Stuff You Should Know

So last night after coming home from shopping where I purchased two pairs of shoes, some vitamin D milk, and Orbitz gum I decide I was hungry. Rather than to go to Popeye's Chicken I remembered I had some Teriyaki Pineapple Meat Balls that my intern Steve had brought over on Sunday. Rather than just throw them in the microwave I decided that they need some sort of glaze.

Now this is huge considering I cooked spaghetti on Sunday. Cooking twice within three days just doesn't happen. My roommates Dan and Michael as well as myself were having a discussion when they noticed what I was mixing, Grape Jam and Heinz Ketchup. A very strange combo. Now my friend Katie D told me that her brother had a theory that if you like two things by themselves you will like them mixed together. Now I am not totally sold on that idea but I thought what the heck? I was leery to do it but Michael said you can always blog about it. So in an effort to provide myself with blog worthy material, I did it. I mixed the glaze and heated it up. The result...not to bad. Good in fact. Yes I think my roommates were horrified by this but it still tasted fine.

Any way here is a quiz that Josh sent me that I took. I got a 28 on it. It’s timed so once you start the quiz you have to finish as quickly as possible. Let me know what you get.

http://www.flashbynight.com/test/

Bon Jovi tonight!

Mormon Bachelor Parties...Not that Crazy (And a Monday Haiku)

This is Mr. Lincoln Essig. He is entering his last week as a single man. Later this week he will travel to the cross roads of the west to marry his sweetheart Ali. On Friday night Matt, Ryan, Michael, Bryson and myself took him out to Dave & Buster's for his bachelor party. We did something similar for Jeff's Bachelor and Jordan's as well. My girlfriend at the time actually came with us to Jeff's which was really weird. But whatever. My history of bachelor parties is pretty limited. Jim's was fun, we drove mini race cars and Josh's....well I can't really blog about that.

We had a good time eating, laughing, and singing "Happy Birthday" to a woman we did not know. We embarrassed Michael by giving him a a slow clap/standing ovation as he returned from his car. But by far the funniest part was when Ryan I believe pulled out the party poppers. Michael forbade us from setting them off in the restaurant but we did anyway. We walked over to a table and set off poppers for the second time in tribute to a young lady's birthday. She was really suprised (horrified) by our tribute.

I have heard many different people describe Dave & Buster's as Chuck E. Cheese for grownups. That is a pretty fitting description. They have ski ball, basketball shoots, a bunch of video games, and this trivia game where you can win lot of tickets. I was excited to play the trivia game but didn't play as well as I would have hoped. Matt and Ryan made virtual race horses and neither faired particularly well.

At the end of the night we pooled the tickets we had acquired 1235 or so, and got Lincoln some plastic piece of junk. They were out of Handcuffs.

Lincoln was not at all nervous about his upcoming nuptials and is just excited for the future.

Good luck Lincoln.

I've got balls.

Monday Haiku

One Makes Good Meat Sauce

Watched Hours of Oscar Show

You look you get punched

Admit it you looked.

Evites Comments Are E-nnoying

I am pretty happy about the fact that I regularly get invited to parties. I guess it is some sort of validation that my presence at an event will at the very least not have a negative impact on the occasion. It has become customary to send out an Evite. I imagine that the vast majority (all ten of you) that read my blog know what an evite is. Basically it is an online invitation. It is quite handy because you can send out an email to people regarding your event and the details associated with it. I have no problem with this. It is a rather practical way of getting the info out. For those invited you can see who else made the list and who will be attending and who won’t be. I do have two small things that bug me about this though.

First- I understand that it is polite to RSVP if you are asked to do so. I have no problem calling the host and saying, yeah I’ll be there or no I won’t but thanks for the invite. That is just fine. What I find irritating is that on an evite you respond so that every can see your response. Now there may be a way to turn off this feature, but really I don’t want the whole guest list to know whether I will be there or not. Just takes away from the mystery of it all. But truly this isn’t a really big deal. I’ll probably continue to do this begrudgingly.

What really annoys me are the comments people leave associated with their response. I give a little leeway for comedy (although most people who try to be funny aren’t and should stay away from comedy) because occasionally it will be topical and actually funny. No, what is really lame is when people give explanations as to why they won’t be there or why they might be there. Guess what, I don’t care. I don’t care if you are at your sisters wedding, you are taking the LSAT the next, day, your dog Tippy is being euthanized, you have to get botoxed (is that a verb?) or any other of the lame reasons why you won’t be there. You are not interesting. A simple no is just fine, totally adequate, and very appropriate. Am I a hypocrite? Probably, I imagine I have done this a number of times, but the last time I received an evite and read the responses, I thought to myself, “Why are people telling me this? How could they think that their appointment with the podiatrist is somehow relevant to me or the people who are hosting the same party/dinner/bbq/bris that occur every weekend?”

So people, what I am saying is; just think before you post your reply to the next evite you get. It probably isn’t funny, and it almost certainly isn’t relevant. Sort of like this blog entry.

Good Karma and Happy Birthday Dad!

My best friend growing up Robert The Scottish City of Glasgow

For the second time in my life, I have had a wallet returned to me. Man, was I excited when Bus Operator Robert Glasgow (who I learned goes by the nickname PeeWee) called my office yesterday afternoon to tell me that he had found my wallet. Sure it is slightly inconvenient that I cancelled my credit cards but the fact that I don’t have to worry about getting a new CA driver’s license more than makes up for that. Apparently Robert Glasgow found my wallet, saw my business cards and called my office. Not only that he told me I could pick up my wallet at the bus depot on the corner of S. Glebe and Jefferson Davis HWY only three blocks from my house. I walked over and picked it up. Thank you Robert Glasgow, enjoy Best Buy!

Dad and Kitty Kate

Today is my dad's birthday. I allready called him this morning (6:00 am PST) and sang him "Happy Birthday". Here's a few things about my dad.

• He's an investment wiz. He is incredible at finding obscure financial institutions that always seem to make money. Whenever the Stock Market has a good day I call him and ask for a loan. He turns me down. I have no collaterall.
• He loves being a grandpa. We talk on the phone a few times a week and he informs about all the things the kids are doing.
• He used to have a butcher shop. Although he retired about 20 years ago he retained all his knowledge of the trade. If ever I have a question about buying some steak or how to cook a turkey I can call my dad for advice.
• He's really tan. I have always been jealous that he and Jenn get really tan while the rest of the family burns.
• He speaks English with almost no accent. Occasionally when my sisters and I were kids we would get him fired up and a little German accent would sneak out.
• My dad has never typed or used a computer as far as I know. (My sister will show him this post)
• After doing a Presidential Candidate Quiz he got Joe Biden. Still haven't figured out exactly what that means.
• Sometimes I will call and ask "Where have you been?" He'll respond with "I have things to do, I don't have time to waste talking to you." It's very funny because really he has about as much "free time" as one can have.
• He's is amazingly strong and I love him so much.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Thank you George Washington and Abraham Lincoln

Well another President’s Day has come and gone. I don’t think we have any vacation days until Memorial Day. Too bad.

Well my Tuesday started out awesome as I managed to lose my wallet for the second time in six months. I somehow screwed up the transfer from hand to pocket. I absolutely hate it when I do stuff like this. I already know the lecture I will be getting from my dad about not being more responsible. I doubt my dad has ever lost my wallet; he is the least absent minded person I know. I did not inherit that quality. So I have canceled my credit cards, and the new ones are on the way. I have already called the Metrobus people five times this morning, and it isn’t looking good.

Totally unrelated.

One of my favorite writers Bill Simmons had the following quote on his website that I thought was perfect for my cousin Danielle.

Q: Don't you think the Kyle Korver trade made too much sense for both sides to have happened in real life?-- Sergi, Barcelona, Spain
SG: There's no question. It's the most logical NBA trade made this decade -- Philly desperately needed some cap space and a pick, and Utah desperately needed a scrappy swingman who could drain open shots and close out games on the free-throw line. And to top things off, you had Korver finding his manifest destiny by landing in Utah, Land of the White People, where he's already become a heartthrob for Mormon schoolgirls everywhere. When I saw that trade on ESPN.com, I almost felt like applauding. I loved that deal.

Because of President’s Day there was no Monday Haiku so here is a Tuesday Haiku

All Pandas Asleep
Lost Wallet Equals Bad News
Look Down And Get Punched

It's All Well and Good

Happy Valentine's Day all. I have yet to decide which of my girlfriends I will be spending the evening with*. I guess we'll just have to see.

After I took this picture (Shout Out To Kenny) I told Randy... Thanks Dawg.

We all have our pet peeves. Those little things that bug us but really shouldn't. One of my pet peeves seemed to rear its ugly head repeatedly last night as I was watching America's most popular program. Now I preface this by saying that I may make this mistake myself, and in so doing render myself a hyporcrite. It is even possible that I don't truly understand this principle and I have it all wrong. What ,you might ask is annoying me so much? That would be misuse of the word "good" as an answer to a question.

It happened like this over and over.

Randy: How you doing Dawg?
Idol Contestant: Doing Good.

Paula: How are you sweetie?
IC: Doing Gooood.

Simon: I am a pompous English ass with weird hair, how are you doing?
IC: I was doing Good.

Guess what? Unless you are feeding orphans, reducing your carbon footprint, guiding the blind you are not doing good. Doing "good" is serving others, improving your community, rescuing puppies, or curing diseases. That is doing good.

You are not doing good. You are doing well.

Now this may seem insignificant to you (and it is) but practice it and see how much more eloquent you sound when you replace good with well.

How are you doing?
I'm doing well.

See? Much better. Jim beat me to the punch on litterally vs. figuratively which is another one of my pet peeves (from now on I will call them Pete Peeves).

From this point forward you need never make that mistake again. Now that is what I call "Doing Good."

*I have no girl friends so I am contemplating staring into my mirror and asking myself "What went wrong?" That or my neighbors are having a party so who knows.

Deja Vu All Over Again Ski Trip 2008

As I was going through the pictures of our Ski Trip over the weekend, I noticed we took many of the same pictures last year. So here are a few then and now shots.

On the Lift 2007
On the lift 2008

Fearing for our lives 2007
Not quite sure what is happening here 2008The Boys 2007
Much colder 2008

The trip was a blast. We were on the road by about 8:30 pm and arrived at the Wisp Resort by 11:30. I snowboarded all day on Saturday and was blessed with a little powder from the night before. We ate sandwiches in our hotel room and they were outstanding even without mayo or mustard. We left home early Sunday morning and made it home for church. I was only slightly sore and it was great to go Ridin for the second time this season. I thought I might hit a few of the highlights.

Because the trusty Subaru is not firing on all cylinders we rented a Pontiac Vibe. I guess it served us well although David and John both agreed that something was wrong with the alignment.

I bought three magazines to read while traveling. I ended up reading about five pages of one of them.

It is always a dicey move to be considerate when planning meals on the road. You have to look out for yourself.

Athletic shorts are not the same as swim trunks.

The last run of the day was one of my best. As I saw David at the bottom of the hill, I thought I'll spray snow on him by going to heel edge. I did but no snow, instead I crashed into his knee. Sorry bro.

"I want to be an Ultimate Fighter, I just don't want to do any of the things necessary to get there."

I called Don from the lift just to brag.

Thank You Analysis Group

Monday Haiku

No No Not Those Shorts
Went Boarding Really Fun Time
Crock Pot Dinner Yum

Just Not Worth It

I thought I might write about this yesterday but I didn't get to it in time. But there a few things I have been thinking about so here goes.

Yesterday I walked out of the apartment (it isn't actually an apartment it's a townhouse but we all call it an apartment) on my way to the bus stop when I realized that I didn’t have my Congressional ID. So I turned around ran up stairs and got my ID. As I was walking back to the bus stop I saw the bus pulling up. The light was green so I knew I would have a tough time catching up before the bus left, but I have caught many a bus by running hard so I went for it, and the bus proceeded to drive away. Now I must say that the corner of S. Glebe Rd and Arlington Ridge is a busy intersection not only for cars but for bus traffic as well. I mean in the morning a bus goes by like every ten minutes. None of this seemed to dawn on me as I looked across Glebe Rd. I noticed 3 seconds of green on the crossing light and someone standing at the next bus stop. In my mind I figured if I run across the street and the person getting on the bus is slow, that I’ll make it on. As this plan is being implemented I dash across the street and…almost get clobbered. My dad on so many occasions said to me “Peter those lines don’t protect you.” All of a sudden there is an SUV practically in my lap. I’m talking breaks screeching and had I been one second ahead I would have been eating asphalt. I motioned to the crossing light, like “Hey lady I have the right of way, which of course had turned read.” I ran across Arlington Ridge and of course the bus had gone. As I was standing there I thought to myself, wow, I could have been killed, or really hurt because I wanted to catch a stupid bus. It was quite a moment. I am all about trusting my instincts “Blinking” as it were. But there are times when it is important to ask yourself is this really worth it. Catching a bus that will come again within the next ten minutes only to get splattered isn’t worth it.

There are my friends in the LDS singles scene here in DC who know all about the list serve. It’s a way to communicate opportunities that others may be interested in. A place to find housing, sell a table, announce an event. When I was looking for an apartment it was very helpful. Unfortunately people also use it for strange/annoying requests. I may flip out if I see another post about people wanting a ride to the airport. Why in the world would you be asking strangers to take you to the airport, and then (I’m getting heated up just typing this) offer to compensate with food. ANNOUNCEMENT we no longer live in a barter society, we like to be compensated with cold hard cash, and guess what? Friends expect no compensation at all. If you need a ride to the airport or help moving you ask your friends, or you pay someone to do it. You do not go and post on an electronic bulletin board begging people to take you. You ride a bus, you take a cab. This is not college, this is the real world. You have a job, pay the cost, if you are down to your last eight dollars (the cost of a ride from the Metro to Dulles) you should not be flying. Take a bus. Obviously there may extraordinary circumstances but even then, why wouldn’t you call your home teachers or something. Maybe some of you are thinking, Peter this isn’t such an egregious faux pax. But it is symptomatic of something some of my peers can’t seem to grasp. Personal responsibility/self reliance. You should not rely on strangers to do stuff for you. You should do things for yourself or cultivate genuine friendships where you don’t mind asking a close friend for a favor. It never ceases to amaze me the stupid things people ask for. So list serves dorks, no free rides, no airline tickets, no postings about institute when it appears that you may be under the influence of an illicit substance, and under no circumstances should you be asking someone to drive their truck to help you move your crap. Spend the twenty bucks and get a U-Haul.

To paraphrase Colorado Football Coach Dan Hawkins “It’s Real Life…It’s Adulthood…If you don’t like it go back to mommy and daddy…back to mommy and daddy…brotha!”

Lots to to talk about (Newly Updated 2/5)

Sometimes one will have an uneventful weekend. The kind where you just sit around and "waste" your time off. This weekend was not one of those weekends. I "did" a lot this weekend and there are a few things that I felt I need to mention.

• I did a number of things and brought my camera along for most. And I took no pictures. I saw other cameras present so likely I will end up in some pictures but I didn't take any.
• I went to the Laker game over the weekend. This Pau Gasol trade has perhaps inspired the Lakers. I read a great article about how bright the Lakers future is. They played great and there were a lot of Laker fans cheering the team on.
• Usually when I am at a game I don't care about the things they are throwing into the crowd. However there are some exceptions. They were throwing Chipotle Burritos out and the guy threw one right at me. I totally dropped it. It was terribly embarassing. I also dropped a T-Shirt at a Nats game last summer. I guess I'm a better QB than receiver.
• On Saturday afternoon I watched President Hinckley's funeral with Kat, Holly, and Amber. It was very nice and a fitting tribute to a great man.
• We went to lunch at 2 Amy's in Celebration of Kat's B-day. The same 2 Amy's that we stood for like two hours at only to go next door to cactus cantina. As always the Pizza was so good. They don't have excellent dessert there so we went and picked up Ms. Beal and went to Chili's where I destroyed a molten chocolate cake. NOM NOM. Jerry did not attend.
• When the waiter was serving us, I looked at him and thought to myself, "He must be Mormon." He just had that look about him. And sure enough he was. My Mormon radar was as strong as ever.
• I watched the Superbowl with JJ, Jenn and Natalee. I have watched three of the last four Superbowls with JJ and Jennifer. We always have a blast together. I know JJ is a big Pete Chat reader. He made ammends for not calling me on my Birthday with an awesome book that I can not wait to read. I didn't care much about who won the game, but I am happy to bring up the point that the 49ers have never lost a Superbowl.
• I am reading a book right now about Global Warming. It is very well written. So far the gist of it is, that yeah Global Warming exists, but it isn't that serious and will actually save lives and that reducing Carbon emissions are not the way to go about fixing the world.
• I totally forgot that I went to a birthday party on Saturday night. They were handing out moustaches. I gladly put one on and I must say I looked "Real Good". As you might allready know...all great men have moustaches.

And now a Monday Haiku:

Dropped the Burrito

Busy Weekend lots of fun

New Songs on iPod