Because the pumpkins have been carved … check out the 2009 Jackolanterns. Freshly carved and lit up for your pleasure. They occupy the place of POITP. Happy Halloween everyone!

Kind of a slacker as its been almost 2 weeks ago now, but some of the pictures from Homecoming weekend are up here. Check them out! We’ve been warned that even though this year had the biggest alumni turnout ever .. next year is the 100th Homecoming and they expect an even bigger crowd! I did have a great time so I know I can be counted on to attend again Don’t know if I’ll do much more than I did this time though, I feel like I very wise when deciding to sit out the special drill at halftime … too much weird formations and moving for my old age!

Slow to write about how the Cucina Roma in Westmont closed recently. Some people know this to be the place where Deb and I had our rehearsal dinner for our wedding (doesn’t it suck when you like a little italian place and have something special like that there and then they close it on you?? I think some can relate!). Anyway, I was a fan of Cucina Roma from when I lived in Lisle and I was conveniently located to their Naperville location. I will admit that we had not been going there very often of late, I don’t think Deb really enjoyed it as much as I did. In tribute I’ll give the top 3 things I think of when it camee to Cucina Roma … 1. Their country rigatoni (Oh I’ll miss that!) 2. The tapinade or whatever they called it that was served with the bread, tasty and Deb didn’t like it so I didn’t have to share at all! 3. IN the Naperville location I was known to hit their lunch buffet, which of course had the rigatoni as a staple on it and I was quite a fan.

Now the building has been reused already and a new place (Guava). Guess we’ll have to give that a shot sometime soon!

Back from a trip to see Dave Matthews @ Alpine Valley and reporting in that a great time was had! We traveled out there with Margaret and Steve and the ladies in the group were getting to see Alpine for the first time this trip. We were tailgating before AND after (since the parking lot empties sooooooooooo slooooooooooooooowly @ Alpine if you have never been) and had a good time on the lawn seats in between. The exception may be the couple of times that Deb got stumbled into in the dark as she stayed in the folding chair we brought in for her to be more comfy. Good show and as always I was able to download a copy of it from the fine folks at Etree.org. If you are unfamiliar, its a website devoted to sharing concerts of bands who promote fan taping of their shows (such as DMB) where you can grab pretty much any show you want. Give it a try if you are interested!