Blow-out birthday!

Masks, Olvera Street

October 31 is my friend Marvin's 65th birthday. Last year, he and Karen were in L.A. and we all went to the Dia de Los Muertos celebration at El Pueblo de Los Angeles at Olvera Street.

He and Karen were planning to fly west to celebrate - and get away from New York and Hurricane Sandy. But as it turns out, flights out of NYC are cancelled, and they are hunkering down in their house on the Hudson River.

After laying in a good supply of batteries, candles, chain saws and booze, there's nothing left to do but party.

"I was born in a cross-fire hurricane
And I howled at my ma in the driving rain,
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right. I'm Jumpin Jack Flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas!"

Wishing Marvin a happy birthday. Have a real blow-out!