Woof!

Photos.

The year of the dog is here. Finally, these obscure mammals will get the publicity they deserve.

Our party was a triumph. We even had to turn people away! Well, one person, but only because he'd stopped by to ask for money. Jason remained sober for nearly 1/35th of the party, Seth showed off his newly-painted room to anyone with an arm he could drag them by, and David showed his sensitivity to world cultures by searching for "Falun Gong" all night on Google China.

Special big ups to everyone who dressed in red, the rain for refraining from flooding our basement for a single night, and to B.J. for bringing the entire Chinese Fourth Army.

Photos.

Merry Christmas, Nate!

La Casa has one more crack at 2005-style Yuletide bliss tonight. David's Christmas beneficence means that Seth and Jason are proud ticketholders for Nate "Captain Mac" McMillan's Key Areana homecoming. It will be a coaching matchup for the ages as Mac matches wits with Sonics coach Bob Hill to see who can get the most out of their fairly talentless teams. In the spirit of the event, David will bring along his #10 bobblehead, Jason will sport his 1995 Sonics tie, and Seth-well he'll have an umbrella probably-he's never been one to sport the team gear.

Another member of the Trailblazers was supposed to have his homecoming tonight, but then Martell Webster got himself sent down to the D League. There are a number of theories on why Webster was sent down to the DL. Some people think it might have a little something to do with the last year's Seattle Prep-ODea game.

Hotter

In exciting news for anyone who's likely to visit our house, Jason's agreed to let us set the thermostat above 60 degrees!

The new temperatures: 64 when we are at the house, 60 when we are sleeping. That's up from 60 and 55, respectively, a state of affairs which compelled David and Seth to wear stocking caps in bed, Ebenezer Scrooge style.

Ironically, nowhere is the temperature colder than in Jason's room, on the top floor.

But, to compensate Jason for our profligacy, energy-wise, we're required to give him daily hot rock massages.

Holy Crap the Hawks Are in the Super Bowl

Photos.

Jason Barker, Sean (Jason's dad) and us three were here for the NFC Championship. And it was good, good, good, good luck. We are going to the Super Bowl! When the final gun sounded, Seth shook up a bottle of champagne and exploded it all over everyone. We drank and hugged and kissed and hugged and then ran to the Kiwi and Kangaroo to slap hands and chant. None of us have ever been happier, and big ups to certain people who will remain unnamed for shredding our hearts into 30 million pieces, allowing us to end up here in Seattle, together, for this moment of pure euphoria.

After the game we headed to Pioneer Square for the obligatory honking, chanting, screaming, dancing to "Celebration," taking pictures of Skullhawk, and sneaking into Qwest Field. So, essentially, the exact sequence of events that David's always hoped for on his wedding night.

For the next two weeks, we will be walking on air, but plans are in the works for an "8 Mile" viewing at some point, since the Super Bowl's going to be in Detroit. SUPER BOWL XL!!!!

Photos.

Jan. 31 State of the Union Social

On January 8, 1790, George Washington stood in front of the assembled Congress to announce that Representative Henry Wynkoop (D-PA) was the winner of that year's Congressional fantasy football league.

And every year since, the American president has given a speech which has come to be known as the State of the Union. This year is no different. And, as the type of people who enjoy watching the staged political events that pass for public discourse in our perishing democracy, we're going to watch the 2006 edition.

Special guest: the Beers of America--a set of 12 different beers from around our great land. We'll be combining a State of the Union viewing with a beer tasting (and, as always, a non-stop comedy jamboree).

The actual speech begins in East Coast primetime. We'll TIVO it and begin watching at 7:30.

Join us.

David Turns One

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of getting stomped on (turns out it was one of the best things ever to happen to him) David took his roommates out for dinner and large microbrew pitchers at Fiddler’s Inn -- the location where he and Seth spent most of last winter and spring drinking at 3pm and making outlandish declarations.

There was no time for pouting or crying as they all agreed that David was in insanely better off than before the events of 1/18. David tried to do a little reminiscing but Jason declared that he was acting like an eleven year old girl, and spent the next twenty minutes in the bathroom “flushing the man back into him.” The rest of the evening was spent making fun of the past, trying to figure out ways to make Steve Smith “disappear” before Sunday, and wondering, if you’re a musician and you’re playing at a bar, and that bar is charging a two dollar cover, is it time to pack it in?

The night ended (and we're not sure anyone can -- or would want to -- remember how it started) with an impromptu one-on-one-on-one wrestling match in the living room.

Lonely Weekend

This weekend, with Jason getting skiing lessons from Saira in Whistler, and David continuing his desperate attempt to make Sarah laugh by taking her to a comedy festival in Chicago, Seth was left to either find a girl named Saora, or sit in front of the TV watching NFL football and slowly consuming a giant plate of nachos.

The cheez-whiz caked baking sheet currently marinating in our sink demonstrates which option he chose.

Seth also finished his week-long home improvment project--painting his room. He's now the front-runner for the prestigious 7502 interior design award, with Jason's avant-garde "chuck a bunch of half-opened boxes on the floor" motif looking more and more like an honorable mention candidate.

On Sunday, the house basketball team won again, thanks in no small part to Seth's four points. Well, they won by ten, so Seth's points weren't exactly critical, but they contributed to team spirit. Jason's ball-handling prowess and aggressive defense were sorely missed, as the team generated few fast-breaks and, when they tried the 1-2-2 zone surrendered six points in a minute.

David and Jason return today, and boy will they be happy to know that, while they were gone, their beds did get watered.

Flippin' Out on Friday

Hey kids, it's a new year and you know what that means--college gymnastics season!

Jason's sister, Kelly is in her senior season this year (sister Molly is expected to be an impact performer in her first year as Team Manager), so La Casa has season tickets for the Gym Dawgs. The 18th ranked Dawgs have their first home meet this Friday at 7pm against #4 Utah in Hec Edmunson Pavillion. Seth and Jason will be rocking the house, along with Saira and David's Husky Spirit.

It's good, wholesome fun so come on down and cheer on the Huskies. Jason will buy you popcorn if you do.

Sat Jan 28 Chinese New Year Eve Party

When: 9pm

What we will serve: Sushi and sake will compliment the karaoke as we celebrate everything Chinese.

What to bring: Dogs, it is after all the year of the dog (dogs will not be allowed in the house).

Why: Other cultures have been around for hundreds of years; it is about time that we started celebrating them. That is why will be gonging in the Chinese New Year with a party.

What to wear: At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes-- so don't be an insensitive racist, wear something red.

Whom to invite: Anyone who enjoys counting backwards in Chinese, at midnight its woo, suh, sahn, uhr, yee...Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Whom to not invite: British soldiers from the 1840s with a score to settle.

Singin' in the Basement

On Sunday night, the amazingly crappy weather of late was feted with a Singin' in the Rain social. While your correspondent spent most of the time popping popcorn, talking on the phone with his lovely girlfriend Saira, and otherwise not watching the show, this reporter was the only attendee who did not spend the better part of 103 minutes last night enjoying the Singin' in Rain moving picture show. That qualifies the Singin' in the Rain Social as an unqualified success.

For those of you who came, all the boys at La Casa would like to thank you for your attendance, support, and for going through two pounds of popcorn seeds. The house's collective New Year's resolutions will benefit by this. In a perfect world, each of you eight wonderful people would be identified and targeted with missiles of gratitude. It's not a perfect world, reread the first paragraph. I've got no clue what was going on in the basement. There's a hypothesis that Seth pantomimed and lip-synched along with the film while David apologized to all in attendance and Sarah and Ed chattered excitedly about traveling in Turkey. Slides may have been shown.

All in all, the movie was great, the popcorn was air popped, and the available seating was filled, but people weren't uncomfortably close to each other.

House Hoops

Not content with the dismal performance of our house orienteering team (we got lost running around Greenlake), we've teamed up to try to conquer one of the most talented assemblage of athletes in the world--yes, the Seattle city co-ed recreational basketball league.

Today was our first game as a house--Seth as a scrappy post player, Jason as a harassing (verbally, sexually) guard, David as "Coach."

It was a successful debut. We won. Also, two opposing players suffered season-ending injuries in the first five minutes of the game. David's "hurt them" strategy was working. Seth picked up six points, also a technical foul, though it was unclear if the foul was for blocking a girl's shot (which is against league rules for boys to do) or for screaming "PUT THAT SHIT BACK WHERE IT CAME FROM!!!" as the ball bounced away.

Jason ran the offense, and played the roving point in our 1-2-2 zone. The real stars were our friends and teammates--deadly shooters Carrie and Norah, inside and outside threat Nate, Kate with her fearless drives, and Jake, a really tall guy who, in the highlight of the game, Jason threw an off-the-backboard alley-oop to. We won by 25 or so.

The next game is Sunday (David and Jason are suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team"--apparently thanking the refs with a Texas Armadillo Twist is against league policy).

7502 hoops photos.

A New Year, A New Face

While watching the BCS Championship game, formerly known as the Rose Bowl, at USC fanatic Kate Stein's apartment Jason asked Seth and David, "Why isn't our TV this big?" The answer was that David purchased the house set while living in sunny southern California. Apparently, in the greater Los Angeles area there simply isn't any demand for picture radios with screens larger than 20". Who knew? Young Mr. Swidler simply bought the largest television carried by the West Hollywood Best Buy. Well, that's what he told your correspondent and this publication would never attempt to impugn the integrity of the champions of virtue who live in the little house, with a moderately flooded basement, on the corner of Winona and Stone.

But we digress...

To make a long story short, the house now has a new TV. This means television watchers will enjoy bigger, more vivid images when the 7502ians subject them to TiVo'd episodes of Num3ers, Project Runway, and Kids Week on Jeopardy. Also, it might make the TiVo-enhanced NFL playoff games just a touch cooler.

If you'd like to see the new telly in action, stop by for the Singing in the Rain Social on Sunday. If that's a little too...well, you know...for you, stay tuned for details on the upcoming poker night currently scheduled for TBD.

Metro Basketball Tuesday

See below (or click the link at right) for info on our Singin' in the Rain Social.

Every Tuesday, as a house, we've been attending local high-school basketball games. Yes, we are that cool.

Yesterday, we saw our collective alma mater, Garfield, somehow pull out a late win over Roosevelt. It was just like high school--we cringed at substandard guard play, taunted the opposing coach, baited the refs, and got pitying looks from high-school girls.

Joining us were Jason B., his lovely wife Carrie, and their future Bulldog, Luke. Luke cried when the refs failed to call several moving screens. Or perhaps he was crying because Seth stood up on his bleacher seat, waved his arms wildly, and screamed in his shrill, piercing voice: "Hey! Referee Shitface! Watch the moving screens! THOSE ARE MOVING SCREEEEEEENS!" Anyway, Luke cheered up after Garfield's stirring comeback (and, coincidentally, after Seth was forcibly removed from the gym).

Also along were fellow Bulldog Shane and his charming girlfriend Alison, who is visiting Seattle for the first time. Though originally eager to watch Metro League basketball (a far better product than what she witnessed as a Princeton student), Alison left midway through the second quarter and met us after the game; her sweater was, inexplicably, covered in ranch dressing.

Carrie and Nate, original members of the Metro League Tuesday club, were there--Carrie to see her old coach (now at Roosevelt), Nate to yell the things at referees that would have gotten him ejected in high school. And Nate, you were right--that was an obvious clearout.

The highlight of the evening? Comingling with Garfield Jazz Band leader Clarence Acox, a staple at Bulldog basketball games. After a particularly bad call by the refs, he turned to us and said "these guys belong in the Sun Belt conference." And we all laughed, even though we weren't exactly sure what he meant. But, c'mon. It's ACOX!

Next week, we travel to Ingraham to watch them play sharp-shooter Taylor Olson...and ALL the Blanchet Braves.

Sun. Jan 8 "Singin' In the Rain" Watchin' Social

When: 7pm

What we will serve: Popcorn and Talking Rain water.

What to bring: Your looking balls.

Why: With Christmas and New Years behind us we are now facing the two month slog through a rainy Seattle winter. The only way we can get through this together is to embrace the rain, and understand that our drizzly friend should be something that we play with, not rail against. So please join us as we watch the 1952 classic Singin’ In the Rain (presented in Technicolor).

What to wear: It’s Sunday night no need to look special, just wear whatever food stained shirt you put on when your roommate’s yelling woke you up at 8am. However, you will endear yourselves to us if you wear rain gear and bring an umbrella.

Whom to invite: Anyone who enjoys watching straight men dance.

Whom to not invite: Anyone who thinks that a good musical must involve Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Double Dating Our Sisters

Last night, while David witnessed the modern-day Clash of the Titans that was Washington vs. Cornell, Jason and Seth entertained their sisters.

Meredith showed up first, bearing Red Stripe. Seth started a fire and did some cooking prep while Jason went to QFC. He picked up Erin and around seven, and dinner was served soon after:

--Sauteed Tilapia with a chili/mustard glaze
--Couscous with artichoke hearts, raisins, cranberries and roasted almonds
--Mixed greens salad

We ate and ate, and chatted about how life has changed since we were kids (Erin's lost her tomboy image) and how it hasn't (Meredith still wears diapers).

The evening ended too soon, as Erin had to get to the airport to fly back to NYC--but not before she shared pics of her awesome Williamsburg apartment.

Later, Seth's old friend Jackson, visiting from the Bay Area, took the fifty-cent tour.

A request: If anyone has an extra kayak, please drop it by. We may need it soon to navigate our basement.

7502 Meet 2006

Photos

About two weeks ago we at 7502, or as we’re more commonly known by the Catholic Church, ‘The Ass-Hole Hut,’ made a startling realization: 2005 was coming to an end. After some more research, we found out that it would replaced by something called 2006. Not ones to miss an opportunity to celebrate, we decided to put on our best clothes, head to where the kids hang, and make drunken fools of ourselves.

The New Year was to be rung in with the “Awesome” show at the Capitol Hill Arts Center. Before we left the three of us discussed the events of the past year that lead us to shacking up together. They are still hard to believe, but glorious to revel in.

As always the “Awesome”s did not disappoint, and put on a show worthy of a king’s feast. We had such a good time listening to their tunes that even if we had not consumed enough Maker’s Mark to kill a rhino we would have still ended up near the front of the stage dancing with our housemates and other friends.

Most of the show was spent dancing, laughing, and saying all the things you would never say during a moment of heterosexual sobriety.

As the year changed, and the final seconds f 2005 were counted down, old friends were hugged repeatedly (for the same reason as the dancing), cell phones were smashed, credit cards went missing, Seth charmed the ladies with his trade mark wit and naughty fingers, and Jason and Sarah bonded over their Celtic origins and began harassing their Anglo superior David. Instead of lowering himself to their potato-breathed taunts he simply responded by telling them if they wanted Northern Ireland so bad they should come and get it back…as of this morning it still flies under the Queen’s flag.

The night ended as all good drunken nights should, at Dick’s. Afterwards we went to Dick’s Drive-In for greasy burgers (see what we did there). With Jason buying it was no time to skimp on meat, and our first meal of 2006—the diet starts next year.

In the morning Jason decided Christmas was over and burned the Christmas tree, something that no eight year old should ever see. Seth then left for some family time in Shelton, and David re-alphabetized the dictionary.

Later on Jason joined his family for Polar Bear activities at Matthews Beach. David, who went along to cheer his friend on (and hopefully see a boobie) was then talked into the water by many members of the McDonald family, including the intimidating glimmer shirtless Brian, boyfriend of sister of Kelly McDonald and housemate of parents Sean and Debbie McDonald (a different, more interesting blog).

Afterwards Jason and David put what was left of their manhood in a plastic bag and dropped kicked it across the lake by posing shirtless with Brian. Kids, here is a lesson: sucking in and pushing out.

All in all a magnificent start to 2006.

Photos

Luke Comes to Visit

Luke Barker made his first trip to 7502 and taught us all a very valuable lesson about love, and did everything he could to get his hands on the fire poker.

The New Year’s Eve visit came during the incredible Huskies v. Arizona double over time thriller. David was at the game, Seth was watching at his Dad’s, which left Jason to entertain the Barkers and Carrie Liston, while Brandon Roy went ape-shit from three point range as time expired (twice). Once David returned from the game he and Kevin joined Luke in a spirited game of ‘Poop Yourself.’