Pete Survives turning 40 Jon Trudel (all images copyrighted) 12/09/2001

Well, he finally did it! Unfortunately, since Pete (at the time of this writing) lives out on the Left Coast, several of us couldn't attend his surprise birthday party. So, instead, we held a proxy party for Pete, and hoped to do a webcast back to the main party from the "party annex". We even had a Proxy Pete to stand in for the real thing.

Greg (center) offered up his home for the event. For the most part, we were hanging out in the new addition to the house, where the deck used to be, which is set up very nicely with a minibar and gas-drive fireplace. Don't worry, they had a deck put in on the roof of this room (perfect for Trebuchet viewing, but that's another story). His wife Lorraine (the only pic I took of her, unfortunately) and kids Corinne (center) and Colin (in the orange-striped shirt) put up with us for the afternoon, and they brought friends. Pete was the life of the party, and definitely a hit with the younger ladies (perhaps a little TOO MUCH of one :-)

As you will see throughout, Greg and Lorraine are a little Christmas-tree-happy. We counted 8 (all pictured), but I'm convinced that they were hiding more somewhere else in the house.

Somewheres in around here, we sang Happy Birthday to Proxy Pete, (warning, it's a large file) and ate his cake.

Unfortunately, the webcast didn't work out, so we had to improvise and take a lot of pictures. No matter, We ended up taking turns on the phone with him - Tom, for example, was simply on the phone, not participating in an Ad for Movado, nor one for for Tostito's Salsa. I did, and yet even with the party atmosphere, people were upset because I wore my party hat in such a jaunty fashion, and refused to remove it until it was time to go. "Dough" was there as well (to Pete's left, 2nd from the right). I have nothing witty to say about "Dough".

Things started to get a little weird when Proxy Pete started to get ill, and then announced he had a new girlfriend. Fortunately, Tom made him come to his senses, but not before he got into a WWF Ultimate Deathmatch with Colin.

A good time was had by all.

Happy Birthday, Pete!