After Dinner Group Photo

There just wasn't much I could do with the original photo, so I made it black & white, added some grain & and a lens-flare. Sadly, Missy, Sean & George were unable to stay for this dinner, but everyone else did. This would be the last night on this trip that we were all together. So, our host graciously offered to take this one last group photo. Don't we all look happy? I suppose it could be the wine, scotch, chocolate & gourmet food euphoria we were all feeling; but I'm more inclined to believe that it was just that close to perfect. Larry & Denise Giesen, Kara, Ed, Kyle & Desiree Ford, Alison, Kelly, Joseph, Ginger & Marita Beth sitting on my lap in the centre. Of course what photo with me in it is complete without beer of some sort? So we have the bottles in the fore-ground to complete the shot. Original photo...Mostly unmodified: Composite Image: Aside from splitting KyleF right down the middle, it's a bit fun to see the two next to each other. Which do you prefer? As I mentioned earlier Arsenal lost yesterday. That keeps the Gunners squarely in 6th place with a hard road to climb to get into 4th place (minimum place to assure Champions League football next year). If we don't make that, I doubt that Henry will put pen to paper to ink his fate with the Arsenal. To top off that horrid display, we are riddled with injuries & suspensions right now. Our new kid playing at right back while Toure is on ANC duty & Lauren is out injured (possibly for the season, he sees the doc today) injured himself in the game. So, we had to put Flamini at right back. The kid's a mid-fielder and unused to playing back there. Nonetheless, he made good account of himself which is considerably more than I can say for Sol Campbell. Our normally stalwart centre-back was directly responsible for the 2 early goals against us and was replaced at half-time by yet another mid-fielder (we seem to have sprouted a whole arse-load of mid-fielders in the past year). Sol continued on out the door & actually left the ground about 15 minutes into the second half. Colour me cynical, but I see that as childish & unprofessional. Still, the gaffer is supporting his team and stated publically that although he hadn't given Sol permission to leave, he supported the player's right to do so as he was very "down & feeling guilty". So starting the second half we had 2 mid-fielders on the outside, and 2 youngsters in the centre. Yet, we only gifted them one more goal while poking two of our own into their net. Final score: 3 - 2 to the Hammers. Damn. Further up the island, yet one more dismal performance by the Magpies has left Souness without a job. I suppose it was just a matter of time. Shearer has been placed in the role of Assistant Caretaker and may very well take over as primary gaffer in the summer; that is if that bag of dung Eriksson doesn't flap his jaws into the position. At the same time, Southampton has stated that they will keep McCarthy at the helm even if Southampton does get relegated. I guess that's good for him, wot? Wastrel On! (Listening to: What Gives My Son? by Ned's Atomic Dustbin)