Claire and I have been in Vegas since Sunday. We love this place.
Every year we do our annual trip with my family. Every year we look forward to it. Every year it does not disappoint.
Thanks again Pops for the wonderful family tradition.
-----
Starting today, my family is heading back home to SoCal and Claire's sister/husband will be joining us...so will Steve/Stacey. We are ringing in the New Year's in Vegas. None of us have ever done it, but thought it would be fun to try once.
What are we doing? Well, a lot of things...
We are staying at The Paris. Dinner's will be at Mesa Grill, N9NE Steakhouse and Sushi Roku...We are seeing a comedy show and Phantom. We are ringing in the New Year's at Tao with Christina Aguilera. We are spending a day at Qua. We will be chill'n at the Shadow Bar.
Good times, good people.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Avatar and Tacky Cards
Claire and I saw Avatar last weekend. Silly story, but visually stunning. It is long (nearly 3 hours), but it did not drag that much. Think Independence Day or Armageddon.
Claire said that she has seen Avatar before, but it was called Fern Gully.
I think she has a very legit point.
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Can I rant for a minute? Great...*Stepping on my soapbox*
I love Christmas cards. I love seeing what my friends are doing and the picture(s) that define their year.
I HATE when families send out cards with pictures of just their kids. You know which ones I am talking about...the ones that have just the kids sitting on Santa's lap or the kids frolicking in the sand during the family trip to Florida. The parents are missing from the picture. That is just wrong.
Listen, I love your kids. They are cute (well, most of them). I love to see how big they are getting. I think it is so cool that they are laughing and sitting up on their own.
But I am YOUR friend. I want to see what YOU are doing.
Please include a picture of the parents on the card. It is the right thing to do. If you don't, it is tacky. For those of you who do, thank you.
*Stepping off my soapbox*
-----
I give Poop a pass, because his was funny and and had a legit reason to not include the parents.
Claire said that she has seen Avatar before, but it was called Fern Gully.
I think she has a very legit point.
-----
Can I rant for a minute? Great...*Stepping on my soapbox*
I love Christmas cards. I love seeing what my friends are doing and the picture(s) that define their year.
I HATE when families send out cards with pictures of just their kids. You know which ones I am talking about...the ones that have just the kids sitting on Santa's lap or the kids frolicking in the sand during the family trip to Florida. The parents are missing from the picture. That is just wrong.
Listen, I love your kids. They are cute (well, most of them). I love to see how big they are getting. I think it is so cool that they are laughing and sitting up on their own.
But I am YOUR friend. I want to see what YOU are doing.
Please include a picture of the parents on the card. It is the right thing to do. If you don't, it is tacky. For those of you who do, thank you.
*Stepping off my soapbox*
-----
I give Poop a pass, because his was funny and and had a legit reason to not include the parents.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas
And no, we are not making an announcement of anything other than Merry Christmas and to remind everyone why we celebrate!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Let Me Be Your Hero
Everyone has one, whether they have it listed out or not.
Skydive. Bungee-jump. Eat a Rocky Mountain Oyster.
You know the list. Some call it a Bucket List.
Drive a race-car. Hit a home run. Dunk a basketball.
Things you want to do before you die.
Become a dad. Travel to Istanbul. Live in a house on the beach.
Some are silly. Some are very serious. Some are in between.
Kiss a girl taller than you. Run into a burning building. Get paid to play a sport.
-----
I have crossed some off my list. My list does not stop growing, but I like it that way.
Last Thursday, I got to cross one off...it was actually two, but they sorta went together.
Run into a burning building...be someones hero.
-----
As Claire and I got to the parking lot and saw the flames on the fifth floor, we realized it was not a drill. Our place was not in danger and even if it was, it is just stuff. Claire and I were safe.
Our neighbor, however, did not think he was that lucky. His apartment is directly below the one on fire. There were no firemen, yet. Our neighbor realized his cat was in danger.
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I hate cats. You can put "Eat a cat" on my bucket list. Mostly out of spite. I prefer dogs. They are much more my speed. Cats are too aloof, moody and mean. I hear they taste like chicken.
-----
Our neighbor's cat had run under the bed when the alarm went off and could not be coaxed out. As our neighbor sat there worrying about his cat, I asked him why don't you just run up there and get it. "I am scared" he said.
"Give me your keys" I replied curtly. And Claire did say I was very curt with him. I prefer to call it hero mode.
He looked at me and thought for a second. "Give me your keys, I will go get your cat!" I was not asking anymore. I was in hero mode.
"No, we will go together. Just don't leave me."
Really, he said that.
So we ran...up four flights of stairs...down the hallway...through his door. I lifted his bed and he climbed under and grabbed the cat. We ran out.
Yes, we saw smoke. It was so cool.
-----
The next day I was walking down the hallway and bumped into him and his family. He was getting what was left of his stuff out of the apartment. The flames did not get down to his place, but the water from the fire hoses and sprinklers did. Most everything was ruined.
I asked him what his plans were. We chatted for a second...then he stopped mid-sentence and introduced me to his family.
"This is the guy I was telling you about. This is my hero. He saved my cat."
-----
What is on your bucket list?
Skydive. Bungee-jump. Eat a Rocky Mountain Oyster.
You know the list. Some call it a Bucket List.
Drive a race-car. Hit a home run. Dunk a basketball.
Things you want to do before you die.
Become a dad. Travel to Istanbul. Live in a house on the beach.
Some are silly. Some are very serious. Some are in between.
Kiss a girl taller than you. Run into a burning building. Get paid to play a sport.
-----
I have crossed some off my list. My list does not stop growing, but I like it that way.
Last Thursday, I got to cross one off...it was actually two, but they sorta went together.
Run into a burning building...be someones hero.
-----
As Claire and I got to the parking lot and saw the flames on the fifth floor, we realized it was not a drill. Our place was not in danger and even if it was, it is just stuff. Claire and I were safe.
Our neighbor, however, did not think he was that lucky. His apartment is directly below the one on fire. There were no firemen, yet. Our neighbor realized his cat was in danger.
-----
I hate cats. You can put "Eat a cat" on my bucket list. Mostly out of spite. I prefer dogs. They are much more my speed. Cats are too aloof, moody and mean. I hear they taste like chicken.
-----
Our neighbor's cat had run under the bed when the alarm went off and could not be coaxed out. As our neighbor sat there worrying about his cat, I asked him why don't you just run up there and get it. "I am scared" he said.
"Give me your keys" I replied curtly. And Claire did say I was very curt with him. I prefer to call it hero mode.
He looked at me and thought for a second. "Give me your keys, I will go get your cat!" I was not asking anymore. I was in hero mode.
"No, we will go together. Just don't leave me."
Really, he said that.
So we ran...up four flights of stairs...down the hallway...through his door. I lifted his bed and he climbed under and grabbed the cat. We ran out.
Yes, we saw smoke. It was so cool.
-----
The next day I was walking down the hallway and bumped into him and his family. He was getting what was left of his stuff out of the apartment. The flames did not get down to his place, but the water from the fire hoses and sprinklers did. Most everything was ruined.
I asked him what his plans were. We chatted for a second...then he stopped mid-sentence and introduced me to his family.
"This is the guy I was telling you about. This is my hero. He saved my cat."
-----
What is on your bucket list?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Bogart and the Burning Building
Thursday night Claire and I had just settled in...wrapped up on the couch, sipping a nice bottle of wine and a DVD. We were 90% done with the movie when a piercing sound hit our ears. It was followed with a strobe light.
Our fire alarm was going off.
You would think this would be cause for us to jump out of our seat, rushing to exit the building, but this is not the case. Our building has some issues and we live in P-Towne. False alarms are normal. So, Claire and I got up, changed clothes, made sure we had the right jackets, got our wallets and slowly made our way out of the apartment.
About 2/3rds of the way down the hall we realized this was not a drill or a false alarm. It was a real fire.
By the time we got outside, we could see flames in the corner apartment on the floor above us. Everyone is standing outside, freezing our tuchus off...I love that word!
6 Fire Trucks, 8 Cops and 2 Ambulances were surrounding our building. The local news was aiming their cameras at the big, white monstrosity we live in. Luckily, we have a friend that invited us over to get out of the cold.
4 hours later, we were escorted past 2 condemned apartments, through puddles of water and over debris that fell from the ceiling. We got to our place, snuggled back in and finished the movie.
----
One good thing that happened...I got to cross off something on my Bucket List. On Wednesday you can read all about that...and the heater in our Apartment making snow on Friday.
Our fire alarm was going off.
You would think this would be cause for us to jump out of our seat, rushing to exit the building, but this is not the case. Our building has some issues and we live in P-Towne. False alarms are normal. So, Claire and I got up, changed clothes, made sure we had the right jackets, got our wallets and slowly made our way out of the apartment.
About 2/3rds of the way down the hall we realized this was not a drill or a false alarm. It was a real fire.
By the time we got outside, we could see flames in the corner apartment on the floor above us. Everyone is standing outside, freezing our tuchus off...I love that word!
6 Fire Trucks, 8 Cops and 2 Ambulances were surrounding our building. The local news was aiming their cameras at the big, white monstrosity we live in. Luckily, we have a friend that invited us over to get out of the cold.
4 hours later, we were escorted past 2 condemned apartments, through puddles of water and over debris that fell from the ceiling. We got to our place, snuggled back in and finished the movie.
----
One good thing that happened...I got to cross off something on my Bucket List. On Wednesday you can read all about that...and the heater in our Apartment making snow on Friday.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
99 Cent Store Wonders
***Edit December 16, 835am***
So the post I had intended...the "Sexy Daddy" and the "Placenta Soap" cut from Jay Leno is no longer available...I will just let you use your imagination as to what it was like...and yes, "Sexy Daddy" is a children's book.
Thanks for pointing that out Poop...the video not working, not the "Sexy Daddy" being a kids book...although it would not surprise me that you would know that.
-----
Claire is traveling the next couple of days...so I am back to bachelor life. Luckily, I get to do it at home where I can cook my own meals.
The downside of that is I have to figure out what I want to cook.
Last night I ate hamburger meat...with some ketchup and bacon.
This morning I had a hamburger omelet.
I need to find something more appealing for dinner...maybe Pickles and Ritz Crackers?
-----
I have watched the first two episodes of Men of a Certain Age...I like it.
It is funny, but not slapstick. It is serious, but not tears in your eyes.
I find myself strangely drawn to the characters, the fights they fight and the conflicted feelings they are dealing with...no, I am not the age that these characters are, but I can see some of the things they deal with and relate to them. If you are a guy of a certain age, it is worth checking out.
-----
I am reminded of something my mom said to me many years ago when that show "thirtysomething" was on TV...she was watching it and I complained that it was a stupid show. She responded, "it is not stupid, you are just not thirty-something".
I think of that comment when I watch Men of a Certain Age...
Maybe it is the gray hairs that are making like rabbits on my head.
So the post I had intended...the "Sexy Daddy" and the "Placenta Soap" cut from Jay Leno is no longer available...I will just let you use your imagination as to what it was like...and yes, "Sexy Daddy" is a children's book.
Thanks for pointing that out Poop...the video not working, not the "Sexy Daddy" being a kids book...although it would not surprise me that you would know that.
-----
Claire is traveling the next couple of days...so I am back to bachelor life. Luckily, I get to do it at home where I can cook my own meals.
The downside of that is I have to figure out what I want to cook.
Last night I ate hamburger meat...with some ketchup and bacon.
This morning I had a hamburger omelet.
I need to find something more appealing for dinner...maybe Pickles and Ritz Crackers?
-----
I have watched the first two episodes of Men of a Certain Age...I like it.
It is funny, but not slapstick. It is serious, but not tears in your eyes.
I find myself strangely drawn to the characters, the fights they fight and the conflicted feelings they are dealing with...no, I am not the age that these characters are, but I can see some of the things they deal with and relate to them. If you are a guy of a certain age, it is worth checking out.
-----
I am reminded of something my mom said to me many years ago when that show "thirtysomething" was on TV...she was watching it and I complained that it was a stupid show. She responded, "it is not stupid, you are just not thirty-something".
I think of that comment when I watch Men of a Certain Age...
Maybe it is the gray hairs that are making like rabbits on my head.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Heart Warming
This weekend was a great one...After having been gone for the better part of 2 weeks, it was so nice to be back with my Claire!
We stayed up late Friday night watching 30-Rock, the Office and Top Chef (we have 1 more episode left to watch...don't spoil it for us!) on the DVR. On Saturday, Claire baked Almond Cranberry Spice Muffins and we watched UP...then to the movie theaters to see Blindside...then home to watch Chicago.
We loved all three movies and suggest them for anyone!
Somewhere in there, Claire also found time to make a homemade macaroni and cheese from scratch, we hit up the Happiest Place on Earth and stopped by the dry cleaners.
Saturday was a good day.
Sunday was fantastic as well, starting with CBS Sunday Morning in our PJ's, church and to a friend's house to watch the Charger's manhandle the Cowgirls.
Good times...Good times!
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Have you had a chance to see this picture?
You can read the story here.
We stayed up late Friday night watching 30-Rock, the Office and Top Chef (we have 1 more episode left to watch...don't spoil it for us!) on the DVR. On Saturday, Claire baked Almond Cranberry Spice Muffins and we watched UP...then to the movie theaters to see Blindside...then home to watch Chicago.
We loved all three movies and suggest them for anyone!
Somewhere in there, Claire also found time to make a homemade macaroni and cheese from scratch, we hit up the Happiest Place on Earth and stopped by the dry cleaners.
Saturday was a good day.
Sunday was fantastic as well, starting with CBS Sunday Morning in our PJ's, church and to a friend's house to watch the Charger's manhandle the Cowgirls.
Good times...Good times!
-----
Have you had a chance to see this picture?
You can read the story here.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Happy Birthday Mom
Happy Birthday Mom...
39 years old...wow, where does the time go?
I am so very thankful for you.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Heading home
Heading home today...whew. That was a long 9 days. Cold. Like -5 wind chill Thursday.
Can't wait to get to the balmy 45 in VA!
-----
I love eating out, but 9 days in a row of every meal being eaten out sucks. Not gonna lie.
-----
Why is it that every bathroom has a guy who insists on using the john while either texting or talking on the cellular? How hard is it to tap out for 5-10 mins? Dude, enjoy your private time.
-----
Loving the new job. I enjoy being involved in "The Game" again. I missed being productive.
-----
Have you seen the HBO Special featuring the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame performance yet? Amazing. Simply amazing. Watching Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel play...Metallica and Ozzy...U2 and Mick Jagger...and a whole host of others. If you like music, you have to watch it. Such a must see!!!
Can't wait to get to the balmy 45 in VA!
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I love eating out, but 9 days in a row of every meal being eaten out sucks. Not gonna lie.
-----
Why is it that every bathroom has a guy who insists on using the john while either texting or talking on the cellular? How hard is it to tap out for 5-10 mins? Dude, enjoy your private time.
-----
Loving the new job. I enjoy being involved in "The Game" again. I missed being productive.
-----
Have you seen the HBO Special featuring the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame performance yet? Amazing. Simply amazing. Watching Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel play...Metallica and Ozzy...U2 and Mick Jagger...and a whole host of others. If you like music, you have to watch it. Such a must see!!!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Brrrrr. Cold.
Sitting in a hotel room in Kansas City.
It is cold here. Been as cold as 10.
Ten.
That is cold.
We are to wake up with 2-3 inches of snow today.
I think I need to rethink this new job...or at least the travel to KC during the winter.
-----
Real quick request for those of you in the service industry. If you are working with a client, please try your best not to pass stinky gas when your client is around. It does not help your case.
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Did you see Nebraska almost take down Texas on Saturday night? Oh that would have been so glorious!!
-----
There is this homeless guy in P-Towne that has been on my mind recently. It is an unusual thing. He has sorta stuck with me for a while. I can't explain it. Wondering if there is something I should be doing for him besides praying for him and his circumstances.
-----
9 days away from my wife is too long. Only 4 days left, but I have had enough of this.
-----
I need to figure out how to balance this blogging with the new job. Any tips?
It is cold here. Been as cold as 10.
Ten.
That is cold.
We are to wake up with 2-3 inches of snow today.
I think I need to rethink this new job...or at least the travel to KC during the winter.
-----
Real quick request for those of you in the service industry. If you are working with a client, please try your best not to pass stinky gas when your client is around. It does not help your case.
-----
Did you see Nebraska almost take down Texas on Saturday night? Oh that would have been so glorious!!
-----
There is this homeless guy in P-Towne that has been on my mind recently. It is an unusual thing. He has sorta stuck with me for a while. I can't explain it. Wondering if there is something I should be doing for him besides praying for him and his circumstances.
-----
9 days away from my wife is too long. Only 4 days left, but I have had enough of this.
-----
I need to figure out how to balance this blogging with the new job. Any tips?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Camping At Home
Claire and I had friends arriving on Saturday morning for brunch.
We were going to make fresh baked cranberry muffins and Shrimp & Corn Grits.
Claire woke up, put together the muffins and baked them perfectly. They were beautiful and really good.
My job was to create the Shrimp and Corn Grits.
I started cooking. It was not working. The stove had little to no power.
I could not even melt butter.
Turns out the power company said that we have a "Phase Out".
I have guests arriving in 15 mins and now I have a "Phase Out". No appliances can run. The heater is out. The stove top is not working. The fridge is dead in the water.
I have Shrimp and Corn Grits to make. Crap.
-----
Earlier this year, Claire and I won a drawing over at Wonderful World of Weiners.
We won a bunch of camping equipment including a machete, wind-proof lighter, knife, flashlights, multi-gas coffee pot and a camp stove.
-----
We are watching the stove...nothing is happening.
We are watching the clock...it is ticking.
Claire says, "Hey, wait. Don't we have that really awesome camp stove and a small propane tank?"
Sure enough, we have that wonderful camp stove. I pull out the box...it is still packed in the original shipping box...and assemble it.
First words that appear on the stove when you open the box?
DO NOT USE INDOORS
We did anyway. And the camp fire Shrimp and Corn Grits were awesome!!!
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