No fat chicks, please.
Well with the start of a new year comes those all too famous resolutions that usually fizzle out soon after they are started. I hope to make this resolution (writing in this blog at least once a week) one of the rarest of the rare by actually keeping up with it. How will I measure my success against that? Eh, who knows as this is just for fun anyway. I am now carrying a small notebook and pen with me in order to capture any interesting events throughout the week so that way the up-coming posts will be a richer, fuller, smattering of our adventures through the week.
That being said, on with the madness!
Kathy had a relative (Giacamo) and his friend (Davide) come visit from the "olde country", aka Italy, this past week and what I had originally worried would become a forced/awkard event turned out to be one of the best times I've had during the holidays.
Things started out innocent enough as we went out for lunch at Misako for sushi buffet on one of the first days they were here, and we thought it would be a good idea to stop in for some beers at Gordon Biersch right after (around 3 in the afternoon). The poor chaps made the mistake of asking what I would be drinking (the strong but delicious winterbock mind you) and attempted to keep up as best they could. By the time we left everyone was more than a bit tipsy, and translations proceeded a bit slower as we confirmed (scientifically) that attempting a second language while drunk does indeed not make you more fluent. This was confirmed both directions as we tried our best to fire off half-assed Italian phrases we had picked up, while they attempted full conversations that combined in a slur of accents, misplaced, and unknown words. Sounds awful to an outsider I'm sure, but we were able to find common ground and had more than enough laughs to fill that half empty place.
Christmas Day came and went a little faster than I had expected, and was the usual afair of good food, presents, and great company with the wifes family. We'll be spending another Christmas with my side of the family in a week or so when my brother gets back from North Dakota, so maybe things will end up seeming a bit longer in the end? The Goddess received exactly what she had asked for with Epic Mickey, and I received some Cubs gear in the form of gloves and a lanyard which I'm sure I'll make great use of this coming year.
The main stage attraction, however, was the day after Christmas (affectionately known as Boxing Day I believe) in which all of south eastern Virginia awoke to find themselves lovingly blanketed by about a foot of snow from the previous night. This posed a bit of a problem as we were stuck in our apartment, while our Italian guests were 15 minutes away stuck at the 'rents and even though we had entertainment in the form of games and Netflix, Kathy soon found herself in the throws of being stir crazy within record time. This followed suit with questions about how I was able to "deal with it" whilst growing up in North Dakota to which I had a one word answer: booze.
Now this proved to be a folly on my part as Kathy's eyes lit up and she proceeded to convince me that we simply need some alcohol to help lubricate the clock a bit and get things to a more agreeable situation which would surely be presented the next day. My pride also started to bubble a bit and I pounded my chest at my uncanny ability to drive in the worst wintery conditions; a skill I obtained while living life in the frozen tundra of my childhood. Luck was against us though, in that we were unable to even get our cars out of their respective parking spots let alone down the street to 7-11 for the coveted Mad Dog. Thoughts of walking for our prize were just as quickly dashed away as obituary clippings outlining such a stupid endeavor flashed through my head. We would just have to wait...
The remaining time with our European friends found us trying to impress with "American" styles of food and entertainment. Due to my work schedule I found myself unable to partake in some of the activities, but all in all I believe they had a great time before heading out to enjoy New Years Eve in New York; something even we haven't done as Americans.
Truth be told, we are going to miss them as we had such great times with them that I could outline pages of this blog with inside jokes and inuendos we came up with together. Trip to Italy in our future?
Speaking of the future, it's now 2011 as the timestamp on this entry will likely show. Last night we were thankfully invited over to a friends cookout for the usual debauchery that takes place on the last night of the year. I was designated driver which is a post we are both going to take very seriously after a close call in which our car went off the road due to some ice. The Goddess is in bed now, nursing herself back into true form with some good ol' fashioned "sleepin' in" while I write today's entry. Happily I'll do my best to make sure she's taken care of today and the coming new year....
That being said, on with the madness!
Kathy had a relative (Giacamo) and his friend (Davide) come visit from the "olde country", aka Italy, this past week and what I had originally worried would become a forced/awkard event turned out to be one of the best times I've had during the holidays.
Things started out innocent enough as we went out for lunch at Misako for sushi buffet on one of the first days they were here, and we thought it would be a good idea to stop in for some beers at Gordon Biersch right after (around 3 in the afternoon). The poor chaps made the mistake of asking what I would be drinking (the strong but delicious winterbock mind you) and attempted to keep up as best they could. By the time we left everyone was more than a bit tipsy, and translations proceeded a bit slower as we confirmed (scientifically) that attempting a second language while drunk does indeed not make you more fluent. This was confirmed both directions as we tried our best to fire off half-assed Italian phrases we had picked up, while they attempted full conversations that combined in a slur of accents, misplaced, and unknown words. Sounds awful to an outsider I'm sure, but we were able to find common ground and had more than enough laughs to fill that half empty place.
Christmas Day came and went a little faster than I had expected, and was the usual afair of good food, presents, and great company with the wifes family. We'll be spending another Christmas with my side of the family in a week or so when my brother gets back from North Dakota, so maybe things will end up seeming a bit longer in the end? The Goddess received exactly what she had asked for with Epic Mickey, and I received some Cubs gear in the form of gloves and a lanyard which I'm sure I'll make great use of this coming year.
The main stage attraction, however, was the day after Christmas (affectionately known as Boxing Day I believe) in which all of south eastern Virginia awoke to find themselves lovingly blanketed by about a foot of snow from the previous night. This posed a bit of a problem as we were stuck in our apartment, while our Italian guests were 15 minutes away stuck at the 'rents and even though we had entertainment in the form of games and Netflix, Kathy soon found herself in the throws of being stir crazy within record time. This followed suit with questions about how I was able to "deal with it" whilst growing up in North Dakota to which I had a one word answer: booze.
Now this proved to be a folly on my part as Kathy's eyes lit up and she proceeded to convince me that we simply need some alcohol to help lubricate the clock a bit and get things to a more agreeable situation which would surely be presented the next day. My pride also started to bubble a bit and I pounded my chest at my uncanny ability to drive in the worst wintery conditions; a skill I obtained while living life in the frozen tundra of my childhood. Luck was against us though, in that we were unable to even get our cars out of their respective parking spots let alone down the street to 7-11 for the coveted Mad Dog. Thoughts of walking for our prize were just as quickly dashed away as obituary clippings outlining such a stupid endeavor flashed through my head. We would just have to wait...
The remaining time with our European friends found us trying to impress with "American" styles of food and entertainment. Due to my work schedule I found myself unable to partake in some of the activities, but all in all I believe they had a great time before heading out to enjoy New Years Eve in New York; something even we haven't done as Americans.
Truth be told, we are going to miss them as we had such great times with them that I could outline pages of this blog with inside jokes and inuendos we came up with together. Trip to Italy in our future?
Speaking of the future, it's now 2011 as the timestamp on this entry will likely show. Last night we were thankfully invited over to a friends cookout for the usual debauchery that takes place on the last night of the year. I was designated driver which is a post we are both going to take very seriously after a close call in which our car went off the road due to some ice. The Goddess is in bed now, nursing herself back into true form with some good ol' fashioned "sleepin' in" while I write today's entry. Happily I'll do my best to make sure she's taken care of today and the coming new year....
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