Got to tell you. I have a new definition of a tough day at the office. I worked my final football game yesterday. It was blowing pretty good by the time I got to Orchard Park. Once the game got started, the rain was coming down heavy and sideways. I actually had to interrupt a "spirited discussion" between two people who had disagreeing senses of entitlement as to where to stand in the freakin hallway.

Customer: "I paid to be here"

Me: "No, actually you paid to sit out there"

Ever was it thus. Full out storm driving home, despite me hiding in the Orchard Park borders store for a half hour. I got home to find that my block was one that lost power. Goddamn!! Went over to Spot to wait it out. Usually a CocoMoco is a god like beverage, but having it in a paper cup didn't do it justice.

Drove back, still no power, but screw it. I grabbed a flashlight and scaled my three stories (Always keep a flashlight in your car kids). Got out of my football garb and wrapped presents by candlelight. My daughter said it was just like the pioneers did. I could only respond with "look what happened to them."

I suppose wishing for Saturday's weather would have been too much so I am grateful it at least wasn't a night game. I am working the Ice Bowl so some pictures may have to come of that. It may cut in to how crazy I can get for New Year's, but it's the price you pay for being a star.

Did the last bit of xmas shopping on Saturday and got estrip secret santa help from my eldest. We got the last little bits of family stuff done, parlayed a great suggestion from darling daughter for my (e:peep) secret santa, and celebrated our success at Louie's.

So, here it sits, Christmas Eve and I'm at the Zoo till 1. Reading the lovely (e:imk)'s journal entry about secret santa and this little community of (e:strip) made me well up a little. It's a beautful thing, this little group of ours. Best present I got last year came from the NYE party at the 24 (won't be the same with (e:Ladycroft), or nearly as fabulous).

Hope it's a very fine holiday for you all



May all the presents be the right ones. Keep it safe and happy and see ya New Year's Eve

Due to my increasing age, and decreasing ability to send cards on time, here is my card to cover every Holiday ..

would a guy do a 180 in his Prius trying to get into the Zoo Today. It was an impressive move worthy of the chase scene in The French Connection, but I'm not quite sure taking the chillens to the Zoo for Breakfast with Santa should be preceeded by tossing their cookies.

I wasn't real happy about having to go in today to oversee this event. I was amazed people actually came. Lesser cities would have said fuck it, but not us. People will take their fool lives in their hands for the sake of a paid for pancake.

Cracks me up. I was in Wegmans last night about 10:00 and the cashier wanted to know if I was stocking up because of the storm. I replied I was stocking up because I was out of food. Place looked like a nervous, storm panicked mob hit it.

Thankfully the Zoo brunchers chowed and ran and I was home on my couch to watch the Bills game by 1:30. I was less fascinated with the outcome somewhat as it was interesting to watch them play in a near Blizzard at times. They lost so it means the little dweeb who bosses the game day staff around can shut the hell up next week.

Driving home was a treat. My lil red gomobile was getting it's bumper ridden by some schmuck in a Jeep. He nearly took out the light post and Elmwood and Forest since he was in such a rush. I must have drove him nuts driving all crazy like.

He nearly hit the first chucklhead I saw, peeling onto Elmwood at a fast enough clip he nearly when into the Mobil station ass-first. Wasn't the oddest site I saw though. Having to be at the Zoo early, I came north on Nottingham to avoid the S curve, all you could see on the money houses were plow marks where the affluent had already summoned their "Mr. Plows"

Oh, to have that kind of cash. I've always wanted to get plowed on Nottingham, but that's a story for another day.

Stay warm, peeps

Me, neither till yesterday when the python decided the live segment we were working on bored her.



Pretty sure I just saw a Tiger catching snow flakes too. There are some seriously cool aspects to this work

Ooh, Baby it was cold outside at the Bills game yesterday. I was good and multilayered but it felt good to get back to the sanctity of the lil red gomobile. The game was nicely uneventful for me. One of the suites was nice enough to keep the hot beverages flowing fairly regularly. I shared the cookies with the Sheriff's. Best make friends in the right places you know. The drive home was a little worrisome as the stadium is in the top of the famed snowbelt so the possibility of snow, rain and ice made the 219 an interesting sojourn back into the city.

I had an enticing invite for Saturday night, but wimped out as I had to be at the stadium sunday morning by 9 or so. That meant actually getting up at a semi responsible hour. Next time for sure, peeps

I did partake of the Celtic Sessions at Nietzche's late Saturday afternoon. I highly recommend it. A quiet two pints and an hour and half mental vacation was a nice mental soother that I guess I needed.
The fact that the old duffer behind the bar knows how to properly pour a pint was nice too. He drew a shamrock in the foam of the second one. It ain't showing off if you can do it. I guess.

My on-going list of grief with the Buffalo News took on a new twist. There is talk of moving the final bills home to primetime and they started it. I don't want to work another primetime. The game is set for the 23rd. I have to work the 24th, but many folks don't which should maximize the level of assholishness. That combined with the fact that they are playing the Giants, close enough for some fans to make the trek up here does not fill me full of Christmas cheer.

My dad-in-law (his title since my divorce) got the pathology report you don't want to get so at some point the ex and I get to have a way too grown up conversation with the kids.

Being a grown up can suck

Things I do for extra cash...

How was your weekend?