Monday, June 13, 2011

A new summer season with new endeavors

I've got a few updates for life here in Southern Oregon. I start work tomorrow as a Wine Steward in an Albertsons. It is only a part time job, but should be fun. Baseball has officially gotten started. My team is the Expos. We will play approximately 20 games with a tournament midway through the season and playoffs at the end of August and early September. It is fast pitch and competitive, but most of us are out just to have fun. Unfortunately, we lost our first game, but there will be plenty more. I went 0 for 3, was hit by a pitch, and scored a run. Awesome.

In other news, I have taken a second writing position with The Examiner, but on the National page, so I should see a little more traffic to my articles. I'll be writing about the TV show, The Big Bang Theory, on CBS. I've written a first article as sort of an introduction to the show and how I expect it to increase its viewership over the next year. Here's the first bit and the link to the rest. Cheers.

There was a time when every station boasted a decent lineup of comedic shows, and NBC was king with the likes of Seinfeld, Friends, Scrubs and Frasier. Though the times have changed and viewership has waned, there is still a demand for sit-coms. NBC continues to promote their Thursday night lineup as Comedy Night Done Right. And while it may win in the battle of numbers, switching to an unheard of 6 sit-com lineup, CBS’s The Big Bang Theory is the best sit-com on television today. Continue reading on Examiner.com

Monday, May 23, 2011

From Goofy to a new roof over our heads!

Disneyland 2011
Our trip was awesome - We all had a blast in the happiest place on earth. Kellan loved blasting Zorg on the Buzz Lightyear ride, and all three of us ladies screamed our way down the Tower of Terror.  It was so much fun.


New Home
We are really enjoying our new place. It just needs a few bits of decoration, but so far, I think it looks great. Everything is moved in and almost unpacked. The second bedroom has a few boxes. One of the first things we did was plant a garden. We have a sweet little spot in the backyard just big enough for a couple of tomato plants, bell peppers, basil, & jalapenos. I am thinking salsa! Oh, but a deer already ate the top off the habanero plant.



Friday, May 20, 2011

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Familiar Tides

The writers for the Pirates films ought to be commended having now produced engaging storylines for an impressive four films based on a decades old ride at Disneyland. That must be some sort of record. Sadly though, the excitement of the original has since worn off. On Stranger Tides is by no means a poor film, but when compared to the series, as cannot be helped, it is lacking in a few major areas.

Now, as a whole, the Pirates series is a cut above others of its kind in terms of the quality of each successive film. In and of itself, On Stranger Tides is no worse a film than the second and third installments. But we have seen this all before.

Continue reading on Examiner.com

Priest has no saving grace

Priest could have been a good movie. Of course, that can be said for many films. Even Paul Bettany, one of the most underrated actors of his age group, cannot save this film from its failings. The film is another adaptation from a graphic novel, which has become fairly popular. Films like Sin City and Watchmen embraced the graphic novel style and produced visually unique films. Priest, on the other hand, lacks that connection to its origin.

Continue reading on Examiner.com

Thor: More than just an Avenger prelude

Nowadays, it does not really feel like summer until a superhero emerges on screen. The past decade of superhero/comic book features has changed what we require from such films. Movies like Spider-man 2, Iron Man and of course, The Dark Knight have set the bar very high indeed. No longer is it acceptable to have just a good superhero movie. Instead, we ask that it be a good movie that simply happens to be about a superhero. Regardless of the hero, expectations have grown.

Continue reading on Examiner.com

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Scream 4: At long last

In this humble writer’s opinion, Scream 4 should have been Scream 3. We have waited far too long for a quality sequel to Scream 2. They should have waited until Kevin Williamson was available to write a script for his trilogy masterpiece, much of which seems to be part of Scream 4. Now, the rumor mill says Scream 4 is a rebooted beginning to a new trifecta. However, if you simply forget about Scream 3 (not difficult) and watch Scream 4 as a finale to the original trilogy, it sort of fits.

Scream 4 is a return to form for director Wes Craven. Paired again with Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and Scream 2, Craven attempts once more to alter the future of the genre.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Scream 4: At long last - Medford Film | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/film-in-medford/scream-4-at-long-last-review#ixzz1LKYzoW9M

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Fast 5 Film Review

Expectations for a fifth film in a series ought to be tempered. Generally speaking, the sequel debate proves that with some exceptions, films tend to deteriorate in quality as a series goes on if for no other reason than for lacking originality, an inherent flaw in sequels.

But let’s be honest, even the original film was not original, it was “Point Break” on wheels. “Fast 5” feels more like the furious gang decided to let Danny Ocean plan their next rendezvous. This is a heist film featuring a smattering of cast from the previous four installments, though as far as the primary story goes, only the first and fourth really matter, which is why “Fast 5” feels more like a trilogy wrap-up than the fifth in an endless series.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Fast 5 feels like Ocean's Five - Medford Film | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/film-in-medford/fast-5-feels-like-ocean-s-five-review#ixzz1L2HHODFT

Thursday, April 28, 2011

New Gold Hill Location


Our new home! We move in May 14th and are really excited about it, however, we do have a few things to sort out. We need to find a refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer. So, if anyone knows anyone with used ones that would be awesome if you could direct them our way.

So . . . Why Gold Hill, OR?
1) Way closer to my work (Lindsey). Del Rio is only a few miles down the road. Ideally, I would like to find my old bike and bike to work during the summer.
2) Growing up just outside of the small town (pop. 1000ish) has given it a special place in my heart. I hope that we can become part of the community.
3) They need a new mayor . . . I think Scott should be elected and now can since we live in the city limits!

2 posts in one week . . . we are rock'n. My posts are not as eloquent or loquacious as Scott's, but I hope to add a little flare with photos.

Enjoy!
~ Lindsey

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Update 2011

Yes, I realize that the title here suggests only an annual update, which isn’t much. For those of you who have consistently been checking the blog for the past year, you might be thinking, yeah, that sounds about right. I assure you, Lindsey and I are in the process of making a better attempt to post more often. Again, yes, I realize that’s like saying we promise to try rather than just saying we’re going to do it, but it’s the best I’ve got for you.

That being said, here is the update. Lindsey and I were living in a house owned by a high school friend of hers mother. The house was empty until December when the owner moved back from California, so we found an apartment. It is a fairly large 2 bed 2 bath place with a month to month lease (the best part). We are, however, moving again next month to a house in Gold Hill, which will be our 4th move in less than a year . . . awesome.

Lindsey is still working at Del Rio doing a bit of everything but mostly social media and events. I, regretfully, have yet to find solid work. It is utterly depressing, but I send out applications and resumes every day with a positive attitude. On the plus side though, we are in the first stages of starting our own business of social media marketing.

The irony of our lack of social media usage via blog as of late coupled with this new venture is not lost on me. Regardless, we are very excited to take on this endeavor wherever it may lead. We have just one client and have only just begun to work on his web presence. Rogue BBQ is a southern Oregon catering business with a small concessions restaurant as well. For any who are interested in what we are doing for them or, more importantly, are local and interested in good BBQ, please look them up on Facebook or Twitter. Here is their website: http://www.roguebbqcatering.com/.

It has been a while, but blogging, it seems, is like riding a bike. Talk to you all again soon. Oh, and look for a “Fast 5” film review this Friday. Heck, it’s the fifth in the series. I could probably get started now without having even seen the film.


“Fast 5”
Seeing as this is only the third film in the series to include all the original cast, this feels more like a trilogy wrap-up than a fifth installment. The second and third films were more like spin-offs than Fast/Furious canon. And it is nice to see they stuck with the confusing labeling of the films. “Fast 5.” Really? That’s the best they could do? Still, the movie must be far better than the title, not hard, but a start. I would recommend though that films in general start following the lead of the “Rocky” films if only in the title department: name the first film then just add a corresponding Roman numeral to each successor. It may be simple, but at least it makes sense . . . until you abandon it to name the final chapter “Rocky Balboa” instead of “Rocky VI,” but whatever.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Movie Reviews

As I am now writing film reviews for examiner.com, I will no longer (not that I had been for a while now anyway) be posting movie reviews here, at least not in full. I will try to remember to post a bit of each and a link to the examiner page. Please, if you like them, become a subscriber. This job pays, but not much. The more subscribers and viewers I get, the more I make, which, as I said, is not much. Thanks.


The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: Nicholas Cage could use some of the old magic

When a review begins with describing a movie as “not bad,” that usually means the movie is also not good. “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” is not bad. If anyone goes into this film with high expectations, disappointment will likely ensue. However, if expectations are tempered, the film will not necessarily be a rewarding venture but at least an amusing one. CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE


Oscar buzz through July 2010

It is never too early to start thinking about the Oscars. Sure, awards season is still months away, and generally speaking, the majority of contenders do not release (wide) until November or later. Still though, most years see a few films sneak in that released early. If promoted right, they regain the momentum that ran out early in the year.

That being said, what films have emerged so far in 2010 that might still be in the talks when the nominations come out? CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE


Inception: Christopher Nolan’s latest masterpiece

Christopher Nolan has solidified himself as one of Hollywood’s premier storytellers. His reinvention of Batman put him on the short list, for at least those who never had the pleasure of seeing “Memento”, and his second act of “A Dark Knight” secured his position. How does one follow such a success? Inception, by definition, means a beginning. If this is still just the beginning for Nolan, audiences beware. CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Sunday, June 20, 2010

What have we been up to lately . . .

1. Working - @Costco and @Penrose Library Ref Desk
(Too exciting to post a picture)

2. Mini Golfing with Kim & Clarke

3. Rooting for the Rockies

. . . and Ubaldo even through the cold rain

4. Attempting (successfully) to hit a FAST ball (85 mph) - He can still do it!


5. Going on an amazing hike with Chris, Rachel, and Tessa

6. Sipping free beer at Coors - the largest brewery in the world


7. Putting together fun stuff for Del Rio . . . Check out the first concert of the summer


8. Enjoying delicious mini cupcakes with Rachel - Mint and Peanut butter chocolate featured below
Things have been going great. We just sold our bed on craigslist so we are crashing on the futon, but almost all our furniture is gone! Two more weeks until we leave and we still have things to accomplish like another Rockies game, a day at Elitch Gardens, a camping trip, and more. Looking forward to sharing more adventures soon.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Graduation, Craigslist and New Adventures

It has been way too long and way too much has happened. The big news is that I graduated June 4th from DU with my Masters! It was a wonderful celebration. I was honored to have both Mom and Dad out to visit and Grandma Major too. Spending time with them in Denver was a real treat. It feels really amazing to be done with school. The last two years were a lot of hard work, but to have accomplished it is wonderful.

Now that I have a Masters in International Studies - what is next? I am excited to say . . . after a long and great discussion with Rob and Jolee Wallace I will be heading back to work at Del Rio Vineyards. This time I start with a focus on online and social media marketing, but the job is not limited and will provide the potential for a variety of endeavors. Scott and I will be heading back to Oregon on the first of July. We are staying here for the rest of June. The time gives us a chance to see a bit more of Colorado with camping and hiking trips planned. I am also working a few hours at the library and Scott is continuing to work at Costco, hoping to still secure a transfer to the Medford store. We will be sad to say goodbye to Denver. We have made many new friends who we will miss dearly but hope to host in their visits to the west coast.

Speaking of Graduation . . . here is a long over due congrats to Scott. Scott graduated with his MBA in Marketing in March. He is currently working at Costco and doing really well. He is also excited to head back to Oregon. We are really looking forward to spending time with the fam.

As we are planning the trip home we have decided to take only what will fit in our two cars. The mission has been to get rid of all our stuff (or our big stuff) and so far we have been pretty successful. It was hard to see our kitchen table go, but we got $125 for it. It is so much fun using Craigslist in Denver. Things can go really fast. I think we will be able to fit everything.

More posts and pictures to come as we enjoy our last few weeks in Denver.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Farewell

Lindsey has been bugging me to write a new blog post for a while now because we have some major changes coming up in our lives. She said, “Please write a blog about what is going on with us.” Well, here is my blog post. LOST has ended.

The last show that I watched with as much enthusiasm as LOST was Seinfeld. I was 14 when the final episode of Seinfeld aired, and I remember being teary eyed during the pre-show montage of the series with Green Day’s Good Riddance playing in the background. More than a decade later, another show has come to an end, again leaving me wanting more. It was a sad occasion watching the 270 minute finale event but one that was ultimately extremely satisfying.

For the past 6 years, LOST has been the best show on television, consistent in engrossing plot and superb acting. No, every week has not been perfect, but as a whole, the 6 seasons are nothing short of phenomenal. Ok, enough praise without explanation.

If I had been told that the finale would leave so many questions unanswered, I would have expected about a 90% chance of disappointment. However, it turns out that most of the questions did not need to be answered. In fact, even with how the show ended, the main question that had been asked from the beginning, “What exactly is the island,” remained debatable. From what I have read and heard since the airing, a mere 24 hours gone, my thoughts on the message that the ending was trying to convey have for the most part been confirmed. I’ll not go into any details for those who have yet to watch. Shame on you though if you fall into that category.

What the fans got was a LOST movie event to bring to a close the stories about the these wonderful characters. Because in the end, amid all the mysteries, subplots, love triangles and quantum physics, LOST was ever about the characters. People do not support a show the way LOST has been supported without becoming attached to the characters. Jack, Sawyer, Locke, Kate, Hurly, Sayid, Charlie (always was my favorite) Ben and everyone else became our friends. They became our enemies and our companions.

We loved them far more than we ever loved the show, so it is fitting that the writers found a way to bring back all the characters, even the ones we had already said goodbye to, without some laughable gimmick. For those of you that are television fans, you know what I mean here too. Many finales find some sort of ploy to bring back all the familiar faces whether it be small group reminiscing or some lame trial with everyone who has ever been on the show serving as witnesses. For those shows that were great, like Seinfeld, we forgive the ending because of the road that brought us there.

LOST requires no forgiveness, just our praise for 6 wonderful years of exceptional television right up until the final fade out. I will miss the show, and though I will watch it again in full with my wife my brother and probably any friend I ever make who has not seen the show including the children I will eventually have, nothing will ever be able to replace the moments each week of watching the latest episode, hoping for some answers. Thank you, LOST. That is all I can say. Thank you.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Slideshow

Eating pita chips and hummus on my day off. Enjoying playing with iphoto and imovie.

Here is a slideshow of Mom and Dad's wedding. Hope you enjoy! Love you both tons!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Jody & Nick's Wedding

The trip to San Diego was quick, but we were able to spend some great time with friends. Thursday was low key as we strolled around the Gaslamp district and enjoyed a yummy lunch/dinner with Brandi and Sherri. Friday we hit the town enjoying a delicious meal in Little Italy. Our mission was to eat at a restaurant called, Zagarella's, however, sadly it was closed. But the meal we did have was great. The four of us then traveled down to SeaPort Village and enjoyed a relaxing stroll. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees and the ocean air was incredibly calming. The evening ended with a fun rehearsal dinner in Old Town. Saturday we were joined by Carly and Brian. We piled in their rental car for a quick trip to Coronado island. The beach was beautiful, with gold flakes sparkling in the sand. It looked as though God had dropped a little glitter on Coronado. Then it was off to the wedding. Jody and Nick were married in the Sky Box on the fifteenth floor of a building overlooking PETCO park. It was a high class affair. Dancing, food, and conversation were thoroughly enjoyed.

Here are a few pics to enjoy!

A view from the top of our hotel!

Enjoying the rehearsal dinner.

Getting ready for a fun night.

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Olson

We had a wonderful time. It was a quick trip. I wish we could have stayed and enjoyed the beautiful city longer. Back to the books. I have only three weeks left of school!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Connor is Here!


We are so excited for Matt, Jenny, and Jack as they welcome a new addition to the family. We wish we could be there, but we send our love to the whole family. We are looking forward to a trip home to meet Connor in July.

Stats:
7 lbs 7 oz
19.75 in.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Happy Birthday, Lindsey!

Well, it has taken 2 months, but my wife has caught up to me. Lindsey turns 26 today. If I recall correctly, Lindsey made a comment recently about how this birthday is “no biggie.” She concluded that her birthdays now are only important by the decade: 30, 40, 50 and so on. However, 26 is a pretty unique number, enough so for me to elaborate further.

For instance, did you know that 26 is the only single number between a square and a cube? Yeah, I know, mind boggling. 25 is the square of 5 and 27 is the cube of 3. 26 sits right in between, by itself! No other numbers are with it in there. Pierre de Fermat proved that, according to Wikipedia. Also according to Wikipedia, 26 is the gematric number of the true name of god: YHWH. Again, impressive.

There is more, but the rest gets a little complex. I think the point is well made that 26 is no birthday at which to scoff. In addition, Lindsey’s birthday falls on April 10th, which is a notable day, thus making every birthday important. How is April 10th notable, you ask? Well, back in 1974, it was the day Penn and Teller met one another. I mean, that was big, right? It was also the day the U.S. patent system was formed in 1790. And way back in 837, it was the day Halley’s Comet approached to within 0.0334 AUs of Earth.

Oh, and I almost forgot, a number of celebrities share this special day of birth with my lovely wife. Who? Well, Mandy Moore and Haley Joel Osment for starters. How about Ken Griffey Sr. of Major League Baseball fame and John Madden, former coach in the NFL? Yes, they were born on April 10th. And this brings me to the cream of the birthday sharing crop, drum roll please . . . that’s right, Steven Seagal. Need I say more?

So, though it may not seem like it, today is a very important day for many reasons, but top on that list is that Lindsey was born. I may be very thankful for that event, but I am certainly not the only one. You are very loved, Lindsey, and not just by me. Happy Birthday.



Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter 2010

Well, still making our way through our first year as a married couple, our first Easter together was a trying one. No, we are not having matrimonial issues; however, sub-freezing temperatures do take their toll on even the best relationships. As most of you know, we have yet to vacate the Denver area, and may not as our immediate future is up in the air. Since our wedding last August, we have acquired, through gifts and our own purchases, a fair amount of camping gear but have not had the opportunity to put any of it to use. That changed on this Easter Eve.

We finally decided to just go. We have been having pretty good weather around town, a bit breezy, but decent temperatures, so we figured we may as well just pick a park and test out the gear. What we forgot to account for is the rapidly decreasing temperatures as one heads toward the Rocky Mountains. Yeah, we see the range every day, so we have no real excuse.

At any rate, we made the trip southwest to Mueller State Park. Let me preface this by stating that we plan to return to Mueller in a couple of months for a longer stay that will include hiking, lounging, eating, reading and so much more. We are thinking sometime in June will be appropriate. As for this visit, all was well after the 2 hour drive down through Colorado Springs, past the Garden of the Gods, and on toward the town of Divide. We checked in with the ranger and she gave us a map to our site. This is when things turned a bit sour. We pulled up to our site which had a great view of the mountains. Unfortunately, the entire site was under 6 inches of snow. Only the picnic table stood above the ice. Not to be dissuaded from our adventure, we toured some other sites and found one with a cleared tent pad. The switch was easily facilitated by the roving ranger so we began to set up camp. Then the wind started.

No joke, it took us 30 minutes to set up the tent only after emptying the car of everything heavy to weigh down the corners: snow chains, the emergency kit, the tire iron and so forth. At this point, Lindsey was frozen and ready to leave, but we decided to have a go at making dinner. Lindsey started the water boiling and I gathered wood for a fire. Despite the wind and rapidly dropping temperature, it was not half bad. The fire took a while to start because of the wind, but after I got a flame, the wind really helped fan the rest. The Mac N Cheese with Tuna tasted fine but was cold within a minute.

At this point, Lindsey bundled up in the tent while I tried to be strong and roast some marshmallows. I lasted another 5 minutes before I ended up under layers of clothing, blankets and a sleeping bag. We played Yahtzee for a bit, talked, drank wine, and ate Jelly Beans (not necessarily in that order). Eventually we fell asleep, only to wake up aching from the uncomfortably small sleeping pads. This cycle continued until morning when the wind had died, the temperature had risen from the teens back to the twenties. We scrambled some eggs and packed up by 7am. All in all, it was not terrible. We did survive at least. But it was certainly not what we expected. Enjoy the photos, and Happy Easter everyone.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Kayla's Visit

It was wonderful to have Kayla visit. She stayed Wednesday through Sunday. The day she flew in we ended up with a snow day and I was able to get the rest of the days off from work. It was a great second week of vacation. We did a bit of outlet shopping, a quick trip to Boulder, strolled downtown, and hiked around the Red Rocks. It was a fun few days and I look forward to her next visit.

Here are a few pics:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

What to drink with dinner?

Wine and food were meant for each other. But, do you know which wine goes best with a meal? It is not always an easy answer. Today, in searching for a great wine to take to dinner I found myself searching for ideas online. One particular reason was that I wanted to impress. Scott and I are going to have dinner with Terry Lannon, Del Rio's national sales manager. The only clue I have is that Lasagna is on the menu. In my searching I found a really fun guide that I would like to share. Here is the link, http://www.winewebcentral.com/winepairing/.

So in not knowing what type of Lasagna I think I am going to search for a nice Merlot. Wish me luck on shopping. Del Rio on the menu? Well, I am happy to say that yes I can find Del Rio wines in Denver. Our closest liquor store has some Del Rio Pinot Noir! But, tonight I think we are going to venture out of our comfort zone and try something new.