I'm sitting here on the couch in the living room watching Rocky III while the boys are in bed and Amy's at work. It's Wednesday, and that means it's wing Wednesday after work for my wife. She'll go to the bar, eat hot wings, have a couple pops, and climb into bed rubbing her cold butt on me some time after midnight.
I figured it would be a good night to update on recent goings on around here.
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Oktoberfest was last weekend, and every year since the first year I went with my wife has been better than that one. I promised to pace myself this year and mostly managed to do that. I only fell down once, at the end of the night, when one of my more influential friends, already under the aegis of a good helping of barley sandwiches, stood up, grinned blankly, and uttered three of the most catastrophic words any drunk man can fall victim to: "Let's get shots!"
I don't know whose idea it was, but it was tequila shots.
It was mostly a good night.
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We booked a trip to Mexico in February. Ever since our Cuba vacation last year, Amy and I have developed a hankering for beach resorts and child abandonment. When one's kids are two and four, those things go great together. I can't wait.
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Amy's going to Vegas this weekend. The last woman in our group of "Superfriends" is getting married, and the stagette is going to be epic. Apparently. They have tickets to see Madonna in concert, and I've heard rumours that there will be an entire day spent at the Victoria's Secret outlet.
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(It's round three of the second fight now -- the one where Rocky comes back and kicks Mr. T's ass. I can't believe how bad this is.)
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I donated plasma today, as I try to do on a weekly basis. (With fair to middlin' success.) It was my 99th donation, so I'm kinda stoked to hit the magic 100 mark next week. There was a local guy who got on the news a couple months back for having made his 800th donation. I figure if I can average 40 donations a year, I can hit that in 18 more years. Then I can hit 1,000 before I turn 57. It's good to have goals.
The only downside to our impending trip to Mexico - where our resort is located on the Mayan Riviera - is that the locale is cited as a risk zone for malaria. That means I have to take a six month hiatus from donating after we get back. I figure that my (and, more importantly, my wife's) relative happiness trumps my sense of altruistic obligation.
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I am pleased that Obama won the election, largely because I don't have to be exposed any longer to the national embarrassment that is Sarah Palin. If McCain had spoken as sincerely and eloquently during his campaign as he did during his concession speech, things may have gone differently. Unlike in Top Gun, this time around, the Ice Man did better than the Maverick.
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Mythbusters is on now. So I should go.
"Mythbusters" definitely deserves more attention than Rocky III. Bravo there.
Nice summary of the Fraser life.
As far as Palin goes? That is part of what I was talking about when I said I wish McCain had kept his spine. Then at least his campaign would have been (more) honest, and he never would have let them saddle him with Palin. Not saying I was pulling for his ticket. Just that it was too bad to see yet another politician change to try to get elected.
As for Clubber Lang's fall to Rocky? I remember emerging from the movie theater with the eye of the tiger, the thrill of the fight. I was ready to... box? It was silly, but I was fired up. Movies to funny things to young minds (and old, depending on subject matter).
Now, I'm much more mature. I get inspired like that only by such fare as Iron Man.
Posted by: Mark | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 11:59 PM
Vegas and Madonna and outlets does seem like the ultimate bachelorette party. So long as the bride-to-be doesn't end up eloping with another guy, they should have much fun and memories.
I've been admiring the awesome commercials the Mexico Tourism board has been running lately. They're going all out, of course, but if your trip is anything like that, oy caramba!
Your blood donor exploits are very inspiring. Congrats and good luck!
Posted by: Émilie B | Thursday, 06 November 2008 at 09:15 AM
Mark,
I understand about the spine comment. McCain lost a lot of respect (and voters), from my perspective, because of his lack of consistency throughout the campaign. I'm still glad he lost, but I wish he could have lost with more aplomb.
Those sorts of movies don't age really well, do they? Well, aside from the Star Wars saga. But that's another story.
Émy,
The bride should still be a pretty safe bet for her husband-to-be. It should be a wicked stagette for those involved. Just as long as my wife comes back in mostly one piece. After that, we're both looking forward to the trip to Mexico!
Posted by: Simon | Thursday, 06 November 2008 at 02:32 PM
All through the Palin thing I kept thinking that she made Bush look good in the same way that Bush made Nixon look good.
Posted by: marian | Friday, 07 November 2008 at 04:47 AM
Hey, I watched Rocky III as well. Shoulda called...we could have groaned in stereo at the dated montages.
And yes, the saddest part of this whole election is the respect I lost for McCain. I never would have voted for him, but prior to this I would have been proud to call him my president. Alas, politics is an ugly beast.
Posted by: Moksha Gren | Friday, 07 November 2008 at 12:45 PM
Simon,
I've been to Riviera Maya and LOVED it!!! The snorkeling there is outstanding, and the water is gorgeous.
Mexico is one of my favorite places to go... but don't forget, I love good Tequila too! *S*
Where exactly are you going?
Posted by: Dave | Friday, 14 November 2008 at 05:03 AM
Dave,
We're staying at a resort called the "Grand Coco Bay", and it's on the coast right across from the island of Cozumel. I'm very much looking forward to the trip. But I'll probably focus more on the rum than the tequila. That's just how I roll.
Posted by: Simon | Friday, 14 November 2008 at 08:23 AM
Ah, you're staying in Playa del Carmen! It's a VERY beautiful area!
Either way, I hope you have a great vacation Simon!
Posted by: Dave | Monday, 17 November 2008 at 04:53 AM