This Week in Blogs, Volume XIII
Hi Friends. Thanks for coming back. Sorry I had to take a week off last week, but I’m back now. I leave for one week and all hell breaks loose: Jacko and Farrah die, Jon and Kate file for divorce, my Jersey housewives leave me for the year, and the Governor of a neighboring state goes to Argentina to have an affair. Crazy stuff, and that doesn’t even count all of the non-celebrity news. I’m guessing People Magazine has changed their upcoming cover about three times in the past week.
Since I haven’t spent a whole lot of time reading blogs recently, I’ll ramble a bit about our Cabo trip, and then talk about some blogs a little bit, okay? Cabo was fun. I learned that I’m getting a little too old for Spring Break (downtown) Cabo. All-Inclusive Resort Cabo is more my style. Although having something like this in your hotel room is just a little bit dangerous:
I also thought I’d give you guys a photo diary of a typical day of vacation. We’d start the day looking like this. Kate getting ready to go to the pool/beach and me heading to the golf course:
We’d then spend the afternoon at the swim-up bar, and I wouldn’t look quite so good. I think I’m going for a late Jim Morrison look. Like after he exposed himself on stage but before he died:
By the end of the night I’d look like this:
Stay classy, Nate.
And then we’d pretty much repeat that same process for nine days, so it has taken me some time to recover here. Before I get on with the blog review, I’d like to issue a few apologies.
Marta the drink cart driver at the Cabo San Lucas Country Club - I’m sorry I nearly hit you with my drive on the 16th hole. In my defense, just because we’re in Mexico, that doesn’ t mean you have to include vodka AND tequila in my Bloody Mary. I think just vodka would’ve been fine. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bloody mary and thought “You know what this needs? More booze.”
Ramon the bartender - I’m sorry I freaked out when you handed me my bar tab. I should’ve realized that 1800 pesos is not the same as 1800 dollars. In my defense, you are sort of the reason I was overserved and incapable of handling the currency conversion in my head.
Ceasar the guy who makes animals out of bath towels at the Riu Palace - I’m sorry that that I put Towel Swan and Towel Crab in such compromising (and unnatural) positions. That was childish and unnecessary. But then again, please refer to the in-room booze dispenser in the picture above.
I’d also like to thank Mrs. Arnold, my middle school Spanish teacher. Your decision to let us ignore the vosotros conjugation of countless verbs allowed me to focus on more important things. Like knowing that I was supposed to go to the Caballeros Bano, and not the Mujeres Bano. Kate apparently didn’t learn that in Spanish class. She knew she was in the wrong place when she saw the urinals.
Okay, enough about Cabo…time for the blog review:
Janet at Pretty Green Girl did a post about cookies here. Not that I’m going to borrow the recipe (I should probably stay away from cookies during my post-Mexico detox) but I do appreciate the video clip from Troop Beverly Hills. I think more blog posts should include random movie clips, especially those starring the great Craig T. Nelson. Top billing in a future blogstalker post to the first blogger who can naturally fit in a clip from Turner and Hooch, or the 1986 made for TV movie: The Ted Kennedy Jr. Story. I’d put in video clips, but Kate only wants me to put in videos that she has taken of Gilbert.
Speaking of Gilbert, he will soon have a new friend in Charlotte. Kelsey from Bites and Bowls recently announced in this post that her dog daughter Penny will be moving to Charlotte. Kelsey, Kate, and I have talked about it, and we’ve decided to arrange a marriage between Gilbert and Penny. We still have not worked out all of the details (picking a date, getting Matt to bake a dog cake, negotiating Penny’s dowry) but it will be THE social event of the Summer. Neither Penny or Gilbert have the bits required for procreation, but that’s okay….it will still make for good blog fodder. Check your mailbox (or my blog) for a save the date card.
Caitlin at Healthy Drogging Pancake has stated a spin-off blog, Operation Beautiful. It’s sort of like Post Secret, except that all of the notes are about having a positive body image, as opposed to sharing ones deepest, darkest secrets. Still very entertaining, and it is really taking off. HTP is getting love from big fancy newspapers with this Operation Beautiful thing. She’s sort of a big deal. Kate sometimes leaves me anonymous notes like this. Except they aren’t really anonymous, because I know she leaves them for me. And instead of saying things like “You’re beautiful just the way you are” she just cuts out coupons for $3 off of a haircut at Sport Clips and leaves it on my laptop. It’s the thought that counts, right?
Kath has apparently spent the past week creating, revising, and re-revising (not a word, I know) her list of places to move. I feel like I’m watching a friggan episode of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. Carmen’s in Savannah. Wait, now Carmen’s in Jacksonville. At least they’re in the Southeast, so I’m familiar with the geography. I always used to get pissed when Carmen would be in Africa or Asia, because I knew there was no chance I could identify the various unmarked countries on the big map. I guess I should’ve been happy to have a criminal mastermind like Carmen farther away from my house, but that safety wouldn’t win me that set of encyclopedias. Okay, enough about Carmen. Kath, I can make this really easy…just stay in Charlotte. A couple of reasons why: 1. It’s awesome. 2. We live here, and we’re pretty awesome. Hopefully that settles it.
I haven’t been spending enough time reading blogs recently, so no ’stock up/stock down’ this week. If y’all want to post some stock up/stock down suggestions as comments, that would be lovely. Instead, we’ll do some Larry King-style News and Notes:
News and Notes
Congratulations to the World’s Nicest Blogger, Polly on her 15 year wedding anniverary
Congratulations also to my friends and fellow bloggers Kate and Al on their upcoming wedding bash. Looking forward to seeing you guys in Minneapolis tomorrow!
Blogapalooza sold out faster than a Taylor Swift concert. I wasn’t able to register in time. Or, I wasn’t able to convince Kate in time that a blogging conference was the best way to spend our 5 year wedding anniversary. We still might come to Boston that weekend and attend some of the extracurricular activities. Stay tuned.
Sarah at Tales of Expansion issued a french toast challenge in this post. Brandi accepted the challenge by french frying some donuts here. This is like a carny’s dream. I’m pretty sure it’s fair season, so maybe Sarah can get a guest post from the guy who deep frys twinkies or oreos or something.
RoseyRebecca is giving away some Greek Yogurt. Find out the details here
Iowa Girl Eats is giving away some stuff too. I’m a slacker and didn’t get this post up in time, but you should still check out her blog.
That’s all for this week. I’ll try to do better next time. And remember, whatever you do, Don’t stop till ya get enough.
So happy you’re back! I am a fan of how you looked at the end of the night. Also a big fan of your apologies! Can’t wait until next week’s post!
I think I am dying. Do you have any detox cures for me?
I plan on being around the city as an “unofficial” summit guest… I’d be down for showing some folks around the sam adams and/or harpoon breweries while everyone else attends health seminars!
I hope you brought the in-room liquor rack home! Sounds like you had a FABBY time. Or is it fabbie… fabsy… sweet?
I can’t believe you had that liquor IN YOUR ROOM!!!!
We need to discuss Jacksonville
And Stock Is Up on Amazing Grass!
Love the trip pictures, looks like you guys had a great time! Glad to have you back to brighten my Friday with the weekly round up
Glad you guys had a good time! I love all the apologies…they were cracking me up - those stupid money conversions get me all confused when I’m perfectly sober, so I couldn’t imagine having to figure out how to pay a tab there.
stock up:
amazing grass - it’s growing like weeds!
operation beautiful
cherries from Costco
If they were putting tequila AND vodka in your bloody mary’s (is that how you pluralize that, or is it maries?) then they’re lucky you hit the ball at all and didn’t mistake a caddy’s crotch for your target. I wouldn’t have been so lucky. I’m just sayin…
Awwwww - Riu Palace in Cabo is where my husband and I went on our Honeymoon!!!! Good times with the in room liquor carousel…
Dori - Thanks
B+B - Running outside in Charlotte has been good detox. I have sweat out a week’s worth of booze in 4 miles.
Ryane - It’ll be like wedding crashers. I wanna be Owen Wilson in this analogy.
KERF - We will indeed discuss Jax, although I’m a little biased since I want you to stay. Cliff Notes Version = A few nice neighborhoods (Avondale, San Marco, Ponte Vedra) that I can’t afford.
AlliJag - Thanks. Tell Ellen I said hi, but you might want to keep her away from the blog/pictures.
Brandi - Traveling to another country is the only time I need to use skills from two high school subjects = math and foreign language.
Welcome back!!!
Lovin the photo diary
I agree with Kath– stock is definitely up on Amazing Grass. Although I’m still afraid to try it!
Hola amigo! I am glad that CaboWabo treated you well. Or was it the alcohol dispensers in your room that treated you well? Or the awesome conversion scale that let you order double the drinks? Either way, it sounds like you beautiful couple had a wonderful time!
Stock is up on that PBU stuff CurlyTop invented (nut butter + almond milk). However, I like my nut butters thick and not soupy. But that is just me.
Stock is down on anything that involves carbs and that is cooked. But I think that is every week in the blog world.
The trip sounds fun! I am overdo for a vacation!
And thanks for the FANTASTIC summary!!
welcome back, Nate!! and 5 years in August? Yay!! I guess we are 10 years apart! Try and remember to get Kate flowers. I am not really a flowers girl, but D bought me some yesterday and ya know, girls LOVE them. I admit it, I love them. Now don’t forget, she is WORTH IT!!
That vacation sounds awesome! I’m in desperate need of one of these. And your weekly review is hilarious as always
I didn’t get to buy the tickets to the summit on time, but hopefully there will be enough other stuff going on to meet everyone.
Great post, Nate! (as usual!) You crack me up and I am very excited about the holy matrimony to ensue between Penny and Gil!
Admittedly, I don’t LOL THAT often but I just about “morir(ed)” reading this post. Pregunta, as a golfer, in Mexico if you’re about to hit said drink cart girl, do you yell “CUATRO” instead of fore? Homonyms in Spanish are hard. . .
http://Ohlivin.wordpress.com
love the Carmen Sandiego reference!! lol
I’m not ashamed to say that Troop Beverly Hills was my absolute favorite movie in the pre-teen days. Shelley Long, Craig T. Nelson…it just didn’t get much better than that (okay, maybe it did, but for some reason I watched the stupid thing over and over).
Thanks for the memories…
great recap of the week!!! sounds like you had a vacation from my wildest dreams!!!! i would love to spend the whole day drinking and playing golf .. fun fun fun!!
and yes i think you should come to boston! I will definitely be in town that weekend (but not at the summit- no ticket for me! i think we should find the best fried chicken joint in town, followed by huge ice cream sundaes and end the night with about 5 or 6 shots.. sound good???
Glad you had an amazing time! Thanks so much for the shout out!
PS: I had deep fried oreos Friday night
It was my first time and they were amazing. I don’t think I could recreate them at home, but it would be worth a shot!
Oh my goodness, I just found your blog. The idea for this cracks me up! That’s something I could see my husband doing…. he watches me reading blogs and makes weird comments, lol. Have a great holiday!
don’t break a homegirls heart!! It is FRIDAY!!
Doggie dowry!!!!!!!!!!!!
Screw traditional ab work, I just laugh my innards out each time I read this blog.
Happy 4th of July!
Perfect!
heart. broken.