62) Night Games

A perfect evening for me would involve playing games with my friends. Looks strange written out like this, but it is true. I like to play games. Over the years, the games I like to play have changed. Following is an exploration of the games that have filled the various times in my life.

Elementary School: I played Parcheesi and Connect 4 with my parents. Sometimes we played Chinese Checkers, but that game really frustrated me.

Junior High: Played Life and Monopoly. We use to extend Monopoly out by allowing credit outside the mortgages on the backs of the property cards. We just tallied up bills. At the lake house we played Scattegories and Pictionary, my two favorite games for a long time.

High School: Risk became a key game during this part of my life. Games would last all night, and oftentimes into the next day. Risk had a way of ending with a board clearing sweep by a losing player. If I remember correctly, Craig had the most board clearing endings. I remember we would find Risk pieces on his living room floor for days. We also played a lot of BS and a poker game called Challenge.

Freshman Year of College: We played Chess almost every night at Common Grounds. I remember I did not have any money and would have to accept a free Dr. Pepper or coffee from Chris, who felt bad seeing me out there for hours without something to drink. Other than that, there were not a lot of games played in the dorms.

Rest of College: Played a ridiculous amount of drinking games including P&A, Categories, Up the River, Pyramid, Circle of Death, High/Low, Egyptian Rat Screw, Quarters, Chasers and Beer Pong. L., Jill and I went through a serious Dr. Mario phase during college that was odd.

Just After College: We held onto a lot of the drinking games for several years, staying mainly with P&A. We also played a game called Settlers of Catan. We started playing Texas Hold Em as well. It was during this period that Scene It had a brief appearance in our evenings until people got frustrated with how much movie knowledge me and Katrina seemed to have. Every Christmas Eve we played Uno.

Tyler: In Tyler we played Texas Hold Em a few times, but mainly we played Pictionary and Guitar Hero. Man, we played some serious Guitar Hero. I was addicted and could play the same three songs over and over. And with Pictionary, L. gets so competitive. Her teammate is guaranteed to get yelled at, which can be intimidating to new members. However, her team always wins. She is very good.

Back in Dallas: Since being back in Dallas we mostly play Apples to Apples. The last game evening we had there were two games we played that were fun, but I cannot remember what they were. I cannot seem to find anyone to play Risk with me.

61) Japan: Adventures In Food

On our trip to Japan it was important for me to be openminded about the food I ate. I wanted to try everything at least once and I wanted to learn what Japanese people ate on a regular basis. If forced to choose a favorite Japanese meal I would have to choose between Okonomyaki or Yakituri. Okonomyaki are weird meat pancakes that you cook on a griddle in front of you. The ingredients include batter, an assortment of meat, vegetables and a raw egg. You mix the batter and cook like a pancake. In the middle of the process you crack the egg and place on top of the pancake. Once the thing is done you drizzle your pancake with a Japanese BBQ sauce. It was interesting and tasted better than the more traditional Japanese meals we ate.

Yakituri consists of skewered meat basted with different spices and sauces, then grilled. I enjoyed our Yakituri meal immensely. It likely would have won my favorite Japanese meal award, except that I like the Okonomyaki photo better.

L. and I are huge sushi fans and one would think sushi might have been considered for this coveted award since it originated in Japan. Our one sushi experience at the Skiji fish market, while interesting and fun, proved to be disappointing as far as the food was concerned. First of all, our chef was sick and he constantly coughed and sneezed on our fish. We like sashimi best, but at the restaurant we chose on the outskirts of the market the sick chef cut such large pieces I felt like I was eating a raw fish corndog. Did not feel the same as the delicate sashimi we get here in the states.

We also enjoyed a traditional Japanese meal with a group of friends we met. The meal consisted of several courses that included shrimp that still had the heads and tails attached. The worst thing I ate in Japan was from this meal. It was a squid fresh out of the water. I am not even positive it was dead. The thing was squishy, clammy and much too big to be eaten as one bite. I put the squid in my mouth and when I started chewing it felt like I bit into slimy entrails. Not a good experience.

When visiting with my aunt, we ate Oden. My family insisted on us trying it and I must say it was not good. If forced to describe it I would say it was similar to muchy beef sticks with a strange flavor. Tasted overly processed but with a displeasing consistency. I ate everything in this picture, and had to force myself to smile when my relatives asked me if I liked it.























On a side note, we saw the two young women in the below picture at the Okonomyaki restaurant. We noticed many of the Japanese youth to be dressed like dolls or characters out of the Nutcracker. We asked friends and family members about these young people and they informed us this fashion is in style at the moment. I thought to myself, "Man, these kids today are weird." And then I realized I sounded like my dad when he saw me wearing Jams and a t-shirt.

60) Longtime Friend

Question: Who is the person you have been friends with the longest and still keep in touch with?
Answer: Chris White

Here are some fun facts about me and Chris. Hope his dad does not read this.

* We met in 2nd grade. I was in Miss Leverman's class. He was in Miss Brannock's (or something like that).
* Chris had a slumber party at his house one year and we thought it would be a good idea to have a boxing tournament. I got hit in the face and started crying. I threatened to go home because they weren't boxing fairly. I got as far as getting my shoes on before Chris convinced me to stay. He promised me no one else would punch me in the face.
* I broke my arm in his front yard attempting to do a bicycle kick we saw in the Sylvester Stallone movie Victory. Uncle Eric had to pick me up and take me home.
* While playing laser tag at the mall Chris accidentally punched a girl with his laser gun. She bled all over the mall. After that all guns became attached to the vest they make you wear.
* While playing football together for the SBJH B-Team Chris had a game where he caused a fumble, recovered a fumble, sacked the QB and had a handful of tackles. On the morning announcements I was recognized as a standout player, though I am not sure I even did anything in that game.
* The first girl Chris asked out was named Robin. He called her and asked her out on my kitchen rotary phone.
* In high school Chris put on an Ewok mask and dove down his stairs. Later that night he cleaned up at least three different places in his house where I had violently thrown up.
* Throughout high school Chris was the voice of reason. He fought with me endlessly on how far we would take the activities we participated in. I kept trying to stretch his comfort zone to include morally questionable, potentially illegal behavior while he tried to keep me reeled in to reality. It was this push/pull relationship that most likely kept me out of serious trouble.
* For the longest time Chris's dad thought we were gay. Not sure if he still does.
* We took guitar lessons together with a guy named Wally. I farted once at our lesson and Wally scolded me saying, "Man, don't do that. I like to sniff that chair after my 6 o'clock lesson". I don't think he was kidding.
* Chris and I bought and built hockey goals using PVC pipe. We played after school everyday and managed to get some of our school's most attractive girls to play hockey with us. When Chris was ready to sit he would let his feet roll out from under him and he would land harshly on his butt. He looked funny doing that.
* Chris is talented at doing the twist. Once Craig played Lorelei (from Styx) and danced in Chris's face. Chris broke out a hard core twist that sent Craig unexpectedly backward.
* Chris can open jars better than anyone I know.
* One summer we started a lawn mowing business. We made and distributed flyers and managed to get 1 steady client. We tried to undercut the competition with our $18 package deal.
* Growing up Chris had an unnatural affinity toward Ted Nugent. I had an unnatural affinity toward the Swedish Chef.

59) Ten Facts

Been challenged to reengage my blog with 30 posts in 60 days. Wish me luck. Here are 10 facts about me:

1) I have the ability to stay up as late as the last person in any given evening. However, once I climb into bed I fall asleep within seconds.

2) I have slightly webbed toes and cannot move them individually. And this has not made me a faster swimmer.

3) I do not wear deodorant and I do not have BO problems.

4) I cringe each time my work phone rings.

5) I use the same voice to impersonate everything: people, animals and inanimate objects. Strangely, my impersonation fits my mother spot on.

6) On a Saturday afternoon if forced to choose between writing on a novel, playing music with a band, or playing a sport, I would most likely choose playing a sport. Almost doesn't matter the sport.

7) I can watch long, boring movies better than most people. I can also watch crappy 80's movies better than most people. However, I have a difficult time with modern day crappy movies.

8) Things I love more than any dude should: disney movies, jasmine vanilla aromatherapy hand lotion, wine, my puppy, playing pictionary, movies about gladiators, chocolate chip cookies, painting weiner dogs, TruBlood, cooking with our home grown peppers, shopping online

9) Things I love as much as any dude should: Dirk, pizza, whiskey, playing ping pong, the original Star Wars Trilogy, being at the lake house, movies about Scottish revolutionaries from the 1200's, The Most Interesting Man in the World commercials

10) Of all things, I am most proud of my 8-year marriage. I certainly did a superb job choosing and wooing a beautiful and intelligent girl. But also, we have done a great job of growing together and moving our lives in a forward direction. Our relationship has kept me emotionally and intellectually engaged, and has enabled me to keep a positive attitude in all other aspects of my life. And our relationship has kept me entertained (you should see her argue with the dog...it is very entertaining).

58) Obsessive Courtesy Flushers

We have a couple of people here at my office who are obsessive courtesy flushers. That is to say, as they are going #2 they flush every 3-5 seconds, or each time something drips/falls/plops/splashes into the toilet...whichever happens more frequently. Part of me is annoyed by the Obsessive Courtesy Flusher because I feel like they are wasting a lot of water. I am also slightly annoyed because I sit within earshot of the bathroom, so I can hear each time an Obsessive Courtesy Flusher is dropping a load, and I do not like my day interrupted at all by the thought of someone else dropping a load. However, part of me feels like maybe I am the A-Hole that is pissing everyone off by only courtesy flushing when I deem necessary.

Maybe this is the problem. We need to, as a society, develop a universal definition as to the appropriate and necessary times to utilize the courtesy flush. Should we flush each time something exits the bunghole, or should we stop being so sensitive and wait until the entire process is done before considering to flush? And should there be other factors that need to be considered? For instance, if someone is hungover should they flush more. Or if someone ate Taco Bell for their last meal, should they be forced to flush more than someone who last ate Cafe Express? And what are adequate punishments for not adhering to the Universal Courtesy Flush Mandate? As a society we have a lot to consider.

Or perhaps I have spent entirely too much time on this subject already. Nothing like a little bathroom discussion on a Friday afternoon.

57) 2011 Resolutions

The year cannot properly start without resolutions. Generally when setting goals, I like to review my last goal and see how well I may or may not have achieved that goal. I do not want to do that here. Resolutions are designed to allow us to move forward, and that is fully what I intend to do. So, no examining how shitty I was at my 2010 resolutions.

1) My most important resolution centers around my career. I am forever working toward something (no matter what realm of life we are talking about). For the longest time I was not certain exactly what I wanted my career to be (big picture). Now I have a good 5-year goal, which will hopefully set up the rest of my career. I work for an ad agency and have been working the past year and a half on a new client, building them from the ground up. The process has been tough, but rewarding. My resolution for 2011 centers around strengthening my position within the agency as it relates to the growth of this client. I wish to be an integral part of developing the relationship between the agency and the client, while at the same time developing the processes by which the agency executes this clients business. My goal: to be someone within the agency that pitches new business opportunities and moves from client to client in 5 year windows setting up the team within the agency, making it viable and self-serving before moving to a new business opportunity. For 2011 specifically, I want to move myself into the position of running our media team. It is going to be hard, and it is going to take many things happening at the same time. And it is going to take some luck. But I think I am up for it.

2) I started a small writing project a year and a half ago (before I started my job) and I would like to finish it. I have not written in a couple of years, but feel like I have a project I am interested in completing. I am 20-30 pages in and am liking the style in which I am writing. This style is much different than any of my previous projects. I would like to finish this novel/novella in 2011.

3) For my birthday I got an electronic drum set. I have been playing on average 4-5 days a week, 20-40 minutes per session. I have definitely improved, but I wish to be good enough to play in a band within the next 3 years. I need to improve drastically to make this happen.

4) I would like to learn how to make Scotch. For Christmas I got a home Scotch making kit. I have mixed the ingredients and have my first attempt resting in a tiny oak barrel. I am pretty sure it is going to taste like complete shit, but I am interested in learning this year how to not make it taste like complete shit. In fact, I would like to make it taste decent, maybe even good. Just so you know, I am not taking the barley and rye and distilling my own alcohol using the standard 3 year and 1 day required by Scottish law to make Scotch. However, I am taking the pre-distilled liquor, mixing it with pre-provided mash, adding a few of my own ingredients and then letting it mature in a tiny oak barrel in my house. This is not a professional endeavor, purely a recreational one. I feel strongly that any endeavor that yields alcohol is a good one, unless that alcohol tastes like complete shit. Which leads me back to my 4th resolution.

5) I would like to eat more blueberries and spinach. These are power foods that are extremely healthy. Blueberries are known to increase brain health. This is important to me, as my family is predisposed to Alzheimer's. Included with this is my need to address my cholesterol. I was recently tested for insurance purposes and my levels are higher than optimal. I am not in the danger area yet. I do not need to be on medication. However, I do need to seriously consider addressing my behavior so that I do not ever reach dangerous levels of cholesterol. Basically, I want to ensure that my body lives long enough to see my mind go crazy...

56) 2010 Year In Review

Spent some time last week thinking about New Year's Resolutions. My mind kept returning to 2010 and how great it was for me. The following is an impromptu list of things I experienced in 2010, and how I would like to work toward making 2011 be just as great.

* Vacations: New York City and Mexico. I've never been good at going on vacations as I am too cheap to spend money and not particular fond of flying. We went to New York early in the year. I went to Yankee Stadium and Ground Zero. We ate at a couple of New York's finest restaurants, as well as eating from the infamous street vendors. We went to the Museum of Modern Art and McSorley's, one of the oldest and most interesting pubs I have ever visited. The Mexican vacation was an all inclusive that involved a lot of lounging on the beach, eating at the different restaurants and drinking lots of whiskey. A truly fancy resort.

* Sporting Events: I love sporting events and I cannot imagine a better year than my 2010. I saw several Mavericks games from a suite and 2 courtside (hard to watch a game any other way after sitting courtside). The last couple of games I got to walk to the long media table where I know one of the best local sports writers covering the mavs. Felt good telling the high class suite that I was leaving to discuss latest Mavs news with an insider during the game. I saw a Cowboy game in the new Cowboy stadium, also in a suite on the Star level. Not kidding, our parking space was 15 yards from one of the entrances. We were so close they searched our car for bombs using a special bomb canine. I already mentioned Yankee Stadium, which was impressive. My most impressive experience occurred when my brother surprised me with Game 6 tickets to see the Rangers defeat the Yankees to go to the World Series.

* Concerts: I also love music and got to see some great shows in 2010. I saw Rush for the 4th time with Craig and Mark. Always a great time seeing three of the most talented musicians tear it up on stage, even if Craig is off dancing with a wooden fence at the back of the venue. We saw Roger Waters perform The Wall in all its musical and theatrical glory. We saw Better Than Ezra for the 5th time, or was it 6th? Always a good show, and always fun being 10 feet from the stage. And how can I forget JookaBox, the band that describes itself as: Messy, Zombie Punk that will take Metal back to hell!

* Weddings: Stephen and Meghan had a beautiful wedding in Houston that brought the family together for a fun and important weekend.

* Job: Made huge strides developing our client and building them from a start up brand to one we hope to be a household name within 5 years. As I look to 2011 I would like to devote time and energy into strengthening our client, developing our team within the agency and making our agency more successful than 2010. This will be hard, but rewarding when we are successful.

* Music: I got a drum set and am in the process of learning how to play. I did a good job in 2010 practicing each week and I have definitely made progress. My goal is to be good enough within 3 years to play in a band as a drummer. I have 2 1/2 years left to fulfill this goal.

* Kids: We have done a good job in 2010 fending off family and friends from pressuring us into having kids. I am confident we will be just as successful in 2011, though I fully anticipate a more vigorous effort from them.