It’s funny how you can go for years without seeing someone, but then pickup like you had just talked to them yesterday. This happened to me over the last weekend at a wedding in Akron.

Beth and I had gone with Madonia and Colleen on one of their very first dates - on a incredibly stormy night in downtown Akron. Flood warnings. Vertical rain. High winds. Nobody was out except for us idiots. At one point in time Mike’s jeep was up to the bottom of the door panels with water - but we were young, and stupid. Or is that young and stupider? Who knows. We spent the night at Benny’s where Madonia and Colleen killed us at pool (only to find out years later that they were dumping balls in pockets behind our backs….see how they treat me?), and then spent the rest of the evening making out in the arcade and telling each other how cute they were. Pretty sickening, but I have a strong stomach and I’m a good friend - so I just coped, at least until I could be sick in private.

That was a long time ago….but this weekend, doubtless after years of being worn down by Madonia, Colleen married him.

All the FOGE (Former Olive Garden Employees) weddings I’ve been to have been great, and this one was no exception. It was great to see Mike and Colleen again - Colleen looked beautiful, and Madonia actually cleaned up well. (Believe me - that is something worth noting!)

The reception was at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens - pretty posh setting for Madonia! They had an excellent Jazz band, and a great buffet (I would expect nothing less from someone of Mike’s Culinary background!). Most of the people I missed the most from my cooking days were there: Jen Paknik, who almost killed both of us driving home from a Mark Shaw party when we were both underage drunks. Mike Buckley, who remains one of the funniest people I know on this planet and is now living in New York City with his beautiful girlfriend, Allison. Diana - who was somehow able to put up with all the testosterone in the back of the house when she worked with us as a line cook, and who used to sing show tunes with me at 10:00 AM on weekend mornings when we opened the line together. Mike Ruegg who spent enough time around the Olive Garden to be an honorary employee, although he was (and is) smart enough to know better. Mel - who always seemed to be the opening server when I would open the line and who half the back of the house had a crush on. Jackie - who somehow always seemed to be happy even on the worst of nights, and who the other half of the back of the house had a crush on. Katie - with whom I remember talking to for hours one night at (where else) a bar about my woes with women, as well as the countless times we were out post-shift with the rest of the alcholics we worked with. And although I get to see her every day, I need to mention my beautiful wife Beth who has been able to put up with me over these last 13 years as girlfriend, wife, and mother to our children.

The best part for me was to see Mike “Chicken” Madonia after all these years. We’ve talked once or twice over the last year or two, but were never able to find time to get together. But, to be at his wedding was something special. It made me think of the countless stupid things we used to do together.

All the best to Mike and Colleen - and to the rest of the old gang. I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed everyone until this weekend. We need to get together again….

Well….the whole “update once a week at the least” promise I made myself completely went by the wayside in August. Now mind you, this was not from lack of interest or desire - but more a function of being busy. Quite a few things happened in the interim since my last update…..

On the work front (I know, how boring) I managed to complete a major systems upgrade in beautiful Reno, Nevada. Most of the time was spent inside an office or a computer room at all hours of the day and night, but we did get to go out one day to visit Virginia City, Nevada - home of the Comstock load and all sorts of interesting western history.

Virginia City has that all-to-familiar “tourist trap” feeling too it….but Nevada style. So that means you spend quite a bit of time driving through winding mountain roads on the way there (at each turn being exhorted to “see the suicide table!”), and when you finally arrive you get to hear the normal Nevada background noise of slot machines.

Oh, and the suicide table? You go into a casino (of course, you’re in Nevada) and on the far wall they have their little homage to the history of Virginia City. And the prize display in the middle of that tableau is the “suicide table” which is a battered old gaming table that 3 or 4 people lost so much money at that they went out and decided to kill themselves. Exciting, eh? Makes you wonder if there is some obscure bureau of the Nevada State Government that keeps those types of statistics.

After Virginia City we went on a whirlwind tour of Lake Tahoe with Mark “Race Bannon” Brooks at the wheel. Starting at Incline Village, we circumnavigated Lake Tahoe in a counterclockwise direction. Mark’s driving was….inspired. I spent most of the time in the car contemplating my own morality. Mark’s unstated goal seemed to be to try to duplicate the “go really fast and go back in time” physics demonstrated in Star Trek IV.

Following the joy that was the Reno project, I headed back home where the very next weekend I rode 150 miles in the MS150 Pedal To the Point along with my wife and three friends. The weather was beautiful, and quite frankly it was nice to not have to think about anything other than pushing the pedals around and around for two days. On the fundraising front, we did great as well - both Beth and I raised over $500 to meet our goals. Our team goal of $2,500 is still in sight - we’re just waiting for the rest of the pledges to come in.

“But Jason!” you exclaim, “I didn’t get a chance to pledge to you or any members of your fine team yet!” Well, fear not stouthearted reader - for you still have the power and ability to pledge up until the end of the month. Merely point your browser at Psychotic Pineapples MS150 Page and follow the instructions and you’ll be well on your way to pledging.

My thoughts on this year’s ride - it actually was both easier and harder than the year before. Easier because I was in much better riding shape this year. Harder because I managed to contract a light flu or the cold right before the ride started. Made thing a bit more “sporty” for me. Also made me appreciate the ability of these professional cyclists at a whole new level, especially when I thought about some of the illnesses and ailments that they ride with.

Beth did well for her first ride, turning in a tad over 100 miles and making MS150 history when she stated for all to hear that she “needed an ass transplant” following a particularly tough segment. Dave Erste, although somewhat out of shape from the 29 or so hours a day he spends running the pizza shop still turned in a respectable 140 miles. Of course, the toast of the team for this year was “Team Durfee.” Both Todd and Heather went “Lance Armstrong” on the field, cruising from stop to stop at 17-18 miles an hour. I’ve come to expect that from Todd, but Heather seemed like such a nice girl…..
This concludes the September “mega-update” of the rants site - I’ll work on getting the next update out in somewhat more of a timely fashion.

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