Drinking Right - Lakefront Edition

Those who read on a regular basis have seen me mention Drinking Right. It's a group of conservative bloggers, blog readers, commenters, etc. who get together on the second Tuesday of every month at Papa's Social Club. Since we enjoy each other's company, we also occasionally get together for "off site drinking right." This past Saturday I had the pleasure of hosting the second "Lakefront Drinking Right" at my house.

I must say, in my opinion this year's party was even more fun that last year. Of course, the 64 degree weather last year kinda sucked, but we did still manage to have a good time. And I'll let ya in on a little secret - I was still a little nervous - you know - what if no one comes? How embarrassing!! And WTH will I do with all this food?! But those fears were entirely unfounded. Here are a few pics* from the party...

Dean, Patrick, Chad & Frank

Glenn, Dean, Patrick, Phel, Frank & Chad

Hubby and Sara

Kate and the infamous Silent E

Kate, Phel. and James T.

Nick, Sara, the Boy & Kate

The Friend, Nick, Sara and The Boy

And to think - I didn't know ANY of these wonderful people 2 years ago. I'm very fortunate indeed.

*If you want to see all of the pics, click here.

P.S. - Dammit! I forgot to post this originally. If you want a detailed list with links of those who attended, Patrick has a good roundup. And for more pics, Kate stepped up to the plate.

Thank You!!!

Okay, so Kate is giving me all sorts of grief for not posting an update on Dad's condition.  I gotta tell you, his recovery is miraculous.  He had half a lung cut out on Monday, and was out to breakfast with my stepmom on Saturday.  He has now been deemed cancer free.  He will need no further follow up like chemo or radiation.  I visited him yesterday, and while he's still tired and his appetite isn't quite back yet, he looks fantastic.  I also want to thank Kate for being so awesome about posting updates...she was certainly on it better than I was!

What I really want to say is THANK YOU!!  All of you.  The feedback I got via twitter, facebook, text messages, emails, responses to posts is truly humbling.  I told Dad when I visted him yesterday that he was getting prayers and positive thoughts from not only all over this country, but several others as well.  I gotta tell y'all, it worked.  It really, truly worked.  I may get into more details later, or maybe I won't.  But God's hand was ALL OVER this thing.

Please, PLEASE read this post.  If I need to make it any clearer, when they did the scan Dad had a 2.3 cm "mass"...when they performed the surgery it was 3 cm malignant tumor.  We're talking about 5 weeks folks.  I implore y'all to practice preventive medicine for your sake and for the sake of your loved ones. 

Again, I cannot tell you how humbled and grateful I am for all of your thoughts and prayers.  I will ALWAYS be grateful to you.  :)

Where is Chris?

Soooo…I have been a very bad blogger. Here I start this blog, and then I don’t post. For that, I apologize to my loyal readers (all 3 of you). Why have I not been blogging you ask? Well, I have been cuh-razy busy!!

I have a child who has the flu, another child...um...I mean...a husband who has a back injury, a job that’s about ready to kill me lately, and oh yeah – there’s also the matter of this other business I’m trying to start. So I got to thinking. What can I do in all my spare time? And I thought some more. I thought “Chris, you lazy piece of sh*t, it’s the holiday season. Get UP off your ass and do something that will benefit the greater good!” So I did. I was kindly invited by media/social networking mavens (and friends) Sara and Amy to help with their cause. And what, pray tell, would that cause be?? Well, take a gander!




Now, before you get all atwitter (I'm sorry, I simply could NOT resist that one), this event is for EVERYONE. You don't have to be on twitter. Hell - you don't have to know anything about social networking. The point of this is having fun while donating to good causes. The toys donated are going to Toys for Tots, and 100% of the money collected from the silent auction will benefit the Blood Centers of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Hemophelia Foundation. It's kid friendly...there will be free pictures with Santa.

So come one, come all, to THE holiday extravaganza of the season!! For current updates on the event, visit http://www.bloodybrunch.com/
P.S. If you would make a tax deductible donation for the silent auction, shoot me an email at ckrumen "at" gmail "dot" com. Not only will it benefit a great cause, but it will definitely put you on Santa's "good" list! :)

Cheddarsphere Christmas Party!!!

Our Cheddarsphere Christmas this year party will be on Sunday, January the 3rd, from 2pm until whenever at Papa's Social Club, 7718 W. Burleigh Milwaukee .

Just like last year we'll be collecting predictions from the attendees for the coming year. (Hopefully we'll do better than last year!)

The Packers will be facing the Cardinals on the big screens. (Hopefully the game will matter in some way)

Since it was so popular last year, we'll be doing a white elephant gift exchange this again. Participation is optional, buy a gift valued at no more than $5, wrap it and bring it with you to the party. Everyone who brings a gift will throw their name in a hat and then you draw and pick a gift at random. (Gift exchange to commence at halftime of the Packer game)

Just like every year this is a NON PARTISAN CHRISTMAS PARTY, all are welcome, blog authors and blog readers, those who comment and those who hide in the weeds.

Bloggers, please do what you do best, spread the word.

If you will be attending PLEASE leave a comment so we can give the bar an idea of how many people will be coming along.

(Completely copied and pasted from Fred!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

A very special birthday wish to a lady who is one in a million (thank God) She's one of the sweetest, snarkiest, smart-assiest conservatives I know!! She also sucks at the slot machines! :) Happy Birthday Ol' Broad!!!

My Anniversary - Of Sorts

Wow!! November 4. Remember last November 4? Election Day? That is a day that, if I could, I would forget. However, I get a daily reminder...yes, that's the day the American public elected a man who had no experience running anything to run our country. How's that workin' out for ya, folks?



But...BUT...there is one saving grace from that day. The bloggers. You see, up to that point I had been reading blogs for a couple of years. Some fun stuff, but mostly conservative blogs. Eventually I started commenting on some of them. I had, in the past, read about this gathering these bloggers have called Drinking Right. It takes place on the second Tuesday of each month, except in November, 2008, the bloggers were having a special Election Night Drinking Right.



Now - disclaimer. I'm a very shy person (no comments from the peanut gallery please). Behind a keyboard, it's all good. In person, I'm horribly shy. HOWEVER, that was a very important election and I wanted to be with people of like mind, even if I hadn't met them. VERY out of the box for me. But I went.



That night I met Chad, Jimi, Egg, AB, Nick, Fred, Patrick, Peter, and many more. It's all been downhill since!! I kid. I'm proud to call these folks friends. Through them I met others, and next thing you know, I have a whole new network of friends! Soon after that date I started squatting on other blogs, and eventually - voila!! This place was born.



November 4, 2008 was, in my opinion, the day this country started going to hell in a handbasket. November 4, 2008 also, in my opinion, opened up a whole new world for me. Thanks for welcoming me into the fold guys!!!