Day 77

I'm back in Chicago. What a surprise, its raining and gray. At least its in the 40's. I've got a big week this week getting back to the grind. Lots of planning and wrapping of gifts for Leah's 30th birthday on Thursday, and then we are leaving for Kansas City Friday night for a quick 24 hour jaunt which includes dinner at Plaza III, my favorite steak restaurant, and the Kansas/Kentucky game. Saturday night we are back here and doing dinner at Rosebud on Taylor with Jessica and Justin. Let the 30th b-day dinner tour begin. I am still planning on the hardcore diet - we are now postponing it for a week.

On the flight home last night, we went through some of the worst turbulence I have ever been a part of. It was brutal. At one point I felt like the plane had been struck by lightning. People who were standing fell over, drinks flew off of tray tables. It was crazy. We watched the movie Hotel Rwanda on our DVD player. 4 stars. This is a movie that is a must see for everyone. The story is truly incredible and sad. Don Cheadle deserved best actor for his role as Paul, the luxury hotel manager who turns his hotel into a refugee camp when the warring factions of his country explode. It was such a powerful movie watching experience. The only other movies I can say that about are Schindler's List and House of Sand and Fog. All three are depressing in their own right (Fog more than the other two) and are movies I think everyone should see.

In other movie reviews on DVD - the 40 Year Old Virgin. I give it a C+. I just didn't think it was all that great. Were there some funny parts? Yes. Did I laugh out loud at times? Of course. But it just tried too hard to be funny. Some of these new comedies go way over the top with the curse words and sophomoric humor that it comes off as forced. Movies like Stripes, Fletch, Trading Places, etc - Their humor may have been sophomoric, but came off as smart. I can't say the same about the 40 Year Old Virgin. This may be a movie I need to see again to fully appreciate. That is what happened with Anchorman. The more I see it, the more I like it.

I love Bowl Day. Back when I was growing up, January 1st was one of my favorite days of the year. Dad always two TV's going and plenty of channel changing. We were always involved in some bowl pool. Mom always made this incredible vat of cheese dip that Dad used to inhale. We sat on the couch all day from 11am till the last game was over, usually the Sugar Bowl, around midnight. It was so solid. That day was so right up my dad's alley. The other thing we did on Bowl dad, probably around 3 or 4 years when I was 8 or 9, was go over to the "Perlmuter Bowl." It was a big bowl party thrown by the Perlmuter's. They all wore referee jerseys, had a ton of food, and multiple TV's. It was a great concept back on the day. I am counting down the minutes until the Ohio State/Notre Dame game. I've been looking forward to it for a month.

I received some sad news yesterday. Todd Friedman called me to tell me that a kid we both went to pre-school and high school with, Brandon "BJ" Garson, died new years eve. Not all of the facts are in, but he may have died falling off his balcony. It is so strange to know someone I grew up with, died before he reached 30. The worst part of all of it is that his mother and sister just a year ago had to bury their husband/father after he lost his battle with cancer. My heart goes out to them.

Song of the Day: "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel