the hills are alive...

With the sounds of all kinds of shit. I sincerely apologize for practically being on a milk carton for about the last 5 months. There's really no specific reason or excuse for it other than I just never felt like it. I'm an adult, that's reason enough - I don't have to answer to anyone - YOU'RE NOT MY REAL DAD!

I don't even know where to begin....to start boring you to tears. I have to say the last 5 months or so have been pretty good to me with only a few hiccups, which have since been resolved - well...all except one. That being the job situation - yes ladies and germs I'm still flopping like a fish out of water who's gills have then dried up. To top it all off no one's found me lying motionless on the carpet to rescue me and put me where I belong. My creativity's all dried up and I'm suffocating in a world I was not made to live in.

With all that being said, things actually be on the upswing as there may be a chance I'm scraped off the carpet next Wednesday. Keep all of your extremities crossed. Please and thank you.

The end of July and August brought me nothing that I should write home about - although it could just be the glorious 4 weeks in September/October spent with 2 of my favorite people in the world that fogs up those end-of-summer memories. My cousin Nina and her husband Achim arrived on September 15th and stayed with me until October 10th. While the massive chunk of time off put a huge mack-truck-sized dent in my bank account, it was definitely well worth it. We visited my almost permanently intoxicated, shotgun wielding family in da U.P eh for my cousin Erin's wedding. Nina was thrilled to experience an 'American' wedding and I was thrilled there was something other than Miller Lite on tap for the reception.

We flew to New York at the very beginning of October and quickly realized I was far more excited than they. We covered a lot in 3 days and by the end I had felt like I walked to the ends of the earth. Our hotel was marvelous and in the center of everything which allowed us to experience a lot with little effort. I finally got to see a bit of the 'Today' show - as corny as it sounds it was a little surreal seeing Al Roker and Matt Lauer within feet of myself. Then as luck would have it I caught a glimpse of LL Cool J reading 'Corduroy' to some unruly children. We took a bus tour with various odd tour guides and learned where Mariah Carey and Leonardo DiCaprio live, where Paul Simon and Joan Baez first got their start, that people like to stick their heads up the bull's ass on Wall street and finally that you shouldn't be surprised when an older, military-esque black man in fact speaks German. Though had you been there you would have known it seemed EVERYONE in NYC speaks German. I had to frequently look up at the Empire State Building to make sure I was in fact in NYC and not looking at the tv tower in Alexanderplatz, Berlin. We used the tour bus as our personal taxi and visited the sobering ground zero site (which looks a lot different than 2 years ago), walked the south street seaport to get a better view of the Brooklyn Bridge and took a jaunt on the Staten Island Ferry to get a good look at ol' Lady Liberty. We held on for dear life atop the very chilly and very windy Empire State Building at night where I took at least 100 pictures. We dined at Justin Timberlake's restaurant where I inhaled the most glorious mac 'n cheese with bacon. But the one thing at the top of my list was to visit The Dakota, the apartment building where John Lennon's life was taken by a coward, and Strawberry Fields. It was a little bizarre, standing in the place he last stood.



















I had been there before - but I can't begin to express to you how much I love New York City. While I'm not sure I could live there without feeling like I was living in some sort of modern day, whirlwind fairytale - I am absolutely sure I'd like to be in the city at least another 93485673498576 times before I kick the bucket. Maybe it's because I always feel like I'm apart of something when I'm there, even as I'm walking briskly down 5th Ave, alone in a sea of strangers. It's invigorating and I always feel a sense of sorrow when I have to leave.

I was once again filled with a sense of sadness, that's sometimes overwhelming, when my family had to leave. No matter how elated I am at the first sight of them, there's always this tiny speck of pessimism in knowing that it will be short-lived. It's a difficult thing, having people that close to you live so far away. But I suppose I should think of the glass half-full (of some sort of dark german lager) - I have something wonderful to look forward to for the next year when I hop aboard a plane once again - and get to meet my new little cousin. I wonder if deutsch baby googoos and gagas are different?

I'm not going to indulge in a certain other aspect of my life as it seems whenever I do, it's the kiss of death. I'll just say the universe opened up and dropped in my lap something pretty promising.

I'm going to TRY and keep this thing updated more frequently than once every score - but no promises, because as Dru Hill says "I never make a promise, I can't keep."

Til next time friends - I'm off to brave weather the eskimos, or Sarah Palin, should be jealous of.

holy hot tuna fart

I apologize to everyone who doesn't read this...I've been missing for 2 months. Get over it - oh you already are? Ok good.

It's summer - I'm SO not in the blogging mood, like...ever. Plus it probably helps that I haven't got too much to say. One thing that IS new and exciting and wondermous and fabtastic is that I did in fact find a great place and am now living in a pretty-close-to-perfect 2 bedroom apartment in the bay view area. I'm in love with it - and this one minor plus in my black hole of a life has saved me from possibly jumping from a very high ledge...so to speak.

I've been quite busy what with work (which is also coming to an end soon, back to square one), and summerly activities. Concerts galore - Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, John Mayer, Gavin Degraw - Reba McIntyre tomorrow, The Police on Friday, Celine Dion in September and NKOTfreakinB in October. You heard me, I'm making up for the fact that I never got to see the 'Kids' in their hay-day - and I realize they're in their 40s now but so what, I'm no spring chicken these days either, though I'll probably scream like one. DON'T JUDGE ME.

So, with all that being said, I bid you adieu and it very well may be another 2 months before I post again, so don't get your crease all greased.

Ciao.

sweet beans I've been MIA....

This will not be a long post as I don't really feel like writing. But I've been buuuuusaaayy.

Shortly after my last post I was preparing myself for my trip to Germany to visit family AND just before I left I landed a job. Before you start leaping for joy (because I know you all would) it's just a temp job until August, but it will pay the bills in the meantime. It's also with a group of people I used to work with that I really enjoyed, and doing a large variety of design work which is a huge plus and much needed change from my last job.

I've also been busy searching craigslist every 5 seconds to find a new place to live. I'm pretty over living in OC, sure it's nice - but I need a change...and I'm not to happy with these apartments. So I'm looking at two duplex's this week, one in SM right around Grant Park and one in Cudahy by the lake. I'm also movin' on up to a 2 bedroom, I figured it'd be nice to have the extra space to do my freelance work and keep all my equipment and also have a nice space for any visitors - especially when my favorite people in the world (fam from Germany) come to visit.

Speaking of, my vacation in Deutschland was amazing, as it always is, but oh so hard to leave my cousins....as it always is. And the older I get the more my emotions run rampant and I was blubbering like a big fat baby in the airport. Thankfully they are planning on coming here in September and I am planning on heading back there next May.

Well I'm going to run, I have some shows on my DVR to watch, I'm getting sleepy and my new tattoo is itchy and needing it's salve.

Auf Wiedersehen!!!

It's been a long time....

Been a long time, been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time.....

Little Zep for you.

But yes, I haven't been around. I've been in sort of a funk which is the result of a multitude of things. The main one being that I'm still without a job. I was THISCLOSE to getting a job I was actually pretty excited about - it's a really long story, but in short it was down to me and another person (out of 300!) and the person they chose was actually a friend of mine...who actually had a job and just decided to find something else. This was an 'only me' situation folks.

I've also been becoming increasingly frustrated with my equipment situation. Since being thrown back out into the pits of unemployment I've learned that things have changed a bit in the last three years. Web design is becoming more and more prevalent in graphic design positions to the point where it seems like they're basically merging. Obviously the web is everywhere and a major part of communications/marketing so that's understandable - but while in college and starting my career, they were still two separate positions. I haven't had much opportunity to learn web as it wasn't needed, but now while searching for jobs day in and day out I'm realizing that needs to change. Here's the issue, my computer is old, rather ancient in computer years. Yes, it still works, but in it's old age has become sluggish. Up until recently I was three operating systems behind (now I believe I'm one or two behind) which causes mannnny incompatibility problems with hardware and software, I'm 3 versions behind in design software which consistently causes roadblocks in trying to improve my portfolio and do freelance work and there's no way I'm learning web without web software. The problem is the catch 22 - with no job, I definitely have no money for a well deserved upgrade, and without the necessary tools to improve my knowledge and body of work it's going to be a little more difficult to get that job. It's a vicious circle. Obviously it's do-able since I was recently very close to a job, but it'd be nice to be able to utilize the best tools in my field - otherwise why would there even be upgrades? It's like telling a photographer, oh well for the next 3 weeks you're gonna need to oil paint your subjects - worked for the Mona Lisa didn't it? Or tell a carpenter, we're cutting off your electricity for an unknown period of time, there's a handsaw right over there for your major projects....or a mechanic - well we don't have any wrenches, your hands work just fine - use those!

This wasn't meant to be a 'woe is me' post - but it's annoying having a creative urge stifled by less than stellar creative conditions.

So if I can find 2000 people that would like to donate a dollar to my cause, that'd be great. You'll get an I.O.U in return and that dollar's all yours once I land that killer job! Haha.

because, I have to

Well, hello there!

Fancy meeting you here! I'm doing well, yourself? Wonderful.

Yes, I'm still Johnnie McUnemployed. I haven't allowed myself to get TOO lazy however. Did a little grocery shopping, made some home-made creamy tomato soup, made mucho progress on a little freelance project, scrubbed the bathtub, read a book and started another. I also stayed true to my promise of Living Single marathons (but only on Thursday's, WTF Oxygen Network!) and glorious naps. If they could pay me for being a professional napper, I'd be a millionaire, I'm that good at it.

I did have an interview about a week and a half ago with no results yet, and I'm also meeting with another agency this week. I know all your fingers and toes and legs are losing blood flow and becoming cramped and deformed - but please keep them crossed. Pretty please with a cherry on top!?

Along with the rest of Wisconsin I'm sure, I am so glad we've escaped February and have entered March. I'm counting on March to lift my spirits - slightly warmer weather, daylight savings time in about a week, Chicago: The Musical starring my lovely Dan :) and the fact that I can now say I leave for Germany NEXT MONTH! It's been 4 years since I've seen my long lost sister (cousin) and I am counting down the days until I see her! My other sister from another mister, Kelly, and I are ecstatic. Whilst shopping this weekend I picked up some seriously discounted, albeit fabulous, new luggage and I am so excited to use it I could probably start packing tomorrow. Nerd.

Well I'm off to do one of 3 things:

1) Read some more of my book The Invisible Wall
2) Lay on the couch and watch some Will & Grace
3) Lay on the couch and....nap.....

Wish me luck on this life-changing decision.

i drink your MILKSHAKE

I haven't even seen There Will Be Blood and this makes me laugh hysterically. Maybe it's because the next episode will take place in "Kenosha, Wesh...uh, Wisconsin".

I DRINK IT UP!

And now, the end is near...

So I face the final curtain....

Well pimps and hoes, my run has come to an end. Like I wrote in the first post about my laid-offness, I am not distraught about leaving. Like someone in an emotionally abusive relationship whose significant other doesn't love or care about them anymore and makes that blatantly clear, I deserve much better. Case in point, today is my 3rd anniversary and not one word was uttered (except for Katie, thanks! :)). While I realize tomorrow is my last day before being forced out, I did put in 3 years here and while a 'Congratulations' might not be in order, I think a 'thank you' is. But I suppose I expect nothing less.

I don't have much else to say regarding the subject except that I still believe everything happens for a reason. And with certain things coming to light recently I can say that I'm relieved to be freed from the corruption and dysfunction and every other 'tion' that takes place in this hole. So even though I'm leaving a tad bitter, I'm still holding on to the glimmer of hope that this is in fact a blessing in disguise.

All that being said and trying to focus on the positive, here are some things that I am looking forward to during my undetermined length of unemployment and/or things that will continue to put a smile on my face. (Will somebody just hire my talented ass already?)

1. Living Single marathons on the Oxygen Network. Overton, Kyle, Khadijah, Regine, Synclair, and Max - I love you all.
2. Coffee and Magazines at Barnes n Noble
3. The Food Network
4. Ellen Degeneres
5. That Charlie video in the post just before this one.
6. 2pm naps
7. My new bowling ball!
8. Bowling on Saturday nights and bowling with girls on Mondays.
9. Jack Daniels
10. This guy's voice

11. The return of all of my shows
12. Graham cracker cereal
13. And not having to sit in this ridiculous red chair suffocating in a huge vat of bullshit.

Adios Chris Klein, I can say with certainty that I won't miss you.

CHAR-LAY!!!

I can't stop watching this video.....

G-L-A-R-O-U-S, the gRamorous?

Amazing.

This is why

I know I haven't posted anything about my beloved Packers since the mushy yammering article a few posts down, since their devastating loss to the Giants (which I admit was a great game, nail biter all the way through) - but tonight I HAVE to give props to the New York Giants. Packer family and friends, this is why we lost. The Giants wanted it more, and proved it. To come to the big show against a team 18-0 and play one of the most exciting games I've ever seen in football and take what they've earned brings a tear to my eye! There's no denying that the Giants most definitely earned this Superbowl Championship. So I say congrats to you Eli, Strahan, Burress, Tyree and the rest of the Giants club - you played a fabulous game.



Oh, and it also helps that Bill Belicheck, the biggest douchebag on the planet, got what he deserved. What a sore loser.

cold lightning

At the moment it is a balmy -2 degrees (feels like -22) outside. I never understood the whole "it's -2 but feels like -22" situation with the weather. If it feels like it's -22, than say it's -22!

Obviously since I started off with weather, I don't have much to report. Except that I probably have an assigned seat on the bus to hell for laughing hysterically at this.

Tell me where to buy it

This guy, Dan Dunn, is AMAZING. There's no other word I can use to describe him. I LOVE finding out about new artists, in all mediums - especially atypical ones. Watch until the end to see what I mean!!!!!





www.paintjam.com

no apologies

To all of you who back the Pack, enjoy this...Everyone who doesn't, set aside your pure disgust for the Packers for 5 minutes and read this article that in my opinion just describes the fans devotion to their team, whoever they may be. Anyone who can't is just hating for the sake of hating and that my friend, is sad.

Seattle Post Intelligencer
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It's easy to hate the New York Yankees if you're a Boston Red Sox fan, and vice versa. The same goes for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, Michigan and Ohio State and those originators of the shotgun formation, the Hatfield's and McCoy's.

But who hates the Green Bay Packers? Steeped in tradition and often viewed through a prism of sepia-tone nostalgia, the Packers have succeeded against all odds in a tiny and remote market, in a 50-year-old (albeit renovated) stadium with aluminum bench seats, in an era of unfettered free agency and corporate greed. OK, if you're a Seahawks fan, you're not feeling all warm and fuzzy about Brett Favre and Al Harris right about now. 'We want the ball and we're going to score!' might be old news, but the sting lingers.

Really, though, do you hate the Packers? Not if you know anything about the history of the National Football League. Not if you've seen those grainy images of the 1967 'Ice Bowl' and Bart Starr's fateful quarterback sneak on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Not if you admire the principles on which Vince Lombardi built a dynasty. Not if you pull for the underdog. In Wisconsin, there is no other option. You are born into Packerdom here. Your great-grandfather cheered for Curly Lambeau and Don Hutson, your grandpa for Paul Hornung and Willie Wood, your dad for James Lofton and Lynn Dickey. Every kid on your block owns a No. 4 jersey.

What makes the Packers special? Start with the fact that there are 112,015 owners, the vast majority of whom hold one share of stock. Formed in the NFL's primordial mist in 1919, the Packers became a non-profit entity four years later and remain the only publicly owned team among the major professional sports. The most recent stock sale, in 1998, netted 106,000 new 'owners' who paid $200 per share (and sent $24 million straight to the team's bottom line) for certificates that are basically worthless. The stock never pays dividends or appreciates in value. But the emotional investment is priceless. When general manager Ted Thompson signs a free agent, the fans can thump their chests and say, 'I helped bring that guy to Green Bay.'
And it's true. Of course, Bob Harlan, who has run the Packers for 19 years, first as president and CEO and more recently as chairman of the board, has a stake in the team. He, too, owns exactly one share of stock. 'I paid $25 for my share when I became president,' said Harlan, who is retiring after the postseason. 'When fans call me, they start out by saying, 'Bob, I'm a fan and a shareholder.' They always point out that they're shareholders. I say, 'Well, I am, too, so let's talk.' Did we mention that Harlan answers his own telephone? There is no administrative assistant to run interference, no automated maze to negotiate. You've got a beef with the injured cornerback or the price of tickets, you go straight to the top dog.

The fact that the Packers can even exist in a city of 100,000 is a minor miracle, due in equal parts to fan loyalty throughout the state and revenue sharing in the NFL. Los Angeles can't support a team but this little frozen outpost can? It's one of the mysteries of the universe. It helps that not much ever happens in Green Bay , other than what occurs at 1265 Lombardi Ave. Lambeau Field -- notice, no naming rights -- is the city's corporate and social epicenter, its source of civic pride, its very heart and soul. The nearest NCAA Division I football team is 2 1/2 hours away at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Milwaukee is 115 miles to the south, so the Packers are the only game in town.

Their reach extends north into Michigan 's Upper Peninsula, south into Chicago Bears turf and west clear to the Dakotas (the team had a 40-year head start on the Minnesota Vikings). And that doesn't count the fans who have relocated or the ones Harlan likens to the 'Notre Dame subway alumni.'

'People call me and say, 'I'm a lifelong Packers fan and someday I'd love to see Lambeau Field,' Harlan said. 'They've never even been here.' On game days, the far-flung Cheeseheads converge on Green Bay and fill the Lambeau parking lot hours before kickoff. First-time visitors are blown away by the passion, creativity and dedication of the tailgaters. There's nothing quite like the smell of 10,000 bratwursts sizzling on 1,000 grills and the sight of footballs spiraling through 10-degree air.

The Packers-Seahawks game will mark the 268th consecutive sellout at Lambeau, including playoffs. That's every single game since 1960. The waiting list for season tickets is at 76,800. With an average of 70 fans per year giving up their seats, the guy at the end of the list will have to wait 1,000 years, give or take a few decades, for his name to come up. Season-ticket holders live in all 50 states and several foreign countries, including Japan . Domo arrigato.

The obsession with the team is such that the 10 p.m. TV newscasts in Milwaukee and Green Bay are dominated by Packers developments. The long snapper has an ingrown toenail? That leads the sports report. The price of beer is going up at Lambeau? That's the top story. Brett Favre retires? We don't even want to think about that one.

The Packers have won 12 championships, more than any other NFL franchise, and three Super Bowl titles. The team has sent 21 players to the Hall of Fame. Green Bay city streets are named after former players and coaches, including Mike Holmgren.

But it's not about all that. It's about a unique relationship between a professional sports franchise and its fans. It's about people feeling they're a part of something special, something unique, something good. The Packers don't need throwback jerseys to evoke their glorious past.

In all the ways that count, it's still 1965 here. And always will be.

Now I'm in no way saying the GB Packers are better than any other team, or that no other team has a special history, or that other fans don't have a special bond with their team. But only 2 teams can go to the big show, obviously they deserve to be there (unless you're Bill Belichick and don't have faith in yourself or in your own team to win without being a big fat cheater). So quit being a hater, it just makes you age faster.

Sweet Home Green Bay

I'm going to start of this post with an apology to 3 people who I know read this blog from time to time, and aren't very big fans (ok, not at all) of the green and gold. Just peep this until next season ;-)

Then I'm going to follow that up with, GET OUT YOUR FUCKING CHECKBOOK Giants! The game on Saturday was superb and was awesomely celebrated with taco dip, swedish meatballs and half of a bottle of Gentlemen's Jack. NY, we look forward to slaughtering your asses on Sunday.

Excuse the necessary profanity.



Moving on, I had a little mishap today in true Monday morning fashion. After my shower I was looking in the mirror and noticed my eyebrows had a groucho marx thing goin' on. I used my little handy dandy battery operated shaver mcdealy and in an effort to tame them, accidentally took a chunk out of the middle of my left eyebrow. Damn you twitchy right arm!

It resulted in something that looks a little like this:



After laughing for a good 3-4 minutes while looking at my ridiculous face in the mirror, I took out the trusty brown eyeliner and filled it in. So, if any of you see me around in the next week and notice something is amiss - no I did not join a gang, or attempt to bring any sort of Vanilla Ice fashion back - I'm just an idiot with one of these.

January 7th i.e. June 11th

I just have to post this, because it's awesome. This is the temperature at the moment and as Katie said, it usually IS the same temp around her birthday (Jan 6th) as it is around mine (June 11th). Only in Wisconsin I tell you!

heavens to betsy!

I haven't bloggededed in what feels like at least 3 or 4 years! The main reason being there's nothing in particular I feel like going on about. Besides, it's a little difficult to be creative and wordy when you're stressed out. And as far as I know, the only people that read this pretty much know everything by this point anyway, but what the hell.

Our company was closed from the 22nd - January 1st and I have to admit the time off was truly glorious. I had had it up to here with 2007 and needed to send off the last week of the year with good friends, family and the bottom of the Jack D bottle - not hanging out in the sneezefest of the 5th floor. I'll be completely honest with you and say half the time I didn't even know what day of the week it was, for all I know Thursday could have been the new Monday. With the exception of the Holidays themselves I didn't have much of a schedule to stick with, however I feel I did make good use of the time off.

Friday the 21st I took it back to '99 with some friends of mine from high school with a little old fashioned sleepover and board games - although this time (almost 10 years later) the liquor was a-flowin' and we were holed up in Jessica's new condo instead of Corthine's basement using an old strawberry-shaped toy chest as a drum. Corthine, like the good lush she is, brought supplies for chocolate martinis and they were outstanding. Dear Andrea brought Blokus which Corthine described as 'the opposite of Tetris' to which I retorted 'it's more like the opposite of fun'. Needless to say, I wasn't a fan. However she redeemed herself upon bringing Apples to Apples which I enjoyed so much that I encouraged my mom to go out and get it so we could play.

The Holidays also brought many friends back to the homeland and on Saturday the 22nd I Qdoba'd and shopped with Seany who was in from Japan. Looking back it appears as if the lunch and crowded mall was just a disguise for his absence of a vehicle to eat and last minute Christmas shopping. When I needed to stop in to store to look for last minute gifts, he squirmed and complained of too many 'foreigners' (non Japanese people) - however when it was his turn he was like a kid in a candy store. You can't fool me foo, I'm like Nancy Drew.

By the way, yes, I really am doing this - a day by day of my vacation.

So Sunday the 23rd I shopped some more, this time by myself, and picked up some necessary items for the Christmas festivities. Then decided to meet up with Brad* at his friends house for a little Packer party, which ended up being more of a pity party because the game was TERRIBLE. I wasn't sure how long I'd stay but I ended up having a great time sucking down Coors (yeah, Coors, you KNOW I had to have been having a great time if I'm drinking that urine flavored beer, or is it beer flavored urine?). More friends and family began showing up and before you know it we were playing some retarded drinking game that I didn't understand and ordering pizza. I left at about 8:30 and headed to my parents house, who happen to live up the street, and watched Christmas Vacation.

Sorry, I'm still going.

Monday the 24th - ye olde Christmas Eve at the 'rents abode. All I'm going to say that it was nice, cozy and pretty much a repeat of most years previous, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The most interesting thing I received was a small fire-proof safe. Upon tearing open the wrapping paper, I wasn't sure if it was in fact a safe, or something she had wrapped in a safe's box. So I opened the box too and sure enough, tucked inside was a little black safe. Her reasoning was that I could use it to store my back up CDs of photos and files from my computer, fair enough! It made me laugh, I can always count on Mom to give me something completely random for Christmas.

I guess that brings us to Tuesday the 25th - Christmas Day. Since my grandparents have either a. passed away or 2. moved to the U.P., we've been sort of left out in the cold for Christmas Day only having somewhere to go if my dad's aunt happens to have it at their place (I know, the world's smallest violin). This year their son ended up having it and for some unknown reason made no mention of us joining them. We ate breakfast and then my brother, mom, dad and I played the new Family Feud game for a couple of hours. In the midst of all that excitement, we were invited to my mom's brother's ex-wife's home (got all that?) for some bloody mary's which ended up being a pretty damn good (but loud) time until I left to watch a movie at Brad's.

I'm sort of sick of doing this....



Where was I? Oh yes, Wednesday the 26th. Blizzard....I braved the weather and met old dear friends of mine, Kelly and Andi at Tumbleweed for lunch. Andi is in the military and was in town for the holidays and we had a great time eating not-so-great food and reminiscing about the days when we all lived in Bay View. Then Brad and I had originally planned to go to Friday's at Miller Park but the weather was less than stellar and his sister ended up inviting us over for chili. I LOVE chili so it was an excellent substitute - on the way there I was informed his parents would also be joining us, it's a good thing I was dressed decent instead of opting for the usual I-live-in-a-recycling-bin-by-the-railroad-tracks look. After that I had made plans with Katie, Z and John for the triumphant return of Monica's. It was a good time with the exception of a little love hiccup between K and J, but shit happens! After that Z and I were troubled by some middle aged douchebag who decided it was his job to tell us how we should live our lives. He did offer us a drink, but I had to drive so I declined. At least Z took advantage of it.

Thursday the 27th K, Z and I went and saw Juno which is nothing short of amazing. Then Z and I lounged at my place while watching Adventures in Babysitting where I learned you don't FUCK with the babysitter and Joe Gipp (I thought it was Gibb but IMDB says Gipp?) is possibly the man I'm going to marry...or I would have in 1987.

Friday the 28th! Friday morning I met my friend Kathern for coffee - I hadn't seen her since high school and in the meantime she's moved to Colorado and had a little boy. So it was really nice to finally catch up! Brad and I go to din with mom and pops at Yen Hwa where I got to consume the always delicious Tsingtao beer and crab rangoons. Then we went to see I Am Legend which I already know I'm buying the second it goes on sale. The movie was....well....just look at this.



uuuugggghhhhhhhh Saturday the 29th. Brad's brother Gary had a party at his place (which is practically next door to the place I met him, well, again) and his ENTIRE family was there. We ate good food, shared some laughs (particularly when his niece thanked Santa for presents and God for milk while saying Grace), drank straight Jack out of the bottle and played 9458 games of pool.

SUNDAy thE 30th. Brad and I went to my parents house for lasagna and board games where all that can be described with the quote of the evening "don't flick it, it's still attached!" - hilarious.

New Years Eve was spent playing Yahtzee and 5000 with my mom in the afternoon, a couple hours at Brad's drinking Gentlemen's Jack, eating texas caviar and taco dip - then the 985 minute drive to Tina's for a low-key evening of more booze and falling asleep early.

NY DAY - movies.

That brings me to the fact that I am now back at work - in the year 2008 - so happy to be out of 2007.

If you read this entire blog, you either need to get back to work - or get a hobby.

Maybe I should take my own advice.

* This is much too long of a story to tell, if you know me you already know the dramatics of The Brad, if you don't you most likely won't care