I tagged along with Dallas today to watch football at Adam’s house. They had two TVs set up. On the left-hand screen was the Bears – Packers game. Andy and I were the only Packers fans, but there were several Bears fans. Adam and his brothers are Browns fans, so they had that game on the other TV. Good news, Packers beat the Bears, and not only that, they clinched the division!
Tags:adam·andy·bears·browns·Chicago·dallas·football·packers·wicker park
My coworker, Dan, is a huge Steelers fan. Since the Packers beat the Steelers in the Superbowl last year, I sneakily put this picture on his desk before this year’s NFL season started. It says “Title Town: It Ain’t in Pittsburgh, Fool!” I thought it would be on his desk for so long before he even noticed. But my other coworker, Ashanth, had to go and tell him right away that it was there! I was so mad. To be a good sport, Dan said he would keep the picture up on his desk until the Packers lost their first game……
….. Little did he realize that it would be MONTHS without a loss. It got to a point where Dan, again being a great sport, said “If the Packers go undefeated I will get this shirt and wear it!”
I noticed that on Black Friday the shirt went on sale for about $10, so I ordered it just in case. I ordered an XL and was told that they were all out, that they only had size L. Dang! I emailled back and told the story, and I don’t know if it was a mistake, or if the company was trying to be nice, but a few days later I got a Size L shirt and then a few days after that I got a size XL in the mail. Perfect!! The Packers were going undefeated and now we both had shirts to wear!
And then we lost. On December 18 to the Kansas City Chiefs. To be a good sport, I came in on Monday and changed into the shirt. And waited. And Dan didn’t come in! Finally I emailled him and found out that he was working offsite. I came in the next day and did the same exact thing only to find out he’d be gone for the rest of the year!
Finally, last week, before any playoff games, we got together and took a few photos with the shirt. Dan ceremoniously removed the picture from his desk. I’m not sure why, but Dan did his best Clay Matthews post and Aaron Rogers championship belt poses (discount double check!).
Sadly for Dan, the Steelers lost and are out of the running. Packers play the Giants this weekend. Cross your fingers!
Javeed took these photos and even a short video:
At then end Tony had to swoop in and drop the hate. Bears fans, stink!
Tags:ashanth·bears·Chicago·dan·football·giants·green bay·javeed·packers·pittsburgh·river north·steelers·superbowl·tony
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On Sunday Danny invited a bunch of friends over to his house for football and dinner. This was one of Limey’s going away events. We couldn’t just have one party for him when we heard he has to leave, we had to throw a whole series!
During the games Danny made dumplings and flatbreads. One of the dumplings was filled with short ribs and the other had potatoes and bacon and a side aioli that made it taste just like a loaded baked spud. So delicious! There were three kinds of flatbreads – a Mediterranean one with a kalamata olive tampanade and feta, one with roasted tomatoes and pesto, and one with sausage and caramelized onions. These were all delicious too, but I especially liked the Mediterranean one.
There were Bears fans, Packers fans and one lonely Cowboys fan at the party and everyone’s team won, so everyone was happy. Although, I would have been happier if the Bears had lost. The weather was nice enough, so we were outside for a while. Quinn and Halle provided the entertainment for the party. I’m not sure Danny and Caroline’s dogs, Maggie & Duff, knew what to make of them, but they better figure it out because they’ll have a baby in the house in just a few months!
For dinner Danny made shrimp and grits. This was the second time I’ve had his shrimp and grits and it’s so delicious. The grits are so rich and creamy. I don’t know how he does it. Actually, I do, but I don’t like to think about it (cream, cream, cream!). Danny also made macaroni and cheese for the kids, which was a big hit with both the kids and the adults.
For dessert, I brought over White Russian cupcakes. I thought they combined two of Limey’s loves: Booze & Sweets. They turned out alright, but not as awesome as I’d hoped. Not as awesome as the Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes I’ve made (here, here). Danny also made beignets with chocolate sauce.
Somehow we rolled ourselves out of there at the end of the night! I’m not sad about saying goodbye to Limey yet because he’ll be here for a while and we have at least one more goodbye party to go to.
It should also be noted that it took us 12 whole minutes to get to Danny & Caroline’s house in Oak Park from our house. I think their house seems far because it’s not even in Chicago, but we live so far west, it’s so fast and easy.
Finally, I almost forgot, Quinn made us this Halloween decoration. It’s a drawing of a scarecrow. I think he has glasses? What a nerdy scarecrow. He told me that I had to hang it by our stairs, but I have it on the fridge:
Tags:bears·brian·caroline·chad·cousin·cowboys·dallas·danny·duff·football·goodbye·halle·jen·jill·kristin·limey·maggie·oak park·packers·quinn·Sports
Last Sunday Killian, Liz and Fiona came over for a visit and to watch the Bears take on the Packers. Killian came over at the start of the game and after the first half he and Dallas and I went up on the roof to grill the leftover kalbi ribs from my birthday barbecue. Liz and Fiona arrived just in time for dinner and the second half of the game, although, who could pay attention to the game when we had such and adorable baby to play with. Also, by that time it was clear that the Packers were going to win!
Everyone loved the ribs. Dallas said they were even better than at my birthday party. Fiona even sucked on a rib or two and seemed to like it. I think Killian was a little annoyed when I was trying to make her cheer for the Packers! It was nice to see Fiona again. She’s starting to show her personality more and can scoot around on the carpet. The last time we saw her was on the day we returned from our wedding trip (she was born on our wedding day) and she was only a few weeks old!
Tags:bears·dallas·fiona·football·kalbi·killian·liz·packers·Sports
Last Sunday we went to Danny and Caroline’s for lunch and to watch the Bears game. The Packers had destroyed the Falcons the night before and we were excited to see if it would be the Bears and Packers playing for the NFC Championship.
Caroline and I finished off some strong bloody maries and we had gumbo for lunch. Danny’s gumbo was a winner and so were the Bears. Big game coming up this weekend!
John came over to visit and had his dog Winston with him. Danny and Dallas like to make fun of this dog because he is a “designer” dog and he cost a lot of money. He’s a Labradoodle (Labrador + Poodle). But check this out:
OMG. He was the cutest. And the nicest. I totally fell hard for him. AND? He doesn’t shed and he is hypoallergenic, so people with allergies won’t be affected! That part about not shedding and not being allergic really got me. I’m starting to suspect Dallas is allergic to dogs. I’m sort of obsessed with this dog and dog breed now.
After the game we played Gran Turismo on Playstation. Danny has rigged up this driving contraption that you can put right in front of the TV. It’s like a prototype, but we think he should start production of these things soon!
Tags:bears·caroline·dallas·danny·dog·football·gran turismo·john·labradoodle·labrador·oak park·packers·playstation·poodle·Sports·winston