MAN-cation

Well, our annual "man-cation" was last weekend and here are some pictures of the debauchery. The group was less some important members of previous trips.....Mike and Jeff. Both with poor excuses.....come on Jeff? A little over the top planning to have a baby on the same weekend. That took a lot of foresight....something you neither know how to spell or know what it is. Damn you Allison! But really, congratulations....she is a cutie and I am glad mom and baby are doing well http://niermann5.blogspot.com/.


So the jist of the trip includes Friday on the Plaza with dinner at Capital Grill in the "Boardroom". This is where we like to pretend we are important and have money or something. It's a great time, and it might be the best place ever to have dinner with good friends. The evening continued on the Plaza and then on a spur of the moment cab to the brooksider. Dancing ensued, and Jim showed off his moves.
Saturday includes the real reason for the trip, KU basketball. They had an early game with Nebraska so we were up early at the Wheel, trying to re-live our college years. After fooling some kids that we used to live at the "Castle" and "shotgunning" beers, it was off to the game. However, our tickets were not available at will call because they were sent to Wally K. in Salina, who had so generously obtained 6 tickets(you are the best Wally). I couldn't get a hold of Wally to get a re-print, so we were out of luck. Oh well, at least WEST was still open! Thank goodness for giant schooners of beer to soak our disappointment and lift our spirits. The game was a blowout before we even sat down at the bar.

John's sister and cute friend that came to our rescue and drove us back to KC. We grilled some good steaks and somehow managed to go out again. We lost some soldiers along the way....as you can see, Stew had had enough fun being king. All in all, another great mancation.

Special thanks to Cassie who was Rowdy's caretaker for Friday night. He is still mad that I have taken over his blog. Sorry little man, maybe next year you can hang with the big boys. Next blog to be devoted to him.

Border War

Just a friendly reminder of where I will be this Saturday. Rock Chalk!!

ARC Holiday Party

This was meant to be in my last blog, but it happened more recently, so I decided to give it its own place. The ARC holiday party was last Saturday, previously postponed from ice (which was in a previous blog). Not too much to say but that a good time was had by all. Some of us had a little too much fun that turned into less fun later (you know who you are).

Simon and KCK throwing down

Tony AKA "Fred Astaire"

Tanya before it all went down

Look at me when I am talking Shannon!

WHOOMP!! There it is!!

Catch up

Time to play a little catch up on the blogging. It's not like I have been that busy either, just taking a break I guess. But, so many great things have happened since. Here is a brief rundown:

1. Jayhawks victorious in Orange Bowl - I was pretty pessimistic about the game until the first series then I knew we could play with them. Some great pics from Cassie and Moe paint a much better picture.

2. The KU basketball team remains unbeaten looking like the best team in the country at times. Make some F-ing freethrows is all I have to say. Big game at Mizzourah this weekend. I was just offered some tickets from a co-worker in StL which I don't think I can pass up. Just look at these morons. You can't help but hate these guys.

3. Green Bay won its NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle. Again the pessimist, I was fearing the worst after a quick 14-0 lead by the Seahawks. And just on cue, the snow came and Favre rallied the boys in one of the most fun games to watch. Just one more baby. Here are some pics of my only Green Bay trip with Jeff and Moe.

4. Rowdy wants me to stop talking about sports and more about his life (he says, "this is MY blog ya know"). We had an unseasonably warm weekend not too long ago, so it was time to take a trip to the dog park. I met co-workers Kim and Sarah, and Rowdy was introduced to Rocko, Rascal, and Delilah. They has a great time running around in what I would describe as a cess pool of mud, leftover snow, and feces. Rowdy looked more like a chocolate lab after the trip. He had a blast though just running around. Don't tell him, but I think he has a little ADD. While most dogs seem to follow each other around, Rowdy has is own agenda and only he knows what it is. It just seems like aimless wandering to me.....almost anti-social.

Lesson #84: Even though Rowdy has never been to this dog park, he has an uncanny ability of knowing where our destination is. Mostly he lets me know he is anticipating some fun by whining uncontrollably even with all the windows down.

Lesson #113: Rowdy tries to 'mark' everything. Initially, he peed like a girl until he was two or so. Now the guy wants to pee on everything. The best is that he is usually void of product after 2-3 lifts of the leg, but he procedes to neurotically try to spread his scent around.

First Annual New Year's Eve Tasting Contest

Poor Rowdy got left behind New Years Eve.....luckily my Dad was in town to keep him company. He and my sister had an early flight to Miami to watch the Hawks in the Orange Bowl. With it being 10 degrees here in KC, I am pretty jealous. Good friends Moe and Eric, Cassie and Chris are also attending. I am hoping Eric and Chris visit the beaches and take pictures of the scenery....wink, wink.

New Years Eve was at the Miller's house and it was a blast. Ryan organized a blind wine and beer tasting contest consisting of 6 wines and 12 beers all of different subsets. It was a good way to do a group activity and get pretty drunk at the same time. It more difficult than I would have expected, but my palate reigned supreme after a hard fought play-off with Emily Mitchell. We each successfully pegged 9 of the 18 drinks. However, I won the 3 beer sudden death. Shenanigans insued, including Wii bowling and golf, breakdancing, and shirtless fishbowl drinking (I know, we are getting old). Rowdy gave me an evil eye when I got home at 2 p.m. the next day. Good Times!

hot under the collar

the ever-important count

the winners

wow, that's the longest finger ever!

fishbowl shenanigans

Dance Machine!!

Christmas in S-town

Christmas was a little different than in other years past. For one, I am a single guy with a dog who has very little in the way of Christmas decorations. So, at my house, there was no tree, no lights, no holiday flair. I am not a scrooge by any means, but I just don't see the point. Also, I am used to TONS of Christmas music.....especially at work. It usually starts just after Thanksgiving and painstakingly jabs into my ears until I want to cut them off. Luckily with my new job, we only had a 1/2 day of it! Thanks Tanya, Kim, Sara, and Wendy!! So needless to say, Christmas kind of snuck up on me. Plus, with only 2 days to spend at home, it didn't seem like much of a holiday. But it was good to be home nonetheless. My niece Ada stole most of the attention (rightfully so.....what a cutie), and I think Rowdy was pretty jealous. he was so excited to meet Ada he jumped up to give her a kiss. Sorry buddy, but that will get you solitary confinement in the living room behind some gates.

Lesson #12: Rowdy has mild separation anxiety and he will whine for several hours if he is confined even if he can see you.

Family Pic

Christmas Ada

Learning to pull on goatees

Opening first Christmas present