Hasta Luego Lancaster

So I promised Mick I would make a post on here within the week of whence I left. This is a little late, because it took me longer to process everything that had occured over my five week venture to the Northland. First off, I can't get too far in this post without a big thank you to Bixbo Baggins and the future Mrs. Bixbo Baggins for putting me up for such a long stay. It is usually customary to send someone a thank you note for such a thing. That may or may not ever come. However, I don't think The Bixlesbys will shut their door on me for such an infraction. At least, I hope they won't. So once again, to Shane and his lovely fiancee Erica, thank you so much. Not once did I feel like I was unwelcome, unwanted, or cramping their style. I walked away from our roommate aliance a new man, a man who knows how to use coasters.



Weddings are always fun. That may not be true. However, I have never had a bad time at a wedding. When I was younger and I used to go to weddings of "old people", I knew something special was happening. I knew that because I was dressed up like a schmuck. When you get "old" and your friends start getting married...well let's just say I understand why some people cry at weddings. It was something very special to be a part of, when you see one of your best friends of the past ten years make a commitment to their better half, you can't help but think of all the dumb shit you and that person have done, and it is hard to not get a little choked up thinking of how far everyone has come in life. Shit dudes, we are pretty much adults now. Thanks, Tommy.

Yeags killed it with the Best Man's Speech, a little LV Message and a risque joke go a long way. The bar has been set. I would like to take this moment to wish nothing but the very best from all of us here at The Shire to our fellow Shiremen, T-Bone and Mrs. Schnoor. Sorry Mrs. Schnoor...still no girls allowed in The Shire (the website not the geographical zone). And Tommy, I am sure that I enjoyed stealing home on your ass and hitting your ass with my car much more than you did...and for that I am grateful. It was great hanging out with your family and friends, and your parents will forever be on my list of favorite friends' parents. A note for anyone out there, don't say anything about whiskey being Mr. Schnoor's unless you are ready to part with it....or part with what remains of it after an everning of drinking.

OK...I wrote way more on that topic than I originally planned so I am going to hit you with some bullets for the remainder of this post.

Top Moments

- Crossing the Susquehannah on my way into town the first day.
- Living the artist lifestyle with Murph and getting my portrait done.
- Chiques Rock, George's, and Pinacle Point with Murph and Keegey, and ending the day with a slow clap to show what a great day it was.
- Speaking what sounds like gibberish to everyone else besides Petey and The Dingleberries.

- Waterfalls all day and all night
- Sangria day in Philly
- The Phelempics
- The Bunger-que
- My once a year golf outting.
- Going up to Jiggs and Jenna's ridunkulous pad in Mt. Gretna
- Finding out that Jiggs' first name is Andrew...that still doesn't seem right.
- Hanging out with the muy interesante Smiley Jakielski
- Nightly bon fires at Murph's. (In French, Bon Fire means "good fire"..actually fire probably doesn't translate into fire, but don't be a dick.)
- The Hadi Chronicles (You Can't See Me and The Sunken Eyes)
- The Dingleberries (I never have to say who I am with again)
- Meeting Bucky Baxter (dude who played with Dylan)
- Meeting Joe Pug
- Going out in Harrisburg
- Hanging out with a caveman in Harrisburg
- Late Night No Shirt Party at AK's
- Rock and Rolling with The Felice Brothers (so I have been told).
- Cruising The Shire
- Caruso's
- New York, New York (I used to not think this place was all that awesome...it is all that awesome)
- Drinking Manhattans in Manhattan
- Late night taco trucks in Queens
- Having my first White Castle (Yankee Krystal's as I call them)
- Driving in and out of NYC like the bad ass city driver that I once was.
- July 4th on the Susquehannah.
- Big ups to Lunzers for putting me up on the way up and back...that made the drive somewhat bearable
- Finally getting to see Slimfit again, at the American Music Theater, after about five years of not seeing them live.
- Even cooler than the AMT show: seeing Slimfit rehearse earlier in the week whilst doing one of my favorite things.
- Last Cruise with McMigrane
- Watching the World Cup
- Hollywood Casino...which time? Both times.
- Hearing the story of Kenneff's adventure in Tampa. "Sir, may I call you...."
- Pick's Open House Party
- "If you are not playing in your game, your dick is out."
- Chef Calhoun's Amazing Goat Cheese Toast
- Lion's Head Deluxe Pilsner
- Ferg and I's photo shoot (see Facebook).
- The lightning bugs in Murph's woods.
- The Braves being in first place my entire trip.
- Listening to The Tallest Man on Earth's newest album 6-8 times on my drive home.
- Crossing the Savannah River on my way home.

I am not going to beat myself up trying to figure out what I forgot. If you can think of something, leave it in the comment section.

I told a lot of people that the highlight of the trip was stage storming at The Felice Brothers' concert. That isn't entirely true. The best part of the trip was getting to see everyone. If I ever feel low on love, I know that Lancaster County is a place to go to re-up on that. Lancaster was my home for almost twenty years of my life. Now that I have been gone for five years, it is nice to come back and everything still feel like home. I miss everyone, and wish there was a magic portal connecting Savannah to Lancaster, but until then I-95 will have to do. By the way, this does work both ways. Some of you assholes could come visit me every now and again. I will see you in March when I come back up for the nuptuals of Uncle Shane and Aunt Erica. And mark your calenders, St. Patrick's Day 2012 is on a Saturday...won't fall on a weekend again for another 6-7 years. Until then, we will always have The Shire.