Third Week in December 2011

My camera has finally reached the end of it's life, the back screen no longer works correctly, meaning not really at all. I can get by with it by looking through the viewfinder, but it's old and tired. The shutter count shows 35,050, but I'm not certain that is accurate, it's been reset a couple of times. It will be a few months before I am ready to get a new one, so there may be a bunch of not-as-good iPhone pictures until I upgrade.

Monday I had finally had it with the migraine that began the previous week, and I was suspecting that I had a nasal infection. I went to the doctor and my suspicion was confirmed and I was given antibiotics. The headache disappeared within 36 hours, so I'm guessing I know my body pretty well. After work, I came home and slept.

Tuesday after work I went to the grocery store and then slept more. Wednesday my RCIA classes were cancelled, so I was unexpectedly home all night, so it was even more rest.

Thursday I finally felt awesome, on my way home I finished up my Christmas shopping, apart from picking up some printed photos from Walgreen's. When I got home Merinda and I did our gift exchange...

I got a Bear bear pillow. I did not scream like the kid in the ad.

Friday afternoon I was released from work early, and did some errands on the way home, including picking up those pictures. I got home and wrapped up my wrapping (did you see what I did there?). I met Jenny, Lydia, Jon, and Rachel downtown at the Conagra Ice Rink for some ice skating. I didn't fall at all, and my skates were sized perfectly. I tried to take pictures on my iPhone...

...but only one came out good enough to post.


Matt showed up long enough to get a shot of Lydia and some joker. Photo credit: Matt

I'm a little confounded why there isn't a tool for 'silver' or 'yellow' eye like I get with my iPhone. It's so rare I ever see red eye, but there are plenty of ways to get rid of it. There is a tool on Picnik, but it's labeled as 'for animals'.

From the ice rink, I headed to the weekly dance. I exchanged gifts with Maggie and Jillian. I did some dancing, although it was a sparse crowd, and then headed home around 2300.

Saturday I played Santa and delivered presents to Beth and Joe. Then I went up to VK's house for dinner and present exchange. Dinner was fabulous, and her family is quite enjoyable to be around. I got slippers and a hat / scarf / glove combination. We played a card game that doesn't have a family name.

In only my second try, I won the rice pudding prize! If you're wondering what is up with Bente's head, it's hard to explain, kind of like the rice pudding prize.

By the time the party wound down, it was after midnight, AND I was pretty tired. I went home and went to sleep. I did not go to midnight Mass. Sunday morning I did go with Joe to Holy Family parish downtown by the ballpark. It was a very small Mass, only about 20 people total in the congregation. When I got home, I took a nap - I really blog a lot about napping.

When I woke up, I headed over to Matt, Vivian, and Hannah Marie's house for Christmas dinner #2. I did a lot of Hannah holding, a lot of eating, and a lot of suggesting for Matt while he was helping get a computer set up for Jack.

This was one of her best behaved moments.


Uncle Eric is confusing activities Zeke would like with
activities that are appropriate for an infant.
Photo credit: Matt


Matt is highly amused by this picture, I think it looks
too much like someone who would hiss "Baggins". Photo credit: Matt

That was my Christmas week, next week: surprise, New Years!

Second Week in December 2011

Monday after work I went to the grocery store, gathered up some items, then came home and made dinner for VK. I cooked steak for the first time in a long time. The results were, different, not in a bad way, but more in an unexpected way.

Tuesday and Thursday I had nothing going on, but on Wednesday I had dinner with Tony, one of my best friends from my high school days. Tony is a pilot, and flies into Omaha several times a year. We ate at Vivace, and talked about things old and new. I really appreciated a look back, but I don't live much in the past, and I try not to live too far in the future. I like the now. Friday immediately after work, I went to my annual work party with VK.

I've been really wanting to cut back on my social interactions lately. It's kind of a double edged sword. I know people think that I'm a social creature because I do so much, but I'm really not, and there are plenty of times when people can wear me out, and I need a break. On the other hand it's not really very good for me to withdraw from all social interactions either. It probably means I need a reset (refocus), I'm not sure I've ever managed to do one on the fly, but I think I am ready to try one, goodbye 2011, hello 2012.

Saturday morning I was up early(ish) and out to a More Mass Chaos Mass at Holy Family Shrine. I love the shrine, but the highway and the view right there is so distracting. After Mass there was a pot luck for the Shrine volunteers, I've been to potlucks where no one could cook. This was not the case here, I ate well.

Ronny, Joe, and I went shopping at Shadow Lake on the way home, and I almost finished my Christmas shopping. I dropped Joe off at home and then I drove Ronny all the way north to her house (she rode down with Marilou). Upon finally getting home, I almost immediately took a nap.

In the evening I had a tough decision to make, Jenny's or Kaleb's party? I ended up going to Kaleb's for the very simple fact that it is 15 minutes closer to home. It was game night, I played two games of To Court the King, two games of Ultimate Werewolf, and a game of Betrayal at House on the Hill. It turned out that we played To Court the King incorrectly the first time, and regardless, I won neither game, although I like it. Both games of Werewolf were a little anticlimactic, especially after how epic they were the last time we played. Kevin was the betrayer on the house on the hill, the haunt started early, and went very quickly. The haunt was Werewolves, they seemed overpowering, and my character was probably one of the lucky ones, I died instead of being turned into a werewolf. The rest of the evening was spent with ping pong and Rock Band ... and I didn't leave until 0330.

Sunday morning I was up and out the door early for the final installment of the More Mass Chaos Advent mini-tour, this time at Saint Philip Neri. I made it through Mass awake, but then I immediately went home to nap. When I went to sleep, I was slightly ahead in all three of my fantasy football leagues ... when I woke up, I was very much beaten. I had a chance to win all three leagues, now just a chance in one. Oh, in case there was a doubt, the Bears season continued its downward trend, hope we get a good draft pick.

First Week in December 2011

Monday right after work I met VK at DQ in Ralston LaVista. We visited for just a short while before I headed over to Ben and Jess's apartment to play Arkham Horror. Jess did not play, so it was me, Maeg, Ben, CJ, Mike, and Kaleb. We won the first game (kind of by accident, "oh, look we have all the gates closed"), so we played a second one, which we also won.

Tuesday night after work I got Chipotle. Wednesday night I went to RCIA. Thursday was a little more exciting, a snowy commute after work, the latest version of Mass Chaos at Saint Margaret Mary, dinner afterwards at Noodles and Company, and then running around in the snow with two of Marilou's kids.

Friday right after work I went straight up 144th Street to Red Robin for Teri's birthday dinner. Why do I ever drive 144th Street between Dodge and Maple? It's horrible. I got to Red Robin and it was fun, the food was good, and as usual, the service was just weird and wrong. After dinner I went to Sarah A.'s (apparently) yearly ugly sweater board game night. I got there late, so I didn't do much with the games, although I filled in for a game of Wits & Wagers.

Miss Duckybutt was quite popular, unfortunately,
I was not feeling well enough to help with holding her. Photo credit: Matt


Sheesh, look at the camera! Look at the camera! Photo credit: Matt


Can't tell if she won the game, or is rocking out. Photo credit: Matt

If you'd like to see my two pictures from this party, they are here and here. If you actually want to see a bunch of pictures from this event, you can check out Matt's, they are here.

Saturday during the day I processed pictures during the day. Later in the day I hung out with Maggie. We did some shopping, had dinner at Lansky's, and then watched Fellowship of the Ring. One does not simply watch a Sean Bean movie with Maggie, she quotes all the lines.

Sunday morning was the installment of Mass Chaos at Dowd Memorial Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on the Boys Town campus. It had been several years since I went to Mass there, I had forgotten what a zoo (I mean this in a good way) it is there.

Later in the day we met Terry at her choice in bars for her birthday football celebration, and watched as the Bears got Tebowed. I would not be surprised if I am done watching the Bears for the year, it's pretty obvious that without Cutler and Forte, we're done. It's bitter because I really thought we were close to having a very special team, and that team from that other town is good.

Last Week in November 2011

Monday; work, and the end of on call. After work I met VK at China Buffet in Bellevue. I didn't make my food overly spicy, so that was different. We went to Target afterwards. I bought a onesie for Hannah Marie. It turns out great minds think a like, because Jenny bought her the same one. I had to get the one I bought (see previous link) because Matt loves dancing, but hates penguins. After shopping, I came home and went to sleep.

Tuesday after work, I went and picked up Anne and Merinda, and we went over to Matt & Vivian's for some more baby time. Jenny joined us a little later. I played some more with Matt's new camera.

Big Yawn. Photo credit: Matt


Everybody gets a turn, no need to hog the baby.


Look how tiny her shoes are, and how good the quality is on the pictures
taken on Matt's new camera. Photo credit: Matt

Wednesday and Thursday were quiet days, with only RCIA on Wednesday to break up the monotony. Friday was my on call comp half day, so I combined it with a regular half day to get a whole day off ... see how that math works? I ran some errands, had lunch with Maggie at the UP cafe, visited Jillian and Lee (Zonda barked non-stop for :45), and slept. I ended up at the usual Friday dance. Probably the last one I'll be at this year due to holiday Friday busyness. After cleaning up at the dance, about a dozen of us went to Alvarado's in Council Bluffs.

Saturday I ran errands in the snow during the day, then ended up staying at home all night. Third Saturday in a row at home, it's starting to get a little old. I did shovel the drive twice, so that was exciting.

Sunday morning was the latest installment of More Mass Chaos, we went to Saint Bridget in South Omaha, the first one that the original Mass Chaos visited. It is a very pretty church.

We gathered up the group and headed to DJ's to watch the Bears game. So we lose our star quarterback, then we lose our star running back two games later, and lose a game on a Hail Mary pass and a missed Robby Gould field goal. Le Sigh. However, amazingly, we're still in playoff hunt, in fact, we still control our own destiny. Win and in.

I came home and got the house ready for the 4th Annual Ben and Eric's Chili Throwdown! People started arriving a little before 1800, and by 1900 we had eleven chili entries and six non-chili entries. If I counted correctly, we had 37 people came, so it was smaller than last year both in chilis and in attendees, but still quite a good turnout. Thank you to those who made suggestions on improving the contest from the year before.

Voting had all wrapped up by 2000, and we had our winners.

1st - CJ's Ensign Jimmy's Red Shirt Chili
2nd - Julia's No Beans About It
3rd - Adri's Timelord Old Time Favorite
Spiciest - CJ's Ensign Jimmy's Red Shirt Chili
NonChili - Brianne's Potato Bacon Nom Nom Soup.
All photo credist: Matt


There was also some game playing...


...lots of eating Photo credit: Matt...


...inexplicable shenanigans Photo credit: Matt...


...the worlds best behaved baby Photo credit: Matt...


...and Joe. What more could anyone want?

The feedback I got immediately was that the entries were, on the whole, far better than in years past. People seemed to have a good time. The only downside was that my camera quit working in the middle of the party. I still got a few pictures, you can see them here, Matt (thank you) jumped in when my camera gave up and took a bunch of pictures too. Thank you to all who also helped clean up too.

Next week: Um, I'm all caught up, so I don't really have a preview.

Thanksgiving Week 2011

Monday began another wonderful week of on call. However, this is a holiday week, so it's not really one that I approached with dread like the if it were the first week of the August. While at work, did my duties for the day, and I grabbed the on call phone and laptop. On the way home, I did some grocery shopping on the way home. Tuesday was a quiet day too, both personally and being on call. The only think I did was stop by Frank's house to borrow a pipe cutting tool.

Well Tuesday wasn't completely dull, during work the news came down that the long awaited arrival of Matt & Vivian's baby, Toobee Hannah Marie. You can read Matt's blog about it here.

Welcome to the world, Hannah Marie! Photo credit: Matt

Wednesday evening, after work, I went over to Jenny's house for a soup, supper, and game night. Jenny made some tasty creamy chicken rice soup, I made a salad, and other people brought rolls and desserts. We had plenty of discussion surrounding the new baby, all of it happy! We also played a game of Telestrations, which was new to some people there, it's hard to believe people haven't played it.

I only took one picture, but I thought I'd include it.
Jenny, if you're going to hit Ben, make sure he notices.

Thanksgiving Day I woke up early, well, early for a holiday day off, and after immediately checking to see if I had any work to do, I went back to sleep. I got up and started to getting ready for meeting VK out at her brother's house for dinner. While I was getting ready, I happened to notice, via Facebook, that Matt & Vivian were accepting visitors at the hospital. Change in plans, I finished getting ready in a hurry and went to the hospital to meet my "niece".

Proud "Uncle" Eric.

I eventually had to go, and I went out west to VK's brother's house. On my way I saw someone having a really bad day. We watched a football game, or was it a Ndamukong Suh dance routine? There was a spread featuring the world's largest cheese ball. There was dinner, snacking, more football, throwing around a football with her dad and brothers, and then playing a game of Telestrations. Fortunately, the on call phone stayed quiet.

Shadow looks like a certain other dog.


Our hostess smiles about the good job she did.


There was some cool sunlight through the front door window.

You can see all the rest of my Thanksgiving Day pictures here. VK and I left the gathering and went back up to the hospital to see the baby again.

(Photo credit: Matt)

Eventually I took VK home then got myself into bed before midnight. If you'd like to see all of my pictures on my first visit(s) to meet baby Hannah Marie here.

Friday was a work day, and I'm not sorry I missed all the shopping ridiculousness. Support sanity, don't get up in the middle of the night to shop. Also, all you geniuses who waited in line for questionable deals, please learn math. 40 hours in a line to 'save' $200 gets you about $5/hour for your 'work' and the derision of people like me. Wait until the first week in February and the electronics you had to have will be cheaper. Oh, yeah, and I went dancing and then out to donuts afterwards. When I got home I ended up staying up until 0300 working.

Sure enough, when I got up Saturday morning I had some on call work to do, but it wasn't any big deal. I did plan my day around possibly getting called, so I did nothing. All. Day. Long. It felt good to not be busy again.

Sunday started at 0345 with an work phone call. I ended up having to drive in to work at 0400, and didn't get back until 0615. The problem kind lingered until almost 2200, so it was an all day thing.

I did manage to get to church and the new Mass Chaos mini-tour. It was a very joyous church visit with an unexpected surprise, a new crucifix necklace. I had been wanting one for a couple of years, and decided that I would get one with Christmas money this year. It was one of those surprise moments that makes it impossible to wipe the smile off of your face. After this the group went to Culver's. Beth only got ice cream and gave the best explanation ever: "if you're going to have food at Culver's why waste the calories on something else?"

I did not watch the Bears play this week. I didn't figure it would be a good game, and I was right. I'm disappointed with the injury to Jay Cutler, it seems like our season is probably effectively over.

The final event of the weekend was Jess' birthday party and Rockabilly Night at Gator O'Malley's. I liked the music, The Willards Band, but Jess cracked me up when she said "I'd like the band to have a little more rock and a little less billy." I'm guessing she wouldn't like Jason and the Scorchers.

Next Week: More Bad News Bears, but not all the football news is bad.

Third week in November 2011

Monday after work I had dinner at VK's house. I like the way that she makes salads, they have lots of onions. Tuesday night after work I blogged for two hours and still only got through one Saturday worth of blog. I had trouble sleeping Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights, so Wednesday when I got home from work, I ate and went to sleep at 2030 ... ah, blessed sleep.

Thursday Maggie came over and we picked pictures for her to submit for the Miss Heartland pinup calendar contest. We picked four. I've never entered pictures in a contest before, so I'm kind of nervous about it. Not as much that people with think my art is crap, but that it captures Maggie the way she wants to be seen and the fun of the Heartland Swing Festival.

After this process, which was kind of like going to the optometrist, we went out to dinner at Village Inn. It seemed really expensive, more than Outback or Blue Sushi. I checked the ticket and it was right, I think I might be done with VI for a while.

Friday after work I took a nap, then went to the dance. Saturday was a day full of nothing, and happily so. I played video games and napped and played video games and napped. Perfect! You can do the research, but I don't think I had a Saturday with nothing to do in quite a while, I think the second week in July (I did not fact check). I was happy to do nothing all day.

Sunday morning I got up and went to church, this time at Our Lady of Lourdes. It must be one of my favorite churches, because I like to go there. Father did something very interesting during the Gospel Reading, he asked us to put down our missals and listen to the words of Jesus. It was very rewarding. After mass several of us hung around in the basement talking until we got thrown out (we didn't really, just in case you are reading this without a handy sense of humor).

At 1500 I was back at DJ's Dugout on a football Sunday, who knew? The Bears played the Chargers and ran their winning streak to five. I was really excited about this because looking ahead at the schedule, we'd just won the third of a tough four game stretch, followed by four of the last five of the season being quite winnable. So even with a loss to the Raiders next week and to the Packers on Christmas Day, the Bears would have 11 wins, and that would get them into the playoffs easily.

Then the other shoe dropped and it turned out that Jay Cutler broke the thumb on his throwing hand. NOOOOOO!!! So now it's rally around the back up, Caleb Hanie, and hope that we can get by on defense, special teams, and adequate offense.

Next week: Turkey time.

Second Week in November 2011

As the ads on ESPN say, Monday is football night. This Monday was particularly good, because it was the Bears on Monday Night Football. We met at DJs Dugout and ordered food. It was a tough first half because of the turnovers, but eventually the Bears flexed their muscles and gave the Eagles the beat down. It got us through the tough half of our season at 5-3 and playing much better.

Tuesday started off with a our new employee, Jay, showing up. Within two hours they announced that our immediate supervisor, Regan, accepted a promotion to the training department. Credit to the new guy, I would have panicked if my new boss was leaving. I tried to join the 'not panic revolution', and mostly succeeded. I really appreciate the friendship I have with Regan, and I will miss working with her. The blow was lessened by the hardware update I received shortly after that. New dual 22" monitors for my work computer.

I came home and got a lot of things done around the house. In addition, there were people there, Maggie and Frank who were dancing. Then Jillian showed up with a sample of a new dessert she was wanting me to try out, so we all hung out for a while.

Wednesday night I went to my RCIA class.

Thursday I went out to eat at Outback with VK.

Or was it Out Ack?

From there I went to Kaleb's house to help him test out a brand new game. I can't say a lot about it, but I won, and I liked the game.

Friday after work, Maggie and I planned on going over all of her pictures for the Heartland Swing pinup calendar. It didn't happen, we got distracted by Swine Dining ... again ... they have corn hash. Their sides are amazing. We came back and ended up going right to the dance. After the dance, the group went and got donuts, I went, but didn't end up staying out very late.

Saturday during the day I ran errands, and took plenty of naps so I would be ready for Kaleb's for game night. I played a game of Shadow Hunters ... okay, I started the game, and Adam finished it, it was his first time at game night, and I think he's hooked. I also played a game of Crokinole or two. There was some ping pong with Lydia where I learned that Tom was 64 years old and he brought magic brownies ... those are nuggets you don't get from the big corporate news sources. We got called up to play the largest game of Werewolf ever.

The first picture I've taken on my iPhone that I've really liked.

The first game of Werewolf was excellent if you were a Werewolf, which I was, we won with none of us getting killed. The second game was excellent if you were a villager, only I got lynched. The bodyguard, the witch, and the seer outed the Werewolf team and protected each other fabulously. Later in the evening there was the usual ping pong and Rock Band stuff. I got out of there at a very reasonable 0300...

... but I still made it to church on Sunday. I went to church with Joe, Nancy, and my coworker Sam at Saint Columbkille in Papillion. Sam didn't sit with us, but that's because I didn't see her before Mass started. We sat and talked with Father Kevin for a while after church.

At 1500 you know where I was, in DJ's Dugout ready for kickoff. I was surprised to figure out that I was 'that' guy at the bar, you know, the one who high fives everyone when my team scores. Fortunately, I had plenty of opportunity to do so, because the Bears kicked some Lion booty. I wasn't happy with how rough the game was played, and so it didn't improve my general feeling of dislike of this Lions team.

That was it for this week, next week: The Bears win again, but NOOOOOOO!

First Week in November 2011

When we last left the Onion Skin News, my car wouldn't start. First thing Monday morning I woke up and called Jensen Tire and had my car towed in. I got a ride to work with Sarah W, and was mostly on time. Jensen told me ahead of time that due to their busyness, they would not be able to look at the car until Tuesday. Fortunately, I was able to secure a ride home Monday night from Maggie.

Maggie and I sat up with Merinda in the entry way and helped to greet the couple hundred of trick or treaters that showed up at our house. The cutest one I saw was about a three year old in a dinosaur outfit, aw T-Rex is cute.

Monday evening, I put out a general call for help to get a ride into work on Tuesday. Amanda volunteered, and gave me a ride into work even though it wasn't particularly convenient for her to do so. I'm so appreciative to all my friends who helped out. THANK YOU! When the call came in late Tuesday the entire thing ended up amounting to getting a tune up, plus diagnostics, and towing. It could have been a lot worse. I ended up leaving early in the day with Regan, and she gave me a ride to pick up the car. I drove straight from the shop to church for All Saints Day Mass. From church I drove up to VK's house and we cooked some chicken curry together.

Wednesday morning was the long dreaded return of the most obscene four letter word we know of: snow. I somehow survived a few random flakes and made it to work. Immediately after work, I went to RCIA, the discussion was about the Holy Spirit. We also discussed that we (my mother and I) are not sure what parish I was baptized in. It ran long, and the discussion afterwards ran long, and I was mighty hungry by the end of it. I called tall Frank and we went out to eat at Village Inn.

Thursday was a quiet night at home.

Friday morning my car wouldn't start again. I got it towed into Jensen tire again, and Ed from work came and picked me up and brought me in. Not a good week for the car. By 1100 they called me and let me know that the problem with the car was their fault, and that they had fixed it. I picked the car up over my lunch, thank you to Amy for the ride. There was no charge for the problem, they apologized, and yes, I had been inconvenienced, but they admitted they made the error, and they fixed it, I couldn't get too upset.

In the evening I went to the usual Friday dance. It wasn't a big crowd, and I was kind of tired and went home early because of the big photo shoot in the morning. I got up early, but not as early as Maggie. She got her hair done, picked up our newly hired assistant (Lee), and met me at my house. We shot down by Gifford Farm, then over by my old house. Maggie got cold quickly, so Lee helped keep her warm between shots.

Maggie managed to not get frostbite, barely. A couple guys in a pickup drove by us three times, maybe they'd never seen a girl in a cherry dress. You can see all the pictures from the shoot here, and I did put a full copyright on them, ask first, unless your name is Maggie.

We got back to my house, Maggie changed, then we left separately, me to Frank's birthday party, her to take Lee home, and then go to Frank's birthday party.

I think this shows two things, I was still in an artsy mood at the birthday dinner, and I guess I'm not much into captions this week. The place we went was a Chicago bar, Papa Chris. The owner was definitely a good guy, and the bar had a neighborhood feel, not like the big places we usually go. We also went bowling, you can see all the pictures here.

I had a funny moment as we left the bowling alley. It was about 1710, and (tall) Frank and I were trying to think of where we could go to church. Nothing was coming to mind, I couldn't think of any church in that area, neither could he. So we drove off. I rounded the curve on to Cuming Street, and right there, looming high over the neighborhood was the Cathedral. Oh, hey, look at that. I pointed out my window, and we pulled up and went in for Mass at 1730.

I started to get a migraine during Mass, and right afterwards I went home and went to bed. However the day wasn't done. I woke up feeling better, so I rode out to CJ's with Troy for an impromptu game night. I played two of my favorites, Qwirkle and Telestrations. I did not win at Qwirkle, Troy did after taking over for CJ, and as far as Telestrations goes, who keeps score?

Sunday I slept in a little bit, and then went into a productivity mode. I cleaned my closet, cooked, uploaded a ton of pictures, and did a bunch of laundry. Add in two naps and no Bears game to distract me, and it was a good afternoon.

In the evening I went over to Brazen Head and attended Bri's birthday party. I got there after dinner, and well, most people came for dinner. I didn't bring my camera, and then of course, was asked when I got there to take pictures. Oops. I left the party about 2200 and came home for the end of a good week.

Next week: Size matters and lots of games.

Last Week in October 2011

Monday and Tuesday I was still feeling very ill. Finally Tuesday afternoon I started to feel more alive, and got out of the house to take a short walk with the camera.

You can see the rest of these pictures here.

While I was out, tall Frank called me and asked if I had dinner. I went and sat with him at Swine dining, I ate a little, but not much. Wednesday I was back at work, but feeling a little laggard, but just before 1600 I suddenly got all this energy. I headed out to RCIA after work and then home.

Thursday was the final fall Theology on Tap. Father Brancich of Immaculate Conception was the speaker, he talked about ancient forms of prayer. After the lecture, I went over and visited VK for a while.

Friday evening was the annual JNO Halloween dance. Since no one cares what I have to say about the dance, we'll get right to the pictures.

I suggested the Catholic school girl idea to Ronnie, I didn't think she'd do it.


Merinda was the driving force behind the Angry Birds costumes.


Wait! Maggie was just standing here a second ago.
Also, Josh does not approve of the camera.


This picture went up to my 13th most viewed picture (out of 15k or so) within 72 hours of being posted. The internet loves a pretty girl dressed up like an evil scientist.

There was also a costume contest I didn't place in. And a Jack and Jill contest I didn't place in, although I received some positive feedback about how I did. You can see all my photos of this event here.

Saturday I had some car trouble, it wouldn't start in the morning, and then it still wouldn't start in the afternoon. After 106k miles on the car, I finally had the sort of trouble that couldn't be fixed with a new blinker light, battery, or just waiting it out. Since I've haven't had any trouble with the car, I never really had gotten under the hood. I opened it up and discovered that I really had no access to the spark plugs or fuel lines. I poked at a couple of things, but it wasn't really like I was manly or anything.

Sunday morning I went to church at Sacred Heart with Frank. It was the pastor's fiftieth birthday party, so after Mass there was a gathering in the church gym with 50 (at least) different cakes. I had a really nice visit with Karen and Mark ... and cake.

In the afternoon, we got ready for the annual Halloween party at our house which began in the evening.

This cracks me up.


*Knock knock* ... "who is it?" ... "landshark".


I don't often pose for pictures, but when I do, it's with Cecily.


...and no party would be complete without the world's most awkward hug.

The party, and the weekend wrapped up sort of late, about 0015 or so. You can see the rest of my party pictures here. It was a good weekend, even with the small no car problem.

Next week: My car gets fixed ... or does it???