Happy new year and all that business.  This shall serve as the first official post of the year, so I should probably kind of ease into things with a brief, uninspired bit of drivel.  That way I will leave room for constant improvement during the upcoming year.  If all goes according to plan, this page should be a veritable entertainment mecca by July or so.

We started off the weekend on Friday with something of an impromptu gathering (for us anyway) down at the less-than-desirable spot known as the Granfalloon.  Ed and Kim (of edpaffjr.com fame) had roughly a bajillion friends and family in town for the upcoming Chiefs-Bengals game, and they all converged there to kick off their weekend.  I didn’t have my camera with me, but Ed’s family were snapping photos like a bunch of Chinese tourists so maybe he’ll put some pics up on his site.  As an added bonus, my almost-favorite-ex-waitress from the Brooksider had our section, so we got to catch up with her a bit.  We stayed out later than we should have, but had a great time meeting everybody and listening to their rather bizarre Bengals “chants”.  I was glad to be a Chiefs fan, I could never memorize all those little ditties.  I’m doing good to remember the words to the KC “nahhhhh-nah-na-na-na-nahhhhh” song.

Saturday we took it easy most of the day, resting up to make a run at actually ringing in the new year.  Gabe and I ran around a bit but mostly we kind of laid low.  We headed over to Todd’s around 6:00 for his New Year’s gala.  Despite our rather low estimate on the turnout (we were counting on Doni and I, and Susan if she was really bored) there was quite a crowd there.  I think there were about 20 people crammed in there at one point, and I am guessing 30-40 over the entire evening.  When the clock struck midnight though, it was just Doni and I, Todd, Susan, and the Scottens.  We all hung around and talked and partied for another 18 seconds or so, then headed home.

Sunday the football game took up the majority of the day.  We watched it down at the Brooksider, and somewhere around the mid-fourth quarter the Cincinnati gang stormed in and joined us.  They handled the crushing defeat rather well, apparently buoyed by the prospect of next weeks playoff game.  They seemed to have had a good time at the game though, despite less-than-hospitable treatment from what they termed “The biggest gathering of redneck crack-heads in central Missouri.”  (OK, that was my term… I think they used something like “sorta rude.”  Same difference.)  I was reminded of why I prefer to watch the games on television.  But then again, the Cincinnati gang had dined at Gates and labeled it “inedible swill” so I can’t really say much for their character either.

Monday I had lots of plans but none really came together.  I did make it out on a few computer-distress calls, but I watched little-to-no football, didn’t take Gabe exercising, and didn’t get to the store to buy all the “stuff” that I need.  (Headphones, a few XM radio accessories, and batteries in case you were wondering.)  Before we knew it, it was 5:00 and we had plans to meet Doni’s parents for dinner.  They took us and Ed and Kim to Hereford house, where I enjoyed a nice 20 oz t-bone.  We built a couple of websites for their trophy business so they were hooking us up for that.  Plus, it was Doni’s Dad’s birthday; But since he picked up the check I’m not sure we can count that as part of the deal.  Might have to go back tonight…