We hope you’ll joins us to celebrate Liz’s 30th Birthday for a Casino Night theme party at the Waucoma Yacht Club. Feel free to dress like James Bond or in your favorite cocktail dress. There will be professional craps and blackjack dealers, a Texas Hold’em table and Roulette wheel. Everyone will receive $1,000 in play money at the door redeemable for prizes at the end of the night. There will also be a DJ for everyone’s dancing entertainment and an open bar. Gifts and presents are discouraged (although Liz always welcomes a good bottle of Champagne…!)…Looking forward to your presence Saturday evening at the Waucoma for Liz’s 30th. We’ve been receiving calls about what to wear and cocktail dresses and tuxedos are encouraged if you’d like to dress up. Otherwise make yourself comfortable but be aware their may be a few James Bonds in attendance (bonus play money if you’d like to dress up as one of the Bad guys or a “Bond Girl”.

How cool does that sound?  I’d like to start off by saying that Kathleen would not allow me to purchase a tux for the event.  She droned on and on about how I wasn’t even wearing one to our wedding and how it would be weird if I bought one for the party.  Hmmm, I guess she had a point, and after some pathetic pouting I conceded by throwing on my trusty pinstripe suit and was ready to roll.  Kathleen got herself nice and dolled up as well! continue reading »

Friendship is a funny thing.  We all have “friends”, but I think most agree that there are varying degrees or even classifications of friendship.  There is the almost obligatory “best friend” label, acquaintance, pen pal, internet friendship, casual relationship, roommate, etc, etc.  When a “friend” gets married, depending on the classification this friend falls into, it typically elicits one of the following visceral reactions: 

1.)  Oh great, another wedding…What am I going to wear this time and what kind of gift is appropriate so I don’t get singled out as a bad gift giver. 
2.)  Awesome!  Should be a great time.  How can I show how much I care about this person and their big day?

I can say with confidence that my buddy John Plotica falls into my “best friends” category.  When he first told me he had plans to propose to Raina, I asked him one question.  Are you ready?  He promptly said, Yes.  To which I responded with a swift slap across his right cheek with the outside of my hand.  A bitch slap, if you will.  I asked the question again, to which he responded with an emphatic, Yes.  I then chuckled and gave him a warm congratulatory hug.  Actually, I may have over embellished a bit with the slap across the face.  OK, OK, that part didn’t happen at all.  But most of the conversation did happen, and the look in his eyes said it all.  He was ready.  However, I did debate with him as to “how” exactly he was going to propose to Raina.  More on that in a moment.  continue reading »