Third Week in March 2011

This week features another fantastic adventure known as 'work on call'. Monday wasn't busy, but Tuesday was quite so and Wednesday even more so. Thursday was not only the start of the NCAA mens basketball tournament, but also Saint Patrick's day, a win all the way around ... except for the on call part.

Friday once on call slowed down I went out to the dance to meet up with VK and her college roommate Julie, who was in visiting from Michigan. It was also the toga party at JNO, but I didn't participate this year.

Why, yes, Eric, we'd love to dance with you!


Jenny has a new beau named Joe. He's obviously very tall.


Lindsay climbs an invisible ladder.

If you'd like to see the rest of my pictures from JNO, you can find them here. VK, Julie, and I left and went to Blue for Sushi. Yes I know that this violated my Lenten vow ... sigh. We hung out there until the restaurant closed and had fun talking and there were no on call interruptions

Saturday during the day I tried to sleep as best I could between all the calls. Finally in the evening I headed over to Kaleb's game night. There were a bunch of new faces there ... new to game night anyways. Sarah, Beth, and Maggie were all there. First game up was Tsuro ... although it didn't happen, I was reminded that it is possible to have no winners in that game ... I was not a winner in three games. We had a little ping pong, and then played a big game of Werewolf, there were probably 22 or 23 people playing. I was just a villager, and I was lynched, but my team still won. We then played a fairly epic game of Betrayal at House on the Hill. Beth was the betrayer (go figure) and the rest of the players struggled through but eventually it was down to just Maggie and Beth, and Maggie defeated Beth in a very close game. The evening ended with more ping pong and Rock Band.

Sunday was time for Mass Chaos. After church I took the on call phone and ran some errands starting at work to fix a problem, then to the grocery store, the recycling center, and more grocery store. I then cooked two meals for the week, and sat down and started playing Dragon Age 2 (seriously, who expects that having to enter your age on a screen is any kind of deterrent to under age people getting onto your website).

The only other news is that after the first two rounds of the basketball tourney, I was barely hanging on by a thread in Kaleb's challenge. I had to have so many things go my way, it was likely that there would be no repeat for this year.

Second Week in March 2011

Monday I stayed home from work to recover from the weekend. Additionally, I colored my hair. While I was home, I finally decided on what my Lenten sacrifice would be, no eating out at restaurants. So Tuesday night I went out to eat for the last time for 40 days. Chipotle, so it was my last guacamole fix for quite a while.

Wednesday immediately after work was the Ash Wednesday version of Mass Chaos. Immediately after Mass I went over to Maeg's house (yes, she still exists) and we played the new Mansions of Madness, an Arkham Horror based game. It's complex, so the first play wasn't a great one, but I can see where it has potential. I hope to get the chance to play it again.

Thursday was bowling league. I am getting steadily worse as the league goes on. 105, 129, and 105. I need my own bowling ball ... have you heard this one before? Friday I went to the Jitterbugs dance, nothing spectacular happened there, except for a lot of fun dancing.

Saturday I met VK at The Bemis Center for a little art viewing. We went to see the exhibit Another Nebraska (I don't know how long the link will remain active). We agreed that the paintings by Peter Walkley were our favorites. We also agreed that the exhibit by Vera Mercer was disgusting. Art can be pretty, or thought provoking, even challenging, but gross? Her fascination with dead things doesn't really pass as art to me.

After the museum we walked around downtown and saw...

...I'm not sure, but that doesn't appear to be a natural color.

We went back to VK's house and had dinner and then out to Flashback's for some cheesey 80s club dancing in celebration of Heather's birthday. I didn't mean to be, but I turned into the token male at this party. I also ran into a couple of coworkers there. It was a fun time, but not an every weekend kind of thing, maybe once a year ... or two.

Sunday morning Mass Chaos went to church. After Mass we then went over to Brianne's house for breakfast. Brianne is a super cook, thanks Brianne! In the afternoon I took a nap and then over to CJ's house for the latest chapter in the developing Disorder of the Stick Pathfinder game.

First Week in March 2011

Monday and Tuesday were boring days, and I stayed home. Wednesday I had dinner with VK. Thursday I went out bowling, and it was nothing to write home about ... no crazy pants or anything.

Preview picture: Our three intrepid explorers!

Friday was the beginning of the mini-vacation to Heartland Swing Festival in Des Moines. I spent the morning getting ready to go. Maggie showed up, we hit the road at around 1430, went to CB and picked up Jillian and hit the road. Maggie and I entertained each other in the back seat with by playing Angry Birds. There isn't any bragging to be done, we both did well. We found the hotel easily enough, we stayed at the Renaissance Savery Hotel downtown. We had two rooms, Merinda (and Verity) took one room, and Maggie, Jillian, and I had the other. The view was not specatular, but the room was super nice, and was less than $75 each for the two night stay. We had two beds and two bathrooms and a daybed/sofa.

Our first move was to go swimming! It turns out that Maggie doesn't own a swim suit, so she did not get in the pool with us, but the other three of us goofed off for quite a while. I guess that I am not observant, because I did not notice the gentleman in the whirlpool with the really nice abs, but the girls did. After this we got dressed, and Maggie, Jillian, and I went out to eat at Court Avenue Brewing Company (thanks for the tip, Larry). We ordered two meals between the three of us, and it was the perfect amount of food. Jill and Maggie got ginger ales and I had two different beers. It was excellent. We then went back to the hotel, and got ready for the dance.

We walked there through Des Moines wonderful skywalk system. I have read in the past that systems like this disconnect the people in them from the city itself, so I was curious about it. I didn't think it was like that at all. It was a nice, warm, safe way around the downtown area, it worked with the streets to get you places. Finding your way around is way easier than finding a map of it online, sheesh.

We got there to find the venue was amazing, Des Moines Temple for the Performing Arts. We went up to the fourth floor, (walking is way faster than the elevator), and found the Omaha people and set ourselves down, for about half a song, then started dancing...

...and taking pictures.


Shortly after we arrived there, the Jack and Jill dance contest started.


I met up with friends from all over the midwest.


About an hour after the first contest occurred, the second, the "Any Swing Goes" partner contest kicked off. You can see our vantage point here.

We danced until midnight or so to the sounds of The Grand Marquis, then we headed over to Java Joe's for late night dancing and, for me beer and ice cream. Then back to the hotel room and sleep.

Saturday morning we got up and went back to the 'Temple' for some classes. The one thing I dislike about Lindy classes is almost invariably you hear something like "forget what you know about Lindy Hop, don't do it that way, do it this way." Yes, I understand that thinking about what your doing is a good thing, but really ... it's a dance, part of it is style and interpretation. All whining aside, there were some really good thoughts in the classes I took.

We came back to the hotel and then over to a local sports bar to eat. In the afternoon I hung out at the hotel, while Jillian and Maggie went to more classes. After they came back to the room, we hung out, ate a 'dinner' of cheese and crackers, fruit, and veggies. Then headed back down for the Saturday dance, we arrived about half way through the team competition.

This is the team from Wichita, the team from New Mexico won.


They had the finals of the dance contests, and plenty of social dancing too.

Around 0030 we headed a few blocks east to the Des Moines Social Club for some late night dancing, food, and the Same Gender Partner Contest, which was a hoot. Finally around 0230 Sunday morning we headed back to the room and went to bed. Maggie was so tired that she lost it, and sat in bed giggling until mercifully she fell asleep.

Sunday morning we got up, packed up, and went over to the 'Temple' for day classes and breakfast at Centro in the same building as the dance venue. Breakfast followed the same theory as the rest of the weekend, a lot of plate sharing. I took one and a half of the classes on Sunday, and I'm actually using one of the moves I learned it. After the last class, we went over to Panera for dinner, and then back to the best part of any dance weekend ... the late night dance.

I nearly fell over myself to get this photo of Rae and Larry with no one in the background.


The playlist was fun and so was the dancing.


I also took some pretty good pictures.

The two most epic parts of the evening were not caught on camera, Corina and I 'inventing' a dip that either was a complete failure or the most epic thing ever, and me throwing Chris at Maggie and Kelley. In case you were wondering, yes I did dance. We rode home then and the weekend was history, but not the memories, or the pictures.

Fourth Week in February 2010

Monday and Tuesday I didn't do much at all, but Wednesday I had dinner with VK. Thursday was supposed to be my exciting bowling night out, but then we got a weird snowstorm that blanketed Sarpy County and practically snowed us in, but didn't do much in Douglas county, so I chose to stay home again. Finally, on Friday I busted out of the house and went to the Jitterbugs dance.

Saturday during the day I helped Kristie move out of VK's house. Our group of friends is usually really really good about moving help, so it hardly took any time at all. I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing.

In the evening was Maggie's 'Golden' birthday, and she chose to celebrate with her friends at DJ's Dugout's Blazin' Pianos. It was quite the scene. Thanks to the Bens for sharing their beers with me.

The birthday girl, you know the one who worries about everything, really seemed to enjoy herself.


I know how I got the lighting and flash to do this, I'm just not sure I could do it again.


Maggie was serenaded ... oh yeah, it's business time.


I got a new profile picture out of the adventure too.

The party kind of broke up around midnight. You can see the rest of the pictures of this even here.

Sunday morning was the latest installment of Mass Chaos. Afterward, we went to eat at Maria Bonita, which might become my new favorite restaurant.

Sunday evening was the Oscars, but more importantly, it was Grand Marquis playing at the Horseshoe.

This would be a day I liked my camera.


Oh, hey Dean, I didn't recognize you with that, um, hair.

You can see the rest of my pictures from Grand Marquis at the Horseshoe here.

Third Week of February 2011

Monday had some of the warmest weather we've had in quite a while, the high was almost 50°F, after a long seeming winter, it was a welcome night.

Tuesday after work Merinda had some rollerskating planned, but I decided at the last minute to not go ... my left hand was just talking too much to me about being hurt again. Instead, I went over to VK's house and traded a nice dinner for doing some 'manly' work around her house.

I had a bad headache but made it through work on Wednesday.

Thursday's bowling league was taken over by 'Crazy Pants Bowling'. This was Brianne's idea, so don't blame me.

So, are my pants crazy, or what?


Beth's clever retort when I asked why she didn't wear crazy pants.


At every Crazy Pants Bowling event there is always one guy who acts like this.


Friends are love ... aw! With sweetness like this, no wonder I didn't bowl well.

You can see the rest of my pictures from this event here, including a bunch of artsy bowling shots. Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous.

Friday after work I went dancing, and after the dance we all met at the IHOP in Bellevue. The next time that happens will be way too soon, the service was horrible.

Saturday night I made dinner for VK and I, grilled chicken and black bean salsa. I could hardly believe how much lime juice went into it, but it was good. We then went over to see the Omaha Roller Girls. We saw a bunch of people there, the place sold out (we may have gotten the last of the tickets), and a bunch more didn't make it in. It was fun, but not a close match. We left at halftime and went down to the old market. We stopped into Vivace and watch Megan light stuff on fire.

Sunday morning was the next Mass Chaos. It was my first Spanish language mass since high school. After Mass we went off to ice cream at Ted and Wally's, and then over to visit the new Hollywood Candy downtown. Yes, I took pictures.