So I'm watching the DVD of Bolt. (if you haven't seen it yet, do. Animated, super-dog and his sidekicks. Chuckleworthy.)

And Jet is sitting next to me, for the ENTIRE MOVIE, watching this dog on the TV.

I'm going to start leaving Animal Planet on. Everytime a dog barks on TV, he's right there, entranced.

I've got a TV junkie for a dog. Go figure.

Ok, firstly, I don't do well with Valentine's Day.  The last time I was in a relationship and V-day strolled around, was 2004.  That turned turned into a semi-awkward lunch at Taco Bell where I poured out my heart, and she 'poo-poo'd' my feelings.  We did have some interesting sexual activities later in the evening, even though no actual sex took place.

The V-Day before that was a disaster.  The one before that was pretty bad, too, as my fiance' had just called off the engagement a week or so earlier.  2001 was pretty nice.  2000 was pretty bad, as I got e-dumped by the GF the day before.

But, all the bad and sad times are wiped from the slate.  Birds are singing, butterflies are dancing, and I'm feeling like Uncle-freaking-Remus with the Zippity-Do-Dah stuff in my head.

C came up yesterday morning (I took Friday off so I could have a long weekend) and we started with exchanging V-Day gifts.  Cards, chocolates, stuffed bears and a pretty watch were all involved.  Then we went up to the Dead of Wood, local gambling mecca.  Firstly, it had snowed the evening before, so all the roads were slushy and slippery, but way up in the hills it was a beautiful winter wonderland.  We took the long way up, going through Nemo, Vanocker and Boulder Canyons.  About 90 minutes for a trip that usually takes 45 on the highway.  4-wheel drive was appreciated and used extensively.  The we hit the slot machines, video lottery, and the general beeping and blinking lights.  Later on there was food, hot buttered rum, and more general happiness.  After about 5 hours of this merriment, we headed back to town (the fast way this time).  A joke was made, a light-bulb lit, and we detoured past Ye Olde Adult Novelty Shoppe.  A personal massager and a rabbit later, we leave the Carnival of Carnal Delights and return to my place  Enjoyable times ensue.  Again.  And again.  And again.  Repeat until 3 am.

Morning comes, and so do we.  Then I gallantly make breakfast for us, then we head off to a bit of a shopping trip.  Nothing horribly fancy, just some fun.  We come back and watch the first of the Harry Potter movies all snuggled up, then reality rears its deformed and mishappened head and she must take her leave as she works in the early AM.  Pity that.

Thus endeth the Curse of St. Valentines, and there was much joy and tidings. Amen.

The Pittsurgh Steelers are the greatest NFL team in history.

That is all.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled lives.

Last year, I never got around to watching Season 4 of Lost.  I faithfully downloaded each episode, but never had the time to watch them. 

Until we had our Christmas break.  Two weeks of 3-day work-weeks made for a lot of free time, and I used it constructively to watch the fourth season of Lost.  So, there I'm all caught up.

Going forward, I DVR each episode, usually watching it on the weekend.  It's kind of nice having the DVR, no need to download the episode (unless it's a good enough show that I want to add my permanent collection later)

Monday nights - Heroes and Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Tuesday - NCIS
Weds - Lost
Thursday - Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, ER, and Smallville
Friday - Battlestar Galactica.

I've also been recording the 'tryout' episodes of American Idol.  Not that I'm a fan of the show, I just find the first few episodes entertaining.  After that, it's dull as dust.

Having a DVR is kinda neat, I'm really enjoying it.

Yeah!  The Pittsburgh Steelers have trounced their division rivals, the Balitimore Ravens (who used to be the Cleveland Browns) ind the AFC Championship game.

Now the Steelers are off to Super Bowl XLIII.

Yeah, baby!  Go Steelers!

I was feeling under the weather yesterday.  I knew it was coming, the night before I felt dizzy and nauseous, so I covered my bets and call the boss.  Played with the schedule a bit, and my morning was suddenly free.  Good, I can medicate myself heavily and sleep in.

I mentioned this to C, and lo and behold she comes up in the wee hours of Thursday morning to give me some wonderfully welcome TLC.  More medication, a back rub, and just her general presence.  Just what the doctor ordered.  Around 1-ish she coaxes me out for a bite of lunch, and from there we go our separate ways for the day.

This is exactly why I like to have someone special in my life.  And I'd forgotten how nice it is.

Well, tonight makes the one-month anniversary of our first date.  And tonight we both said it.  Yes, we did.  Love.  Loooove...  lurrrrrve....  *chuckles*

We're both a little nervous.  We have every right to be, but with that comes some caution. I don't get the sense that we're jumping in over our heads here.  C and I have a lot of the same interests, and a lot of different ones, too.  We genuinely enjoy each other's company.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.  And damn, things look good.

I am back, and in mostly one piece.  Actually I've been back for a few days, but it took me this long to get caught up on work and stuff.

Flew out of RC Tuesday a week ago, with a layover in Chicago.  O'Hare airport is huge.  We hiked quite a ways to get to our connecting flight.  We had three hours to kill, so it wasn't too bad. Landed in Wilkes-Barre around 10pm, got all settled in the cabin by midnight.  Gerard's dad, Gerard Sr. (also known as Frenchie) has a cabin in the Pocono Mountains.  Pretty nice place, a dozen miles from anywhere.

Wednesday saw us guys getting our tuxes and hair cut and misc. pretty-ing-up.  Thursday was kind of a relaxing day, with a road trip to Allentown, and Ginny's Baptism in the late afternoon.  Afterwords we had a ton of pizza at a local place.  Old Forge, PA has a population of about 6,000 people, but they are also home to 34 pizza shops.  They take their pizza seriously, I gather.

Friday was the wedding rehersal, post-rehersal dinner, then something resembling a bachelor party.  No laws were broken, and everyone got home safely.  Nothing more will be said.  What happens in Old Forge, stays in Old Forge.

Saturday was the wedding.  Minor snafus and hiccups were to be found, but nothing we couldn't overcome.  A beautiful ceremony in St. Mary's Catholic church, followed by tons of pictures from the official photographers, then we finally repaired to the reception.

This took place on the Scranton Waterfront and there was music, and dinner and dancing and fireworks. Yes, fireworks.  They put on a 15 minute display set to music from Phantom of the Opera.  The most emotionally moving bit was the father-daughter dance...  Halfway through it, dad had to stop and wipe the tears from his eyes.  And that was the signal for the general release of waterworks.

I was designated driver for the guests since the shuttles stopped running around 11pm.  I poured Frenchie into bed around 3:30am, and found my own bit of solitude. 

Sunday morning found Dad, Jason, and myself playing gophers for my little sister, who had lost both her camera and her purse.  We found the purse, but no camera.

Monday, we all decided to play tourist again, and made a roadtrip to New York City.  We took a tourbus, saw Broadway, Madison Avenue, Macy's Central Park, Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, the Chrysler building, Trump Towers, Greenwich Village and SoHo.  We then got off the bus in search of food, and ended up walking to Battery Park to catch the ferry to Ellis and Liberty Islands. 

We got back, but the tour buses had already stopped running so we decided to walk to the Empire State Building.  About 2 miles later, sanity kicked in and we took cabs instead.  After a two hour wait in line, we got up to the observation deck, where I snapped some pictures.  After an obligatory gift shop crawl, we took a cab to our paraking garage and headed back.  This was at midnight, and we finally got back to the cabin around 2:30am.  I had to get up at 4 so I could pick up baby sister and catch our 6am flight out of Wilkes-Barre.  A long day, indeed.

With brief layovers in Chicago and Denver, we arrived safely in RC this last Tuesday.  Tuckered out, but none the worse for wear.

( Some Touristy Pics )

Well, in 48 hours I'll be back in PA for my sister's wedding.  The ceremony itself isn't until Sunday, but we wanted to get the cheapest flights we could.

It's a lot easier to fly for 6 hours than to drive for 36.  And with having a full week there, maybe I can take time to swing by and visit some old friends?

Neighbors are going to kitty-sit and a friend of mine from high-school is going to dog-sit.  I'm just not looking forward to the work that will be piled up waiting for me when I get back.

Well, I still need to pack stuff and otherwise get ready so I'll leave this for now.  I'll take a camera with me.  Pictures will be forthcoming.