From DFW (and I'm sure Houston and SA are similar) looks like we can go to...

Philadelphia: $260
San Francisco: $311
Denver: $320
Boise: $360
Cheyenne: for $500

Mexico is like over $600 so screw that idea.

Leave Saturday Dec 29th return Tuesday Jan 1
All prices are round trip

We got to keep the conversation going on this, and come up with a decision before the end of the week...

OK, no pictures, no graphics, lets just get some freaking answers about NYE 2008. Here is my take...

As much fun as Denver would be its quite expensive and no one lives anywhere near Colorado.

I think keeping it in Texas, while very convenient, is not exactly an adventure. But as a backup plan it is fine.

I think Mexico is the ideal place and I am going to suggest we go there for NYE. It is close to most of us, cheap, and should be a proper adventure as well.

Please tell me your thoughts. We really need to hear from everyone on this... because this is important. The New Years Eve Tradition depends on it.

TCU vs UT (September 8th, 2007)

Well, we gave them everything we had. And for 2 quarters of football we were the much more superior football team. 2nd half mistakes (especially in the third quarter) are what killed us, and unfortunately that just opened up the flood gates for the 4th quarter as well. I truly believe that a few plays here and there, and we would've won that football game and anyone who watched it (including UT fans) would say the same. It's unfortunate that we are not playing at Amon G. next season, but I have a feeling a rematch will be coming in years to come - it might just have to take place in January (if you catch my drift).

All in all, it was an outstanding weekend with plenty of highlights - aka Brian Joseph Weiss.

After the game, we needed something to swing out depressing mood. We headed back to the hotel to visit with everyone's old/current friend - Miss M.J. That brightened things up a little bit, so we showered and headed down for dinner at TGI Fridays (it was connected to the hotel). We bumped into David Potter, and guess what; he's wearing a fucking UT burnt orange shirt! Lubahn does not like this at all, so the whole entire time at dinner all Lubahn wanted to talk about was how much he hated David Potter.

Dinner comes to an end with our waitress getting fired because of us. We then head out to old six street.

Big beer after big beer and a few shots the night continues and things become pretty fuzzy. However, most of us all seemed to stay dry, except for Brian Weiss - who as you can see from the picture, was standing in the only rainy spot in the whole bar.

Well, we head back to the hotel room - little bit of an after party takes place and we crash out...

The night, however, does not end here. In fact, for Brian Weiss, this is only the beginning:

(What I am about to write is all told from 2nd person accounts – Katie, Lubahn, and Weiss himself)

- 5:00 AM rolls around (estimate), Weiss gets up from his sleep and walks out of the room. No one, expect for Katie, witnesses this and the only thing that comes to her mind is he must be craving an early morning cig.

- 5:10 AM? Next thing Weiss remembers is being at the front desk of the hotel (fully damped in his same clothes) demanding that they tell him where his room is. At first, they try to explain to him that they cannot give him the information since it is not under his name, so the front desk person calls both of our rooms twice, no answer. (Katie, and Melissa apparently in the other room, actually tried to answer but couldn’t figure out how to use the phone)

- Weiss stayed persistent and pleaded with the staff that he needed to get into his room so he could go back to sleep. They finally give in, and inform Weiss of both room numbers: Room 308 and Room 837

- 5:30 AM. Lubahn hears a bang at the door, gets up to answer and low and behold - Brian Weiss. Weiss relieved that he had found his people tries to make his entrance into the Lubahn’s room. Not so fast, says Lubahn "Weiss, you’re in room 308, go back to bed buddy."

- Weiss wanders the halls of the Radisson, trying his key card in random doors until one lights up green. He fails.

- 5:45 AM. Lubahn hears another loud knock on his door, its Brian Weiss again. "Weiss, this is not your room, you are in room 308." Weiss, who at this point was just trying to go back to bed, begs to Lubahn "Let me just crash in here." "No Weiss,” says Lubahn, “you are in 308." Weiss takes a deep breath, "Ok, 308.. but if I can't find it then I'm coming back."

- 6:00 AM. After a full hour of drunken sleepwalk, Weiss makes it safely back into Room 308, passes back out, and finally calls it a night.

Weiss, even though the Frogs did not beat Texas, you were the stand above M.V.P. of the trip. Whenever I got down during this past Monday and Tuesday, all I had to do was think back to your rainy bar and sleepwalk episode.

The following picture was taken by the staff member at the Radisson Hotel at 5:30 AM:

"I just need my room #!"

TCU vs Baylor (Labor Day Weekend)

OK, real quick story from the Labor Day weekend....

Lubahn and Chambers show back up at The Oui after ditching Katie and I to go downtown with the Mazurs - aka Rum Runners (Kurt and Mazur had mysteriously left “The Pub” earlier in the night screaming RUM!).2 AM rolls around and as we gather up for a group photo. Lubahn (who was out without his wife), yells at a young man who looked to be in his late teens/early twenties.

"Hey! Will you take a picture of us?!"

The young student (who seemed somewhat annoyed already) takes the camera and begins to set up for the classic group snapshot. Right as we gather up and he makes room for himself (to get us all in), Lubahn mutters under his voice, "Man, I don't think I like this guy".

Then right as he is about to capture the perfect group photo, Lubahn shouts at him,

"Dude, don't fuck this up dude! Don't fuck this up! Seriously man, we want this to be good, so Don't Fuck This Up!!"

Very annoyed at this point, the boy cries back at Lubahn, mocking him "Ok Dude, Ok Dude, Ok Dude, I won't fuck it up Dude!" then shakes the camera holds it out in front of him and takes a half ass picture without even looking at the screen. As he tosses the camera back at us, he mumbles "Dumbass".

Then Lubahn, "Dude, I did not like that guy. That guy was an IDIOT,.. Seriously! Fuck that guy."
As for the picture, it ended up being the best of the whole weekend.

I had never heard of the Notting Hill Carnival, as I am sure most of you have not either. It has quite a proud, yet tumultous, history. If you have any interest check it out here. It is a celebration of the large Jamaican and Trinidad population of people in the area of Notting Hill. The area in which I live and work, and from my experience the best area of London. It is where some of the greatest music and art have come from in London. It is also an area mired in racial tension.

My pub, The Pelican, is in the heart of the action, and everyone told me to expect the craziest party Ive ever seen. Coming from New Orleans and Mardi Gras I dismissed them as silly Brits. I was the silly one. It was hands down the wildest 2-day party I have ever seen. I worked about 30 hours in 2 days staying awake by feeding off adrelane, booze, and drugs. All I could think is that I wish I had my true mates with me.

I bounced my first guy. He called one of my staff, Nadius, a "fuckin cunt." So I threw him against the door. He was about 5'5" and 120 lbs, but hey, I showed him. He then told me how he will come back and stab me. I'm waiting. I'd love a stab wound. Feeding off my testoerone, I tried to move a much larger, much blacker man from behind the bar. When he turned around he appeared to be on crack. Not that I know what that looks like, but crack is crack, and this mother was cracked out. He looked at me and then tried to head butt me. I moved back in time to just take it to the chin, and then he threw me down a couple stairs. As I collected myself I saw him charging at me while fishing for something in his pocket. I was scared. I heroically hid in the women's bathroom. The real bouncer we hired (Dre) got rid of him.

I realized I hadn't reported much from London, and I thought this was worth recounting. Cheers.

so growing up i always wanted a hedgehog. why you ask? well probably because i've always been a little off my rocker. anyway, i was visiting norway a couple of weeks back to do a site visit for work. in the evenings, we would party (which by the way in norway one beer runs you around $8-$9). on one of my drunken walks back to the hotel, i encountered this mythical creature and thought to myself, "damn it mom why didn't you ever buy me a hedghog?!" i've heard that hedghogs are prickly with soft bellies so i had to find out. and they do...have soft bellies.

Well, the time is upon us. We have many questions to be answered and EVERYONE must be heard from.

Will the IC make the NYE celebration an annual affair?
Will the IC members be able to agree on a locale for the event?
Will the IC hurricane destroy the celebration of a new year with bitter arguments and drunken rage?
Will Miller makeout in front of his girlfriend again? (though, as the only witness that girl did kiss Miller)
Will Williams steal another kiss from Mrs. Dalrymple at midnight?
Will Lubahn, Chambers, and Weiss make up for their absence in 2007?

I believe all of these things will ring true. So, the real question is where will the party take place. These are the cities I have heard mentioned and everyone has there pros and cons.


Austin would be money for NYE and there are two Omnis there as well. It would be a lot cheaper for most of us and I think it would be a great time. Of course, this is not the most adventurous of excursions.


Denver has been getting a lot of attention from many... and I know the Bears are pushing for this one. We could go early and do some skiing. I believe there is an Omni there as well. But this would be a pricey one.


Fort Worth. A great town and even cheaper as Hotel Mazur and The Lubahn Resort would be able to house most of us. But it's Fort Worth, and probably the least exciting place to have NYE.


Miami. The Mazurs have been pushing this one since Jan 1 2007. It would be amazing and we could probably find a lot of Cuban guys to party with... The only problem with this one is there is no hotel hook up.


San Diego. A beachside property for NYE would be a change of pace and I'm sure the Portillos would be excited about this one. We could also talk about San Fran, but no LA. Sorry, I just wont go back there. Omni-present as well.


These are the things, These are the things, These are the things, These are the things dreams are made of....

Another One Bites the Dust



Many of you had me pegged as the next one to go, but Mr. and the future Mrs. Dalrymple surprised us all (including my dearest Piper). Bear told me the news when we were on the beach in Brighton. My first reaction was not, "Congratulations" but the not so unexpected selfish remark, "Piper is going to kill me." But we were very happy to be the first to congratulate and party with The Bears. I asked Kevin for some guidance, "How did you know?" He answered in that wonderful frank way Kevin always does, "I always knew, so I figured what's the point of waiting."

The night they returned from Florence (where he did the deed) we decided to put the girls to bed early and wander around London. We smoked 5 J Birds, and laughed and reminisced about the "good times"
-Lubahn's quick thinking shower when the Darling's arrived at bonged-out Trail Lake. And Miller's surprising quick cleaning to de-chronic the house.
-Weiss enchanting every woman at the Vegas Ghost Bar
-The many times Lee would break into Lubbock and get some solo high time
-The last night in Chicago when Bear, Williams and I got drunk on red wine till Bear had to leave for the airport. Eventually pissing of Katie when he kept setting off the metal detector because he couldnt walk a straight line, and continued to walk into the side of it.
-That we both think Lee stole those fuckin deer plates. And how we both think Lubahn deserves it for his dog eating the only good shoes Lee has ever owned

So, let me be the first to say congratulations Bear and Katie. And that, we're down to 6 single men. We are growing up my friends. And the best thing about that is that we're growing old together.

Love and Always Openly Awkward Affection,

HISTORY OF THE IC

I read a quote this morning by Henry Adams that said:

`History will die if not irritated. The only service I can do to my profession is to serve as a flea.'

This week, two friends from high school have been crashing at my place. It's been nice. I have a lot acquaintance-friends here, but none that carry much significance. Having these two guys here this week reminds me that, a crucial element of true friendship is History.

We have that here. We've known each other since the tail-end of pimple-faced adolescence (no offense Chambers) to fatherhood (L). The thing I love about old friends, is that there is not need to re-trace and stumble around bullshit about `Where your from'. We already know that.

I guess I'm being Johnny Melancholy bloggist b/c the IC is dormant. The more we allow communication to dwindle, the more distant, removed friends we become. Don't let that happen.

TRENDS DON"T MAKE FRIENDS

Hi caucasians. So yesterday, I went shopping for the first time since my Mom bought me an orange OP (Ocean Pacific) tee and Reebok PreSeasons.

I was aware of the Skinny-jeans trend of pop culture and have mocked it since it's inception. I thought I was just being a cynic, but by looking at them, I thought `They just look uncomfortable.' I think, if you are sacrificing comfort for trendiness or cool points, you are completely not cool.

So, yesterday, I found what I thought were cool jeans, in my size (48x44). They were in an assortment of colors, so I took three pair back to the changing room. I had no idea, but I'd just brought back, 3 pair of ...SKINNY JEANS.

I'm a big dude and have big legs (college nicknamed: Tree Trunks). In trying to pull the first pair up to my waist, the section that covers your thighs, got caught on my calves. By the time I got them up to my waist, I was sweating. After buttoning them and causing my testicles to groundhog back into my tummy, I looked into the mirror to observe my ridiculousness.

The pants were gray and, my first thought was: ``I look like I'm wearing Raulings Little League pants.'' It was awkward. All I needed were some stirrups, Pony cleats, a `Rowdies' jersey and Big League Chew.

As I exited the room, a girlie said `How did those work for ya?'

`Not.' I said. She laughed and I said, `I don't know how guys wear those things. I was afraid I'd never get them off.'

When I looked up, I saw a guy waiting in line for the fitting room. He'd heard me. I looked at his get-up: Spiked fro-hawk, Ramones T-shirt, studded belt and of course, ripped Skinny Jeans. He tried to ignore my glare, but when he made eye contact with me, I smirked. I realized two things: A) I had Skinny Jeans 17 years ago. They were called Wrangler's and I wore them on Pizza Friday. B) He probably sits on his balls a lot.

Lastly, Kevin, you in Skinny Jeans might be the most absurd thing ever witnessed. Unfortunately for Michael Mazur and Matt Chambers, they might still look like JNCOs.

In a strange move today Kevin McHale traded Kevin Garnett to the Houston Comets of the WNBA. In return the Timberwolves will receive every player on the team. The Timberwolves also get the owner's kids, the rights to the (281) Houston area code, and the team van. Garnett had this to say, "WHAT THE FUCK? Kevin McHale..........LUNATIC. I told that alien bitch I didn't want to be traded. " The team had a press conference. One of the many questions directed towards McHale was simply "Why?". He answered with this, "We'll that's a good question. So here's a good answer. The Minnesota Timberwolves are going to diversify. So I will be the proud General Manger of a Brothel and the Houston Comets will be my employees." After a reporter replied, "Kevin brothels are illegal." Kevin simply replied, "FUCK YOU BITCH I'LL CUT YOUR THROAT." He then gave the international eat out sign to everyone in the room. It should also be noted that McHale was just wearing a Speedo and a pink boa to the press conference.

Williams,

Just so you know,... you were wrong.... again. This is not the first time this has happened since you unplugged your television in January of 2005 either. In fact, there have been countless moments since then when you havent been able to recall sports history or even Save By The Bell trivia quite like you used to.

This is what happens when you "Kill Your Television"

Example #1

Williams: "Kevin, Oklahoma went 5-6 in 2005 and didnt even make a bowl game!"

True Answer: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teamsched?teamId=201&year=2005

Example #2

Williams: "Katie, I promise you that Louisiana Tech's mascot IS NOT the Bulldogs!!"

True Answer: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/clubhouse?teamId=2348

Example #3

Williams: "No, Im pretty sure Mrs. Belding's first name was Barbara."

True Answer: http://www.tv.com/saved-by-the-bell/earthquake/episode/21787/summary.html

Fabulous idea Weiss...

What do you say boys? Half of us are in a league already. So lets screw the Bradys and the Boyds of the world and start anew.

Predictions for the IC Fantasy Football League Year 1

1. Miller will be online in Khazazksbahr ready to go at Draft Time
2. Portillo will draft Eleah Harper in Round 1, and then sign off
3. In the first week Mazur will post about goblins, clitoral shivers, and the scrotums of yaks
4. Weiss will promise he wont go bored. He'll lose week 1 and 2. He'll get bored.
5. Clint will sign up with the aid of a sherpa and never sign on again. He will come in 6th
6. Williams will prematurely declare himself Lord of the Fantasy World. We will all concur.
7. Bear will tell us he cant play because hes already in a league with his Camp friends, his high school friends, his Rec Flag Football team, and the ChiTown_Bearz_85 chat room.
8. I will have an unfair advantage at picking up players early because of the time zones. Lubahn will petition I be removed.
9. Lubahn will lose in the consolation bracket to Portillo who stopped playing like everyone else BECAUSE IT'S THE FUCKIN CONSOLATION BRACKET!
10. Chambers will win the league.

Mrs. Miller asked me to share these with everyone... He will be back in October, and even though I wont be here I hope the Texas local boys will set up a wonderful welcome wagon.

The IC Hurricane blows into Hunt, Texas

River 2007

Who will be this year's winningest loser?

Happy Anniversary IC

When Mr. Williams pushed for this last year we all had our doubts. I think it is safe to say that we shall not perish.

All hail the IC.

I hope you all received sunshine at LBJ because for the life of me. I in no way understand why no one came out to visit for the fourth this year. Other than the fact that I am kind of a dick. Eleah and I ventured to PB for the forth again this year. Dreaming of 2006 with Brown and Williams. It was me, her and 30 tecates and some spf 30. In the end we got down like it was 1999 and I got so sunburned, my hand, feet, back and lips blistered. I could have used some peeps. I have included some pics to show what I am talking about.

PS Check the size of the blister on my middle finger. I'll remember that one for a while. Guess that means I'm not gay too.

Did anyone else see this on The Daily Show?

A new study in Nature by Berkeley psychology professor Marc Breedlove that says gay people are likelier to have index fingers that are substantially shorter than their ring fingers. Apparently this is because finger length is influenced by the quantity of male hormones present in the womb.



ARE YOU?

SEPTEMBER 8th, 2007

Katie and I will be booking hotel rooms in Austin, TX for TCU/UT weekend (I will be avoiding all contact with my UT friends, including Garland). So give me a quick head count of how many will be coming so that we can plan accordingly. We might stay at the lakehouse Friday night (45 minutes west) and drive to Austin around noon on Saturday.

Fucking Go Frogs Damnit!

IC MUSIC

High kids. Get it? Like a marijuana pun.

Pot.

Ok, I'm dumb on drugs right now and realized the first song I chose to play as my high kicked in was ``Take Me Home, Country Roads'' by John Denver.

It was at that moment, I realized that I think I listen to good music, but it is blatantly obvious I do NOT. I think John Denver at 11:48pm proves it.

Therefore, I decided I would give out grades for the IC Music class.

Brown, Clint:

Points for: Damien Rice, Bon Jovi (classic), and some acceptable Country.

Loses big for Jamiroquai, the Spin Doctors, the Wallflowers and knowing all the words to ``I'm the one who wants to be with you'' by Mr. Big. Not that we don't know the lyrics, we just don't karaoke them.

Grade: C

Chambers, Matt:

Points for: Deftones (respected), Rage Against the Machine, Green Day and Toadies.

Loses for: The Incubus anthology, late Blink 182 and everything glow-stick.

Ideal Karoake song: `Pour Some Sugar on Me' - Def Leoppard

Grade: B

Dalrymple, Kevin

Points for: Pink Floyd, Ozzy Ozbourne, the Superbowl Shuffle and Garth Brooks (lakehouse).

Loses for: The Dixie Chicks, Chumbawamba and, of course, `Magic Carpet Ride' by Steppenwolf. I heard you found Aladdin's lamp.

Ideal Karoake Song: `You've Lost that Loving Feeling' - Top Gun

Grade: B-

Faust, Adam:

Points for: Bright Eyes, The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse and a `Shout Out Loud's' dashboard sticker.

Loses for: An inability to get into Sigur Ros, a dash of Gwen Stefani and The Racoon Twizzlers.

Ideal Karoake Song: `I'm so Tired of Being Alone' - Al Green

Grade: A+

*Give credit where credit is due people. Hell, he made us Christmas CDs with labels and songs thoughtfully geared towards our preferences. That's above and beyond folks.

Lubahn, Brent:

Points for: Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and his admirable devotion to Kenny Chesney.

Loses for: Celine Dion on Valentine's Day, the Monster Ballads album, window-tinted listening to Bone Thugs in Harmony.

Ideal Karaoke Song: ``Chattahoochie'' - Billy Ray Cyrus

Grade: L

Mazur, Michael:

Points for: Sigur Ros, Kris Kristofferson and the Beasties biatch.

Loses for: Playing Kanye West's `College Dropout' for 19 months, the Gyspsy Kings and a Brent Wood EP. (band from college)

Ideal Karaoke Song: ``Let's Start A Riot' - Three-six Mafia

Grade: A-

Miller, Marc:

Points for: Franz Ferdinand, Travis, and the ability to chant `Hay, Beese-a-day, beese-a-day-O, Daylight Come and Yo Wan' go Home' at 4am in his apartment complex.

Loses for: The soundtrack to Solitaire, the CDs he makes for Trista with Fergie and Jimmy Buffet.

Ideal Karaoke Song: ``Why don't we get Drunk and Screw'' - Buffet

Grade: B+

Portillo, Lee:

Points for: Radiohead, Manu Chao, Willie Nelson and Remy Zero.

Loses for: The soundtrack to an Anime Porn, Daft Punk's Greatest Hits and every attempt to Freestyle rap in the history of your life.

Ideal Karaoke Song: `Folsom Prison Blues' - Johnny Cash

Grade: A-

Weiss, Brian:

Points for: Originality in selection, Sigur Ros, and the Gorillaz.

Loses for: DJ Anthrax, Jewel, and Seal.

Ideal Karaoke Song: `Breathe' - Prodigy

Grade: A-

*When you have to make shit up for the `loses for' category, it's a sign of a solid conoseuir.

Williams, Adam

Points for: Dean Martin, Tracy Chapman and Wilco.

Loses for: `Dem Franchise Boy's, telling people in public that he `respects' John Mayer and downloading songs by Adina Howard, Keisha Cole and `Lil Booshie'. Seriously.

Ideal Karaoke Song: `I want it that way' -Backstreet Boys

Grade: B

Valedictorian: Faust

Salutatorians: Mazur, Portillo

Most Likely to Succeed: Weiss

Whitest: Chambers

Blackest: Williams

Hispanic-est: Portillo

Least Diverse: Lubahn

Best Weed Collection: Kevin

Best Third Date Collection: Clint

*Feel free to correct any muscial errors or oversights you may find. Also, please post your worst song, singer or album you have downloaded because you secretly like.

PS - I just dropped to a D because I'm listening to a guy named `Juanes' right now. He's quite bad.