well i guess this is growing up...

The title of this post is a sample of the lyrics from one of my favorite songs in college, Dammit, by Blink 182. It was also a favorite of my friend Emmett who I mentioned recently welcomed his first child, Harper, to the world.

While the title of this blog entry really hits home today. (the title of the song does not)

This past week Emmett and Julie asked Kirsten and I to be godparents (along with Julie's sister) to little Harper. An honor to say the least, Kirsten and I are very excited about it and are looking forward to spoiling her and giving her things that her parents wouldn't allow. (That's what godparents do right? Beats me, this is my first time).

On the way home from their house I made the comment that "wow, we're really growing up. Godparents? That's such an adult thing." Yes, it's all becoming quite real now that I am about to turn 30 in a few days that this is the turning point. Life phase II starts this year for me. Stay tuned.

Oh, and if you're out and about, come by Flannery's tonight and help me celebrate my birthday. We have the back bar rented from 7-10. See you there. Buy me a drink. I'm old for crying out loud.

the blazin' 96er

This past week I met up with some former co-workers for lunch. Since it was just guys we decided on a manly place. Since the strip clubs were too far away, we went to Buffalo Wild Wings on Water Street instead for a chicken wing fix that apparently are hard tom come by for each and every married man.

As the waitress was going around the table to take our orders, she came to Dave. "I'll take the Blazin' wings please." The waitress cocked her head a little much like Olive does when I ask her if she has to go outside and responded "Are you sure? Those are the hottest ones we have." To which Dave replied with a sly smile that may have worked for him in his 30's..."Yep, that's what I want"

I'll spare you the rest of their conversation but the funny part was she wouldn't let him order the blazin' wings until he tried a sample of the sauce. Apparently it's hot enough to peel the paint off a car or something. So he brought him back a little cup of the sauce and he dipped a chicken tender appetizer we had ordered and took a bite. She watched him with the anticipation of an American Idol junkie awaiting the Taylor Hicks crowning. Dave looked up, "mmm, tastes like tangy ketchup. It's good. I'll have the wings please." When she brought us our order she even brought another waiter over and pointed Dave out. "This guy's getting the blazin' wings!"

I know this is a lame post and it's a kind of "you had to be there" type things but I had to share it because it was just so odd. You'd swear no one ever ordered that sauce before. We felt like the Ripley family in The Great Outdoors when Chet, played wonderfully by the late John Candy, orderd the Old 96er steak.

Hope you're having a good weekend.

2006 Reading Material

If you recall, in 2005 I picked up a new hobby, reading. Well the hobby is more or less becoming an obsession. I rarely have one book in progress, I ususally have two as you can see below. I'm not sure why. It's weird. I absolutely hated reading in high school and college but somewhere along the line I was so bored that I picked up a book. The rest, as they say, is history.

1. Iceberg - Clive Cussler
2. Trojan Odyssey - Clive Cussler
3. Dragon - Clive Cussler
4. Live and Let Die - Ian Fleming
5. Diamonds Are Forever - Ian Fleming
6. From Russia With Love - Ian Fleming
7. Personal Finance For Dummies - Eric Tyson
8. Night Fall - Nelson DeMille
9. The Closers - Michael Connelly
10. Inca Gold - Clive Cussler
11. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
12. Goldfinger - Ian Fleming
13. The Broker - John Grisham
14. A Painted House - John Grisham
15. The Runaway Jury - John Grisham
16. Flood Tide - Clive Cussler
17. The Testament - John Grisham
18. A Time To Kill - John Grisham
19. Jennifer Government - Max Barry
20. Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
21. Hour Game - David Baldacci
22. Serpent - Clive Cussler
    

A Big Congratulations

I big heartfelt congratulations to my main man Emmett (who still holds the title of "Best Man" to me until wedding #2 comes along) and his wife Julie who gave birth to their first child a couple days ago.

The Stats
=======
Name: Harper Mae
Weight: 6 lbs 1 oz
Height: 20 inches (looong)
Feet: Size 6, I'm not kidding.

Congrats folks! Kirsten and I, and I'm sure my loyal readers as well, are very happy for you.

And thanks for putting the pressure on me.

2007, bars, colbert

Happy 2007. I hope the first 8 days of this new year have treated you well. Or, if you're like me, you had a few days off for the holidays so now you're way behind in work and stressed out.

New Year's Eve at Lakefront Brewery was a great time. For a mere $35 you could drink all the yummy Lakefront beer you could, which I did. They also had a bunch of food including Kirsten's favorite and thrice weekly meal, pizza, which made her happy. King Solomon was playing and was excellent. I wasn't sure if I would like listening to Reggae music all night but they were really good.

After the party wrapped up there, our group headed over to a local favorite, Wolski's, for a couple final drinks before heading home around 3:00 AM. And since I was on vacation, I slept until 2 the next day. Ahhhhhhh.

On a somewhat related note, my friends and I have continued to make progress on the mighty list. It currently stands at 191 but a couple may have to fall off. As the list grows and becomes more of a local celebrity in it's own way, it is the feeling of all involved that I need to put some parameters around it for when the day comes and I'm invited to go on the Stephen Colbert show to discuss it. That way I'll be prepared to defend it's mightiness. An so it grows...