Sunday, October 25.  Imagine waking up to find 40 copies of this picture blown up and plastered all  over the house with a common saying and/or memorable quote of Nick‘s on each one…

"Nick! Smile!"

And we thought it was just a joke that Maria’s sister referred to him as ‘model boy’ based on his photo from the JVCNW office sent out two weeks before starting to everyone….(note: we give him so much crap for this picture….)

Nick Simonson - 09 Notre Dame graduate, worked in Africa, studied in Guatemala, and apparently wishing to be introduced by a professional headshot...

Happy Birthday JV-style!  With Nick’s being the first in our house, we went all out.  On the other hand, we didn’t…

It’s a long story, but we’ll start with the not so awesome aspects.  Niko wanted to go salsa dancing for his birthday, so we planned on and announced Guadalajara, a salsa/cumbia/meringue/bachata club wherein the past time we went, Nick and I were the only non-Latinos (exactly what we wanted – a guarantee you won’t dance with anyone less than awesome).  Nick and I went to the Sounder’s FC game (whoever thinks professional soccer matches are short of exciting, check for a pulse)  – victory!! – thanks to a sweet connection and when we got home, ready to go salsa dancing, everyone else bailed.

We are sort of used to being the only ones that go out on the weekends by now, which is usually fine, but when it’s your birthday and you shared that going out was what you wanted to do, it’s a little more disappointing when friends/housemates flake.  Not that if they had gone it would have been the full Guadalajara experience anyway though – a) when we walked in EVERYONE was in costume (except for us lol, unless ‘gringo?’ applies??) and b) they had to close early and make everyone leave because apparently someone had his head split open and weapons were involved?  Not sure of the story, all I know is cops showed up, bar closed, lights were turned on, and in spanish we were told by the DJ everyone had to leave.

So while there were some major let downs on the going out end, the visuals around the house were awesome.  Along with the copies of his picture being taped and strewn about everywhere -Mean Girls style – with quotes of Nick’s (which I was going to share a few of but because they are mostly inside jokes, maaaaaybe embarrassing & borderline inappropriate, won’t), we attempted to play ND fight/cheer music, but the real event was dinner.

We cooked a GOURMET, 5 course meal for the celebration – and by we, I mean mainly Brendan, Laura and Nick’s mom.  It consisted of  – big deal here – a spiced sausage (with a soysage option , apple, onion, walnut, carrot, potato and ricotta dish, served atop whole wheat pasta, with a mustard greens (from our garden)+freshly toasted and salted pumpkin seeds+ carrot salad and homemade dressing.  Laura made an INCREDIBLE “appetizer” soup, served in a pumpkin! that consisted of the interior of the pumpkin in chunks, cooked separately with vegetable broth, zucchini, carrots, thyme, parsley, tomatoes and onion simmered with the pumpkin insides then baked again INSIDE the pumpkin.  Flavors = amazing.  Nick’s mom made oreo fudge ice cream cake  – of which I’m speechless.  SO. GOOD.

We went around and reflected on our favorite memories of Nick, which just proved to be one hilarious or touching moment after another.  So many so that we decided we needed to write them down..here’s a few:

Erin – That time he got cruised at Twilight…[our neighborhood dive bar]

Brendan – Rounding the corner from the library, approaching our house, seeing a [as close as I can recall Brendan's faux english accented words]  “sweat-beaded, brawny man, muscles glistening, bent over with his hands in the fresh soil and dirt, with signs of grueling labor and intense passion upon his face”… (we call him Brendall Berry in case that clears anything up)

Brendan and Nick embarking on an epic garden-building adventure

Elizabeth – Nick banging in our tent stakes with a cast-iron pan on our trip to Smith Rock

Laura – “My hair has to be slept on to look this good.”

Me – riding with Nick in the rain from downtown with nearly 70 lbs. combined of food, and following him with a milk crate attached to his bike by a suuuuper thin string, wobbling from side to side and as we climbed the Cherry Hill, his foot constantly slipping ( I couldn’t breathe because I was spending all my air on laughing – the view from behind was hysterical).   We had food for three weeks I think because of that trek. Or Elizabeth and her parents pulling into our driveway as Nick and I had just keyed holes in beer cans to shot gun…then making awkward conversation with them as we held horizontally beers in one hand, and Elizabeth’s mom goes, “Well do we get to watch or do you just want us to go inside?” Or when we attacked the queso at a game watch because there was hamburger in it…

Maria  – Nick as her little spoon on the twin mattress in our hallway with 4 of us crammed on just heart-to-hearting at first only verbally, then physically

Robert was sick, so didn’t join us for dinner, but I’m pretty sure his would be the picture below…

Some other favorite Niko pictures:

Nick and Robert, day 2

Twins? - Nick's hair was offended.

Nick, doing dishes?! We must get proof...

Silent Lip Curl

Signature pout; and attempt to outshine the space needle...

Anyway, happy birthday one day late Niko (not so solid wireless at home to blame) and welcome to the elite 23 years old…I can wingman that to your advantage.