Thanksgiving and beyond

Wow, the holidays are a busy time. Spent early last week getting ready for thanksgiving. We were hosting my family for dinner. It was my parents, my brother, my grandpa and the May's: John, Ruthie, April, Cayley, Jeffrey and Russell. Yes, my cousin's name is (was, she's married now) April May. It was my first time cooking for and hosting that many people. Man, it was a lot of work, but it was worth it. They all said everything was great, but I think they were just saying that. The turkey was not all the way cooked. I did not have the thermometer in deep enough. There were some burnt sweet potatoes in the mix. My oyster stuffing came out a little weak. The bagged stuffing mix turn out like crap. But everything was really good, I swear.

Friday I went riding (mtb) with Russell. I kept telling him it was really cold out but he didn't care. I'm glad he stuck with the idea to go because I had a good time. We rode Ralph Stover State Park, which is pretty technical, but Russell rode really well. The place is pretty small but the terrain is nice and rocky with some pretty sick downhills. (We bypassed those because we would have had to climb back up from the river) We rode over to "High Rocks", a bluff overlooking the Tohickon Creek. In the summer there are a lot of climbers there.

Had everybody over again on Friday night for leftovers. Jeffrey, Russell and I ran over to EB games to get something we could all three play with my multi-tap for PS2. We ended up with X-Men Legends. Ended up having to run back over there because my old control would not work and got a used one for $5! The game is a lot of fun, I've been playing it ever since.

Saturday morning I ran the boys down to the airport. I was expecting a mob scene, but there was nobody there! We rolled right up to the check in counter and there were three ladies there to help us! Ended up hanging out at the gate for a couple of hours waiting for the plane to load.

Sunday I made Turkey soup and had my parents, brother and grandpa over to celebrate my mother's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!

Next thing you know it was back to work... and it is Wednesday already!

Looking forward to the weekend's Fair Hill races. I don't think I'm going to race but will spend the day helping Wayne. Rumors have it that there is going to be free beer and tiggers may show up...

Eagles lose to the Giants.

For the past 3 years(?) my friend Derek and I have been getting together to watch the Eagles-Giants games. He's a Giants fan and I'm an Eagles fan. So, it always a lot of fun. We have a little bet going that started Dec 28, 2002 at Giants stadium. We decide the loser would have to wear the other teams hat after the game and for the next game. Yes, I had to walk out of Giants stadium with a Giants knitty, and Derek informing anyone that would listen, that an Eagles fan was wearing a Giants.... Something like "Eagles fan wearing a Giants hat, na, na, na, na" It sucked. At least Derek has been wearing the Eagles hat for the past 4 games.

I was going to do the "C" race at the NJ State Championships with Jeff, but (insert excuses). We ended up just making it to Derek's for the game as it was.

Jeff bagged the race too...

We had a good time at Derek's house. We played some football in the front yard. Jacob even got into the action a little bit:

Derek's backyard:

So after the game we went out and played some more football. I was the steady QB and ended up with some pretty awful numbers, but it was my receivers' fault.

After the game I had to live up to my end of the bet:

Thanks to Kristen for keeping her eyes on Jacob most of the day, and thanks for driving home too!
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Allyson!

Public Library

The public library rules!

Today Kristen told me she went to the library. She often goes there to get books for Jacob. Well, I got all excited when she told me. I thought, "All right, 'The Prisoner of Azkban' audiobook!". She informed me they didn't have it, but she had another surprise for me. Yippie! What could it be?

"Wild Ducks Flying Backwards: The Short Writings of Tom Robbins", droopy likes reading Tom Robbins books, I've read them all, some of them twice. Yes, I'm going to read a book in my "free time". Looks like I'll be staying up late as it is only a 14 day loan.

She also picked up a bunch of books for Jacob. We read to him before bed. We started reading the books and they were all good "bedtime" books, until we came to one in particular. (I don't have the name of the book, but I remember the author, Nancy Carlson) In this book the older sister has a snow day and is going to play outside all day. Only her mother tells her she has to bring her little brother. They go outside and she calls the little brother stupid and worthless, because he can't make snow angels and such. Her friend shows up and starts saying the same things about her little brother, Walt, I think. At this point Kristen and I start snickering, we can't believe we are reading a book were the kid is being called all these names. At one point the sister tells "Walt" to wait near a flag pole, and whatever he does don't stick your tongue on the flag pole. Of course he does. We find this incredibly amusing. Imagine, Kristen and I cracking up trying not to laugh while reading to Jacob before bed. I think we had to add an extra two or three books after that fiasco.

and then there is the SPOT book...

Groenendaal, could it be?

"I... hate this place, this zoo, this prison, this reality, whatever you want to call it. I can't stand it any longer. It's the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink. And every time I do I feel I have somehow been infected by it. It's repulsive, isn't it? I must get out of here. I must get free and in this mind is the key, my key."

Could his fingers have something to do with it?

Oh how times change...

droopy trained for racing ... david commutes for work
droopy worked in a bike shop ... david works for the government
droopy had long hair ... david has short hair
droopy had a girlfriend ... david married his girlfriend
droopy lived in Philadelphia ... david lives in Quakertown
droopy went out at night ... david goes to bed early
droopy watched movies ... david listens to Harry Potter audiobooks
droopy had no kids ... david has Jacob and one on the way
droopy was happy ... david is happy

droopy rides ... david drives

Let's see here...

...figured out how to add a photo....
woo-hoo!

is this thing on?

testing one two