Thursday, January 14, 2010

2009: A Year in Review



Wow, it has been quite a while since I have updated this thing. December was a busy month at work and having my entire extended family over during the holidays didn’t make things any easier. So anyway, here is 2009: A Year in Review.

I made several trips out to New Orleans last year, 3 in fact, which means I ended up going there a total of 5 times in less than a one year period. I don’t know what it is about that city but I have never managed to have anything less than an amazing time there, even when having to evacuate due to hurricanes. Of course it also doesn’t hurt that the casino there has been more than generous to me. The plan right now is to head out to New Orleans once again when Mardi Gras rolls around in the middle of February. It is going to be epic.

One of the more negative aspects of 2009 was my endless love/hate relationship with my Xbox 360. My original Xbox had the RRoD and due to the fact that it was out of warranty, I decided to try to fix it myself. This worked, more or less, for the better part of 3 months before I decided to just bite the bullet and buy a new one. Of course, within 2 weeks of getting the new one, Microsoft dropped the ban hammer of all modified consoles and I was once again without one. This story does not end sadly, as it convinced me to build a HTPC ( Home Theater PC ) for watching stuff online, which was really the only thing I was using the Xbox for anyway.

One of the bigger experiments this year was me cutting the cable, and going exclusively to online video watching. This is still more or less a work in progress. It has been about 6 months now and I haven’t once yet felt the need to have cable tv again. My Boxee setup has worked great so far and I can’t ever imagine paying money to watch commercials ever again.

2009 also saw the end of the Exploder. My beloved car was sent to the scrap heap when I got some of that Obama Money, aka Cash for Clunkers. Many of you who had the pleasure of riding in my former car know that clunker doesn’t even begin to describe what my 1998 Explorer Sport was. I’m still loving my new Honda Accord. Going 500 miles with out having to fill up is quite simply ridiculous. Oh, and the AC actually works in this new car!

In September I made it out to Las Vegas once again. If you haven’t read my write up of that vacation, I encourage you to do so. It is filled with mystery, intrigue, people getting kicked out of casinos and cups made of ice. And that was all just in one night! Vegas is one of those places where staying too long makes you wish you had never even come in the first place. Luckily this time around we only stayed for 3 nights instead of the 4 we stayed the year before. My brother is turning 21 this year so it is more than likely that another trip will be made out to Vegas in June.

2009 will probably be remembered most for the amount of smoking I did. I have become somewhat of a master chef when it comes to slow cooking meat out on the smoker. I did all things from brisket, ribs, chicken and my favorite, pulled pork shoulder. The goal for this year is to participate in some sort of cook off to see how well my stuff compares to others. Spoiler alert, it kicks all their asses.

I finally made it out to the Texas Renaissance Fair last year. It was honestly one of the most bizarre places I have ever been. I still don’t understand the whole tail thing, but to each their own I suppose. The day we went to TRF was unique in that it was the first time I ever drank wine out of a can. You see, it is much more socially acceptable to drink in public when the public thinks you are just drinking soda. And don’t even get me started on how much more active it makes you feel and the amount of gesturing you will be able to do now that you are sans wine glass. Thanks “Always Suuny” for the idea!

How could I forget about Champagne Campaign 2K9? It turns out, very easily when large amounts of champagne is involved. Bar none, the party, which we threw over Halloween, was the most awesome event ever. The riot punch we concocted was nothing less than deliciously lethal. It also had dry ice in it which made it even more bad ass. No fewer than half of the people at the party ended up hurling in the front yard. That’s how you know they had a good time! Oh, and people doing “the thriller dance” was probably the funniest thing I have ever seen.

So a lot happened in 2009. We now move into ‘010 with another set of resolutions never to be fulfilled. Actually, one goal that will most likely be fulfilled this year is my quest to get a free Miller High Life jacket as part of the rewards program they are currently running. I am more than 500 beers in and only need a paltry 300 more to achieve this stupid goal of mine. So, by all means, come hang out this year and bong a few High Life’s with us and then chase it with a shot of Rumpplemintz. You definitely won’t regret it (right away).

*Programming note, it appears that I am fast approaching my 100th post on this blog. I will have to think long and hard about how to facilitate such a momentous event. Perhaps a live studio audience or something? At any rate, I’ll let you know once I have it figured out.
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