The Kee

And by real thing, I mean a totally lip-synced spectacle of awesomeness.  I’m so happy they didn’t even try to convince us Britney was singing.  They just poured the effort into dance moves, circus performers, sparkly outfits, and montage videos.  It was worth every penny and by far the best decision I’ve made thus far in the year 2009.

This morning a student said to me, “I felt emotions I’ve never felt before” after seeing an earlier Chicago show.   I completely concur.

I tackled the shower issue today.   Apartment drains have plagued my adult existence and I finally took action.  After unscrewing the stopper I pulled out a hairball so big it could have been a rat.  Luckily it wasn’t Rizzo the Party Rat and I only gagged a little.

In other good news, I got a call from Joe today.  There’s a slim chance he could be my summer roommate [again].   Cha-ching.  Hopefully the new version of Crapples to Crapples [homemade Apples to Apples] will be ready and laminated for his return.  I can’t wait to play the official “Walking Sloth” card.

Also, unrelated, I found this on my camera today.  Kids, take notes:  Wii Fit Hula Hoop Demo

I’ll see you in one week, Britney.

The symbol of our hardcore, monogamous friendship:

W, resigned to the fact that I’m his best friend in Wisconsin:

How sexy can one video get?  Justin Timberlake & Ciara test the boundaries on that one.

I enjoyed my last weekend of Spring Break with some domestic travel to Madison [can you believe it?!].  I brought my bike to cycle so we could bike our cycles.  As usual, the weather dictated my love for life and it was a GREAT day.

Breakfast Grabble

You can see I’m about ready to play the word DOUG in a game of breakfast scrabble in the grass.  The rules have changed for breakfast style; it no longer matters what time of day it is.  Flexible spelling and proper nouns are welcome.

On the ride from the Arboretum to The Terrace, the subject of Putting Out The Vibe’s Socio-Academic Map came up.  I wanted to know when/how to find/see the kids from College Life.  As luck would have it, I got an even bigger treat – Vibe’s blogger Matt showed up at the Terrace not an hour after this conversation.  I haven’t seen or talked to him in person since high school but our internet relationship is solid and that’s the way I like.  He had to go to Qdoba and we had get to get home to listen to “Break My Stride” on repeat back at Monroe Street.

Saturday the world was introduced to BikeTub back in The Kee.  Kay and I laid the groundwork for this bike gang last year and the 2009 season looks promising.  We have new membership, a solid name and a sound system.

Handlebar Tunes

The maiden voyage of Bry, Jack, Whit, Kay and Lyn went to the newfound lighthouse [SWAY] and then to Cafe Lulu.  Seventeen miles makes you thirsty!

North Point Lighthouse

Which of the following things do you enjoy?

A. Banjos

B. O Brother Where Art Thou

C. Kings of Leon

D. Beards

If you’d rather answer E. All of the Above, you’ll love The Avett Brothers.

There was a significant amount of music and film discussion on my recent road trip and I got to reminisce about how amazing this show at Turner Ballroom was last year.  [Thanks to P.Block for the head's up on them.]  Unfortunately, they primarily tour the South and a show in Chicago [6.28] is as close as they’ll come to Milwaukee for awhile.   Quick, somebody invite them to Summerfest!  Get on that Seizure Chicken.

Standup bass in a gondola – beat that:

Rocking harder than you thought possible on string instruments:

Doing Springsteen:

I’ve also been really excited about a guy named Ray LaMontagne.  I first saw him on SNL a few months ago  [I told you it was cool again!]  and have iTouched him many times since then.  Unlike the Avett Brothers, he will be in Milwaukee on Tuesday.  Let’s go!

Trouble:

You Are the Best Thing:

If only Bill Withers had been available to ride bikes with me today

FRIDAY / Opening Day

Lyn lets Mike Pauls Mike Pauls know what’s up at Miller Park

Kay protects her jumpshot rep with a Snuggie picnic table leap

After the game, I ran into a former acquaintance.  I think I’ve only mentioned Dale once before.  He’s friends with my old Albion craps-playing neighbors.  We headed to the the Landmark for some hand-scored bowling and to decide what the rest of the night should look like.  I made friends with some exiled Amish bowlers [how did I not get a pic?] and Kay embarrassed the rest of us with her skills.

Dustin uses his cell phone calculator to help with high level bowling math

This is about the part where dramatic decisions came into play.  Ready to blow his tax return, Dale asked if anyone wanted to go to Boston.  I casually answered yes and thirty minutes later we were on the way to pick up Danny [new friend #2]  in Chicago.  Dale & Dan are no longer acquaintances because since Friday we’ve spent thirty six hours in a VW Passat together and I’ve upgraded them both to provisional friend status.

SATURDAY / SUNDAY

Malice gets prettier every time I see him

Zombie Parade on Easter Sunday.  Jesus was a zombie, right?

Zombie leftovers

Tim & Matt anxiously await the day’s first trip to Redbones

I had texted Tim to meet us to “eat a meal.”  Since I didn’t proofread the text predictor results I had actually asked him to “eat a neck” with us; he came anyways.

The Duck Tour employees [new friends #3 and #4] loved us so much that one of them ninja kicked Tim

Niagra Falls stop @ 7:00 am

We stayed in Chicago last night before the final leg of the trip back to The Kee.  Over a BYOB Thai food meal I befriended  #5 [Louis],  #6 [Nick], and #7 [Brian].   All in a hard weekend’s work.  It’s now 4:17 pm on a Tuesday and my Pizza Shuttle just got here.  BANG!

Total trip time: 81 hours [Car: 36, Boston: 30, Niagra Falls: .2, Chicago: 14.8]

Feast your eyes on these beautifully blasted chemical cheese covered GOLDFISH.