I responded to your comment on my blog!

*ROTFLMAO*
Did you even write a script for this?
You mean… the cups are at Moksha’s house??? (or did you take them on a BUSINESS TRIP? *ROTFL*

My car just got rear-ended by a college chick – it’s no big thing: the impact was smoother than the good potholes like we have around here, but we got our bumpers scratched and spent an hour filling out a paper stating the facts and car info, which is a very bummer way to start my vacation week.

…all of which to say that this was good timing for a cheer up, in the form of a very fun video. Thanks Mark (and his very non-anonymous contributor) for the laugh! Excellent surprise ending, too…

Oh. My. God.

(I’m glad one of you guys made a reference to two chicks. Because with all this talk of cups somebody was going to have to do it. I’m just glad it wasn’t me. I’m even more glad you didn’t title this post: Two Guys and Three Cups.)

Other than that, I don’t really know where to begin. Um… the fancy new straws are nice. All transluscent and stuff. Very shiny. I’ll try to refrain from commenting on Moksha asserting his ability to write for the Simian. While his hubris and latent narcissism would more than compensate for my own (quite the sensitive lover? WTF!), there is a huge, gaping element of je ne sais quoi that simply cannot be faked. So there.

I honestly think that I have to go away for a few hours and come back here later after I’ve processed all this. Part of my brain can’t handle it right now.

(Although you’re right about the cute kids and hot wife part.)

Yes, well… my brain did do a rather convoluted series of gymnastic flips once that camera panned to the left to reveal the voice of Bacchus. (And a very fitting figure for you to voice, Moksha. A little too fitting, perhaps.)

I can only guess that Mark’s work schedule brought him close enough to the Grenstead that some sort of meeting was made possible for an evening. And that *somebody* had the foresight to bring a couple of cups with him.

Blue Straw looks so dashing, what with Jack standing up proudly on one side, a little worn though he is.

Overall, I’m still rather speechless. Nicely done, both of you!

(It took me until the fourth viewing to decipher that line, “…throw a rock to hit the Arctic circle.” Bacchus had a few too many grapes in him, I wot.)

True enough, Simon. The truth is just as unmagical as you describe. The Big Effin’ Cross Mark pictured so recently is just a few hours East of St. Louis so Mark flew into and out of the Gateway City for that work trip. We got together just briefly on the night he flew in (had a burger and some rootbeer) and then met up for the filming on the night before he flew out again. Sitting in silence waiting for Mark to post the finished product gave me flashbacks to the ol’ “Gren was Here” sign. Ah, sweet.

As much as I’d love to pass Bacchus and his speach pattern off on the effects of the grapes, the sad truth is that Mark hates beer and I didn’t want to get him too liquored up for the icy drive back to his hotel. We were both stone-cold sober.

Also, you hsould know that Shannon has been very worried about you, Simon. She was sure that you would be offended that Mark and I got together behind your back and then conspired to keep you in the dark about it. Well sure…when you put it that way… But I just had to believe those few moments of mental “gymnastic flips” would make it all worth it for you.

Oh, and being in the presence of the world famous storm drain cups was truly awe inspiring. Bacchus’s reaction to their fame was very easy for me to act given the reality of my star-struckness.

Anna – Thanks! It was fun making it.

Dave – No, no script, just as the credits indicate. And, yes, I took them on a business trip, for the express purpose of taking them to Moksha’s house.

Émilie B – Sorry about the car accident, but glad that the zany video cheered you up a bit. I just said, “zany.”

Shan – Yes, we are!

Simon – Although I knew I wanted to show more cup adventures, I also figured using them for this purpose would be the perfect way to let you know that the two of us had managed to meet before May. Didn’t take a lot of extra effort, so don’t feel too left out. And, Meg didn’t flirt with me at all, so you didn’t miss anything on that front, either (don’t say, “or the back.”)

Amy – Yes, yes, and my wife was a little concerned about that, too. But, in the end, we just couldn’t tempt fate. I mean, come on, things can happen between now and May (but won’t!).

Moksha – I wondered whether you were in slack-jawed awe. Glad to hear you were.

Simon – Your brother offends you sometimes? I wouldn’t know what that’s like at all… ha! Speaking of which, umm, Charles?

O M G That was hilarious. I loved the intermittent references to some of the more popular blog topics.

The production is great. I was wondering if those were the actual cups or “stand-ins,” but I guess you cleared that up with your later comment.

By the way, I noticed that my absence wasn’t noticed until you had to bring up brothers who offend. Thanks for that….MF’er. Besides, that’s what big brothers are for….page one in the manual.

I’m ready for the next installment already.