, everything that was REALLY old to Grandma was "100yrs old". But after a Google search, and its Mission style, that is not out of the realm of possibility! haha What I've always loved about this mirror, even with it's foggy and aged reflecting glass, is to think of all of the relatives who have peered into it over the last century.

To fix their hair, to adjust their hat or straighten a tie, even to smile at ones self...

That's just neat to me.

-Mick-