I sincerely hope that today’s news doesn’t spell the end for Sleeman. It’s a truly delicious and unique beer that was a big part of my University experience. It also probably lengthened my University experience by about 4 semesters, as I wasn’t a huge ‘attender’ of morning classes, even without a crippling Dark hangover.

I have a few friends who live in Guelph and work at the brewery. When I was up at Christmas recently I got a tour, a shirt and a few small paper dentist tasting cups full of the wonderful stuff. If they’re having as much financial trouble as they’re claiming, with too many brands and a high cost of production, then maybe it’s a good thing. Just as long as they keep the name and recipies intact.

If anyone up North knows or hears anything – let me know. If the legacy is coming to an end, I’m going to have to drive up and stockpile. Either that or invite Gooch to come visit again.

“The reason I love the sea I cannot explain — it’s physical. When you dive you begin to feel like an angel. It’s a liberation of your weight.” – Jacques-Yves Cousteau

I think we’d all like to liberate ourselves from a little more weight than we managed to this week. Not a banner 7 days for the pork ass challenge. Indy was as kind to DVS as Newport was to me, but our lapses were relatively small, and we still have 4 weeks to go. Whether our strategy is going to be focused weight training and cardio, the index finger or a Jimmy Tango-esque meth binge, one thing is for sure – it’s crunch time, folks.

– Monster >> Current: 268 / Last Week – 265 / Target 255 / Gained 3
– Smash >> Current: 137 / Last Week – 138 / Target 129 / Lost 1
– Pyeman >> Current: 226 / Last Week – 224 / Target 215 / Gained 2
– DVS >> Current 248 / Last Week – 246 / Target 210 / Gained 2
– Aubz >> Current: 132 / Last Week – 132 /Target 125 / Lost 0
– BDoyle >> Current: 184 – / Last Week – 188 / Target 175 / Lost 3
– Sly >> Current: 211 – / Last Week – 213 / Target 175 / Lost 2
– Piglet >>> Current: 146 / Last Week – 147 / Target 135 / Lost 1
– Not Lance >>> Current: 166 / Last Week – 168 / Target 161 / Lost 2
– Greg >> Current: 179 / Last Week – 183/ Target 170 / Lost 4
– Venditti >> Current: 229 / Last Week – 230 / Target 219 / Lost 1
– Ka-Rista >> Current: 158 / Last Week – 158 / Target 140 / Lost 0

Smash lost a pound, but that may have just been blood – take care of that hand! Exerting himself while moving house has been kind to Doyle. Greg continues to bust ass at the new restaurant so I assume his impressive progress has continued. Venditti’s wonderful Welland wedding is fast approaching, and I’m curious to see if he’ll be taking in his tux. Check back throughout the day to see the new tale of the tape. We’re almost in the home stretch, and this sort of dedication is not easy. Don’t give up, and remember your porky support group is right here.

Sorry to spring that on you. I suppose it’s as good a subject of discussion as anything else I’ve ever written about on here. I am currently trying to proofread a press release about window blinds, so obviously my mind is bound to wander. I don’t remember high-fiving any hippies during my walk to work, and I definitely didn’t wear this dress shirt to Amherst recently, so why do my hands reek of patchouli? This isn’t a rhetorical question, people. You may explicate.

The only people I shook hands with today were the plumbers who came to replace a zone valve in my building. I think it goes without saying – patchouli is to plumbers what an under-counter carbon filter is to Chris Barron. So the mystery continues. Stay tuned for the weigh-in tomorrow. It’s not going to be pretty.

We’re sitting in Newport, after an afternoon on the boat, watching the amazing lacrosse game between UMASS and UVA on TV – The Cinderella story surrounding UMASS’s appearance in the D1 finals has been the talk of the house all weekend. What a great way to spend Memorial Day, although I’d be shaking the hand of a veteran if I had one handy. Anyway, since I found a laptop sitting in the kitchen, I figured I’d send the team some happy thoughts for the second half.

Home now… The lengths to which I devastated my diet is eclipsed only by my sunburn. The gallery is your typical fare – boat, beer, dogs, kids and Kingman. But for the first time in ages I added captions to most of the photos. Just like the old days. Now, get some aloe vera on yourselves and get to bed.