I Suck At Bert The Conqueror

Last night, Karen, our baby daughter (Briana), and I hung out with our friends (Marc, Kelley, and Andrea). It was definitely good to hang out with everyone again. The previous week we did not get together like we normally do. Consequently, the previous week seemed to have dragged and dragged. So it goes without saying that having our little get together definitely breaks up the busy week.

Anyway, on the agenda for the night was another episode of Wipeout. Truth be told, I don't even remember much about the episode. During the episode, I was tasked with changing Briana's diaper on a mat on Marc and Kelley's floor. While I was changing her diaper, the little bugger rolled over and off the changing mat and managed to get her legs underneath Marc and Kelley's couch. So their Briana was... butt naked... on her stomach... with her legs totally underneath the couch... and a pooped-filled diaper off to the side. It was an interesting sight; one reminiscent of bad father/baby movie. Luckily, I had cleaned off her bum before she skidded off the changing mat.

Aside from that, I tried my first pretzel M&M. Marc and Kelley got a bag to share with everyone. The pretzel M&M was pretty good. I had heard all the rave about it from some other people. So it was nice to finally be able to try it. I still think my favorite M&M is the peanut M&M though.

It was actually an all-around good food day as well. In addition to the pretzel M&M, I polished off Marc's pad thai meal. (Yum!) I have not eaten pad thai in awhile, so it was nice to remember what it tasted like. For anyone curious, Marc generously offered me the meal as he just did not feel like having it. If you ever need a food disposal, I am your man. (I didn't get to be the shape that I am from eating bread and water.)

Karen was also quite happy yesterday with the food selection because she got to eat a Wendy's Frosty. Karen and I were actually talking about Wendy's the other day because we have not been there in a long time. We don't eat fast food that often. In fact, we hardly eat fast food. If we were to eat fast food, however, it probably would be Wendy's because Karen enjoys Wendy's. So it was good that Karen got her Wendy's fix thanks to Andrea, who graciously stopped off at Wendy's after work.

Speaking of Andrea, Marc was quite surprised (and I was too for that matter) that Andrea would do the Las Vegas amusement ride known as the SkyJump. For those who are curious, the SkyJump is a new amusement ride at the Stratosphere Casino in Las Vegas. The ride is simply a freefall of over 800 feet from the top of the casino. And if you've ever been to the top of the Stratosphere, you would know that the building is pretty high.

For my bachelor party, my friends and I went to Vegas. We ended up doing the Big Shot ride at the Stratosphere. You know you are very high up when you can look down and see helicopters below you. Needless to say, that ride was awesome! (I may be biased, but I think my bachelor party was awesome.) If the Big Shot is terrifyingly high up, I can only imagine what the SkyJump must be like.

Anyway, the whole topic of Vegas and the SkyJump came about because Marc and Kelley are going to Vegas soon for Marc's birthday. Marc is not a big fan of heights. But I'll admit, Marc is a trooper. He did the Big Shot ride during my bachelor party. (I have photographic evidence.) In fact, a little girl laughed at how scared Marc was on the Big Shot.

Needless to say, the SkyJump does not seem to be in Marc's future. My drinking buddy, Kelley, who I believe is interested in the SkyJump, said she'd wait and do the ride with me. What a pal! Although I think if she were going to be out there anyway, she might as well do the ride without me. It will probably be awhile before I venture out of the state. (Curses to Briana for cramping my style. Just kidding.)

And interestingly enough, I had first learned about the SkyJump from watching an episode of Bert the Conqueror with Marc and Kelley. For anyone curious, the show is about Bert Kreisher, a comedian, who travels around the United States to experience and "conquer" various rides and sports. Now, I suck at Bert the Conqueror.

It just so happens that in addition to watching Wipeout yesterday, all of us ended up watching an episode of Bert the Conqueror. The reason that we were all intrigued with the episode is because the Bert came to Massachusetts. Bert had visited Six Flags New England located in Springfield. That actually was not the part we were anxiously waiting for. Nope. We were intent on seeing Bert visit Gloucester.

What is in Gloucester besides a lot of fish... and a one time place of summer residence for Whoopi Goldberg? The annual St. Peter Fiesta! And the main event at the St. Peter Fiesta? None other than the Greasy Pole. Based on the episode, the St. Peter Fiesta seems like nothing more than an Italian St. Patrick's Day celebration. Instead of a bunch of drunk Irish people, however, it's a bunch of drunk Italian people... with a greasy pole. (For anyone curious, the St. Peter Fiesta is sponsored by the local Italian-American community.)

Anyway, the premise of the Greasy Pole is simple: run across a horizontal telephone pole that hovers over the water to retrieve the flag at the other end. The only problem is that the pole is heavily greased. I definitely do not want the job of greasing the pole. Nasty.

Needless to say, it was definitely entertaining to watch. I might be interested now in attending the St. Peter Fiesta in Gloucester. (For anyone curious, the celebration happens during the end of June.) Of course, I say that after watching the show. I still think going to watch punkin chunkin would be cool too because I saw that once on television.

All in all, yesterday was a lot of fun.