Jam & Ang

Viva Mexico!

2012-01-21T13:00:00.000-06:00

Day 1
Our vacation to Mexico started with a 4:00am wake up and quick trip to the airport. We were happy to find no lines at check-in or security, so we had plenty of time to relax while waiting to board. We landed in Cancun around 11am and boarded a shuttle that took us the remaining 45 minutes to our hotel. The people sitting in front of us bought us a Corona for the ride (which definitely tastes better in Mexico).
Upon arriving at the hotel, we were greeting with a "welcome drink" and made our way upstairs to our room; which was ready for us despite being quite early. The room was very nice, featuring a king-size bed, private balcony, and plenty of room to move around. Our stay was all-inclusive, so from this point forward assume that everything we did at the resort was free. After we set down our bags, we headed straight for the buffet to eat lunch.
Next we took a stroll around the grounds, the pool and finally walked to the beach and laid in the sun next to ocean. We took a dip and went for a long walk, feeling quite happy with the warm sun on our backs and sand between our toes.
Dinner our first night was at the buffet again, since we didn't make a reservation for one of the themed restaurants that day. The food was excellent, especially the guacamole. The entertainment that night was a Michael Jackson tribute, which we both enjoyed and seemed quite well-received by all.

Day 2
This was the our first full day at the resort, which we spent bumming around the beach and pool. Before lunch we participated in the pool exercise class, a little something to get the blood flowing during a mostly lazy, relaxing day. It's easy for us to spend an entire day reading, relaxing, swimming, eating and not having to be anywhere but where you are.
We ate dinner at Agave, the mexican-themed restaurant. The show that evening was "Grease," which didn't really hold our attention. After a long day in the sun, it felt nice to have a few drinks and retire early.

Day 3
The morning was spent at the beach again, soaking up the sun yet again. In the afternoon, we walked to downtown and checked out the shops at Paseos Del Carmen. We came back with a couple trinkets and good deal of exercise.
Dinner was Brazilian-style, eating meat bought to the table on skewers. We ended up eating beef, chicken, pork, turkey and sausage before it was all said and done.

Day 4
We spent the morning at the resort before catching our tour bus at 1pm, heading to the Mayan ruins of Coba. During the ride, our tour guide taught us about the Mayans and what we would be seeing during our tour. The weather was overcast and cool, which actually worked out quite well since we biked, climbed and hiked our way around Coba for about 2 hours.
After our tour, we paused for a private dinner overlooking a small lagoon near the ruins. Next, we took a short bus trip down the road to a pottery school. We were able to try our hand at making Mayan pottery and learned about the culture and community of Mayans living in Coba today.
Next we headed to our final stop, where we would be entertained by a authentic Mayan ritual. Upon arrival at the site, we walked through the darkness, descending down into a cave-like area known as a cenote. The entire experience was very cool, I suggest you check out the short videos I took. (posted on my Flickr page)

Day 5
Today was windy and not as warm, but we still had no problems sitting by the pool for the better part of the day. We took another long walk down the beach in the afternoon. The sun came out for awhile, so I took the opportunity to swim in the ocean a bit, even though the water was rough.
For dinner we had sushi and sake at the Japanese-themed restaurant, it was delicious. The show that night was a Mariachi band.

Day 6
We got up at 7:00am to catch our tour bus and headed for Xel-Ha (Shell-Ha). It's a large marine park with everything from snorkeling and tubing, to ziplines and wildlife areas. We started by riding some bikes to the top of the river area, then snorkeled our way down the river and back to central area. We walked the nature trails and stopped occasionally to look at the fish and rest at one of the many nooks along the way. For lunch, we had fantastic food at their Mexican-themed restaurant. After lunch, we tubed down the river area and then rode the ziplines over the water. Later, we grabbed a drink and relaxed in the hammocks before the sunset. Dinner that night was at Chili's, the american steakhouse restaurant at our resort.

Day 7
Our last full day was sunny and warm, and spent lounging by the ocean. We had some drinks at the swim-up bar, and later walked to some shops near our hotel. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I'd definitely do an all-inclusive stay again.

Home
First day back home and my heater stopped working in the car, literally the first time I got in my car since being back home. Luckily, I work right next to a repair shop and brought my car in right away. It was quick fix to the hose clamps on the radiator, and only ended up costing $120. Still, what a nice welcome back... below zero temps and no heat. :)
I uploaded all the digital photos today, however, I haven't uploaded the photos from our waterproof camera yet. Stay tuned.

My Top 25 of 2011

2011-12-28T19:48:00.001-06:00

Xmas has come and gone, surprisingly without snow. Before the year is over, it's hard not to look back at what has been and look forward to what might be.
One nice thing about having an actual calendar on the wall is you write things on it; things that can be fun to flip back to at times like these when the whole year seems like a blur. So besides enjoying good health, good friends and good times, here's my top 25 things of 2011:

25. Fixed the fence in the backyard
24. Beer Fest at the fair grounds
23. Painted the bedroom
22. Got iPhone (then lost iPhone)
21. Got glasses
20. Eric and Bekki's Wedding
19. NHL Draft at Xcel
18. Got a Kindle Touch
17. State Fair
16. Annual Valley Fair trip
15. Sold pinball machine for a new washer & dryer
14. Anne Frank and The Odyssey at Park Square Theater
13. Rock Band Parties
12. Renaissance Festival
11. Devotchka show(s)
10. Summit beer dinner & brewery tour
9. Weekends at Amey's cabin
8. Circus Juventas: Grimm
7. Cirque du Soleil: OVO
6. Florida/John Mable Ringling Museum
5. Wisconsin Dells/Circus World Museum
4. Berg's resort/fishing in Alexandria
3. Caribbean cruise
2. Started a new job
1. Asked Angie to marry me

Touchy Feely

2011-12-16T20:17:00.001-06:00

I walked out of work tonight and didn't look back. What a great feeling to finally be done and moving on to bigger, better things. I don't think it's actually hit me yet that I'll be off work at 3:30pm now. We can go to our favorite classes at Lifetime again, like Monday cycle and Thursday yoga. Together! We can cook and eat dinner at the same time again. Together! It's such a great time to be starting the new job, too. A bunch of short weeks at the new job, celebrating the holidays and then a seven night all-inclusive trip to Mexico. It's hard not to be excited for all that's to come.
I'm only a little nervous to start the new gig on Monday, but mostly I feel prepared and ready for the change. It will take a little while getting my body used to the 7:30am start time, but if that's the worst of my worries, BFD. I'll be sure to post a blog after I get my feet wet and have a better idea of how it's going.
How about those Wild, huh? Even though they've fallen on tough times now as the injuries pile up, they continue to find ways to battle and win games like never before. I'm not expecting them to stay in first place forever, but I do expect them to make the playoffs, where anything can happen.
I bought myself a Kindle Touch as a new job/early birthday present to myself and I love it. The first book I downloaded was the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I'm very impressed with the visual quality and ease of use. Not to mention, it's lighter, more portable and all-around more fun to read than an actual book. Another reason I decided to pick up a Kindle was my serious resolution to cut down on "filler" video games and focus my spare time on reading instead. Frankly, I've found myself losing interest in the single-player, so-called blockbuster video games and feel my time (and sore eyes) would be better spent reading. I still plan to make time for Rock Band parties and the occasional indulgence, but no more pre-ordering, gotta-play-it-now bull sh*t and being tethered to my controller for weeks at a time.
That's about it at the moment. Looking forward to so many things in the coming weeks... Wild games, making more lefse, holidays, family gatherings, vacations, but most of all I'm looking forward to spending more time with the woman I love.

5 Days Left

2011-12-11T09:26:00.001-06:00

Only five more days of work left until I start my new job. Even though I know I'm done soon, it's still dragging like crazy. My favorite part is when my boss tells me she expects me to keep my schedule clear in order to work overtime as needed. I'm sorry, do I need to explain to you the unwritten rules of the two-week notice?! Two week notice means I've essentially checked-out from here on out, and while I will still put forth a satisfactory effort, you're sh*t nuts if you think I'm going to work overtime for you. I mean, it's not like you get an oil change on a car before you trade it in.

Most (all?) of the Xmas shopping is done, thanks to a very successful trip yesterday with Ang. I even found some shoes for the new job on clearance at DSW for myself. We got a good start of wrapping but still have a ways to go. Today were headed to my Dad's to visit and celebrate his birthday, which was actually on Thursday.

The new washer/dryer is fantastic, definitely puts a new spin on doing laundry (zing!). I don't think I would ever go back to a top-loader again. Started reading the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy, only about 200 pages in, enjoying it so far. Perhaps I can read the the remaining books while we're in Mexico next month?

Feeling Up, Counting Down

2011-12-04T10:13:00.001-06:00

I got the job. < fist pump, loud scream goes here >

That simple sentence carries with it a complete change in perspective, schedule and future. While I could easily write five paragraphs on the shit I put up with for the last year and a half, I'm going to immediately put it behind me. Writing about it would only give it more life, and waste more of my time in the process. Instead, I'll take with me a decent amount of experience, whilst forgetting an enormous amount stress, frustration, and... people.

I start my new position on December 19th. My new schedule will be M-F 7:30am - 3:30pm. I'll be working about 9 miles down the road in Bloomington, not far from Angie's office; maybe we can even meet for lunch one day? My official title will be something like "Digital Press Operator" or "Digital Production." It basically means I'll be taking files of all types, performing preflight/edits, setup, printing, bindery and shipping. I'll even have the pleasure of getting 40% of the print work from an in-house design agency, and working in an apple computer-based environment.

10 working days left at my current job
15 days until I start my new job
3 weeks until Christmas
5 weeks and 3 days until we leave for Mexico
5 weeks and 4 days until my birthday

El Job-O. Por Favor.

2011-11-30T22:06:00.001-06:00

I'm tired. It's been a crazy few days, and it's not over yet. I had my first interview today which apparently went well, as they have already called for a 2nd interview Friday morning. My head is still spinning while I try to absorb all the information. I'm excited for the opportunity, however, I'm still in the dark as far as compensation, benefits, time-off, etc. so it's really hard to make any kind of decision. I'll know Friday, that's all I can say at this point.
More big news, we have booked the all-inclusive trip to Mexico! Needless to say, super excited and very much looking forward to the sun, waves, food, drink and spending time with Angie. Tropical paradise style. We'll be staying 7 nights at Riu Palace near Playa Del Carmen.
The washer and dryer is coming tomorrow morning, odds are I'll be spending the time before work making sure everything works. Hopefully they show up closer to the 8am part of the 8am - Noon window.
Whew. Lot's of balls in the air, little anxious, lots of fun.

Rollercoaster Continues

2011-11-29T12:02:00.001-06:00

Shortly after I got over the rejection of not landing the job downtown, I've got another interview lined up for tomorrow in Bloomington. So begins the cautious optimism cycle again. This time it's a smaller company with a bunch of unknowns at this point. I won't know the exact nature of the position until after the interview tomorrow morning.
The good news is, either way, Ang and I are very close to booking a 7-day winter vacation to Mexico. At this point, it looks like we'll doing an all-inclusive resort near Playa Del Carmen. So that's one thing I can be excited about without the possibility of being let down. Speaking of, we've got tickets to another Wild game the day after Christmas. Can't think of a better use of the Holiday off of work!

Short Week

2011-11-20T13:40:00.001-06:00

I'm super excited to have the short week ahead, only having to go to work Mon - Wed. I'm in the process of picking out a new washer and dryer with the money I got from selling the pinball machine. I'm leaning towards a Samsung front loader washer and whirlpool dryer. Probably going to buy from Lowes since they offer free delivery and free haul away of the old units.
I sold back Gears of War 3 and picked up Batman: Arkham City. It's amazing how much content they squeezed in, just doing the Riddler challenges alone could take 30+ hours of time. It's probably the last game I'll pick up before January when Final Fantasy XIII-2 comes out.
The Wild continue to impress, last night's overtime shootout thriller was awesome. Hopefully they can maintain their winning ways on Friday when I'll be in attendance. We ended up getting about 2" of snow yesterday, which meant Ang and I shoveled the new sidewalks for the first time. Much easier!

!*^@#%!

2011-11-18T19:40:00.001-06:00

Well, I didn't get the job. Rejection. It takes the wind right out of your sails, no matter how much you say you're prepared for it. I'm officially not a fan of this week, at all. Nothing left to do now but drown my sorrows in the Lefse I plan to make next week. You know, next week. The one that can't possible suck as much as this one.

What, Me Worry?

2011-11-17T20:30:00.000-06:00

I was supposed to hear back sometime this week about the new job, nothing yet. Yes, I still have tomorrow, but I'm started to get a little rattled. It took over a month the last time I got hired, so I know sometimes these things take time, but the anxiety creeps in and you start to question yourself. Either way, the only thing I can really do is stay positive as things could change at any time. Everything is on hold at the moment while I wait for the verdict, stay tuned.

Closer to The End/Beginning

2011-11-10T10:33:00.001-06:00

I was just notified last night that I've a "finalist" for the job downtown. Needless to say, tremendous news and once step closer to the end of working Noon - 8pm and a rather long list of negatives. I believe they are doing a background check on me at the moment, I should hear back sometime next week regarding a final interview and/or the next step in the process. Very excited.
Also excited about the Wild putting together a 5-game winning streak, Nice! Maybe the trick all along was to get rid of cable and stop watching all the games, who knows. My mom is in-flight right now and will be landing later this afternoon. She'll be staying with us for a week, during which time we'll probably do some bumming around, shopping etc.
I was pondering the idea of using the money from selling the pinball machine to get a new washer and dryer. Ours are quite old and I like the idea of front loading, high-efficiency machine. Maybe it's time to do some research.

Hurry Up And Wait Mode

2011-11-08T21:36:00.001-06:00

The interview for the new job downtown went great, now I have the hard job of waiting until next week to hear back if I got the job or not. I'm super anxious because it's an upgrade in ever sense of the word; location, benefits, time-off, paid holiday, personnel, working conditions and of course scheduled hours. I'd be working from 8am - 4:30pm, which means I could resume my life again (already in progress).
The pinball machine was posted and sold already on craigslist for $1600 cash. That was fast, huh? Sure, I'll miss it now and again, but I can always get my pinball fix at the state fair or something If needed. I don't have any big plans for the cash yet, probably save it for something special.
My mom is flying into town this Thursday, so the next week or so looks to be pretty busy. I also placed an order for a new lefse rolling pin and pasty board/cloth. I'm not messing around anymore with amateur-hour-lefse-making. It's time to get serious this year.

November News

2011-11-06T12:47:00.000-06:00

We've picked a date for the wedding, Saturday, June 9th 2012. That wasn't too hard was it? We've got a few details left to work out with the pastry chef, chair rentals and music (?) but nothing we can't handle. We're happy with the location in the park, with a fall-back plan to do the ceremony in the restaurant if the weather turns.
I've got a job interview tomorrow morning for a state job located in downtown St. Paul. I don't have specific work experience for the position, but they called me anyway and I'm going to check it out. I've been told that the state interview process can be drawn-out, but there really isn't a sense of urgency since I'm not unemployed. I ~~would like~~ must to get back to working normal daytime hours, and I just can't see that happening at my current job (besides the fact that my job is sucking the life out of me).
Can you believe it's November? Just under two weeks until cyber monday, which means I really need to get that xmas shopping taken care of. I like to have it all done by black friday, mostly because I hate going into Target etc. after that day.
In other news, I put my pinball machine up for sale on craigslist today. It's not a must-sell, but I'd love to take the money and use it towards something I can use on a regular basis. It's not cheap, so it might just be destined for the basement anyway.
The Wild are tearing it up lately, winning 4-games in a row (at this point). Ang and I have been watching a few games over at her mom's house since we don't have and don't want cable. I'm looking forward to seeing them take on the Edmonton Oilers the day after Thanksgiving.

Hello Neighbor

2011-10-22T19:03:00.001-05:00

If you or anyone you know is serious about looking for a new home, the house right next door to us is for sale and priced to move at $129,000. It doesn't sound like any offers have been made, so you could probably get it even cheaper than that.

We would love to have "fun" neighbors, friends as neighbors would be even better. We took a walk-through during the open house today just to check it out. Anyway, follow the link below to see the house and spread the word!

House Next Door For Sale! - Property Details

Forecast. Forepaughs?

2011-10-19T20:48:00.002-05:00

The more we research our options the more we like the idea of Irvine Park and Forepaugh's for our ceremony and reception. Not only is the park nice, it's close to home and very easy to manage. It the weather doesn't cooperate, we would be able to do the ceremony in Forepaugh's instead. The guest list is still a work in progress, however, it's going to be SMALL. Our vision from the start has been a small wedding, so that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
Anyway, besides wedding stuff we're going to be painting the bedroom this Saturday. I know, another exciting weekend, right? We went with a very light blue tone called "Sky High." Right now the room is just white with white trim, this should help give it a little more life.

TGIF (Thank Goodness It's Fall)

2011-10-14T10:53:00.001-05:00

We've got a busy Saturday planned tomorrow. We're waking up early and heading downtown to the Farmer's Market, a place made better with brisk wind and morning coffee in-hand. We might even pop into this new little donut shop that opened down the street from us called Donut Monkey.
After the market, we're heading to Gerten's to get the skinny on when to seed the newly landscaped yard. Apparently there is some kind of dorment seeding that can be done even this late in the year. Later in the afternoon we're heading up to Irving Park and Forepaugh's restaurant to tour and get information about our wedding.
There is a Wild game later in the evening, I'm hoping we can get together somewhere and watch it. Maybe have a couple drinks perhaps? It's been a long week.

Planning Progress

2011-10-12T08:43:00.001-05:00

We've made a little bit of headway in the wedding planning process, but nothing is booked or set in stone. We're going to take a closer look at Irving Park (St. Paul) for the ceremony followed by the dining room at Forepaugh's restaurant. We like the idea of being outside combined with the simple beauty and ease of renting the park. The restaurant can accommodate small wedding parties of up to 40 people, which fits nicely with what we have come up with for our guest list. We are going to do a walk-through sometime this weekend, more to follow as details become clearer.

October

2011-10-06T21:35:00.000-05:00

It's my favorite month of the year again, but it's already going by too fast. Work has been super busy as of late and we've got a few projects going on around the house. This weekend we are bringing in a big load of dirt to even out the yard around the new sidewalk and cement patio. We're also planning to paint our bedroom while the weather is nice and cool.
This Saturday is the Wild's first game of the season and we are looking forward to watching it with Jeremy and Kelly. It's a shame, but there isn't a single Wild game televised on Network TV this year. You either have to have FSN or Versus (both cable channels). Needless to say, we will have to get out more to be able to see the team in action this year.
We haven't had a whole lot of down time (together) to do any real wedding planning. The only thing we have come up with is a time frame; most likely spring to early summer. Stay tuned.

And Then She Said Yes

2011-10-02T18:27:00.000-05:00

It's been quite awhile since I've had such big news to share, or been this excited about blogging to tell you about it. On September 24th I asked Angie to marry me and she said yes! I've been reluctant to post on Facebook and thus receive a bunch shallow pleasantries, so instead I thought the blog would be a great way to both make the announcement and launch the new re-design.

For those of you who didn't get the whole story, I'll give you the condensed version. Angie thought we should go out to dinner at Moscow On The Hill for dinner, which happens to be the place where we had our first date. Since I already picked out the ring and just needed a romantic locale, this fit the bill perfectly. We arrived early for dinner, so we took a quiet walk in the park by the restaurant. It was a beautiful fall day. I remember the sun was shining and the first leaves on the ground were gently blowing by feet. I got down on one knee and, well, the rest was history.

We've been together a little over two years now and I'm so excited to be taking the next step. If we haven't gotten together yet to celebrate with you, we should. If you've been reading this blog for awhile now and you have yet to leave a comment, you should.

Here's to the next step, Cheers.

At Summer's End

2011-08-30T09:55:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post to reflect back on the summer that was. Talking with Angie the other night, we were pretty satisfied with everything we were lucky enough to do. From spending time in Wisconsin Dells, camping a couple of times at the cabin, our trip to Alexandria, a tour of the Summit Brewery and Beerfest, numerous long bike rides and lots of barbeques, it's been quite good. However, all good things must come to end. That end is punctuated by a flip of the calendar page and a trip to the State Fair again this year on Monday.
I for one am happy that summer is coming to a close. I love the milder fall weather (all 2 weeks of it) and the changing of the season. I've said many times that fall is my favorite season and brings with it all the things I love. Cooler days and nights, changing leaves, the Renaissance Festival, the start of the hockey season, a never-ending list of new video games, and of course, Halloween!
Besides being a little upset that my work hours changed to Noon - 8pm, there is lots to excited about. We're looking forward to meeting Jeremy and Kelly's new baby girl Samantha this weekend for the first time. We've also got a fairly large landscaping/cement project about to start that will result in new sidewalks, steps and a bigger patio landing. I've got a weekend long fishing trip at the cabin with Jeff planned in two weeks, and shortly after that is Bekki and Eric's wedding in Stillwater. It's nice to have so many fun things going on, but it's going to make Fall go by even faster than usual.
It won't be long before I'll be sitting here in the dead of winter wishing it was summer again, craving a cold beer in the sun or long bike ride along the river, and wondering what happened to days like today.

Grimm Is Good

2011-08-14T09:57:00.000-05:00

Last night we had the pleasure of seeing this year's Circus Juventas production "Grimm." The tale revolved around the brothers Grimm and their journey to not only pen fairytales, but to ensure that each and every one has a "happily ever after."

If you've never heard of Circus Juventas before, you need to get with the program. Not only is it the largest youth performing arts center in the entire United States, but it puts on some of the most entertaining circus shows you'll ever see. What's more, it's located 5 minutes away from our house, across the street from Highland Park.

This years show did a great job of showcasing all the diverse skills and talents of the kids. Everything from juggling, trapeze, high-wire, to the russian swing and german wheel. Choreographed dance numbers are a bit of a snooze for me, but they are well done and beautifully scored.

Overall we loved the show this year, but felt like it was missing a bit of the humor that made last years production "Sawdust" extra special. We each bought a t-shirt with 100% of the proceeds going to help fund the program.

P.S.
The bleechers had pads on them this year, which means someone must have been listening to all the concerns (complaints) last year about being uncomfortable.

Is It Fall Yet?

2011-08-02T20:37:00.003-05:00

It's been quite awhile since I posted, but not for lack of fun things to share. No, I blame the heat mostly. You see, it's been about 100 degrees in the office lately and I just can't write with sweat in my eyes.

Our summer trip to Wisconsin Dells has come and gone, but we sure had a blast. The weather was scorching hot for the water parks; we couldn't have planned better. This being our second year in-a-row staying and playing at the same locale, we've got things pretty well figured out now (read: savvy). Even Circus World was fun a second time, despite the mind-numbing heat.

We spent last weekend in Wisconsin at the Amey Family cabin, our second trip in as many months. The first trip didn't go so well for me, considering I locked my keys in my car and later lost my iPhone (FML!). I learned from my mistakes and had a great time regardless. This time we even got to do some fishing out on Loon Lake, even though the storms cut us short, we got a bunch of fish and had a blast.

In domestic news, we got a new security system installed last week. It seems like no matter who you talk to these days, someone has a break-in story to tell. We even upgraded to include fire monitoring, considering we get an additional break on the homeowners insurance as a result. I highly recommend our Nighthawk Security if you're in the market for a system. Besides being very helpful, I can text or call the owner directly whenever I have a question or concern, you can't say that about most security companies.

Lifetime Fitness and I continue to get along great, however, I'm run into a few class instructors that I don't care for. I think Angie and I actually stumbled into a Christian cycle class a few weeks ago, man was that bizarre. Sorry, but I'm here to work out, not reflect on my level of happiness. At one point the lady said "Be sure to drink plenty of water- and stay away from those colored drinks, they are very bad for you. Your body is your temple."

As far as entertainment goes, I've been playing Shadows of The Damned and watching season 6 of Boy Meets World. We downgraded our Netflix to streaming only, so I don't expect to be watching a ton of movies anymore. I'm currently reading yet another book on circus history, the memoir of Tiny Kline. In music, I'm fixated on The Black Keys for the time being, especially enjoying their earlier, bluesier records.

I'm looking forward to seeing Circus Juventas "Grimm" next weekend and hopefully doing some more fishing this weekend. Other than that, it's more hot weather... which means more infrequent blog posts!

Memorable Memorial Weekend

2011-05-30T13:04:00.000-05:00

The long weekend is drawing to and end but we definitely made the most of it. We spent Saturday AM shopping for some things at Fleet Farm for the yard etc. Ended up coming home with some vegetables to plant and a few other things for the yard. While it didn't happen this weekend, we're really looking forward to doing some work in the yard and planting the seeds.
Saturday afternoon-ish, we went to see Cirque Du Soleil "OVO" under canvas by the Mall of America. It was a insect/nature-themed performance and I was really impressed. The level of skill and precision is absolutely amazing, It's something that you just can't see anywhere else. The tent added a very cool backdrop, especially with the thunder rumbling and the rain falling outside. I had a fantastic time and will definitely see another performance in the future.
Saturday evening we spent some time at a house-warming party. We had to giggle when we left the house at 9:30pm, considering most of the time we're in bed by 11pm. Either way, it was a good time and we enjoyed the company and this year's bottles of Summit Heifeweizen.
Sunday was the annual Valley Fair trip. As usual, the weather held and there were barely any lines. We managed to ride everything without to much hassle, although it wasn't warm enough this year for any water rides. Regardless, it was a great time and we were pretty exhausted when we came home. We capped of the day by watching "Black Swan." Without going into detail, I thought the movie was decent, but perhaps built up a little too much to meet my expectations.
On this last day of the bunch, I've just been cleaning and putzing around the house a bit. At 3pm I'm heading up to Lifetime Fitness to open a membership. I'm excited to participate in some structured work-outs and classes, and at the same time, ensure that riding my bike stays fun and doesn't become a daily grind for exercise only.

Pirates of The Caribbean: On Strained Tides

2011-05-23T17:46:00.000-05:00

With the latest Pirates movie (#4) still fresh in my mind, I thought I'd take a few moments to write a quick review. For this latest entry in the series, I decided to splurge and see it in 3D. Apparently the "D" stands for Damn! that cost a lot of money! $26 for two tickets to be exact.

It's no secret that I love Pirate history, and along with the truth, the fictitious Captain Jack Sparrow. The pirates movies have sailed with tide over the years, some absolutely brilliant (#1) and some quite convoluted and tiresome (At World's End). Whatever the future holds for the franchise, I walk the plank to the theater, clinging to both $26 and my illusions that the best movie is still on the horizon.

On Stranger Tides is a stand-alone entry, meant to be character driven and unique in it's plot. Johnny Depp has admitted that during the filming of the sequels he paused frequently to say WTF? It's also a fact that he doesn't tend to watch is own movies, which has nothing to do with my review, I just find it interesting. Regardless, the main goal of this entry was to move the characters forward and leave the long-winded back story in the past.

For the most part, I found the movie to be quite dim and drab, both comically and literally. Part of what made the series my favorite was the colorful characters, breathtaking scenery and well-balanced comedy/drama/action sequences. On Stranger Tides never really takes off and becomes a summer blockbuster, it feels more like a series of ideas strung together from the cutting room floor of previous entries. While I managed a few chuckles, the comedy seemed a bit too familiar for my liking.

My biggest disappointment didn't lie with the actors (or lack thereof in the case of Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley) or the story (predictable, much?) but rather with Jack Sparrow. In my mind I was thinking this movie would take Jack to a whole new level, but unfortunately, I really felt like this was a step backward for him. Overall, I wouldn't say the movie is dead in the water, however, it didn't shiver me timbers and/or blow me down as much as I would have liked.

iPhone Apps iLike

2011-04-27T17:50:00.003-05:00

I haven't had my iPhone 4 forever, but I've definitely found some apps I consider to be amazing. Here's my top five favorite apps I've found so far:

1. Netflix
This is pretty much hands-down the best feature of my phone. I love being able to watch all of my instant play movies right from my phone no matter where I am. Load times are minimal, the quality is great and the library is getting bigger as we speak. Cost: FREE

2. Shopkick
I'm totally addicted to this simple yet rewarding app. Shopkick is the first mobile app that gives you rewards for walking into stores, for scanning products, or for just sitting on your ass. You can collect "kickbucks" and bonuses at millions of stores and restaurants, including Target, Best Buy and even gas stations.
My addition revolves around using the barcode scanner and scanning the UPC of featured products and collecting points (kickbucks) which can be redeemed for instant gift cards. It's almost like getting paid to do a scavenger hunt while you're out shopping around. As of right now, I'm sitting at 1573 kick bucks (which is more than enough to cash in for a $5 gift card) but I'm going to keep collecting awhile longer.
If you have the means, download the app and give it a try. If you remember to use my code "crane6116" after installing the app, we both get 50 kickbucks as a bonus! Cost: FREE

3. Flixster
Flixster is all about movies, all in one place. It lets you see what's in theaters (now, coming soon, etc.) what's coming to dvd, and what's playing at your favorite theaters. What's more, it's integrated with both Rotten Tomatoes and Netlfix, which allows you to see review scores and instantly add movies to your Netflix queue. Cost: FREE

4. Vlingo
Vlingo for iPhone is speech recognition technology with decent accuracy. It even connects you to your third parties – like Facebook and Twitter. Let's say I want to Tweet a live broadcast or otherwise update my Twitter/Facebook page without typing... all I have to do is say "Facebook Update: I can't believe her boob just fell out, did anyone else see that?!" and then hit send. Cost: Using the social media update function is completely free, however to use text/email voice support the cost is $6.99.

5. IntoNow
IntoNow makes sharing your favorite television shows easy and fun. Just tap the green button when you’re watching, and IntoNow will identify the show, right down to the episode. Once identified it’s easy to share with your friends on Twitter or Facebook. Cost: FREE

Anyone care to suggest some great apps that I may have missed? Leave a comment below.

Watered Down Elephants

2011-04-23T12:59:00.000-05:00

After much anticipation, I finally got my ticket to the big show. So the question is, was it truly the greatest show on earth or just another mud show?

Let me start by briefly giving my thoughts on the book by Sara Gruen. Insanely popular, easy to read and with an absolutely perfect setting for a circus fan, I found the book held my attention with an interesting cast of characters and decent pacing. Her knowledge of circus history is questionable, and at times I felt like she threw around "circus-speak" with a reckless abandon; if only to make a point that she tried to study and bring a touch of authenticity. Highlights for me were the shady circus elements--the booze, the grift, the cooch tent etc. Some found the side story of the old man in the twilight of his life touching, while I found it a bit distracting and became anxious to be back in the sawdust. Minor quibbles aside, it was fun circus book that already felt like a movie.

The big screen version took all of the R-rated (read: interesting) aspects of the book and either glossed them over or left them out entirely. Instead of grit you get glamor. While the circus set pieces are beautiful, the same cannot be said the on screen chemistry of Jacob and Marlena. While not awful, it definitely seems flat at times and I found their moments to coincide with the times I felt the most bored. What also bothered me (besides the fucking annoying girl next to me who keep talking to the screen and making "awwww" remarks every two seconds) was the way the movie felt slower than the book. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Needless to say, I didn't feel completely duped like a rube being pushed into the sideshow tent, however, I felt like it was more respectable than spectacle. A little more sex and booze and a little less pink lemonade and cotton candy and this could have been a center ring attraction.

Hollywood Sucks: Part 6 (3D)

2011-04-20T17:00:00.002-05:00

I returned last night from another underwhelming movie-going experience, this time seeing the highly regarded "Source Code." While the movie wasn't terrible, it didn't do much for me in the way of creativity or even a cheap thrill. I'm finding that most of the movies I watch are just as lack luster as the one before, with only a few exceptions. The machine in Hollywood keeps pumping out garbage and continuing to charge us more to see it, thanks to the wonder that is 3D. Speaking of that, I was rather glad to see that Pirates 4 is NOT going to be in 3D. However, it comes as little consolation if the movie ends up sucking ass and making me wish they hadn't even made it.
It seems apparent to me that the time for 2 hour "epic" movies has past. I find that Premium channel original series' and television sitcoms deliver more consistently and more originally than anything on the big screen. Who doesn't appreciate the bite-sized story arcs, the evolution of the characters, and the cliff-hanger moments. Not to mention, the obvious time/financial savings. And while not shown in 3D, at the Zoo Omnitheater, whilst eating $8 popcorn, overall I feel like they are a more personal, enjoyable experience.
The only thing keeping me away from the theater is time. It's the same reason I have to pre-order video games, the anticipation and the excitement makes it just too hard to resist. Alas, I'm giving in again this Friday and going to see Water For Elephants. As a well-documented circus history buff, and having read the book, I'm cautiously optimistic. Obviously, I haven't learned a thing from my experience.

Ignorance Is Your New Best Friend

2011-04-14T19:28:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite bands is titled "Ignorance." Since it's release, it's taken on a whole new level of meaning, now that the lyrics have become a self-fulfilling prophecy to the band that wrote them. This band is Paramore, and they have since parted ways with their drummer and guitarist, one of many facts that a casual listener wouldn't even know about. But exactly when did I start calling myself more than a casual listener? I don't know, but it definitely happened. This sort of thing happens all the time in fact, and I really wish it didn't.
Whether it be a band, a sports team, a television show or what have you, slowly I become more and more invested into it, until, at length, I've taken my casual interest and turned it into something else. Less than obsession, but more than just interested. I blame the update-a-second society we live in, I blame Facebook, smart phones and every other social media outlet for making me info obsessed. And, I blame myself. However, everywhere you turn there is a rss feed to subscribe to, a page to bookmark, a link to click, a video to watch and a "like" button to click.
Sometimes I feel like the more read, subscribe, watch and "like" all these things, the worse off I become. Instead of just listening to a band because I enjoy their music, suddenly I find myself reading their Tweets about how much they love their new tattoo and how they could eat cereal for every meal. Do I really care about these things? No. It's then that I realize, I've lost my ability to just enjoy, because now I know too much, and there's no going back.
If I could just appreciate casually, if I could just stay a safe distance and form my own opinions free of social media influence, if I could just remember that ignorance is bliss.

Grillin' Like a Villian

2011-04-04T20:53:00.001-05:00

Ahh, yes. April is here and the snow is not. I've taken full advantage of the improved weather and cooked on the new grill 3-4 times already. The old grill found a new home in the back of some dude's truck, thanks to craigslist. Along with cooking dead animals over flames on-demand, I was able to get out and play my first round of disc golf at Blue Ribbon this past Sunday. It was still super wet and soggy, but still lots of fun and definitely worth the wet feet on the drive home.
I watched a couple of crappy movies the other day, Sucker Punch and Due Date. I highly recommend avoiding both, as they suck so badly I can't justify blogging about them any further. However, I did really enjoy watching Little Miss Sunshine, which I realize isn't exactly a "new" movie. Either way, it was both a great movie and a great way to listen to some Devotchka before the concert last Friday night.
The Devotchka show at First Ave. was even better than last year. They were the main act and played a solid 2 hours (including encore). They're such an awesome live band, you really get a sense for the complexity of the songs and the talent they possess. I really can't say enough good things about them and continue to devour their discography whenever I get the chance.
My gaming has been put on hold for a bit while I continue to wait for my new glasses to arrive at Target optical. In the meantime, I've been slowly (but surely) completing the pro drum trainer lessons on Rock Band 3. It never ceases to amaze me how some beats that once seemed impossible one day become do-able.
I also recently finished reading "Big Top Boss, John Ringling North and The Circus." Another solid read in a long line of circus history books I continue to delve into, with no end in sight. Next up? "Spangles, Elephants, Violet's and Me."
Oh, and I discovered uTorrent today. OMG. Coincidentally, I'm now listening to piles of new music by Devotchka, The Kills, Avril Lavigne, Metric, Prince, The White Stripes and The Sounds.
Finally, the Wild can suck it.

Sucker Punching Winter In The Devotchka

2011-03-21T18:10:00.001-05:00

It's unofficially winter send-off week around these parts; as temps outside slowly rise and the sun shines a bit longer into the evening. I plan on placing my order for some new discs and hope to get out to play the first round of the season soon. Not only looking forward to shaking the rust of the discs, but the bike as well.
As far as actual festivities this week, I've got a outing planned with friends to see "Sucker Punch" opening night this Friday. It's a small but important step towards everyone coming out of hibernation and spending time together again. This Saturday I plan to put together my new grill, followed by a nice feast o' flames shortly thereafter (rain or shine). Basically, the math looks like this:

Disc Golf + Biking + Grilling - Minnesota Wild Interest = Happy Fun Spring Time!

Not only looking forward to all the above, but heading to another Devotchka show at First Ave on April 1st. If you never heard of them before, they are a genre-bending breath of fresh air that includes everything from tuba to accordion. I'm still absorbing their body of work, but I really like the "Mad And Faithful Telling" album the best at this point.
In other news, I went in for an eye exam on Saturday for the first time in at least ten years. I'd been suspecting my distance vision was slipping and the tests confirmed that; I'm .75/.75 to be exact. While it doesn't mean I'm blind, it does mean I'm nearsighted and will need some glasses for part-time use. I was expecting as much and have begun the search for frames that I like. It's strange to say, but I'm looking forward to having glasses, especially for when we go to plays/concerts/shows/movies etc. Whether it be needing a another set of eyes or another set of discs, the times they are a changing.

Marching On

2011-02-26T16:41:00.002-06:00

It's a strange time right now. Winter has taken it's usual oppressive hold on me, turning me into some kind overachieving shut-in. On the one hand, the weather keeps me from doing the things outside that I love and miss, like playing disc golf, riding bike and cooking food on the grill. Yet, at the same time, while I'm getting all OCD about things around the house all winter, I tend to get a lot done - for better or worse.
So here we are finally getting to the end of February and it seems like it will never be summer again. On the bright side, March grants the change in clocks (spring ahead), St Patrick's Day and Angie's Birthday. It's not that everything is bad, it's just nice to have things to look forward to on another cold day like today.
To keep entertained, I've been watching the Wild as they make their push towards the playoffs. Since we don't have cable, Netflix has also been worth it's weight in gold. Speaking of tech, I recently got the iPhone 4 as well. It was something I knew would eventually come to Verizon and the timing ended up being perfect for me to upgrade. So far, I love the damn thing. It filled the Apple void in my life nicely, and I'm very happy with the quality of photos/video it takes in place of carrying around a separate digital camera.

Watching: Spartacus Gods of The Arena, The Tudors S3
Playing: Rock Band 3, Magna Carta 2
Reading: Big Top Boss (The Story of John Ringling North)

Reading My Reviews

2011-01-30T14:20:00.002-06:00

It occurred to me today that I've read quite a few books lately and I haven't posted my thoughts on any of them. I didn't used to think of myself as much of a bookworm, but finding books on circus history really changed my ways. Here are a few of my reads of the last few months...

The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy
This one really blew my away. Sure, I love reading about circus, but this book is less about the circus and more about the people and events surrounding the tragic fire in 1944 that left 167 people dead, 487 injured and many intriguing questions unanswered.
The book was impossible to put down; full of well-researched information and well put together. Photos are presented in limited number, however, they are extremely moving and I found myself examining them repeatedly the more I continued to read. Highly recommended.

Angel Time: The Songs of The Seraphim, Book One
I was told Anne Rice wrote good books (see: The Vampire Chronicles). However, this book was a complete snooze, and it promised so much more intrigue from the synopsis:
"Toby O’Dare—aka Lucky the Fox—is a contract killer of underground fame on assignment to kill once again. He’s a soulless soul, a dead man walking. His nightmarish world of lone and lethal missions is disrupted when a mysterious stranger, a seraph, offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives.
What you end up with is a short read about an unbelievable contract killer, followed by a very long, tedious read about him changing on a dime and putting all his effort towards conflict resolution in the name of unbelievable angel. I found the entire affair very uninspired and I won't be picking the next book. Highly recommended. For me to poop on.

Stieg Larssons: Millennium Trilogy
Yes, I've read all three books. Yes, I believe they are worth all the hype. I've also watched all three of the movies, I even saw the second film in the theater. The bottom line is Lisbeth Salander is a very magnetic, readable character and I wouldn't have enjoyed the nearly as much without her. If you haven't read these books you need to, especially before the american film version comes out and we have another Twilight-Saga tween shit storm to deal with.

Eastern Caribbean Cruise

2011-01-26T18:17:00.002-06:00

Day #1 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Our flight coming out of MSP was delayed by more than an hour, effectively making us and a handful of other people very close to missing the boat. By cutting it close, we ended up missing the better part of the day aboard the ship and rushing through embarkation. They moved us along so quickly that we didn't even get the cheesy "Welcome Aboard" photo taken. After we found our room, we quickly headed to the muster station drill with our life vests, making it just in time yet again.
After the safety drill in the theater, we were able to breath a bit easier and officially start our vacation. Since both of us hadn't eaten on the plane, we headed up to the lunch buffet to get a bite to eat. After lunch we did the customary walk around the ship to get orientated and see everything up close and personal. Our ship, called the "Ruby" is the flagship of the Princess fleet; built in 2008, it's also the newest ship.
After a relaxing afternoon, we unpacked our bags and headed to dinner. The highlights of the dinner on the first night were both deserts. My carrot cake and Angie's flour-less chocolate cake were delicious. After dinner we headed to the theater to watch the welcome show. It was mostly song and dance, previewing the talent aboard the ship and letting everyone know what was yet to come. We closed the first night with drinks while watching the house band play in Explorer's Lounge.

Day #2 - Princess Cays, Bahamas
Princess Cays is a small island that Princess owns and therefore has exclusive access to in the Bahamas. After taking a short tender ride from the ship, we were free to spend the day doing whatever on the private island. While the weather was only in the 70s and a bit cloudy, I still wasted little time in getting in the ocean. While Angie relaxed on the beach, I did a little snorkeling.
After relaxing a bit, we took a long stroll down the beach. The sun came and went along the way, and near the end of the walk I found a living conch shell in the shallow waters. Lunch was provided to everyone on the ship near the beach, although it wasn't anything different than the buffet on board. After lunch, we decided to head back to the ship a little early and sit in the hot tub for awhile.
We spent the time before dinner watching a comedian (who was quite good) and having a cocktail. Dinner on day number two was highlighted again by dessert; some sort of neopolitan ice cream cake. After dinner we took in another show featuring an illusionist named David Cats.

Day #3 - A Day At Sea
Most cruises have days where you just travel to your next destination, and ours was no different. Our first sea day found us soaking up the sun and swimming in the pool. During the afternoon we grabbed some ice cream and headed inside for a bit to play some Bingo. After lunch, we attended a rum tasting.
Before our formal night dinner, we spent a little extra time getting ready and stopping for champagne in the Piazza.

Day #4 - St. Maarten
We originally booked a snorkeling tour, but found out it was cancelled due to low visibility. It ended up being just fine, and we spent the day at the beach next to town. The port was very busy, in fact there were five other cruise ships in port with us. Either way, the weather was sunny and the ocean was wonderful.
We spent a little time wandering the shops afterwards, and I picked up a book to read and souvenir magnet to put on the fridge at home.
Before dinner, we were entertained by the physical comedy of Jim Maltman. We both really enjoyed his work and later learned he has a history with circus! Dinner was above average, and I especially enjoyed the cod w/chorizo and bacon.

Day #5 - St. Thomas
Easily the best day of the trip. We got an early start with room service breakfast and headed off the ship at 8:00am to meet with our tour group. Shortly after 9:00, we walked to the nearby dock and boarded a beautiful catamaran called "The Cat." Our new home for the day, The Cat first took us sailing to Buck Island, where we dropped anchor and snorkeled for about an hour. Among the many fish, we were lucky enough to spot a large number of sea turtles and a sting ray. After we were all aboard again, we hoisted sail to our second stop; Honeymoon Island. Along the way the sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the rum punch was flowing; absolute paradise.
Once we were on Honeymoon Island, we had hot BBQ ribs and chicken waiting for us. The food was fantastic and a nice change from the ship's cuisine. After lunch, we spent the remaining time we had sitting in the water and enjoying the never-ending supply of rum punch.
When it was time to sail back to port, neither one of us wanted to get off. Before we did, I made sure to buy a T-Shirt with The Cat logo on it. Needless to say, it was a great tour and a great day!

Day #6 - Grand Turk
Grand Turk consists of a man-made cruise terminal and not much else. Tourism is the islands primary income, and not many people have heard of it. Either way, we made the best of it by booking a Bike Tour which not only gave us a taste of the island, but a bit of exercise as well. Our bike tour ended with a relaxing dip in the ocean at Governor's Beach before heading back to the ship.
For better or worse, I went with an all-seafood dinner selection that night. Beginning with lobster salad and caviar, then escargo, and finally lobster tail and prawns. Caviar is not my favorite, escargo is quite good and I've always loved both lobster and prawns.

Day #7 - Another Day at Sea
Our final day was spent at sea, as we made our way back to Fort Lauderdale. This was the only day were the weather was a bit cool and overcast, making it a bit difficult to sit outside and lounge. We spent some time playing bingo again and checking out the art auction. We especially enjoyed the culinary demonstration in the theater, not so much for the food but for the entertainment the cooks provided.
The early evening show was a rather interesting play, using some 3D-esqe stage effects I'd never seen before. Our last dinner was delicious, including a watermelon/feta salad and perch w/curry and rice.

Overall, the weather was fantastic and life aboard the Ruby was good. Checking the weather at home in Minnesota, we successfully missed the coldest weather of the winter, too. And while I'm sure it will get just as cold again, all I have to do is close my eyes or drink a little rum punch and I'll be feeling warm all over.

32

2011-01-12T15:55:00.001-06:00

It's my Birthday today, but you already knew that, right? Part one of the mass celebration starts tonight with a trip to the movie theater to see Black Swan. The fun continues tomorrow with a birthday dinner out, and still more merriment on Friday with club level seats at the Minnesota Wild game. Finally, the funtastic week comes to and end on Sunday with flight to Florida and a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean for seven days of a sensational sea-faring sojourn. 32 FTW!

Edit: Didn't end up going to Black Swan tonight; decided to save it for when we get back from the trip.

Screw You, Frosty

2011-01-06T11:24:00.001-06:00

In just a few short days we'll be embarking on our first cruise together, heading to the tropical eastern caribbean for a 7 days of fun n' sun. We'll be aboard the Ruby Princess (Princess Cruise Lines) and our ports of call are Princess Cay, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.
While separtately both Angie and I have done quite a bit of cruising, this should prove to be an entirely different experience spent together. I'm really looking forward to the warm weather, swimming/snorkeling, delicious dinners and activity-filled days and nights.

Kinections

2011-01-04T21:13:00.002-06:00

After much deliberation, I decided today was the day to pick up Microsoft Kinect and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. Driven partially by a need to invigorate my exercise regime, and partially because it was on sale this week on the cover of the Best Buy ad. You might be quick to label me a New Year's resolute, but I assure you I've had my eye on this game since Kinect was introduced. Besides, running after work everyday in subzero temperatures isn't exactly something I look forward to on a daily basis.
So now that I took the plunge and spent the evening getting my feet wet, I can say I'm very happy with the purchase. The Kinect system itself was simple to setup, and it performed exactly as I expected in my play area. Granted, our living room is the ideal setup (6 -8 of empty space in front of the TV and no coffee table) but I was still impressed with it's functionality. Navigation is more of novelty, but the voice commands are quite useful when you are preparing for your workout and don't want to carry the controller around.
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved is very fun way to do cardio, strength training and/or just break a sweat. After taking a short physical evaluation, numerous workout programs are available tailored specifically to your level and goal preferences. I've only just scratched the service of the programs, but the workouts feel precise and the feedback is helpful to get the most out of each exercise. With just me and my digital personal trainer, I feel less likely to be self conscious, and being "scored" on the exercises gives you incentive to improve where it's needed.
So today I burned 227 calories and $195, both of which I feel are a great start to a more diverse, enjoyable exercise routine.

The Top 5 Blog Posts I've Ever Written

2010-12-29T19:27:00.003-06:00

Everyone once in awhile, I think it's okay to critique yourself and/or toot your own horn. In honor of my blog turning 5 years old in a matter of days, I thought I'd share with you what I consider to be my best work. I've been through quite a bit over the last five years, and for better or worse, I've never deleted a single entry.

For everyone who has followed me here over the years, I want to say "thank you." (But seriously, if you're reading my blog, leave me a damn comment once a while, will ya?) So, without further ado, here they are:

1. 10 Albums That Changed My Life - June 2008

2. Intel Inside - June 2008

3. Western Caribbean Cruise - December 2007

4. Schoolyard Heroes - April 2008

5. Summertime Rolls - August 2010

December Update

2010-12-18T21:06:00.000-06:00

A few posts ago, I gave my top ten things I was looking forward to in the month of December. Now the month's half over and Christmas is just around the corner, I thought reflect a bit the experiences.

Taking Angie to her first Minnesota Wild game

The Wild game turned out to be a mixed bag. On one hand, it was cool to watch a live game for the first time with Angie at X, however, the game itself was big flop. The Wild continued to struggle, providing neither goals, effort or entertainment. If they continue down this road they will miss the playoffs (again) and I will continue to lose interest.

Going skating with Angie for the first time

Still a work in-progress, we've had too much damn snow to think about ice.

Boy Meets World Season 4 (finally!) being released on DVD

While it wasn't the best season in the series, it was fantastic to finally get past season three and enjoy the budding relationship of Cory and Topanga, in their senior year of high school.

Summit beer dinner at Axel's Bonfire

Holy crap was that a lot of food and lot of beer. Six courses paired with six different Summit brews was enough to send us into an incoherent state. When I finally came to the next morning I thought two things; souvenir glass pretty cool, Tuesday night beer dinner a little rough.

Seeing The 39 Steps at the Guthrie Theater

Having just watched the Alfred Hitchcock film, we were both quite versed on the story and characters before we sat down in the theater. The play follows the plot closely, but takes a much more light-hearted approach, offering more laughs and much more silliness.

Celebrating Xmas, dinner and exchanging gifts

Xmas shopping is all done, just have to make it through the next four days of work!

Decorating the tree and house for Xmas

We found a great tree right down the road and it looks great. There's nothing quite like coming in from the cold to the warm glow of a xmas tree.

Making more lefse/eating more lefse

As a special addition to the Xmas lefse we'll be making, I picked up some lingonberry preserves today at Ikea. What more can you say about lefse? It rules.

Reading "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest"

Only about 200 pages in so far, just haven't been in a reading mood lately.

Going cross-country skiing and/or sledding

You'd think with all this snow... but I don't even own a sled. Skiing always seems like a good idea until the temps drop below zero. Anyway, another work in progress.

Topanga Tuesday!

2010-12-07T16:29:00.001-06:00

After many years of waiting, hoping, giving up and finally being rewarded, Boy Meets World season 4 is in my hands today. It goes without saying it's my favorite television show of all-time. Some of you may even remember a time when I created and ran my own Boy Meets World website called "Boy Meets Web." That was of course before Google, file sharing and Netflix took over and made fansites utterly useless. Either way, I still continue to carry the torch and I'm so happy I get to pick up where I left off and share the experiences of Cory, Shawn, Topanga, Eric and Feeny all over again whenever I want.

I salute Lion's Gate for stepping up and releasing the DVDs again (after Buena Vista released seasons 1-3 and then pulled the plug). It's especially fun to watch the episodes in their true "TGIF" form, rather than the edited re-run versions that aired on Disney channel. It cost $23, but to me it's absolutely priceless entertainment, that holds up extremely well, even today. I would to gush a little more, but I've got some catching up to do with my old friends from John Adams high.

December Top 10

2010-12-04T17:47:00.003-06:00

October is hands-down my favorite month of the year, but December is off to a pretty good start as well. Here are the top 10 things I'm looking forward to this month:

Taking Angie to her first Minnesota Wild game
Going skating with Angie for the first time
Boy Meets World Season 4 (finally!) being released on DVD
Summit beer dinner at Axel's Bonfire
Seeing The 39 Steps at the Guthrie Theater
Celebrating Xmas, dinner and exchanging gifts
Decorating the tree and house for Xmas
Making more lefse/eating more lefse
Reading "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest"
Going cross-country skiing and/or sledding

Yes, topping my list is a combination of Angie, hockey and Boy Meets World. Man, if only I could play hockey with Angie and the cast of Boy Meets World, followed by a Summit beer dinner.

Mass Affection

2010-11-13T12:18:00.001-06:00

The snow storm this morning gave me a great excuse to finish Mass Effect 2. After previously downloading and completing the Firewalker, Kasumi and Overlord expansions, I felt ready to take on the final mission.
It turned out to be a cakewalk, in fact, I was able to nab the "No One Left Behind" achievement for keeping my entire squad alive against all odds. Heir in lies the source of immense enjoyment and partial disappointment. Allow me to explain.
From the start, I chose to go with a female infiltrator version of "Shepard," granting me access to deadly invisibility and pinpoint accuracy with the sniper rifle. After playing roughly half the game, the floor of difficulty gave out completely. With the viper sniper rifle in hand, I destroyed everything in my path, whether I chose to use said invisibility or not. Add additional squad members, ammo/biotic powers and research upgrades and, well, forget about it. Head shot after head shot took down every foe, no matter what "type" of shield etc. I had to deal with. To that end, it became more about the story and less about the combat for the remainder of the game, which is fine.
The story was epic, however, not exactly the choose-your-own-adventure with difficult moral dilemmas as advertised. By choosing the renegade (evil) route, I basically gave everyone a hard time and/or occasionally shot them in the leg if I didn't want to hear what they had to say. This fact of Bioware games has been well-documented, so I realize I'm preaching to the choir. How ever flawed, the story was engrossing and the ability to craft your own ""Shepard" was absolutely vital to my overall enjoyment of the game as a whole.
Mass Effect 2 delivered a solid experience from beginning to end. The bite-sized mission structure, along with a rewarding single-player experience make it one of the best rpgs I've played in a long time. While not exactly a challenge, it delivered in a way that Japanese titles like Final Fantasy 13 could not, leaving me anxiously awaiting my next assignment as Commander Shepard.

Sin City? More Like Smoke City

2010-11-12T20:46:00.000-06:00

So I recently returned from Las Vegas, and I think I can still smell the smoke on me. It was my first time visiting and the results are a mixed bag. On one hand, it's pretty cool to have so many things to do all in one place. On the other hand, the gambling, eating, drinking, lights and noise get old rather quickly. Maybe I'm getting old, but it just wasn't really my cup of tea. I'll take a nice vacation outdoors; hiking, sightseeing, swimming (in the fresh air!) anytime.
There were some fun parts, of course. I enjoyed playing The Munsters slot machine, almost compulsively, and it was fun to walk through the different hotels on the strip. Not to mention, I really enjoyed spending time with Angie and her family, as well as my friends. Tthe weather could have been a bit warmer, and I could have hit the jackpot and came home rich, but those things are out of my control. Would I go back again sometime? I think so, however I wouldn't bet on it.

October

2010-10-17T16:58:00.000-05:00

This month is going by way too fast; I haven't even had time to watch a single scary movie. Every October I have to (as least) watch Sleepy Hollow, Ginger Snaps, IT, The Blair Witch Project and Garfield's Halloween... looks like I'll be bucking tradition. That's not so bad, considering the weather has been awesome and I've had the chance to spend more time with Angie, bike and disc golf this year.
I'm really looking forward to the Rock Band 3 party on the 29th, followed closely by handing out candy on Halloween. We were trying to think of the best candy to buy (eat) and it's seems we enjoy the simple classics: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, Kit Kats etc. We both agreed that Smarties are an example of what not to buy. I have fond memories of Halloween candy, I remember especially enjoying those peanut butter candies that come in the orange and black wrappers.
Besides preparing for the party and the holiday, I've been playing doing a few small projects around the house, watching the occasional Wild game and playing Mass Effect 2. It's the time of year when there are just too many great games to play them all. Anyway, I better get back to the TV. I'm hoping the Vikings lose today and drop to 1-4, that way I can stop wasting 3 hours of my life each week on their games.

Sayonara September

2010-09-27T19:02:00.002-05:00

It's already September 27th, can you believe it? That means only three more days until the Halloween decorations go up, and only three more days until my favorite time of the year. This will be my first Halloween in St. Paul and I'm excited to spend the night with Angie and hand out candy together. I just started playing Mass Effect 2, which should work quite nicely to feel my downtime before the big Rock Band 3 release on October 26th. See what I mean? October just keeps getting better and better. But I best not get ahead of myself, it's still September after all.

This weekend we're heading to the Circus at the Target Center, marking the first time in my adult life I've ever been. I'm really looking forward to seeing the show, and hopefully catching a Cirque show in Las Vegas this November. It's been quite the circus-themed year for us, if I do say so myself.

Camping Out

2010-09-19T16:56:00.002-05:00

Spent yesterday and part of today camping at Afton State Park, it was quite the experience. Neither Angie nor I had camped at the hike-in hike-out area within the park before, so it was a learning experience. We learned that the strenuous hike to the campground is almost straight uphill, and for that reason, it's best to pack light. As you can see from this photo, perhaps we brought a wee bit too many things. Ultimately, we could have done without our chairs and brought a smaller cooler, but we made it either way.
The campsite was partially wooded, and featured a picnic table and firepit. We had a short walk to the outhouse and firewood, which wasn't much trouble at all. Honestly, once we actually made it to the campsite, everything else was relatively easy. Our tent assembled in under ten minutes, and shortly after we cut some firewood and carried it back to camp, we had a nice fire going. For dinner we cooked hot dogs over the fire and ate salad I had made earlier in the day. Once the sun went down, we roasted marshmallows and ate s'mores before turning in.
The temps were in the low 40s, but we dressed accordingly and stayed warm and toasty all night long. I'm really happy with the tent and sleeping mats we bought this year, they really make a big difference for the overall comfort factor. After packing everything up and eating a light breakfast, we hauled everything out of the park and back to the car. We spent the next hour or so hiking around the trails and finding a couple geocaches. By the time we left the park around noon, the sun was starting to come out. We were both a little tired, but it was the good kind of tired.

Blue Ribbon Day

2010-09-12T18:05:00.002-05:00

Today was spent outside playing disc golf at my favorite course, Blue Ribbon Pines. It's located in East Bethel, just north of the movie theater. If you've driven by the area, you've probably even seen the brown sign a time or two. Besides being a little far away, it's far and away the best course I've ever played. I try to make it out at least once a year, and today was a great day for my annual trip.
The course is quite long, 27 holes to be exact, but there is a great amount of variety. From basket elevation, water hazards, trees, wind etc. it keeps things fresh and uniquely challenging throughout. Not only is it scenic, but it's also very well-maintained and constantly being updated and improved (photo).
The clubhouse also has a decent selection of discs and accessories for sale, as well as a lost and found for those smart enough to write their name on their discs. I was happy to find a bag today for under $30 bucks, equipped with a drink holder and plenty of pockets (photo). So while I'm definitely not a pro, I always have the most fun being mediocre at Blue Ribbon.

Pinball On a Stick

2010-09-05T10:24:00.003-05:00

Had a great time at the State Fair yesterday, even saw a few things I didn't even know about, like the pinball arcade! They had an entire room of classic pinball including Medieval Madness, Monster Mash, Elvira, Adams Family and more. I couldn't resist playing a quick game (photo) and picking up this cool mouse pad (photo).
We ate lefse (A), sweet potato tots with cinnamon and sugar (B+), cheese curds (A), catfish on a stick (C), corn on the cob (A) and a peaches and cream parfait (A+). The weather was really nice, around 65 or so with patches of sun. Besides food and the mousepad, we didn't buy much else. All in all, it was a wonderful summer day and a great day at the fair.

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-01T19:40:00.000-05:00

It's been a fun first two weeks at the new job, but I'm already looking forward to the long holiday weekend. Friday we will be attending our first Twin's game at Target Field, the new (outdoor) stadium. Admittedly, I'm not much of a baseball fan, but it will be fun either way. Saturday we're off to "the great Minnesota get together," otherwise known as the state fair. I've never quite understood what all the fuss is about, but I'm not going to turn down beautiful weather and more food than you can shake a stick at.
Speaking of fairs, we had a great time at the Renaissance Festival last Sunday. Sure, it was a little too hot and dusty, but what can you do. It was the 40th Anniversary year, and my 5th year in-a-row personally. This year was especially fun, going with some newbies and some old friends; we took a leisurely pace and made it all 9 hours from open to close.

"Like" My Blog?

2010-08-28T17:41:00.001-05:00

I recently added the ever-present Facebook "like" button to my blog. If you're a fan of me, my blog or clicking things with your mouse, do me a favor and let me know by clicking the button on the right.

Back To Work

2010-08-23T16:51:00.000-05:00

It was a nice vacation, but today was officially my first day at the new job. My capacity to absorb information reached it's max around 2pm, after that I just felt like a pile of dead weight. I know that's how first days (weeks) usually go, but it's never fun starting at the bottom of your comfort level again.
I had the best time away from work, as you may have read from previous entries, but the show must go on. I'm happy to be working 8-4pm during my training, thereafter my start time will be somewhere between 10-Noon. Besides having a job in my field again, the best part is being treated like an adult, at company that doesn't run like a cross between a nazi prison camp and a 1st grade art class (i.e. "You have just received half an occurrence for arriving over 4 minutes late." "Great job today, here is a gold star with a smiley face for recognition of your efforts!").
Anyway, did I mention it's my favorite time of year? The Minnesota State Fair kicks off this Thursday, and then we've got the Renaissance Festival... throw in Halloween and the start of the hockey season and I'm one happy camper.

First Impressions: Bayonetta

2010-08-21T21:38:00.000-05:00

Holy crap is this game a lot of fun. I'm the first to admit, I really don't enjoy the Devil May Cry series either. Something about having to punch, kick, dodge, switch weapons, dodge, jump etc. that was a little too frantic for me. Bayonetta comes from the same mold, but brings a things to a new level; both technically speaking and pure enjoyment. I'm playing it on Normal and I'm not great, however, it doesn't choose to punish me for that reason. The game seems to want you to be better, rewarding you with better treasures, trophies etc. which is all well and good. It's still frantic, but like a three ring circus, there is so many cool things going on it's hard to know what to be watching. More to follow.

Review: Ghostbusters (The Game)

2010-08-18T10:09:00.000-05:00

Ghostbusters has been out for quite awhile, but do to my gaming budget and my luke-warm interest level, I put off playing it until recently. I was able to find a copy for just under $16.00 and at that price it was worth a shot.
The game is a rarity, when you consider that all four original cast members agreed to voice the game. Not only voices, but music and character animations go a long way to make it feel authentic, almost immediately. Without a doubt, this is as good as it going to get for fans of the movie looking to pick up a proton pack.
The game delivers around 6-8 hours of solid game play, moving along a decent pace and never becoming tedious. There is plenty of different gadgets to use, items to hunt and ghosts to bust. I found the entire experience quite relaxing, and even giggled a few times at the clever dialogue and banter. Even the achievements are creative, each taking lines from the movie i.e. "Aim For The Flat Top!"
I can't see anyone paying $60 for this, but I definitely recommend it as a bargain bin gem to pass a few hours. I purchased Ghostbusters at Gamestop and completed the game in 7 hours, collecting 29 of 50 achievements for 540 gamerscore.

Mini-Vacation: Day 4

2010-08-16T11:53:00.000-05:00

Our final day started with picking up a paper and heading to breakfast at Day By Day. They are "famous" for good food and fantastic patio seating. (photo). We got seated right away and the food was delicious. After fueling up, we make a quick stop at home to load the bikes and hit the road for Menomonie, WI.
It takes about an hour to get there, but the Red Cedar trail was definitely worth the trip (photo). It also gave me time to read my book a bit, in hopes to finish before days end. Not only scenic, but very ride-able, as all of the 14 miles were rode we completely flat (photo). The weather was mild and breezy, people few and far between, a perfect setting for a ride (photo).
The ride home found me nearing the end of my book; "The Girl Who Played With Fire" the second in Stieg Larsson's insanely popular trilogy. Once home again, we paused briefly to enjoy a few bites of our farmer's market pot roast and then it was off to see the film adaptation of "The Girl ..." at a old school theater on Grand Ave.
For the uninitiated, the movie(s) was/were made in Sweden and thus subtitled in English. They are dark, gripping, violent and portrayed by a bunch of actors I've never seen before. Obviously having read the book, I was a blown away by how many things the movie left out. I realize this is not uncommon, but still, I just can't recommend seeing the movie before reading the book. In a world full of Twilight and Harry Potter, it's awesome to have these books to really sink your teeth into. Sidenote: I'm also willing to bet the hottest new baby name is now Lisbeth.
Anyway, It was an amazing string of days we put together. I was sad to see it end; which is another reason why I blog. It's a great way to not only share experiences, but relive and preserve them just a little bit longer.

Mini-Vacation: Day 3

2010-08-16T11:19:00.001-05:00

Day three began with a quick breakfast at home and gathering a few things before heading out to the St. Paul Farmer's Market. As usual, the market was ripe with fresh produce, sunshine and people wandering like cattle. We made it out alive with all the ingredients needed to make our dinner for Sunday, a pot roast in the slow cooker.
Next it was off to Red Wing, the so-called best day trip destination according to City Pages. The drive was a little rough, considering we missed the one (and only) turn we needed to take somehow. Regardless, we drove quite awhile in the wrong direction and finally arrived in town considerably later than planned. Our first stop was Memorial Park disc golf, a scenic course set atop a bluff in downtown Red Wing (photo). It turned out to be pretty cool, despite the fact that the course guide indicated it had restrooms, which upon inspection, were boarded up. Here are a couple more photos of us on the course (photo) (photo).
After golf, we ate downtown at completely deserted Lucky Cat Lounge. The food was a bit underwhelming and the same can be said for the service. The rest of Red Wing didn't do much for me, personally. We walked, we shopped, we explored the vast collection of antiques, stoneware and boots and then we headed home.
Our dinner seemed to be affected by the same funk. We made reservations for a late 9pm dinner for the patio at W.A. Frost, only to have it start raining at 8:55pm as we pulled up in the car. They tried to accommodate us by moving us inside, but the place was so busy I decided that the thrill was gone. After accepting our defeat, we made our way to The Twisted Fork, which turned out to be perfect. By the time we arrived, it was nearly 10pm and unlike Frost, the place was completely empty. Our drinks were great, the food was delicious, and it was a perfect way to end our not-so-perfect day.

Mini-Vacation: Day 2

2010-08-16T10:43:00.002-05:00

Day two started with breakfast at The Little Oven. I had some oatmeal and cinnamon french toast and Angie had Eggs, Toast and Bacon. The Oven is one of those old school restaurants that has reasonable prices, large portions and friendly service, at least I've been told. :)
After breakfast, we stopped by a friend's place that was having a moving/garage sale. We chatted a bit while keeping an eye on the sky as severe weather was in the forecast. While we didn't get rained on, we decided that it would probably be best to stay close to home for the remainder of the day just in case. With that in mind, we decided on hitting the Mall of America for bit.
With no real agenda, we first stopped into Air Traffic and picked up Angie a new disc for disc golf. We wondered around for a bit more, window shopping here and there. I noticed that Xbox had a huge Kinect exhibit setup for people to jump around and look like idiots. Personally, I'm not really sold on the whole idea but time will only tell.
After the MOA, we hit Chevy's for some delicious tex mex (photo). I especially enjoy their salsa and fresh take on mexican cuisine. I'm tired of ordering food and getting a runny, cheesy plate of slop; and trying to identify my different items swimming around somewhere in the briny deep.
We then headed back near home to try out the new disc at the Highland Park course. We played a few holes before the rain started coming down, effectively ending our game.
After a brief rest at home, we went out to meet some friends for a quick happy hour at Salut (photo) before calling it a day.

Mini-Vacation: Day 1

2010-08-12T21:11:00.002-05:00

As the title suggests, today was the first day of our 4 day mini-vacation. We started the day with breakfast at the Egg and I restaurant. Angie had eggs benedict (her favorite) and I went with oatmeal and a pancake. After our meal, we headed out on the road for Taylor's Falls and ultimately Wild Mountain. It was a perfect day for waterslides and fun in the sun, I think the temp was around 92? Hot. Anyway, I hadn't been there since I was a kid, Angie had never been.
After Wild Mountain we headed toward home for an early dinner at The Blue Door. We each grabbed a Summit Oatmeal Stout on tap, for only $2.00 during happy hour I might add. Besides the brew, the "blucy" burgers were fantastic. Although the place is small, you can't deny the tastiness and the value, I highly recommend it.
Next, we were off to Como Park to play a leisurely round of mini golf at Putter There, a small but welcoming little course right across the street from Como Zoo. Neither one of us got a hole-in-one; blame it on the heat. After golf, we took the 1.6 mile stroll around the lake and packed it back in the car shortly after.
Finally, we ended the day with a fresh-baked scone and fruit at Cafe Latte's. Desert is definitely the best thing about eating dinner early, yum.

Wake Up And Smell The Spolsion, Man!

2010-08-11T10:28:00.003-05:00

Alan Wake
I finished the horror/thriller/action title Alan Wake about a week ago, including the first down-loadable episode called "The Signal." This game really struck a chord with me. The story is a bit hard to follow but undeniably intriguing. The combat is satisfying albeit a bit of a breeze after the first few hours or so. The best parts of the game revolve around the twists of story, memorable settings and the fitting soundtrack. The worst parts of game are the annoying jumping/platforming segments, repetitive combat scenarios and the lip syncing during the cut scenes. I highly recommend this game, especially for jaded fans of Silent Hill.

Spolsion Man
I finished the platformer Splosion man a couple days ago, thank goodness. This game is long, difficult, and a complete test of one's persistence and/or patience. Notice, I didn't use the words fun, rewarding etc. Do you enjoy playing levels over and over? Hitting 6 buttons correct and dying on the 7th press (only to die on the 8th soon after). Swearing at your TV? Fighting annoying boss battles? If you answered yes to any of these, would you kindly download this game? Bottom line, while I do appreciate that this type of game has loyal, passionate fan base, I also appreciate that the game does actually end at some point and I was able to see it.

New Look, New Features

2010-08-09T09:49:00.000-05:00

I recently updated my blog design and page elements. It's not much, but I think it's a little easier on the eyes and I'm enjoying the the new features:

You can now add "reactions" simply by clicking the box below my post(s). I still encourage you to leave me a comment, but if you're feeling lazy, just click a box won't you?
You can also click "labels" to instantly jump to topics of interest (movie reviews, personal, etc.)

Summertime Rolls

2010-08-04T19:25:00.000-05:00

My days in the call center are finally over, and not a moment too soon. I start my new Prepress/Print position on Monday, August 23rd. I'll be working for a franchise in South Mpls, about 15 mins away from home. 8-4pm training to start and then shifting to somewhere between 10-Noon start time each day. I'm really excited to be back in my field again, and after only a year and a half (!).
I've got all my stuff moved in to Angie's now, if only the bank would get their heads out of their asses I could be done with my house, finally. Besides the house drama and the new job anxiety , the summer has been pretty great. Even more greatness on the way next weekend; Angie and I are planning 4 days worth of day trips. We haven't settled on specifics yet, but we're thinking of hitting some bike/hiking trails near Red Wing and/or Lanesboro.
Last weekend we went to the Circus Jueventas peformance "Sawdust". It was a throwback to the golden age of circus, loosely inspired by Water For Elephants. I really enjoyed the show, however, the seats were extremely uncomfortable, especially after hour number two. Regardless, I was really impressed and look forward to going again to see what they come up with next.

Time For An Update

2010-07-23T18:16:00.000-05:00

It's definitely a blogging kind of day today. I should be at work right now, but I'm not and it feels great. The main reason I'm so excited NOT to be there is I have been offered a new job doing print/production work full-time. The second reason is because my current job sucks so bad I can barely take it another minute. I'm going in this week to talk salary and benefits for the new job, which basically means I've really stopped caring on the phones. I've never had a more stress-inducing job before, customer service/call center work is the last thing I would ever considering doing again. Bottom line, very excited for the new job but a little anxious for the negotiation process.

In other news, just got back from an awesome vacation in Wisconsin Dells with Angie. We booked a suite complete with our own balcony, hot tub, fridge and microwave, which was definitely worth the extra dough. We spent the first night at the Tommy Bartlett show, which is basically a ski, sky and variety show. Our second day we spent at Noah's Ark waterpark, and our third day at Mount Olympus waterpark. Finally, the last day we went to Circus World in Baraboo, Wisconsin. We had lots of fun, perfect weather and we both can't wait to go back again.

Other than that, I've just been trying to enjoy everyday of summer before it's gone. The new bike has been great, as was the Rock Band party we hosted a few weeks ago. Living in a house again presents many "projects" to work on, most recently fixing a leaking faucet outside and hanging a new curtain rod in the living room.

The last great game I played was Alan Wake, which I'm currently in the process of replaying, actually. Not a whole lot of good movies lately, part of me is happy to start cutting back on them anyway. I haven't had cable for over 3 months now, and after initial withdrawal from Mythbusters, I really don't miss it.

Anyway, I'm looking ahead now to a new start at a new job, finally moving all my stuff out of the old house and changing my permanent address. I feel like I've been stuck in transition every since I first walked on at Comcast, just over a year ago. Maybe the house in foreclosure, terrible job experience and living in limbo wasn't all that bad. I mean, if it was the only way to meet Angie, I'd do it all over again tomorrow.

Final Fantasy XIII Review

2010-05-23T11:06:00.003-05:00

59 hours of my life passed by during my latest adventure into the Final Fantasy universe, was it worth it? In the words of Japanese RPG characters everywhere "..."

The game wasn't bad, it just didn't feel very dynamic. At it's best, it's a fantastic example of how a great battle system can make you actually seek out danger for the thrill of victory. At it's worst, it feels incredibly watered down and uninspired.

+ Battle System
+ Clear Objectives
+ Simplistic Shopping, Saving and Healing

- Story and/or Pacing
- Supporting Cast
- Level Design
- Not Very Challenging/Satisfying

The minute the achievement popped after beating the final boss (in under 5 minutes), I was more excited to sell the game back than to watch the credits and continue the so-called sidequests. Overall, this game feels more like a race to finish than any other Final Fantasy game I've played.

May Day, May Day

2010-05-02T18:56:00.000-05:00

Wow, time has been flying by; almost a month since my last post. I'm winding down to my last 2 weeks of "training" at work, looking forward to really getting in the mix. I'll be working 2:30 to 11:30pm with Thursdays and Saturdays off until further notice.
If you hadn't noticed, I was recently vacationing in Florida with Angie. We had a great time, even though the weather was cloudy/rainy for part of the time. Highlights include Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Island, The Ringling Museum of Art (and Circus!) and fishing on the shore of the lake in my parents back yard.
I also just picked up a few things in preparation for camping season, including a new Marmot Limelight 3P tent and a low-end bike rack for the car. I'm really looking forward to camping, riding, and geocaching just as soon as we get the chance. We're also planning on heading to Wisconsin Dells and The Circus World Museum in July.
Lots going on and lots to look forward to, just how I like it.

Time To Get Moving

2010-04-04T17:55:00.000-05:00

Well, it's official. My house is hitting the market in a few hours and this weekend is my Moving Sale/Craigslist Sale! I'm trying to stay optimistic about the house generating (any) interest, even though in my situation it really doesn't matter, either way my days are numbered.
Training at work is going pretty well, nothing I can't handle at least. However, I'm really looking forward to taking a break and heading to Florida next week. We've got some really fun day trips and beach days planned; rain or shine it's going to be awesome.
In entertainment news, still having a blast with FFXIII. Also, really enjoying Spartacus: Blood and Sand. I can easily say it's my favorite new drama on TV, especially as LOST continues down the tubes this season.

It's All Coming Together

2010-03-15T09:25:00.001-05:00

I'm very excited to say that it was a balmy 60 degrees yesterday and a trace is all that remains of winter. A trace is also all that remains of my time working in the field as a technician. I only have four days left until I turn in my tools, turn in my van and turn the page. I begin my new job in St. Paul next Tuesday, where I will spend the first six weeks of training working 8-5pm, after which time I believe my schedule will be evenings with Thursdays and Saturdays off. Needless to say, I'm rejuvenated with the thoughts of starting fresh just as spring has officially sprung.
I'm also very excited that the short sale process has begun on my house. It's only a matter of time before I'll be coming home to a "For Sale" sign and drowning in a sea of cardboard boxes. As a result, I will be selling a metric ton of things before the move, including furniture, shelves, electronics, curtains and more. If you're looking for something, drop me a line and get you some before my official "Moving & Craig's List Sale" coming soon to my garage.

The Goods

2010-03-08T10:53:00.000-06:00

I have an interview scheduled this week for another internal position, finally!
Final Fantasy XIII comes out tomorrow!
With temps in upper 40s, the snow is slowly melting away!
I've started down the path of a short sale on my house!
I'm going to Florida in just over one month!
Seeing Alice in Wonderland in 3D doesn't make the movie any better!
Maybe the Wild will make the playoffs... next year!

Move Along

2010-02-23T22:21:00.001-06:00

I had my first interview for an internal position at work on Monday, I think it went rather well. Still waiting to hear back about the other position that I'm more excited about. Either way, I think I've got a great chance of stepping out of the field an into a cubicle and fluorescent lighting real soon.
Finished Assassin's Creed II today, not quite as amazing as all the hype I'm afraid. Still, a fantastic game with an engrossing score and above-average story. I'm muddling through Lego Rock Band as well, however, new Borderlands content was just released and stole my attention.
Also finished reading Breaking Dawn the other day. Meh. Kind of a let down. Like I've said numerous times... I enjoy the characters, just not necessarily how the story goes. Nonetheless, It will be interesting to see how the final book translates to film.
I'm officially sick of winter and ready for warmer weather. At least I've got a nice trip to sunny Florida planned for April to daydream about in the meantime. So here's to warmer weather, a different job and just moving along toward better days.

Out From Under

2010-02-15T16:51:00.000-06:00

I recently took my tax refund(s) and completely paid-off my car loan. What's more, I took another chunk of said refund and bought four new tires. I've never had a car loan before and I have to tell you, it feels freakin' awesome to be without a car payment again. Finally, I took what I had left and put it aside for a rainy day, or possibly a vacation in the not-to-distant future. Cruise perhaps?
I spent a fantastic Valentine's Day with Angie yesterday, we saw "Young Frankenstein" at The Orpheum. I was really blown away by the performance, even having never seen the original movie. *gasp* Today I've just been lounging around, playing Lego Rock Band and a Assassin's Creed II. I was hoping that I would get a call about one (of the many) jobs I've applied for a work, nothing yet.

February Fun

2010-02-02T18:01:00.001-06:00

Finished my taxes today and was happy to see I'm getting another decent refund this year! Enough, in fact, to completely pay off my car, as well as taking care of the minimal balance I'm carrying on my credit card(s). It's a nice feeling to be completely in the green across the board; now if only Wells Fargo would get their act together and make a decision regarding my mortgage.
Started Assassin's Creed II today and it's fantastic. Not fantastic is the recent movie "Whip It" starring Ellen Page. Yikes, it was bad. Think: The Mighty Ducks with roller derby and more suckage. Also started Breaking Dawn a few days ago, I think around page 200 now.
Looking forward to hearing back from Comcast soon about the Fulfillment job I applied for. I have an "in" with a co-worker, so I'm really excited about my chances. It would be an office job working 4/10 hour shifts, pretty badass. Also excited for Valentine's Day (for once), as Angie got us tickets to see "Young Frankenstein" at The Opheum.

Games I Can't Afford To Miss (or Purchase)

2010-01-31T11:58:00.002-06:00

The ever growing list of my "must-play" games is getting a little ridiculous. Thought I'd take a moment and compile a list, just for s & gs.

Final Fantasy XIII (Hottest)
Assassin's Creed 2 (Hot)
Bio Shock 2 (Warm)
Brutal Legend (Luke Warm)
Mass Effect 2 (Cold)
Darksiders (Cold)

Getting Stuff Done

2010-01-20T11:01:00.001-06:00

It's a nice feeling.
I brought a bunch of old clothes into Goodwill, followed by a large bag of old books to Half Price Books. I organized (and stored) a ton of my collectibles, art supplies, photos, holiday decorations and other misc. things that really didn't have a place around the house. Finished resubmitting (ugh.) my Wells Fargo documents the other day, here's hoping they don't screw them up again. Finished reading Eclipse last night, as well as reaching level 50 in Borderlands; thus making any future play frivolous. After some research, picked up some fantastic new Asics running shoes yesterday... I have really flat feet but until yesterday, didn't buy the correct shoe to support them.
What else? Well, not exactly "getting things done" but I did sell Jeremy and Kelly's Tiki Bar on Craigslist the other day. Watched Purple Rain for the first time last night, a mere 26 years after it's initial release. Finished painting another custom faceplate for my Xbox, too.
I think I'll follow up today by doing a whole lot of nothing. Done!

Avatar 3D and Other Musings

2010-01-05T21:22:00.000-06:00

Angie and I went to see Avatar in IMAX 3D yesterday, it was pretty damn cool. Until yesterday, I hadn't seen an actual 3D movie, and I have to say it was impressive. It takes the theater to a whole new level, actually making me feel like I paid for a unique and immersive experience. I'm enjoying the trend to 3D releases and looking forward to seeing another one soon.
In other news, I'm currently applying for a retail sales position within the company. Needless to say, this is an exciting time and I'm anxiously waiting for news as it develops. For those keeping score, this is my last week of field work before I'm eligible for transfer. Nice!
Also excited about planning at trip to Florida in the coming months. My mom is going to let Angie and I (and friends!) stay at the house for a much-needed vacation in the sun. In the meantime, it's hurry up and wait in the cold.

The Year That Was

2009-12-30T20:36:00.001-06:00

It was a strange and beautiful year.

Rather than reflect on the year that was, I look to the future with hope and excitement. Anxious? sure. In fact, I find myself waiting for things to fall into place more than I'd like. There is a very fine line between letting things "just happen" and just being lazy, between being "in control" and worrying about things that are beyond control.

I'm so thankful for each and every day that quietly pass by. New Year's tends to be bittersweet for me. I look back and forward at the same time, try desperately to hold on and let go of things simultaneously. The bottom line is I still feel that my best days are ahead of me, and that's a great feeling to have on New Year's or any day in between.

5 & 14 Days

2009-12-15T18:53:00.000-06:00

Just wrapping up a five-day vacation and it has been fantastic. Highlights include the Titantic exhibit at the Science Museum, burgers at the St. Clair Broiler, ugly xmas sweater pub crawl and staying warm and cozy with Angie instead of having to work outside. I also spent some downtime finishing up my xmas shopping (on a budget).
I'm really looking forward to making some lefse, eating holiday treats and enjoying xmas and even more time-off. I'm anxious to see exactly how long I'll have to work on xmas eve, hoping it will be an almost day-off, but we'll see. As of writing, the countdown is at 14 working days until I'm eligible for transfer.
Recently watched Terminator Salvation and Public Enemies. Wasn't really blown away by either, considering I was pretty excited about seeing them. I've also noticed I haven't been in a hurry to send my Netflix back and get more movies as of late. I guess that makes sense, though, I mean it's hockey season and I've got a full DVR and an Xbox to play. :)

And Then There Was Snow

2009-12-08T17:51:00.001-06:00

Yikes. Tomorrow is going to be blizzard conditions, including 20mph wind gusts and lots of the white stuff. I'm a little anxious to see what my workload looks like, considering it could take me over an hour on the road just to get to my first job. Anyway, the truth is, it really doesn't matter that much. I only have to deal with it for 2 days, then I'm off work until next Wednesday.
Finished Batman Arkham Asylum the other night. Great game, mostly. I had to take issue with the somewhat repetitive missions and boredom that ensued with the fighting mechanics towards the end. Not to mention the ridiculously annoying boss battle with Poison Ivy. Quibbles aside, It was a satisfying Batman experience.
Oh, and if you hadn't noticed, I redesigned the blog graphics yet again. I've been playing a lot of Borderlands lately and felt the need to change things up.

Novemberless Snow

2009-11-30T13:06:00.001-06:00

Today is the very last day of November, and, as of writing, we have yet to have any snowfall. This is a good thing. Only 20 more working days before I'm eligible for transfer at Comcast. This is also a good thing. It doesn't quite feel like the holidays yet without said snowfall. Sure, the stores are packed with shoppers and I have no money, but a feeling of xmas spirit that does not bring.
While I'm not looking forward to snow, obviously, I am looking forward to quite a few things in December. The Titanic exhibit at the Science Museum, Ugly Xmas Sweater Pub Crawl, and having many a day off. (Oh, and xmas).

Listening: Bat For Lashes "Two Suns"
Playing: Borderlands, Batman: Arkham Asylum

Thanksgiving Time. Again?

2009-11-23T20:31:00.001-06:00

Honestly, I feel like It was just Thanksgiving not that long ago. But, Nonetheless, It's that time of year to reflect and ponder all the things I'm thankful for, which is quite a bit.
Family, friends, health, having a job... of course. More specifically? I'm thankful for just being able to make it through this year in one piece. Considering I started 2009 single, unemployed and otherwise without much to look forward to, I'd say I've come a long way. I can't help but feel I'm on the cusp of something fantastic, at least in regards to my personal life. It's only a matter of time before a decision is made on my mortgage situation, and I've only got a handful of days left in the field before I'm eligible to transfer jobs at Comcast. Thanks for that, especially.

New Stuff, New Moon

2009-11-19T21:22:00.003-06:00

It's a great time for entertainment.

What's On TV?
I've been really enjoying the new season(s) of The Office, Mythbusters, The Good Wife, V and Survivor. I don't know if I could ever give up my DVR, it's truly fantastic. I especially love being able to condense Wild/Vikings games down by fast forwarding comercials and intermissions. Good times.

What's In The Xbox?
Lot's of stuff. Most recently, Left 4 Dead 2. Really looking forward to finishing Batman before I forget how to play, and the games wishlist just keeps getting longer and longer: Borderlands, Assasin's Creed 2, Dragon Age, Brutal Legend.

What about Movies?
Watched I Love You, Man the other day. Funny, a little predictable. Completely stoked to see New Moon tomorrow night after work, then it's time to pick up a copy of Eclipse and get reading.

What about, um... Me?
I'm doing okay. I'm moving forward on my mortgage counseling with Wells Fargo, baby steps. My job is wearing me down and stressing me out on a daily basis. 25 more working days and counting until I'm eligible to transfer to another position.
Anyway, I just lost interest in my own blog post; I can only imagine what you must be thinking.

Listening: David Gray "Draw The Line", Paramore "Brand New Eyes"

Getting Crazy With The Craig's List

2009-11-09T14:56:00.001-06:00

Meager income, poor economic conditions and my current minimalistic needs have lead me to my first Craig's List experience today. It's amazingly easy to sell stuff, as long as the people actually show up. First come, first serve is the only way to keep your items moving out the door. Otherwise, prepare for a never-ending parade of "please hold it" or "can you meet me" until you go crazy. In other news, I did apply to a few jobs in the classified section, worth a shot, right?

Currently recovering from a energy zapping mini-cold. Phelm and soreness abound. Besides the fire sale today, I plan on watching Drag Me To Hell and playing a little Xbox. Thanks to Jeremy, I'm now addicted to Borderlands and also have a copy of Batman Arkham Asylum to play. Now that's gaming on budget. Zero budget.

Listening: Flyleaf "Memento Mori"
Reading: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Collide "These Eyes Before" Unboxing

2009-11-02T16:40:00.001-06:00

Just for fun, thought I'd give the unboxing treatment to the new Collide disc. As you'll see from the photos, It's nothing short of amazing how much they truly care about the music and their fans.

(click photos to enlarge)

What Am I ...

2009-11-02T14:27:00.005-06:00

Doing?

I'm finally getting around to posting a blog entry, for starters. Rather than even attempt to fill in the blanks, I'll simply state that I'm feeling inspired and I felt like bringing the blog back from the dead.

Planning?
Transferring out of the field and into a office job at Comcast. As I write, I have exactly 34 working days left before I can make that happen.

Thinking?
I'm a little sad that Halloween has come and gone, however, this holiday season looks like it could be something very special.
The Wild might finally be on a roll. - two wins in-a-row now. What's next?

Wishing?
I find a solution to my townhome; whether that be moving, swapping or whatever. It's a dismal situation throwing so much money away each month paying the mortgage.

Watching?
Definitely not a lot of movies. However, will be going to see New Moon in a couple weeks. Otherwise, I'm semi-interested in a few new shows (V, Flash Forward, The Good Wife). The Office and Mythbusters are still getting the most plays, as usual.

Hearing?
Absolutely love the new Paramore. Also really digging new David Gray. Currently absorbing Bat For Lashes and new discs by Collide, Flyleaf and Breaking Benjamin. It's a great time for new music.

Playing?
Just finished Assassin's Creed. I was pleasantly surprised by how fun it was. My next few weeks (months) will be devoted to many multiplayer hours of Left 4 Dead 2.