A couple of weeks back,the Top Chef finale came on. It recorded on a Wednesday night, but we saved it for Saturday so that we could make wine and food and watch the show. This is something of a tradition for us, but then again we make food every weekend whether or not the show is on, so maybe not. But if you are a foodie like we are, you need to be watching this show - no excuses. That week, I had avoided TWOP and TV Guide so that I wouldn't accidentally see who won - it was a close competition this season between Richard, the best chef they have ever had on the show, and Stephanie, who probably could have won seasons 2 or 3, and could probably only win this year if Richard somehow blew it.
Well, that Saturday night was also the night that Tiger Woods was kicking ass in the US Open, holing out on 17, draining the putt on 18, etc. The phone was ringing - Steph, Cullen, Frank. So, after it is all over, I call Stephanie to recap what Tiger had just done, and was going to mention that she needed to watch Top Chef because we were about to watch the big finale. Here is how that part of the conversation went (warning, spoilers ahead!):
Me: "Steph, there is no reason that you don't watch Top Chef!"
Steph: "I know - I am so happy that Stephanie won!"
Now, she doesn't even watch the show, but somehow was just able to completely spoil what I had waited all week for!!! Well, it wasn't as bad as it seems - it is pretty obvious halfway through who was going to win. (And it still doesn't change the fact that Richard was the best chef ever on this show, with all due respect to Harold.) But still - nothing sucks like when those moments are ruined for you. I have been thinking since then to try to determine the times in my life where I found out the surprise ending to something too early. Books, movies, TV shows, sporting events. I was able to come up with 3 that were the worst for me:
3. HP5 - Entertainment Weekly. I was always slow on reading Harry Potter, and even at book 5 I was still a couple of months behind the rest of the world. HP3 was coming out at the movies, and EW had a large section of an issue about it. Now, it is my fault because I still read the issue, but there was a sidebar in the magazine marked with a "Spoilers ahead" section. Of course, it was not really well marked and I just opened the magazine to one particular paragraph in the spoilers section, and there I read that ****** ***** dies in HP5. I was just livid - I actually ripped up the magazine and threw it across the room. The big ending didn't even remotely have the same impact for me that it should have. Then again, I just should have read it. I mean, I love Harry Potter, but it isn't Proust or anything. I knew that when book 6 came out, I was just going to read it asap, before I even had the chance to have it ruined for me dammit!!
2. HP6 - Seriously, it comes out at midnight on Friday night/Saturday morning, so I go buy it at Meijer. I bring it home and start reading it that night. However, I wasn't going to hole myself up or anything, come on. When I went back to work on Monday, I consciously avoided anything remotely connected to Harry Potter. That morning, I am on the Fark message boards, because the Supreme Court made some sort of decision about something, and seriously, honest to God, on the message boards, someone just posts: ***** kills **********. Just as plain as day, completely off topic. I think I threw up in my mouth a little. It actually made my stomach hurt. It occurred to me that if someone had said that to me in person, I really might have punched them, because I think that it wouldn't be a crime to do so (can I get a ruling on this?). It significantly diminished my enthusiasm for reading the book, to the point that I had already seen an alternate interpretation of the big secret ending that really added a lot to how I read it.
(PS - I finished Book 7 in 3 days. I didn't even go online that Monday.)
1. The 1996 World Cup of Hockey. I was working at Grady's at the time, and was really into hockey at this moment of my life. Up until 1996, this tournament was called the Canada Cup, but this was the first such tournament since I started watching. Well, the finals were the US and Canada, and the final game was on a Saturday night in September. I couldn't get off work, so I set it to tape (actual VCR tape, not TiVo). Well, when I got to work, I basically told anyone who would even remotely care to not tell me who wins the game. This wasn't difficult, being that not that many people watch hockey in Memphis, TN. But everyone knew I watched it, so hopefully they wouldn't tell me if they found out. You know, out of respect. I lucked out because it wasn't even on the TV at the bar, so I couldn't just accidentally see it or anything. Well, the shift was a busy Saturday night, but finally things started to slow down, and I was basically done. I was going to go to the bar to say hi to Jack Speed and order some food to take it home to watch the game. Somehow I had done it - I knew it wouldn't be too difficult to avoid the score, but I was bouncing off the walls in anticipation of going home to watch the game in its entirety. I think I may have even given someone a couple of bucks to roll my silverware so I could go home. Then, I walk up to the bar, and Sean Wiseman is sitting at the end of the bar and turns to me and says, "Hey - did you see that the US beat Canada in the World Cup?" Really, just devastating, only because why is this guy even aware of something that wasn't on the bar TV? Why would he tell me - did I not ask him already to not tell me?
Well, I went home and watched it anyway, and I knew the final score was 5-2, but really until the last half of the third period, it was 2-1 Canada, so yeah, there was the slightest chance that maybe he was wrong. But then the US just reeled off 4 goals to pull away, and it was horribly anti-climactic.
.............................................................................................................................................
Post script - I can think of 2 times that I have been the culprit. Once was when Mom was making Ron watch Steel Magnolias, and I walked into the room and just flat out said, "Is this the one where Julia Roberts dies at the end?" Really, totally out of spite, because let's just say that I knew that Mom had seen it, so I wasn't spoiling it for her. But the other time was pure luck - Stephanie and I went to go see the Sixth Sense, and we knew there was supposed to be this "big twist" at the end, so I turn to her right before the movie starts and flat out say the following - "I'll bet the big twist is that Bruce Willis is dead the whole time!' Really though, it was entirely a guess - I had no idea. Midway through, Steph is like, "I really think that you are right!" It saved us the $7 that we would have had to spend to see it again to see how we missed it at least.
What about you? Anything along these lines where you were told the ending when you didn't want to hear it? People who know me well - am I missing anything?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Carrie's birthday adventure
For Carrie's birthday on Saturday, I kept what we were doing a surprise until that day. When I woke her up, I gave her an envelope with instructions inside as to where she was supposed to go, then everywhere we went I gave her another envelope with more instructions. It made the day a little bit more mysterious, and we had a good time. I figured I would post with the notes and include some footnotes of my own to tell you how the day went.
Envelope 1:
Envelope 2*:
**There weren't any good tomatoes yet. I am hurting for some heirlooms.
***Chick who runs this place is hot. The big check she had from winning on Challenge on the Food Network recently was out for all to see. I always wondered if you actually got another check, or if those things were legal tender.
Envelope 3:
**These two places are literally right next to each other downtown. Most Ann Arborites only go to Stucchi's. True Ann Arborites go to the Washtenaw Dairy, but we got free ice cream here so whatever. Although, we were still full from lunch.
Envelope 4:
**Seriously, we forget how much we love Garrison until we see her perform. The pure acoustic is always better - just her and the guitar. There was a decent crowd there. Plus, when we went and spoke with her afterwards, I name-dropped Chip for the third time in a row meeting her.
Envelope 5:
**We totally had an hour to kill, so we went home real fast.
Envelope 6:
**This place is in Livonia, so it is a bit of a jaunt. But we got the 1978 Cos d'Estournel, which is from St. Estephe, which we have never had, and the 1978 Lynch Bages, which is a Pauillac, which we love.
Envelope 7:
Envelope 8:
So, overall the day was a success and we had a fun time. Since that took about a month to plan, I will have to start planning her 31st sometime in March.
Envelope 1:
Happy 30th Birthday!!!!
You have a number of things planned today for your birthday, but they will be revealed to you over the course of the day.
First off, get ready, get dressed, and go to Kerrytown,* where you will receive further instructions…
*Kerrytown is the part of Ann Arbor where we had the wedding reception. Also, the notes I gave her did not have hyperlinks.Envelope 2*:
Welcome to Kerrytown for the first time in your 30s! While here, you need to do the following:
Go to the Farmers Market, pick out some tomatoes!** (If there are any good ones…)
Go to Cake Nouveau and get a free birthday cupcake!*** (You know, if they will actually do that for you. Take your ID.)
Go to Zingerman’s for your free bagels. At Zingerman’s, you will receive further instructions.
*OK, so somehow this envelope got left behind, but I was able to recite it to her almost verbatim, since I had typed it out maybe an hour before.**There weren't any good tomatoes yet. I am hurting for some heirlooms.
***Chick who runs this place is hot. The big check she had from winning on Challenge on the Food Network recently was out for all to see. I always wondered if you actually got another check, or if those things were legal tender.
Envelope 3:
While here at Zingerman’s, let’s grab some lunch! I am starving!*
But don’t get dessert, because we are off to Ben & Jerry’s and Stucchi’s for some free birthday ice cream. After that, you will receive further instructions.**
*Yeah, I knew I would be hungry. I had the sandwich I always get with pastrami and corned beef and two types of bread, and Carrie got something with brisket and cole slaw, and we had some mac and cheese on the side.**These two places are literally right next to each other downtown. Most Ann Arborites only go to Stucchi's. True Ann Arborites go to the Washtenaw Dairy, but we got free ice cream here so whatever. Although, we were still full from lunch.
Envelope 4:
I hope you enjoyed or are enjoying your ice cream, which I will guess was the olive flavored sorbet with celery meringue.*
Now, go to Borders by 2:00! Hurry up so that you can see Garrison!** We will get her CD and get it signed and say Hey to her if she will let us. (Here was where I was going to give you her CD, but it was nowhere to be found.)
After we leave, you will get even more instructions! (But we have done so much already!)
*See the 30 things post about what Carrie dislikes in terms of food.**Seriously, we forget how much we love Garrison until we see her perform. The pure acoustic is always better - just her and the guitar. There was a decent crowd there. Plus, when we went and spoke with her afterwards, I name-dropped Chip for the third time in a row meeting her.
Envelope 5:
Wow, it has been a busy day. You look like you need to relax. Luckily, you have a 3:30 appointment at the Relax Station for a “Royal Treatment” massage!! Let’s get over there!*
(Unless, we have like an hour to kill. Then we can do something else first. I just didn’t know how long Garrison would take.)**
After your massage, you will receive some more instructions!!
*Carrie enjoyed her massage and it was the big surprise of the day. Yay me!**We totally had an hour to kill, so we went home real fast.
Envelope 6:
Now that you are relaxed, let’s go grab some coffee.* After that, we are headed out to the Wine Barrel to pick up your birthday presents!**
*It was too soon for coffee, so we got it after we picked up the wines.**This place is in Livonia, so it is a bit of a jaunt. But we got the 1978 Cos d'Estournel, which is from St. Estephe, which we have never had, and the 1978 Lynch Bages, which is a Pauillac, which we love.
Envelope 7:
Now, let’s go back to A2 and rent a movie at Hollywood Video. It’s free you know.*
*We got coffee first, but we picked up Spiderman 3.Envelope 8:
Let’s go home. You have a bottle of White Star in the fridge. Pour yourself a bottle and go read the Millfill blog.*
So, overall the day was a success and we had a fun time. Since that took about a month to plan, I will have to start planning her 31st sometime in March.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
30 Fun Facts about Carrie
1. Carrie turns 30 today. We have been dating since she was 21. That is a full 30% of her life. Scary.
2. Carrie's favorite birthday with me was when she turned 25 in 2003. I set up a tent in the living room of our apartment, we drank an awesome bottle of Brunello that she will say is maybe her favorite wine ever, I made lamb that was the best lamb I have ever made, and when we sat outside that night, it was 32 degrees, which was crazy since it was the summer solstice.
3. Carrie is completely unable to fold a pizza box.
4. She usually gets the lyrics wrong to every song she tries to sing. Sometimes the lyrics are the song's title and she messes up.
5. Sometimes when a song is on, Carrie will listen and not sing, but then randomly start singing midway through the song. Without fail, the first words she tries to sing on the song are wrong.
6. Sometimes, on special holidays, Carrie will not buy me a card but instead will make me one. I keep them all and they mean much more than Hallmark cards to me, even if she is ridiculously goofy when making them.
7. Carrie is better at being a teacher than I will ever be at anything I do.
8. Sometimes, either when she is really thirsty or really hungover, Carrie just wants a Coca Cola Classic. None of this Coke Zero crap.
9. I have received some awesome gifts from this girl in my lifetime, including a telescope and a bottle of 1976 Chateau d'Yquem, but I will always think that the best gift was the DVD of Run Lola Run she got me. We hadn't even been dating a week, and I couldn't find it anywhere, but already in less than a week she found it and bought it for me for Christmas. It was awesome - I still watch it.
10. Carrie and I both hate olives more than any other food. Carrie also hates salmon and other fishy fish, and celery.
11. Carrie is one of those people who would prefer her desserts to have some sort of fruit in them, as opposed to me who just wants some combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and oreos.
12. Carrie loves wine, in case you didn't know. I am studying a lot about wines, but she always seems to know even the most obscure things that I found out and try to share with her.
13. Normally, everyone loves Carrie. This is good, because I tend to be an ass if I can, but I have still yet to find out that someone from the group of people we hung out with hates Carrie or even remotely dislikes her or anything.
14. Has a surprising knowledge of art and art history. I am amazed when we go to museums and she just says some thing about the paintings that I had no idea.
15. She has 2 different laughs. One is when something is genuinely amusing, which is what I always get for my jokes, and the other which is this cackle thing she gets when something is the funniest thing she will hear in weeks. I know I have really said something funny when I get the second laugh.
16. Carrie has never had a pair of sunglasses that have lasted for more than 6 months. They either break or get lost. It is uncanny.
17. Carrie was a smoker when we first started dating, but now the prospects of smoking make her physically ill. I am happy for this change - I want her to live a long life.
18. She can clean the entire apartment in less than 2 hours, no matter how dirty. It amazes me.
19. She actually drives faster than I do, because I am old.
20. Gets more traffic tickets than I do.
21. Only has two types of clothes - nice outfits and then stuff for lounging around the house. Most of the lounging clothes belonged to me at one point.
22. In many ways, Carrie and my mom are alike.
23. She still hasn't finished Harry Potter 7.
24. Has never watched the Star Wars movies from start to finish either.
25. Likes Steely Dan. This actually causes more fights than anything else.
26. Still occasionally places The Cosby Show and Roseanne on the TiVo list.
27. Enjoys watching sports in person more than on TV.
28. Shares many of the same flaws as I do, which is cute and annoying at the same time.
29. Carrie is my rock - she remembers the things I forget, keeps me in check, inspires me, loves me, and is my other half. I am incomplete without her.
30. Carrie probably has figured it out, but she is eating dinner at the Earle Uptown tonight. 8:00!
2. Carrie's favorite birthday with me was when she turned 25 in 2003. I set up a tent in the living room of our apartment, we drank an awesome bottle of Brunello that she will say is maybe her favorite wine ever, I made lamb that was the best lamb I have ever made, and when we sat outside that night, it was 32 degrees, which was crazy since it was the summer solstice.
3. Carrie is completely unable to fold a pizza box.
4. She usually gets the lyrics wrong to every song she tries to sing. Sometimes the lyrics are the song's title and she messes up.
5. Sometimes when a song is on, Carrie will listen and not sing, but then randomly start singing midway through the song. Without fail, the first words she tries to sing on the song are wrong.
6. Sometimes, on special holidays, Carrie will not buy me a card but instead will make me one. I keep them all and they mean much more than Hallmark cards to me, even if she is ridiculously goofy when making them.
7. Carrie is better at being a teacher than I will ever be at anything I do.
8. Sometimes, either when she is really thirsty or really hungover, Carrie just wants a Coca Cola Classic. None of this Coke Zero crap.
9. I have received some awesome gifts from this girl in my lifetime, including a telescope and a bottle of 1976 Chateau d'Yquem, but I will always think that the best gift was the DVD of Run Lola Run she got me. We hadn't even been dating a week, and I couldn't find it anywhere, but already in less than a week she found it and bought it for me for Christmas. It was awesome - I still watch it.
10. Carrie and I both hate olives more than any other food. Carrie also hates salmon and other fishy fish, and celery.
11. Carrie is one of those people who would prefer her desserts to have some sort of fruit in them, as opposed to me who just wants some combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and oreos.
12. Carrie loves wine, in case you didn't know. I am studying a lot about wines, but she always seems to know even the most obscure things that I found out and try to share with her.
13. Normally, everyone loves Carrie. This is good, because I tend to be an ass if I can, but I have still yet to find out that someone from the group of people we hung out with hates Carrie or even remotely dislikes her or anything.
14. Has a surprising knowledge of art and art history. I am amazed when we go to museums and she just says some thing about the paintings that I had no idea.
15. She has 2 different laughs. One is when something is genuinely amusing, which is what I always get for my jokes, and the other which is this cackle thing she gets when something is the funniest thing she will hear in weeks. I know I have really said something funny when I get the second laugh.
16. Carrie has never had a pair of sunglasses that have lasted for more than 6 months. They either break or get lost. It is uncanny.
17. Carrie was a smoker when we first started dating, but now the prospects of smoking make her physically ill. I am happy for this change - I want her to live a long life.
18. She can clean the entire apartment in less than 2 hours, no matter how dirty. It amazes me.
19. She actually drives faster than I do, because I am old.
20. Gets more traffic tickets than I do.
21. Only has two types of clothes - nice outfits and then stuff for lounging around the house. Most of the lounging clothes belonged to me at one point.
22. In many ways, Carrie and my mom are alike.
23. She still hasn't finished Harry Potter 7.
24. Has never watched the Star Wars movies from start to finish either.
25. Likes Steely Dan. This actually causes more fights than anything else.
26. Still occasionally places The Cosby Show and Roseanne on the TiVo list.
27. Enjoys watching sports in person more than on TV.
28. Shares many of the same flaws as I do, which is cute and annoying at the same time.
29. Carrie is my rock - she remembers the things I forget, keeps me in check, inspires me, loves me, and is my other half. I am incomplete without her.
30. Carrie probably has figured it out, but she is eating dinner at the Earle Uptown tonight. 8:00!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Game 7
So, Monday morning I get an email at work from Cullen saying that he has asked his "guy" if he can get me 2 tickets for game 5 at the Joe between the Wings and the Pens, where the Wings had a chance to skate the Stanley Cup. I didn't actually ever really think it was going to happen, and by afternoon we hadn't heard back, so whatever. That night, I was on the phone calling and texting almost everyone I knew. The Wings came back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the 3rd period. They absolutely dominated. It was some of the most incredible play I have ever seen from a team in any sport. Steph called to ask how the Penguins were able to score 2 goals! I said, "Ozzie", because it is always easier to blame the goalie than to actually pinpoint the exact reasons (Lilja and Stuart).
Late in the 3rd period, everyone was on their feet - this was the Wings' coronation, their 4th cup in 11 seasons, the second since I have lived here. I remember the Wings' Cup win in 2002 - I watched several of the games after work at a local bar called "The Arena", which is now best known as the final resting place of Cullen's wedding ring. However, when the Wings skated the Cup that year, I was at my apartment watching with Carrie, who was mostly asleep on the couch, despite my overzealous exclamations: "look how they all shake hands - all sports should have to do that"; "Boo Gary Bettman - if I had that level of job performance, they would have fired me by now"; "I wonder who will win the Conn Smythe - probably Lidstrom"; "There's the cup! This is so awesome!!"
Back to Monday night - under a minute left in the game, and everyone is going crazy in anticipation of the Cup. I am quite literally on the edge of my seat. Steph lets me know later that I should remind her of the last minute of this game so that she will watch more hockey (the best sport in HD, fwiw). Then it happened. 34 seconds left, and the Pens score. The wind is knocked out of me - I try to find a plate glass window to put my head through. Game tied, 3-3. Devastating.
Despite a flurry of activity at the end of regulation, the game goes to OT. Speaking of a "Fleury" of activity, 3 OT periods later behind the best goaltending ever, the Pens score to win after a Jiri Hudler penalty, and I am tired. I text my buddy Mike Ferguson, who is a big hockey fan, and basically threaten Chris Osgood's life and call for the Wings to call up Jimmy Howard to start game 6. Mike points out again that it really wasn't Ozzie's fault, and he is right. But still. Ugh.
Work on Tuesday sucks - I am exhausted, everyone is pissy and really just wants it all to be over. Because it should have been. Most of us had just assumed that it was over, and game 6 really feels like it should never have had to take place. We feel cheated out of the feeling that we all had up until 34 seconds remained. I can't believe we have to go to game 6 in Pittsburgh. I am thinking, I don't care if I get tickets to game 7 back in Detroit, I just want the Cup!
Then, so help me God, I get an email from Cullen saying that we have tickets to game 7 back in Detroit.
Let me put this in perspective - there are only 2 other situations that a sporting event would be as big as a home game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals for the Red Wings. They are just my team! The others would be: the Titans in the Super Bowl, and Michigan in the BCS championship game. (Actually, if Marshall somehow made the BCS title game, I would sell a kidney for tickets. Then I would let Mom go. Then I would sell my other kidney for 2 tickets - one for me, and one for the dialysis machine.) The only way that I could handle a game 7 for the Wings is if we had forced it by winning game 6, coming back from some sort of deficit.
Immediately I am torn, despite what I had just said about not wanting a game 7 - did I actually want there to be a game 7? The opportunity for the defining sporting moment of my lifetime? Or do I want my team to win and get it over with? I mean, the momentum would fully be on the side of Pittsburgh and Sydney the Kidney. (2 kidney references! I should call this my nephro-post.) The crowd would be more nervous than excited, and an early Penguins goal would have destroyed us. Monday night during overtime, I actually had to put the garbage can in front of me because I thought I was going to puke - no hyperbole, it is just when your heart rate is that elevated for that long, these things can happen. So, I didn't want to puke on anyone at the stadium if we ended up going on Saturday.
Opinions varied - Carrie thinks that having Cullen come up so we could go to it would be so awesome that she doesn't understand why I wouldn't root for it to happen. Mike said that he didn't care if he had seats on the bench for game 7, he would just want it to be over in Pittsburgh. Seriously though - Monday night, my heart rate was roughly 150 for 4 straight hours at least - I don't know if my body could take it again, especially in person.
Ultimately, I decided to root for my team to win and root against a game 7, and just keep the knowledge that even if worse came to worse, it would still be awesome. And with a 3-1 lead late in the game, it looked like the whole thing was a non-issue. Until Jiri Hudler again took a late penalty, and the Pens score with a minute and a half left to cut it to 3-2. Then so help me God, as time expired and the game and the hockey season ended, the puck was actually loose in the crease! It took a minute for me to process what had just happened and that the game was really over, and we had won! My heart rate went down from 230 to a more manageable 120 I think.
So the Red Wings won their 11th Stanley Cup in team history on Wednesday. I didn't get to see the Cup in person, and I didn't get to have the defining sporting moment in my life. But I don't care. I am so happy that we won and I am so happy that it is over. The texts were flying that night - me texting Mike about how awesome Ozzie was, then hearing from Steph about how she made Chip watch it all because it was all so fun, hearing from Cullen about how happy he was that he didn't have to come up this weekend. I even talked to Bill Bernard, the man who made me a Wings fan so many years ago. I think this may have been the first time I saw the championship team in a sport in person the year they won the title (thanks again to Cullen's ticket-getting abilities we were able to go as part of my bachelor party weekend, which still remains the best experience I have ever had in sports).
So I didn't get to see it all in person - I did get to watch it at my apartment with Carrie, who was mostly asleep on the couch, despite my overzealous exclamations: "look how they all shake hands - all sports should have to do that"; "Boo Gary Bettman - if I had that level of job performance, they would have fired me by now"; "I wonder who will win the Conn Smythe - probably Zetterberg"; "There's the cup! This is so awesome!!"
Late in the 3rd period, everyone was on their feet - this was the Wings' coronation, their 4th cup in 11 seasons, the second since I have lived here. I remember the Wings' Cup win in 2002 - I watched several of the games after work at a local bar called "The Arena", which is now best known as the final resting place of Cullen's wedding ring. However, when the Wings skated the Cup that year, I was at my apartment watching with Carrie, who was mostly asleep on the couch, despite my overzealous exclamations: "look how they all shake hands - all sports should have to do that"; "Boo Gary Bettman - if I had that level of job performance, they would have fired me by now"; "I wonder who will win the Conn Smythe - probably Lidstrom"; "There's the cup! This is so awesome!!"
Back to Monday night - under a minute left in the game, and everyone is going crazy in anticipation of the Cup. I am quite literally on the edge of my seat. Steph lets me know later that I should remind her of the last minute of this game so that she will watch more hockey (the best sport in HD, fwiw). Then it happened. 34 seconds left, and the Pens score. The wind is knocked out of me - I try to find a plate glass window to put my head through. Game tied, 3-3. Devastating.
Despite a flurry of activity at the end of regulation, the game goes to OT. Speaking of a "Fleury" of activity, 3 OT periods later behind the best goaltending ever, the Pens score to win after a Jiri Hudler penalty, and I am tired. I text my buddy Mike Ferguson, who is a big hockey fan, and basically threaten Chris Osgood's life and call for the Wings to call up Jimmy Howard to start game 6. Mike points out again that it really wasn't Ozzie's fault, and he is right. But still. Ugh.
Work on Tuesday sucks - I am exhausted, everyone is pissy and really just wants it all to be over. Because it should have been. Most of us had just assumed that it was over, and game 6 really feels like it should never have had to take place. We feel cheated out of the feeling that we all had up until 34 seconds remained. I can't believe we have to go to game 6 in Pittsburgh. I am thinking, I don't care if I get tickets to game 7 back in Detroit, I just want the Cup!
Then, so help me God, I get an email from Cullen saying that we have tickets to game 7 back in Detroit.
Let me put this in perspective - there are only 2 other situations that a sporting event would be as big as a home game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals for the Red Wings. They are just my team! The others would be: the Titans in the Super Bowl, and Michigan in the BCS championship game. (Actually, if Marshall somehow made the BCS title game, I would sell a kidney for tickets. Then I would let Mom go. Then I would sell my other kidney for 2 tickets - one for me, and one for the dialysis machine.) The only way that I could handle a game 7 for the Wings is if we had forced it by winning game 6, coming back from some sort of deficit.
Immediately I am torn, despite what I had just said about not wanting a game 7 - did I actually want there to be a game 7? The opportunity for the defining sporting moment of my lifetime? Or do I want my team to win and get it over with? I mean, the momentum would fully be on the side of Pittsburgh and Sydney the Kidney. (2 kidney references! I should call this my nephro-post.) The crowd would be more nervous than excited, and an early Penguins goal would have destroyed us. Monday night during overtime, I actually had to put the garbage can in front of me because I thought I was going to puke - no hyperbole, it is just when your heart rate is that elevated for that long, these things can happen. So, I didn't want to puke on anyone at the stadium if we ended up going on Saturday.
Opinions varied - Carrie thinks that having Cullen come up so we could go to it would be so awesome that she doesn't understand why I wouldn't root for it to happen. Mike said that he didn't care if he had seats on the bench for game 7, he would just want it to be over in Pittsburgh. Seriously though - Monday night, my heart rate was roughly 150 for 4 straight hours at least - I don't know if my body could take it again, especially in person.
Ultimately, I decided to root for my team to win and root against a game 7, and just keep the knowledge that even if worse came to worse, it would still be awesome. And with a 3-1 lead late in the game, it looked like the whole thing was a non-issue. Until Jiri Hudler again took a late penalty, and the Pens score with a minute and a half left to cut it to 3-2. Then so help me God, as time expired and the game and the hockey season ended, the puck was actually loose in the crease! It took a minute for me to process what had just happened and that the game was really over, and we had won! My heart rate went down from 230 to a more manageable 120 I think.
So the Red Wings won their 11th Stanley Cup in team history on Wednesday. I didn't get to see the Cup in person, and I didn't get to have the defining sporting moment in my life. But I don't care. I am so happy that we won and I am so happy that it is over. The texts were flying that night - me texting Mike about how awesome Ozzie was, then hearing from Steph about how she made Chip watch it all because it was all so fun, hearing from Cullen about how happy he was that he didn't have to come up this weekend. I even talked to Bill Bernard, the man who made me a Wings fan so many years ago. I think this may have been the first time I saw the championship team in a sport in person the year they won the title (thanks again to Cullen's ticket-getting abilities we were able to go as part of my bachelor party weekend, which still remains the best experience I have ever had in sports).
So I didn't get to see it all in person - I did get to watch it at my apartment with Carrie, who was mostly asleep on the couch, despite my overzealous exclamations: "look how they all shake hands - all sports should have to do that"; "Boo Gary Bettman - if I had that level of job performance, they would have fired me by now"; "I wonder who will win the Conn Smythe - probably Zetterberg"; "There's the cup! This is so awesome!!"
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Red Wings, Wedding Rings
So, finally back to the blog. It has been a hectic month to say the least. In my mind, I have written hundreds of blog posts recounting every minute of the whole week of the wedding, to the point that it almost seems unnecessary. Everyone was great, everything was great, it was just the best time ever. It was one of the 5 biggest days of my life, and I knew that going in, but it was also one of the 5 best days of my life, and that was up in the air going in.
Tara, who cuts my hair and was at the wedding, warned me of a "let down" period immediately following the wedding. Since you have spent the last however many months planning this thing every single night almost, you suddenly don't have anything to occupy your time afterwards. Well, I am here to let you know, we are not there yet. I went back to work in a mad rush to hit my May quota, because I hate my job. Carrie went back to only 3 or 4 weeks left in the school year to do a whole bunch of grading, and now she is a little under the weather. So (un)luckily, things have remained too hectic for us to realize that we aren't the centers of attention anymore!
We are also having fun using everything left over from the wedding - you know, the gifts! We get to use our wine glasses for their intended grapes, we brought our appetizers to a Memorial Day party in the new bowls and plates that we got, we towel off with our new towels, we cook with our new kitchen gadgets, etc.
In addition to our jobs and our extravagant "foodie" routines, let's not forget the Red Wings. All night long I have been excited because tomorrow I get to watch the Wings. The level of hockey they are playing right now is among the highest I have seen in my lifetime. I wait for each game with the anticipation I usually reserve for new episodes of Lost. Once the Stanley Cup playoffs are over, all I have are the Pistons losing either this round or the next, and then the Tigers are done and the Cubs will eventually blow it.
However, now I have to stop procrastinating on all the things that I was putting off until after the wedding. Such as:
- Losing weight/exercising. I know you are probably thinking, isn't that something you needed to do before the wedding? Well, yeah, but the last 2 weeks have seen me put on roughly 48 pounds. The hectic schedules and honeymooning and our love of food and wine have resulted in a month long period since I counted Weight Watchers points on any single day. It is difficult now that I have no end date for any specific weight loss. Plus, I can't get my ring off, because all the weight is going to my fingers. I am going to get a dunlap if I don't start jogging my ass around the block.
- Updating my resume. Yeah, I don't necessarily want to quit my job, but this isn't my dream job or anything. Why not see what else is out there for a guy with a graduate degree in the liberal arts and 5 years of inside sales experience?
- Cleaning the house. And by cleaning, I mean a spring clean type, large scale evacuation of clutter. Everything must go! Now that I have about 15 new towels, I can finally take the 1992 Summer Olympic towels to Goodwill. Plus, we need a place to put the China. Ugh.
- Finish paying off the debt from the wedding. And, well, the last 14 years of my adult life, including student loans. But whatever.
- Getting a down payment for a car. Then for another car. Then for a house.
- Convince at least one out of towner who came to the wedding that they need to move to Ann Arbor. Seriously - your town sucks, my town rules. Break your routines and come on down! Or, up. The winters aren't an excuse - would you rather have sub zero temps for 2 months, or 100 degree 100 percent humidity days for 2 months, peppered with the occasional tornado warning? You can go outside and play in a snowstorm, you can't play in hail and lightning.
- Finally, we are going to start hanging out with other people. Everyone who made the effort to come to the wedding is just a lifelong friend now, and we want to see you. If it weren't for everyone at the wedding just being awesome, the whole thing would not have gone as smoothly. We owe our biggest day as a couple to all of you, so from now on, expect to see a lot more of us!
As soon as we take care of all of that, we promise that we will start thinking about having kids.
Tara, who cuts my hair and was at the wedding, warned me of a "let down" period immediately following the wedding. Since you have spent the last however many months planning this thing every single night almost, you suddenly don't have anything to occupy your time afterwards. Well, I am here to let you know, we are not there yet. I went back to work in a mad rush to hit my May quota, because I hate my job. Carrie went back to only 3 or 4 weeks left in the school year to do a whole bunch of grading, and now she is a little under the weather. So (un)luckily, things have remained too hectic for us to realize that we aren't the centers of attention anymore!
We are also having fun using everything left over from the wedding - you know, the gifts! We get to use our wine glasses for their intended grapes, we brought our appetizers to a Memorial Day party in the new bowls and plates that we got, we towel off with our new towels, we cook with our new kitchen gadgets, etc.
In addition to our jobs and our extravagant "foodie" routines, let's not forget the Red Wings. All night long I have been excited because tomorrow I get to watch the Wings. The level of hockey they are playing right now is among the highest I have seen in my lifetime. I wait for each game with the anticipation I usually reserve for new episodes of Lost. Once the Stanley Cup playoffs are over, all I have are the Pistons losing either this round or the next, and then the Tigers are done and the Cubs will eventually blow it.
However, now I have to stop procrastinating on all the things that I was putting off until after the wedding. Such as:
- Losing weight/exercising. I know you are probably thinking, isn't that something you needed to do before the wedding? Well, yeah, but the last 2 weeks have seen me put on roughly 48 pounds. The hectic schedules and honeymooning and our love of food and wine have resulted in a month long period since I counted Weight Watchers points on any single day. It is difficult now that I have no end date for any specific weight loss. Plus, I can't get my ring off, because all the weight is going to my fingers. I am going to get a dunlap if I don't start jogging my ass around the block.
- Updating my resume. Yeah, I don't necessarily want to quit my job, but this isn't my dream job or anything. Why not see what else is out there for a guy with a graduate degree in the liberal arts and 5 years of inside sales experience?
- Cleaning the house. And by cleaning, I mean a spring clean type, large scale evacuation of clutter. Everything must go! Now that I have about 15 new towels, I can finally take the 1992 Summer Olympic towels to Goodwill. Plus, we need a place to put the China. Ugh.
- Finish paying off the debt from the wedding. And, well, the last 14 years of my adult life, including student loans. But whatever.
- Getting a down payment for a car. Then for another car. Then for a house.
- Convince at least one out of towner who came to the wedding that they need to move to Ann Arbor. Seriously - your town sucks, my town rules. Break your routines and come on down! Or, up. The winters aren't an excuse - would you rather have sub zero temps for 2 months, or 100 degree 100 percent humidity days for 2 months, peppered with the occasional tornado warning? You can go outside and play in a snowstorm, you can't play in hail and lightning.
- Finally, we are going to start hanging out with other people. Everyone who made the effort to come to the wedding is just a lifelong friend now, and we want to see you. If it weren't for everyone at the wedding just being awesome, the whole thing would not have gone as smoothly. We owe our biggest day as a couple to all of you, so from now on, expect to see a lot more of us!
As soon as we take care of all of that, we promise that we will start thinking about having kids.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Finally Four
Oh, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. I don't think anyone here will make it. Wait - Madonna made it in the Hall of Fame this year. You don't even have to play Rock and Roll anymore!
I didn't do the running commentary. I watched the first half with Connor, and it's hard to do that and type. He requires a lot of hands-on attention! We did all grouse during the intro about how Cleveland got the RnR Hall of Fame and not Memphis. We will never stop being bitter.
DC1 - Duran Duran? It's over. The competition is over. Give him the crown, winner of American Idol season whatever. Congrats - don't let Archuletta's dad kill you on the way out for winning over his son. Carrie thinks it was just okay. Randy agrees. Dude - Duran Duran! Immediately we are struck by how horrible the sound mix is. It's all voice and no music- what is the deal? That's so bush league, and not up to AI's usual standards. Weird. Fortunately he has a great voice, so it's not a huge distraction. He has only sung a song straight a couple of times- I'm not going to complain about it.
Syesha1 - I don't know this song. (Wait - this is the song that Lisa did during the Little Miss Springfield competition when she lost to Amber Dempsey. Homer sold his ticket for a ride on the Duff Blimp for that!) While Ryan is interviewing her, I start singing Proud Mary. Then guess what? So does Syesha! Chip is proud of me. She was great! I'm proud of how she has come on here at the end. Definitely top three. Hmmm...legs. I am a leg guy, and this might put her on my all time AI Top 5. (With McPhee, Scarnato, Kelly Clarkson, and Michael Johns.) Syesha - "I had fun." Simon - "Good. I didn't." Simowned.
Castro1 - He is doing a song by Bob Marley, because they both smoke pot! In case you didn't catch that. Also, it is my least favorite Bob Marley song. (I do love Marge's version of it on the Simpsons Spin-off Showcase. I would vote for Castro if he ended with, "so the next time you see the sheriff, SHOOT HIM!...a smile!!") Randy is right - that was brutal. Carrie - "I really liked that." How is she marrying me? Am I her type at all? Simon totally rips him. Castro- Summed up thusly- Simon: What were you thinking? Castro: Marley, man!
DA1 - Whatever he sings, I'll bet it's gonna be non-offensive. I want to pretend I am his dad here: "He'd better not fuck up this time or I am gonna beat him so hard with my belt. Beat him in a way that no one can see the bruises." Yeah, I want to save this kid like I want to save Katie Holmes. Wow - he threw in a reference to that POS song about the beautiful girls! Way to be relevant there big guy! Simon is STILL dogging Castro. I know I am overusing this phrase, but his arrangements are always just a touch Up With People-y. He is really a fantastic singer. I just don't enjoy hearing him sing. It's a paradox!
DC2 - Sings CSI:NY for his second song. Dedicates it to Castro. Because he is wasted - get it?! Awesome. I really love his mouth. The shape of his lips and his teeth are just really superior.
Syesha2 - Before she sings, Ryan shows off Rascal Flatts, a band or person that I only know of because of the Carrie Underwood season. And, oh wow. She's hot. I don't know about you, but my peenie just went "Huh"? I thought that was great, and I'm glad she showed that much emotion. And that she learned about being black!
Castro2 - Mr. Tambourine Man. This song means a lot to me, and I think it's a perfect song for Jason, but he just didn't connect to it. And he forgot the words. Forgets the words - I think Connor knows the words to this song. I think it's safe to say that Connor's version blows this one out of the water. (Send me an email- I'll send you the video!) He sings it better than the first one, but he should still leave.
Archie2 - Singing Elvis? Trying to curry favor with me. It is like taking a song by the one guy in history I would love to hang out with the most, and having it sung by the guy who I want to hang out with the least. Crusher- OK, that was probably his best performance. Even though it's kind of a weird phrase, Randy was right that his voice caressed every word and he just really connected to the song. That's what Castro is always and forever missing. If he wins, he wins. I won't buy his album no matter where he finishes, so it's kind of a cow's opinion at this point.
Overall, Cook, Archie, Syesha, Castro.
I didn't do the running commentary. I watched the first half with Connor, and it's hard to do that and type. He requires a lot of hands-on attention! We did all grouse during the intro about how Cleveland got the RnR Hall of Fame and not Memphis. We will never stop being bitter.
DC1 - Duran Duran? It's over. The competition is over. Give him the crown, winner of American Idol season whatever. Congrats - don't let Archuletta's dad kill you on the way out for winning over his son. Carrie thinks it was just okay. Randy agrees. Dude - Duran Duran! Immediately we are struck by how horrible the sound mix is. It's all voice and no music- what is the deal? That's so bush league, and not up to AI's usual standards. Weird. Fortunately he has a great voice, so it's not a huge distraction. He has only sung a song straight a couple of times- I'm not going to complain about it.
Syesha1 - I don't know this song. (Wait - this is the song that Lisa did during the Little Miss Springfield competition when she lost to Amber Dempsey. Homer sold his ticket for a ride on the Duff Blimp for that!) While Ryan is interviewing her, I start singing Proud Mary. Then guess what? So does Syesha! Chip is proud of me. She was great! I'm proud of how she has come on here at the end. Definitely top three. Hmmm...legs. I am a leg guy, and this might put her on my all time AI Top 5. (With McPhee, Scarnato, Kelly Clarkson, and Michael Johns.) Syesha - "I had fun." Simon - "Good. I didn't." Simowned.
Castro1 - He is doing a song by Bob Marley, because they both smoke pot! In case you didn't catch that. Also, it is my least favorite Bob Marley song. (I do love Marge's version of it on the Simpsons Spin-off Showcase. I would vote for Castro if he ended with, "so the next time you see the sheriff, SHOOT HIM!...a smile!!") Randy is right - that was brutal. Carrie - "I really liked that." How is she marrying me? Am I her type at all? Simon totally rips him. Castro- Summed up thusly- Simon: What were you thinking? Castro: Marley, man!
DA1 - Whatever he sings, I'll bet it's gonna be non-offensive. I want to pretend I am his dad here: "He'd better not fuck up this time or I am gonna beat him so hard with my belt. Beat him in a way that no one can see the bruises." Yeah, I want to save this kid like I want to save Katie Holmes. Wow - he threw in a reference to that POS song about the beautiful girls! Way to be relevant there big guy! Simon is STILL dogging Castro. I know I am overusing this phrase, but his arrangements are always just a touch Up With People-y. He is really a fantastic singer. I just don't enjoy hearing him sing. It's a paradox!
DC2 - Sings CSI:NY for his second song. Dedicates it to Castro. Because he is wasted - get it?! Awesome. I really love his mouth. The shape of his lips and his teeth are just really superior.
Syesha2 - Before she sings, Ryan shows off Rascal Flatts, a band or person that I only know of because of the Carrie Underwood season. And, oh wow. She's hot. I don't know about you, but my peenie just went "Huh"? I thought that was great, and I'm glad she showed that much emotion. And that she learned about being black!
Castro2 - Mr. Tambourine Man. This song means a lot to me, and I think it's a perfect song for Jason, but he just didn't connect to it. And he forgot the words. Forgets the words - I think Connor knows the words to this song. I think it's safe to say that Connor's version blows this one out of the water. (Send me an email- I'll send you the video!) He sings it better than the first one, but he should still leave.
Archie2 - Singing Elvis? Trying to curry favor with me. It is like taking a song by the one guy in history I would love to hang out with the most, and having it sung by the guy who I want to hang out with the least. Crusher- OK, that was probably his best performance. Even though it's kind of a weird phrase, Randy was right that his voice caressed every word and he just really connected to the song. That's what Castro is always and forever missing. If he wins, he wins. I won't buy his album no matter where he finishes, so it's kind of a cow's opinion at this point.
Overall, Cook, Archie, Syesha, Castro.
OMG- Next week I'll be in A2 for the finale! I hope the bachelorette party is centered around watching it! I also hope Jason Castro is not involved in any way!
Chockley out!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Stuff white people like at the wedding
This weekend, Carrie and I came to the realization that we are going to have a lot of things from this blog at the wedding, to the point where it is disconcerting. Here is a rundown.
1. Coffee - end of the wedding, we made sure that there would be coffee for people.
2. Religions that their parents don't belong to - well, the wedding won't really be the same denomination as our parents, per se...
5. Farmers Markets - literally, the Farmers Market will be the day of the wedding at the site of the wedding, but will be over by the time we get started
6. Organic Food - I am pretty sure that most of the ingredients of your food will be organic.
7. Diversity - this means in terms of food. We have a very varied menu.
8. Barack Obama - I will throw out that 80% of guests will be supporters.
11. Asian girls - but sadly, not the Asian guy that I really want to be there.
14. Having Black Friends - You will love Renae and Jason.
16. "Gifted" children - 100% of the kids who will be there are gifted!
20. Being an expert on YOUR culture - just read the post, and watch out for it when it happens.
24. Wine
25. David Sedaris - OK, he won't be at the wedding, but he will be at Borders downtown in June. Chuck Palahniuk will be there on the 20th, and we are going. This one didn't really count, I am just bragging.
32. Vegan/Vegetarianism - we will have several vegan/vegetarian friends at the wedding, but have no fear, there will be several vegetarian dishes. Plus, the rice pilaf stuffed tomatoes will have no chicken broth used, we checked. :)
33. Marijuana - Um, hi Mom - one of the guys at the wedding sells pot. See if you can guess which one! It's not me, btw.
34. Architecture - The buildings in Kerrytown really are awesome, especially the one where the reception is!
36. Breakfast places - On Sunday, we are trying to arrange a place to have a brunch/breakfast, but we haven't decided yet. We will let you all know beforehand.
40. Apple products - an iPod will be used for the music.
41. Indie Music - will be coming out of said iPod.
42. Sushi - one of the guys at the wedding sells sushi for a living. See if you can guess which one!
45. Asian Fusion Food - kinda the same as #7
48. Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops - there is a good chance that some of the food will be from either Whole Foods or the Co-op in Kerrytown.
49. Vintage - We are guessing that one couple specifically will come wearing something vintage.
54. Kitchen Gadgets - the reception is literally in a kitchen gadget store.
56. Lawyers - one might even usher you to your seat at the ceremony.
60. Toyota Prius - some of our guests will be driving their Prius to the wedding. Plus, it is Ann Arbor - there is a strong possibility that you will park next to one.
63. Expensive sandwiches - Less than a block away from the reception.
76. Bottles of water
78. Multilingual Children
81. Graduate School - Basically the reason everyone is coming to Ann Arbor for the wedding is because of graduate school.
88. Having Gay Friends
93. Music Piracy - basically most the indie music you will hear on the iPod.
There are several maybes, like scarves and bad memories of high school, but I can't make promises that I won't be able to deliver.
1. Coffee - end of the wedding, we made sure that there would be coffee for people.
2. Religions that their parents don't belong to - well, the wedding won't really be the same denomination as our parents, per se...
5. Farmers Markets - literally, the Farmers Market will be the day of the wedding at the site of the wedding, but will be over by the time we get started
6. Organic Food - I am pretty sure that most of the ingredients of your food will be organic.
7. Diversity - this means in terms of food. We have a very varied menu.
8. Barack Obama - I will throw out that 80% of guests will be supporters.
11. Asian girls - but sadly, not the Asian guy that I really want to be there.
14. Having Black Friends - You will love Renae and Jason.
16. "Gifted" children - 100% of the kids who will be there are gifted!
20. Being an expert on YOUR culture - just read the post, and watch out for it when it happens.
24. Wine
25. David Sedaris - OK, he won't be at the wedding, but he will be at Borders downtown in June. Chuck Palahniuk will be there on the 20th, and we are going. This one didn't really count, I am just bragging.
32. Vegan/Vegetarianism - we will have several vegan/vegetarian friends at the wedding, but have no fear, there will be several vegetarian dishes. Plus, the rice pilaf stuffed tomatoes will have no chicken broth used, we checked. :)
33. Marijuana - Um, hi Mom - one of the guys at the wedding sells pot. See if you can guess which one! It's not me, btw.
34. Architecture - The buildings in Kerrytown really are awesome, especially the one where the reception is!
36. Breakfast places - On Sunday, we are trying to arrange a place to have a brunch/breakfast, but we haven't decided yet. We will let you all know beforehand.
40. Apple products - an iPod will be used for the music.
41. Indie Music - will be coming out of said iPod.
42. Sushi - one of the guys at the wedding sells sushi for a living. See if you can guess which one!
45. Asian Fusion Food - kinda the same as #7
48. Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops - there is a good chance that some of the food will be from either Whole Foods or the Co-op in Kerrytown.
49. Vintage - We are guessing that one couple specifically will come wearing something vintage.
54. Kitchen Gadgets - the reception is literally in a kitchen gadget store.
56. Lawyers - one might even usher you to your seat at the ceremony.
60. Toyota Prius - some of our guests will be driving their Prius to the wedding. Plus, it is Ann Arbor - there is a strong possibility that you will park next to one.
63. Expensive sandwiches - Less than a block away from the reception.
76. Bottles of water
78. Multilingual Children
81. Graduate School - Basically the reason everyone is coming to Ann Arbor for the wedding is because of graduate school.
88. Having Gay Friends
93. Music Piracy - basically most the indie music you will hear on the iPod.
There are several maybes, like scarves and bad memories of high school, but I can't make promises that I won't be able to deliver.
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