And Now, A Real Video

The Mines with: "Valley"

Kung Fu Christmas 2007

It was promised, now it has been delivered.

Merry Christmas, Shitter's Full!

You know, when people ask me what I got for Christmas in 2007, I'll show them these pictures and tell them I got a great family. Oh, and a stick blender!










We here at the Wade household hope you are as blessed as we are with good friends and family. Regardless of what the commercials say, they are the most important thing about this holiday. Merry Christmas to everyone!

P.S. - Since I had a lot of free time today I put together what will likely be the first of several Holiday sideshows. Check back later for Kung Fu Christmas 2007 and possibly others.

I Heart Andy Samberg

SNL - People Getting Punched Just Before Eating (Andy Samber

First Aired : Oct 13th 2007


OK, I know this is old but I still think its hilarious. Plus, Samberg reminds me of old school Newmyer

Why I Love College Sports

I don't expect most of you that read this blog to sit through this entire 8 minute video. It's mostly there so my brother and I can easily access the video. But I came across this youtube video of the UGA v Auburn game, "The Blackout" and it reminded me of why college football is easily my favorite sport. It has even surpassed baseball. College sports are the highest level of major sports that are rely heavily on the emotion of the players and fans. Where else can you get such an emotional lift from something as simple as a black jersey. Yet this simple gesture by the coaches and the reciprocation by the majority of the fanbase at Sanford stadium helped propel the Dawgs to a complete destruction of a very good Auburn defense. I remember something very similar about the gold uniforms and black socks from the Fab Five at Michigan in the early 90's. There seems to be an attitude that is fun to watch associated with all the emotion. You don't get that emotion in the pros. Things don't mean quite as much when you are making $15 million a year.

Anyway, this video seemed to capture how I felt through the entire game vs Auburn. I was jacked up the minute I saw the black jerseys and the blacked out stadium and I stayed jacked up through the entire game. So, for most of you I'll see you at my next post. Paulie, I'll probably have this permanently embedded on my page before too long.

God Bless Stoned College Students

BCS Hearburn

So, it's just after midnight and I'm resigned to the fact that I won't be able to sleep until the final BCS rankings come out. This is absolutely the weirdest thing I've ever seen in sports, I never even began to hope that UGA would be in a position to make the title game because the scenario needed to get them there was too improbable. Now, every team in front of them has lost and the only thing between them and the title game is a bunch of sportswriters and coaches who now have a few short hours to sort out the mess that has developed from this crazy season. Can anyone say 8 team playoff?

So, now that I'm hyper stressed and popping Rolaids like candy I figured I'd go ahead and post some pics from todays trip to Frankenmuth.

It was the first time Jenny or I had ever been. Thanks again to Chris and Rie for hooking us up with an invite. Of course they had to pick a windy, 30 degree day but the cold did not dampen our good time.

It's kinda hard to see, but the key to this picture is the piece of plastic in the center labeled "Butts Only". I love 4th grade humor.

























































And the best part of the day; definitely the cigarette pooping Elephant! Just push his trunk and you get a special, cancerous treat. They taste like ass. Hee-hee. And yes, we bought one for Jenny.





OK, I'm off to try and get some sleep.

Will You Scratch My Nuts?

Tuesday Badassitude

I'm sure you've all seen these but I found some new ones I would like to share. I never get tired of these damn things.



* Chuck Norris once ate a whole cake before his friends could tell him there was a stripper in it.

* When Chuck Norris talks, everybody listens. And dies.

* Chuck Norris invented black. In fact, he invented the entire spectrum of visible light. Except pink. Tom Cruise invented pink.

* There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Oklahoma.

* Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.



* Mr. T was originally cast to play Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes. Unfortunately every time he said, "whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" Willis shit himself.

* If you rearrange the letters in Mr. T, he'll fucking break you.

* The only reason Mr. T is not Dr. T is because his thesis, entitled "Fools and Those Who Pity Them", only had a photo of Mr. T with his arms crossed. After the faculty questioned this, they were found dead with their testicles in their eye sockets, even the women. His thesis is still yet to be marked.

* Mr. T's edition of the VH1 show 'Where Are They Now' was the shortest in the show's history. It was 10 seconds long, and consisted of a black screen with the words "Right Behind You" written on it.

* There are only four horsemen of the apocalypse, because Mr. T is going to walk.

And still my all time favorite:

Chuck Norris and Mr. T walked into a bar. The bar was instantly destroyed, as that level of awesome cannot be contained in one building.

Our Newest Edition

This is Maynard. He came to live with us today.



So far, he doesn't seem to get along too well with our dogs.











However, he does seem to like to sleep on my shoulder.










This ought to be fun.


UPDATE!!!!

OK. so we decided our new edition did not really seem like one who would be called Maynard. As much as Jenny wanted an orange tiger kitten named Maynard the name did not seem right. So we decided to look up some Irish names and see what felt right. The choices came down to Neill and Emmett. Jenny liked Neill (an Irish name after her favorite hockey player Chris Neill), I preferred Emmet (after the Irish Poet Robert Emmet). We decided to let fate decide. We put each name on separate pieces of paper and I folded them up and shuffled them between each hand. Jenny blindly chose which hand to go with. And so without further ado, may I introduce Mr. Emmet N. Wade.
(Yes, his middle name is Neill, compromise is the secret to a good marriage).

Tag

tag . . .

Here's how you play....once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with ten random facts, habits, or goals about yourself. At the end, choose ten people to tag, listing their names and why you chose them; don't forget to leave a comment on their page letting them know "tag you're it". You cannot tag the original people/person back that tagged you first, but let them know when you have posted so they can read your blog.

1. I have a double headed toe on each foot. Only 10 toes all together but two on each foot share the same "trunk" for lack of a better word.

2. I once got a letter from Dr. Robert Ballard, the guy who found the Titanic. My mom has it somewhere in the pile of kids stuff.

3. I have never broken a bone (knock on wood)

4. I met the best man, maid of honor and pastor for the first time about 10 minutes before my wedding started.

5. I can't whistle.

6. My lifelong goal is to be able to play all the instruments of a three piece rock band by the time I retire.

7. I hate snow.

8. I love Scotch. Scotchy Scotch Scotch.

9. I can barbecue the crap out of a pork shoulder.

10. I have an unhealthy view of how dead sexy I really am.


My tags

1. Jenny - cuz she's my wife and I like her boobs.

2. Chris - cuz he pretty much thinks like me

3. Rie - cuz she'll laugh when she reads my comment about Jenny's boobs.

4. Rachel - my sister

5. Paul - see # 4 except we're pretty sure he's a boy

6. Doug - because he typically has the most interesting random stuff about him

7. Angie - because she'll probably make fun of Jon somewhere in her post

8. Phil - because if he's still using the internet i'd like to hear from him and see whats up

9. Wayne - always has something insightful to say

10. Ezra - because he's the Beard.

Lots and Lots O' Music

So Rie opened for The Mines last night. Great fun was had by all. Dwight stayed up way to late and woke up with a nice headache. Totally worth it.


She kept hiding behind her microphone so this is the best picture I could get.


I love the way this one turned out. Total accident. I turned the flash off by mistake and it defaults to night-time exposure. Turned out pretty sweet I think.


Basically everyone had a great time, not that you could tell from any of these pictures.




I highly suggest going to Rie's blog as well for more pictures and commentary on the evening. And just for fun, here's an extremely amateur video of The Mines produced by your's truly.

Robert Goulet 1933-2007

The passing of a legend is always a sad occasion.

And now, a tribute:

Charles Schultz Got It

I was watching PBS tonight and they had a special on the life of Charles Schultz. They showed a comic that really hit home for me. Unfortunately I couldn't find the strip but I did find the quote. If any one is able to find the actual strip please let me know.

Sometimes it is Charlie Brown who confides in Lucy. He approaches her in her counseling booth. The doctor is in.

Charlie Brown: I'm in sad shape.

Lucy: Good morning, Sir, sit right down.

Charlie Brown: Fine. . . I was afraid I might need an appointment. What can you do when you don't fit in? What can you do when life seems to be passing you by?

Lucy: Follow me, I want to show you something. See the horizon over there? See how big this world is? See how much room there is for everybody? Have you ever seen any other worlds?

Charlie Brown: No.

Lucy: As far as you know this is the only world there is. . . right?

Charlie Brown: Right.

Lucy: There are no other worlds for you to live in. . .right?

Charlie Brown: Right.

Lucy: WELL, LIVE IN IT, THEN! Five cents, please.

Redonkulous!

I'm not sure if this is freakin cool or really sad. Either way its incredibly ugly. I wouldn't want to be at practice in a purple jersey on Monday.

Just Another Thursday Night in Grand Rapids

Somebody mentioned it was a Halloween show, but I couldn't tell.
Apparently the guys were re-shooting The Beastie Boys "Sabotage" video after the show.


Greg spent most of the night trying to arrange a reunion tour for The Cure.

Unfortunately he was unsucsessful and spent the rest of the night complaining to the skeleton.




















Best part of the night though? Definitely the opener, "No More Tears" by Ozzy. Un-Freakin-Believeable!

Cobra Commander Worked for Amway!

Okay, so I got a little bored tonight and decided to do some light reading about GI Joe at GI Joe Character Guide. I have to say I was shocked when I came across the following information regarding the early days of Cobra Commander:

"Traveling the country, he lived in various towns, moving from one motel to another, finding people just like him who blamed their lives' failures on everyone but themselves. He got them involved in pyramid schemes, selling cleaning products and magazines."

Pyramid schemes? Cleaning products? Is there any question he was an Amway distributor? I think not.

"If you can ssssssign up sssssssix other interesssssted partiesssssss you can make thoussssssands of dollarssssssss a year. If you can get those ssssssssix to sign up sssssssix more you can retire long before ssssssssixty!"

Yeah, This Way is Much Better

Words Do No Justice

Thanks to Jenny for Finding This One

And this one is from me.

Mathematics of a Muted Nature

I've said it before and I'll say it again, GO SEE THESE GUYS PLAY! Mutemath puts on one of the best rock shows I have every seen.

He's not part of the show but he takes decent pictures.























Oh yeah, did I mention I won tickets from WGRD and got to meet the band. You're jealous. I know. You should be.




There are more pictures on my Flickr page should you wish to peruse them.

So It Goes

So I just finished Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Wow! What a read! Short but powerful. For those who have not partaken it is the story of Billy Pilgrim, an unassuming everyman who becomes "unstuck" in time. Essentially he lives his life out of order, separated from the constraints of what we would call time. It is Vonnegut's attempt at an anti-war story. It definitely put forth some powerful antiwar imagery but I found, at least on my first read, that the real power was put behind some simple yet intense insights into our world.

One of my favorites:

"Trout, incidentally, had written a book about a money tree. It had twenty d0llar bills for leaves. Its flowers were government bonds. Its fruit was diamonds. It attracted human beings who killed each other around the roots and made very good fertilizer. So it goes."

Read that again. Maybe for a third time even. This book is filled with little snippets like this that just stopped me in my tracks. So many times I've been forced to read "literature" in class and made to dissect the imagery and meaningfulness of the prose. Yet Vonnegut continually packs all that needs to be said into just a few well chosen words.

So if you like science fiction, quirky stories, unconventional writing techniques or are just looking for something different, might I suggest a little Vonnegut for some weekend reading? YOu will not be disappointed.

No....No....No....No....F*&#K NO!!!!!

I will not stand for this!

And to make matters even worse:

"Smith's son Jaden, 9, is attached to star in the remake." - IGN.com


So are they going to cast Clay Aiken as John Kreese?


I'm going to throw up.

Brandy Would Like To Say Hello

OK, the weather is really starting to mess with me now. We had a beautiful autumn day today. It was something out of a good novel, the leaves were gorgeous and had littered the sidewalks, which led to a pleasant crunchy texture for our walk. The sun was shining, the sky a bright blue with nary a cloud in the sky. The only problem, the 85 degree heat with heavy humidity. I'm all for an Indian summer but number one, it needs to be cold for a while before we get it and two, I don't need it to get above the low 70's.

But that is as close to a complaint as I am going to go today. Alas, the cold and evil, fluffy white, devil precipitation is just around the corner. I will enjoy the warmth while it lasts.

So, despite the heat we got out and enjoyed the sunshine today. We had a nice little picnic at Collins Park in E. Grand Rapids and walked around Gaslight Village. It's always nice to walk around that area of town, where I can feel the disapproving glares that fall on my Walmart wardrobe from within the windows of passing Jaguars and Beamers. Plus, how often to you get to lunch next to the Yacht Club!?!

Yet the foray into "The Land of Houses I Will Never Afford" was well worth it for one reason, Jersey Junction.



We used to bike to Gaslight Village when I was a kid. I have many a fond memory of Hudsonville Ice Cream consumed on the Junction porch.

Of course, Jenny found something else besides ice cream:


I love that my wife still loves little kid's candy. She definitely keeps me feeling young.

Laughter is the Best Medecine

6 Months Till St. Patricks Day!

So the wife and I, along with the Dornans went to see Lunasa this week. Not only are they a phenomenal Irish band but we got to see them in a small little pub. It was much more of an intimate and personal show than what you get in an auditorium. If you are in to traditional Irish music I demand that you pick up at least one of their CD's. You will not be disappointed.

Here are a few pics from the night. Rie has more at her blog (it's the "Bantam Menace" link to the right).


Lunasa,remember it, write it down, buy the albums, dance a jig



This is Sean. He plays the fiddle. Jenny wants to take him home








You can't tell really well from the picture but this beer was pissed! It kept foaming and there were about 10 times as many bubbles as normal. I think they were mad that Jenny ordered a Miller Light at a pub.

Friends, Burgers and High Strung Canines

I promised everyone some pictures of the new living room so here you go.















We still need to get the carpet down but that's a couple weeks out yet so we decided to move the furniture back into the room and just deal with exposed subfloor for a couple of weeks. The house is finally feeling like ours, not like an old lady's house that we are just living in.















So I'm 30 now. I don't see why everyone makes a big deal about it. Its just another year. But, to celebrate we held a little backyard shindig. I cooked up a bunch of burgers and hot dogs and made a couple gallons of sweet tea. It was a good time having everyone over and just hanging out.




























Simon seemed to have the most fun of anyone. Oh to be young enough to be fascinated by the hose under the table.

We've also recently discovered that Daisy is deathly afraid of the creaky bedroom door. It doesn't latch well and the wind can blow it open when we have the windows open. Of course, once we figured this out we started leaving it unlatched when we watch tv in the bedroom so we can enjoy the hilarity that accompanies her terror.

I mean, how do you not laugh at this? Apparently she's decided the only safe place is inside mamma's shirt.