Being Monday, the day required that I stop in at the Chatterbox. It was a pretty good day and a pretty good night too. Will and Dorothy were there when I arrived, they were waiting for David and together they all went to Conseco Fieldhouse to see the Bulls from Chicago (where Will and Dot lived almost forever) and the Pacers. It was a different looking Pacers team after dumping a few of our Players in Oakland and taking some of the Golden State players in trade last week (a sports story slightly overshadowed by the Colts). Before Rich and I headed off to the Chatterbox we had a treasure hunt at the Mall to find the AFC Conference Championship hat, Rich had to buy two and so did I I'm taking one back to my dad in Florida when we head down at the end of February with Meredith. So back to the box: Nick was at the back tables with Mel and Wilson, Rich and Ed when I got there, and I walked in with Kay, I was quickly asked by DeAnne if I had been up too lat the night before watching the Colts coverage because my post failed to upload. I said no, but when it crashed I didn't have time to try again so I just left.
I went to the car to get my camera before Meredith and Jenni arrived, and walked back in with Erica Embrey this time, then Steve Singleton came in on his own (I'm not responsible for that one). Travis and even Liz (much later) showed up and joined the group, then a rare visit from Jeff Jeffries. Ed called Pam and told here to hurry from her classes if she wanted to see Meredith (we had to get home in time to see Heroes) Pam got there after I had tabbed out, but we stayed for a few minutes, when I got home (before the girls) I got the TV on and the channel tuned, and just as it started they walked in.
It was another good day and not really too cold, Meredith will disagree, but she's been in Florida for two years. Travis will disagree too, but he's been a big weenie for well over two years so...

Chuck Pace © 2007
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I had to wait a long time for a day like that. We got three inches of snow overnight. We had pre-Bowling for the evenings league (so that we could watch the Colts game from start to end), and I had to run the greatest errand a dad can run. Oh yeah, and the Game itself. I don't think I have to tell anyone in the state of Indiana (or anywhere else) what happened in the game.
Saturday I got a call from Meredith in Florida, she was homesick, and decided the only way to get back to a healthy frame of mind was to get back home for a while. Also on Saturday I got a call from Rich that instead of bowling at 7:00 on AFC Championship Sunday we would be pre-bowling at 1:00 (which turned out a double blessing for me, since I would later find out that I would be picking Meredith up from the airport at 4:30).
Preparing for the visit, Jenni and I had to run to the store and pick up a winter coat for the Southern Florida visitor. So I had to clean off the car buried in snow. That's when I slipped on the slick and did a big crash on the curb at the end of the driveway, I landed with all my weight on my rear-end and am still super-sensitive there (I may have cracked it in another place). That has slowed me down and is very painful, but I was able to bowl and pick-up Meredith, and sit in a recliner, and watch the game. I was not able to jump up and down like an insane idiot but I still have two weeks to do that (if not the rest of 2007!).

As you may have guessed, I was up a little too late last night, and have not really prepared a post, I didn't even take my camera to the Airport when I picked Meredith up, and I never got it out after we got home. We had a late christmas, and early dinner and an amazing come-back to watch, then all the coverage I could watch before crashing into bed around at 1:00. My phone was bling-ing for hours from all the text message coming and going, and my head was ringing and eventually I fell asleep to hear the alarm clock just a few minutes later (or so it seems right now). Have a great day. The Colts are 15-4 with one more game to play in February! Woo Hooo!
Chuck Pace © 2007
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...and then they gladly just turn over their hard earned... Chuck Pace © 2007
Yesterday I rode in to work with Jenni since I didn't have the keys to the rental car I drove to the bowling alley on Thursday. If you read Fridays post you already know that someone stole my leather jacket from the bowling alley along with my prescription Ray-ban Wayfarer Sunglasses, checkbook, leather Wilson driving gloves and the keys to a rental Kia Optima (a surprisingly spry and very quiet ride), thus the ride in. We did not drive in the usual way, instead we took the 14.4 miles around 465 like we would if we were going to the bowling alley, because we were going to drive by the bowling alley to see that the rental was still there. Then I went to work ( 4 miles) and Jenni took the truck to her work. Once at work I called the bank to put a stop payment on any checks submitted after the last one I had written, then called Enterprise to secure a replacement set of keys (I would have to pick them up at their offices behind Tom Wood Jaguar) . Then I got a call from Mike at BMW that my car was ready to pick up.
I talked to Bruce, told him about my evenings excitement and my impending errands, then asked Mike Wilson if I could borrow his CR-V to drive to Enterprise (13 miles) and collect the spare keys to the Optima still at the Sportbowl. He agreed, and I was off. On the way back from Enterprise I picked up Jenni (12.4 miles) and we went back to Sportbowl (4.3 miles) to drive the two vehicles back. On the way to Sportbowl I stopped and gave Mikes CR-V a Mike's Carwash bath (as a token of my appreciation), then it was back to Roberts to give Mike his car back (4 miles) and from there back to Enterprise (12.7 miles) to return the rental car. Enterprise dropped me off at the BMW dealership, I paid for the repairs, and it was back downtown to drop Jenni off at Anthem (12.4 miles) again. Then me back to Roberts (.3 miles). After work I had to run up to "The Best Chocolate in Town" 880 E. Massachusetts Ave. (1.6 miles), Liz DiNicola's confections shop that officially opens today, but she and Travis were hosting a Pre-opening party for their friends and family. After 10 minutes and ten dollars (two purchases) I had to get to the bowling alley (5.4 miles) for my Friday humbling session, then from there back home ( 14.7 miles) to finish my run around kind of day. When I sat down to write this recount, I launched Google maps and got the distances, I knew I put a lot of miles on three different vehicles but was surprised to see that it was just .8 miles shy of an even 100 miles.
The photos are of Liz explaining to Eric how to make money in confections, and the Hilliards Chocolate System machine (I thought it was all done by Oompa Loompas by a river of chocolate, man was I mistaken.
Regards to all, now I have to drive to work (13.5 miles).
Chuck Pace © 2007
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Yesterday was a day off, a scheduled day off from work that is. I had plenty of errands to run, principally dropping off the BMW for a windshield replacement (there were pits and small cracks in the old one and the trim that held it in place had cracked and was not doing its job. I also had to pick up a new cable box with a working DVR in it, and do some other general running around. All this before going to the bowling alley to begin our 10 for 12 Beer and Pizza league. Dreyer and Reinbold kept my girl overnight so the seals can properly cure and the windshield height can be perfectly set. They got me an Enterprise rental for the duration that I would be away from my car. A pretty impressive 2007 Kia Optima with only 307 miles on it. Well last night after bowling I went to retrieve my leather coat to drive the rental home and violá, the coat she is gone along with the my prescription sunglasses, my driving gloves and of course the keys to the rental. Hopefully someone just walked off with my coat thinking it was theirs, but...
I'm supposed to pick up the Bimmer today after my service guy Mike calls me, I'll have to call Nick at Enterprise and tell him o' the woes of the keys, and call my bank and figure out the last check I wrote and, and, and...
Chuck Pace © 2007
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They look so nice, but I still want to knock 'em down! Chuck Pace © 2007
The responsible party is looking for a few good bowlers. David Andrichik is the responsible party. He is responsible for my bowling habit. But I can quit any time I want. I don't need it, but I enjoy it and it's not hurting anybody else, besides I only do it in the designated areas, or in the alleys. People should avoid those areas if they don't want to get second hand effects, like high fives or camaraderie, or worse waking up with beer and pizza breath. Thursday night at 8:30 a select few kegling renegades are taking to the alleys again at Sportbowl on East St. We have enough keglers for a couple to three teams, but we want more people to join us. Because it's cheap fun and $12 dollars gets three games, your share of 100 ounces of soda or beer and 1/4th of a handmade alley pizza with teams choice of toppings. Last year we did a couple of these b&p leagues and qualified for the tournament at the end, which was free and offered a big cash prize for the winning team. My team with Jenni and Mel came in 2nd. So this is an open invitation to all you would be ballers out there to do something productive with them. Like they say in Hollywood, "Roll 'em!" If you are interested be there Thursday at 8:15 for registration purposes (getting your rolling papers) and three games, then the next 9 Thursdays at 8:30 just for rolling. If you don't have shoes and balls you can still do it, the alley 'rents' the shoes for free to 10 for 12'ers, or you can roll your own right there with your friends.
And now for something completely different...
Last night Rich had to stop into the Chatterbox to pick up his DeAnne Photo/Artwork he purchased from the Flux Gallery's last show. Normally Rich would have been there with us on Monday, and DeAnne had it there then, but he was a bit under the weather, thus the special Tuesday trip. I went along just because I'm a friend, and I didn't want Rich to feel lonely. As it turns out, there were other people in the Chatterbox and Rich was just fine. Cathy Morris came in and we talked for over an hour, she is excited about a new direction she is taking some of her energies with the Local Musicians Union, and I was glad to hear and share her enthusiasm. Then Nicci came in and I learned that she got her truck timed and it is running better than ever, this was indeed good news. I was worried about her walking again, and I was glad to hear and share her enthusiasm as well. After that I went home to Jenni, enthusiastically shared some of my day's news (as I do now with the world) and played toss with Charlie for few throws. He was bouncing and trembling when I got home he was so pleased to see me and I was glad to see and share his enthusiasm.
My apologies to all the inhabitants of Girl Land, whom may have been offended when I inadvertently renamed the area Girl Town in my erroneous enthusiasm on yesterday's post. I thank Kay and her keen eyes for finding the offensive error, and commenting on it yesterday. She should be very glad to see that I have corrected it in yesterdays offering, and I will be glad to hear and share in her enthusiasm. My goodness I'm feeling all happy, positive and upbeat right now, I know there is a word for it, but for the moment I can't seem to be able to put a finger on it. Well I'll try to come up with it as I get ready for work, gotta run now and stay with this feeling and its positive, thingy. You know the, um, whatever it is, that word, deal...
Chuck Pace © 2007
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Da Vinci Code? Di Na Code? What can this mean? Mel Shoffner © 2007
I am so upset with the proof-readers at chuckpace.com that I can barely see straight, no wait I just had my wife glasses on, I'm all right now. Still eight days ago I posted the Chatterbowling results with an egregious error. And I quote (one of my favorite writers, myself) "The biggest excitement was Travis' second game, where he started with four strikes before getting an ugly split. He didn't end with the highest score, but still there was the drama of only being 8 strikes away from a 300 game (for a brief moment)." In truth I was asked to follow Mr. Travis "High Score" DiNicola to the tally sheet last night to see the error of my ways in person! Release the hounds, the Mention 'Ho is in fact a Tally 'Ho as well. Well, well. But since this was an honest mistake I intend to make it up to Travis the only way I know how. Travis did indeed have the highest ingle game score for the two game event, the much revered '177' not a score to be taken lightly, my friends the highest of all the scores, for he was number one! Every one else was number two or higher.

Oh, you wanna Shake'n'bake there fryer!?! I've got your correction (and a half beer buzz)... Chuck Pace © 2007
Immediately before I had Mel take that shot I took the photo of Kay looking at the Tally 'Ho like he was from another planet (Pens hole vain e ah, I think she pronounced it!). Other than the mention smack-down between Kay and Travis, with Mel quietly in the offing waiting for the first one to hit the floor, it was a quiet night at the Chatterbox. It was so quiet that you could hear Nicci's teeth chattering to themselves over a hot toddy, after she walked from Girl land to the Box due to the unstable relationship her truck has with running. If she had called ahead any one of the crew would have offered to pick her up, but I understand she got a similar offer from two denizens of her neighborhood while walking towards the light. Go into the light Nicci. Go into the light. All Are Welcome. All are welcome.
Chuck Pace © 2007
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After waiting for it for three months the night went by so fast. No I'm not talking about the Colts or football right now. Last night I went to Clowes Hall at Butler for an amazing and wonderful evening with my friends. In alphabetical order: Angela, Ed, Jenni, Kay, Mel, Mike, Pam, Phil and Rich all went to see Guy Clark, Joe Ely, John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett perform an unscripted evenings work on stage. Two tall cups of tea, three tables, four chairs, four guitars, four microphones, eight bottles of water and all the creative and wonderfully diverse music added up to two hours and twenty minutes of an amazing evening of humor and entertainment. Each artist played five or six of their songs plus to ensemble pieces, one before the encore and one after. At the beginning of the encore Guy Clark said, "Ain't this a funny little game we play with each other," and someone yelled back from the audience, you have to play some more. "I don't gotta do nothin'," came his reply along with a warm, crooked smile and he eased into The Randall Knife, a song about his father, and the most important thing he wanted after his passing, The thing that he loved, "The thing he haunted." All four artists where genuine, and funny and I wished the evening would never end.

Last night Indianapolis got what it wanted. While we were at the concert, the New England Patriots were in San Diego battling the AFC's #1 seed in the post season. When the Chargers missed their final FG attempt, New England advanced to the AFC Championship game, to be held right here in Indianapolis next Sunday. The old adage be careful what you wish for comes to mind frequently, but the Colts have beaten the Patriots this year, and are a 3 point favorite in Vegas odds making. I will have to come up with something for Jenni to make for game time dining again, she has made two wonderful dishes so far, and we have won both games in post season. The photo above is of the taco-dip dish that we enjoyed almost as much as the Colts victory on Saturday. Even though I spent a major part of Sunday in bed or on the couch with back spasms, and cramps I will never forget this weekend, it was one of the best I've had in a long time. One Game at a Time for the Colts, and time for Peyton to get back to Peyton form. Stay defense, Go Colts!
Chuck Pace © 2007
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The Colts win in Baltimore, again!
Indianapolis kicked some defensived demons in the process, their own and the number 1 rated defense in the league at the same time. The offense struggled again, and only our new kicker, Adam Vinatieri was a real bright spot on offense. Peyton had 2 ints and no TD's and a 39.6 QB rating in the victory because the defense was the real story. I'm not into numerology, but I can tell you that 23,42,51,48 and 35 put together means that #4 helped the #3 seed get 1 step away from the Superbowl and to the AFC championship (or possibly the Championship will come to us if New England beats San Diego tomorrow). Another set of numbers? Try 14-4 and 9-0 at home.
- 4
Chuck Pace © 2007 |
Looks like Mickey Needs a Hat to wear!

On Thursday Mike Wilson sent his old Navy (not the clothing store with the horrible commercials, the military institution) buddy Mickey McGowan the following e-mail:
Go Colts!
To which Mickey replied:
What  Ever .......
 
Baltimore can't wait for "The Colts" to come here.
Revenge doesn't describe the emotion in this town. It will be UGLY!
 
Mick "Cleveland Browns" McGowan 
Yesterday at lunch Mike told Rich and I that he is going to visit Mickey in a few weeks. Mike even offered to bring him a Colts hat to wear when he watches the Superbowl. Rich and I thought that might get Mickey lynched.
While we were at PennStation having lunch Kay was at the store waiting for our return. We finished and arrived to give Kay counsel on computing and cameras, got her the appropriate card reader and a brief lesson (with warnings about file corruption) and I introduced Kay to Jo and Becky Campbell up front. Becky said. "Oh yeah, you're famous. You are all over the internet." Kay said, "No, just chuckpace,com." Then we talked about the local electronics superstore where she went to look at flat screen TV's, but her super-salesman could not get the set to work, which persuaded her to look elsewhere. She hasn't bought yet, for concern about using rabbit ears on a new set, I assured her that she could, so we'll see.

After work the Mahogoff Bros. faced another tough opponent, the number 1 team in our Friday league. We took game one convincingly with me scoring a 206 and Proctor getting 23 pins over his average too. Jeff Moore was close to his average, Rich was 50 pins down looking up at his from a valley. That was all the convincing "Are We Done Yet?" needed, they took the next two and canceled our 74 point advantage from the first win as well. The only thing we had going for us was Anni Hood, she (and Lex in transit) was there with Scott and took on the duties of beer winch for the evening. After debacle bowling Rich and I went to Wirty's for 6 quick games of pool which ended in a stale mate (Rich lost two on the eight, won three legit and I won the last one legit.)
Here's to Mickey and everyone in Baltimore!
Go Colts! Go Colts!
Chuck Pace © 2007
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Go Colts!