Have you ever scrolled through your phone and come across a photo you don’t remember taking? This happened to me last weekend. Tara and I were kicking back at the Tipsy Cow and I was scrolling through my Immersive Van Gogh exhibit pics when I came across this gem from the night before.
We’d been playing cards Friday night – a ritual that dates back to our earliest courtship days. We pair our card-playing with records and alcohol. Makes for a great and safe way to unwind after a busy week. I’d suggested we pick up frozen pizzas that night, something we almost never do. Normally we’ll grab Papa Murphy’s or order delivery. By the time this photo was taken, several hours had passed and the pizza was in the oven. You’ll notice empty shot glasses on the counter. That’s key to why this pic was taken. Obviously I was in full-on Don’t Give a Fuck mode. The Screamin’ Sicilian box came with a tear-off mustache that I felt belonged on my face. I guess I begged Tara to snap a pic? And then promptly forgot all about it? Pretty sure I was talking in an exaggerated faux Italian accent, too. Because that’s something I would totally do a few beers in.
For what it’s worth, the Screamin’ Sicilian was pretty good, as far as frozen pizzas go. And I kicked her ass at rummy, which is par for the course. She’s much more likely to beat me at cribbage.
Gotta love our Friday nights!
By now, most everybody who was on our mailing list has received our 2022 holiday card, so I can share it with y’all here. If you haven’t, you’re probably in Canada. Just feign surprise when you open the envelope.
Photo Christmas cards are a longstanding tradition for the Petruska clan. I’ve been doing them my whole life. Literally. Thanks, mom and dad!
We try to have fun with our cards. My brother-in-law called us “dorks” when he received his card, but I don’t even care. I embrace our dorkiness! What better way to celebrate our move to Wisconsin than with cheese?
I credit Tara with the idea for this year’s card. We drove all the way to Illinois (okay, it’s not that far) and then turned around, pulling into the rest area just across the Wisconsin border for this pic. I set up my Nikon and tripod, pushed the self-timer button, and we took three or four shots. The whole time, cars driving by on the interstate were honking at us. Again, because I embrace our dorkiness, that didn’t embarrass me in the least.
Plus, I wasn’t the one wearing the cheesehead, ha.
So, how many of you are in the path of this massive winter storm/bomb cyclone/badass blizzard bearing down on half the U.S.? We’re not in the bullseye, but Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for Thursday and Friday, and travel will be inadvisable, if not well nigh impossible. They’re predicting 3-6″ of snow, but the real story will be the 50-mph winds, subzero temps, and extreme wind chills down to -35º. We still have several inches of snow on the ground from last week, so we can expect lots of blowing and drifting snow. Hell, it’s been so cold already, the Rock River is completely frozen over in places.
Bring it on. I live for this shit. Today, I stopped by the grocery store, figuring we might be apartment-bound for a few days. I forgot that everybody does this when big winter storms are imminent.Thank god I went at 3 p.m. Can’t imagine how bad it would have been after work.
You know it’s going to be a big storm when they name it. My only issue is the name they chose for this one. Elliott? Really?? No offense to Mr. Gould or the kid from ET, but Elliott doesn’t exactly strike fear and awe in me. Elliott is a kid who eats paste. If you want to capture the fierce intensity of this storm, name it Rocky or Hercules. Zeus, or Blade, or Magnus. Thor, maybe. Winter Storm Sauron perhaps? Darth Vader? Bundy? Dahmer?
Anything but Elliott.
So, tell me: what’s your favorite frozen pizza? What do you think of holiday photo cards? Are you in the path of Elliott?
Mark My Words 
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