2010 / 2011 Bridge Week

Monday I got a surprise invitation to play Cutthroat Solitaire at VK's house. Naturally, I won, but both VK and Kristie made it close at the end. It's a fun game that kind of plays into a few of my strengths, pattern recognition and peripheral vision. I have been beat at it ... I think, but not by Vivian.

Tuesday was the roughest day at work in a long time. I was very frustrated, and I had to remind myself that the worst day at my current employer is about an average day at Cox Communications. I did need to come home and unwind however. That is what laundry is for.

Wednesday was the latest installment of Pathfinder. It was the craziest ending of a session I have ever seen. We were just wrapping it up when Chris (Bypoe / Human Monk) and Jess (LaSandra / Half-Elf Rogue) decided to try to disarm the door to the room we were going to rest in. They tripped something and a portcullis slammed down, with four of us on the inside, and those two on the outside. Grrrr. We spent the next twenty minutes (of real time) trying to find a release for it. It was quite the cliffhanger with a construct (robot) approaching them and us stuck behind the portcullis.

Thursday night was a special edition 'game' night at Kaleb's house. By game, I mean the Husker's bowl appearance. One of the big problems I have with the bowl system is that teams don't always show up to play, and it is hardly ever the fault of the coaching staff. Sometimes the players on one team aren't ready to play, or don't look interested, or think they should have been in a different, more prestigious bowl. The Nebraska team looked that way this year. Oh, and quit your whining Nebraska fans, having a good football team is something to be treasured, not a birthright. If you can go to a BCS game once every five years you probably are doing pretty well.

Friday I relaxed all day and then got ready to go the Jitterbugs New Years party. I had set up duty. I had a good time, but so did a lot of people. I was very happy with my camera.

This was the view of the fireworks from the Eagle's Lodge parking lot.


Okay, so I'm not quite as in love with this as when I took it, but it's still a pretty dang good picture.


I sat out the shim sham to take a few photos.


Maggie and Jillian risked serious razor burns to pose for this picture.

The new year dawned with, what else, a party at our house. In celebration of the new year, I changed my clothes four times in two hours. I also had some trouble drinking, so I didn't.

There were camera shenanigans ...


... dancing shenanigans (yes, this is actually dancing) ...


... and just plain old shenanigans.

A good time was had by most, if not all. I went to bed at 0445. You can see the rest of my New Years party pictures here, and Jillian's are here. The rest of Saturday was spent at home recovering my energy.

Sunday was the latest edition of Mass Chaos. We had are largest crowd yet, sixteen. Immediately after Mass we went out to eat at Don and Millie's to eat, and then to my house to watch the Bears game. We lost, but we're in the playoffs and heading in the right direction.

Christmas Week 2010

Monday night after work I went out with Frank and Joe to DJ's Dugout to watch the Bears play the Vikings on Monday Night Football. The Bears won, and got themselves into the playoffs. I still find it difficult to believe that the best team in the NFC, the Packers, may not make the playoffs. You have to win your football games. Not only did the Bears win, but there may have been some Keno money won too.

After I got home I decided to stay up for the eclipse on a clear, cool night. I was rewarded with some pretty amazing shots. The only problem was the lack of sleep on Tuesday and a bit of confusion about how to geotag the pictures.

You can see the rest of my pictures of the eclipse here. I can't believe people who could see it didn't stay up to see it. It was the first lunar eclipse on the winter solstice since 1638.

Tuesday was a food day at work, but despite having my face jammed with food, I went out to lunch with Kimee at Runza, she got food but I didn't. We talked, I know that Shannon has moved on and has a fiancee, but I miss Kimee, Kamber, and the littles. I think it'll probably be too hard to keep the littles in my life, but hopefully Kimee for sure, and hopefully Kam and I can hang out on occasion. After work, I came home and went to sleep.

Wednesday we had a large group and were going to go to (the stupidly named) Indulgence Lounge for a jazz night. When Brianne got there no Jazz, they canceled for Christmas. So we resourcefully moved to our house, and played Dance Central on the XBox 360/Kinect for about three hours. We even got Jillian up and trying it. That just makes me smile.

Thursday I went to Best Buy after work to get myself a replacement flash drive. I came home and worked for two hours to transfer the data from the back up ... unsuccessfully.

Friday I had off for Christmas Eve, I started playing Borderlands on the xBox all over again. Soon afterwards I started driving all over to run last minute errands. I probably put 120 miles on my car. I played some more video games after my errands. I got a short nap in before heading over to a Mass Chaos version of midnight Mass. After Mass we went to IHOP on north 72nd street until 0400. It was a hoot.

Saturday I went to Christmas dinner at Vivian's during the afternoon. We did the traditional stockings, but not the traditional cutthroat solitaire. It was really fun.

It was a rough dinner, I had to go catch my meal before I came in.


Don't ask why we are wearing crowns. Photo credit: Matt


I don't know why Diggy decided my shoulder would be a good place to hang out. Photo credit: Matt

You can see the rest of my pictures here. Matt had some Christmas pictures too, they are here (the set includes other events). After I left Donna and Jack's house I went up to CJ's house for his Christmas party. There was plenty of left over food, and games to be played. We played Betrayal at House on the Hill, Ben betrayed us, but we prevailed. I like that game a lot, but we hardly ever get through the haunt without a misinterpretation of the rules.

Sunday was the first Sunday off from Mass Chaos in a while, so I was going to watch the Bears play at noon and then go to Mass at Saint Mary's in Bellevue. Then my friend Marilou mentioned that there was a Mass at the Holy Family Shrine (on Holy Family Sunday) being celebrated with Archbishop Lucas. Cool, so we met out at my work, and with her friend we carpooled out to the Shrine and arrived just in time after some exciting driving.

You can see the rest of my pictures of the shrine here. Afterwards we got some lunch at Mama's Pizza (on Saddle Creek). I hadn't been there since I moved out of the neighborhood and to Papillion. Later, when I got home, I saw that VK had organized a skating party at the ConAgra rink. I rushed (meaning drove safely) downtown to skate, which we did for a couple hours, eventually ending up at Golden Palace on Dodge for dinner. P.S. the Bears won!

Third Week in December 2010

Monday after work I did some chores, Tuesday after work I hung out at the house. Wednesday after work there was some snow and ice falling very prettily. I went out for free pie Wednesday at Village Inn and afterward we did some cookies, er donuts in a church parking lot ... whatever you call them, I had a good time. Thursday was a laundry day.

Friday morning started out well. I woke up without an alarm, feeling physically awesome, with my favorite hymn in my head, feeling full of love, and originally thinking it was Monday. That's a great attitude to start a day.

Friday night was the Christmas dance at Jitterbugs Night Out, complete with a (well organized) white elephant gift exchange.

Merinda is a trillionaire.


Jillian made me a blanket for Christmas, thanks.


I wonder what the wedding pictures will be like for these two when they have to be serious.

You can see the rest of my pictures for the 2010 Jitterbugs Christmas Party here.

On Saturday there was a lot of things going on, first up in the afternoon, ice skating at the ConAgra rink. I evidently can ice skate just fine.

Jenny had to be at least 6'3.5" with her skates on.


I took this picture while I was skating by, who knew I was so coordinated?


Now I'm in a picture while I am skating ... that's pretty talented too, right?

It wasn't all joy, one of the people in our party fell pretty hard and hurt their wrist. You can see all of my pictures from the event here. We went out to eat at M's Pub after skating. We got there about 1800 and we're told that we could have a table, but had to be out of there by 1900, because of a reservation. Let me tell you, I've never been served there so quickly.

At night was the latest installment of Kaleb's game night. I played lots of ping pong, a game of Arkham Horror, and a game or two of Ultimate Werewolf. We also started to play some Rock Band 3 on the XBox, but then the projector light burned out, odd timing.

Anitra rocks Omaha one last time before riding off into the Tampa sunset.

Sunday morning was the latest installment of Mass Chaos. After church we went as a group down to Blue Sushi. Vesper got a salad as big as her head, and they accidentally gave Frank and Lindsay and extra roll, so there was tons of food to go around.

Later in the evening, it was time for Jenny's annual Christmas party with gingerbread house building.

I built a hill and ski chalet for this year. It was only good enough for third. I know some very creative people.


You fill in the punch line here. There was also a creepy picture of Julia and I in the same time frame.


There weren't as many 'steals' in the white elephant as last year. Heather borrowed this sweater (sight unseen) from her mother to get an 'ugly' sweater, it didn't work.

You can see the rest of my pictures from Jenny's party here. Jenny posted some to Facebook here. The party was a lot of fun, we also played a game of Things ... and that was my week.

Second Week in December 2010

Monday and Wednesday this week I had as bad of migraines as I've had in a long time, but I made it through work and through the day. Sandwiched in between was an awesome Tuesday, I felt great, my attitude was fantastic, and it was a celebration day! After work on Wednesday it was a special Immaculate Conception edition of Mass Chaos. Afterward, we went to the Rose Garden. Thursday I was feeling better, not as good as Tuesday though, but better. I did plenty of chores with my new found energy.

Friday night I went out to JNO and there was a live band, The Grand Marquis from Kansas City. Since it was a favorite band, I got there early so I could hear the entire set. I enjoyed the show, afterward several of us went out to Alvarado's in Council Bluffs until the wee hours of the morning.

I kind of saw this coming, so I was thinking
"Really, you're going to take a picture right now? Photo credit: Matt

Saturday morning was the storm of the century, the early December 2010 version. Minneapolis / Saint Paul certainly got snowed on, but we didn't. We did have plenty of cold and wind, plus a little snow. I took some pictures on my way to and from the next item.

This last of these had two different people call it amazing. I'm not so sure, I almost deleted it because I thought it "meh". I kept it because of the shape of the snow crystals. You can see the rest of my pictures here.

The reason that I was out was Bart and Margaret's wedding reception.

Two of the sweetest people I know, and me.


The weather was indeed frightening, but it was worth it.


Best bride photo I've taken, it was easy with a beautiful subject.

You can see the rest of my wedding reception photos here. Matt took some too, they are here.

Saturday night I wandered back out into the cold for a small housewarming party at Sarah's. It wasn't a big place, so don't be hurt if you weren't invited, we really did fill it. I didn't get a whole lot of good pictures, except one of me, but I thought I'd spare you from that. It's funny how much difference ten years makes, some of gentlemen at the party decided to run up to the top of the hill, barefoot, in -20F wind chill. Ten years ago I would have participated ... am I a little smarter these days, or do I just not like to be cold?

Oh the things I do for the amusement of my friends. Photo credit: Vivian


Really the only group shot we got ... that I can put up. Photo credit: Sarah

Sunday morning was the latest edition of Mass Chaos. Later on, the official Mass Chaos Auxillary Bears Fans meeting took place in the usual spot with the usual suspects ... but something was missing, oh yeah, a Bears win. We got spanked, which I think we amazingly didn't worry about. The Packers losing helps a lot. The last thing that happened this week is I went over to CJ's to play Pathfinder, it was a good session, and we made it to level 4! Go us!

November / December Bridge Week 2010

This was a super slow week, fortunately, I found stuff to do by writing my NaNoWriMo story Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Wednesday night I also went to the 'serious' game night at Kaleb's. Kaleb and tried a game of Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age before anyone else got there. We then played the classic, Puerto Rico. Thursday was more writing.

Friday I went to a game night party at Stacy's house. It was a lot more socializing than gaming, but we did play so social games including Quelf, I probably won't go out of my way to play it again. Around 2300 I went to Friday dance.

Saturday I ran errands all day buying stuff for the chili contest. Saturday night was my department work party. Jenny went with me. She agreed to go before she met Kris, so there is no controversy, nice try.

Sunday I was up early and off to Mass Chaos. We went to Immaculate Conception this week, it's the Latin Mass parish, and it was at 0900 ... and it seemed all the earlier. The Mass in Latin is right at the edge of my memory from being a small boy, so it kind of drove me half nuts trying to remember it.

The rest of Sunday was spent preparing for the Chili Throwdown 2010. I made up my chili, got everything set up downstairs, and waited for the guests to arrive.

There were 14 entries for the chili contest.
It looks like Heather really likes that one. Photo credit: Matt


42 people came to the party (insert Hitchhiker joke here), this is just a third of them.




The winners: 1st place - CJ, 2nd place - Julia, 3rd Place - Lisa,
Spiciest - Ben, Most Unique - Matt. Both middle and lower right photo credit: Matt


Four pretty ladies doing the YMCA in front of a Cialis commercial...
Photo credit: Matt

You can see lots of pictures around the interwebs, mine are here, Matt's are here, Jillian and Sarah also had their cameras there. The chili feed was a tremendous success, thank you one and all for attending.