Category: Life

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Stroganoff Dip Recipe

Due to popular demand, I’m forced to share my stroganoff dip recipe. As much as I would like to keep it a personal secret, that would just not be the Christian thing to do this holiday season. Candace and Aunt Idette I’m looking your way…

As an aside, apparently I finished second in the recent Crock Off in my office with this dish. I lost to a “hot buttered rum”, which I think is weak since the rum had a better location and also had alcohol involved. I think there should have been separate categories for food and drink, but I guess I’m not the one to make such decisions. Oh well…

Without further ado…

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Bad Sweater/Crock Off/Open House

Today was Wirestone’s holiday function.  It consisted of a Bad Sweater party, coupled with a Crock Pot cook off, all in our recently remodeled office which we opened for all to see.

Frankly, it was a hell of a time.  I brought my now-famous Stroganoff Dip which was a gigantic hit with everyone who tried it.

I bought a horrible acrylic sweater at JC Penny’s yesterday.  I figured $15 was enough to spend on a joke.  The office was absolutely filled with the most horrible collection of sweaters ever collected in a single location.  If it wasn’t so amusing, it would have been horrifying.

But, we had a lot of beer, wine, hot buttered rum, mulled wine and an open bar.   It was a nice turnout.  Jess came by as well as my folks.  I was able to show everyone where I work and give them the nickel tour.

I, personally, started drinking at about 1:30pm and the party didn’t start until 3.  I spent the morning help set up and get everything setup.  So, I figured I earned a beer…

Anyway, it was a great party and I can’t be happier to work in such a terrific place.   Keep you fingers crossed that I won the crock-off… watch this space for updates.

Happy Holidays!

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Frozen

This morning was cold.  Very cold.  Like 10 degrees (-12C to you limey readers).  Now, I know some of you Midwesterners will call me wiener and push my face in the snow, but what can I tell you?

I rolled out to my car to leave for work and discovered it was frozen solid.  Seriously.  My drivers side door lock would not budge.  Hmm, ok… well, I’ll try the passenger door.  Uh oh.

The key would turn, but there was no movement in the actual lock mechanism.  In either door.  Damn.

I tried a little WD40 in the lock, but the ice just laughed at that feeble attempt.  Shit.

I thought to try to heat up my key with a cigarette lighter but since my key has plastic on it, I thought that would probably be a bad idea.

Finally, I had a thought.  I ran in the house and grabbed Jess’ hair dryer and the extension cord.  I turned that bad boy on the lock and waited… and waited… tried the lock again… and waited.  Still no dice.  So, I went around to the passenger side and tried that.  Eventually, after another 7 or 8 minutes of trying, I was able to open that door.

I crawled across the to the driver’s side, flipped the lock and was able to finally open the door.  Now, all I had to do was to actually fire up the car and let it warm up.

All in all, from the time I walked outside to find the damn thing iced over, to the time I actually left for work?  45 minutes.

Great way to start the day.  3 Coffees later, and I was almost warmed back up.

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Death in the Family

Amongst all the joy and frivolity of the past week, I have a bit of somber news.

We’ve had a death in the family.

This death hits me especially hard. We had spent a lot of time together and I’m very sad.

Yes… my Xbox 360 is dead. Sunday morning I received the dreaded “Red Ring of Death“. The very night before he had been so full of life, providing entertainment for friends at our holiday party. It happened very suddenly and I don’t think he suffered. In his short life, he enjoyed driving and sports games as well as shoot-em ups (as Jess calls them). He will be greatly missed by those of us closest to him.

Funeral arrangements have been made (aka. support has been contacted).

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested you send any spare Xbox 360 consoles you might have to me to try to get me through this tough time.

No more Guitar Hero for me… at least for a while…

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Engagement Update

By my calculations Jess and I have been engaged for exactly 91 hours as of this writing.

In that time, I believe we, by which I mean mostly ‘she’, have nailed down a date, venue, and a caterer. Bing bang boom.

How is that for efficiency?

Not going to release that information until its a little more solid, but I believe we have made up our minds.

The rest is details.

More to come…

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News Flash… We Did It.

Many of you have already heard.  If you haven’t consider this your notice.

I proposed to Jess… She accepted.

We’re very excited!  I did it before our little holiday shindig we hosted on Saturday.  I had just gotten the ring on Friday, and frankly didn’t feel much like waiting around any more.  So, while we relaxed a bit before people started arriving, I just did it.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Before you start asking questions, let me just say, we have no details as of yet.  We don’t know when, we don’t know where.  Just know that it will happen eventually.  Jess is already switching into full planning mode and couldn’t be happier.

Love you, Jess.

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Billy Joel – Concert in Boise

Originally, I wasn’t going to go to Billy Joel. The $100+ price (not including all the associated fees and whatnot) was simply too much. I mean, I like Billy Joel, but dropping over two bills for Jess and I to go simply didn’t seem worth it.

After making that decision, I would have random pangs of guilt. I’ve always wanted to see him live, and I was passing on the option because it’s too expensive?

Eventually, however, my procrastination paid off. The arena released a number of cheap tickets in the nose-bleed section of the building for a scant $27 (again, plus fees) a piece. Well, now you’re talking my language. I jumped on the tickets without delay.

I’m sure the ticket prices had to do with the piss pour turnout at the show. The Statesman said there was 7,000 there and I think that would be a stretch. Kinda sad, really. This is a fickle town and won’t just shell out whatever it takes to see these performers. Hell, I’m one of those people. Without the cheap tix, I wouldn’t have been there either.

The show was last night. And it was a pretty damn good show.

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Answer: 52-15

No, the question is not what the final score of the Boise State v. Hawaii football game on Friday.

Instead the real question is “What was the halftime score of the Boise State vs Montana Tech basketball game?”

In fact, the game was so out of hand, we actually left at the half. I haven’t left a BSU game at half in a long time. But, we were bored and were both feeling that we would rather chill out on the couch in our jammies. So, that’s what we did.

Now, I’m as big a fan of one sided blowouts as the next guy… probably more… but in basketball it’s just not fun. I will take 60 to nothing every single football game, especially conference games. But basketball? Meh.

Besides, there were very few people there. The cheerleaders, and I’m assuming a bunch of fans, are in Hawaii for the big game. The atmosphere was kinda dead. As was the opponent. By the way, the final score was 107-53.

Anyway, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I can’t wait. Great meal. Hangin out with the fams. Watchin some football. Sounds like a great day to me.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

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Controversial

This Friday is the “Big Game” in the WAC as the top two teams, Boise State and Hawaii face off on the island for all the marbles.

I’ve had a feeling about this Boise State football season that has been banging around in my head for the past few weeks. I have been unable to put my finger on just what it was. Maybe it was because I was so busy and didn’t have time to think. Maybe its because the very thought of it was distasteful to me as a fan, and I felt less of myself for even harboring the possibility. I’m torn. I’ve agonized personally but, I’ve spent some time deep in thought and I have came to a realization…

I would prefer Boise State to NOT play in a BCS game this year.

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A House Divided

A House DividedToday was the day. Rivalry game. Boise State University vs. University of Idaho.

Let’s just say it was interesting. For those of you who don’t know, I am a gigantic Boise State Bronco fan (and an alumnus), Jess is a life long Idaho Vandal (an alumnus). This is the first game day since we have moved in together.

Like I said, it was interesting.

This whole week has been very easy. Neither of us discussed the game much. We have both been so busy lately, we just haven’t had the time to gently jab each other about this upcoming weekend. I guess part of that is that the teams are so unevenly balanced at the moment. I try not to rub it in too much, specifically because I still remember when BSU sucked, and its not fun. So, we’ve been remarkably civil to each other.

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