Laura and I ran into our friend Tommy again last night at Tom English's Cottage. For the third trip to Tom E's in a row, Laura and I were not threatened to "have our heads bashed together." Sorry Missy. As a bonus, the bartender looked like Jim "I didn't know a pound didn't equal a dollar" Schwiegert of study abroad in London fame. Marc, that should be reason enough for you to come visit. You two could share a bunkbed. Then Laura or I could bust in and ask if you'd like to get shitty in a horrible Texan accent. Oh, memories.  

Sorry for the gratuitous nudity. 

Uh oh

So our Gophers had just redeemed themselves when Cupito goes down. I can't even tell you the backup's name until I see it on his jersey. To me that's a bad sign, but maybe he'll be the story of the day as he leads the Gophers to victory.
Perhaps this young man won't pass to someone under three-man coverage (from the best defense in college football) in the end zone.
Nice job so far, Adam Ernst.

I Stand Corrected

The Gophers have held their opponent scoreless for an impressive 48 seconds.

As promised, pictures of the Right Ons with our winnings from music trivia. Take that, Pink Panty Peelers. Just goes to show cheating doesn't pay. 

Julie and the legendary Dave Paulson, whom I've never met. Seriously.  

A blurry Alex and Rome - the newest members of the Right Ons. 

Steve, Heidi, and I showin' off the dollas. 

Really? That's news?

So Star Tribune, I can't figure out what's the most relevant and newsworthy headline of the day:
Is it soldiers who have died in Iraq in poorly-armored Humvees?
Is it the 100,000+ people who have died due to the tsunami/earthquake?
Or....is it the Dairy Princess that can't find a place to store her butter head?

According to Laura, the closest thing to a State Fair expert I know, the butter head is life size. I don't want to prove this, but I'm pretty sure my head could fit in my freezer. Throw away a couple Lean Cuisine meals and you've got a place for your butter head, sweetheart.

I hope this is resolved quickly. I may not sleep tonight, but not because of butter head. Laura and I are headed to Lucky's for dinner and espresso martinis.

Another Mediocre Football Team

Alicia's Boys finished slightly above .500 in the Chicks Fantasy Football League. Remind you of anyone? It starts with "Go-" and ends with "-phers." I'm not complaining, though. My goal this year was simply to not finish at the bottom of the league. As I was 6th out of 12 teams, mission accomplished.
Special shout out to my boy Koren Robinson for the four game drug suspension! PS - I never knew how unattractive he was.
Congratulations to Heidi's Hunks for the big win!

Go Gophers?

So, the Gophers play in the Gaylord Hotel's Music City Bowl for the second time in as many years on Friday. This is ridiculously anticlimatic for me. Not only is it a mediocre Bowl, but our season has been over for a month and a half - the tailgating gear has long been packed away. Plus, you could say our season ended on a bit of a down note (5-0 start, 1-5 finish). With all that early season Rose Bowl talk, ending up at the Music City Bowl is a bit of a let down.

BAD FAN. My penance is to listen to the rouser until I'm pumped.

Has anyone ever stayed at a Gaylord Hotel? Just curious.

I swear I was just here

I left on a pretty much unexpected trip to Boston for work yesterday. My flight out of Sioux City (MISTAKE #1) was delayed and I ended up stuck in Minneapolis for the night. My conversation with the gate agent, where I tried to explain to him that I live in the town I was connecting through, was rather interesting. I'm pretty sure he thought I was crazy.

Him: We can put you up for the night.
Me: No, that's OK. I live here.
Him: (At this point probably thinking I have some "Terminal"-inspired delusions) Well, we can give you a toiletry kit.
Me: No, really I live here.
Him: Would you like some meal vouchers?
Me: No, I have food at home. Really. I live here.
Him: OK, you're all set then. (Crazy bitch.)

I didn't realize until this morning that I should have hit him up for some travel vouchers or something (MISTAKE #2) since they were willing to put me up in a hotel. My bad.

Since I'm in Boston anyway, I plan on spending NYE here with Laura. Note this is my second trip to see her in one month. Best. Friend. Ever. I'd like to give a shout out to Uncle PwC for footing the bill on this one.

Merry Christmas

...and on that note, here's an article about Shaq sucker punching Kobe. It didn't really happen (yet), but it'd be pretty cool if it did. How's that for the Christmas spirit?

Does anyone else recall as fondly as I do the final episode of Craig Kilborn in which Craigers more or less encouraged KG to bitch slap Kobe in their next meeting? Good times. I miss Craigers :( Speaking of which, they've named his replacement. I believe he was Drew's boss on the Drew Carey show. His only apparent qualification is that his name is Craig.

Hope everyone has a good day tomorrow!

Right On, Right On

I didn't get my nightly blog in last night as I and my fellow "Right Ons" were busy kicking music trivia ass. So what if we use up all our winnings paying for the appetizers and drinks we bought while playing trivia...good fun is had by all.
Pictures to follow.

Theory

So I'm still trying to load all my CDs into iTunes, and I've realized I own a fair number of, shall we say, embarrassing CDs. I partially blame this on my half.com habit, because as much as I'd like to pretend I purchased the following CDs in their prime, that is not the case:

• New Kids on the Block - Hangin' Tough
• MTV Party to Go '98
• Skee-lo - I Wish
• 3 (Yes 3) K-Ci and JoJo albums
• Mase - Harlem World
• The Source Hip Hot Hits Volume 1 (I believe Volume 9 was just released, if that's any sort of reference)

I've said it before, but I think that as I own a significant number of CDs, I'm slightly less concerned about the bad taste I'm displaying by owning these CDs. Now, if I only had 15-20 CDs, and the above titles were a significant part of my collection, it'd be a completely different story.

Is this a valid theory? ...or am I just trying to make myself feel better?

My dad = Maverick?

For Christmas, we're sending my dad to North American Top Gun: The World War II Fighter Pilot School. You don't have to be a real pilot; they just let you have at it once you're up in the air. I think it looks super fun, and I'm frankly a little jealous, especially if he gets to fly upside down and all.
Is it any wonder I want to go to adult space camp?

Best News EVER

The sixth Harry Potter book is done. Any predictions?

Laura and I make a new friend. 

Keep in mind it's 6pm. 

Good Tommy Hunting

Directly above are the only photos I have from my trip to Boston so far. Laura and I kicked off my trip with a Southie pub crawl. The pictures below were taken at the L Street bar, which has Keno and drunk old men named Tommy. Sadly the pictures hardly do our friend justice. You may recognize the bar from Good Will Hunting.

The iPod-ing continues

Now loading: The Essential Miles Davis
Slightly classier than Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hits.

Tonight while iPod-ing I watched Cold Creek Manor. I had a preconceived notion that it was about a haunted house. Not true. Was anyone else fooled by the previews? My verdict: Netflixable, but don't pay separately for it.

Other than that, I'm hiding inside because it's ass cold outside. I managed to make it to and from work without biffing it, so I decided not to press my luck.

From the Star Tribune: I smell a future episode of Law and Order. Ripped from the headlines.

Not likely to make Oprah's book club....

...not that that's a bad thing.

I told Laura I would supply her detes of the book I just finished, so I figured I'd share with the whole class. It was both entertaining and informative - learn about the best and worst spy operations of the century...and as a bonus find out why Amelia Earhart became a pilot and how the British government punk'd Joseph Kennedy (JFK's dad) when he was their ambassador.

I've moved on to Jailbird by Kurt Vonnegut, which coincidentally is about "high crimes and misdemeanors in government."

Now importing to iTunes: Jimmy Buffett - Songs You Know By Heart (Greatest Hits)
That's right, I own it. What of it?

Another great song I almost forgot about - "I See You Baby" by Groove Armada, who also wrote the theme song to Sex and the City. How excited am I that Season Six Part II, complete with alternate endings, is being released soon?

Officially a "blogger"

Seems like just a few weeks ago (oh wait...it was) Bejota and Laura explained to me what "blogging" was all about, and now I'm doing it all by myself. It's either their inspiration or the significant amount of time I'm spending in front of my computer loading CDs into iTunes that made me try it for myself. I have a feeling I may develop an obsession with my iPod mini. Keep an eye on me.
While loading CDs, I have become reacquainted with the genius of the artist formerly known as Little Bow Wow. I almost forgot he rocks an iced-out Mickey Mouse around his neck.
Now loading: Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen