Saturday, October 28, 2006
Fun with Macro Settings and Roses
So I didn't win my group's photo contest this week (Theme: Macro Close-Ups) but I did score some points with the flowers I got for my wife... Enjoy!
I hear a little voice...
Yes, that little "ratta-tat-tapping" that I hear in my head, usually just before I drift off to sleep at night... That nagging, insistent little voice that says, "Psstt... Did you realize another day has gone by and you HAVEN'T updated your blog?"
ARRRGGGGHHH!!! Blogger Guilt! They definitely never told me about this when I signed up for the free blog account.
So here's a big ol' week in review post.
Last weekend, while Kat was madly working on her midterm (and I don't use "madly" lightly *grin*) I was mainly at a weekend seminar on John Calvin. Our church brought in a prof from Reformed Seminary in Jackson, Derek Thomas. The seminar was on the life and theology of John Calvin, who you have to admit was really QUITE brilliant and a major force in the Protestant Reformation, even if you aren't totally crazy about 5-point Calvinism.
So then this past week has been pretty chill. Kat managed to avoid getting picked for the Jury Pool of the case that she had been called for... 6 days of going downtown for her Jury Summons, 40+ hours of sitting and listening to jurors being interrogated, and she said about 6 words total before getting thanked for her willingness to serve, but being sent home... Justice does need to be served, but my goodness, it IS a lengthy process.
The highlight of my week had to have been my first dabbling in Corporate Catering...
Better translated, "I took in the waffle iron my group gave us as a wedding present and made waffles for everybody." Stellar success, though, just look at my buddy Rex with me. Does he look satisfied or what? Actually, he looks a little high... I swear, those waffles were CLEAN!
Anyways, it's been a lazy Saturday. I've been working on some stuff for Church for most of it, while Kat had errands and the like... I did, however, experience a first for me... Snorkeling at La Jolla Cove.. I can't believe I live in a town where you can just go snorkeling on a whim... I'm a long ways from Indiana, for sure! But its not the same as Hawaii... Sigh... Ciao!
ARRRGGGGHHH!!! Blogger Guilt! They definitely never told me about this when I signed up for the free blog account.
So here's a big ol' week in review post.
Last weekend, while Kat was madly working on her midterm (and I don't use "madly" lightly *grin*) I was mainly at a weekend seminar on John Calvin. Our church brought in a prof from Reformed Seminary in Jackson, Derek Thomas. The seminar was on the life and theology of John Calvin, who you have to admit was really QUITE brilliant and a major force in the Protestant Reformation, even if you aren't totally crazy about 5-point Calvinism.
So then this past week has been pretty chill. Kat managed to avoid getting picked for the Jury Pool of the case that she had been called for... 6 days of going downtown for her Jury Summons, 40+ hours of sitting and listening to jurors being interrogated, and she said about 6 words total before getting thanked for her willingness to serve, but being sent home... Justice does need to be served, but my goodness, it IS a lengthy process.
The highlight of my week had to have been my first dabbling in Corporate Catering...
Better translated, "I took in the waffle iron my group gave us as a wedding present and made waffles for everybody." Stellar success, though, just look at my buddy Rex with me. Does he look satisfied or what? Actually, he looks a little high... I swear, those waffles were CLEAN!
Anyways, it's been a lazy Saturday. I've been working on some stuff for Church for most of it, while Kat had errands and the like... I did, however, experience a first for me... Snorkeling at La Jolla Cove.. I can't believe I live in a town where you can just go snorkeling on a whim... I'm a long ways from Indiana, for sure! But its not the same as Hawaii... Sigh... Ciao!
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Stanley Screamer
Brent says: It's Sunday Night and I am SOOOO happy to be home. Not that its bad to be away, or anything... It is just feels good to be in your own place, ya know?
Anyway, since a week ago Friday, Kat and I have been responsible for the health and wellbeing of one Ms. Maggie May Clark, Pug-Extraordinaire
She really is about the cutest dog you could ever imagine ~ Unfortunately, I was in Colorado for work most of last week, and Kat was called in for Jury Duty... Uggh - More on that in a few moments.
Anyways, I was up in Estes Park, CO for a team offsite. I still don't know how my boss was able to pull this off, but we met at the historic Stanley Hotel for our semi-annual team offsite. The Stanley is this big, beautiful turn of the century hotel. The first day as we got there, it looked something like this
It is also the hotel where Stephen King was inspired to write "The Shining" - Though it was not used in the filming of the uber-creepy 1980 version, it DID get its due in the 1996 miniseries. What it lacks in film credits it makes up for in creepiness. We took the "Ghost Tour" and heard about all the zany things that have happened over the years, and we also watched the Shining Movie at night on the snowy second evening. Oh yeah, failed to mention - This is what it looked like by day 3 AM.
We got a good 8-12 inches of snow while I was up there. Any of you who know of the film, "The Shining," know that as the amount of snow increases, so does the SCARINESS! I had more than a little trouble sleeping up there, for sure!
Well, after the bumpy night, the following days were great. Snow hiking and elk watching made for a GREAT time! I got back on Thursday, just in time for Kat to pick up her huge Mid-Term, which she has worked on all weekend. All you praying types: Would appreciate a prayer for her test... She has worked so long and hard on it - I am really proud!
So that's the story in our little corner of the universe. Back in Cali where the temperature is steadily affixed on 80 degrees, and I am just wondering to myself why we don't get more visitors out here, especially as the weather in much of the rest of the country gets all nasty... Drop us a comment and let us know what's happening with you! Ciao
Anyway, since a week ago Friday, Kat and I have been responsible for the health and wellbeing of one Ms. Maggie May Clark, Pug-Extraordinaire
She really is about the cutest dog you could ever imagine ~ Unfortunately, I was in Colorado for work most of last week, and Kat was called in for Jury Duty... Uggh - More on that in a few moments.
Anyways, I was up in Estes Park, CO for a team offsite. I still don't know how my boss was able to pull this off, but we met at the historic Stanley Hotel for our semi-annual team offsite. The Stanley is this big, beautiful turn of the century hotel. The first day as we got there, it looked something like this
It is also the hotel where Stephen King was inspired to write "The Shining" - Though it was not used in the filming of the uber-creepy 1980 version, it DID get its due in the 1996 miniseries. What it lacks in film credits it makes up for in creepiness. We took the "Ghost Tour" and heard about all the zany things that have happened over the years, and we also watched the Shining Movie at night on the snowy second evening. Oh yeah, failed to mention - This is what it looked like by day 3 AM.
We got a good 8-12 inches of snow while I was up there. Any of you who know of the film, "The Shining," know that as the amount of snow increases, so does the SCARINESS! I had more than a little trouble sleeping up there, for sure!
Well, after the bumpy night, the following days were great. Snow hiking and elk watching made for a GREAT time! I got back on Thursday, just in time for Kat to pick up her huge Mid-Term, which she has worked on all weekend. All you praying types: Would appreciate a prayer for her test... She has worked so long and hard on it - I am really proud!
So that's the story in our little corner of the universe. Back in Cali where the temperature is steadily affixed on 80 degrees, and I am just wondering to myself why we don't get more visitors out here, especially as the weather in much of the rest of the country gets all nasty... Drop us a comment and let us know what's happening with you! Ciao
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Ease on down the road...
Brent says:
This past Thursday was really cool! We went to see a musical, "The Wiz," at La Jolla Playhouse.
But before I get to the play, which was an awesome experience, I have to share a bit bout dinner beforehand at the Humphrey's in the Raddison-UTC. OK, so the Entertainment Book, with all the 2 for 1 coupons, is GREAT for things like Subway or Pat and Oscar's, but I have to say that if a "finer" restaurant is advertising in it, there may be something amiss!
What I'm trying to say is that we wouldn't have even known about this place if it weren't for the Entertainment Book... OK... Well, why am I complaining? Not to sound super-cranky, but the service was so rude it was almost COMICAL! Here's a rough play-by-play of our arrival.
6:05 pm - Arrive and are seated promptly - Crowd is mainly older; Restaurant has distinct "Holiday Inn Restaurant" vibe
6:15 pm - Nobody has come near us
6:20 pm - Waitress named Lucy who's nametag reads - "Bulgaria" approaches and intones, "OK, what you want?"
6:21 pm - Kat and I stammer a bit and try to buy time by asking for water. "He be here when he get here," Lucy says, "Now what you have"
6:22 pm - "Well, we thought about an appetizer..." I mention, and order the Shrimpt Cocktail, to which she grunted and then says, "What else want?" - Now we're startled a bit, especially when we didn't get the answer in fast and she started clearing all the plates and silverware off the table. We managed to squeak out an order, keep most of our silverware, and actually enjoyed the food, but MAN - talk about losing the customer from a poor customer experience. I wonder how oftn people vow to never go back to a place based on a poor customer experience?
Well, bear that in mind as we go to the show at La Jolla Playhouse. Now THIS as a tremendous experience! You walk in and first notice that the set looks like "Who Wants to be a Millionairre?" Very sleek and modern
They have lots of multimedia stuff going, and the surround sound is playing a prairie thunderstorm even as you sit down.
The musical itself is a modern, multi-cultural with a heavy slant towards African-American retelling of the Wizard of Oz. The claim to fame on this show was David Alan Grier from In Living Color, Jumanji, etc. as The Wiz.
But the show really shined on its costumes, innovative set, and constantly active pace. It was really entertaining...
This weekend we are pug-sitting for Maggie, Kat's Aunt and Uncle's dog - I'll be in Colorado Mon-Thurs, so Kat will be "Single-Pug-Parenting" - I hope she'll get by! *grin*
B
This past Thursday was really cool! We went to see a musical, "The Wiz," at La Jolla Playhouse.
But before I get to the play, which was an awesome experience, I have to share a bit bout dinner beforehand at the Humphrey's in the Raddison-UTC. OK, so the Entertainment Book, with all the 2 for 1 coupons, is GREAT for things like Subway or Pat and Oscar's, but I have to say that if a "finer" restaurant is advertising in it, there may be something amiss!
What I'm trying to say is that we wouldn't have even known about this place if it weren't for the Entertainment Book... OK... Well, why am I complaining? Not to sound super-cranky, but the service was so rude it was almost COMICAL! Here's a rough play-by-play of our arrival.
6:05 pm - Arrive and are seated promptly - Crowd is mainly older; Restaurant has distinct "Holiday Inn Restaurant" vibe
6:15 pm - Nobody has come near us
6:20 pm - Waitress named Lucy who's nametag reads - "Bulgaria" approaches and intones, "OK, what you want?"
6:21 pm - Kat and I stammer a bit and try to buy time by asking for water. "He be here when he get here," Lucy says, "Now what you have"
6:22 pm - "Well, we thought about an appetizer..." I mention, and order the Shrimpt Cocktail, to which she grunted and then says, "What else want?" - Now we're startled a bit, especially when we didn't get the answer in fast and she started clearing all the plates and silverware off the table. We managed to squeak out an order, keep most of our silverware, and actually enjoyed the food, but MAN - talk about losing the customer from a poor customer experience. I wonder how oftn people vow to never go back to a place based on a poor customer experience?
Well, bear that in mind as we go to the show at La Jolla Playhouse. Now THIS as a tremendous experience! You walk in and first notice that the set looks like "Who Wants to be a Millionairre?" Very sleek and modern
They have lots of multimedia stuff going, and the surround sound is playing a prairie thunderstorm even as you sit down.
The musical itself is a modern, multi-cultural with a heavy slant towards African-American retelling of the Wizard of Oz. The claim to fame on this show was David Alan Grier from In Living Color, Jumanji, etc. as The Wiz.
But the show really shined on its costumes, innovative set, and constantly active pace. It was really entertaining...
This weekend we are pug-sitting for Maggie, Kat's Aunt and Uncle's dog - I'll be in Colorado Mon-Thurs, so Kat will be "Single-Pug-Parenting" - I hope she'll get by! *grin*
B
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Say CHEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!
Brent says: News flash - Couple eats multiple pounds of cheese, reports lactose-driven hallucinations... Film at 11.
So my friends Gordon and Lis had this idea. Why not take the tried and true "Wine and Cheese" party, where people get all snobby about the wine and eat the cheese as an afterthought, and flip it on its head. They created a "CHEESE PARTY," where exotic cheeses are at the forefront, and the wine is what you sip to give your palate a rinse before diving into the next decadent bit of heaven.
Its actually really fun, though killer for dieters and people like me who try to avoid dairy. Kat and I really did do a decent job of enjoying it in moderation. Lots of fun people to see and meet, too.
John and Heidi, Sean and Shawna, Brent
We definitely had JUST the right amount of cheese ~ Wanna throw a cheese party? Check out Gord's website - www.cheeseparty.com - B -
So my friends Gordon and Lis had this idea. Why not take the tried and true "Wine and Cheese" party, where people get all snobby about the wine and eat the cheese as an afterthought, and flip it on its head. They created a "CHEESE PARTY," where exotic cheeses are at the forefront, and the wine is what you sip to give your palate a rinse before diving into the next decadent bit of heaven.
Its actually really fun, though killer for dieters and people like me who try to avoid dairy. Kat and I really did do a decent job of enjoying it in moderation. Lots of fun people to see and meet, too.
John and Heidi, Sean and Shawna, Brent
We definitely had JUST the right amount of cheese ~ Wanna throw a cheese party? Check out Gord's website - www.cheeseparty.com - B -
Oregon Tales
Brent says: I've been in Oregon and Washington this past week for work. I flew up on Monday and got back Friday evening. Gotta say, it was pretty fun to visit the state I briefly called home... but its definitely good to be back in San Diego with Kat~
Best thing about the trip was the time with friends. On 3 of the 4 nights I drove to see dear friends for dinner and catching up.
First night I went down to Eugene, OR to see my friend's the Strattons ~ They have 6 great kids, and when I was living in Corvallis they were right down the street - I became (and happily remain) "Uncle Brent!" It was SO MUCH fun to see everyone again. I enjoyed lots of hugs, watched impromptu family plays, tried to defend myself in "Pitch Black Wrestling," and of course, made a nice family pyramid or two.
God was so good to me to cross my path with theirs at just the right time. They were a big part of helping me to pick up the pieces and get my life back on track. It is so GREAT to be able to keep up that contact and for them to see me now happy and married...
On the second night I drove over to Multonomah Falls, which is not too far away, but just INCREDIBLE to see - I had never stopped before. It is totally worth a hike to the top, just to look over the edge of the falls and to gaze out at the sun setting over the Gorge.
The rest of the week, alas, my camera ran out of batteries and so I have no more pics to share... *Big sigh* - I did have dinner with my friends Tim and Heather, and got to see their in-progress but fabulous self-remodeled house. On my last evening I got together with Dan and Jess and their two daughters. These were friends from college days, and it is such a trip to see you college "pledge parents" in action as REAL parents... But they rock and I think make pretty cool parents.
Little bit of work in there, as well, but that's boring- The main point is that in four days I covered 600+ miles, got to see 3 dear families, and most importantly, made it back safely to my lovely wife...
Best thing about the trip was the time with friends. On 3 of the 4 nights I drove to see dear friends for dinner and catching up.
First night I went down to Eugene, OR to see my friend's the Strattons ~ They have 6 great kids, and when I was living in Corvallis they were right down the street - I became (and happily remain) "Uncle Brent!" It was SO MUCH fun to see everyone again. I enjoyed lots of hugs, watched impromptu family plays, tried to defend myself in "Pitch Black Wrestling," and of course, made a nice family pyramid or two.
God was so good to me to cross my path with theirs at just the right time. They were a big part of helping me to pick up the pieces and get my life back on track. It is so GREAT to be able to keep up that contact and for them to see me now happy and married...
On the second night I drove over to Multonomah Falls, which is not too far away, but just INCREDIBLE to see - I had never stopped before. It is totally worth a hike to the top, just to look over the edge of the falls and to gaze out at the sun setting over the Gorge.
The rest of the week, alas, my camera ran out of batteries and so I have no more pics to share... *Big sigh* - I did have dinner with my friends Tim and Heather, and got to see their in-progress but fabulous self-remodeled house. On my last evening I got together with Dan and Jess and their two daughters. These were friends from college days, and it is such a trip to see you college "pledge parents" in action as REAL parents... But they rock and I think make pretty cool parents.
Little bit of work in there, as well, but that's boring- The main point is that in four days I covered 600+ miles, got to see 3 dear families, and most importantly, made it back safely to my lovely wife...
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Back home again...
"...in Indiana, And it seems that I can see
The gleaming candlelight, still burning bright..."
Or so goes my home state's official song, which has been immortalized by an annual tradition at the Indianapolis 500 automobile race for actor and singer Jim Nabors , TV's "Gomer Pyle," to perform "(Back Home Again in) Indiana" with backing from the Purdue University Marching Band.
Actually, all facets of that preamble were satisfied last weekend when Kathryn and I went home for the weekend. We flew home to Indiana, and specifically, into Indianapolis. We went to Purdue's Homecoming and got to enjoy the Purdue Marching Band, of which I am a somewhat sheepish alum
And we went to my high school reunion, where Kathryn got to meet all the Gomer's I grew up with!
OK, so this isn't really one of the Gomers. This is my best buddy from High School, Erik. He now lives in Tampa and is married to Heather, an exotic animal trainer - Those who know her can judge for themselves whether she is exotic or the animals or both.
Anyways, we also had a fun Wedding Open House last week at my parent's place. I'd share some pictures, but I never stopped shaking hands long enough to take any!
That brought us back late on Monday evening, from which time its been pretty quiet. Mainly just working together to get our house under control. It HAS been fun, though, to make our little place the way we want it. My only complaint? Even I, as secure as I am, feel a little bit funny using Kathryn's "Do it Herself" toolkit!
Click to see more closely ~ At least she has gotten rid of the pastel-colored box. All in all, life is good - I go to Vancouver, WA for a week for work next week - Going to brave my way through the new TSA carry-on procedures! Wish me luck -
Brent
The gleaming candlelight, still burning bright..."
Or so goes my home state's official song, which has been immortalized by an annual tradition at the Indianapolis 500 automobile race for actor and singer Jim Nabors , TV's "Gomer Pyle," to perform "(Back Home Again in) Indiana" with backing from the Purdue University Marching Band.
Actually, all facets of that preamble were satisfied last weekend when Kathryn and I went home for the weekend. We flew home to Indiana, and specifically, into Indianapolis. We went to Purdue's Homecoming and got to enjoy the Purdue Marching Band, of which I am a somewhat sheepish alum
And we went to my high school reunion, where Kathryn got to meet all the Gomer's I grew up with!
OK, so this isn't really one of the Gomers. This is my best buddy from High School, Erik. He now lives in Tampa and is married to Heather, an exotic animal trainer - Those who know her can judge for themselves whether she is exotic or the animals or both.
Anyways, we also had a fun Wedding Open House last week at my parent's place. I'd share some pictures, but I never stopped shaking hands long enough to take any!
That brought us back late on Monday evening, from which time its been pretty quiet. Mainly just working together to get our house under control. It HAS been fun, though, to make our little place the way we want it. My only complaint? Even I, as secure as I am, feel a little bit funny using Kathryn's "Do it Herself" toolkit!
Click to see more closely ~ At least she has gotten rid of the pastel-colored box. All in all, life is good - I go to Vancouver, WA for a week for work next week - Going to brave my way through the new TSA carry-on procedures! Wish me luck -
Brent
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