Fever Pitch

Factors contributing to the excitement around here (apart from the obvious):

• Madden 2004 was released this week. This is the only video game franchise that I anticipate every year and it never fails to live up to my expectations. It is on my shelf, begging for a hundred hours of exploration and enjoyment.
• I am in charge of preparing the main course for a feast on Saturday. I wanted to prepare lamb (who wouldn't?) but the time involved in preparing a whole leg is prohibitive for this situation. The answer was obvious, I should have seen it all along: souvlaki. The remaining questions are minor: tzatziki or no? Flambé with Metaxa? We shall see.
• While my in-laws possess many more important qualities (love and acceptance of me being high on the list), they are also quite good at the giving of gifts. In the last two weeks: nearly a case of the Markowitsch riesling that I love so much, including a bottle of special reserve from Mrs. Markowitsch herself; a bottle of Isle of Jura 10 year old; a gift pack sampler of Glenfiddich containing 200 mL of their 12, 15 and 18 (!) year old whiskies; an unseemly amount of exquisite smoked meats and cheeses that cannot be found in most places this side of the Atlantic, not to mention northwest Indiana supermarkets. And this is just the food and drink. For anyone out there considering marrying into a family, look for one like this.
• Veronika's baptism is on Saturday. Need I say more?