It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

I’m an unabashed fan of Christmas, what can I say. It is, without a doubt, my most favorite holiday, with nothing else even really coming close (though St. Patty’s Day is always good for stories). Sunday evening, Holly and me got the apartment set up for Christmas mode, including table, tree, and knick-knacks. It’s great. Now if the weather would just get in step with the winter. Seriously, it’s in the low 60’s, and it’s freakin December almost. Come on, old man Winter, step it up!

Thanksgiving was great. We had dinner at Holly’s parents, and it was nice to get away. The next morning, Holly and her mom went shopping at 5am, while her dad and me went huntin. They have 200 acres, so “going huntin” is basically stepping outside and taking a little golf cart ride to your preference of tree stands set up on the perimeter.

Saturday we came back for our friends Jill and Tim’s wedding. There was karaoke at the reception, so OF COURSE, my talents were in demand. Perfomances included: 1) A duet with D-Rock of “Dust in the Wind” 2) A Solo of “I’m So Excited” 3) A duet with Holly of “Love Shack” (the guy part in that song is by far the easiest). Sunday was just church, lunch with friends, a study session with my MBA group, then Christmas decorating and gift wrapping.

Now, I’m ready for December..

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• Finished up “The Screwtape Letters” over the break, and it’s truly deserving of all praise. It’s perfection lies in it’s simplicity of message, without being simpleton reading.
• Michael Richards (‘Kramer’ of “Seinfeld”) and his unleashing of the “n-word” on stage is making a push for the most bizarre story of 2006 here late in the year. Can’t say I would have ever seen it coming. Watching it is just simply bizarre.
• Netflix must be sitting with their mouths open in amazement. After having it for almost THREE months, they finally got back “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”. Judgement call – It was ok, but not worth holding onto for three months. Vince Vaughn was classic as always, though.
• Well, USC beat Notre Dame, so it’s the Rose Bowl for Michigan. Why am I so sad about that?? Because we were so close to the big game. Still holding out hope for UCLA to play spoiler…but I’m realistic.
• I’ve got a fairly large paper to write over the next week for my accounting class. The idea alone makes me throw up a little in my mouth. The race to Finals is on.

One love to you all, holla atcha boy.

If I did it…I’d have kicked the crap out of OJ

{imagining myself as a publisher, just approached by three months ago OJ}

Hey, Orinthal, good to hear from you. How’s life down in Florida treatin ya? Uh-huh. How about the kids, how are they doing? Good, good, I know that first year of college is tough for anyone, but especially for…well, no, I’m not saying kids say stuff to her about you, just, look let’s forget it.

So, how can I help you? You’ve written a book? Well, I gotta think that you’ve missed a little bit on the time window for relevancy, but it might still have some impact. Sensational? Well, what’s it about? A hypothetical – I’m listening. WHAT? Wait, let me get this right: You want to write a book about how you would have done it if you HAD killed Nicole and Ron Goldman.? OJ, you can’t be serious. You are.

Juice, don’t you think people will see it as an admission of guilt? You’re way is completely different that how it was done. Well, I guess that is one question down. Still, aren’t you afraid of the public outcry? I don’t think this would sit very well with the general population. You think people want to hear your side? You think they’re ready to forgive you? I just, I dont know OJ.

You want a TV special too??? Wow, I gotta say Juice, I think this is just an overall bad idea. Who would even put that on TV? The big networks won’t touch that with a ten foot poll. FOX? Look Juice, I know that Fox has shown some pretty crappy shows; hell, they still do. Have you seen that new show with the guy off of “Everybody Loves Raymond”. Might as well call it “Nobody watched this Show”. OJ, I’m sorry, I’m just gonna have to say no at this time. Just $50,000? No, that’s still not worth it. No OJ, I can’t lend you any money. No, OJ, you can’t come stay at my place for awhile. Ok, I’ll send you a care package.

Ideas of who would bite? I don’t kow, go talk to the people who published Jose Conseco’s book. If they’ll give him a platform, they’ll give anyone a platform. He’s an idiot, at least you can’t speak somewhat intelligently. Oh, and OJ – please just tell me you didn’t really do it. OJ…..OJ?…..OJ, you still there????

{aaaand scene}

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• The holiday season officially begins tomorrow with the day of giving Thanks for all we have in this world. I’m thankful for so much, I don’t have time to type it out here. Suffice to say, God is good.
• A former Russian Spy was recently poisened in London. The USSR is making a comeback, I gotta a hunch. The glory days of the Cold War are looking for a comeback
• Have I mentioned I love Christmas. One month from Saturday, how phenominal.

One love to you all, holla atcha boy.

Comfort food to heal the pain

A sales rep brought a full spread (ok, two sides and chicken) to work today.  Call it an early Thanksgiving meal. It was little comfort, though, for the pain from this weekend. As you know, the boys in Maize and Blue fell just short of pulling off the upset win, as Michigan fell to OH – IO St. , 42-39. I watched the game at D-Rock’s house, and it was good solace to have a fellow Michigan fan to commiserate with at that moment. They’re still second in the BCS poll, so there is still a chance, if USC loses to Notre Dame, that we might get a rematch for the National Championship.

Other than that, not a ton was hopping this weekend. Friday night, Holly and me had our weekly date night. We had IRT tickets, and went to the opening of “A Young Lady From Rwanda”. It was a two person show, and it was really quite good. Just like last time, they had champagne and hors d’ourves afterwards. I love our swank life. After that, it was dinner at RAM.

Other than that, Saturday I just ran some errands and watched the game. Sunday was church, lunch with Gelo, studying, laundry, and an MBA group meeting. For her part, Holly was pretty much on the downlow, as she has her last two bloc exams today and tomorrow.

I’m rather lathargeic towards class tonight. I just don’t enjoy this class. I hate regression analysis, and I don’t particularly care for the cutthroat question-answering process of the class. Oh well, it will pay off when I’m the head of the legal department for the Colts.

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• “Fergalicious” has been in my brain non-stop now for about a week. Seriously, I’m getting a Fergie overload. She puts them boys on rock-rock.
• Truly looking forward to this weekend and my first true hunting experience. I’m bringing home a gobbler, it’s gonna happen.
• I’m ready for some new clothes, Christmas needs to hurry up.
• December is starting to shape up to be quite the buzz of activity for this young fellow. The social calender is gettin pretty full.
• One question: Do your chains hang low?

One love to everyone, holla atcha boy.

Another marker in my fandom…

Four down, One to go

After accompanying my friend Justin (Benny) to the IU-Michigan game this past weekend, I have officially seen four of my five sports teams in person. The Pistons, Red Wings, Tigers, and Wolverines are all off the list. That just leaves the Lions…and at the rate they’re playing, I’m not rushing to mark that one off the list. It was a great time, we cooked out Beer-Brats with his roommate Kevin and their friend Lariessa. On the card ride back, I heard the new Brooke Hogan song for the first time. Really, Brooke Hogan. We’re talking about the daughter of Hulk Hogan, and SHE’S got a single? Yikes

The week has felt busy, even though it really hasn’t been in a lot of ways. Monday night I had class. That class will be the bane of my existence, what with the teachers insanely infuriating style of calling on students. And answering in class DEFINITELY affects your grade – 34%! Goodness.

Last night was the second night of our new bible study through Indy Metro Church with Pastor Pride. Boggs and Gelo were able to make it, I love having those girls as our downtown neighbors. They have their heads on straight but aren’t afraid to have fun, either. The study is focusing right now on the book of James, which if you haven’t ever read, you should take the twenty minutes needed to read a very moving book on how to live your Christian walk. I had to go sans Holly, though, as she is in intense study mode for block exams next week. Sadness. But we do get to have a fun date night on Friday night, with tickets to the IRT’s “The Young Lady from Rwanda”

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• Saturday. Michigan. Ohio State. Nuff Said.
• Got to talk to my good friend Caroline last night. Love to talk to folks out of Motown who are motivated to do “something” in life. Miss ya, Caroline!
• So, I’m trying to plan the New York City train trip for New Year’s Eve. Today, though, it hit a snag, as Chris Carr (one of two fraternity brothers I have living in the city) informed me he wouldn’t be there for New Years. If I find out Hoobler won’t be there either, I may have to scrap that plan and come up with a Plan B.
• Work is hella-slow this month, and it’s a bit frustrating.
• So I’m finally done with The Warren Buffet Way and I’m moving on to The Screwtape Letters. I’ve avoided reading it in the past, just out of sloth and not wanting to be part of the crowd, but after reading a C.S.Lewis book this past spring that wasn’t a Narnia tome, I decided to give the “Letters” another shot.

One love to you all, holla atcha boy.

Not exactly a revolution…

In 1994, the Republicans stormed to power, after having a massive disadvantage in Congress, culminating in their sweep of the House and the Senate. This was propelled by their leadership and it’s “Contract with America”. The contract outlined broad changes that Republicans had in store, and some other key plans.

Well, a good way to look at this past tuesday would be the Democrats “Awkward High-five with America”, where they saw themselves placed in control on Congress with the sole premise of “hey, we’re not the republicans!”. Needless to say, I’m not exactly sure how to feel about this.

Was I ready for a change? Sure, I felt the Republican leadership in Congress had lost it’s edge, and that the fiscal conservatism that was once a tenet of the party had been chucked with the ability to “earmark” at will. Now, they’ll truly need to find their voice again. In the meantime, the Democrats aren’t really in a position to do anything of any substantial merit, but it will force them to finally throw some of their own ideas up and see what sticks. It’s gonna be an interesting road to 2008.

That said, there were some very other interesting developments that past two days:

• Donald Rumsfeld resigned as the Secretary of Defense. The election had a lot to do with this, combined with a desire not to be in town once the Democrats start up the inevitable inquiry’s into the war. Don’t know a lot on his replacement, yet.
• The country will have it’s first female Speaker of the House. Woop-di-doo. Does this really excite anyone else? Aren’t we still celebrating landmarks of “women’s equality”. I think it shows much more of an advancement in equality if we just don’t make a big deal about it.
• Probably the biggest news of the day after the election: BRITTNEY AND KEVIN ARE GETTING A DIVORCE. Everyone else is enjoying their snipping on this subject, so I’ll recant from that option. In actuality, I’m just sad for her. I feel she’s gotten herself into a bubble with very little perspective, and that allowed her to get herself into a situation where she got married on a whim and then realized who she actually married, and it unfortunately came two kids later. She’s my age, and I kinda feel like I’ve grown up with Brittney. I remember being in high school when the gay black guy next to me in Health class showed me her CD and raved about how “fabulous” this new singer was, how great her video was, blah blah blah. Man, seems like ages ago.

That’s all for now. Patrick Evans will be in town tonight, and we’ll be livin on memory lane for a few hours, I’m sure. One love to you all, holla atcha boy.

Rock the vote (don’t tip the vote over), rock the vote, baby!

This morning, very proudly and happily, I walked in and exercised my constitutional right to vote. I was somewhat discouraged by the following things: a) the had no machines, simply fill in the bubbles with a pin. So boring; b) there were democratic operatives out the front door trying to hand my a list of my “democratic” ballot. Screw that.

I had not planned on voting straight ticket, I wanted to vote fairly and open minded. Problem was, I was in favor of pretty much all the Republican nominees, so I pretty much voted straight-ticket anyways. The thing is, while on a national level, I wouldn’t mind seeing a change in scenery, on a local level, my Democratic congresswoman is a joke, and my Democratic State Representative put in no effort to get my vote. The Republican nominee, a young lawyer named Jon Elrod, worked his but off going door to door in our neighborhood. That type of effort will win my vote everytime, good job Jon!

The weekend kinda flew by. Friday night was my first time to go to the theatres in a while, and I picked a good one, “The Departed”. Great flick, ending will blow your mind. Went with D-Rock and Applejack, and then we went back to my place and just hung out with some of their friends stopping by. The wifey was at a bachlorette party, but luckly I heard the stripper only did the dancing  ding-dong show for about two minutes (just kidding, I’m pretty sure there was no stripper…or was there?). Saturday I joined a new fraternal organization, then we went to church that night. Sunday was just a relaxed day, both of us worked on homework, then Sunday night we went to our friend Christina’s house to watch the Colts-Patriots game (Colts are now 8-0, and I’m actually kinda unhappy about that…they need a loss to stay focused for the home stretch).

My plan for tonight involves coming home, eating dinner with Holly, then we have bible study, then I plan on coming home, plopping down, and watching the election results roll in on FOX news, just because the reactions from that channel either way will be hilarious.

Thoughts at the closing bell:

• My professor for Managerial Economics has a fairly thick Tennessee accent. Kinda takes one home.
• Whoever thought Kirstie Alley wearing a bikini on “Oprah” would be such a big deal. I never would have asked for that during the “Veronica’s Closet” days, that’s for sure.
• I’ve heard “Borat” is hilarious and tasteless. I’m in an inner conflict on whether to go see it or not.
• Have I mentioned I’m ecstatic about going to the Michigan – IU game this Saturday? Because I am.
• The New York Times has still been showing up, though they’ve been throwing it on the lawn next door now. Our lawns are only ten feet apart. Now, I know, you say, “Well what if it’s your neighbors?”. I thought of that, honestly. I left them piling up for four days, though, before I decided they weren’t his either, and that he doesn’t want them. So, I’m grab them along with my Wall Street Journal in the mornings . Should I call the Times and find out what’s going on, or just reap the benefits until the train stops?
• The Lions won this past weekend, and the Indianapolis Cobra Kai won again in the Montevallo Fantasy Football League. The Fantasy playoff dream is still alive!
• I feel very educated by The Warren Buffett Way, but I’m pretty ready to be done with it. It’s a pretty slow and tedious read.

One love to you all, holla atcha boy.