Fantasy Football Fail

This season I made it to the finals in the three fantasy football leagues I played in. I made it to the championship game in two of them. 

My fantasy football leagues (like most) are set up to span two weeks for the playoffs so you can't win with one crazy week. Going into week two of the championships I was ahead in both leagues. I managed to lose both. The most painful loss, however, was due to Tim Tebow's unprecedented suckiness.

I shouldn't complain because I still won a little money, but it was a major fantasy football fail. And Tim Tebow owes me $140. I officially hate him.

If Tim Tebow had scored 2 points - 2 POINTS! - I would have won an additional $140. I will never be a Broncos fan.

Yes, that's right. Tebow scored -1 points.

New Years Eve

I moved to Seattle on December 31, 2005 - just in time to celebrate New Year's Eve. Every year since I've been somewhere else for New Year's. This year I decided it was time to celebrate the holiday in Seattle once again. Luckily, some of my good friends (and Cory) agreed with me.

Laura, Cory, me, and Tim

Unfortunately we didn't really have a plan, so we ended up at Ozzie's. For those of you who don't know Ozzie's, it's a karaoke bar that attracts a random array of people. They brought in a couple dance floors for the evening and tied a bunch of balloons on the ceiling to drop at midnight. Otherwise it was a typical night.

Tim and Laura's first karaoke of the New Year

The highlight for me was seeing the fireworks shooting from the Space Needle at midnight. I've always heard about it, but never seen it. Since Ozzie's is pretty close to the Needle I got a great view. I have to say it was really neat. I've never seen fireworks shoot down the side of a monument before - they're always just up in the sky. Even though I was standing in the street by myself (everyone else chose to stay in the bar), I felt like this was a good way to start 2012.

My pictures didn't turn out very well, so this is a more accurate photo

Cory's First Christmas

This past year was Cory's first Christmas in San Diego. He was a little concerned that it wouldn't feel like Christmas without the snow he's used to in Spokane.

Christmas Day at the Mission Beach

Even though the weather was warmer than usual for San Diego this time of year - mid-70s - I didn't feel too bad for Cory. I spent my first Christmas in Spokane last year and it was as cold as a witch's tit (a saying I did not learn from spending Christmases in SD).

With Cory in town we felt the need to get out and about, so we took him the Hotel Del to see their giant Christmas tree.

Me and my Mom

Cory and his new family

Little did we know there was an ice skating rink at the Del (notice the beach in the background). It seemed to be melting.

See, we have winter in San Diego

The next day I toured Cory around the Cabrillo National Monument. I remember the lighthouse being a little bigger and more exciting, but oh well. We needed to kill some time.

A sample old-timey lighthouse light

Look how small the house is compared to me

We also wandered around the cliffs and the tide pools.

Cory hates to pose for pictures, so...

...I made him pose like a sexy model

I think Christmas in San Diego was a success.

We even made Cory cook us his famous Swedish pancakes. He always seems to cook at least one breakfast when he comes to town. I don't think my Mom minds.

I like everything I'm seeing here

Cory Loves Fireworks

As an end-of-the-year-wrap-up, I need to publish this 4th of July post that I never got around to finishing:

Cory loves fireworks. Every other year we go to his brother's cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. Since it's on Indian land - and it's Idaho - it's legal to buy awesome fireworks and shoot them off your dock. Instead of going to a city fireworks show, everyone on the lake buys their own and has competitions.

Since I grew up in San Diego and I am a girl, I never got more than sparklers and those things that pop really loud when you throw them on the ground. Shooting off real fireworks is fun and kind of scary, especially when you're an adult and you understand that you could easily lose an eye or arm. Luckily I had "experts" giving me advice about what to buy and how to shoot them.

My firework "expert" at the stand selecting our ammo

We made a haul

I wish I had taken a better picture, but my favorite purchase was the obviously racist Mexican-themed fireworks that I chose. Being from San Diego, as I mentioned above, also makes me partial to Mexicans. That's the only reason I chose it. 

When I eventually lit the fuse about 10 massive fireworks shot out of the short, fat cylinder (pictured above - notice the cactus) in succession. 

Cory's (and soon to be my) family watching fireworks

My fear for my life when one of the fireworks went awry and turned back toward the house made this the most exciting 4th of July of my life.

Prince

A few weeks ago I went to the Prince concert at the Tacoma Dome. I'm not a huge Prince fan, but (like most people) I know a lot of his songs once I hear them and figured he'd put on a good show. And my friend Richard - aka Kristin - tricked me into going.

We got there a little early and went to a nearby bar that was packed for the Monday night concert.

The bar also made special drinks for the occasion

I ordered the Purple Rain

Richard, me, and Cory preparing to enjoy our Purple Rains (for the record, Cory drank beer) and the show

Prince put on a fun, theatrical performance. My favorite song was 1999 because it reminds me of my senior year in high school. It's always good to have a song about your graduation year. It makes you feel important even though the song really has nothing to do with you.

Prince's stage - Yes, it's in the shape of his symbol

Due to the aforementioned Purple Rains, we decided to get a hotel room in Tacoma for the night instead of driving the hour back to Seattle. We stayed at the Hotel Murano, which has an amazing horse lamp.

How can you not want to kiss a life-sized horse lamp?