The Biggest Loser Challenge has begun

When everyone was in NOLA a couple weeks ago, we all decided that we are too fat.

In true Dave fashion, he decided a competition was in order to help us slim down.

We’re seeing who can lose the most weight by Mardi Gras 2010.

Here’s where you can track our progress:

http://www.fridgegraph.com/challenge/?cid=463

WHY KENT IS GOING TO HEAVEN:

trip-to-lafayette-09-festival-0292

One of the many reasons Kent is still my friend after almost 20 years:

When a little old lady needed help finding her car at Festival International in Lafayette last month, Kent stepped up to the plate.  I haven’t seen Kent since then, but they were walking at .1 miles per hour, so it’s quite possible they are almost there. -BRENT

Here’s a little bit of JazzFest for you

I’m not a JazzFest purist.  Sure, I’m not a huge fan of Dave Matthews Band playing all the time, but I know the good times to be had by acts likes Bon Jovi.  Lionel Ritchie taught me how to love the hit makers at JazzFest.

Bon Jovi taught this guy, who rocked out for the entire show:

He was just as much fun to watch as Ritchie Sambora’s talk box solos.

books read in 2008 by brent’s brother

I wasn’t going to release my list this year, but having now seen how my 2007 list scaled the elbuzzard heights last year, well I am hopelessly moved to act. I didn’t read as many books this year largely because I was very nearly crushed under the weight of Infinite Jest from January to probably April. Anyway, here they are:

1. Infinite Jest- David Foster Wallace
2. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao- Junot Diaz
3. Winter’s Bone- Daniel Woodrell
4. The Boy Detective Fails- Joe Meno
5. The French Lieutenant’s Woman- John Fowles
6. Don’t Get too Comfortable- David Rackoff
7. Quiet Strength- Nathan Whitaker, Tony Dungy
8. Oh Pure and Radiant Heart- Lydia Millet
9. Kaffir Boy- Mark Mathabane
10. Triste Tropiques- Claud Levi-Strauss
11. The Canon- Natalie Angier
12. Bush at War- Carl Woodward
13. Bridge of San Luis Rey- Thorton Wilder
14. Bowl of Cherries- Millard Kaufman
15. The Plot Against America- Phillip Roth
16. Our Story Begins- Tobias Wolff
17. The Stand- Stephen King
18. Noodling for Flatheads- Burkhard Bilger
19. Ubik- Phillip K. Dick
20. Alligator- Lisa Moore
21. My Stroke of Insight- Jill Taylor
22. The Chosen- Chaim Potok
23. A Treatise on Human Nature- David Hume
24. The Wayward Bus- John Steinbeck
25. Terrorist- John Updike
26. Things Fall Apart- Chinua Achebe
27. Unaccustomed Earth – Jhumpa Lahiri
28. The Adventures of Augie March- Saul Bellow
29. Why We Hate Us- Dick Meyer
30. Comedy by the Numbers- Eric Hoffman and Gary Rudoren
31. Heyday- Kurt Anderson

My favorite book in a route was The Boy Detective Fails. Least favorite, the creepy Tony Dungy book. Happy New Year to you all!

Chuck

How To Live (Cont)

Lesson 3: How To Watch Hurricane Coverage

First you put it on the weather channel. But the weather channel is really boring and they keep talking about your local weather, so the next step is to CNN. CNN is not boring at all, because eveyone on the network is really excited about everything that is going on. They over-react to everything. I believe they reported about 4 breaches through he course of the morning. Then you get freaked out. So you go upstairs and start watching WWL on the internet. They make you feel much better about things, but there is no couch in the office, so you go back down again. Repeat for 4 hours. Then go swimming because it’s Labor Day, and this is your last chance. Then come back, and do it all over again.

How To Live (Cont.)

Lesson 2: Get a Dry Erase Board

Dry erase boards are the greatest. They are very good for making to-do lists, remembering dates, playing hangman, and counting down. They are also good for brain storming sessions, and last minute reminders. I have two and I use them all the time.

I would reccommend staying away from the Foray brand however. Bad news. Lousy Markers.

Here is a quick list of DEB list uses:

1) Groceries
2) Concert Dates
3) Packing Lists
4) Threats
5) Bills
6) Sex
7) Birthday Gifts
8) Cd’s you want
9) People you hate
10) Things your cat will eat

How To Live

I have decided to start publishing a how-to manual on life, based on the lessons I have learned.

Lesson 1: Keeping Cold Water Handy

It’s advisable to have two water pitchers in the fridge at all times. That way you have a better chance of not running out of cold water. If you plan it right, you should be able to run out of the first one, then refill it. Then you start using the second pitcher. By the time the second one is empty, the first one will be cold again. Enjoy!

Also, it is always best to refill both pitchers before you go to bed, just in case. BUT, it is important that you make sure you fill up a nice big glass of cold water (and one for your significant other, if applicable) before doing so. Otherwise you end up getting a half-cold glass of water.