So many great things about our trip to the city, but these were the standouts...
10. Swiping other people's internet access for free dollars
9. Staying in the heart of Manhattan
8. Seeing the Pixar exhibition at MoMA
7. FINALLY experiencing snow after a 10 year hiatus
6. Wicked on Broadway
5. Hanging out with relatives
4. Walking distance to EVERYTHING from our hotel
3. The Food (Hole-In-The-Wall's like Gray's Papaya to uppity like Nobu's)
2. Fantastic night photography
1. Getting another battery charger for my camera for $24 NOT FROM CHINATOWN
Monday, January 30, 2006
Top 10 WORST Things About New York
For every action, there is a reaction...
10. People trying to swindle you out of money
9. Not really seeing the ball drop on New Year's Eve (10 blocks away!)
8. Not getting a slice from Ray's Pizza, but paying $15 for French Toast
7. Missing Little Italy
6. Missing the cut to be on The Today Show by 2 seconds (literally)
5. Not being able to see more of New York
4. $24.95/daily for internet access
3. Forgetting my battery charger in Orlando
2. Going to Chinatown to haggle for one and getting denied
1. CHINATOWN
10. People trying to swindle you out of money
9. Not really seeing the ball drop on New Year's Eve (10 blocks away!)
8. Not getting a slice from Ray's Pizza, but paying $15 for French Toast
7. Missing Little Italy
6. Missing the cut to be on The Today Show by 2 seconds (literally)
5. Not being able to see more of New York
4. $24.95/daily for internet access
3. Forgetting my battery charger in Orlando
2. Going to Chinatown to haggle for one and getting denied
1. CHINATOWN
2005 Holiday Cheers!
This would've been me and El's first foray into a Christmas Party at the casa. Some careful planning ensured us a great time. Every party we throw has gotten larger so I was little nervous about it. But it all came together and I hope everyone had a great time. Thanks to everyone who made it out! it was cool to meet some new people and have some newbies to the shindigs. Of course, it wouldn't be a party without the Usual Suspects making their appearances. Sorry to those who were bound by prior engagements. Next time na lang.
All the food everyone brought turned out great. Just trying to remember everything: Stuffed Cabbage, Nacho with Bean and Salsa Dip, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Cheesecakes, Pork Tenderloin, Seafood Chowder, Hot Wings, Fudge Brownies, Veggie Dips, various candies and so on. Not to mention all the different brews and mixed cocktails that everyone brought out. Damn.
The gag gift exchange was also great fun. Getting shitty gifts could never have been so hilarious. Now to start thinking about what the next get together is gonna be...
All the food everyone brought turned out great. Just trying to remember everything: Stuffed Cabbage, Nacho with Bean and Salsa Dip, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Cheesecakes, Pork Tenderloin, Seafood Chowder, Hot Wings, Fudge Brownies, Veggie Dips, various candies and so on. Not to mention all the different brews and mixed cocktails that everyone brought out. Damn.
The gag gift exchange was also great fun. Getting shitty gifts could never have been so hilarious. Now to start thinking about what the next get together is gonna be...
The SPREAD. This time I opted for a potluck setup vs. the standard Kick My Own Ass Spread. This actually worked out really well. In addition, to not having to stress too hard about menu selections, I was able to actually ENJOY the party this time. Haha. All I did was a Roasted Pork Tenderloin with a Cranberry and Rosemary Chutney and served with Fried Green Tomatoes and Smashed Sweet Potatoes. Then I also managed a very tasty Seafood Chowder. Everything everyone brought was tasty! I may have to do this format again for the next par-tay.
Feeling pretty brave I invited more people than the usual partygoers. Unfortunately, cos of limited space in our house I had to be selective in the invitees. Not everyone knew each other, but it was definitely a goo dmix of people who mingled well and hopefully had a good time. Left to right: Eric Bartel and his girl Tip, Randal and his wife Lisa, Wen and the TOP of Danyang's head, and Ollie.
As with any good Christmas Party you gotta open gifts. Brynn got my crowd pleaser, Ch-ch-ch-chia Homer! Some other standouts included the Cookie Sutra book complete with a Barry White CD, the goat hoof necklace (yuck Darlene!), and the winner of our Clever Gift Contest: Kam's Light Flashing Pope Clock. Pure crap to be had for the low, low price of $2.99.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
The 2005 Golf Channel Holiday Party
As is customary with every growing company is the Holiday Party at the end of the year. It's a great chance to hang out with friends you see everyday and get wasted for free, hope to see Golf Legend Arnold Palmer (maybe even a little tipsy), and kiss some corporate butt. There ARE rules, of course, to the Company Party.
It always starts off the same. You and your (wife, girlfriend, buddy) get dressed up and show up fashionably late. You eventually meet a couple of the crew from work and hijack someone else's table. Head straight to the open bar. Engorge yourself silly on giant mutant shrimp. And when the party is over, move the party to some bar to get even more wasted. See you next year. Merry Christmas!
It always starts off the same. You and your (wife, girlfriend, buddy) get dressed up and show up fashionably late. You eventually meet a couple of the crew from work and hijack someone else's table. Head straight to the open bar. Engorge yourself silly on giant mutant shrimp. And when the party is over, move the party to some bar to get even more wasted. See you next year. Merry Christmas!
What a few drinks will do for you. I got lit. The food is always great. There's supposedly live music, but Inever remember that part of it. What's the standouts? The big ass Shrimp Cocktail (big as a baby's leg!) and the OPEN BAR. It used to be that El and I spent the night shmoozing, but I have long since given that up. Although I make some rounds here and there each year, I usually stick to a table with the Lunch Bunch. Safety in numbers!
Bartels and Me
Welp it was Eric Bartels LAST Golf Channel Holiday Party. He turned in his Drive, Chip & Putt hat for greener pastures in Colorado. Good luck man!
Lalaine and Joe Visit...
Right after our Thanksgiving holiday ended Lalaine and Joe from San Fran decided to swing by for a short visit. It was cool to see them again - I didn't realize that they had just come by earlier in the year. Time flies I guess. We took them out to dinner, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, and the ICE exhibition at Gaylord Palms. It was my first time meeting Joe last time and he turned out to be very cool. Just one of the guys, I learned some interesting things about him while they stayed over. His "guy" persona he tried hard to project (plays rugby, works in construction sales, likes beer) belies his true self.
Although we had done the ICE Exhibition we did it again to see if there were newer pieces this year. We found out that is a little smaller this year. It didn't help that although we were the last people to go in and were assured we wouldn't be rushed - we were. The staff literally followed us through the exhibit. Back off jackasses - you got your money already!
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