1,000 Words

Hanging With The Grown Ups

A happy belated Thanksgiving to all my loyal Pete Chat followers. My Thanksgiving consisted of all of the critical elements for alliteration purposes we'll limit to football, family, feasting and this year Fame.

On and off for the last ten years Jordan and I have tried to have a turkey bowl where we gather the old high school friends to see who still has it. Some like my friend Josh are pretty well guaranteed to play. I have found lately however more and more of my peers my age with wives and families, are less inclined to play anymore.

I hadn't been home for Thanksgiving in a few years so I was really looking forward to having a good game. On Monday I contracted the mother of all colds. I was determined not to allow this cold to get in the way of me playing football. I willed myself to 85% healthy and it was game on. Devin Salo gets huge props for having a lot of his friends show up. We ended up having 16 guys,  a lot of them had been guys who graduated just after me. We had a  great game. I think had six touchdown passes and one rushing touch down for the game winner. My new cleats work like champs.

Dinner was delicious and I had tons of fun with my family. A few of us hit up the dollar theater to see the movie Fame. To paraphrase Dennis Green, "It was what we thought it would be".

Before I left Washington I had who I recently started calling my "grown up" friends over for dinner. I refer to them as grown ups even though we're all about the same age because, they are married, have established lives, and are much more settled than I am.

My house isn't the best for dinner parties particularly because we don't have a kitchen table. Beside that fact I am not much of a cook. I have been continually badgered by my sister for only being able to cook mini pizzas. After some careful consideration it was decided that Chicken Enchiladas would be the main course.

For the evening I invited, JJ and Jennifer Phillips, you might know them from when they adopted me in the beginning of 2006. JJ and I were discussing the other day who we have been friends for more than 20 years. Brett and Beth Dougherty, Brett and I were mission companions, room mates, teachers in the MTC, and teammates in flag football. Brett will forever be a legend in my book for his utterance of the phrase "Do you want to go over there?". Brett and Beth brought their little boy Alex.  Ryan and Lauren Barber, I've been friends with Ryan since fifth grade, I went to Prom with Ryan and Lauren in 1998. Ryan wore a green cummerbund that matched the waiters perfectly. Ryan and Lauren brought their sweet baby girl Lucy (who is prominently featured on my dad's  And finally Michael and Jodi Chaffee. Michael was my intern and we had a fun summer in the office keeping an eye on Sam. Michael and Jodi brought their baby Vivian.

Vivian, Me (pre haircut), Lucy, Alex

We had a great time talking about the old days, trying to figure out my complicated life and enjoying the food and the company.

 

Michael, Ryan, Me, Brett, JJ

Despite what you might have expected, we did not play any board games, instead I read some stirring passages out of a book I just finished about the 1992 Olympic Basketball team.

By the time it was all said and done we had a fun evening, I had regained confidence in my ability to host a social function, and was able to catch up with good friends.

Thanks to everyone who came. It was a blast.

Go West Young Man

It all happened pretty quick, but last week I decided to come home to Whittier for my birthday, Thanksgiving, take the GMAT and have Christmas with my family. It's been four years since I last spent my birthday at home.

When I got off the airplane and walked into the So Cal sun, I knew I was home. The weather was in the 70's. It all became perfectly clear.

I had one thing on my mind as my dad and I drove home from the Airport. In-N-Out.

We of course made the stop, and one double double , fries , and chocolate shake later I was in good shape.

I hadn't had a haircut since July, and was enjoying my long hair. My sister Chrissi and my dad were not nearly as supportive about my rock star locks as I was and were more than supportive in my decision to cut my hair.

I told Chrissi that I was growing out my hair to be Pete Jonas for Halloween next year. She wasn't convinced. So this:

Became this:

Four months of "work" cut away in a matter of minutes.

I'm looking forward to a fun time at home. A few friends have mentioned that they are interested in visiting. If you are, you should.

And oh yeah, I turn 29 tomorrow.

Yikes

Dan brought this one to my attention via Deadspin. Generally women are described as the fairer sex, but wow, they were mixing it up like the men here. When I first saw the red uniforms I figured it must be the Utes because they are the only school that we have legitimate bad blood with. The Lobos I wouldn't have suspected. It seems clear to me that #15 was not having a great day.

This one is for Dan Nelson

Last night the Yankees won the World Series. My good friend Dan Nelson is the biggest Yankee fan I know. He was quite pleased. First thing this morning I thought of this clip.



Six games.

Down Here It's Our Time...Our Time.

HEYYYYYYY YOU GUYS! Halloween has come and gone. I had a good time handing out candy, dressing up, and partying down.

Quinn and I got candy to hand out to our trick or treaters. I was in charge of working the door, and was underwhelmed by the costumes that were worn. There was a cute bumble bee, and I gave her two pieces of candy. Some of the kids and parents got grabby and took handfuls.

Chunk, Mikey, Brand, and Data

My friends and I dressed up as the Goonies. I was Brand. I rocked the gray sweats with blue shorts over the top. I also had the red bandanna. I really didn't take many pictures. Most people didn't know who I was until I explained it.

Major props to Meg, Adri, Mandy, Ashley, and all the others who hosted a fun party.

Happy Halloween

I love Halloween. It is and has always been one of my favorite days of the year. My plan for Halloween is coming together nicely.

I wanted to post one of my favorite clips. I have this advice for you...don't sleep on Tyrone.



Enjoy!