Hallows Eve

Friday we had a costume party at Cortlands Garage.
Billy and Cece, Milli & Vanilli, Me, a lion(not to be confused w/ the lion) Jake, Popeye, Neal, one of the cowboys from Brokeback Mountain



Aim's parents made it down also. They're so hip.

She was a Ring Master and I her Lion. Cheesy but funny

The ghosts of halloweens past

You know every year Aim and I have waited til the last minute to get our costumes for Halloween. This year i still do not have one. I am on the prowl for great ideas I cant seem to come up with any thing. Is this a sign that dressing up has ran its course for me. Or have I just lost my creativivty? Stay tuned!

This month Aim and I added showtime to our cable package. It actually lowered our cable bill by $40.00. It also made the movie "Into the Wild" available to us. this movie is about the true story of a kid named Christopher McCandless. I've watched it several times since the the first time. It is the first movie that I have watched in a long time(if ever) that moved me. Which sounds funny to hear me day in my head or to even write on a blog. But the story is based on the book by Jon Krakauer.


Shortly after graduation, he gave the remaining money from his education fund to Oxfam(a charity that fights poverty and injustice). The check written by Chris, totalled $24000. He then left quietly from home to begin his adventures and assumed the name Alexander Supertramp of which he got from the book The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp by William H. Davies from 1908. (which is supposed to be amazing also)When asked by someone where his family was at, he would reply that he didn't have a family anymore. Which is sad because he came from a troubled upper class family, that was very much alive.

He travelled through various states of America in his car (which he left after it was caught in a flash flood) and by train, hiking, canoeing and of course hitchhiking. The challenge to himself was to travel with the least amount of belongings as possible and as little money as possible. He had no map and no agenda, just the will to travel. Crazy if you ask me. I guess I rely so much on technology that the thought of being without the Internet disgusts me more than eating squirrel.

His dream was the Alaskan adventure and he would tell this to those he met along the way. Some people he worked for on odd jobs would try to convince him to stay and some would insist on giving him supplies to help with the journey.
He seldom accepted. In the film he makes a life changing impression on everyone he comes across.

He reached his final destination on April 28, 1992 in Fairbanks Alaska.

Four months later he died from a combination either starvation or poisoning and his body was found in an abandoned old Fairbanks City Transit Bus numbered 142 which was located on the Stampede Trail.

He kept a journal along the way and took self portraits now and then. His final self portrait was a picture of him holding a farewell note in his left hand and waving with his right hand. He was about 135lbs in weight and eventually died of starvation and possibly poisoning from fungus on some fruit he had eaten.

Emile Hirsch plays Chris in the movie. Watch it if you have the chance.
It says to me that sometimes its not the destination that makes the trip, but the journey to get there. It has a killer soundtrack too.



Here is the last pictures of Chris McCandless before he died.

Growing up My Dad always told me that "you would be a lucky man, if you grow up and are able to count good friends on one hand." Well I'm 30 years old, which is grown up...... Looking through all my pictures from this week alone. I consider myself a lucky man. Great wife, great family, great friends. You were right Dad-

The dewy decimal wedding

Saturday night Aim and I went to out friend Merideth and Dan's wedding. The reception was held at the Herald Washington Library. We had never been there, It was an amazing place have a wedding. The Huge ballroom on the 10th floor that was sky lighted. Unreal.


I still am not used to stuff like this. But I like it

Our friend Jason sat with us. His wife stood up so he was dateless. He also took about 300 pictures.... I thought I like to takes pictures. This guy is a picture nut!

The groom

The Bride


We ran into to familiar face... Lorenzo, he was taking pictures for the wedding. He did our wedding also. He is straight off the boat from Italy. Thick accent he is great to talk to. He knows AJ too? Not sure how. He asked me. Oha Howsa Youra Brotha? Pleasa tella hima Ia saida helloa.

Kitt and Mike were there as well. O whatta night!

SURPRISE!!!

SURPRISE!!! Aim and I planned on going out to eat with my parents right? Wrong, she button hooked me and invited the entire family to surprise me for my 30Th birthday. Very unexpected. The food the family and the place were absolutely perfect. Cafe De Luca is the best. So much food.. MINGYA DID WE MANGIA!! Pizzas, Garlic Shrimp appetizer, passed salad, chicken ravioli, baked ziti with sawseega, chicken De luca and artichokes. OOOOFA I had to unbutton my pants for the birthday song. Great night with my family, the in laws made the trip in from the burbs, as did the Ryskes, the Timmons', the Wooldridges', Kitt and Mike and Aunt Lisa who still thinks "I RULE"





My wife has such a great sense of humor.Since I have become an avid Scrabble player, she had this cake made for me. Very creative sweetie

This is an awesome group picture after we ate. Although it was not easy to organize with all the crazy kids. But we pulled it off

I am the chick and Michael Myers is the flu...

Guess whos Five???

Five short years ago I was living in Canton, Ohio. Aim and I had Just rekindled our flame and began a "long" long distance relationship. I was always on the go and in truck and was lonely. So when Aim came to visit me for my birthday in 2004, I said lets go look at puppies. She was of course game for that(cause all chicks love puppies, that's what I was thinkin). We found an adoption facility outside of Akron and made the trip. Low and behold we found out that adoption was not free and I only had $89.00 on me. Lou cost $95.00. So Aim lent me the $6.00 and we called him "our dog."



He has lived all over the country with me. From the Halls of Fame in Canton Ohio, to the pink Sandia mountains of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then on to the treacherous winters of St. Paul, Minnesota and 20 inches of snow a month. Until he and I have found our place to call home in the Windy City, full of family friends and deep dish pizza!!


He has always loved being on the couch with Aim.

We definitely can not fit him in the tub or afford the plumber to come out every time we groom him. He sheds like crazy. Although the grooming gets costly too.

He has always loved his Daddy. The Dog Whisperer says a dog can only have one true "Master". Patience Grashopper.

Nowadays he is a regular city dog. Dog parks, 3 floor walk ups and plenty of looking out the windows at the birds. I can't imagine coming home and not seeing him all happy to see us.

This is his favorite toy for some reason.... It just a coincidence that it looks like spaghetti.

This guy has the best life... Lounging on the couch which he is not allowed on. It was a special occasion. But he couldn't resist to roll around the first chance he got.

Happy Birthday Luigi!!

Memory lane

Saturday night we had a college reunion called ZAZAPALOOZA. Lots of old friends and lots of old stories. We had a $40.00 drink special and made t-shirts. What we didn't realize was the power of facebook, and it was slammed packed at 50/50. We were expecting about 100 people.... 210 showed up....Kudos face book, and up yours E-vite!

Thats a spicy Meat-a-ball!!

Saturday night Aim and I went out tho Daryl and Jerris' for dinner. What was on the menu??? Only my absolute favorite.... Rosemary and Meatballs!!! Great dinner and even better family time.

Cooper wanted to show us all his Halloween costume. So he ran into the living room and showed us it, and what he has been learning in Gymnastics.


Then he showed us the scorpion and we were crying!!

Uncle Bob and Gavin play the WII bowling and Uncle Bob beats every one... Hilarious!


Fresh Rosemary with a Basil sauce simmered for days and enjoyed by our family for generations!! Now ya see it!!

Now ya don't! MMMMMMMMMMMM- Delicious!

It kinda reminded me of old times by Grandmas... But nobody was rubbing the railings.



Popps never missing a chance to be funny.. Runs in the family I guess

A Special Din Din

Friday night Aim and I went to dinner with our friends Jason and Erin. They had a reservation to a very top notch restaraunt. The name of it is "SCHWA". It doesn't look like much from the outside , but MADONE A MI!!! It was one of the best meals that we have ever had. Gourmet across the board. The best part was the face melting Raviolo stuffed with quail egg enfused with white wine truffle sauce and braised with a cow cheese beer foam. WOW!!! No wonder it takes 6 months to get a reservation there. There is only 7 tables in the place too. What a meal. Thanks to our friends Jason and Erin again, what a great night! You guys rule! Dont worry I yelped it already !





Do not shrink me Gypsy!

After we went to Violet hour... Which was a horrible waste of time. After we waited 45 minutes to get in. We were served drinks that Clark Gable would have ordered in his hay day. Bluuoyyyckkk!!!

Two Whiskies, one shaken and one stirred, both diisgusting