2002: My Divorce Party

Following my appearance in divorce court on 12 August 2002, I held a party at Cafe Iberico in Chicago. It really wasn't to spite my ex-wife. Instead, it was an expression of gratitude to the friends and family who supported me through this trying time.

It took about a year to get the divorce finalized. While I was waiting for the paperwork to be done, I was forced to mull over all kinds of stuff, and I was anxious to get an official close to this chapter in my life already! I was just dying for "liberation and relief." So, when it was finally over, I thought I'd share my excitement with a few friends.

So, here are a few pictures from that night:

My sisters JoAnn (left) and Julie helped me plan the party. No one could ask for better sisters. While Julie was working hard towards her bachelor's degree at Iowa, JoAnn was my day-to-day support. I can't thank them enough.

JoAnn's husband Aram also deserves a lot of credit. It's a cliché, but he's like the brother I never had.

Me and Eric, a.k.a. "Adrian Walrus", "Air Walrus", "loser", or just "asshole". There's something very wrong with the fact that my roommate when I was a freshman at Iowa is my roommate now. As much as he has been and continues to be a pain in my ass (and he knows it!), he's really been with me since day one. The great, yet annoying thing about Eric is that he's one sarcastic fuck. He never takes anything seriously, and he's been that way since the day I met him 15 years ago at Burge Hall. A perfect roommate for a divorced guy like me…

Me, Ken, Tom, Dave, and Kristina. The boys are just a few of my college buddies from Iowa; Kristina is Dave's sweetheart!

After college, I lost touch with these guys for a while (something I regret). But, I've re-connected with them, and it made me remember why we all hung out together. Everything that we had in common back then is still true today. But now, we're all just a lot more mature, wiser, slightly more sober, and we're not broke anymore!

Dan (my colleague at Colossal Mastering), Julie, and me. Not only is it a thrill to finally share my passion for making great-sounding recordings with Dan, but to also share ideas about music, audio gear, transmission gears, and other assorted stuff. He taught me how mastering is done. He trusted me with his studio. He help me fulfill a dream to actually do mastering. I can't thank him and his partner Barb enough.

Here are a group of pictures of JoAnn and her husband Aram's friends. We start with Scott (left), Denny, and Aram (up close and to the right). I don't think these guys knew that a picture was being taken of them!

Most of these guys come from The University of Illinois, some are from high school. This is a pretty tight fraternity of friends, yet they have accepted me into their group. And these guys like to party…what a great diversion from the stress of divorce!

Helen, Mike, Joe Z., and me enjoying one of many shots that night. Helen, like her sister Amanda, became an honorary Grrr during her summertime stay here in the Great City with her cousin Mike. She has now moved onto the Stern School of Business at New York University.

This is one of many shots we had that night. Clearly, the shots affected Helen most detrimentally.

Michelle, (a.k.a. "Rio"), Nolan, and my sister JoAnn. Michelle is just a hoot! With just a few drinks and some Duran Duran, her name becomes "Rio", and she does dance on the sand! I'm sure Nolan knows how to dance, too, knowing his affinity for clubbing in the Philippines. He keeps on telling me to go party with him in Manila, so he can hook me up with a Filipina. But I fear that I may meet one of his rumored wives (yes, plural)!

Michelle, me, and Helen (in a much more flattering pose, BTW!). I'm surrounded by two beautiful women who like to party! Ah, life is good! I should go out with women like this! Unfortunately, Rio is too tall, and Helen is too young. Sorry, girls!

Sorry to Aram and Seth, who were also at the party. I don't have a good picture of Aram (other than the close-up above) and Seth. Both were there, I swear!

Here are some extra pictures, starting to the left with Tom and Dave.

To the right, Kristina and Julie.

Thanks to all these guys (and everyone else who couldn't come) for your support and friendship. I really do appreciate it!