Dollar bill as beer opener

They used a $20 up in Canada. I think that means we'd have to use a $10, $5 and four $1 bills ...

RIP David

That's a photo of David, Beth and Tess at a Steelers game.

For those of you who don't know him, David was one of my childhood friends. He was also one of my roommates at the big downtown apartment I lived during my wild middle 20s.

He was murdered on Wednesday along with another man. David was working installing water pipes for a rural water company. The shooter didn't like David being on his property, so the SOB killed him. The shooter had served two previous prison stints for killing people previously. He's now killed four people.

Anyway, David and I drifted apart when he moved out of the Self's building. He moved in with Beth, they got married and had Tess. We never had a falling out. Never fought or anything. Just went in different directions and failed to keep in touch.

Beth has asked me to write a death notice for David. And to be a pallbearer. I'm honored and humbled by this request. At the same time, I'm worried I won't do David's life justice, since I wasn't part of it for the last 15 years or so.

That brings me to why I'm writing this post. Aside from the sadness and anger I'm feeling, I'm also guilt stricken. I should have made more of an effort to stay in touch.

Since you're reading this blog, you're already one of my close friends (or family). I do not want to lose any of you the way I lost David. Losing a friend is tough enough. Losing a friend twice is even worse.

Another Squad vacation ends

Well, OK, it wasn't really a vacation since Jen and I were sleeping in our own bed. But it was still good to see some of the usual suspects.

It was a typical reunion. Lots of laughter and love with some beer and pizza for good measure.

Highlights of the three-day weekend included:

• Peppas rolling into town with a keg of Yuengling (the best American beer you'll ever taste) for the party and several cases to tide us over for a few months.

• Brown's laughter turning into a wheezing fit.

• Dr. Kevin (Sacramento's top-rated relationship expert who is on air from 4-7 p.m.) telling our waitress from Varsity she should dump her boyfriend, and giving solid reasons why she should.

• Watching somebody struggle through a fierce hangover on Saturday.

• The hilarity of CZ's dad and uncle at the shower on Saturday night.

• Staying up late so I could be sure to wake Sean up off the couch, so he could wake Tammy up so she could be at the Tulsa airport by 6 a.m. on Sunday

• The surprise baby shower at Calico County.

• Nash being the first out and me second out in an impromptu poker tournament Sunday night, while Peppito and Mrs. Nash split the $80 pot.

• Sitting up with Brownie and Kevin until 3 a.m. on Sunday night/Monday morning, at which point they and Samantha left for the Tulsa airport. Good talk, fellas. Good talk.

Wish the Martins could have made it. Wish SK could have made it as well. Maybe next time we'll be able to get everybody together.

A belated happy birthday

Sean, I'm sorry I forgot to blog about your birthday. I should have.

So a happy belated birthday to my friend and yours Sean [redacted by the Secret Service].

As you know, Sean is a [redacted] who works for [redacted] in Washington D.C. But don't let his Capitol Hill gig fool you, Sean is good people, especially when he's not taunting me about the availability of Yuengling (a great beer), even though he roots for the Dallas Cowboys.

So next time you need a tour of [some building in D.C.], Sean is your man. He'll even work cheap, you just have to ply him with cold beers after the tour.

Cheers, Sean.

Wow

Still trying to recover from the weekend.

No, I don't have a three-day hangover. I'm talking about getting my head around the idea that Jen plotted and planned this spectacular surprise birthday party. And that even though I saw Karen and Nash wearing the tee shirts, I still had no clue what was happening.

The fact so many people took the time and spent the money to come to Fort Smith for it absolutely floored and humbled me. I freely admit I still start to tear up when I think about it. Thank you all for being my friend.

Photos have been uploaded onto our home Mac. I'll post some of them later.

Why didn't I think of that!?!

Empty beer cans + tin snips + simple jewelry-making skills = Cool stuff and big profits

Bracelet $90 ...



Ring $40 ...



http://www.elsewares.com/commerce/D-LICIOUS_MCA2_136.html

2008 - A Huge Year for the Squad

So 2008 will feature, in no particular order ...

• Craig and Katie having a baby

Still early in the pregnancy, but I'm pulling for Craig to name it Dean while Katie is still drugged up after the birth. Either that or they should use the Brazil soccer name generator to come up with a name ...
http://www.minimalsworld.net/BrazilName/brazilian.shtml


• Nash and Karen getting married (and buying a house!)

I don't think I've seen Jennifer this excited for an event since ... Sean and Tammy's wedding. That girl loves weddings. Hey, I just realized we'll get to throw a bachelor party for Nash. Woo-hoo! It'll be a crowded week for the PS when they get hitched. Maybe we can do a combo baby shower, housewarming party, birthday parties and wedding shower.

• Sean and Tammy moving out of sunny Florida

Oh, sure, housing prices are astronomical there. But moving from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic? I can't wait until this happens so Brownie won't be able to send out his e-mails that say "There's a cold front moving in today. Temps should hit the mid-60s. I might have to wear a jacket when I'm playing golf in February."

• MaryL turning 40

I still don't know what to say about her and JohnL catching Anthony doing it with his girlfriend. Craiggers is going to be changing diapers while y'all are worrying about becoming grandparents. And how's my godson Evan doing? Has he learned how to say "Go Pack Go" yet? Can he say "Favre" yet? How about "Cowboys suck?"

• Me turning 40

I'M A MAN! I'M 40 ... almost.

R.I.P. Rib Room

That's right, it's gone. Until at least 2009.

Depending on what version of the story you hear, either Neumeier got into a dispute with the guy who owns the land the Beer Garden is on or the architects who designed the second story addition to the Beer Garden screwed up the price. (You can see the design for it here ... www.ribroom.com) Either way, Bill announced it's not opening this summer.

I'm not sure if that means the Rib Room restaurant itself won't be open. I sure hope it is. I can't go a full year without some of that smoked chicken. And I'm almost out of dry rub!

This is the worst thing to happen to downtown Fort Smith since the 1996 tornado.

First the Stardust, now the Rib Room. If Papa's closes, I might curl up into the fetal position and die.

Jen's home ... finally

Jen is back in Fort Smith after her trip to Sacramento with Katie to see Sam and Kevin. Finally.

Her original flight from Houston to Tulsa was delayed and then finally scrapped. Something about needing a new part for the plane. So instead of landing at 8:50 p.m. she landed at almost 11.

Of course, she had no way of knowing the flight was delayed until I was already on the road to Tulsa. I was halfway to Tulsa when the delay was announced.

Luckily, I'd goofed off yesterday afternoon. My original plan was to leave early, get to Tulsa around 6:30 and hit the new Bass Pro Shop in Broken Arrow and another big outdoors store in Tulsa. Instead, I decided to just head straight to the airport, arriving around 8:30.

But, thanks to the delay, I had time to hit the BPS. I spent an hour there. Bought a new fishing net, which I'd not done without the flight being delayed.

Worst part of the trip was after picking up Jen, we were both starving. By BPS, there was a Steak & Shake and a Taco Bueno, two chains we don't have here in Fort Smith. So that's where I went. Except both were closed at 11:15 p.m. @#$%&!!! Luckily, there was a Burger King. Chicken fries ... mmmmmm, good. We rolled into Fort Smith at 1:30ish this morning.

Jen lost her voice on Friday, screaming and singing along with an 80s band. She's now fighting off a cold and not feeling too well.

So, the moral of the story is: Don't go see 80s bands.

7:05 a.m.

Made it back from Tulsa, pulling up to the house right at 7:05.

It started sleeting right after I left the airport. Luckily, I scooted out of there before it began to slick up the roads. I was east-bound and down (Smokey and the Bandit reference) with the cruise control set on 80.

After about four hours of sleep (plus two and a half I got before going to Tulsa), I'm awake. And Jen is still has about another 90 minutes of flight time until she lands in Sacramento.

6:10 a.m.

Jen is flying out to Sacramento tomorrow morning to visit Sam and Kevin.

Being a good husband, I'm driving her to the airport. Her flight is at 6:10 a.m. ... in Tulsa.

So while y'all are blissfully sleeping tonight, I'll be heading out the door at 3 a.m. for Tulsa.

Oh, did I mention there are high school basketball games tonight, so I'll be in the office until 11 p.m.-ish? And there's a chance of freezing rain (sure it's only 10 percent, but it's still a chance) in Tulsa?