You're pretty good for a quadraped

We're hours away from Phil Fest '08.

Expect pics and stories from Gobbler's Knob, the ISDA and Denny's Beer Barrel Pub!!

Maybe even ... live team updates.

Nicole's here!! Nicole's here!!

While Nicole gets herself ready to go have lunch with a friend of hers, I thought I'd drop a quick update. I've got a pretty busy day coming up in preparation for tonight's party but I'm blissfully sitting here with some quiet time to write, which just doesn't happen as often as I'd like.


Nicole got here a little early last night and flew right into a mysterious chemical leak (or something). They're all calling it blue, but I'm telling you, it was orange. And it tasted like maple syrup. So for the last half of Friday, I was breathing in sweet stuff and my mouth tasted like Vermont.

(Insert all sorts of inappropriate commentary in three ... two ... one ...)

Anyway, we got ourselves to the sto' where we bought ourselves cupcake making materials (in bachelorette-party approved molds ... fill in the details yourself), snacks and for me, enough diet Mountain Dew to fuel me for the next week. We did really well in the store until we realized that oof ... nobody thought to get eggs. Or oil.

... or a brownie pan.

Which we discovered during our traditional trip to Los Agaves. See, we call each other Taco and Nacho and it's the last place we ate at before she moved to San Diego so there was no way we could have kicked off this weekend anywhere else.

And with Los Agaves comes ... a pitcher of frosty, tasty goodness. And for those of you who have never been to Los Agaves, their margaritas are probably illegal in several states, including this one. Holy. Lord.

Los Agaves also brings us our first quotable moment of the weekend ...

"What? Am I speaking ... ... ... ... ... Russian?"
-- Nicole, on how confused the waiter was taking our order and realizing that if she HAD been speaking in Spanish, things may have gone more smoothly

I have a feeling that one's gonna stick around for a while just because of all of the irony involved.

After we finished at Los Agaves (and we'd already made the liquor store run at this point where I was happy to see that for the first time in a while they didn't greet me by name!) we headed to get the brownie pan and came back here where we commenced to bake all sorts of cupcake and brownie goodness.

We pulled up a little TalkRadioX and listened to The Live Test Show so Nicole could get an official shoutout and when it ended, we flipped around the Music Choice channels. Eventually, her 3,000 mile trip and my week caught up with me.

I remember taking a phone call at 2:30 in the morning but I was so beyond tired I know that I probably made no sense at all except I do remember insisting that I was NOT too sleepy to talk. And then I was doing so good at faking it until I heard the voice on the other end say, "I totally changed that story halfway through and you didn't notice."

And "I so did" wasn't believable at this point.

Sigh. I'm laughing to myself right now at my stubborn insistence that I was awake enough to answer the phone, much less communicate. And when I got a text message after 4 saying "OK ... bed time" and I responded, I got "You're not supposed to be up ... much less answer!"

Cute. :)

OK ... time to get this party rolling. Updates forthcoming.

So, THAT'S what works!

Today, somehow, the topic of how people met their spouses/significant others came up.

I have some co-workers with really interesting stories.

One guy I work with met his wife at a bar in Morgantown. He was out with a group, she was out with a group and he told this girl's friend he found her booty to be rocking. They subsequently dated, fell in love and have been married now for four years.

Another co-worker was introduced to her husband by her sister. When she left, her future husband said to her sister, "Find out if she wants it." They dated, fell in love, got married seven or so years ago and have two really fun kids. They're also a great example of what marrying your best friend turns out to be. I admire them so much.

So, if you're a reader and you're inclined to share ... how did you meet your significant other? I'm curious to see what kind of stories we end up with. :)

In 62 short days ...

Feb. 2, 2008 -- Punxsutawney, Pa. -- PhilFest '08

Oh, and if you're going with us this year, prepare yourself for an afternoon spent at Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield where we won't be leaving until we finish the 15-pound hamburger. And then we'll all probably be really sick in the parking lot, but a good nap should help us work that out. It's Saturday, after all. No need to rush it on back to West Virginia!

PhilFest '08 will be my phourth (ha!!) trip to Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day. The first time I went, my friend Erinn (along with our other two friends) found it to be a good idea when at 10 p.m., we realized that the next day was Groundhog Day, the next day was Friday and well, we didn't have anything better to do that night.

In 2006, I took what, to this day, is known amongst my closest friends as "The Single Worst Trip I've Ever Made" for many, many reasons. One of the people on the trip seemed to think that what he saw in the movie actually was what was in store, and when that didn't pan out, he whined. Incessantly. And the other person on the trip (a person I don't even speak to anymore) tried a little to smooth things out but ended up fighting with the other douchebag. This led me to the conclusion, around 4 a.m., that I never, ever should have taken EITHER of them to Punxsutawney because once we got up to Gobbler's Knob, the "I wanna go home" douche decided to get really into it and have a good time and the other guy stood nowhere near where he could see what was going on wrapped in his blanket being pissy with everybody. Sigh. Even when I asked for a group picture, I got told no. Lesson learned: Don't make that trip with people you aren't certain can handle it on all levels. All of you end up miserable.

In 2007, though, it was "the Redeemer" trip, big time. Erinn was back for this one, along with our friend Danny, and to say that we had fun would be one of the greatest understatements of the century. From the minute we all got in the car in Morgantown until I was back in Charleston the next day sleeping for 18 hours straight, we had fun. Where else can you hear phrases like "Scream for me I.S.D.A.!!!!" and "they're made from sheep casings" all in the same night and still manage to make snow angels in Punxsutawney's park and see Punxy 5-0 about to make a takedown? And Burger King has never, ever been so tasty.

So, I'm eager to see what '08 has in store because it's a Saturday. I'm pretty sure Erinn's in again, I think I've almost talked Julie into it and definitely Jeff if he can get the time off. I'd love to get a couple of hotel rooms, a big ol' rented van ... I think we could turn it into a fantastic weekend.

If you want to go, we'd love to have you, but you're gonna have to pass our entrance exam first, and so help me GOD if you ask me if it's anything like the movie ...

I'm alive ... swear!

Things have been incredibly busy in the days following Thanksgiving.

In somewhat chronological order:

* Went to Johnstown, Pa., and watched the Johnstown Chiefs. I felt all "Slap Shot." It was awesome. Had dinner at a place called Johnnie's with some of the most real people I've ever met in my LIFE. Lost big time at Pennsylvania scratch-off tickets. (Screw you, Commonwealth!!) The liquor store worker said we could park by the bridge " 'n at."

* Went to Harrisburg, Pa., and checked into the Crowne Plaza where Julie and I decided we could move in. They give you a sleep mask, a sleep CD and lavender bed spray. I'm in love.

* Spent all day Saturday afternoon with Julie walking around Harrisburg, going to see the inside of their Capitol, taking pictures, walking to City Island, looking at leaves and molesting the newspaperman statute.

* Got pretty well acquainted with Harrisburg nightlife. Got a standing ovation from the wonderful bartending staff at The Firehouse on North Second Street for my knowledge of the lyrics of "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." Suck it, Ed.

* If I don't get a Nintendo Wii soon, I'm gonna kill somebody.

* Saw my first ever Hershey Bears hockey game at Giant Center in Hershey. Went to chocolate world. Everybody asks if the town smells like chocolate. I couldn't smell. I was still sick. I'm now a huge Hershey Bears fan.

* Pennsylvania Turnpike: I still hate you. But I'm buying an EZ Pass to make our relationship better.

* Came back to work. New guy started! Woo!

* My divorce became final at 4 p.m. November 27. This wasn't easy. Or fun. It was sad. And it was like watching a movie of it happening. It didn't feel like it was happening when I was sitting there.

* Volleyball. Visit from Mom.

* Intent to go to the gym, but everybody is hellbent on feeding and watering me. I'm OK, I promise. Hot fudge cake isn't going to make me thin. And I've got two half-marathons to try to do next year!

... I think that's it. But I'll jump back into ye olde blogging game as soon as the dust clears.

Why I giant heart Nicole

Because she sends me e-mails like this:

Shortly after this picture was taken, the turkey shouted 'death to america' and blew itself up. Four staffers were injured. Mr. Bush was last seen looking for cranberry sauce.

Turkey for me, Turkey for you ...

Oh, let the games begin, kids, 'cause it's ON!

My Mom and Dad just got back from the massive trip to Witschey's grocery store (screw you, Wal-Mart ... HOMETOWN POWER!) with everything you could possibly need to eat yourself miserable.

Stuffing! Noodles! Green beans that will morph into a tasty-yet-artery-clogging casserole! My Mom's about to go get my Grandma, so there's gonna be ... PIE, bitches! PIE!

But don't get me wrong. As much as the former fat girl in me loves the Thanksgiving food, I'm most happy to see my friends and family that I often don't see. My friends Crystal and John and their kids, Angie and Mike are in town, my cousin Justin who lives in Charlotte that I've not seen in years, my cousin Jen and her husband -- and naturally, my sister and her husband and their kid.

And of course, local TV. Charleston's by far not the pinnacle of entertainment, but I'm laughing really hard at this commercial for a car dearler in New Martinsville who every year does "Buck Truck Fever." The premise of this deal, I shit you not, is "Buy a truck, get a gun."

I have no idea how they do that ... I've never asked, but I mean, you'd think there's some federal stuff tied up in that. Or else I'd be really, really scared. I mean, I know most of the people who live here. Less than 5 percent of them SHOULD have a gun in their possession.

But all in all, I'm very happy that it's 12:35 p.m. and I'm still in the clothes I went to bed in hours and hours ago! Granted, I'm not going to be ready to move when it's go time, so a shower wouldn't be a bad plan, but then again ... I'm on vacation! I'm on Jacque Standard Time.

Tonight's program is brought to you by ...

I feel like death. I'm not even kidding. Even though I had such an amazing time in Covington/Cincinnati, going on a trip like that and keeping the pace we did when you're already halfway to full-blown flu isn't the way to go.

Nevertheless, we're pressing on and having a show tonight because there won't be one next week. By the time 8 p.m. rolls around next Sunday, Julie and I are going to be center ice at a Hershey Bears game in Pennsylvania.

I could literally go to bed right this minute.

It was a great idea at the time!

This came in the mail yesterday. It's just a shame that nobody's going to see it under the five other layers of clothes when Erinn and I go into Nippert Stadium Saturday night for the WVU-Cincinnati game.

I'm so excited for this trip! Erinn and Mike (her husband, whose blog you should read after this one by clicking HERE!) and I will leave on Friday and we'll eat at a restaurant you can read about here.

I'm taking my camera ... now that I've got the cord and I stopped being lazy ... to document the action. :)

The results are in: We heart our opposite sex friends!

In this week's survey of your brain, I asked:

Can a man and a woman simply be "just friends"?

Here's how you voted:

Yes! Some of my closest friends are of the opposite sex. -- 9 votes (50 percent)
I suppose, but 99 percent of the time, it's complicated. -- 8 votes (44 percent)
Nope. It's not possible. -- 1 vote (5 percent)

I'm curious about the one "no" vote, so if you're that vote and you want to share, I'd love to hear your experience. I voted yes, because it's true in my case ... P and Jeff are just two of many. They're dudes, but there's never been any sort of issue that came between us in terms of "should we ever go past this." I'd take a bullet for them. They'd take one for me.

My sister's best friend is a guy named Forsh. She's lucky to have him, because they really are separated at birth twins.

I'm not saying I've not run into the situation where I became really close friends with a male and it got complicated -- I lost an entire year, maybe longer, of my four years at WVU to it, and it lingered on for another three. You learn from it. You live. You go on.

Truth through art

Just so you know, it's not out of the realm of possibility that something very similar to this has happened with my friends and me. I, of course, would be the one holding the flame thrower.

We have a lot of great ideas ... it's a shame most of them suck.

'Your next wedding invitation ...'

My friend Amber makes me laugh really hard. She sent this to me. She said she anticipates this is in my future.

Happy Halloweenis

Just a couple of pictures to get everybody in the "scaring the crap out of people" spirit! The picture above shows the pumpkins we carved prior to Danny's murder mystery party. Michelle (Danny's fiance) did the very intricate on the far left. She had a pattern and definitely put more work into this than most of us! The pirate ship is Danny's. The spider is Julie's. The pumpkin on the far right is one done by Michelle's 13-year-old daughter, Jordan. The extremely elementary happy pumpkin second from the right is mine. I'm not good at patience. Or pumpkin carving. But my pumpkin is happy.


In this picture, Sara, dressed as a gym teacher, and me, dressed as a Steelers cheerleader, ponder a clue in Danny's murder mystery. I'm more or less pondering where I put down my drink. But the clue was pretty tough. It's a shame that I knew beforehand who one of the killers was and I was just trying to not ruin it for everybody ... well, at least right away. Then I started being Little Miss Gamekiller.

This morning's entry is brough to you by Erinn

And the words:

Manscaping

Man tan

And:

"I just snorted like a pig."

The changes you find

When I lived at my old house, I was really lazy. I mean, I didn't do anything. I wasn't much into housework. I didn't do laundry. I hated cleaning.

I've been in my new place almost one month and this place is spotless. I clean it at least once a day. Clothes are put away. I hang up laundry the second it's done in the dryer.

I don't know why I wouldn't do these things when I was at my old house, but I do them here. I've been trying to figure that out.

I'm not sleeping all that well yet. I really wanted to go to bed an hour ago but I realized I didn't finish my laundry yet. I stayed in Morgantown an extra day, so Saturday night didn't end up being laundry night like I planned.

I tell you, it's a party a second here on Roundhill.

Homecoming was great. Morgantown is so different and it changes all the time. I remember with fondness the way it used to look and how things used to be, and I can see why people love it or hate it the way it is now. Every piece of spare land has an apartment building or a townhouse complex on it. There's more shopping there than you can wrap your mind around. Where I used to live is gone.

Morgantown's still got its charms, though. The Dairy Mart. Marris' store. The Beanery.

I really could get into a stromboli right now.

If only I didn't need to go to bed. If only I'd actually laid out the paper on Friday. Starting Monday in a deficit isn't the way to start a Monday. But here I am. In a total time deficit.

Morgantown bound!

I'm just wrapping up a couple of things, and then it's Homecoming time! :)

West Virginia's a 23-point favorite. I hope this doesn't become a "parking lot by halftime" game. My parents are going with me (and my friend Philip) and I'm getting them into a tailgate. I hope they have a great time.

Must get outta here ... I need to pack and set up the perpetual feeders for Inky.

I hope to BlackBerry blog ... 'cause I'm a geek, and because I can.

Listen up, white blood cells ...

I can sort of feel sick coming on.

You know that general "I feel like crap" and you feel just kind of run down and achy?

Yeah.

I have it.

I don't know if I have a fever because I can't find my thermometer. It may still be boxed up from the move.

All I know is this better go away before tomorrow because I've got WVU's Homecoming to take by storm and some Mountaineer Rally to make for the masses.

I'm going to be optimistic and say that it's just the stress of the last four weeks coming down. It was about four weeks ago that my world sort of upended. And I'm doing OK, I really am. I'm doing great, even. I'm just tired. Even if you're sleeping, stress can wreak havoc on you. It's been a very stressful four weeks.

I need a vacation. A real one this time. That's likely going to come in November if I can make it to Sandy Eggo. :) (Or Sahn Dieahgo, for my fellow Ron Burgundy fans.)

But in happier news, Philip is coming over tonight to watch my Man TV. Maybe a little Rutgers upset? He's bringing pizza, which means despite my desire to curl up under this blanket for another hour or so, I need to go to Pilates class and do pre-emptive damage control.

Go white blood cells! I am NOT going to be sick for Homecoming.

Your new favorite TV show

Tonight.

FX.

10 p.m.

You'll want to clear your schedule this week, and every week from now on, to watch both episodes of this show.

I didn't know this show in its first two seasons. I had heard of it, but never watched it, until one of my friends said, "You're not living until you start watching this show."

So he had me download an episode from iTunes just to see if I'd be into it. I downloaded "Dennis and Dee Go On Welfare."

And my life changed. Which sounds like pure hyperbole, but trust me. Television became different at that point. I downloaded all of seasons one and two and I watch them at work all the time. I need to go out and buy the DVDs for home.

If you've not watched, give it a try tonight. This show is darkly funny. Hilariously wrong. There's nothing to NOT love about this show. And it's got Danny DeVito, which to me makes everything better immediately anyway.

*Updated* Pimping ain't easy (but for them, anything!)

Please check out my friend Philip's column in today's Charleston Daily Mail:

My Turn: This wedding couple is brought to you by ...

It's a hilarious column about getting corporate sponsors for his wedding and a suggestion I'd made to him a while back about having the Friends of Coal sponsor the whole event.

Oh, and if you're not already a reader, make sure to put Mike Casazza's blog (on WVU and various other topics) on your favorites.

Speaking of Mike, he also had a great first-person piece in the Daily Mail today about the adventure before his wedding to Erinn, one of my oldest and dearest friends. I wasn't able to go to their wedding because I was in Kentucky at a funeral, but from all accounts and pictures, it was a beautiful day and Erinn couldn't have been a more beautiful bride.

But their wedding day is a classic case of, "Everything was going along really well until ..."

Here's their story, complete with a slideshow of pics:

The trolley blew its lid, but not the wedding

The pic of her dad (I'll let you discover it on your own) is absolutely priceless.

I've been accused of this ...

... In some cases, this is true. I'm just sayin'. There are proven cases in which this is absolutely, 100 percent the truth. I can provide concrete examples.