I’m torn.  This is pretty stupid and kinda cool all at the same time….

On October 25, 2008 thousands of zombies all over the world in 52 cities on 5 continents got together and performed the “Thriller” dance at a worldwide attempt to break the Guiness World Record for the Largest Simultaneous Dance to Jackson’s “Thriller”.

Austin of course jumped on the weird bandwagon, did it the biggest, baddest, and most zombiest of any other city.  With a record breaking 881 zombies including Mayor Will Wynn, the Thrill The World dance broke the record and made the Guiness guy roll over in his grave.  Not sure how I would feel about getting down next to the Mayor, but as my good friend says **”all zombies are good” even if “they are not created equal” as per explained by other friend who is angry about my font choice. See comment.  

See, I’ve recently been informed there are 3 different kinds of zombies, you have your Dawn of the Dead zombies, your World War Z zombies, and your …zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Did I just fall asleep?? Anyways, for more zombie profiling go here, and for footage of ‘Thrill The World’ Austin go here.

**quote correction

Early last spring, the Dr.Pepper manufacturer claimed that they would send a can of the beverage to every person in America if Guns N Roses released their new album anytime during 2008. A spokesperson at Dr. Pepper joked they never thought this day would come.  Well, it has.  So the jokes on them I guess… the new album ‘Chinese Democracy‘ is set to be released November 23rd, 2008 MINUS Slash, Izzy, and every other original band member except Axl… I guess he had to find a way to pay for all that plastic surgery somehow….  cheek bone implants really?  

I guess technically it’s not really GNR, just the artist formerly known as Axl’s face, and probably the American Idol band… or some another lame equivalent.  Don’t get me wrong I’m a product of the 80’s and 90’s and I appreciate a good hair band probably more than most, but is this really necessary?? Don’t ruin a good thing Axl- oh wait….   Maybe Axl and Billy Corgan should get together, just saying….

Anyways, so hit Best Buy November 23rd, and check your copy of the Chinese Democracy along with a coupon for a free Dr.Pepper… at least if the album sucks, it won’t be an entire loss…

a little recap of various things seen and experienced from the 2008 Livestrong ride…
14 cattle-guards, I think I’m still vibrating from
6 road-side animal carcases that brought on nausea.. as if I wasn’t having enough trouble.
3 buzzards, that I’m pretty sure were circling me
5 Advil… thanks Jerm, and guy at rest stop 4!
20 miles of cramps, hence the lethal dosage of Advil.
4 rest stops, pretty sure Journey blaring at the last one brought me back to life!
2 handfuls of gummy bears
8 water bottle refills
3 tandem bikes sightings…. definitely the way to go!
2 little kid passings that are a sore subject.
1 rubber ducky for Drew.
2 farmer tans
1 Lance sighting… swoon!
50 miles of beautiful country side
… and 3,000 people picking a fight with cancer.

I think if I would have gotten a $1 from every person that passed me I could have already met my donation minimum for next year. Anyways, Matt and I did our first ride together, it was fun, and he was great… I on the other hand am just happy I finished! Maybe next year we’ll even get to hang with the cool kids (i.e. Wade, Jerm, and Steph).

The king of the house turned seven years old this week, and in honor of the big guy we had a little shindig with hats and all…. G, B and Sammie (G’s pup) came over to help us celebrate, and eat cake. We would have loved to had a few other pups over to make it a production, but as it turns out two is more than enough when there is puppy cake involved.

Thanks to the folks over at Groovy Dog Bakery who made him an appetizing little confection topped off with cream cheese, peanut-butter icing, and sprinkles… I think it went off with out a hitch.

After all, he is our boy and is more than deserving… remaining tolerant to being trampled by doll strollers, and radio flyers with out warning, routinely having his head sat on, getting little fingers up the nose, and is often covered in little fingerprints and blue paint… although I think she more than makes up for it at dinnertime (don’t tell Matt), so I think he’s ok with the strollers raids for now.

While entertaining, it wasn’t nearly as fun as watching Drew eat cake at her birthday, and Sammie was the only good sport, wearing his party hat. We’ll just give UncleRob a call next time to make sure party hats are included in the scenery… Check out the pics from E’s Birthday…

When in Dallas do as Big Tex would do…. eat anything and everything fried or on a stick you can get your lips around.   I think a wise man once said ”There aren’t enough meats on sticks”?? 

Anyways, being mine and Drew’s first trip to the state fair we thought we’d make it a family affair and meet up with Eric, Kristen and their two kiddos Maddie, and Dylan to check out what kind of fried goodness we could get into….  I figured it would make for good story since where else do you find fried oreos, 4lb turkey legs, and a variety of other artery clogging collations.

First and foremost, attention must be paid to the Chicken Fried Bacon…

After visiting what I thought was more of an educational experience than a petting zoo, we ventured out to find the Chicken Fried Bacon stand we had heard so much about….  With the singing of angels, brights light shining, etc… there it was, lots and lots of fried bacon. Although it didn’t come with a nutrition label slapped on the back of it (thank god), I had to try it knowing I would make a certain skinny kid proud.  Surprisingly it wasn’t bad, it was actually kinda good, but I don’t know if I would go as far to stand in line again just to punish my arteries… just saying.

We moved on to corn on the cob that could put you into a butter-induced coma, ice cream, corn dogs, philly cheese steaks, and cotton candy- that one being a poor parenting choice, but that’s another story entirely.  So we ate, and ate, and ate some more while checking out all the rides, bands, car show (psst Santa I’ll take a new Forrester if you’re out of ideas), and of course Big Tex- Drew loved him. Overall, I think it was a successful first trip to the State Fair minus the cotton candy, and it’s always fun to hang with the older, wiser set of Badowskis…

noted below is a list of all fried foods offered…. yum!

1. Chicken Fried Bacon,

2. Fried Ice Cream

3. Fried Chocolate Cake

4. Fried Snickers

5. Fried Oreos

6. Deep Fried Latte- how they manage that one I have yet to figure out…

7. Fried Pickles

8. Fried Tomatoes

9. Fried Banana Pudding

10. Fried Sweet Potatoes

11. And about 10 different kinds of meats on sticks