A Final Goodbye?

Today's the day we leave for South Africa. It is all very exciting, although the impending 20-hour plane ride has tempered the anticipation a bit. Also, it was reported on Monday that a Tuberculosis outbreak is forcing many hospitals to turn away patients due to lack of bed space. So, combine that with 70% of the population stricken with AIDs and you have yourself a peaceful and safe vacation spot.

I'm sure it will be ok. Most of the health issues in South Africa are in the north. However, if I was to perish I'd like the following to serve as an impromptu will:

To my brother Mike, I leave my greatest asset - my beer collection. It now numbers well over 100 bottles, including two near priceless bottles of Westvleteren 12. Feel free to throw out the Chimay. You are also entitled to all the empties I've been collecting. Please fill them with lovely brew.

To Maarten, I leave my hookah. I know you've coveted it for some time. Enjoy.

To Chris, I leave my knife sharpener. You shall no longer have to deal with dull blades. Continue to pursue culinary excellence.

So today's schedule is a little hectic. I'll be in the office for about three hours attempting to get 8 hours worth of work done. At 11am I'll drive to the Drygas', pick up Christina and my mother-in-law, drive to Bala Cynwyd to pick up my father-in-law, then drive to JFK. Our flight doesn't leave until 5:30pm, but we figure that it'll take us 2.5 hours to get to JFK and another 30 minutes to park in long-term parking, grab the bus, and get on the terminal train.

I've decided to ignore Chris' advice of waiting to read Moneyball until closer to baseball season. It'll be a good airplane read. The Brothers K will also accompany the carry-on so hopefully I'll be able to chip away at that. To be honest, the on-demand movie feature on South African air will occupy most of my time. The Departed, All the King's Men, and The Queen are all playing. The Guardian, starring the overly-talented Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner actually received some decent reviews from critics I trust. So I'll check that out too.

The direct flight to Johannesburg is about 16 hours, so we'll arrive there tomorrow at 4:30pm local time (7 hours ahead). A quick layover, then a 2-hour flight to Cape Town. I guess we'll get in to the hotel by 9 or 10pm. All in all a long time in airplanes and airports.

We really don't have any definite plans for the week, other than going on a safari, touring through the wine region, and playing golf at Milnerton GC, the 'Pebble Beach' of South Africa - whatever that means. I am interested in sampling the local brew. South Africa is well known for producing some of the best wines in the world, but I'm not sure if they make good beer or not. It's a fairly arid area, so I'm guessing grains and hops don't grow that well there. We'll find out. Ratebeer has the top rated South African Beer, Mitchell's Raven Stout, at a gawdy 56. South African Brewery (owned by Miller) seems to be the only major brewery in the country and their highest rated beer is 37. Hm.

Oh, a quick vlog update. I just purchased a firewire adapter for my laptop. Hopefully it'll be on my doorstep when I get back so I'll post the first four episodes soon. I know you've been waiting with bated breath.

Our hotel does have Internet access so I'll try to post some updates if the cost of the service is reasonable. I hope everyone has a great week. I'll be back in town on February 3rd.

Death to tyrants, Death to turncoats, Death to McNabb.

More Vlog Delays

I have 3 episodes shot and one in the bag. However, I realized last night (after I shot my intro to the vlog and intro to Trappist Ales) that my laptop does not have firewire capability. There's no way around it, either. I need a firewire connection to import the videos from my camcorder. USB will not import digital video. Going out and buying a firewire is no big deal...I just picked one up for $8. The problem I have is that I need a firewire adapter card for my laptop. Those can run $50 or so, something I really don't want to spend money on at this point.

So I have three options. Firstly, I can suck it up and buy an adapter. Secondly, I can get a fireware card for my PC at work. This option is a little cheaper ($25 or so), but would require me to bring the camcorder into work, import the video, burn a copy of the video onto a dvd, then copy the video from the dvd to my laptop. Sounds like a pain. Finally, I can find another person whose computer is firewire compatible. Actually, that doesn't help at all. I'll still need that person to copy the video to disk...so scratch that.

Basically, I need a cheap and easy alternative. So, nerdy tech friends of mine - what should I do? You know who you are. Suggestions?

A Laundry List

It seems like quite a while since I've posted anything and a lot has happened since last post so here we go:

VLOG

Mike and I successfully recorded the first beer vlog on Saturday after we brewed what will surely be an amazing batch of Belgian Strong. How fortunate we were to be able to use Westvleteren 12 as the first beer reviewed for the vlog. The only problem was that neither of us had any idea of what to expect and therefore were kinda dumbfounded as to how to fully describe the beer's attributes. So, rule #1 in beer vlogging is 'always try the beer before you review it.' We weren't creative enough to give Westy the credit it deserves. Rule #2 is 'include notes during the taping'. I seem to forget all the things I want to say once the camera is rolling.

I'm done with all the video editing and have added a sweet intro and some cut-ins. The total running time is going to be close to 10 minutes (after editing) which is 5 minutes longer than I expected. We ended up comparing Westvleteren 12 and Rochefort 10, which I found to be interesting. Of course, it added 3 minutes but I feel it's worth it. Future posts will not have a 10 minute run time. The final production is gonna be awesome in a ghetto way. I decided the Westvleteren vlog will not be the first vlog posted. Instead, I'm planning a basic 5 minute intro to Trappist beers. Then, I'll post Westvleteren 12, Rochefort 8, Chimay Blue, Orval, Westmalle Dubbel, and Achel Extra. I can't find La Trappe anywhere. Suggestions?

THOUGHTS ON THE EAGLES GAME

BREWING

Mike and I brewed a 5 gallon batch of Dema-Goddess Ale at Mike's house last Saturday (recipe from Sam Calagione's Extreme Brewing). The beer is definitely the most complex beer my brother has ever brewed. Basically two sugars are used throughout primary and secondary fermentation - pure cane sugar and demara sugar. A 1/2 pound of each is added to the boil alone! Original gravity was 1.100 so we could expect a 14%-16% beer if we don't add additional sugar and yeast. But hold on. Primary fermentation lasts 8 days. Then, Mike is going to alternate adding 1 oz of each sugar each day for 9 more days. Secondary fermentation lasts another 5 days at which time he pitches more yeast (Rochefort's strain so it'll resemble an abbey ale's spiciness) and alternates the sugars again for 5 more days. Once it's ready for bottling we need to add to some priming sugar and let it rest until June-ish. I'm guessing we're going to achieve a 120-minute-type combination of maltiness, high alcohol , and smooth finish. Mike sent me the picture below.

The yeast is going crazy after only one day in the carboy as you can tell with the healthy white foam head - good sign. We're excited. Our next batch will probably be brewed in March and we're considering doing a Port-Barrel Aged Ale or try to clone a nice Grand Cru to be ready for Christmastime.

Wii

Is Wii the best video game system ever? Chris made sure I would find out as he brought over his brother's Wii to play before and after the Eagles game. The Wii is so fun, in fact, that we missed portions of the game after halftime because we couldn't stop playing. Most of the games we played are comprised of very basic graphics - almost Nintendo 64 quality. But you don't need HD graphics to have a great time playing the Wii.

The game system is less about what you see on the screen and more about how your motions dictate the characters on the screen. So, it can get a little out of control depending on how into it you are. We played the sports games that come with the system - tennis, golf, bowling, and boxing (we didn't get to baseball. Chris said it was lame). Almost everyone who has the Wii loves the tennis. It was fun, but my least favorite. I liked boxing the best, partly because neither of us knew what we were doing so we weren't landing that many punches. Therefore, we weren't getting knocked out often. I can imagine that playing with someone who is really good takes some of the fun out of it. We were panting like dogs after the end of the first round-it really works you out. Sweat was pouring down our faces after the third round. It was intense. My lats were still sore Monday which illustrates how out of shape I am.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

What is the statute of limitations on Christmas decorations? I know that many Italians and Irish celebrate 'little Christmas' on January 6th (the Gregorian traditional date of Christmas) and take the decorations down then. Ok. That's a little too late for me, but I can deal with it. What is up with the people that still have the inflatable snow-globes in their front yard? Is it laziness? Do they think the snow-globes add some unique winter flair to their landscape? Listen, we're finished with being merry and bright. Quit embarrassing yourself and take the Christmas decorations down. Fear not! Only a couple months until you can use that never-tacky giant inflatable Easter bunny.

24

Christina and I watched the first season of 24 a few years ago. It was enthralling. We couldn't stop watching. I deserves all the praise it musters. But is there really a need for Fox to broadcast over twenty 24 commercials during their football games? I equate this waste of advertising dollars to the NFL's Don Cheadle commercials for the playoffs. Are there really people out there who see Don Cheadle spouting off about the NFL's rich playoff history and suddenly say, 'Yes! I am now a football fan. I'm going to change my weekend plans just to watch the playoffs.'? Of course not. 24 is in the same boat. And Kiefer Sutherland just erks me.

del.ic.ious

I'm naming names. Ever since two people got 'real jobs' the del.ic.ious network is dying. As of this morning the last post (aside from mine) was 3 days ago! Listen, I know you're all busy now but you need to realize what you signed up for. Sacrifice is part of the game! I don't want to hear the 'I have a 2-hour train ride' excuse or 'I have too many ice cream parties with Swedish people' excuse. I expected more out of you two. For shame, Bhuta. For shame, Hohorst.

AMERICAN IDOL

When will this fad end? If ratings are any sort of barometer, I guess the answer is 'not anytime soon.' Christina flipped it on for the last 15 minutes of Tuesday's 2-hour show. A guy with bad skin and zero talent was waxing poetic about his 'destiny' of becoming the next American Idol. Of course, his audition was embarrassing and ended with the guy running out of the room, head in his hands, tears streaming down his face. His parents were waiting for him and his mom, clearly upset, said, 'Don't worry, you'll be famous someday.' This type of parenting should be an executionable offense. These parents are guilty of treason as they are clearly destroying the future of this country.

THINGS I SPOTTED TODAY

A 'Dukakis '88' bumper sticker on the back of a Volvo in the parking lot of Whole Foods-Devon.

A Beret-wearing man, also at Whole Foods.

Dunn Disappointment

Casey Dunn started a rumor that a Belgian Beer bar was opening next to Christopher's in Wayne. I work in Wayne so I decided to check it out on the way in this morning. Casey was correct in one sense - it's a bar. However, The Freehouse is your standard 'British Tap Room'. In other words, bland food accompanied by blander beer.

I don't understand restranteurs sometimes. Is there really a need for another 'authetic' British pub? Will The Freehouse become a destination for those just dying to eat fish and chips? Of course not. It may do ok simply because it's situated in the middle of a town that is inhabited by people who go out to eat frequently. But it won't achieve the same success as a well-run Belgian Beer bar. Why? Here's why.

Admittedly the Belgian Beer bar serves a smaller local market than that of an English Pub. However, an authentic Belgian Beer bar similar to Monk's and Eulogy suddenly becomes a reason for beer heads to travel. And travel they will due to the limited number of real-for-real Belgian bars out there.

Moreover, the demand for such as place in the Main Line is growing. No other indicator should be needed than The Beer Yard. This Wayne bottle house changed from standard Bud distributor a few years ago to one of the most comprehensive distributors of imports, crafts, and micros. Now its reputation is second only to Shangy's in the state of PA. Furthermore, the economics of the burgeoning beer market suggests the need for additional Belgian/Specialty bars. The market share of micros and crafts is now up to 7% of all beer sold. This has grown from <1% in just 5 years!

Finally, the archaic Pennsylvania Beer Laws force us to drive to Jersey, Maryland, or Delaware to buy single bottles. Otherwise, we have to shell out $150 for a case of something when we just want to spend $12 to buy two bottles. So, if a bar opens that give me the opportunity to enjoy a des Roc Bruin or a Southampton Abbot 12 without purchasing a case I'm going to make the trip to do so - even if it means spending $8-$10 on the bottle. Plus, many of the best Belgian/Specialty bars go out of their way to obtain beers from small breweries that are otherwise unfindable. Oftentimes, special dinners are presented to give people the opportunity to try these gems. So, BAM! you have events, gain publicity, and become known as THE place for beer. Just ask Tom Peters. He went from just a guy who liked beer to one of only four American 'Belgian Beer Knights' simply because he focused on being different from his competitors.

Let's not overlook an obvious component - the food. Fare at the standard Belgian Beer bar is usually high quality and has an ethnic twist not found in an English Pub. Of course, Mussels and Frites are reason enough to become a patron. But other courses like Anguille au Vert, Boudin Blanc & Boudin Noir, and Koninginnehapjes veer toward gourmet and are quite tasty. Even those not interested in beer can appreciate a Belgian dinner.

So why hasn't this happened? Well, because it HASN'T happened. Investors in new restaurants are wary of opening a store that is completely different and unique, especially when the tired recipes of Kildares and John Harvards work so well (..shudder..). Another reason is focus. For years bars sold the cheapest beer they could to the college-age crowd. It certainly still works, so why change? Well, many bars alienate customers in the 25-34 yr old age group who want nothing less than hanging with a bunch of drunk idiots. This age group is radically different that 30 yr olds of the 80s and 90s. We desire quality, appreciate craft, and enjoy quiet conversation. Oh, and we're willing to pay for it.

Hopefully someone will see the light someday soon. Eulogy is opening two stores outside of Philadelphia. One is in Bucks County somewhere and the other hasn't been announced, although it will be opened in the suburbs. I know the place is run by a bunch of Walloons, but are they that stupid to not consider the Main Line?

Beer Vlog Delays

The beer vlog is not going to be up and running until next week sometime. John borrowed the video camera to use for his speech class final. The camera is a bit old so it uses those mini-tapes. His professor didn't have a tape converter so John just gave her the entire camera so she could hook it up directly to a TV. John's in Chicago until Sunday so I hope to have the camera back on Monday.

Plus, I'm not quite sure the software I have can handle how the entries will be edited, so I'm pirating some from my brother on Saturday - now know as Westvleteren Day henceforth.

The first five vlogs will be as follows - Achel Extra, Orval, Rochefort 8, Chimay Blue, Westmalle Dubbel. I'd like to find a La Trappe somewhere now that they're back in as Trappists (Maarten I know it really grinds your gears to know there is a Trappist Brewery in Holland).

In other news, I am in a book reading phase again, as I'm currently reading The Brothers Karamazov and See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism. It focuses on Robert Baer and is the basis for Syriana. Surprisingly, his anger stems from the disintegration of the CIA and he goes to great lengths to not only defend the CIA but call for its resurgence. Very interesting insight.

A Secret Revealed, a Mystery Explained

Yesterday was a momentous day for Family JP. Christina gave me a call around 2pm to let me know that the USPS tried to deliver a special package to our home while she was away from the house. This is a package I'd been agonizing over since the end of November. It had finally arrived. My life is finally complete. But I'll unravel that secret later.

More importantly, I accompanied Christina to her first ultrasound at Chester County hospital. Christina was as giddy as I've ever seen, as she was undoubtedly looking forward to the planning that goes along with finding out the sex of the baby. Visions of pink or blue window treatments, wall colors, and Easter outfits were dancing through her head, I'm sure.

We go to the ultrasound room around 5pm and were admitted immediately. The ultrasound began with a grainy picture of grays and blacks. The only feature that really stood out right away was the spine, as it is perfectly formed by this point in gestation. Eventually, we were able to make out the head, heart, arms, and legs. Detailed views of the baby's fingers and toes revealed that all appendages were present and accounted for. Whew!

The baby was just sitting there, probably asleep. Christina was told to drink orange juice or something with sugar in it before getting the ultrasound to help the baby move. She forgot so the baby was just hanging out. More testing and measuring by the attendant led to the moment we waited for. 'I know what you're having,' she said........It's a girl.

We're super excited. At first I, like most men, wanted a boy. But before long I reconsidered and reflected on how fun it would be to have a girl. Sure, I won't be able to fully share my passion for sports and beer with a girl (nor would I want to - total turnoff, ladies), but I also won't be the one dealing with all her crazy girl issues when she is a teenager, so I consider the whole thing a wash. Another bonus is the terrorizing of all the young boys that try to date her. (Note: She's not dating until she's 30). Christina's good friend Karen is also having a girl so she's excited to be able to share her experience with someone dealing with similar issues. Plus, the Kurtz's are having a boy soon so maybe an arranged marriage is something to consider.

Onto the revealed secret. We swung by the post office after leaving the hospital to pick up THE package. Upon receiving the package, I asked myself, 'How can something so beautiful be contained in such an ordinary box?' Well, that something beautiful is 6 bottles of liquid gold - Westvleteren 12. The yellow caps created a brightness that filled the room, much like Moses' face when he came down Mt. Sinai.

Back in November, a bunch of us were toying around with the idea of buying a case of Westvleteren via eBay. We set the max price per bottle at $15, including shipping. We were consistently outbid. Time passed and I decided to randomly check eBay again. Turns out a 6-pack was about to be auctioned off for $11/bottle. I bid and won without much thought or effort. The first person I called was my brother who said he wanted 3 bottles. I too wanted 3 bottles so we settled on splitting the sixer.

Now some of you may accuse me of being a greedy bastard. Especially those who were willing to pay for 2 bottles from the case we tried to buy in November. 'Why didn't you guys split the sixer up 3 ways so that 3 people could get 2 bottles?', you may be asking. Well, the answer is a simple two-parter: 1) I am a greedy bastard, 2) the $11/bottle price tag made the purchase of 3 bottles a no-brainer. So I'm sorry (although not that sorry).

Also, I figured that now I'll be able to a) drink one in the short-term, b) drink one for a special occasion, c) age one for 5 years. Mike and I are brewing this Saturday so I plan on taking the booty along so that we'll be able to drink our first together. Two brothers experiencing one dream together. Isn't that heartwarming?

My Wife, the Funny One

Quick story. Christina received a call today from her mom. She wanted to know what a Dutch Oven is. So, Christina went on to explain the dynamics of a Dutch Oven, you know, someone who farts under the covers then pulls them over the head of their companion so they can't escape the nutty goodness. Her mom didn't quite understand, so Christina explained it a second time.

A considerable pause. Now really confused, her mom says, 'Well, I have this recipe here and....'

The Nino

Ok everyone, calm down. Even the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said, 'People in the Northeast should enjoy the nice weather. There's no calm for alarm - this El Nino cycle is no different than any other.' This is the NOAA talking! They are on the gloom and doom front line. No, global warming did not cause the sudden 30 degree shift in temperature last weekend, just like it won't cause the 70 degree day this upcoming Saturday.

Boy, we in the Northeast certainly think that we are the center of the universe. Imagine living in Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri. Think you'd be complaining about global warming while digging out from 35 inches of snow and dealing with sub-freezing temperatures? Or even those in the Pacific Northwest who are experiencing some of the coldest average temperatures in history? It just so happens that the major world media outlets are located in two areas of the world that have to deal with increased temperatures during El Nino - the Northeastern part of the US and Western Europe. Of course The New York Times and London's Independent are going to run stories predicting the beginning of the end. They are in the business of selling hot button news topics.

Am I denying the Earth's temperature increase? Of course not. Am I concerned of the consequences of a rising surface temperature? Absolutely. Am I like many of the eco-wackos out there that look for anything to further their agenda? No. And you shouldn't either. You're smarter than that.

Winter is the worst, people. Let's face it, we all say we like snow and the colder temperatures to make winter seem more bearable than it actually is. Are people vacationing in Greenland to bathe in year-round freezing conditions? What about Siberia? Is tourism bustling in the upper reaches of the Eastern bloc? No. You go to St. John or Florida to soak in the sun and 80 degree temps. And there's a reason: IT'S WARM! No one talks about their 'great upcoming winter vacation' unless they are going somewhere warm (skiers are the main exception and they all have a screw loose). Don't you see the gift we have been given? El Nino is a little slice of heaven - don't provoke or prod the little guy. He only comes around every 4 years or so and is a little shy.

So, why don't you get outside this Saturday, throw the ball around, and enjoy something that we all desire - nice weather. Isn't it great to see the sun and feel the warm breeze in January? February and March will be here soon and you will be pining for the Indian summer that was December and January.

A Great Sunday Night

Ray made a surprise trip down to West Chester to join Chris and myself to watch the Eagles muddle their way to an unimpressive 23-20 win. It was a very frustrating game, so frustrating that Chris ripped off his Eagles' jersey to stomp and spit on it. I think he would have defecated on it if the Eagles had lost. The whole scene reminded me of the Iraq circa 2002 when the Iraqis ripped down statues of Saddam.

At halftime, I whipped up some Price-special homemade wings. Unfortunately, the sauce wasn't that great so I'm going to suck it up and buy bottled sauce at Acme. Any suggestions? Mine just isn't spicy enough. The wings were followed by a couple of Gouden Carolus Grand Crus. Chris was not able to enjoy this brew on New Years so I saved a bottle for him. It was as delightful as ever.

Speaking of the brew, Chris came up with the brilliant idea of of a beer vlog - video blog. The thought is that I will post occasional vlogs showcasing various brews. The first series will focus on Trappist and Belgian Abbey ales simply because that's what I currently have in stock. The vlog will discuss the history of the brew and origin of the brewery along with my personal review of the quality of the beer. Needless to say, I look forward to ripping on Chimay, as it is still the most overrated brew in the history of brew. Good day.

Rodent Issues

It seems we have a few friends living in our house. I arrived home from our week in Florida last Thursday evening and came across some mice droppings in the silverware drawer of our kitchen cabinets. Further investigation led me to the cabinets under the sink that were covered in droppings. The only thing I could figure was that they were living under our back deck (adjoining the same wall as the sink) and getting in through some crack in the foundation. So, I set a trap that night hoping that the little guy would be caught and end the charade.

The next morning arrives with a cute little mouse in the trap. Great. It's all over. Just to be safe I thought I better set the trap out again just in case the bloke had a maid. Friday night is an eventful night. A bunch of us went out to eat at John Harvards, then on to the late showing of The Good Shepherd. I got back around 2am and another mouse was in the trap. My better judgement told me I should set the trap again to confirm that either, a) the two mice I caught were the only mice in the house or, b) my house is completely infested.

The trap is set and I go upstairs, get on the computer, and research how remarkably screwed up the CIA is (I did, after all, just finish a 3-hour movie detailing the life of a CIA agent). No more than 30 seconds after I sat down - a couple minutes after the trap was set - I heard a distinct *SNAP* downstairs. Uh oh.

So, this has gone on since then. 3 additional mice later and I think we need to call an exterminator. Our saving grace (we thought) was that the mice were constrained to the kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, Christina found a chewed up bag of spices next to a pile of droppings in our pantry. Apparently they are able to travel anywhere in the house. Great.

In other news, I finished Syriana the other night and really liked it. Contrary to what was reported by buffoons on the radio, this movie is completely apolitical, fingering no one other than the tycoons that run an industry that deals with powerful families in the heart of the most chaotic area in the world. Of course there is going to be corruption. Are we really naive enough to believe that international business transacted in areas like the Middle East and with countries like Russia is pure and ethical? Please. I'd highly recommend the movie.

The rest of the week looks pretty quiet. I'm looking forward to watching Notre Dame get beat up by LSU tonight.

A Raucous New Years

Happy 2007 everyone!

My, what a fun New Year's. The night started by watching the beginning of a meaningless Eagles game, as they had already clinched the division as a result of the pathetic Cowboys loss to the lowly Lions. The girls started getting ready around 5 while the guys enjoyed some Emperor of the Grand Cru. The group was ready to leave for dinner around 6:15. Dinner at Avalon was excellent. The served a four course meal comprised of five different appetizers to choose from, two salads, and four main courses, including Lamb Loin, NY Strip Steak, Alaskan Cod w/Lump Crab Meat, and Seared Tuna. Christina chose the Seared Tuna and was rewarded with the best meal of the night. Dessert included poached pear, white chocolate mousse, and a sliver of rich chocolate cake. Yum. Avalon is a BYO, so we brought four bottles of quality wine.

After dinner, the Dunns left us to catch the final course of the Perkins' New Years dinner. The rest of the crew came back to our place for a lot of dancing, karaoke, and limbo.

Christina won the limbo contest, furthering her legendary limbo-er status. She won the prize, as evidenced here:

Onto the Karaoke. Comcast offers Karaoke On-Demand and usually has a great selection. We were a little disappointed to not find some of our favorites, but any night you sing Life is a Highway is a good night.

We broke out of the DP Dough around 11:30 and enjoyed every bite. We then switched on Dick Clark's Rocking Eve. Dick, give it up. I admire your resiliency, but you're really hard to watch (not that Ryan Seacrest is much easier to stomach).

And so we rang in the New Year. We did, however, miss the ball dropping due to a television glitch. The channel switched to Comedy Central with about 10 seconds left. South Park was scheduled to record at midnight, but the channel shouldn't have switched. Anyway, we missed the big moment. They said over 1 million people were in the Times Square area last night. How miserable.

Much like this year's Christmas, New Years was the best New Years ever. Christina and I really haven't had that much fun in a long time. Thank you Hohorsts and Bhutas for such a wonderful evening.

Today will be spent watching Penn State get beat up by Tennessee, then perhaps a mid-afternoon movie.