Universal Truth Number 1,234

Last night we attend a wedding for one of Michelle's coworkers and I had a relevation, but I'll get to that in a second. The wedding was for two widowers. The groom's wife passed on a few years ago after a years long struggle, from my understanding, with Lou Gehrig's disease. During that time he did everything he could to take care of her. He stayed true, and even after her condition deteriorated to the point where he was forced to put her in a nursing home and she became bitter, even accusing him of unfaithfulness and abusing their children. During that time he stayed loyal, taking care of his wife and raising his children. The bride is the mother of five and her husband passed on while remodelling their home. He sent her to the store to get something and when she came back he was gone. It was great to see two people who have had so much heartbreak find each other, hopefully they will lead a long and wonderful life together.

The highlight of the night for me was the wonderful Mariachi band that was hired to perform for the evening festivities. I've never seen a real Mariachi band before and my only experience with them is from the movies. The real thing was much better. We were serenaded to a number of familiar tunes, including "La Bamba" and "Pretty Woman." So now universal truth number 1,234: All weddings henceforth should STRONGLY consider hiring a Mariachi band. It really needs to be a movement of some sort, we could keep it underground even, like the Grey Album. It's worth it, trust me. Cha-cha.



In other news:

Cyclones play in the Houston Bowl versus TCU in about 5 hours, I think I will drink some beer, it's going to be a tough one. Go State!

Oh, and if you didn't see the end of the Alamo Bowl between Nebraska and Michigan the other day you need to see it. It's ridiculous, if Michigan would have scored that quite possibly would have been one of the most f'd up plays in the history of football.

Fitz Family Movies Blurb

“Two thumbs way up!”
- Ebert and Roeper

“Non-stop action! An instant classic!”
- USA Today

“A cinematic masterpiece, unparalleled in scope and audacity!”
- Entertainment Weekly

Director Robert Fitz provides the essential uncut and unedited look into his life as an American during the second half of the 20th century. Audiences will be captivated by the unadulterated clips of threshing events, wild west shootouts, Christmas’s past, weddings, grandchildren and more. It’s a can’t miss collection from one of America’s most beloved grandfathers.

Featuring Steve, Becky, Diana, Carol, Joyce, Bob, and Florence. With special appearances by Chris, Gabe, Vicki, Dave, and Al.

Rated PG by the MPAA. Compatible with most DVD players.

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This has been a movie blurb creation of Chris Creative Press for the upcoming nationwide theatrical release of the Fitz Family Movies. If you don't know about the Fitz Family Movies, than this post probably doesn't a lick of sense to you, so bah!

Dwayne: Eugooglized

A horrible tragedy occurred today. Our friend Dwayne burned to death on our street today. No one is sure how he caught on fire but T-Unit saw the whole thing happen. He called 911 as soon as he could and the fire department arrived within minutes, but it was too late, they couldn't save him. For those who did not know Dwayne he had become like a member of the family to us in recent times. We first met Dwayne while we were living at Windsor on the River. At that time he was more like an acquaintance really, we saw him once in a while. But as time passed we got to know him better. Recently he has been over a lot and Terry and Luka were quite fond of him. Dwayne liked hanging out in our garage and was well known for the strange noises that emanated from his body.

So today I am pouring one out for our homey. RIP Dwayne. 199? - Dec 8, 2005.

Post Secret

I recently added a link to one of Time's Top 50 websites 2005, Post Secret, so check it out. Post Secret is a site were people write a secret they have on a postcard and send them in to the author. Every week the author selects about 20 and posts them on the site, a collection of about 250 has also been made into a book. It can be a bit racy, so don't say I didn't warn you.

Note to self

Dear Self,

Please remember to search the jeans that you wore Monday for your Rec Center ID card as today will be the third day in a row you have gone to the Rec Center without said card and had to fill out the yellow "well aren't you a dummy for forgotting your ID card" card.

If said ID is not in said pants then it may have vanished into a wormhole or been eaten by mythological creatures.

The End

Manifest Destiny

Two words can be used to accurately describe some of my earliest memories of PC usage: Oregon Trail. The concept was simple, name your people, buy your supplies, and try to get to Oregon without: starving, drowning, coming down with dysentery or typhoid, any any other assortment of maladies.

It is a game that anyone who my age knows and remembers fondly. When Michelle and I went to Montana last summer I chose a driving route that intentionally passed Chimney Rock. Why did I want to go past Chimney Rock? Besides being a significant symbol of the West, it was in Oregon Trail, therefore it must be worthy of a stop. It was too bad we got there when we did because it was at the end of the day and the little museum there was closing. But we took pictures.

I have always been fascinated by the West. I love Dances With Wolves, books and TV shows and anything I find about it. There was a sense of freedom and exploration that is really unique to American history. There were also compelling stories of all kind, from Lewis and Clark to the mountain men to the wagon trains to the iron trains to the plight of the Native Americans to Custer and on and on. It holds a grip on me to this day.

Oregon Trail is probably the single experience that started it all. It started my fascination with the West and my fascination with computers. Both things I am hooked on to this day, though in very different capacities. So imagine my surprise when I received in my inbox the other day from a friend an Apple IIe emulator with the ROM files for Oregon Trail. I tried it once, and in honor of the Donner Party my last surviving person died of starvation while struggling to cross the mountains in winter. I will try again, because one should always want to pursue their personal manifest destiny.