Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Maria and I had a great Christmas trip to Baltimore over the weekend. We got a surprise when both Maria's sister and mother asked to watch all of the kids saturday night (without us even asking!) so we made spur of the moment plans to go up into the city, have dinner at our favorite restaurant and go see a movie at the Charles.

Dinner was fantastic... this was only our second time eating at The Helmand (both times without reservations) and we got seated right away AGAIN! The restaurant was very hot, but they put us by the front door... our total bill only came to $53! The Helmand was just rated #2 overall best restaurant in Baltimore... so we were a little concerned with that publicity it would be impossible to get a table... lucky us I guess.

Then we walked down the street to see a movie at the Charles Theatre. It's an old, small theatre with flat floor (not stadium seating)... but the atmosphere was cool but the seats were terrible... at least for those of us who are 6'-2" 230lbs. We saw the movie Slumdog Millionaire and it was fantastic. I had seen a preview on tv for this movie... but I really had no idea what it was about. It was mainly an action flick.. with a romantic sort of side story which in a way becomes the main story... but I won't get into so I don't ruin the movie. Maria thought it was fantastic as well, in case you were wondering.

Overall the movie was so packed with good stuff and it was so unique as far as storyline goes.... no cliches to be found! Slumdog isn't playing in all theatres... but if you look around you'll be bound to find it somewhere nearby. It's a shame that utter shit movies get wide release, when great movies like this don't nearly get the recognition (or ticket sales) they deserve. So seriously... you gotta see this movie at some point. I can't wait to see it again when it's released on DVD. It's directed by the same guy who directed 28 days later (danny boyle).



So this was probably one of the best date nights we've ever had. Usually the ones you don't plan for and just wing it work out that way.

3 Little Pieces of Paper

So this year Maria and I decided to not get each other presents.... which of course isn't a big deal when you are an adult, as you can typically just go out and buy whatever suits your fancy throughout the year. It was sort of weird though... waking up on Christmas morning with nothing to open. Maria and I are in debt pay off mode... as all of our christmas money and most of my bonus check from work is going towards bills. While this is not the use those who gave us this money might have intended, I just know that in the long run... when we are debt free (I mean the bad type of debt... credit cards... un-needed loans) things will be so much easier.

So Maria and I gave each other "coupons" that we can use at any time for things that we know the other likes. It will be nice when I have that morning that I want to sleep in to use my "sleep in until the cows come home" coupon... I haven't slept in past 8:00am in at least 4 years (Yikes!).

The kids had a great morning... we didn't get them a ton of stuff (they get plenty between the 4 different family stops) and through the mail from my family back in Missouri. Larry has been super sweet with his guitar... dragging it everywhere he goes banging it on everyone and everything left in his wake. I don't think the paint job is going to last too long at this rate on that sucker.

Holden got a leapster which he is really getting into. We got him a couple of games... Dora the Explorer, Backyardigans & a math shooter game. He took it with him in the car to Grandma's and played it the whole way. Of course on the way home he fires it up and not even 5 minutes later we can still hear the game music... but look back to find Holdy asleep with the game barely sticking to his fingertips. Nobody had naps so everyone was exhausted.

Pearl got a barbie from her Great Grandma that she really likes! This is her first exposure to Barbie but so far so good... I'm sure it's the first of many.

Delilah really had no interest in opening presents... she did get a giggling baby that she loves to run around with and make laugh.

Overall (besides me having what I guess you could call a hybrid tension/migrane headache) the family had a good time. Maria tolerated my mom, tony & family (complete with a 60+ year old lady passed out on the couch) and the kids got some sweet schwag there too.

Here's a song I'm listening to at the moment

Bring on New Years!

Use The Force

A Trip To The Grocery Store

I borrowed my friends Subaru the other day to go get a gallon of milk and some bread. I guess all those years of playing videogames came in handy.

Subaru Fun

Thud

So we were heading up to Easton this past Saturday evening. We were driving along.. Maria and I were talking about this guy, and I saw about 3 or 4 seagulls sitting in my lane about 500 feet ahead, but I figured they would fly away. All of them did except one... he was probably the biggest of them all and he just started taking off when.. BAM he hits the driver's side mirror on the expedition and it sounds like someone just threw a bowling ball at the truck.

Once I'm done crapping my pants I realize the mirror sitting there dangling (just ordered a new one earlier tonight). About an hour later on the way home we drove by the same spot and didn't see any dead birds on the way back.. so maybe the only casualty was the mirror?

End of Ze World

ROFL

Somebody's Baby

Not Your Typical Roast

So we are having a couple of Christmas get-togethers for work, one that is a fancy affair at a restaurant (or this year, a winery), and the other is at work in the lunch room. We have about 5 principals (the big, big bosses) and I have been asked by my bosses (the people under the principals, but over me) to make a "Roast" video of them to show during our in work luncheon. It will be fun to make, but I'm a little concerned. I have a few principals that will be easy to clown on, but a few really are going to be hard to come up with something that's not too mean, or just not quite politically correct. I have several things that jump out that I could make fun of... but I'd like to keep my job intact.

Maybe I should make sure I get my bonus check before we air it? I will post it here once I get it done in the next few weeks.

I <3 IKEA

Took the wife and kids to IKEA to have lunch and do some furniture shopping... just general browsing because the store is so awesome. Anyone who hasn't been to one yet, needs to just take half a day and go... very cool stuff, and the cafeteria is pretty decent too. Pics from the adventure below.