Thursday, December 26, 2013

Gheorghemas: Day 9

On the 9th Day of Gheorghemas, Big Gheorghe gave to me . . .

Nine Gifts for Friends
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Seven Books for Reading
Six cocktails

Five gooooals / things
Four legal mic drops
Three critters and an otter
Two names for naming
And a fat guy in a jer-sey

After some delay, I'm here to bring you Day 9 of Gheorghemas. Some may attribute this delay to general laziness, or being drunk for the past two days. Those people, while possibly correct, are...well...somewhat correct. I am lazy and I have been consuming my fair share of alcohol the past few days but I've also been participating in no less than three separate Christmas morning (or afternoon) celebrations as well. A byproduct of the varying schedules that both my family and those families around us have to deal with during the holidays.

However we got here, I kind of like the idea of having my annual Gheorghemas gift giving extravaganza on Boxing Day. I mean, why should this blog only participate in American holidays. We're an international set here at G:TB and our holiday schedule should reflect this.

Speaking of reflection, it's been a hell of a year so far. The roster of G:TB has continued to grow as has our influence. We're not at least the 69th most trusted source on the internets for College Football gambling as well as a leading source of hip hop related lawsuits. Who knows what subject we'll tackle (dominate) next? Stay tuned in 2014.  Now on to the gifts.

Clarence- It's undoubtedly been a rough football season for you as the DC football team has struggled to be anything more than a weekly soap opera. Though I don't think you should be surprised. You have one of the most meddlesome owners in all of professional sports and your Offensive Coordinator has another man's initials tattooed on his ankle (not that there's anything wrong with that). You could certainly use (another) drink. With that in mind, treat yourself to a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. Always a tough find, it's been made even more rare after 65 cases were stolen from the distillery earlier this year. If a bottle of Pappy is too rich (or too hard to find) for you, you can always grab a glass the next time you fly through the Atlanta airport. Just stop By One Flew South in Terminal E and tell them I sent you.

TJ- I gave TJ his present some time ago when he and his lovely wife came down to Florida for a visit in March. We went to a spring training game, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day and we introduced The Teej to Mustard's Last Stand, our local hipster run gourmet hot dog stand. It's delicious, unbelievably unhealthy and they serve tall boys of PBR for $1. I can't overstate how great this place is. TJ…I'll have the breakfast dog before the year's end…just for you.


Zman- As all of you are aware at this point, Zman and I share many loves. A love of hip hop and sneakers chief among them. I was blessed by my dear wife with two very nice retro sneaker purchases this Christmas and I'm quite grateful. So here's a tip on a way to feed your sneaker obsession while saving a little money. Its the clearance section of nikestore.com . I go here about once every two weeks to see what's come up for sale. Sometimes there is nothing of note, sometimes you get a pair of Air Max 95 Tape Camos for 25% off. It's a nice way to waste time while you're running up billable hours.


TR- I've never met you so it's tough for me to pick out a good gift for you. So, I'm going to take the easy way out and give you the gift of schadenfreude. It's one of the best gifts any sports fan can get and you are getting your money's worth in the form of this year's New York Knicks. Just know that while you're eating up on the Knickerbocker misery, I'm right there with you. Cheering against the Knicks while I dream of two top 5 draft picks for the Orlando Magic.

Dave- Another guy I've still never met. But one who I feel like I know pretty well based on his essays here on G:TB. Dave clearly likes to read and is quite accommodating in passing out book recommendations. So I have two books for you, Dave. First is ?uestlove's autobiography 'Mo Meta Blues'. Even if you're not a fan of ?uestlove or the Roots it's a great read for music lovers as the sheer width and breadth of his musical love and knowledge will enrich your own musical life. The second book is 'Hellhound on his Trail', a book I just recently finished that follows the manhunt for James Earl Ray after his assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It's an enriching read historically and as riveting a read of historical nonfiction as I've come across in some time.

Shlara- I think we all know what I'm getting Shlara this year, right? Enjoy.


Danimal- Technically Danimal and I are still competing in our College Football pickstravaganza so I'm not feeling very generous towards my fellow Sunshine State resident just yet. But if I must get him something, we'll go with the return of former Notre Dame starting QB Everett Golson in 2014. It looks like everything is a go for that to happen and after having to suffer through yet another season of Tommy Rees, I'd say Daniela deserves it. Good luck, buddy. Once the bowl season ends, of course.

Rob- As some of you recall, I was astonished at Rob's admission last year that he didn't own a single hoodie. He's since rectified this but is still undoubtedly woefully short of the minimum number of hoodies that a man who lives in a (somewhat) northern climate should own. So I'm sending Rob a hoodie of his own. He probably won't receive it until after the New Year and I don't want to ruin the surprise for the little guy but he's getting an actual present in the mail from me. It aint quite the bottle of whiskey he sent me after my kid was born but it too will help warm him up during the long winter months ahead.

Geoff- Geoff's not technically a member of the G:TB staff but he's a part of the family. Kind of like the stuck up cousin who comes around every once in a while and tells every one else in the family how horribly wrong their thoughts and current path of life is (I think many of us at G:TB may fill that role in our own actual families). Plus, I've always had a soft sport for Geoff ever since my dog attempted to murder him by trying to chew his foot and flip flop off during his maiden voyage to Gainesville. I hope you'll enjoy this picture as much as I do.


Ron thought it was about time for Frank to give back Nancy and it's probably time for me to end this post. If I didn't get you something it's because I'm a bastard, not because I don't love you. Merry Gheorghemas!

44 comments:

Marls said...

EAD Mark.

T.J. said...

awl

TR said...

Impressive delts on Nancy.

rob said...

most excellent, all the way around. can't wait to sport my wu tang hoodie around honkeytown.

zman said...

Thanks Mark. I might get some flyknits while digging through the clearance crates.

Dave said...

thanks mark -- saw "cigar city" at publix and will get some. also, i went SWIMMING today. it was 21 when we left. is florida in the usa?

read "hellhound" and loved it, and so will check out 'mo meta blues, maybe on this trip, through the magic of the kindle.

Mark said...

Marls…try and enjoy Rome despite the snub. How about I get you drunk next time I see you? We've never tried that before.

rob said...

john kerry giving and receiving dap from snoop? john kerry giving and receiving dap from snoop:

http://instagram.com/p/iZstshv9Ha/#

Clarence said...

Mark, thanks-- I'm in for Pappy but I don't know where to acquire it. Methinks the Virginia ABC store will fall short. It's not like a pair of Nikes; can't just order it online. How do I get it?

And yes, I definitely deserve it.

Shlara said...

Coach Kliff--thanks Mark!!

And Marls, are you really in Rome? I love that city.

Marls said...

Mark, sounds like a deal. Maybe I should visit FL this time, especially if Greg is around. He is a fine, upstanding boy that should keep us on the straight and narrow.

Marls said...

Shlara: Really in Rome. I love it too. It is my favorite city. This is Mrs. Marls' first time here so we are taking a relatively long 5 days in Rome and then heading to Venice for New Years.

Mark said...

Agreed on Greg. He won't steer us wrong.

rob said...

marls, if you're in rome, a hi gheorghies might be in order. also, hi mrs. marls!

Shlara said...

Bellissimo Marls!!
Enjoy la dolce vita!

T.J. said...

Find your way to Florence, Marls

Marls said...

Hi gheorghies. Almost 4 AM here and jet lag sucks. Mrs. Marls is sleeping soundly.

zman said...

Marls is livin la vida loca.

rob said...

gheorghies, hello. i count myself lucky to be in your number.

Clarence said...

Hi, Gheorghies!!

Danimal said...

apologies for the delinquent "thank you" mark. thank you. flying remote controlled helicopters takes times & energy.

on the fball picks front, might I suggest we pick 1 game from each of the next few days thru Monday - Friday, Sat, & Monday (no sun cfb games)? with me being down 2 on the season, it COULD provide a compelling lead-in to the last handful of games. or you could just close me out.

Marls said...

Shower wine instead of the shower beer. When in Rome....

Shlara said...

I'm working from home today since I didn't want to be the ONLY person sitting at my desk in the office today.

Bonus = HBO2 is running Varsity Blues.

RIP QB1 Lance Harbor

zman said...

My man crush for Mark grows. I set up Apple TV with relative ease AND hooked it up to my slightly outdated home theater system.

Dave said...

people are really fucking rich here in naples (florida).

also, new brunswick now has a hipster run gourmet hot dog place, called destination dogs. no 1$ PBRs, though, more like 7$ green flash and stuff like that. you can drop a wad of money eating hot dogs.

Mark said...

Naples is nothing but rich retirees. Very nice but that place shuts down around 9 pm.

Clarence said...

Dave, do the rich people in Naples have so much money that they can place the $ sign wherever they want, eschewing the standard protocol?

rob said...

just ordered a new pair of glasses. with progressive lenses. 'cause i'm old.
but not as old as dave - he should fit right in with the neopolitans.

mr kq said...

Progressives rule. And so do shower beers. Bout to enjoy a Smuttynose in said shower. Dirty.

TR said...

Two NBA games on tonight: Nets-Bucks and Knicks-Raptors. Shit sandwiches. The only college football game is Cuse-Minnesota.

Mark said...

BYU-Washington on at 9:30, TR.

Mark said...

The Pro Bowl is a joke but I'm still mad Lavonte David didn't make it. Second player in NFL history with 100 tackles, 5 sacks and 5 interceptions.

Muhammad Wilkerson didn't make it either. Only the best player on one of the leagues best defenses.

TR said...

Wilkerson may be first team All-Pro. I think that will ease the pain for him from this farcical snub. And his agent is licking his chops. Mo is gonna get PAID this offseason.

T.J. said...

Bradley Beal injured. Curse of Les Boullez.

T.J. said...

Wilkerson is a f'ing beast.

Mark said...

Beal can't seem to stay healthy. Bummer. Great kid and super talented.

Mark said...

Agreed on both points on Wilkerson. I love him. And nobody watches the Bucs but Lavonte David is a monster. He's everywhere. Fastest LB in the league.

TR said...

Smithsonian HD showing a Doors documentary. My inner 15 y/o self (and outer, 39 y/o drunken self) are enjoying it immensely.

Mark said...

Jim Morrison went to the same high school as Greg.

rob said...

my in-laws are here, so i got to watch a documentary on the late marvin hamlisch. that dude was prolific. but no jim morrison.

Clarence said...

I just watched the series 3 finale of Downton Abbey. More shocking -- that ending or that I am watching it on a Friday night?

Danimal said...

Depends on where you were watching it.

Naples is the playground for the rich from the midwest, and mostly Chicago and its suburbs. Now ya know.

Danimal said...

Mark, who do you like today in the Pinstripe Bowl....nd currently giving 14.5.

Marls said...

Rutgers sucks shit. If ND cares at all they should kill them.