Barely Legal

Okay, it really seems like someone's gonna get killed playing with this thing. But seriously though, I can't believe it only costs twenty bucks. Maybe I'll be the guy that gets killed.

Tough guy manifesto

Sometimes I think some people get a little pantywaisted about America and our Rights. I think this is particularly true about Amendments 1 and 2. Regardless of why it was brought up for discussion, I think I agree with this "tough guy" interpretation:

Actually, one could view the Bill of Rights as our own "Tough Guy Manifesto", thus:

1) You can't tell me what to believe, or make me go home and shut up.

2) I'll go armed and defend myself, thank you.

3) You can't make me let someone else live in my house.

4) This is MY house; if you can't demonstrate a compelling need to snoop, stay the fuck out.

5) This is MY shit; keep your greedy hands off it. And don't go accusing me of Evil without evidence.

6) If you've got evidence, lay it on the table. And no fair getting a confession by pitchforking me in the ass.

7) I ain't guilty just on YOUR say-so.

8) You can't keep me in jail just because you want to.

9) As to the rest of my life, you can't tell me what to do or not do.

10) And neither can your big fat uncle in Washington.

Yeah, the Founding Fathers framed it in far more polite language, but the intent is the same. They understood standing up for yourself and not letting the gov't push you around -- your own or anyone else's. That was, after all, what the War for Independence was all about.

post more pictures?!

that's a nice picture of central park you posted there, gabe. here's a little picture addition -- the thanksgiving turkey that we had at my aunt's house last thursday (which i am probably still digesting, along with the mashed potatoes, gravy, spinach casserole, salad, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, assortment of breads, apple pie, fruit, and pecan pie):

I think we should post more pictures

Whee!

I got a Wii! It's actually more fun than I thought it'd be, but has crappier graphics than I thought it'd have.

After a night of heavy drinking, I somehow woke up at 9a to get to Best Buy at 10a to try to get another Wii controller (as a Best Buy employee said they'd have some). When I arrived, the line was ridiculous again, but I eventually got in only to learn that they never got any to begin with!

Those bastards!

Mmmm...turkey

So, I figured I could at least add my two cents about Thanksgiving. In fact the first Thanksgiving I've not gone home for mom's cooking. And while mom's cooking was still missed, I must thank HP for softening the blow considerably. For those of you that missed out, and missed out is accurate, even with a grand total of 14 people crammed into her oh-so-roomy abode, there were still leftovers. But not for lack of effort or lack of quality cooking. The food was excellent. I believe the only item not left over was the wine. And, let me say, that was a feat. I suppose that's what happens when you have 13 other people over and tell them to bring wine/beer. I personally took two bottles of wine, plus a bottle of scotch and left empty handed. Yet somehow no one was really drunk that I could tell. Highlights:

- An interesting discussion of loyalty. If numerous friends ask you to stop what's in general a futile effort, and you refuse, what does that say about you? Maybe my view of loyalty to friends is completely off from other people's. I know I'd quit.

- Mashed potatoes. I love mashed potatoes. I never think of this until events like turkey day, because I almost never eat them. What a great food.

- I took a shot of liquid turkey fat for $5. And yes, it was mildly disgusting. But well worth $5. Apparently no one else thought as I did. But, seriously, it's no different from what everyone was eating on their turkey and potatoes, they just added some extra ingredients and called it gravy. I think people seriously undervalue $5. Just think what Sally Struthers could do with that $5. Or, in reality, I could give that $5 to Julie at Horton's Kids and I'm sure they could find some use for it. And all I had to do was swallow an ounce and a half of turkey fat. I know back when I was working for minimum wage (when I was 15 that wage was $5.15 - and I walked uphill to school both ways...blah blah blah) I would have gladly taken eight shots of that crap and called it a day. Anyway, that's neither here nor there....

Hope all had a happy holiday. I enjoyed it. Now I'm back in my torture cell (though unlike Paul mine has only three sterile walls plus one large, drafty window - woohoo!). Same time, same place tomorrow? You bet...

A gas pump....

So... Someone at work drives a Ferrari?

Who the hell is this asshole and how can I get him to be my new best friend?

My Grandmother's Recipe for Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

Parts of a chicken - back, neck, wings, breast (heart and stomach if you like these pieces). After cleaning chicken pieces rinse chicken in salt water. Put these pieces of chicken into hot boiling water. When the chicken is half cooked put parsley and salt to taste. Cook until chicken is done. Meanwhile, get 1 pkg of cut spinach or 2 packages. Depending on how much soup you are making and cook into boiling water until it is soft and done. Drain the spinach. Take the cooked chicken from the pot and add the spinach into soup. When this is very hot, get 2 or 3 or 4 eggs and scramble them. Add italian cheese to eggs. When soup of very hot dribble the eggs stirring until you have all the egg mixture into the spinach soup. Taste it to see if you need more salt.

Hope you enjoy this and can understand my writing.

I forgot to tell you to take the cooked chicken from soup before putting spinach and egg into soup. Good luck with this recipe!

That's pretty much how she wrote it down. Here's the meatball part:

Meatballs

Ingredients 1 lb ground beef 92% lean beef. Bread crumbs (garlic salt, parsley, and salt to taste). 1 or 2 eggs. mix all together. if a little dry, get a couple slices of bread and soak in water, squeeze dry, and add to mixture. then throw them in the oven. freeze for later.

It's good stuff, once you get the hang of cooking like an Italian grandmother.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving's a couple days away. Mmmm, such good food. What an excuse to stuff yourself. Mashed potatos, lots of turkey and gravy. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream! Oh yeah. Stuffing. From in the turkey. Pies galore. Family. Friends. Good stuff. Then crazy shopping the day after.

I'll be heading back to Philly tomorrow night, taking the train to relax while too many others are out on the road. Meeting up with an old friend for dinner and some drinks. Thursday I'll help the mom cook a bit before heading over my aunt's for a good family gathering. Friday will be a day to get up early and shop a bit, then relax a lot. Maybe there'll be a Bond marathon on. Usually is. (Go see the new one, if you can. It's a lot like the older ones a la Sean Connery.) Maybe hit up the town Friday night. Then nothing much for Saturday. Heading back to DC for the night.

Once Thanksgiving is over you know what that means. More holiday stuff. Sunday is "couples Christmas tree shopping" day. Fun fun. Holiday parties and decorations and more food. What a great time of the year.

I can't wait til it starts to snow ...

peace

Body English was Totally Mediocre

So I went out to Body English, a club in Hard Rock, on Friday night. For as much trouble as it took to get in, I was surprised at how mediocre it was. The inside was nice, but nothing special. I think we could've danced anywhere and had just as much fun.

VEGAS BABY!!!

So we just got back from Las Vegas yesterday. Well, some of us yesterday, and some of us today. Was a great Wednesday-Sunday experience overall. A bit of gambling, a bit of ogling, a wee bit of sleep, and a good bit of food and walking. Oh, and much drinking as well. Good times had by all, I would say. Now back to reality, stuck between four sterile walls, too bright of a flourescent ceiling, and on top of a rug with pistachio shells strewn about. At least we were able to escape if only for a handful of hours.

What happened in Vegas, you may ask? Well, there's the whole "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" cliche. I don't think there was too much that went on that can't be talked about. Except maybe the huge incidence of crack at JET nightclub or the exhorbant amounts of distilled Russian moonshine at Red Square. But I suppose others can fill in what I left out.

Enough for me tonight. Let's add some stories, shall we? And pics from those that have them.

First Post

I am not one to blog much, but I figured that with the help of some friends, we could get a good thing going. So enjoy!