How aware are you of what’s in your viewfinder as you capture an image?  Here’s a test that’s not geared to photographers, but may surprise you…

First off, I will just say that the last 5 days have been a whirlwind of emotions.  Can I make the excuse that Kate’s pregnancy has made ME more of a crier this week?  Probably not (since those who know me know I am already quite emotional).  But we have both been shocked by the amount of response our little blog and video has gotten online and every one of the comments has brought us to tears.  Thank you all for sharing this experience with us.

The timing could not have been more perfect for telling our family about our news.  I don’t know why Kate and I felt that the moment of telling people needed to be so orchestrated, but I felt like we were planning a surprise party coming up with how to share the news.  On Thursday we were hosting Thanksgiving for one set of my parents (my parents are divorced) and relatives on that side (9 of us total).  Kate spent all day Wednesday and Thursday, in between tears of joy, cooking an amazing Thanksgiving dinner that she had been planning for weeks.  I liked having the home turf advantage for planning our big surprise.  I came up with all sorts of ideas including Kate taking 9 pregnancy tests and us wrapping them in the napkins at the table.  Kate thought a pee-covered stick next to the dinner plate was not quite as classy (or hygenic) as we had anticipated.  We opted to just tell them all at dinner while everyone was together and paying attention.  Because I felt that people would be anticipating our announcement if any signs pointed in that direction, I made a point to make Kate a [virgin] cocktail and have it known she was “drinking”.  (This was probably overkill, I know).  Anyway, dinner came and my aunt had asked me to read a little toast/reading that she had written.  I had a hard time getting through the reading without crying, partly because it was very poignant, but mostly because I knew I was about to make the big announcement.  After the reading, with a shaky hand and a shaky voice, I lifted my glass to thank everyone for coming.  Then Kate jumped in to say that next year we’d need another seat at the Thanksgiving table (which was already very crowded) because we are pregnant.  Everyone shrieked.  My parents cried.  I cried.  Kate cried.  It was a perfect reaction and a perfect night to tell them.

On Friday night we had plans to go out to dinner with my other parents and a few family friends.  One of which was our friend Russell, who was the one who had been staying at our home the morning we got the big news.  Since he already knew the news, I asked Russell to make a toast at dinner so that I could jump in.  I made sure Kate ordered a glass of wine at dinner just to be covert (again, I don’t know why I felt the need for all these dramatic lead-ups).  Russell made a touching toast at dinner but he didn’t get more than a few words out before he started to cry, so I jumped in and announced that they were going to be grandparents.  My parents yelled (a good yell) and I believe a glass was even spilled on the table!  Hugs and tears followed. Of course.

So it’s been a great few days of telling people our big news.  I am so glad I got out of bed last Wednesday to film that video as I’ve enjoyed sending it to some friends in a cryptic message to share the news with them.  And while Kate and I know that it is customary to wait a while to tell people, and we are not telling everyone now (we are asking people not to put anything on Facebook about it yet), I think we are pretty open about most things (hence the blog!) so we are not really following the old “wait until 12 weeks” rule.

So thank you all again for reading and supporting us and sharing these special moments with us.

LEGO Universe will be full of surprises and mysteries. Here we have a new concept picture of a ghost that seems to be hanging around “Monarch’s tomb”.

What were the inspirations behind this image?
Ghosties and ghoulies!

What’s happening in the image?
This area hosts a ghost who happens to have a very creepy, raspy voice. It turns out that he just has a sore throat! With a little help from you, he can soothe his pain with a nice drink.

my friend lisa sent this to me as “the cutest cat video of all time. period.”
i have to say. . .that may be right.

M6 French TV. *Cheers* NOCOPYRIGHT INTENDED. It is in act of FAIR USE and EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. “The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes” You know i dont make money from this, i do it as a hobby, to broaden knowledge and skills and for educational purposes. So in that case, i am allowed to use the audio represented within this video. … Muse Matt Bellamy Dom Howard Chris Wolstenholme Interview Best …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ7ArLA8v5M&hl=en

Recommend : tw-glendale tw-denmark tw-garland http://imacgame.blogspot.com/

Même si j’en ai eu beaucoup comme ça, mais là je pense avoir décroché le pompon.
Déjà il faut savoir que depuis dimanche soir je n’ai plus de télé (et je n’ai pas eu le courage d’appeler free), que depuis mardi je suis enfermée chez moi pour un truc qu’on ne sait pas ce que c’est, et qu’en fait la solitude imposée c’est quelque chose que j’ai beaucoup de mal à supporter nerveusement.
Ce week-end j’aurai du sortir trois fois. Je suis sortie une demi-fois. Rien vendredi soir, une escapade samedi qui a failli se finir dans les pommes parce que c’était une très mauvaise idée, et Lunélivre annulé parce qu’il ne faut pas prendre de risque. Trois sorties pour lesquelles je me faisais un plaisir d’être ce week-end, pour trois raisons différentes. Et…. rien.
C’est aussi la fin du nano et je ne pensais pas autant regretter de ne pas l’avoir fait.
Créativement (néologisme ?) cette semaine a été une catastrophe et la fatigue due à la maladie n’aide pas à prendre le tout avec le sourire.

Ceci dit il faut que je vous avoue quelque chose : mon père m’a fait le plus beau cadeau de Noël en avance du monde. Il veut une suite à Verre Brisé.
Ca m’a fait bizarre.
(Tous les écrivains en herbe vous diront que les relations au proche par rapport à l’écriture peuvent être très compliquées et souvent obscures, d’où ma surprise)
Je me dis que ça va m’aider jusqu’à la prochaine soirée où cette fois je ne serai pas malade et où je pourrai vraiment m’amuser.

I have been in the Aviation Business for 42 years. In the early days of my career it was a pleasure to fly. One was treated like a customer and the airlines provided a very good service. The service provided was a major selling point as the prices were much the same.
Since the introduction of low cost carriers ( airlines) the standard of service has declined to a point of being next to nothing. Not only with the low cost carriers but also with the well established airlines.
You has to check yourself in on a machine or on online( their are no check in machines with some airlines.) Your bag is measured and weighed and if over weight you can,t board until you have paid your £30. You are herded onto the aircraft and you have to fight for your seat. There is no in-flight service as such. You must pay for everything including £1.80 for a bottle of water. The cabin staff are scruffy and have received very little training in customer service. If you talk during the safety briefing your are threatened with a return to the gate. As a passenger you are treated as an interruption to the cabin staff’s day.
The glamour has all gone.
How pleasantly surprised and fortunate I was to fly to Athens from London Gatwick on Olympic Air, the new Greek airline the Phoenix of Olympic Airways. Check in and I mean a real check in, was with a real person and you are given a seat number, for which I was asked for my preference.( I like an aisle seat as I can get stuff from my bag without disturbing anyone else). The Check was 3 hours before the flight, so no stress and you could shed your suitcase and relax. When I boarded the aircraft by seat number, incidentally the same as it used to be, I was surprised to see what I used to be known as an Air hostess. The air Hostess was wearing in a designer uniform, a dress with a jacket and made up to look glamourous and believe me the girls were very glamorous. I felt good even before I sat down. The Hostesses were well trained and gave an air of confidence.
The Aircraft was a brand new Airbus A320 with all the leg room I needed. No need to book and pay for extra legroom on this airline. The in-flight service was a service and consisted of 3 drinks rounds and a full meal service with wine if you wanted it. All included in the fare. What a change! One was even offered a sweet before take off. When was the last time you saw that?
The flight departed on time and during the flight you can use your phone in flight mode after takeoff. This is the only airline I have flown with this year to allow this.
I have only one issue to raise with this wonderful airline. There were no paper towels in the toilets only tissues.
The standard of service was second to none and both flights were of equal standard.
Well done Olympic Air, just like the old days. A pleasure to fly.
By the way I have made over 25 return journeys by air this year and these 2 flights were the best.

It’s nearly impossible to surprise your significant other. That’s because your lives are so deeply entwined any time you veer off course their suspicions are raised. It took some planning and discretion but I think I managed to surprise Mad Dog with a cake for his birthday at his family’s Thanksgiving feast. I also made sure that his parents’ house was sufficiently supplied with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream (cookie dough is Mad Dog’s absolute addiction).

The end result was awesome (it even had a picture of the boys on it riding a motorcycle taken at our recent portrait sitting). The cake turned out better than I hoped and was quite tasty. It was red cake with cream cheese frosting which is also a Mad Dog fave. My end goal wasn’t necessarily a delicious treat; it was to demonstrate how much I love Mad Dog. He does so much to care for our little family; I wanted to do something special for him.

After the cake, and let me tell you, it was weird slicing through the picture of my boys’ faces, all the boy cousins set forth in wild play. However, it was obvious little brother Frick was not feeling great. The sniffle and sneeze he’s been fighting developed into a full-blown fever topped off with green snot. Additionally, as the evening was winding down, he had an explosive poop which required a shower and a changing of the clothes for him (he was NOT happy).

Well, you know how the saying goes; it’s not really a party until someone has a messy, explosive poop, right?

FRom: http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/11/gamble-on-american-idol-sex-and-the-city-slot-machines.html

If you’re over 21, you can now play slot machines based on two of your favorite shows, “American Idol” and “Sex and the City.”

Both slots were new releases at the 2009 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. In “American Idol,” slot players can trigger a bonus round that lets them become one of three judges — Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi or Randy Jackson — and then plays video clips of past contestants, good AND bad.

According to Sphere.com, Paula Abdul was the lone holdout participant even BEFORE she announced she was leaving the show. Innnteresting.

Meanwhile, the “Sex and the City” slot machines are subtitled “Change of a Dress.” Clever, no? They feature bonus rounds that include video clips of all four women plus Mr. Big.

International Game Technology spokeswoman Julie Brown told Sphere, “There’s shoes and purses and lots of bling and big bonuses and the music track, and it’s a very interactive game.”

Speaking of Mr. Big, Chris Noth helped unveil the “Sex and the City” slot machine in Las Vegas. Video below.

I have always wondered if reading more makes you less inclined towards being surprised.

The more an individual delves into fiction and its allies – comprising of thrillers and mysteries to drama and socio-political sagas, the more one becomes attuned to the various tones an author is likely to adapt to as he moves with his story.

More often, the language usage too becmes predictable and in time it becomes difficult to segregate authors with style and well, most authors. I often read in many blogs and articles that provide tips for wannabe authors and writers – “The purpose of writing is not to create something new (which is very rare). It is in fact, taking in all you knwo into a mixer grinder and preparing the best possible coriander chutney that has all possible flavours and spices known to you.”

The idea is to create an amalgamation of the best you know (from borrowed sources of course – whether consciously or unconsciously) and create a supposedly ‘new’ style.

But is it possible to isolate oneself and create an entirely different and rare piece that is not an ensemble or a major chunk of which is on one’s own intellect?

Because we spend our learning years delving into classics and allowing them to influence us (and that is the only way of growing, learning and amassing knowledge – which in many ways moulds our personality, our ideoloiges, our tastes and our notions), it is often possible that what you create on your own is a concoction of all those ingredients that you already digested as a child or a voracious reader.

Another argument can be framed thus: All that is to be done has already be done by most masters. From Shakespeare to Grisham – best sellers and classics are full of all plots and situations that can ever be framed by the human mind. Right?

Wrong.

It is this gridlock that gives one a chance to go beyond the obvious by looking at what already has been done, use one’s brain to find out li’l nuances from within the lines, be conscious of what you are reading and analyzing it.

Jhumpa Lahiri never fails to give me goosebumps – no matter how many times I have already read her stories and novel. Her stories take from the mundane existence of most human beings and paint the canvas to unfold an extraordinary Sistine Chapel. Its her eye for looking beyond the ‘mundane’ that makes life and its description in words a celebration.

Nicholas Sparks, inspite of sticking to the miniscule genre of love and relationships (is it? Becuase to the tired human brain all possible plots have been conjured up) has been successful in churning out 14+ best sellers (4 of which have made box office cash registers ringing in and two more are already being filmed).

There are a lot many authors that inspite of sticking to the same genre weave magic and never fail to surprise us.

Look for surprise and depth when you read for growth and upliftment! And you will be adding mounds of expertise and detail to your own eyes – that appreciate words and whatever lies between the lines.

Of course, when you are tired and just need a quick fix – the time tested thrillers and erotic storylines will always be there.

Siddhartha

I love the way Maira Kalman looks at the world and shares it with us.

The X Factor: Kyle enters The X Factor to follow his passion of singing and love of Girls Aloud. Will his idol Cheryl put him through to the next round?

El Peor Cantante del Mundo

La Mas Agresiva Del Factor X

This is probably the angriest contestant we’ve ever had on The X Factor. Rachel thinks she’s got what it takes to win – but her reaction turns nasty when the judges don’t agree.

The X Factor 2009: 40-year-old Daryl from East Sussex is a cabinet maker by day, but is following his passion in his brother’s memory. Will he make it through?

Eighteen-year-old, Leon, shop assistant wants to sing, but his mum’s not too sure. Has he got what it takes?

John & Edward The X Factor: Twins John and Edward from Ireland bound onto the stage with incredible confidence – but have they got the voices?

X Factor – Crazy girl, she is angry. Enjoy!!

The X Factor 2009: Olly Murs is an ‘ordinary geezer’ but dreams of making it big. Does he have The X Factor?

These girls certainly make an entrance! They give Dermot quite a surprise too!  They call themselves Fallen Angels

Lloyd Daniels The X Factor 2009: 16-year-old Lloyd has only ever performed in school plays, and is nervous about his audition. Will the judges be impressed?

The X Factor 2009: With a member of the group who has failed The X Factor before, have Miss Fitz got that spark the judges are looking for?   MISSFITZ

18 year old shop worker Matthew thinks he can be the next Robbie Williams… but he starts with some impressions of previous winners…

 my surprises, haha

I was sailing in the ocean of thoughts,

I was away from the rumbling of leaves,

at the centre of the crowd yet so alone

in the middle of nowhere, I was before

the smile that caught me by surprise,

the smile that told me it will never suffice,

the warmth that can be felt only with those eyes,

it’s the heart that speaks only when it’s touched.

It’s your touch that dawned upon me,

Now I know this is what was just waiting to be,

It’s etched in the memory & the mind,

It’s a change that is one of a kind.

there is no tomorrow now, it’s for given..

though I just know, I want to hold on.

KATHY GRIFFIN D-LISTED CONTEST

Facebook: Kathy Griffin DlistedNyc

GET d-listed!!

If you LOVE Kathy Griffin and love “Sex and the City” this one is for you! NealBinNYC (www.nealbinnyc.wordpress.com) and On Location Tours (www.screentours.com) are looking to see who the BIGGEST KATHY GRIFFIN FAN is out there! We are looking to see who can upload the MOST CREATIVE KATHY GRIFFIN FAN VIDEO.  Yes, it can be outrageous, -but it has to be FACEBOOK appropriate!

One grand prize WINNER will live life on the D-LIST!  The winner will receive TWO FREE TICKETS for the Official Sex and the City Hotspot Tour (http://www.screentours.com/tour.php/satc/) and have their video appear on a DVD we are sending to Kathy G. and her people!  The tour of Sex and the City Hotspots includes more than 40 locations from the hit TV show and movie!  See where Carrie and Co. live, shop, drink and dine.  Locations include Magnolia Bakery, Charlotte’s art gallery, and the bar owned by Aidan and Steve in the show.

To enter you must be in the New York City area and also have Facebook to be eligible.

Contest directions:

NealBinNYC (www.nealbinnyc.wordpress.com) and On Location Tours (www.screentours.com) are looking to see who the BIGGEST KATHY GRIFFIN FAN is out there!

We are looking to see who can create the MOST CREATIVE KATHY GRIFFIN FAN VIDEO.  Yes, it can be outrageous, -but it has to be FACEBOOK appropriate!

On your Facebook page, please upload any original videos (you can enter as many as you like) explaining why you’re the ultimate Kathy Griffin Fan and why she belongs back on the D-list in New York City!  Tag “Kathy Griffin DlistedNyc” in your videos.   The winner will be judged on who has the most creative video.   The judges will be staff members from On Location Tours as well as Neal B.

The contest will ends MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009 at 8:00 pm EST.  The winner will be contacted that night no later than 9:00 pm via their Facebook e-mail and also the winner will be announced on the Kathy Griffin DlistedNyc  Facebook page.

D-LIST IT UP!

Well this is a sequel to my anniversary blog … my birthday blog! Ok so my anniversary and birthday come in the same month and I celebrate both with Adi … apart from that there would be nothing else to relate them … well until this year.

The surprise anniversary cakes were finished … the parties were over and Adi settled back to routine after the fun-filled weekend. However since it was my birthday coming up next Tuesday … for me it was cheer and merriment in the air. Since my birthday always came during holidays, my parents took me to different places each time and most of my birthdays were celebrated in different styles … in a tourist bus in Mysore … on the cold mountaintops in Mussourie … in a temple in Akshardham … or a rare birthday with friends in college with all the fanfare and smearing the cake on the face celebrations. Not to mention that one special birthday I spent on my honeymoon 4 years ago!

So the point is that I was used to celebrate my birthday in a different way each year. So naturally as my birthday neared I started thinking a “different” way to go through my day. I shared my thoughts with Adi and started eating his brain … “batao na iss baar kya karu … I want to do something different”. As composed and serene as he always is Adi said, this time try taking the day as it comes. Well that surely sounded like “different” and so I left it to the day to take me through.

From 12 midnight I started receiving phone calls and smss and not to mention the scraps pouring in and my facebook wall being scribbled by all my near dear ones and my well-wishers. It makes you feel really special with that each call … each sms … each scrap … or each mail loaded with only the best of wishes for you straight from the hearts of all those people.

My day had started beautifully … a warm November morning sun and smell of something yummy cooking woke me up … Adi had made an elaborate breakfast of cheese toast and omelet followed by steaming cup of my favorite Nescafe! What a wonderful way to begin a day … especially a birthday. Heavy breakfast, a leisure bath with scented oils and a quick trip to the drycleaners to pick up my dress later I got ready and Adi took me to my favorite restaurant for lunch. Umm … this was getting better I thought … I also commented to Adi that leaving the day to take me through was actually quite a good idea!

Mr. Om, the manager of the restaurant knew us well by now and was thrilled to see us and offered us a lovely seat by the window. So after a steaming carrot soup (umm something healthy … ok my resolution went crashing immediately after) and home-style chicken with perfectly baked naans, we ordered tea and settled by the window … it had started raining and the dim décor went perfectly with the mood (ok alright it was not our anniversary … so what!!)Suddenly Adi asked Mr Om for the dessert menu. “Hey am too full” I tried to say … though my voice gets weak and inaudible when I am resisting desserts. Knowing this well by now, Adi ignored me and asked Mr Om for his suggestion. “Why don’t you try the new coffee flavored kulfi our chef just experimented today … am sure you will like it” he said with a smile. He knew our tastes by now and so we went by his suggestion and ordered one to share, asking for the tea to be served later. My eyes twinkled at the mere sight of the coffee colored kulfi garnished with slivers of almonds and pistachios! Adi smiled to himself at my reaction. I ignored him and dug into the dish. The first spoonful took me to heaven as the creamy sinful sweet melted into my mouth … it was bliss! (a must try for all dessert lovers!!). The chef knew us too, thanks to our frequent visits and with my mouth full with the yummy kulfi, I gave him a nod of appreciation and he smiled back at me. The tea followed … freshly made Indian style masala chai … the rains pouring down … it was all perfect. We paid the bill and came out of the place leisurely … Adi talking to Mr. Om. As a habit I always check the bill once paid to make sure all is in place, and I noticed there was no payment for the kulfi. I pointed it to Mr. Om … and he said “it was on the house … didi ko pasand hai na is liye” … I didn’t know what to say … it was like alchemistry … things were just happening around me … it was magical! We finally told him it was my birthday. He was thrilled and wished me again and again and blessed me. I was touched … I just nodded and smiled not trusting my voice.

Adi had carried his laptop with him saying he had loads of work and had planned to make a trip to the office from there … but after the wonderful, leisure and not to mention … heavy lunch … we headed back home. Adi got back to some urgent office chores and I took a tiny nap. It was past 5 when I woke up. Since Adi was still busy I logged onto the internet to reply to some scraps and wall scribbles and emails. The mammoth task took me about two hours and it was almost dark outside when Adi emerged from the study.

“So what you want to do for the rest of the evening” he asked plopping on the sofa next to me. “How about we go out for a movie?” I asked him. Adi did not show much interest at the idea … “lets order pizza and I will set up the projector … ghar pe hi dekhte hai kucch to … I have an office call also later so might have to rush back … is it ok sweetie?” he said … well I had decided to take the day as it went so I agreed. He went in for some more office calls and asked me not to order till he finished … he hates cold pizzas. So I made a few phone calls back home as well. Just as I finished, Adi called me from the study and asked me to check something he had downloaded. “See I selected these lovely e-cards for you from egreetings … which one do you like” … he had 3 options for me. Well I must admit I found his gesture damn cute but none of the cards was appealing … or something that he would generally choose … what is wrong with him I wondered as I faked mock interest and selected one of those “lovely” ones. I turned to him with my results … my face clearly puzzled … when there was a sudden loud knock on the study door.

I was blank for a moment … who would bang the study door … especially with us both being in the same room and the main door locked? I looked at Adi but his face was devoid of emotion, nor did he move. Cautiously (ok all random thoughts crossed my mind … but then of course a house-breaker wouldn’t bang the door right?) I opened the door and before I could blink there was a collective shout of haaaapppeeeeee biiiiirrrrthhhhdaaaaaayyyyy tooooo yyyoooooouuuu.!!!

I was completely in shock and I must admit for a few seconds I was so numb I could not recognize the people in front of me. The sudden wailing sound broke my trance. There stood in front of me …. Preeto and Anuj, trying to compose their little Shaurya who was scared with all the commotion around … there was Palak and Ami (Jignesh we missed you as you globe-trotted merrily) … and there were Neha and Nihaal. I was trembling as they brought me to the living room where a big brown cake with a candle sat invitingly on the centre table, the flame dancing happily as if sharing our joys and spreading the warmth.

I looked around everyone … still choked, controlling my tears trying to express my feelings through my eyes as words would have been just too shallow. Nihaal was trying to protect the dancing flame from the fan and urged me to cut the cake. My hands were trembling visibly as I cut the cake. Adi gave me the first bite. Neha smeared me with the cake cream and we all did a photo shoot with Neha’s mobile camera. As Adi went into the bedroom to order for pizza I followed him in. I hugged him and thanked him, my eyes still gleaming. “Hey ok lunch ke liye thanks bolo … but all this wasn’t my idea” he said. Puzzled, I asked … “so then who?”. “it was Preeto” Adi smiled and got back to the phone as the customer service agent came on the line.

Now I totally had no words. So Preeto and Anuj had cooked up the whole plan. They had called up Neha, Nihaal and Palak and made all the arrangements. To make the entry into our home easier, they finally included Adi in the picture. No wonder Adi was all acting up about office calls and work all day … it also explained the e-cards … he just wanted me out of the living room when these people entered … even the pizza was to be ordered later … everything fell in place now … and everything happened right under my nose … I was totally oblivious to everything. Not the slightest hint … not a faintest idea … I was overwhelmed.

I came out and hugged Preeto … she patted my back … no words were needed also as Anuj looked at me and smiled. The trembling had receded by now as I settled with some of those people I loved the most … Preeto, Anuj, Shaurya, Neha, Nihaal, Palak, Ami … and of course Adi. The pizzas and the drinks came and were gobbled down … the cake was attacked and we wrapped up the party around 10 30, it being a week day.

This was definitely a totally different birthday … a wonderful one. Adi was right … sometimes taking the day as it comes can surely un-wrap a beautiful gift … like a god-sent birthday present. Though the cake is gone now, the pizza boxes thrown away, the bottles empty and standing near the garbage bin, the house cleaned up again … it is the memories that will always last … thank you would have been a very small word to convey what I felt that day … but true friends finally need no words right!

I adore surprises. I love all the secrets and scheming leading up to the surprise, and even more than that, the moment of shock on a person’s face when, as they try to comprehend what the H is happening, you know you pulled it off. Wide eyes, dropped jaws, yelling, laughter. All elements of a GREAT surprise.

When Emily and I initially discussed visiting our dear elf-footed friend Katy in Tennessee, there was no question in our minds that some element of the visit would be a surprise. Because really, what’s better than a visit from friends? A SURPRISE visit from friends. Duh. And we wanted it to be big – a reaction that would rival that of the Nintendo-64 kid. And we suceeded.

So how did we do it, you ask? Well, it’s easy. And to help you out, Emily & I have created a simple 5.5 step process*. Really, the majority of this process is plan development. So put on your game face friends, because when it comes to surprises, the motto is: Go Big or Go Home.

0.5. Know Your Surprisee
Whether or not they like surprises is not your main concern. Rather, how does he/she act? If you’re going to put in all the effort, the reward dang well better be worth it. So if you have a friend who is pretty much overall non-chalant, you might first want to reconsider your friendship, and second, not surprise them ever. The best people to surprise are your overreactors. Hands in the air, yelling, screaming, jumping, smiling, uncontrollable belly-laughter, backpack throwing – this is what you’re shooting for, so surprise someone who will commit to the whole 9 yards. (Katy fit the bill. Game on.)

1. Plan Ahead
The first – and perhaps most important – element of a well executed surprise is a plan. Large-scale surprises, such as Washington’s little boat ride into Delaware or the end of “Fight Club” may require weeks of planning. Your smaller scale surprises? Child’s play.  Either way, surprises are serious business, so whether it’s a three pointer or a foul shot, follow through is critical. Ask lots of questions of your surprisee. Sure, no one cares whether or not they’ll be visiting their Uncle Herbert for the holidays, but you have to plan around potential surprise-ruining events (bat mitzvahs, cousins’ piano recitals, grandparents’ 95th birthdays, etc.)

Emily and I were serious about getting out of Gboro, and even more serious about seeing Katy, so we started to dig for details. In early November, under the guise of catch up conversations, we discovered that Katy would be home a week early for everyone’s favorite nom-fest, Thanksgiving. Fortunately, we also found out in advance about a wedding Katy would be attending – yikes, potential snag. However, not ones to face defeat, Emily and I pressed on. From there, the snowball began to roll. Though we had to tell Katy we were coming, we saved the surprise by not only planning to be at the airport when she arrived home from Montana, but we also were bringing Heidi along with us – who had told Katy she couldn’t get off work to come. Fist pump.

2. Select & Involve Your Key Players
Next to developing your plan, choosing your accomplices is an essential piece of surprise pie. Be selective in sharing your plan with – you never know who will accidentally spill the beans, and that’s just the worst. As far as communication, I suggest vague presentation, if only to make yourself feel like Jack Bauer. My personal favorite: “Are you in?” … “I’m sorry, what?” … “are you IN?! YES OR NO!?” … “uhmmmm, uh, I don’t know? yes?” Score. Thanks to the wonderful world of modern technology, involving key players has never been easier. Discreet communication can now happen over multiple states! You can now text, email and teleconference your way to surprise success. In the words of Stacy Laue, YAHTZEE! But be selective about your communication – twitter and Facebook statuses are clearly out. Imagine what would have happened if the Greeks had had twitter – Trojan Horse fail.

A quick message (thanks, Facebook!) to Lindsay, a lifetime BFF of Katy, secured Katy’s home phone number and access to the two individuals who would earn the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor & Actress of this scheme: Katy’s Parents. Emily coordinated the Branston FamJam efforts and they were eager and excited to help the cause – and after seeing Mr. Branston’s sleuthing skills in the airport, it’s safe to say he always has a backup career with the FBI. We also arranged a Wednesday night stay with Lindsay in Knoxville, so that we could arrive to Memphis early Thursday morning before Katy’s plane touched down.

3. Lie Your Pants Off
Self-explanatory, but also tricky. Half the fun is planting little lies in a casual manner. When involving multiple parties, consistently make sure everyone is on the same page. Thanks to Emily, most phone calls and emails included a “This is what Katy thinks is happening” and “This is what is actually happening.” Good work, sidekick.

As the token facebooker of the group, this was my primary method of sneakery. A casual post on Heidi’s wall, “ughghghghghg just quit work and come on a roadtrip.” was likely to go unnoticed, but still, a fun lie nonetheless. And of course several posts, texts and emails regarding “FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY” to Katy did nothing but help our cause. My personal favorite? A phone conversation with Katy where we discussed how sad it was that Heidi wasn’t coming because she didn’t have the vacation days. Whoever said I can’t keep a straight face is a liehole. As far as Katy knew, it was Knoxville Thursday night, then hitting the ground running in Memphis on Friday afternoon. Bahaha, Sucker.

4. Set the Stage & When in Doubt, Disguise
Again, pretty self-explanatory. Arrive to the scene early, scope out possible hiding spots, disguise options, and overall get a lay of the land. When necessary, alert strangers that it’s probably going to get “loud in hurr.” As a side note, costumes are great. A best friend and I once showed up at the airport in matching pajamas and embarrassed the heck out of our roommate. Goodwill ensembles are also highly encouraged. Oh, and make sure you have a backup plan. As far as that goes, Key Player selection is, again, crucial. If you have non-improvisers in your group, don’t give them a lead role. Sorry, Grandma, but your inability to lie with a straight face is your ticket to RuinTheSurprise-ville. Heidi Klum said it best, you’re out.

We arrived at the airport about 45 minutes before Katy landed. After scoping out arrivals and baggage claim, we had a plan set. Katy would arrive and meet her dad at the end of the gates. She would come through and see her mom sitting in the chairs – where Emily and I would also be sitting behind newspapers. Thanks to a little clever finagling, I was able to record Katy’s approach through a hole punched in my newspaper. Airport security violation? Maybe. At the right moment, Emily and I would make the big reveal. Heidi had the perfect vantage point from the airport gift shop, and once we made our way down to baggage claim, Heidi would follow. Due to clever placement and Emily’s and my request to get a “post surprise interview” while we waited for her bag, we were able to catch the whole thing on tape. After we set the stage, we made sure to plan for all possible scenarios. Katy not checking a bag, alternate sneaking routes for Heidi, different ways to get Katy to go into the sitting area… The list goes on.

5. The Big Show (Double Surprise if Possible)
The reveal is, without a doubt, the BEST part of the surprise. It is, of course, what all your hard work has been leading up to. Make it big, make it loud, make it awesome! The double-whammy (or triple-whammy for that matter, but four is pushing it) is the king of all surprises. The person’s heart rate finally reaches normal, their eyes are no longer popping out, the hugs have stopped, and they have only a faint resemblance of the shakes – as opposed to full on convulsions. What’s the last thing they expect? ANOTHER SURPRISE. Perfect.

After flinging her backpack off one time at arrivals, Katy, Emily, the Branstons and I made our way down to baggage claim. Little did she know, Heidi would be sneaking down from her post in the gift shop to give her the second surprise of a lifetime. It was flawless, and possibly THE best reaction I’ve seen in a long time. I’d try to explain in words just how awesome it was, but that would be a miserable attempt at capturing the spectacle of a lifetime. Instead, I will let you watch the video. Which brings me to the last point: Remember To Bring A Camera. The reasoning behind this should be pretty obvious. But in case you’re still left in the dark, just watch and learn.

Happy Surprising, Readers!

*E&P are not responsible if you suck at surprises.