Long Time Coming

It started last year when Beth—accomplished bread maker, librarian, and Alban's mother—sponsored the Estate members with some shirts. "Five Guys" is a local burger jo'nt that Alban and his hometown homies patron back in Hagerstown Maryland; "five guys" is also the living composition at the Estate, at least it was last year. Beth, noting this aggressive coincidence, bought "Five Guys" signature tees for each of the tenants.

It continued through the spring, at which time it's not unusual to find the Estate members stoking coals in a stationary BBQ at Whitman Mission on the weekend. One sunny Sabbath afternoon we decided to barbecue in style. We wore our shirts and Jacque took some pictures.

It continued later that spring when Philip Sherwood visited the house for a couple weeks. He wanted to leave a gift as a token of gratitude so he had one of the pictures printed on a 3.5' x 2' canvas.

Finally, after the printed picture sat coiled in a cardboard container all quarter long ... waiting, Martha Mason finished the job by mounting the internal frame last Monday. Now it hangs on the wall as an iconic tribute to mustaches and men who like their burger with one or more pounds of real meat.

Thanksgiving. WA to MD 41 hours.

Alban checks for deer while Alex is on his knees.

Alban is feeling peaceful, but Kate is suspicious.

Now Tommy is feeling peaceful, and Alex isn't sure what's going on, however Kate doesn't mind.

Our whole bodies fit under the sign.

Alban "Four hundered miles of prime deer country, here we go."

Alex "Home of Arbor day? Seriously?"

Iowa didn't have a state sign; Alban and Alex are put off.

Alban sees a wild deer. Tommy thought the camera broke, but Alex just woke up.

Alban is wary of deer. Alex doesn't care.

Tommy, Alex, and Alban stood on the shoulder here.

Alex is happy to piggy back; Alban is pretending to be annoyed.

Tommy thought everyone was smiling.

Alex "Wait, you're saying we're in Maryland?"

Alban "Dude, I bet those woods are teaming with deer? They're out to get us man. (mumbled whisper) The deer are gonna get us. The deer are gonna get us. The deer are gonna get us."

Tommy "Huuuu."

Famous Titles for 200

If there's a better way to start a Sabbath morning, i haven't found it.

Getting up at terrible hours to text Alban and watch Arsenal games, while eating bagels covered in asiago cheese is defiantly the highlight of my law school life... it ranked pretty high during my non-law school life as well.

Living at The Estate taught me the best way to do a lot of things.

The best way to blow off steam is to slam guitars and yell with Tommy. The best way to go on long bike rides is with Phil. The best way to get under an administrator's skin is with Cody. The best way to pick up girls is with the song Alban and I prepared and never got to use... but I guarantee that there are a couple girls out there that won't stand a chance when we bust that thing out. QLO's baby.

Oh, and the best way to eat anything is after Jacque bakes it...

I'm grateful for all of these lessons. Now i must go learn the best way to file a civil lawsuit, draft a deed, and discern the meaning of a vague contract... gross.

Also, Nikolas and I have a christmas tree...

Fun at Family Time

Family is sacred at the Estate. Once a week, each and every week, we take off our backpacks and spend a couple hours getting lost in community. The conversations that fly above chopped onion and minced garlic often follow a routine small-talk sort of flight pattern, but at times they venture into the closet. That's what happened a couple weeks ago, listen:

Alimo: When you guys get married ...

[Pause]

... are you going to do it?

[Pause] we were confused and waited for more clarification.

Alimo: Somewhere special?

[Pause] This kind of comment, with its more erotic connotation, is unusual for Alimo to make.

Alimo: I was just talking to my friend and she ...

Aliali: Wait, what are you talking about?

Alimo: ... and she just got married in Hawaii.

Aliali: Wow, easy now.

Jonahmed: Oh, do you mean, "would we get married in a special place?"

Alimo: Yeah, what did you think I meant?

Getting political action ...

while Cody is away has come as a bit of a surprise. Through a series of religiously charged decisions, The Estate has found itself in a controversial bubble bath. The party responsible for filling the tub has yet to be determined, but here are the facts: one, it is what it is. Two, The Mask censored our mask photos earlier this year. Three, David and Cody wrote an opinion article about it entitled "University administration narrowly prevents terror attack."

Four, Anonymous responded with an article entitled "Mask photo censorship a wise decision."

Five, the current 'politically incorrect' members of The Estate were featured on Brendan's Backtalk like this.

Six, our children's rap last weekend at OPS Amateur Hour, which featured drums and referenced Snoop Dog, inspired several members of the audience to go home early.

Cody, we're not doing this on purpose. It's not as if we said, "Op, Cody's gone, wouldn't it be funny if ...."

.

Da Werd is back

Da Werd took the stage after a sabbatical year. Above is the intro video that Jordan put together to prime the performance pump.

We hope to have a recording out by Christmas, but if you're up for a rough taste of what it went like, Brenden Rajah recorded it on his iPhone and posted it on Facebook. Check it.

Empty house

Since the house has been left sole to me for the weekend (Jon has obligations elsewhere), I feel it's my duty to give an update on the estate. It will also begin my Tickle Closet career.

Today is a very gloomy Sabbath day. It's definitely the fall, so I thought it appropriate to cook pumpkin pancakes this morning. Although I made quite a mess and didn't produce the most dynamite pancakes, Nolan and Justin were pleased. Then I ventured over to the awakening to hear about legalism and lust.

Since then I've played the guitar, watched some camp videos, and will soon call some family members. Sabbath always reminds me of whats important. Although tonight I plan to study about carbons and the bonds they make with other atoms, I reflect now on the ever important bonds between family and friends. I'm blessed to have been brought into the estate -- a place with family dinners, foosball/ping pong/baggo tournaments, and quality people like Ali Aliban, Ali Jonahmed, and Ali Bin Tomar. I love you brothers.

Fellow Tickle Closet readers,

I hope you enjoy the fall weather, eat some pumpkin pancakes, avoid legalism and lust, but most importantly--I hope you strengthen some bonds.