We're back...

...and I'm NOT happy about it. Man, does it suck to be back at work.

Still, I have to pay for this little soiree somehow. Just so no one thinks ANY of us are lightweights (ahem, that's you, Baddboy) our little gathering managed to consume 21 cases of beer, two full cases of wine, and rack up a $200 bar tab in just 4 days. I spent nearly $1500 on the beer and wine, and Jambo,Ryan and Co. paid the bar bill (19 pints of Guinness, 20 pints of Smithwicks, and two snack trays between 5 people... and only ONE spilled pint!).

If THAT doesn't make us look like a bunch of degenerates... I have no idea what will. My math says we averaged (between the four of us) right about 18 beers a night. Now, of course... we weren't the only ones drinking here. I did have a 53 person guest list, after all (I AM rather popular), so the balance can be spread between the remaining 48 lightweights that attended the party.

We might be old... but we still know how to throw down at a party.

On our last day together, we drove to Gettysburg... despite the hang-overs and lack of sleep we all suffered from. Below are some of the images.




Here is one of the actual cannons that fired into the faces of oncoming Southern troops during the third day of fighting. Sobering, indeed, to imagine 40 minutes of repeated firing of triple-shot canister flying out of one of these pieces as the boys from MS, AL, NC, TN and GA walked across the fields with Pickett.




Here's the view from the ridge towards the Southern positions. Jambo had a very good point when we stood on the summit of Little Round Top and walked towards the breastworks of the 20th Maine... it takes your breath away to think you are standing on ground that witnessed a defining moment in a nation's history, especially when that nation is YOUR nation. The men from BOTH sides fought with uncommon courage in the face of overwhelming odds, and the fight was never one-sided. The entire conflict here among the sunny fields of PA could have gone either way, right to the end... and these men fought with and gave their very lives to defend that which they held dearest: their personal freedoms and beliefs.

Obama should come here... he might learn something he obviously hasn't learned yet.