Dan In Real Life

I went and saw Dan In Real Life yesterday. I am a big fan of The Office, and Steve Carell. This movie right from the beginning made me feel uncomfortable. And I was uncomfortable throughout the entire movie. I don't know if that was because the acting was so good to make me feel that way, or just because I didn't like the movie too much. It is hard to talk about the movie without blowing the plot. So if you don't want to know about it, stop reading. Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is an advice columnist and also a widower. He takes his three daughters away to a family reunion / weekend. Early on in the movie, Dan meets a girl, Marie (Juliette Binoche) in a book store and after only a couple of hours falls in love with her. Marie is soon revealed to be the girlfriend of his brother Mitch (Dane Cook). As the uncomfortable weekend continues, Marie falls in love with Dan. All the while Dan goes on to proves through his actions to be a hypocrite to his daughters. The direction of this movie is high predictable, especially the biggest shocker moment of the movie. I can't say that this is anymore than just an O.K. movie. You see a bit of Steve Carell's "Office" character come through, especially the long pauses and how his character deals with uncomfortable silences. I give this movie a 5.

New Arrival

I am happy to announce that I am once again an uncle. My sister in law, Sue, gave birth to her third child, second son, Joey Jeffery Davies. All are doing well. I am hoping to get some pictures Wednesday afternoon and get them up as soon as possible. I couldn't find any pictures on the Hospital web site.

Halloween

Well here is my weekend. Friday was not the day that my 6th nephew was born. Apparently the hospital was too busy. So with any luck Jeff and Sue will have their baby today. Without needed to go to the hospital, I went to my parents to help them out as they had a couple of deer to cut up. Then I spent some time with my niece and nephews. Friday night I stayed with Chris and Rebecca. Our friend, Bob, stopped by that night. I will have to get to a couple of Bob stories later. But Bob is a trip. We had couple of drinks and that was really all for Friday night. Saturday morning I went to Mike's football game to see Mike Kicking Ass. And not only did Mike kick ass, but the entire team did. They played the number 2 ranked team in the country for Division III football. Whitewater was up 28 - 0 at halftime and eventually won 41 - 14. After the game I went to Chris and Rebecca to the Halloween party that Vanessa was helping host. It was fun, but I thought that the music really sucked and was too loud. Everything else was fun. Sunday I headed back to Appleton early in the morning and I managed to lay around the condo all day. Here are the pictures
Here are Josh, Nick, Abby and Ethan at my parents house.Here is another picture of these rug rats.At the Whitewater football game, we tailgated. It was so windy that I had to start the grill in the back of my dad's truck. That is real safe.Here I am with the Kelment's Sausages and Willy the Warhawk before the game. I am the one in the gorilla suit with the can of Pabst.Chris, myself and Rebecca at the Halloween party. Chris and Rebecca went as Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife. I thought they had the best costumes.Here is the real Dog the Bounty Hunter.Here is Chris' version.Here are Rebecca's sisters, Missy, Angela, Trinity and Vanessa.

Weekend Plans

It should be another busy weekend for me. Here are the plans. Last that I heard, my sister in law, Sue, was due to give birth to their third child this week. If it didn't happen by today, they were going in after it. So I was planning on a stop at the hospital to say hello to my 6th nephew. The rest of Friday is up in the air. Saturday, unless my parents need the "Head Boner" to take care of part of the deer harvest, I was planning on seeing a little MKA (Mike Kicking Ass). This should be a fiercely competitive game. The University of Whitewater Warhawks are ranked number 3 in the country, and the team they are playing, the Mary Hardin Baylor Crusaders, are ranked number 2 in the country. Saturday night, my friend, Vanessa, is having a Halloween party at a Lake Beulah bar. That should prove to be a good time for all. And I am planning on winning the costume contest. I don't see how I could lose.

Sunshine Go Away Today, I Don't Feel Much Like Dancing

Since it is rare for anything exciting to be going on in Appleton during the week, I thought I would post this picture. I took this Monday night looking out off of my balcony.
I would like to update my dead beat list. Preston is now off of my dead beat list. Those that are still on my list, Myra, Chucker, Tree and The General.

Classic Nate

I met up with Nate this weekend and this story came up. At the time of this story, I was living at my house with Andy and Nate. We had just finished up a weekend of drinking at the bars. Nate and Michel were in an argument. I can't recall what she was mad about, but I know she was pretty pissed. The three of us were sitting in the living room watching Monday Night Football. Nate had just finished telling us why Michel was mad at him and that she was going to call him that night when she got home from work. I told Nate, that when Michel calls to go in to his room to talk to her, because Nate would normally talk to Michel while watching TV and not really pay attention to what she was saying which only got him in more trouble. I am sure this is a situation most women out there can relate to. The football game was nearly half time and the announcers just said, "Coming up at halftime, the greatest hits of all time on Monday Night Football." To which Nate proclaimed "I am not missing that." A couple of minutes later, the announcers say, "After this commercial break the greatest football hits we have ever seen on Monday Night Football". Next thing, Michel calls. I again told Nate to leave the room, but he gave me the "Don't worry about it, I can handle it" hand signal. The show comes back on, Nate is still talking on the phone. 30 seconds into the highlights someone just gets absolutely leveled, to which all three of us all let out an "OOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Here was Nate and Michel's conversation after that:

Michel: "Oh my God, what was that?"

Nate: "We are just watching the greatest hits on Monday Night Football."

Michel: "You weren't even listening to what I said."

Nate: "Sure, I was."

Michel: "What did I just say?"

Nate: "When?"

Click the phone went dead.

Nate hung up the phone and said "She will call back."

The Heartbreak Kid

I went and saw The Heartbreak Kid last week. This movie was done by the Farrelly Brothers who also did the movies "There is Something About Mary", "Dumb and Dumber" and "Kingpin" to name a few. From that list a movies you know that this movie will also push the envelope on what is acceptable and what is too far. The main plot of the movie is about a Eddie Cantrow (Ben Stiller) who is being pressured by family, friends and society to get married. Early on in the movie he meets a girl whom he starts dating. But after only a short period of dating she is faced with a career move that would force her to move. To keep this from happening, they get married. It is on their honeymoon that Eddie realizes he doesn't know his new bride as well as he thought and soon falls in love with another guest that is staying at the same Mexican resort. Over the course of the movie there are a number of misunderstandings which makes you feel like you are watching an episodes of "Three's Company". Also Eddie's wife, Lila (Malin Akerman), looks a bit like Cameron Diaz and sounds exactly like her. So you sort of feel like you are watching "Something About Mary". Surprisingly there is a good sound track with some Springsteen and a few David Bowie songs. Although I wasn't too crazy about a bad remake of "The First Cut is the Deepest". The relationship that Eddie and Lila had while sharing a room in Mexico reminded me of when I shared a room with Vanessa when we were in Mexico last year. I can't say it is anymore than a just O.K. movie. I will give it a 5. If given a choice go see Super Bad first.

Weekend Update

Here is the recap of my weekend. Friday night I went to Crawdaddys for dinner with Nate. Then I went over to Nate's for a ping pong match. We played best of 13. I won, 7-0. Then I headed down to Leff's Luckytown to meet up with Tammy, who rents out my house, and one of her friends. Saturday I went to my nephew, Nick's, soccer game. Then Saturday night was Nick's birthday party. Nick had asked me to put on the same games that I do at my Freeman party, with his friends. After the games, we got in a little ghost in the graveyard. As I had mentioned in my last posting I was planning on scaring the kids with my "Scream" costume. So I had won the previous round and I was the lone ghost. I put on the costume and hid. When the kids came running around the house I jumped out and yelled and started chasing the kids. Their reaction seemed to be "Why is Uncle Rick wearing that costume?" They weren't really scared at all. A little disappointing. Here are the pictures from the weekend.

This is Nick at his soccer game, taking a free kick.

Here are the kids making Jack-o-lanterns. Julie decided that the kids didn't need candles for them. What good is a Jack-o-lantern without a candle in them.One of the games I played with the kids was the 7 legged race. This might be a new addition to the Freeman Party.I think there were 12 kids in the musical chairs. Nick with his cake.Here is Ethan jumping off the swing set the next morning.
Here is my brother, Jon, rotating the tires on Julie's car. I sat and talked to him for 10 minutes while he was working on the car, to get a decent picture. And when he finally made a decent pose for me to capture on film, he called me an A-hole.

I stopped at my parent's house on my way home Sunday afternoon. Here is my nephew, Zack, on the tire swing.
While I was at my parent's house, I got roped into carving up a couple of deer. Here I am showing you why they call me the "Head Boner".

Elley

First let me follow up on my last posting about possibly scaring the kids. Julie gave me her blessing. But it looks like Annie is very opposed. And since this is a topic that I really don't care what the outcome is, I will put it to a poll. Plus no matter what the results are, I am going to scar them anyhow.

Should I dress up in my "Scream" costume and scare a bunch of 10 year olds Saturday?
	Yes, make them cry.
	No, that is mean.
	Costume? Look in the mirror, you don't need a costume to scare them.
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Last night I went out with my only friends in Appleton, Mark, Suzanne and their 5 week old daughter, Elley. Here are some pictures from last night.

Mark and Elley.Suzanne feeding Elley some Pabst.Here is a new one, me doing the Heisman pose with a baby. Although I still do this with every new born I am around, it never gets old. And as far as I know, I have never heard of anyone else doing this pose. Suzanne taking care of a bomb. Funny that is what my underwear looks like after drinking Pabst as well.I think it is pretty clear who I where my vote is going for Mother of the Year.

Thursday

Not too much going on this week. I guess the highlight of my week so far was my performance review with my boss. I am sure not too many of you are concerned about the outcome of my review. But if you are, you will be happy to hear that my boss rated me as meeting or exceeding every expectation that was set for me. And the four goals that were set for me to accomplish were all met. I know, shocking but true.
What else do I have for you? Saturday, I was invited to my nephew, Nick's, birthday party. He would like me to do the same games that I do for my Freeman party, with his friends. I am seriously debating bringing home my "Scream" costume and later on Saturday night, when we play ghost in the graveyard, putting on the costume and scaring the crap out of them. Any thoughts? He is 10 years old. Shauntelle, you still read, it scared you right?
Otherwise, I have been working on putting together my Halloween costume. I am planning on going as a black 70's guy. I haven't broke out that costume in 4 or 5 years. It is pretty much altogether, I am just looking for some better shoes and some crappy jewelry to wear.
Well I guess that is all that I have going on. I wish this was more exciting. My apologies to Krum's old make out partner.

We Own The Night

I went to see "We Own The Night" the other day. This movie stars Mark Walberg and Joaquin Phoenix. The jist of the movie is about two brothers, one that is a cop and one that runs a night club. The night club attracts the Russian Mafia and the cop brother asks the night club brother to help catch the Mafia King Pin. To me this movie looked like it was going to me simular to "The Departed", a movie that I loved. It sort of was, but not nearly as good. Joaquin Phoenix, plays the burn out who could careless about other people's problems and who needs to suddenly get serious character, as well as he does in all of the movies where he needs to play that same role. Mark Walberg plays the hard ass cop, but isn't quite as well as in "The Departed" nor does he swear as much. I thought that there needed to be more background and set up for Joaquin Phoenix going undercover. This is no more than just an O.K. movie, I would give it a 5 or 6 out of 10.

Bitter

As my readers know, I really do appreciate them. I am fascinated to know that people actually think enough of me to come to my website and read about my pathetic life. People always ask me who the people are who leave comments. I know no more than any of you. Unless people leave a name, I do not know who they are. Recently in response to Krum's marathon posting, I had the following correspondence with an anonymous reader.

Anonymous said...
I know your friend Paul; he dumped me for a red head. Anyway, I saw him running around mile 20 and he looked like crap--like a fast, green ghost. I thought I felt like crap being 6 months pregnant and watching a marathon in the heat, but then I saw Paul and realized that I had it good. I have visited your blog occasionally since you went on a date with my friend Nicole. Your blog's been a little dry lately but I have lived in Appleton--it ain't your fault, man. The place can be a drag.
Friday, October 12, 2007 1:08:00 PM

Rickie Davies said...
To Krum's bitter sounding ex,
It sounds like you enjoyed seeing Krum in pain. Glad that worked out for you. As for the blog being dry, you got that right. It is real dry. Appleton is not the cure for boredom. My life is just not exciting during the week. However, Halloween promises to ensure some quality pictures. So be patient.
Monday, October 15, 2007 7:29:00 AM

Anonymous said...
Oh, now be nice. I am not bitter, and I am not his ex. I merely made out with him a million years ago, and recognized him on your blog. He looked as sick as he turned out to be--that was my only point. I became a first time contributor to your blog b/c no runner wants to see another runner get that sick; besides, I am a darn nice person.
Monday, October 15, 2007 10:05:00 AM

I didn't say you were, bitter. I said you sounded bitter. And because I don't care about the outcome of this poll, I will ask my readers:

Does Krum's former makeout partner sound bitter?
	Yes
	No
	She admitted to making out with Krum?
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Amanda's Wedding

I had a pretty full weekend. Friday night, I took it easy and I went with my brother, Jon, to visit Steve Nevermann. I was there for only a drink and then I had dinner with Chris and Rebecca. We took it very easy Friday night. Saturday we had a group of 10 or so that went to Mike's Game to watch him kick ass. This was much more fun than sitting in a church watching a wedding ceremony. Then I we went to my cousin, Amanda's wedding. Before I get to the pictures, I want to thank Chris and Rebecca for dinner and allowing me to sleep at their place Friday night, and Justin and Katie for breakfast and allowing me to sleep at their place Saturday night. Rebecca, leave your email address as a comment and I will send you the Packer pictures. I took a lot of pictures, and I left a bunch out, but let me get to them.

Here is Mike Kicking Ass Saturday afternoon. Whitewater continued it's winning ways. They won 26-14 and they are now 5-1 on the season.Here is Mike, not kicking ass but apparently faking an injury. He was walking fine at the wedding. When Mike didn't get up right away after this play, his girlfriend, Katie, screamed "Oh my God, Mike!!" I didn't even notice that he hadn't gotten up.On to the wedding. Here is my brother, Dan, and his wife, Drunk Jody. Jody doesn't drink too often, but when she does, she is a riot to be around. She laughs at everything I say when she drinks.Pocahontus and Tom Brady.The Sherman table at dinner.Just a couple of shots at the bar. The wedding was in Fort Attkinson, the bar had a special, Strawberry Tequila shots for a $1. I would guess I must have bought at least 30 of them that night. This looks like the bride and groom with two of their bridesmaids, but no, it is the bride and groom with two girls, including my sister in law, Jody, wearing the same outfit.Justin and Katie.My aunt Marilyn and uncle Dave.Me, Justin and Timmy doing some shots.Me and Mike, the Faker.Jon and Julie with the one dance Julie will get with Jon. Actually Jon danced a couple more than the one that Julie had predicted.Here I am helping my dad dance.Dave with my parents.Me and Amanda. I felt a little bad about going to this wedding, since I really didn't know Amanda all that well. But she knows me know. By the way, she had no idea that I wasn't at the ceremony.My Mom and Dad.My mom and aunt Marilyn.We can't have a family wedding without Andrea and Jody kissing.Deb and Tim.Tim expressing my feelings about those who thought I should have gone to the ceremony.Unk and my aunt Sandy.