TG recap, and December

Thanksgiving was good. Saw a ton of people I haven't seen in a long time, saw the fam, went downtown and asked a married girl for her number, won our playoff hockey game, yeah, good times.

The week is dragging by. I need a vacation. I talked to my buddy about Vegas in early March, but man, I need something now. That will probably happen; it's probably just a matter of whether I can fit in a another mini-vacation before that. I miss Spring Break. And Christmas break (I'm talking like 11 days). And summer break.

December can't go by fast enough. I've managed to assemble a second hockey team for Tuesday nights, and this team is made up entirely of people I grew up with, +/- a grade. Everyone is buzzing, and we start January 8th. In addition, I can't wait for, well, that thing from work that comes around X-mas time... I remember seeing so many movies that reference this, and I couldn't relate then; now that I'm relating, I feel a little older.

After December comes January, a new year, my birthday 3 weeks in, and review time at work. I haven't decided what to do for my birthday. Maybe I'll top last year, maybe I'll do nothing. I really don't know. It's on a Monday, which sucks, but whatever, we'll see what happens. Review time at work... thinking back to where I was last January, I have to be a little bit happy with myself. It wasn't easy getting to this point, but it was worth it. Thanks to everyone that helped me through it, it wasn't easy and wasn't pleasant at times. And I wasn't pleasant at times. I remember how 2007 started: I was sick at home, by myself. Seems it was a sign of things to come. 2007 hasn't been my favorite year. Hopefully it will finish strong and I can bring in a great 2008.

Fun weekends past and future

It was great, as usual. And cheap too, I can't remember the time this group hung out and didn't even go to a bar. Probably never. Friday was beer pong at a friend of a friend's, cheap, fun, and got to bed at a reasonable 2:30. Saturday was a little bit ridiculous. 8 am wakeup call to shower, grab a greasy breakfast at BK for a good base, then off the tailgating for the big game... at 10 am, with the game at 2:30. Badgers and Gopher numbers were actually quite close, and everyone seemed to get along quite well amidst a parking lot full of kegs and fun and games. Something crazy happened on the way to the game, and I probably shouldn't write about it here, so I won't. It was that crazy. Then the game came, lots of scoring, cheering, eating, chatting, and a little bit more beer. Then back to home base to recoup for a second, then off to another buddy's for a beer pong tournament and a Badger get-together. A little bit of drama to boot, and the night was over, completing a bar-free weekend with plenty of fun.

Upcoming is Thanksgiving weekend, with tomorrow night being the White Bear Lake HS reunion at whichever bar you happen to go to, Thursday some good eats and football, then a whole normal weekend to top it off. It's a mini vacation I've been waiting to have for awhile.

On a side note, it's good to be back in a good friggin' mood.

On a second side note, is it Christmas yet?

On a third side note, where will I be going on vacation in the near future? I neeeeed to go somewhere, I can't just let these vacation days pile up, it's driving me nuts. It might be to some city to visit a friend, it might be Vegas #5, it might be a Madison/Milwaukee road trip. But after Christmas...

Badgers in Minnesota

That's us, reuniting for a weekend, with Badger football invading the Gophers. It's gonna be crazy. Results later.

holy shit, good news

What I would consider to be my biggest looming problem right now will soon be gone: the neighbors above me. Yes, I have a person or two over like once a month and I'm loud. Yes, I often shower twice a day, which can be loud. Yes, I run the water a lot as I cook and clean a lot. But to hear stomping from above for any sound they can hear? Ridiculous, and it's been going on for many months now, and I finally complained on Friday. The stomping continued for the past few days even after management talked to them. I was *this* close to giving the landlord an ultimatum, it's them or me that has to go. Well well well, I got home today to learn that the neighbors above had given their two months' notice, so they're gone at the end of the year. JOY... I can look forward to living like a sane person again... unless the newbies are jerks... but the lady in the office will likely make sure that won't happen for me. What a relief!

Rocky II week?

Wow has my appetite skyrocketed. I wonder what I weigh right now? For being such a high maintenance person, I can't believe I don't have a full-length mirror or weight scale. That will probably change.

I think I'll have to make it Rocky II week as this next weekend will probably consist of about 100 beers. Madison friends plus Badger football game, I love it and hate the consequences.

One thing I could improve on is my eating... I need to go back to my healthy work week while allowing myself junk on the weekends. Another hockey team would be good too... if I can get 15 people to pay 200 bucks by December... that would be great.

I can't say how much I need a vacation. I've grown up with winter breaks, spring breaks, and summer vacations, and haven't had anything similar in a long time... ugh.

On a totally unrelated note, I finally learned to like pickles. Random and weird, I know. Ketchup and mustard next?

Fine, I'll make it Rocky II week. Rocky actually wins in Rocky II, so I'll have to top 251 minutes on the elliptical + 3 full workouts. Damn myself for titling this post 'Rocky II week?'.

I'm declaring this week to be my personal Rocky week

No, I'm not going on a Rocky-watching spree, I'm just trying to get in a bit better shape. I've been a bit slow the past two Sundays at hockey (maybe because of the Saturdays...), and it's time to step it up for the playoffs.

Reflecting on 2007, I'd say it has been my worst since, well, at least high school, in a lot of ways. It started out well but just seemed to tank. Now things are turning around, so maybe I can finish the year with some momentum for 2008.

Rocky week starts tomorrow. Oh crap, no raw eggs to chug...

Birthday weekend

Not mine. Birthday party tonight, birthday party tomorrow night.

Damn, and I could use some rest... a cold I'm kicking has killed my energy as of late.

Oh, and that frozen pizza recall? Yeah, well I splurged a few weeks ago and bought 3 of em. And ate em. That's 3 shots at e. coli. Great. I don't think I got it, but still, I ate 3 pizzas that got recalled. A bit unsettling.

This is weird. It's the weekend, and I'm hardly excited... I either tired from the cold or burnt out... I'd lean toward the latter. I have a few vaca days saved up, I might have to use them soon. Off to birthday #1...