As a famous, funny man once said......


.. Thank god they sell beer in that damn place!

:runs away crying!!!:

OK, here's the belated write-up of my meet-up with Sean (St_PatGuy).

On Friday, after I registered for my conference and enjoyed the welcome dinner buffet (urp!), Sean picked me up in his silver 2001 Acura RSX type S, AZ license plate # NCC 1701. Heh, just kidding about that last part. He is a lazy man who has quit shaving, so he has a beard now. We went to the movie theater across the street from my hotel complex and enjoyed Star Trek, which neither of us had seen yet.

On Saturday, after my conference was over, Taximan Sean again picked me up at the hotel, and we went to the Westgate shopping complex in Glendale, where we ate at Shane's Rib Shack, a chain that neither of us had experienced before. The food was good, and I became infatuated with our waitress, Ari. You're right, Mark, they're all too young for me.

After shopping at Todd Macfarlane's action figure store, we went to Sean's apartment, where we tried out my new Grado 60 headphones. Big thumbs up! Then we listened to Sean's set-up, enjoying Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown (see, Mark, there was good reason you were eager to get to this post!).

We also listened to some REM, and an album that Green Day put out under the (band) name "Foxboro Hot Tubs". I gotta look that up and get it. Thanks for the tip!

Sean has a cool set-up with tube amps. I had never heard of the manufacturers of any of his equipment (preamp, amp, CD player, and speakers). Yet, he was always very friendly and engaging with this n00b reporter. Sean's set-up sounds great, and fun was had by all. Either we didn't play it loud enough, or his neighbors are really cool, because not once did we get warned to turn it down!

After graciously ferrying me to Barnes and Noble so that I could get some reading material for my flight back, we bid adieu. Thanks again, Sean, for the hospitality, and I hope I can return the favor one day!

Edit: Sean's car is not a 2001; I think it is a 2004.

Gotta record these things correctly for all posterity.

Aha! It's a 2003!

It was fun getting to spend time with JP this weekend. We didn't have much opportunity to talk the first night because of the movie. I guess we coulda been rude and carried on a dialogue much to the consternation of those around us?

Like JP said, on Saturday I took him over to Westgate, which is the complex right next to the stadium out here. We did a quick tour while deciding where to eat, and ended up for some tasty Southern cuisine at Shane's. And, yes, JP DID go gaga over our waitress.

Thanks, JP, for bringing along your Grado 'phones. I've always wanted to try Grados out and was very surprised how fun they were. Really had a lot of dynamic energy to them.

So, we listened to music and chit-chatted and had a good time. JP also showed me some of what his conference was about, which was interesting and did NOT put me to sleep!

I'm glad to have met JP in person and would be glad to taxi him around again. For a small fee, though.

Is that also what Ari said?

It sounds like you both had a great time. I'll have to make my way to Phoenix one day. Besides Sean, I do know someone else who lives there. I think I'd be more excited to visit Sean, though. Ha ha.

Somewhere....in the burbs of Phoenix.... a lonely soul ::runs away crying:: ........

Ari, is that you?!

Come back! And bring more ribs!!!

*nom nom nom*

You guys are so rude. Stop having fun without me.