Mommy wow, I'm a big kid now

Strangely impressed with myself tonight.

December is always an expensive month, that's no secret. Extra expensive for me this year because my cousin Loren is getting married on New Years Eve, and that's costing me a fair chunk of pennies. I hate being broke.

Tonight was my friends 23rd birthday. We went to hibachi for dinner. I was literally a penny pincher at that place. Ordered iced tea instead of alcohol, and got just chicken (instead of steak, shrimp, or anything else expensive). But that isn't what impressed me.

Everyone went out to a bar afterwards. Naturally I would have loved to gone. I don't want to be home at 11pm on a Friday night, sitting alone in my basement, writing a blog. That's pathetic.

But, as I said before, I'm broke. And this bar had a cover charge. And drinks are probably unreasonably expensive. So, like a big boy, I passed, and saved my wallet probably 75-100 dollars. Now I get to watch survivor re-runs on DVD while all my friends have a blast in Old Bridge -- whereas old me (and by that, I mean younger me) wouldn't have even thought about his financial situation, would have just gone to the bar and spent an inordinate amount of money, and in a few days would have complained about how broke he really was.

I miss old me. Growing up sucks.

Christmas Time Is Here Again

Started my holiday shopping - online - today. I've never started before December. Ever. Only bought one thing, but still, that's better than most years. Got some decorations down from the attic, too. This is how I know the holidays are approaching.

This, and I went to the Jester last night, and they had the lights up in the front room. As soon as this happens every year, that's how I know Christmas is actually upon us. Not sure why something at the Jester signifies the start of my holidays, but it does.

Broke out the Christmas CDs today, too. I can't listen yet, but that doesn't mean my family doesn't want to listen. A Very Sharkey Christmas is now available, again. If you don't have a copy of it, IM me, and I'll send it to you.

H.H. Holmes

I'm no historian, but I do consider myself fairly educated in this department, especially when it comes to things within the U.S. But I just finished reading Erik Larson's The Devil In The White City. To say that I was unfamiliar with the "serial killer" H.H. Holmes is an understatement. I never knew such a demon could exist.

Here's a man who was married multiple times (legally 3, upwards of 6 or 7 total). Fathered one child. Aborted at least one other. He owned a hotel on 63rd in Chicago in the early 1890's, the World's Fair Hotel (the Chicago World's Fair was open from May 1893-October 1893). He killed at least 3 spouses. At least one sister-in-law. At least 2 other "companions." A co-worker. At least four children (not his own). He admitted to killing 27 people. The remains of 9 of them were discovered. But during his reign in Chicago, estimates have placed the number as high as 200 people, as there were countless disappearances of young girls-- fitting the description of what Holmes craved-- never to be solved.

The fact that he had an incinerator built in his basement may have something to do with that.

History fascinates me. I won't say murder fascinates me, because then you'll all think I'm some kind of crazy. But that a man this horrific, and this nationally known in his time, could be so disregarded by our generation today blows my mind.

I'm not telling you to go read this book. Most of the people I associate with would probably find it boring and unreadable.

I'm just saying, there's so much more out there than what we've been told, it's unbelievable.

Best Of 2006

Random Bests of 2006:
Best CD: “Continuum” - John Mayer
Best non-2006 CD: “How To Save A Life” - The Fray
Best Song: “Coming Home” - John Legend
Best non-2006 Song: “How To Save A Life” - The Fray
Best Movie: Blood Diamond
Most enjoyable Team (of mine): Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Player: Ryan Howard
Best Play: Vince Young’s TD
Best Family Event: Thanksgiving, again
Best Event: Bonnaroooooooooooo
Best Vacation: Wildwood
Concert Of The Year: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bonnaroo
Best Day of the Year: Pigfest XIII
All-nighter of the Year: Bonnaroo “4-cup” Night
Book Of The Year: “The Beatles” - Bob Spitz
TV Show Of The Year: How I Met Your Mother
Episode Of The Year: The Pineapple Incident

Best Albums of 2006:
10. “Broken Boy Soldier” - The Raconteurs
9. “Colorblind” - Robert Randolph & The Family Band
8. “Play Pause Stop” - The Benevento Russo Duo
7. “9” - Damien Rice
6. “Once Again” - John Legend
5. “Youth” - Matisyahu
4. “Safety In Numbers” - Umphrey’s McGee
3. “Yell Fire!” - Michael Franti & Spearhead
2. “Sam’s Town” - The Killers
1. “Continuum” - John Mayer

Best Songs of 2006:
10. “Chasing Cars” - Snow Patrol
9. “Better Days” - Goo Goo Dolls
8. “9 Crimes” - Damien Rice
7. “I Know I’m Not Alone” - Michael Franti & Spearhead
6. “Why Am I Still Counting?” - The Killers
5. “Dani California” - Red Hot Chili Peppers
4. “Waiting On The World To Change” - John Mayer
3. “Bold As Love” - John Mayer
2. “Crazy” - Gnarls Barkley
1. “Coming Home” - John Legend

Best Movies of 2006:*
10. V for Vendetta
9. Accepted
8. Borat
7. Pirates Of The Caribbean
6. The Da Vinci Code
5. Inside Man
4. Clerks 2
3. United 93
2. Flags Of Our Fathers
1. Blood Diamond

*These are only of the movies I've seen. There are a lot of movies from this year that I never got around to seeing.

Best Sport Games of 2006:*
10. Mets-Cardinals
Game 7
9. Notre Dame-Michigan State
Notre Dame's 17 point 4th quarter comeback
8. Uconn-George Mason
#11 George Mason upsets #1 to make Final Four
7. Trinidad&Tobago-Sweden
World Cup First-timers tie powerful Sweden 0-0, with only 10 men
6. Colts-Steelers
Peyton Chokes Again
5. Devils-Canadiens
Devils score 3 goals in final 8 minutes, in last game of season, to win division
4. Italy-France
The Head-Butt. Oh yeah, Italy wins Championship, too.
3. Rutgers-Louisville
Best game in NJ Sports history
2. Italy-Germany
WC Semifinal. Scoreless for first 118 minutes. 2 Italy goals in final 2 minutes.
1. Texas-UCS
BCS National Championship. 41-38. Vince Young's 4th down TD run. Possibly the greatest game I've ever watched, in any sport.

*Yes, I know I left off Ohio State-Michigan. Unlike the entire College Football world, I didn't think the game itself was great. Just the hype surrounding it.

Atlantic City

I can give lots of reasons why growing up in NJ is better than most anywhere else. But I'll save that post for another day. For now, the simple answer is Atlantic City. Every Tuesday night, myself and 5-10 co-workers go to moore's tavern for drinks after work. Last night, last call came & went, and for whatever reason, we weren't ready to go home. So at 2am, we packed into the car and headed for AC. Got into the casino at around 4am, got a free room, and gambled until noon when it was time to come back home. This is the sort of thing you can't do growing up in Wyoming.

Christmas Party

Since Chili's is lame and won't give us a Christmas party anymore, T threw one at her place last night.

From what I remember, good times. I drank a bottle of Jager basically by myself. And yes, I'm talking about the $25 bottle, not the flask sized one. Surprisingly, no hangover. But I am exhausted, just want sleep.

Good times last night. Shake your money maker.

RIP Peter Boyle

Thanks for all the laughs...