My Year... coming to an end

"People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don't make many friends but anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered, yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively."

It has been the Year of the Boar and one week from today, that will be over.
I won't have another year that's all mine until I'm 48!
I have to say, it's been a good year. Nothing too exciting but nothing to complain about either (if you keep your expectations low, like I do, just the fact that noone died or went to jail qualifies as a decent year.)
Some of my friends have had a challanging year, which is unfortunate; but I, me, Dana had things pretty good.

But, like I said, that's quickly coming to an abrupt end! Now I'm having anxiety. The other shoe is about to drop. It's going to be the Year of the Rat!
That doesn't sound good. William Shakespeare was born in the year of the Rat but I can't really say that bodes well.

"A tale that begins with a rat, will end with the devil.."

Birthday Week 2008- Part 1

It's my birthday week, people. It started last night!
Josh, Shelly, Steve, and Bruce took my sorry ass out to Icon Grill.
Tres fancy.
They even served uber fancy Chicken Fried Steak. That's what Shelly and Steve ordered. I didn't say anything at the time but the Southerner in me was appalled at the idea of basil on Chicken Fried Steak. I didn't even want to read what was in their Fried Chicken. Probably something heinous like fennel or dill.
The Humanity!

I had Seafood Linguini and it was fabu. Tons of shrimp and scallops.
And a ginormous piece of Chocolate Cake- as you may know, my favorite thing ever.
The cake comes with a bottle of milk. Nice touch.

For a reason not revealed to us, the Manager bought us a round of drinks!?
Theories:
1- The waitress brought Shelly and Bruce Mac & Jacks instead of Mannie's. Bruce and Shelly were fine with that but...
2- S/he found out it was my birthday (unlikely.)
3- I was wearing one of my favorite rockstar t-shirts. You know, the black one with the disco silver writing that says "rockstar". It's supercool so maybe that was the reason.

Maybe it's a combination. Who knows?

I guess that makes it alright

Well, Spanks was out of town visiting his folks this weekend so the usual Saturday night trip to Steven's was out of the question.

If we would have gone, though, it would have been epic since it basically snowed all day and all night.
Theoretically, of course, Sue, Shelly, Josh and I could have gone if we were so inclined and it probably been a fun, mellow (way mellow since Sue and I would have been recovering from a Chapel hangover) pow pow evening at the pass.

Instead of all that trouble however, we just dressed up in our gear and went to a bar that looks remarkably similar to the Bull's Tooth and watched the X games.

I'm kind of glad we didn't go though cos I would have done something stupid like accidentally change the combo on my lock and have to wait a half and hour to get someone to cut my board loose. Then I'd have to buy another fucking lock. That would suck.

The Chapel 1/25/07

It started out innocently enough.
Just a couple of girls meeting for some martinis.
And it was going smoothly.
Sue, Casey, and I sipping and noshing and chatting.
It was the first time I had met Sue's friend Casey and she was supercool.

I had two Sacred Truth martinis and was thinking of calling it a night.

Then H. and Row showed up.
Fucking Europeans.

Two more Sacred Truths and I was hammered. I think everyone else was too but I can't really be sure cos like I said, I was fucking hammered. Jesus.

We got obnoxious and loud. Which is ok at the Chapel but when we started breaking into song and arm wrestling, we started getting some looks.

At some point a drunken group decision was made that we had had enough and perhaps we should go somewhere and sober up. Rosebud was too crowded so we stumbled (some more that others) up to Bimbo's Bitchin Burrito Kitchen and had some nachos and quesidillas. We ordered everything with meat on it which Casey, a vegetarian, probably did not find amusing. But you know, we were drunk and drunk people are the worst of the worst.

On the way back to our respective vehicles which none of us had any business operating, the MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED!

I saw Chris "The Crippler" Leben live and in person right in front of me. You'll have to take my word for it, of course, cos (as I may have mentioned) I was drunk and couldn't get my shit together to take his fucking picture! So instead I hugged him and told him I loved him (which I don't) and I wished him luck in his next fight and stumbled away.

Sad. Really sad.

Eli, Eli, Eli....

He may be going to the SuperBowl but he's no Peyton.
Regardless, I wish him well against Tom "I can't seem to get this idiotic smile off my face" Brady and the fucking Patriots.

Last Sunday, Steve, Shelly, and I went over to the Commish's pad to watch the Conference playoffs. Predictably, the Patriots squashed the Chargers and thus their disgusting run continues.

We made fajitas during the break (amazing we had an appetite after San Diego's pathetic display.) We were very efficient as a group. Had it made and eaten by the time Ice Bowl II started. And it was a fantastic game. For reasons none of us could explain (except maybe Bruce, being a Bears fan) we were all cheering for New York. (Maybe cos Green Bay bitch-slapped the Hawks a week ago, then threw snowballs at each other and laughed like a bunch of assholes. Maybe that had something to to with it. I don't know.)

Anyway. The Giants get another crack at the Pat's and Tom "I have a special razor that keeps my beard looking like I just forgot to shave this morning cos I'm too busy fucking my supermodel girlfriends" Brady. And we'll be there to see it.

Tell me if you've heard this one...

I know, I know; you're sick and tired of Saturday night at Steven's stories.
Well, you can go fuck yourself.

Slight line-up change on this one.
Sue didn't make the bus cos she had a bit of a cold...... so she went to her ski conditioning class.
Just so we're clear. She was supposedly too ill to go skiing. So instead, she goes to an exercise class designed to prepare you for skiing.
People. They're the worst.

Shelly, Bruce, Steve and I head up noonish. By the time we hit Monroe, it is balls out snowing!
Me: Yah! This is going to be great!
Steve (the driver): This sucks. Does it seem as if we are going sideways? (As we are indeed going sideways into the railing.)

We made it unharmed, physically. But Steve was in need of a drink.


Hot knife going through butter.
That's what is was like... the whole night.
I was not a menace on this night. It was swish swish jump jump swish. Repeat.
I don't mean to rub it in (Gina) but was very nice, no?

Stopped briefly for pizza and Patron.

Steve beat me down at 9:59 and got in line for the very last lift! The attendant tried to wave me off waving a closed sign but I blew right by like I don't speak or read English and got on anyway.
Nice try Spanky.

The Garage

Spanky did alot of racking Thursday night....mostly cos he kept scratching on the eight ball. But hey, it's still a loss. Doesn't matter how many balls I have on the table.

Hadn't been to The Garage in a while. Hadn't played pool in a long while.
I had some beginners luck. I'll blame the rest on Gin & Tonics cos it just can't be that I suck.

Steve improves at bowling and billiards the more Mirror Pond he has. I wonder if a couple of pints before Zebra to Zion are in order? It's a thought.