Paco Belle

PDR or Proper Drink Run

2012-01-10T23:00:00.000-08:00

For the rest of you: (Cliffs Notes)

So over the past couple of years, I have heard a lot of people ask "What is a PDR exactly, and where did it start?"

Well, here we go...

It all started in a little city called Kawanishi, Japan while I was serving an LDS Mission. I had a companion who drank about as much soda as I did...if not more. Everyday, Aric and I would come across a new soda, fruit juice or whatever and regardless if we were thirsty or not, we had to get it...just on principle.

One night, Aric just starting saying, "I need need a C.B. (Cold Beverage,) and I threw the R (for run) after it whenever we wanted to go get a drink. Thus a CBR or Cold Beverage Run.

That is how it began...

Fast Forward 9 years, when I started working for The Summit Group in Salt Lake City, and one morning when I was feeling "The Bug," I grabbed my 44 oz. cup and asked if anyone wanted to accompany on a beverage run. After a couple weeks, 2~4 people would make a daily jaunt to either a convenience store or a restaurant with cheap refills to quench our thirsts. We sort of fazed out the C (Cold) part as some of the drinks we got were hot chocolate and coffee for some.

A couple years later, a buddy of mine at The Summit Group (Jordan Howe...now this guy has a way about him...he likes to inject everything will a certain level of refinement (whether he is serious or not.)) So one morning, as about 6 of us were heading out the door (Jordan included,) he stated that this event was "truly a Proper Beverage Run." So that is what it became known as...a PBR. Now anyone see a problem with that? A PBR does NOT stand for Proper Beverage Run in mainstream society, especially if you're talking about beverages.

So it was Twitter that actually showed me the error of my ways in hashtagging #PBR...no I do not drink Pabst Blue Ribbon. So I changed it to #PDR (Proper Drink Run.) It just sounds nice..."Hey, PDR later?"

The PDR has evolved over the years as now it encompasses all beverages (initially, drinks with alcohol were referred to as Proper Alcohol Runs but that was lame #PAR...you're gonna get a bunch of golfs tweets now(not that that is a bad thing,)) but the PDR isn't biased...so whether you're drinking a Coke Zero, or Johnnie Walker - Black on the rocks...that's a PDR.

Now here is the thing, and there has been some questions about this...it is only a real PDR if you leave you house, place of business, etc to go get a drink. For instance, say you are home watching the TV and have the need for a Diet Coke with pebble ice. You grab your keys, drive up to the 7-11 and pick up a 32 ouncer...That is a PDR. Say you go our to the bar with your buddies to grab a beer and some wings...that counts as a PDR. If you are out driving around and pull into a gas stations and grab a bottle of Dr. Pepper...PDR. If you office building has a soda fountain in it with plastic red cups...not a PDR (Scott - inside joke) and if you go into your kitchen and pour yourself a glass of milk...not a PDR.

The thing is...we all do it, it now just has a name to it. So when you go out and get a drink, know that you are making a Proper Drink Run. #PDR on Twitter

Cheers

The #PDR Mystery Explained (Tomorrow)

2012-01-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

So over the years, I've had a lot of people as me what on earth a PDR is. I've posted it on Twitter #PDR, all over in my Facebook posts...well really just about wherever I can. So here it is...I've been planning on how to do this properly, and I think I've figured out how to tell this in a fun way...for now, I can tell you that PDR stands for Proper Drink Run...I will explain in greater detail in tomorrow's post

Why I Love Twitter

2011-12-01T02:22:00.000-08:00

I love reading/hearing the things people say about Twitter:

I Just Don't Get Twitter...
Twitter is the stupidest thing I've ever seen...
Twitter is a waste of time...
I don't have anything to say...
There is no value with Twitter...
I don't care what you ate for breakfast...
Just another thing to feed your ego with "friends/followers"

Every time I hear people bag on Twitter and people who use it, I try and tell them how useful I have found it in my daily life. In fact, it was just a couple months ago, when I sat down to dinner with one of my closest friends Matt Merkel (@merkprof on Twitter) that we got to talking about the people that we each hung out with most frequently were people who we had met mostly through Twitter.

So whenever I hear the argument that online friends don't amount to anything and that they are nothing but faceless avatars, I take serious issue with that as my best friends are people that I met on Twitter...and it is real friendships. I have gone to countless lunches, dinners, #PDRs, Utah Jazz games, University of Utah Football games, a U2 concert for crying out loud with friends I met on Twitter.

So here are my responses to the questions above:

I Just Don't Get Twitter... It might not be for you, but have you REALLY tried it?
Twitter is the stupidest thing I've ever seen... Sometimes it is stupid, but what isn't?
Twitter is a waste of time... It can be, but again, have you really tried it?
I don't have anything to say... Everyone has something to say, and there are people on Twitter talking about the very things you are...you just need to find those conversations
There is no value with Twitter... clearly you don't follow Fox 13's Ben Winslow @BenWinslow
I don't care what you ate for breakfast... believe it or not, a lot of people actually do care, not only do they care what you ate, but where you ate it and who you ate it with.
Just another thing to feed your ego with "friends/followers"... if that is the only thing you use it for, then you are doing it wrong.

So really, Twitter is what you make of it...me? I use Twitter to see what is going on in the world around me, and jump in the conversation(s) when I can. I look for opportunities to meet people on Twitter as often as I can. This is why I love Twitter...it has opened up a new world of people who have similar likes and tastes, and provided me a way to get to know these people better and become really good friends.

So ya, I love Twitter

One Quarter

2011-07-21T00:14:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I was on my way home from a terrible day at work...I was tired, angry, hungry and thirsty. As I turned down a street one block away from my home, I came up to two little girls sitting behind a little table with a bright yellow banner that read "Lemonade 25 Cents". I smiled and remembered the hot days of summer when I would go out and sell lemonade to the workers on my street. Those were good times.

As I slowly passed the table, I could see the disappointment in their faces as I was just another guy driving by who didn't want their little paper cup of lemonade. So I turned down my music, stopped the car and made what was the best decision I had made in weeks. I turned around...

Both girls jumped off their chairs with excitement beaming from their faces. One of the girls leaned up on my car and held up her index finger and said "One glass is 25 cents" to which I handed her a quarter that had been rolling around in my cup holder. The other girl slowly poured out the lemonade that she took such pride in and slowly walked it up to my open window.

There they both stood with eager eyes waiting for me to take the first sip...so I did. It was cold, refreshing and soothing. I looked over at the two girls smiling from ear to ear at the guy who came back, and told them it was delicious and hit the spot.

I slowly made my way home and actually got a little choked up...how could one quarter make two little girls so happy? And why did the lemonade I bought from them taste better than any lemonade I had ever had?

As I pulled into the driveway and waited for the garage to open, I made a pledge to myself that no matter where I was, what I was doing, no matter how hurried I was...I promised that I would stop at every lemonade stand I passed from that day forward...and I gotta tell ya the smiles get bigger, the lemonade tastes better, and the quarter that you spend just made someone's day a little bit better. Who knows, it might have even been your own.

Manage the Mess One App at a Time

2011-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

We all do it...the exchange of the business card. There is something about that exchange...an excitement maybe, perhaps it is the fact that someone is essentially giving you a little piece of them saying, "Let's keep in touch."

I like giving and receiving cards, but what I hate is when 90% wind up in a pile on my desk, or in a box on the floor. Sure, I have great intentions about filing them and throwing the contacts into my Outlook contact folders...but I never do, and my excuse? IT TAKES SO MUCH TIME! So what on earth do I do when I need someone's contact info? Tear the mountains of cards down rifle through them.

Then I came across something that is pretty awesome...it is called WorldCard Mobile, a Smart Phone Application available for both Android & iPhone that uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to transfer the info from the business card to your contact lists...well, what the crap does that mean? It means, when take a picture (with this APP) of a business card, it will transfer all the relevant info over (Name, Email, Phone Numbers, Addresses, URLs.)

Pretty cool right? For a chronic procrastinator like myself, this app has already saved me a lot of time and headache in managing the business cards I get. The MSRP of this app is $9.99, but I think you can get it for $5.99. Yes, it still seems a little steep, but for what it does, it isn't a bad deal.

So, if you want to step from the mouth of madness, I would recommend this application. Yes, I actually bought it, and here is the proof -> (Picture).

So I would give WorldCard Mobile 3 1/2 Xanax for any stress/anxiety that piles of business cards might cause, and for doing exactly what it tells you it does.

It's time for a Big Gulp #PDR ... cupcake (link to my friend's blog)

2011-04-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

I just have to share this...it is from one of my favorite friends online & in real life Emily Hill Give this a read -> It's time for a Big Gulp #PDR ... cupcake

The Magic of Sports

2011-01-26T09:59:00.000-08:00

So...this past weekend, I was out shopping at Costco, and I was wearing my Green Bay Packers hat. As I was sitting my daughter in the cart, I looked up and saw this guy staring at me...I thought it was a little weird right?! But then I saw what it was...he was wearing a Green Bay Packers hat as well. Then the magic happened...there was a split second we gave each other a little smile and a understanding nod.

Now I didn't know this guy, I had never seen him before in my life, but for that moment, we were friends...two strangers connected by one thing...Sports.

In thinking about this post, I remember all the times where I will be out in public (wearing a hat with a team logo,) and the people I really notice are those who might be wearing something with the same logo on it. There are even times when I'll be wearing my U of U hat, and someone will walk by and whisper "Go Utes!" It is awesome, and for you sports fans out there, you know what I am talking about.

I can't speak for other sports fans, but if I dissect my mind, I love showing off my favorite sports teams, and by wearing it, I feel like I am an extension to the team...then, when I see others wearing the same colors, logos, whatever...I see a "teammate."

I firmly believe there is a kind of magic when it comes to sports...and with that, I want to share one of my favorite videos. I can't watch this without getting the chills...this is the magic that I am talking about -> Sports Magic

An Apology to my Wife or "Cold Soup"

2011-01-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

So a year or so ago, I heard about this iPhone application called Foursquare where you could use your mobile device and "check-in" to places. If you were lucky enough, you could even earn Foursquare Badges...pretty exciting I know.

However, as Foursquare opened up in more cities, you could start to see the application behind it. Businesses were using it to engage their loyal fans/customers/patrons in a whole new way...through their mobile devices by offering "Specials." This is pretty exciting and cool.

So needless to say, I jumped onto Foursquare because it was the "New Shiny" and I wanted to be a part of something...and that is where it all started.

Since jumping onto Foursquare, I have adopted other geolocation applications like Gowalla, Whrrl...Yelp...etc. etc. etc. - I wanted to check each of these to see what each of them brings to the table and really wanted to see how businesses were using each. Maybe I could get some ideas...

ANYWAYS, I think my poor wife has exercised as much patience with me as she possibly can...I mean it is like when we go through the drive-thru, I'll grab the food and go pull into a stall so I can check-in. (In reading that, I realize how sad it is.) Or when we go out on a date...I'll put my phone on the table and check-in, leave a tip, see who else might be there...you get the idea, only to look up and see her giving me "That Look," the "Put that @#%& thing away right now."

Even when I'm out with a buddy, he'll have half his burger or sushi thrown down before I can leave a tip on Yelp. Sadly, after all the checking-in, I have even noticed that my food has gotten cold. (Uggh, this is really sad...rethinking publishing this post now.)

If you really know me, you can testify that I have my phone on me 24/7 and that I am always on it...email, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare...text messages...it has really started to drive people nuts how my iPhone has morphed into another falange. Maybe I do need to give it a rest...or at least calm the freak down.

So sorry Jen...sorry it seems like I am out on a date with my phone and you sometimes seem to be the 3rd Wheel...I'll be better, I promise.

So my resolution is this...wait a second, my phone just beeped...

Patience

2010-08-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

So earlier this evening I was filling a prescription at the local drug store...nothing too exciting except they had one window open and three of us in line with one gentleman at the window.

"No biggie!"

Right?!

Well, this guy at the counter is going on and on about how he needs to do this and needs this and the poor pharmacist calmly answers that "Sir that prescription has already been filled today, that paper you have right there is a photo copy...I'm sorry sir, I cannot do a complete fill on this particular one right now...sir, that is a photocopy, and it has been filled and is in our records."

- 5 minutes pass, and now four people in line -

I ask the guy in front of me, "Hey man, how long've you been here?" To which he replies "10 minutes...{sigh}"

This guy at the window is ranting that he needs something else blah blah blah blah blah blah...I've stopped trying to listen and looking to see if another pharmacist is working." Another window opens up and

- 4.5 minutes later the two people in front of me have picked up their prescriptions and are out the door. "Hello how can I help you?"

I'm told my wait will be approximately 10~15 minutes...guy still at window complaining about something (the poor pharmacist keeps smiling and searches on here computer..."I'm sorry sir, that prescription has been filled already, and I can't give you more."

- 12 minutes go by "Scott, you're ready" -

I pick up my prescription and walk out to leave looking down at my phone.

- 30 + minutes, this poor pharmacist kept it together with one of the most obnoxious customers I have ever seen. I watched 11 people come and go all the while this bozo whined and cried about trying to fill a prescription twice.

I stopped to look at their beverages on my way out, and saw the guy step aside, and I wanted to go compliment the gal on the way she handled things...but I thought she was probably sick of talking and needed a break. :)

I'll stop in again soon and thank her for keeping her head.

Loyalty? Not so much

2010-08-23T22:38:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the Twitter rant, but one of my favorite applications on my iPhone recently went through a massive overhaul, and in doing so created a better product. Kudos to Hootsuite for making something great even better. I liked the look of it, so I paid the $1.99 or whatever it was for the application, and I enjoyed using it as I found he interface to be such that enabled me to use Twitter in a whole new way. Here is where it gets sticky...with the upgrade, they made it so you had to purchase the "New & Improved Hootsuite...sure there is still a free version of it, but many of the functions you had in the previous version were gone or not available in that version.

Uggh, so here it is...Hootsuite upgraded their software (which is to be expected,) but then to turn around and essentially screw their existing customers (who paid for the app already) by charging them again for the app is about the stupidest thing ever. Here is where Hootsuite went wrong IMHO...They had an existing fan base...a group of users who loved the product...a group who talks to each other and promotes your product...so why on earth would you turn your back on those people and not offer that generation of early adopters a free upgrade?? Chances are, they are going to talk about the improved services, application, etc etc etc. But now, they have gone elsewhere. I have! Way to crap the bed Hootsuite!! You've lost me as a customer, and where I may not have mean that much to you overall, it makes me feel better to give you the Proverbial Bird!

Haunted By Memories...Updated 6/14/2010

2010-04-11T01:59:00.000-07:00

Usually when you talk about Hauntings, you think of things that are bad...scary...frightening...horrific, but the Haunting that I am talking about is something different.

Have you ever had something happen to you, or met someone or been somewhere that 'haunts' you? For example...say you meet someone years and years ago, and that person made an imprint on you. It is possible that you may never see or talk to this person anymore, but they are always on your mind. Has this happened to you? It has to me...

Has something happened to you when you were younger that you can remember so vividly that you can describe exactly what happened? It has to me...

So with this in mind now...what are the things that "HAUNT" you?

In the upcoming weeks, I am going to be making a couple of videos of some of the things that Haunt me.

This blog post has been haunting me...to finish it

My Wordle - What My Twitter Friends Think of Me

2010-01-29T08:49:00.001-08:00

http://www.wordle.net/ - Image attribution

You Know It Is Time...

2009-12-02T21:33:00.000-08:00

So my dear wife had a craving for a fresh fruit smoothie. We have all the ingredients needed, so I thought, "Why Not? It sounds good...let's do it."

One thing...

Our blender is the one we got on our wedding day, and has seen many, many blends...so needless to say it is kinda old and loud...ok, really loud.

All the ingredients had been added, and I was ready to go when my wife said that we better not do it in the house because the children are deathly afraid of it, and it wouldn't be a pretty picture should it be the blender that woke them up.

So out I marched to the garage...in 32 degree weather carrying a frozen blend of milk and fruit. Pretty sure I woke the dead with my blending, but I think I'd rather face zombies than a screaming child! After all, I did recently see Zombieland, and I have taken the 32 Rules of Staying Alive to Heart.

To educate yourself on the 32 Rules, I recommend you go here:

http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_16631.html

So to wrap it all up, You Know It Is Time to replace your blender when you have to go out to the garage to blend something.

That is all. I love you all, you are all my children... :)

Memories of Dracula

2009-11-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

Just today, I finished my review of thebook New Moon on TodaysMama.com, and while I was writing it, I remembered something that haunted me when I was a little, little kid. I remember a TV show on PBS called "The Electric Company," starring a YOUNG Morgan Freeman. One of the characters he protrayed was Dracula. As I got to thinking about it, he was probably the first Dracula I remember.

Searching the web for a clip of Mr. Freeman in these early years yielded a couple of clips...enjoy!

And this...

Some good times!

Lazy Sack O' "S"

2009-07-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

So I have been seriously slacking in my blog posts, and for that I am way lame...just gotta say. If my blog has a spirit, it has been prodding me for days...no months to post something.

The past couple of months have been a complete whirlwind for me as I have traveled all over the freaking place...State College, Pennsylvania - Bend, Oregon - and then Madison, Wisconsin...all in three weeks time. It has been so nice to be home for awhile without the worry of traveling.

Well, tonight's entry I wanted to write specifically for a couple of people...Allison Lunt Harris, my Mom Susan, my aunt Laura and anyone else who makes fun of my FaceBook updates.

Many of you tease me that I type in a different language...and yes, it is it's own language...or Twialect if you will. So I am going to explain it, so you can understand what I am saying.

1. Whenever you see this #, that is a hashtag (great explanation here)

Example: "Had a great day talking with the people at @go_hotcakes (hotcakes.com) today at #ORSM09" - I have hashtagged the Outdoor Retail Summer Market 2009 meaning, that Tweet will show up in that search, and people will know that is what my Twitter update is about...kinda like a one word summary of what I'm Tweeting at that time.

2. whenever you see this @, I am talking about, or to a specific person, business, etc. on Twitter.

Example: "Spent the day walking the floor with @iGoByDoc & @JoshSPeters at the Salt Palace." - Now when you see this you can tell who I am speaking to or about, and once I add the @ before their Twitter IDs, that will show up on their page and they can see my update with them mentioned in it.

Also to note...both the # and the @ placed before something creates a hyperlink that will redirect you to the Twitter search (#) or the person's profile (@)

Ok, so you few peeps who I listed, quit making fun of me, and learn the Twitter language...we'll all be speaking it someday...oh yes, we will all be Tweeters...or Twits...#justsayin

Also, my good friend Josh Peters (@JoshSPeters on Twitter) wrote an awesome blog post on businesses who were utilizing Twitter at the Outdoor Retail Show this year. A really good read...I recommend you take a second and read it. (Shuaism.com)

Next Blog Post Tease:

The Haunted Woods of Pennsylvania

My Favorite (blank) in Utah - Sushi

2009-03-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

So in taking to a new route to things I talk about on this little blog, I decided that I am going to add a video component to some of my posts. Give it a little more life to it if you will. I have got a couple of things planned for this, and I think it will be a lot of fun not only for me, but for you too (hopefully.)

Well, I was on my way out to grab some dinner this fine Saturday evening when I thought about maybe taking my video camera with me. I always have talked about the place I was going, but now I wanted a way to show peeps what it was.

Ever since I returned home from Japan, I have loved Sushi, and a buddy of mine introduced me to this awesome little place in Sandy, UT called Sushi Express (7824 South and 700 East.) The sushi was the best stuff I had eaten since I had been back from the Land of the Rising Sun. Not only was the sushi top-notch, but the prices were crazy reasonable. I have been frequenting 'The Express' now for a better part of a decade, and I have never strayed from eating there. Sure, there are other sushi establishments in the valley that I love, but this place takes the roll!

If you love sushi, and live in the valley, make sure you try this place, and when you go in, tell them Scott sent you!

Dedicated Poem

2009-02-21T17:55:00.000-08:00

So I am a huge slacker when it comes to updating my blog, and I am going to be better at it, but for tonight, I am dedicating this post to my Twitter friendh0neyb
The Crocodile's Toothache

The Crocodile went to the dentist,

And sat down in the chair,

And the dentist said, "Now tell me, sir,

Why does it hurt and where?"

And the Crocodile said, "I'll tell you the truth,

I have a terrible ache in my tooth,"

And he opened his jaws so wide, so wide,

That the dentist, he climbed right inside,

And the dentist laughed, "Oh isn't this fun?"

As he pulled the teeth out, one by one.

And the Crocodile cried, "You're hurting me so!

Please put down your pliers and let me go."

But the dentist just laughed with a Ho Ho Ho,

And he said, "I still have twelve to go--

Oops, that's the wrong one, I confess,

But what's one crocodile's tooth, more or less?"

Then suddenly, the jaws went SNAP,

And the dentist was gone, right off the map,

And where he went one could only guess...

To North or South or East or West...

He left no forwarding address.

But what's one dentist, more or less?

Shel Silverstein (1932 - 1999)

New Gang in Town

2009-01-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

This post is coming soon...sneak peek

You can add Salt Lake City to this map!

Surprise Packages

2008-12-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

So last night I got home to see this massive box sitting in the middle of the living room. As you can see from the picture, you could easily fit a babyseat in the box and have plenty of room left over.

Instantly, my mind raced with the awesome things that could have arrived in said treasure box. Was it something for me for Christmas that Jen couldn't clean up in time? Could it be a Wii,

XBOX, Castle Greyskull, Strawberry Shortcake's Summer Home? WHAT?

Oh I was so excited when I casually asked, "what was in the box?" She just looked at me in disgust and pointed to something on the counter..."a book," she said. I thought, "What the hell kind of book was shipped in that thing?" I looked at her and asked if she purchased an original print of the King James Bible cold off of the Gutenburg Press.

Nope The Empty Pot by Demi...Seriously? again, Seriously? We went online to fill out a return shipment form and it is suggested that we send it back in the original box. Ok, lets look at this objectively...I am going to send a paperback book in a box that could hold a desktop PC.

Here is what the book looked like compared to the box. It is a good thing they used 100 yards of that packing air bags...I would just hate to have that book move one millimeter in that 10 gallon container.

brains....brains....BRAINS!!!!

2008-12-10T14:19:00.000-08:00

So I have neglecting my little blog...again. I can live with that, but neglecting the people who are commenting? That is just not Wright (a little shout-out to Julie Wright who frequents this page...or so I have heard.) It has been a crazy month. Lots of traveling and lots & lots of work. I am physically exhausted, but my mind is always racing a million miles a minute. Gotta be honest, I'm a little burned out, but Christmas is right around the corner which is awesome.

It just seems that lately, I have been walking through a fog. I am forgetting things a lot more and time just seems to be flying by. I can't believe that my kids are growing up so fast and that 2009 is a mere three weeks away.

I just need a day that I can take to detox and not think about anything. Maybe catch up on a little sleep...I think my wife said it best when she mentioned that in the mornings, I resemble the walking dead. Being the chronic insomniac that I am, I usually get a good 3.5 ~ 4 hours of sleep a night, and I seem to be able to function at a level that works...or i am really good at faking my alertness. But Jen might be onto something...

New Half-Blood Prince Trailer

2008-11-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

The Wagon is Coming

2008-10-31T15:35:00.001-07:00

Well, the World Series is behind us, and I have to hand it to the Philadelphia Phillies. Way to represent for the NL guys! Way to go.

As a sports fan living in Utah, I have noticed a trend of sorts that always follows the end of any sports season. If any sports fan in Utah reads this, you might know exactly where I am going with this post.

This is my prediction...no Guarantee. Within the next week, you will see more Phillies gear around the town than you have ever seen before. Where 2 ~ 5% will be legit fans, the rest are those whose closets are full of Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, New York Giants crap. I have seen more Kevin Garnett jerseys lately...uggh it makes me mad. I guarantee you could go up to these so-called Boston Celtics fans and ask them who wore #33 or #00 or #32 for the Celtics, and they wouldn't have a clue.

So beware Salt Lake City, a storm is coming...in the form of the bandwagon. Don't worry, this too shall pass...in a couple months when my Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl. LOL.

Oh My Gosh

2008-09-16T21:38:00.001-07:00

So I went surfing the web tonight and thought it might be a good idea to see what the weather was going to be like in Vegas for the Blog World Expo. There was something on the front page slideshow that really caught my eye. There is a picture of Hurricane Ike's devastation....look closely. Seriously?!?!

For Paul

2008-09-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

A Quickie

2008-09-05T23:48:00.000-07:00

So at work, I have been dealing with a lot of Web 2.0 stuff and how I can incorporate new social media strategies into potential and existing clients. I must say that it is fun at times, and at other times, I want to tear my hair out...well if I had hair to pull out. Fortunately, I work with some awesome people on all this. We have a lot of fun with this, and enjoy a good laugh about some of the most random things.

I guess I have become a geek/nerd lately when I find pleasure in hearing about a shirt that says, "Thats what she Twittered." Holy crap, I think that is hilarious. I even am excited about going to the Blog World Expo convention later this month in Las Vegas. I will be able to meet and learn from awesome people like Chris Brogan . Is it weird that I am amped for this?

Well, this is turning into more than a quickie, but I have spent the last 2 hours playing around on twitter, facebook, myspace, digg, technorati while looking at about 3 dozen blogs. Wait it is Friday night! NERD ALERT!

To make my point even more...I spent the last hour playing with this simple idea I had...wow.

Big Plans

2008-09-04T00:31:00.000-07:00

So in thinking about my little space here on Blogger, I have decided to take a new approach with my blog updates. I am pretty excited about what I am going to do, and I hope it will make you constantly check for updates. I have got a lot of work to do to prep for the re-launch of "Yo Quiero Paco Belle," so expect to see something early next week...well crap, it is Thursday morning, 1:34 in the AM. Big day at TSG tomorrow, so I need my normal 4 hours of sleep. Why do I keep doing this to myself? I just can't help it...I love the night too much.

WOW

2008-08-18T23:35:00.001-07:00

So I have been seriously neglecting my blog that I am so proud of and tell everyone about. Then they see that I skipped July altogether. Real nice Scott, real nice.

To be honest, I have to place the blame on Twitter. I bit and couldn't get enough of the thing. I added it to my favorites on my phone, and now I am Tweeting all the freaking time. "Oops, I knocked over a cup of water." Time to Tweet about it. It seriously is addicting, so much so that Tweets look like this:

{Paco_Belle just knocked over a cup of water onto his desk...D'oh}

{Paco_Belle just twittered about spilling water on his desk...Awesome!}

But now, I have come back to basics and wrapped my arms around this little page again. Not too much to say this time other than I need to be better at dropping in now and then. I miss my movie reviews, so that needs to happen. I can't believe I didn't talk about The Dark Knight...again, just shows how lame I am.

Oh, before I leave, this happened to me again...only on a grander scale and a lot more people in line.

When it hits...

2008-06-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

So I was out driving tonight, listening to Coldplay's new album, when this suped-up sportsmachine pulled up next to me. The music was blaring, the guy was rockin' and the engine was rarin' to show me what it was made of. No sooner had the light turned green, than the guy was 100 yards up the street. "Jeez, that guy is in a hurry to get somewhere."

Another red light slowed his progress to heaven knows where he was off to. {GREEN} Once again, bat straight outta hell tearing up the street. The maroon jet on wheels was weaving in and out of traffic, with no regard for the 35 MPH speed limit at all. The awesome thing about this was, I was goin' the speed limit...no need to hurry, and yet this guy wasn't that far ahead of me.

Hey, he is turning the same place I am...I wonder. The guy damn-near took the turn on two wheels, and then a quick/sharp right. Nah, could he be? Did the store have a sale that I was unaware of that caused people to race to it? Then I saw where he was going, and I started to laugh. He tore through that parking lot going at least 30, and I thought, "Well, I know what that feels like. Sometimes you just can't wait to sink your teeth into that wicked-awesome Big Mac."

When that feeling strikes, get the hell out of the way!

The 2007 ~ 2008 NBA Finals...Hooray!

2008-06-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

I think I'll just watch re-runs of The Gilmore Girls. I need to clarify that this post is not the rantings of a jaded Utah Jazz fan, because I know the Jazz layed an egg against the Lakers, but since the "All-Star"...scratch that..."Most Popular Players Game," all we seemed to hear was how exciting it would be to see a Lakers/Celtics finals match-up. I really have to thank the league for whisking us back to 1987. Really this has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid. Oh how I have wanted to see the Lakers and the Celtics play again for the championship. I cannot wait to watch Kobe square up against "The Big Three"...oh I get the goosebumps just thinking about how freaking awesome it is that these storied teams are right back where they need...no wait...deserve to be. So here is to the next five years of watching Kevin Garnett thump his chest, Ray Allen mug for the cover of S.I., Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant duke it out to see who can pop their jersey more often, seeing that fugly tat on Luke Walton's pasty white arm, Phil Jackson sitting smugly on the bench, Doc Rivers wondering how the hell he got so lucky to have this team land in his lap (you suck Doc, and you know it...I can run down a dozen coaches who are better than you are, Jerry, Flip, Byron, Donny, either of the Van Gundy boys...catch my drift Doc?)

So thank you Mr. Stern for creating a finals that people are actually going to care about. Since we have been magically travelled through time, let me share with everyone what happened in your office at the culmination of last years finals...

Stern: "Well Gentlemen, it looks like nobody really wanted to see Timmy take on our favorite child Lebron...I just don't get it. What do these fans want. I don't hear the chants of 'I Love This Game!' peeling from the arenas anymore. Gosh darnit!"

Some A-Hole: "I hear ya commish, it was a really boring series. Maybe we can get Tim Donaghy and the boys to..."

Stern: "Quiet you! Donaghy was nicked remember? But I do like where your head is at...the others, yes the others....my beloved NBA officials...My Precious."

Another DB: "Uh, Dave...you're doing it again...."

Stern: "AHHHH, I needs it, we wants it...the Lakerses and Celticeseseses...think of the moneyeses, the paradeses...make the call, make it happen."

Some other MoFo: "So it is written, so let it be done."

Your Author: " I think I'm gonna barf."

Of Pine Trees and Taxi Cabs

2008-05-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

So last year, I was in Madison, Wisconsin for business and upon unpacking in my hotel room, I realized that I had forgotten my deodorant. No problem, I thought, I'll just swing by a store and pick one up. No big deal. So I was off to visit a school and do a little logistical planning.

I came up to a small local grocer and figured that I might as well grab it while I was thinking of it. $1.53??? OK, I'll bite. So off I went back to Middleton to grab some dinner at what was to become one of my favorite dining establishments, Quaker Steak & Lube. (If you have one near, count your blessings.)

About a week or so ago, I was running late to work running from the shower to the bedroom to change, I grabbed this stick of deodorant. After applying liberally, Iwent to give my loving wife a hug and kiss goodbye. As I gave her a peck on the forehead, I could hear her sniffing my shirt. I looked at her and asked what she was doing. She had a look on her face that screamed repulsion. It was like I smeared a dead skunk all over me for crap's sake. She simply asked, "What the freak deodorant did you put on this morning?" That green one I bou..." she then cut me off and said stiffling a sneeze, "You smell like a freaking New York Taxi-Cab..." I stood there, arms still outstretched at a loss for words.

Seriously dear, it took you 5 months to tell me this??? So to all my co-workers/friends/family, I apologize sincerely for subjecting you to that.

Now that will be $55.00.

Taser, Taser, Taser

2008-04-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

So a couple of weeks ago, I got back into the office from lunch when I see a group of my coworkers watching a video. It was a video of a ton of people getting tasered. Honestly, it is horrific and it looks like it hurts like hell, but who doesn't like to see peopl get sizzled? So I poked my head in and watched the carnage unfurl. A couple of people into it, I saw a familiar face anxiously waiting for the pain to ensue. There he was, my uncle getting shot in the back with 1.21 Gigawatts...well not really, but I couldn't resist. I emailed him that I saw the video and that I appreciated the video. He replied with a few simple words..."Let me know when you want to do it, and I'll arrange it." Enjoy!

I Love The Daily Show

2008-04-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

I Have to thank Conroy for this awesome video. I got some serious food poisoning on Tuesday night and my Wednesday was well...awful. I salute you for passing along this video, and needless to say, it brightened up my day a little...well actually a whole lot. Hippies!!!

Are You BLEEPing Kidding Me?

2008-03-13T21:02:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I was filling up my car with gas the other night, and the mood caught me right that I needed a nice cold beverage. It was about 9:30 and I went in and got myself a nice 32 oz. Dr. Pepper/Coca~Cola mix, or as I call it 'Black Gold.' Anywho, there is a middle-aged woman ahead of me buying a small drink and a pack of gum. The cashier beep-beeped it and the total was $1.83. Meanwhile, here I am sip-sipping my delicious beverage...you don't want to have your drink to be half gone by the time you leave! Am I right? So this lady proceeds to pull out her check book.................................................................................. Umm.......................really? Are you serious? I knew she wasn't buying gas, or anything else for that matter, just a small drink and a pack of Juicy Fruit.

So she begins to fill out the check, and I swear she must have been writing in hieroglyphics, because no normal person takes 3 minutes to write a damn check! I just sat there like a deer in the headlights...straw in mouth, but nothing going. Was I really seeing this? Surely this can't be happening. A check for $1.83. I just wanted to shoot myself. So I thought I would make the best of the situation and walked back to the soda fountain and topped off my drink with a little Pepsi. Now that I was rocking the "Holy Trinity," all would be ok. Nope, crazy lady began to balance her checkbook at the register. Was I invisible? I just inched my way to the register, uttered those magical words, "New cup,"..."$1.06."...kaching! I'm out. The lady was still balancing her checkbook when I left.

Ok, I understand the need for a checkbook, and at times, it is the best way to pay for things. But to buy a small drink and a 5-piece Juicy Fruit? Are you *BLEEP*ing Kidding Me?

It's called a Debit Card...

"Check" into it!

Oh Hell No!

2008-03-06T20:28:00.000-08:00

So I jumped on the old internet this evening to check my email, MySpace, Facebook and YouTube and a few other selected sites before I dove into cleaning the dishes. So I enjoyed watching the Jazz kick the living piss out of the "Pesky Timberwolves" last night and show that it was a fluke that Minnesota beat them a week ago. So I thought surely the NBA should have a couple highlights from the game on their daily Top 10...but then I realized that we are living in the age of Lebron...good grief. I am not taking anything away from the guy, he a talent and then some, but do the networks have to show every little thing he does? I swear I saw it on Sportscenter where they had highlights of Lebron tying his shoes...all I have to say is WTF is up with that? Wow, I know I threw a WTF in there, but I have a lot of venom right now that I need to spew.

Breaking News!!! Tonights Number 1 play of the day, Lebron is introduced in the starting lineup! or...Lebron James attempts a bluedart driving to the hoop...I say huh?! C'mon, show me something else besides Lebron abusing some poor sap who makes it on Sportscenter only when he guards Lebron...{click} New Poster, hey sweet, right up there on the wall with my 1 billion other Lebron posters. Can't I get a Mark Madsen poster anywhere? C'mon people, he at least has thechampionship hardware, and can we forget his wicked dance moves at the Laker (ugh) rally parade? White men can jump, but no dancy for Mr. Madsen.

So anyways, I'm watching the top 10 plays, and all of a sudden a Hardee's ad pops up, on the actual video!!!!! Yet again...WTF??!??!?? Since when are my YouTube vids inundated with ads? Is nothin sacred anymore?

Damn The Man!

Anything else?

2008-02-17T13:21:00.001-08:00

Moving On...

2008-02-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

So now that my coworkers have all read about me winning our fantasy football league, I can get back to reality. It is Sunday afternoon and I just sat down with one of my favorite beverages ever...I poured a little out for you J Double B.

There have been so many things that have happened during the past few weeks, and I have been lazy in posting them. Some were pretty funny things have happened, and I've seen some cool shows.

One thing that has been occupying my time, is the countless Utah Jazz games that have been on. I love leaving work knowing that I am going to be sitting down watching a Jazz game. I just gotta say a couple things. D-Will vs. CP3...seriously? Just watch the clip I post next, and D-Will pwned Paul in New Orleans last night in th skillzz competition. I know it isn't that big of a deal, but the national media loves to pit these guys against each other, and D-Will coming out on top. So Hot Rod, still think the Jazz shoulda taken CP3?

Stay tuned...

WTF?

2008-02-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

Indeed...so to be perfectly honest, I had this huge elaborate story that I wanted to write about, but in the past week(s) I have just wanted to move forward. So basically, the place where I work, a communications firm in Salt Lake (inside joke to all you PR people out there,) held a fanstasy football competition. The story was to be this...that I was magically wisked away to a magical land where a storm was gathering and races from across the lands where converging on a magical relic. Kind of an Amazing Race type of thing...only killing was allowed. I was to face formidable foes like the "Pretender to the Throne," Schwe of Bach, the ever elusive Na"Tron",

and other crazy creatures in my quest for the ultimate prize. There were to be 13 obstacles that stood in my way. Each obstacle represented somebody that I worked with. So in allm, there were 14 teams in this fantasy football league. 14 teams! There were a couple of us that bemoaned this fact due to the free-agents that would be left should you lose someone on your roster. Say McNabb goes down. Well, I look to see who I could replace him with and my best option would be John Beck on the freaking dolphins (I don't respect that team enough to even capitalize them, so HA!!) So back to the 14 team deal...so it was tough, but we all managed to survive.

After fighting through opponents like them, two ladies who sit next to me, and beat me in the early weeks (they didn't let me forget BTW,) and other hardcore fantasy footbal diehards. It was pretty disheartening some Mondays and Tuesdays when the point totals came in and the office was full of serious smacktalk until the next week where hopefully your team would win and not be prone to ridicule from the 7 other people whose teams won. Inner-office emails would be the bane of everyone's existence for about 13 weeks. And Mr. Lambnation's weekly scoreboard emails would only reopen old wounds.

Mr.Lamb, we all thank you. So anyways, my story was to be one full of mystery, betrayal and intrigue. A little humor was to be thrown around every now and then. Sometimes, I feel like I am too impatient for my own good. After sitting on this past entry for so long, there were things that I would notice during the day that I would think, "That would make an awesome blog entry, but alas...I need to finish that damn post!" So I really do just want to wrap this up. Each person who had a role in this story, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You did truly inspire me, and for that I need to pass a little love your way. I selected a picture for each of you that I thought best represented your team name and how you dealt with things throughout the season. As it is, we the winners thank you, and the losers rue the day you started those mass emails. Anyone who enjoys a cold bev. is ok in my book tho-

The cast of characters follows:

Ultimate Awesomeness = William Freaking Shatner. Mr. Howe, you embody everything that is cool, and I thought a little Shatner love would suit you just fine.

For Marc (aka Bonecrushers,) I thought this picture suited him best because of mean-spirited (but masked as jokingly nice smack.) (Psst, BYU Still sucks Marc.)

For Mr. Lima The Dark Bludgers...could I do anything less?

Helen, the Democratic Dynamo...I am sorry, and a little scared.

Walt, "TheMoneyman," let me hit you with a little old school Final Fantasy III or VI (depending on what side of the ocean you are from,) Knowledge...Kefka. Enough said.

Now the Saginaw Spirit...you had us all fooled. We didn't know who you were for weeks. You didn't even respond to the countless emails, and yet you kept on winning. We soon uncovered your guise, and kept on losing to you.

And now that just leaves us one last participant. A man who would come in a mess your team up just enough to lose once or twice. He was the poison of the league. He finished dead last but had four wins under his belt. Four wins that translated into four losses for others that very well could have determined the outcome, and for that I thank you Mr. Woodsie.

So now the last chapter can be written, you have met all the players, and seen their masks removed. Duellie, crawling amongst the tattered remains of his final foe, once his closest friend and ally, The ARB Rejects, looked towards the "Summit" where a faint light shimmered in the darkness. The rocks tore at his flesh, and the smoke-filled air burned his lungs, but he knew that he must reach this light or perish beneath the blackened sky like those who lay behind him.

A small ledge welcomed our weary traveler, and he paused to look out across this strange land that had been ripped apart by the coveting of this one prize...this one treasure...the one ring. Gathering his strength the best he could, our hero continued upwards on the slopes of the seemingly endless ruin of the mountain he now climbed. Bruised, battered, betrayed and thirsty (always needing a cold beverage,) he cursed the day he had been summoned to the strange land Athletically Challenged. Why did it torment him so to be here? Why were somedays so much better than others? And then he saw it...sitting there on a smooth slab of granite. The One Ring that had eluded thousands, perhaps millions before him, and now it was his for the taking...finally, the treasure that so many coveted, fought for and dare I say...killed for was here for him to take...and it is mine. My Precious.

The Lord of the Ring...an Epic Tale

2008-01-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

Forward - (written by Scott D.) The following is a tale of one man's journey throughout the 2007 Fantasy Football Season. 14 Teams, 15 Managers, 4 Departments, One Ring.

Chapter One:

He awoke with a start to the sound of the ship being torn apart by the raging seas. No sooner had he cleared his head, than his body was hit by the crushing water now filling the lower levels of the H.M.S. Pirancon. Swirling darkness encircled him as he struggled to hold onto the last breath he had. The salt stung his eyes and burned at the gaping lacerations on his arms and legs..."This is how my world ends," he thought. "Not with a bang, but a whimper..." and the waterworld around him faded into a dark haze.

He opened his eyes to see himself floating on the water's surface, and before he knew it, the surf threw him into the shallow sands of a beautiful beach. "How did I get here?" he said outloud, half expecting someone to answer him. Emerging from the murky water, the man took in his surroundings. The beach was beautiful and strecthed as far as the eye could see.

Off in the distance he saw what looked like a man walking towards him. Shaking the water out of his ears, and emptying the sand from his pockets, he slowly made his way towards the man approaching him.

"Who are ye, and wha bizness do ye hav here?" the man yelled. "Where ye come from and what be yer name?" "My ship sank and I washed up onto these shores," said the castaway. "And before I tell you anything else, tell me where I am and who you are."

Startled, the man looked more intently at this man who came from the sea and said in a whisper, "I be Captain Brown, Steve if you will, and this here be the isle of TSG. Dis be a bad place, and if ye know what is bes' fer ya, you won' go wanderin' too far from dis 'ere beach. Something wicked is brewin' in the forests and mountains...a stir of creatures and man alike. Sumthin' be stirrin' the life of this place into a right fine mess. If ya don' mind me tellin' ya, this place will kill ya if you not careful...it makes the mind go places that..."

The sentence trailed off and the old man fell to his knees with a vacant expression on his face. The castaway watched as the light faded from his eyes and then fell forward. There they were, a slew of arrows sticking out the man's back. Some unseen enemy had ended this man's life, and they were out there right now looking at him. From the darkness of the trees, the man heard a battle cry, and suddenly, the forest sprung to life with strangely clothed people.

Four medieval looking people stood before him with weapons raised ready to strike. The man stood frozen with shock. The leader lowered his axe and walked cautiously over to the man and asked, "How do you know this man? What have you been talking about with him?"

"Honestly, I have no freaking idea who this guy is and why you killed him. My ship sank and..." the brute cut him off and said, "What did he tell you?" The castaway looked puzzled and muttered, "He didn't tell me jack-sh..." "He didn't mention anything about the prize?"

The castaway shook his head in frustration and simply said, "No." The leader of this troupe sauntered back to his friends and whispered amongst themselves for what seemed to be an eternity. In unison they began to laugh and soon the huddle had broken up. Once again, the leader walked over to the castaway with an outstrectched hand and laughed, "Pardon our rude behavior. My name is Conroy, and these traveling with me are the ARB Rejects. We would like you to accompany us on our quest to find the prize. Won't you join us?"

The castaway thought for a moment and recalled what the old man had said about this place being dangerous, and that this was an occasion where there would be strength in numbers. "Yes, I thank you for the offer, and I would enjoy the pleasure of traveling with your formidable ARB crew." The leader of the ARB group smiled and casually asked, "and what may I call you?" The castaway looked over each member of the ARB crew and without looking at Conroy said, "My friends call me Duellie."

'Well Duellie, then let me welcome you to the ARB Rejects. Come, we go to the castle this evening for dinner and entertainment." As they walked through the trees, Duellie realized that he was indeed hungry, and he had the sudden craving for a Regular Roast Beef Sandwich, Curly Fries and a Jamocha shake.

Next Chapter: WTF?

2007...Later

2008-01-10T20:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I have procrastinated enough, and plus it is half-time where my beloved Jazz are beating the Phoenix Suns. Enjoy this moment my boy, the 3rd quarter is next. Well 2007 has come and gone, and to tell you the truth, I am kinda glad 2007 is over. It was a good year, but it kicked the living piss out of me. I traveled so much this past year, I wouldn't care if I didn't board another plane for while. From Washington State to Pennsylvania, I have been all over the place. The memories...maybe this picture can help sum it up...

While I Am At It...

2007-12-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

Three blind mice,

See how they run,

See how they run!

They all ran after the farmer's wife

She cut off their tails with a carving knife

Did you ever see such a sight in your life

As three blind mice?

I love nursery rhymes. I was doing a little Christmas Shopping today (yes I capitalized the whole thing. It is like its own holiday...I don't know how many people bail out on work in the middle of the day to go shopping, but that is another post.) So I passe this company called The House of Blinds. The logo of this company is a blind mouse, and it got me to singing. As I thought about it, I wondered, isn't this a song we teach our yungins to sing in rounds? What a twisted song...Once again, if Marilyn Manson could only sing it. Would that be a song that you would want to use as a lullaby? A tale of three rabid vermin chasing after a psycho woman who is noted for cutting things off that she shouldn't? I think we could have a little fun with this. Bring it up to the 21st Century... I see it now, and here is the new title, "3 Varmints & The Crazy Lady"...movie right have been sold.

Have You Ever Thought About It?

2007-12-13T23:26:00.000-08:00

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake!

O! You better watch out!

You better not cry

Better not pout I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

So I was heading into work the other day when this song came on the radio. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year. I love the snow, the family parties, the lights, and even the music. This song really intrigues me though. The tune is what makes this song. Can you imagine Marilyn Manson screaming his own rendition of this song onto a disc? That would be a perfect song. I mean seriously, would that not be the most terrifying song in the world? I mean you could do some serious damage people...I daresay irreversible damage. If it got some play on the radio and the kids heard it...man, Santa would slowly vanish into a world of obscurity and fear. I actually found the album online of some Marilyn Manson Christmas songs...I think I'll buy it. If you want a copy, shoot me an email, and I'll have you send me your soul. Happy Holidays!!!

Tuesday Triple Play

2007-11-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

Well the time has come once again for me to sit down and review the past week...or two. About a week before Halloween I headed up to our neighborhood Blockbuster to see what they had out that I hadn't seen. To my surprise, there was one copy of 1408 that was available to be checked out. I couldn't believe it, I was lucky enough to grab the last one before the guy behind me snatched it up. In your face random guy. I hope you enjoy Herbie Fully Loaded.

I was really excied to see this show, as I love Samuel L. Jackson and worship John Cusack (If you have seen One Crazy Summer or Better Off Dead, you understand what I am saying.) The show starts out with John Cusack going around debunking local Urban Legends and ghost stories. It is all pretty tame until he gets a mysterious note from a hotel telling him to not go into Room 1408. Ok, the whole thing sounds hokey and the previews made it look like the jump-out-of-your-seat-with-a-load-in-your-pants type of movie with all the things jumping out from behind John, but this movie goes far below that...this movie appeals to your darkest fears and gets inside your head. Really an awesome show with one F'd up room. This room will eat you up, chew you to much and crap you all out only to have it happen again...over and over. What a wicked show this was, and the acting was really awesome. I gained a new level of respect for John Cusack and his versatility as an actoe. If you haven't seen this movie, what the Hell is the matter with you? Go get it right now and watch it. I have to give 1408 3.5 Bawls and the 7th Level of Hell.

This moves me to the next movie that I saw and about a week ago. I stopped in at Blockbuster yet again, and saw a whole mess of movies that I wanted to rent, but knowing that my taste in movies isn't really shared by those around me...(I'll never understand that, but whatever,) I was convinced by my sister to watch Deja Vu while she my wife and I ate dinner. I knew what the movie was about, and to be honest, I didn't really want to see ths flick because any serious movie that incorporates time travel in it makes me want to pass. Anyways I caved, grabbed myself a footlong Spicy Italian Subway Sandwich and Cold Bevarage, and sank into the sofa not really expecting much.

I love Denzel, and actually liked the story of this movie. The thing that unnerves me is any movie that deals with terrorism in any way...I don't know if it is because of 9/11, or the fact that I lived in the Middle East and witnessed terrorism first hand...I don't know, but it always unsettles me. Basically, Denzel plays and ATF agent who is called in to help with the investigation of a terrorist bombing of a ferry that kills a couple hundred men, women and children...it is pretty gruesome the depiction of it. Hmm, but the story is pretty cool and really unique in how they go about the investigation. The whole car chase while looking into the past is pretty freaking awesome.

All in all, this was not as bad as I thought it was going to be, and maybe it is just how I am wired intellectually that time travel movies just seem to leave too many questions unanswered, But again, better than I thought it would be and I left fairly satisfied. I have to give Deja Vu 2.5 Bawls and a Shot of Reality.

And now onto a film that I just watched on Sunday evening. A film that I was amped to see when I first heard about it. It is a sequel to an unbelievably wicked film that came out a couple of years ago. The first film 28 Days Later was a complete shocker to me in the sense that it was a fairly small budgeted movie and that the things they pulled off in it were nothing short of spectacular, so when I heard about 28 Weeks Later, I knew I had to partake.

Once again, the film takes place in England, where 28 have transpired since the virus has literally decimated Great Britain. The thing I love about these shows, is that it takes a new spin on zombies...they aren't the mindless, slow-ass zombies that people have gotten so used to...even the newer Land of the Dead(ish) shows have broken away from that ancient idea. Good on them I say. The virus turns regular people into super angry, blood-thirsty maniacs, and man are they scarier than shirt. Once again, they manage to pull of a London that appears to be completely void of life and make the whole movie just creepy as hell with the mood. This movie is uber-gory and really graphic in some spots...I mean about as raw as you can get without sinking into the mess of Saw and Hostel...uggh. I hate mindless torture, goregasm flicks...anyways, this movie has its share of burning bodies, headshots with high-caliber guns, and even one wicked scene involving about 2 dozen Rage-a-holics and one helicopter...to channel Ice Cube and Chris Tucker from Friday, "Daayuumn!" So if I may make a recommendation, watch both 28 Days and 28 Weeks. Two awesome films. I have to give 28 Weeks Later 3.75 Bawls and an exploding head.

Return to Hellview

2007-10-29T23:31:00.000-07:00

Well, here I a once again sitting at my home office desk writing a press release that has been a curse of mine for about 5 days. I finally get a chance to work on it, and it is due tomorrow morning. Unreal how it is for the same client as I was working on in an earlier post...imagine that! Well, I would have worked on it earlier tonight, but the Monday Night Football game was too good to pass up. Brett Favre...kudos to you. The I had to do a little video project which had me go to my parents' house to film some video for a church project. So there is my video camera downloading video to the computer, my press release up on the screen waiting to be finished, a tall glass of Diet Dr. Pepper, the camera case, a couple choice CDs for my listening pleasure and my notebook with all my awesome notes. I hate myself for doing this once again. Wow, here it is 12:41 am and it is only Tuesday morning. It is going to be a long week boys. Damn it!

A little random fun...

2007-10-17T22:48:00.001-07:00

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver

You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed.
Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections.
Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down.
You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine.

In love, you are very protective and supporting.
However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous.

At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential.
You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

What's Your Personality Type?

Saturday Movie Review

2007-10-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

It was a dark and stormy morning...well, ok a little cliche, but it really is dark and stormy outside. I had just sat down to feed my son some breakfast when I decided to see what movies were on demand. I just love Halloween, because FearNet starts rolling out the scary movies. As I started scrolling through the selections, I came across one called "The Catacombs." Why not?

It started out really well just because Lions Gate Films and Twisted Pictures had their bloody hands involved with this film. I admit, I'm a fan of any movie that is spawned from the depths of Lions Gate and Twisted. I'm sure Rob Zombie would throw in his Kudos for Lions Gate as well...anyways.

This movie is about this unstable gal, (aptly played by Shannyn Sossamon of Knight's Tale, 40 Days & 40 Nights, The Order fame,) who receives a postcard from her sister (portrayed by PINK...who is actually pretty believable,) to leave the States and go to Paris.

So she arrives in Paris to be greeted by the stereotypical rude French people who laugh at her and her poor attempts at French...(I dunno Lloyd, the French are Assholes,) and finally saved by her sister. We see into the mind of our heroine early on and can tell that there are some serious issues she has...seems to be an overactive imagination. (Editorial: Wonder what that would be like?!)

Along with some boys (of course,) they head through Paris off to what is said to be the best of parties. All that needs to be said, is that this party they are going to, takes place in the catacombs of Paris...essentially, the largest mass grave on earth. The movie explanation states that of the 7 million dead in the catacombs, one isn't. The cinematography in the movie is actually spectacular, and the fact that the entire movie has countless human bones, skulls, blood in it, it really adds to the creepiness of the movie.

There is whole back story about the movie's protagonist that is pretty damn scary. When the show ended, I sat there rather happy about my free selection. Pretty cool show, and creepy enough to be a great Halloween movie, so I have to give Catacombs...Three Bawls + a Cask of Amontillado.

Leave Nothing Behind

2007-09-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the new Nike Football Commercials...I get goosebumps everytime I see them on the TV.

Catching Up

2007-09-17T21:00:00.001-07:00

Well, where should I start? I recently underwent the longest road/business trip of my life. I flew into Philly last Sunday and flew back into Salt Lake the following Monday night. I was there with Jared Fogle (The Subway Guy) for work kicking-off the Subway FRESH START: Eat & Exercise Smart Campaign for Elementary School kids across the great state of Pennsylvania. Philly is a pretty cool place, and I have to say that I fell in love with it. I stayed in the Inn at Penn Hotel, which was unreal...I even bumped into Governor Huntsman and Mrs. Huntsman. Philly is a pretty cool place, and the people that I had the pleasure to work with were really cool. We were in Philly for a couple of days and then Jared went to Harrisburg/York/Lancaster to launch the same program. I made a quick stop in York to catch the first 3 innings of the York Revolution baseball game. It started to get late, and I still had a two hour drive into Johnstown. It was all good, seeing as I had some wicked tunes to keep me going. I discovered this band that any Jackass/Viva La Bam fan would know...cKy...they are unreal. I bought a couple of their albums, and if you haven't listened to them, I highly recommend their music. Anyways, a couple days later, Jared came to State College where we got ready to kick off one crazy-ass weekends. Jared was partof the pep-rally Friday night, and was that a wild ride. Coach Paterno came out and got the crowd really riled for the game the next day.

That night we would pass out about 100 4" sandwiches to crazy-ass kids camping at a makeshift campground known as "Paternoville" waiting to get into the game. We had Subway's NASCAR there andwe fired it up and had Jared lead the crowd in a bunch of cheers. (I have to say that was pretty wicked.) Saturday was crazy in that we had Jared all over the news for interviews. I even had the chance to meet Franco Harris of Penn State/Pittsburgh Steelers Fame.

The ultimate rush came about an hour before the game actually started. We were ushered in Beaver Stadium and led out onto the field...(all I can say is wow.) It was pretty awesome being down on the field for all the pre-game drills and exercises. Watching that stadium fill to the 110,078 that was announced was so surreal. I even had to get a picture of myself, Jared and Burbs on the field see top picture...I found that picture on someone's blog. I have never been a huge Notre Dame fan or a Nittany Lions fan for that matter, but being a part of the whole game-day weekend, and actually standing 2 feet away from JoePa, made me an instant fan. Being in State College during that weekend was an unbelieveably awesome experience.

After the Lions kicked the living piss out of the Irish, we hit the night scene in State College, and I have to say, hanging out with Jared made me feel like I was in an episode of Entourage. The guy can go anywhere, get into any club, and VIP area...and I got to be right there for it all. Needless to say I didn't go to bed until about 4:00 am Sunday morning. I wrote about my Sunday in the previous post...Halloween still haunts me.

Monday was crazy in that we visited three schools in launching that program. The best part was that I got a Subway sandwich made for me in Johnstown, and I had to put it in the car for my drive to Altoona (about an hour away.) We got to the school there and my sandwich (which had the Pennsylvania-only sweet peppers in it (mmmm, sweet peppers) just baked in my car.) After about an hour in Altoona, we drove on up to State College. The car started to smell a little like roast beef, and my sandwich had morphed into about the most haggard abomination known to mankind...(See picture to the right.)

Oh well, I miss the sweet peppers and the Buffalo Chicken sandwiches (holla JBB) that I enjoyed in the great PA. It was a marathon trip that I am still reeling from. I am still so tired and beaten up from the 1,200 miles I logged on my Mazda6 I rented. But all in all, a pretty sweet @$$ business trip.

Well children, I'm tired and the screen is f'in with my eyes...I'm off to bed.

We Are...

Movie Review #3

2007-09-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

I just have to drop in and throw down another movie review. I was on a business trip to Pennsylvania last week, and was running non-stop. Then it happened...a couple of hours were free, and I hit the movie theatres in Richfield, PA with none other than my buddy Jared Fogle...you know the Subway Guy. During the days leading up to Sunday, all we could talk about was the new Halloween and how badly we both wanted to see it. So we did our work and then headed to the theater.

The show opened up with a little more background into how seriously "F'd" up Michael Myers was as a kid. The kid they got to play him did a fantastic job at acting like a freaking psycho. The movie was uber-uber gory and violent, and let us not forget the countless "F-Bombs" flying in left and right.

Rob Zombie actually came through in this remake of an all-time classic. The whole move was so damn creepy and suspenseful, I was sitting back in my seat destroying my fingernails. Oe scene even made Jared jump out of his seat. Fans of Rob Zombie films will enjoy the cast that Zombie has brought on. Almost the entire cast of House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects return to play...ready for this? Law enforcement agents. How freaking ironic and perfect! Some of the violence was pretty over-the-top...really over-the-top actually, but damn it made for good gruesome fun. Also, as always with Zombie's films, the soundtrack is killer...literally, it will melt your brain. Another good thing about this film is that he does a great job of taking the stories from the other 23 million Halloweens that were made and compiling them into one sweet film. I did feel that the movie went by too quickly tho- Oh well, t'sall good. Mrs. Zombie (Sherri Moon...wow) does a remarkable job as Mrs. Myers...seriously, she is an awesome actress. Kudos to Rob for showing his wife a little love. All in all, I liked the movie, and would go see it again. I'll probably catch it again on DVD so to see all the extras and commentaries. So now the moment we all have waited for... I have to give Rob Zombie's Halloween, two and a half balls + a Jamie Lee Curtis hanger to the eyeball.

Tuesday Movie Review # 2

2007-08-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

Well boys and girls, I finally went out and rented one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Hot Fuzz is another example as to why British movies are slowly taking over. Ok, ok it may not be "British" per se, but British actors are taking over. I find myself liking our actor brothers and actress sisters across pond more and more everyday. With the exception of maybe two or three American actors, the Redcoats have come...ya...(I do have to show love to Bruce Campbell, Chevy Chase and Johnny Depp.) Anyways, the story of Hot Fuzz starts out with Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg...who is absolutely brilliant) starring as one bad-mother-freaking-ass cop who lays down so much smack that he receives a transfer to a small little hamlet because he is making the rest of the police look terrible. That is where the show really takes off is when he goes to this little hole-in-the-wall town where "Nothing ever happens." I hope that the guys who made this film and Shaun of the Dead continue to make quality films like these. Shaun of the Dead was another fine fine piece of work. I hadn't had that much fun killing zombies since the Evil Dead Trilogy.

I had to watch the movie when everyone else had gone to sleep, and there were times I had to bury my face in a pillow and laugh for fear that I would wake them up. There are so many things about this movie that spoke to me, that I had to rewind at least two dozen places to make sure I heard the dialogue right. Holy crap, what a ride that was. One of my favorite parts was when...I won't spoil it. If you haven't seen HOt Fuzz yet, run, don't walk...don't even take the car...we are trying to save the planet people; to your nearest rental facility and get it. You will not be disappointed. You'll laugh, you'll cry...you'll shite your pants with laughter!

I have to give Hot Fuzz Four Bawls, AND a Karl Malone kick to the crotch. Now that is saying something.

Just for you J.B(squared)

2007-08-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

I was thinking of you tonight when I went to dinner. It just wasn't the same...it still was freakin' amazing tho-

Tuesday Movie Review

2007-08-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

So I had a couple hours tonight to myself, and thought I would indulge and watch a movie on demand. It isn't really a secret that I am a fan of the horror genre, and when I saw that our dear friends at Comcast have started hosting the 8 Films to Die For, and nearly "shirt me drawers." I randomly selected the movie Penny Dreadful. For a low-budget thriller, I have to say that I was pretty impressed. It even had a cameo by cult-fav Michael Berryman. The filming is great, and the atmosphere of the show is actually pretty damn creepy. It kind of caters to a lot of our primal fears, lost, stranded, alone in the dark, being stalked by a faceless killer...uh ya. Overall, damn fine film. I wouldn't recommend it if you were planning on driving the state roads of Montana at night...(Author's editorial - That is no bueno.) Now after seeing this one, I feel like I am obligated to seek out the other 7 films. Is it a sickness that I have? Once I saw thr original Friday the 13th, I just 'had' to finish the other movies. Honestly, they will be making those films for-freaking-ever. Ok children, now the time that you have all been waiting for...I give Penny Dreadful two of four Bawls

Pilgrimage

2007-08-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

I came across this profile of Debra Flinn's on MySpace, (http://www.myspace.com/desperatetodandridge) and I was really impressed. It appears that this lady is walking from Florida to Tennessee. Jeez. I guess she contacted Subway restaurants and told her about what she was doing, and Knoxville Subways provided her sandwiches along the way as a sponsorship. Thats pretty cool.

Tribute

2007-07-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -- Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had tried to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow -- sorrow for the lost Lenore -- For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -- Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me -- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating "'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door -- Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door; -- This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you " -- here I opened wide the door; ---- Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore!" This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" -- Merely this, and nothing more.

Then into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon I heard again a tapping somewhat louder than before. "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -- Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-- 'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -- Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -- Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -- Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning -- little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no sublunary being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -- Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered -- not a feather then he fluttered -- Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before -- On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before." Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

Wondering at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, "Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster Followed fast and followed faster so when Hope he would adjure -- Stern Despair returned, instead of the sweet Hope he dared adjure -- That sad answer, "Never -- nevermore."

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -- What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Angels whose faint foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by these angels he hath sent thee Respite -- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore; Let me quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! -- prophet still, if bird or devil! -- Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -- On this home by Horror haunted -- tell me truly, I implore -- Is there -- is there balm in Gilead? -- tell me -- tell me, I implore!" Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil -- prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us -- by that God we both adore -- Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -- Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting -- "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!" Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted -- nevermore!

Health, Work & Hell

2007-07-16T23:39:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here at my computer typing away on a mother-hugging press release for one of my clients...I wasn't able to get to it today, and like a jackass, I brought it home with hopes to do it tonight. When I get home, I don't want to write a damned release. I want to hang out with my family. I find myself asking the question, "What the Hell am I doing?" 2007 has got to be the absolute shittiest work year of my life. From 1/3/07 until now, my work life has been absolutely non-stop. I am so damn tired and burned out. I just got back from a vacation in Hawaii, and it didn't help calm me down at all. Once I got back in the office, all I has was more work to do and it was piling up everyday.

I still have this damn cough that I cannot get rid of...it is the same cough that I got back in January...after a million different drugs, I still can't shake it. It has absolutely crippled me...literally. I coughed so hard, I blew my stomach open and had to in for surgery to have it taken care of. The thing that pisses me off the most is that I couldn't take any time off to rest and recover from my battle with Bronchitis, flew and Laryngitis. I just fought through it, and it landing me in the O.R. Thats just f'ing great!! The cough is starting to hurt my side, and I am worried that I am going to give myself another hernia. My teenage insomnia has returned, so I am getting roughly 3 hours of sleep a night, and it is killing me. All I do is worry now about work and whether I can keep doing it at the pace I'm going. I have been busting my ass for 7 months now, and I'm tired. I'm so burned out and I feel like what has made me successful in the past is no longer a part of me. I am just a shadow of what I used to be. I'm not fun, happy...myself anymore. I am just a shell of the old me. Work has just annialated me and my spirit. Every morning, I wake up and dread the day...I just want to sleep and get better. I never have understood the power that stress and no sleep can have over a person. I feel like I am in a deathgrip, with the life slowly being squeezed from me.

It is the depressing time like this that make me so mad and go back to the dark times. Dark thoughts fill my mind, and I hate everything around me. Don't worry, I'm not running for the razorblades, but the world just seems to be closing around me, and I can't breath. Everyday, I fight back the tears and bile that rises in my stomach. Is this what an ulcer feels like? Is this what a heart attack feels like? With every passing second, I feel like I am on the verge of a complete mental breakdown. Sometimes I can feel my heartbeat inside my head, and I think I am going to pop. Anxiety attacks are common-place now, and I think everyone is out to ensue I fail at everything I do. Time is my enemy in that there just isn't enough of the damn thing in the day to get everything accomplished. This isn't a call for help, just a blank page for me to rant and gnash my teeth.

This is what Hell must be...sitting here in front of my computer at 1:00 am, literally dying inside while my wife and son sleep. I will wake up in a few hours and go into work with a feeling of impending doom surrounding me all day long. My eyes are heavy, and all I want to do is sleep...I could sleep for a week straight...if I had the time. One day soon, I think I am going to have a nervous breakdown, and lose myself. Work has changed me...it has scarred me...ruined me mentally and physically. At times when I finish a project, I should be happy and excited to move on to the next project...but I can'tfeel that satisfaction anymore.

As I sat in my rental car in Madison, Wisconsin last month at the culmination of the biggest PR campaign I have ever done, and one of the biggest stressors ever in my life, what should have been a time to kick it and celebrate that the beast was dead, I sat all alone at an intersection with storm clouds brewing around me...crying...sobbing really that my life was in the state that I was in...not Wisconsin...but a state of complete sorrow, sadness and solitude.

Now here I am putting off work so I could post a quick entry on my killer blog.

Sure Enough

2007-06-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

So after about an hour trying to retrieve the other photos of the "UFO" out of my deleted messages on the old phone, I found them. I don't know the name of the lady who took my picture and was in this photo, but I found it nontheless. With this, you can see the fins on the back, and the actual size compared to a fully-grown person. I have another photo, but I'm not going to post it.

The X-Files (Salt Lake Episode)

2007-06-14T20:28:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I really don't write in my journal anymore, I might as well write an entry on here. Maybe I'll just print off this page and paste it in the old journal. So anyways, yesterday was about one of the craziest days I've ever had. I didn't get much sleep the night before and I was coastin' on fumes even at 6:30 in the morning. I just had to stop in and get myself a Diet Rockstar to help me get going. I was driving west on I-80 when I saw one of the weirdest things I've ever seen. There, floating about 100 feet off the ground was this shiny silver tube. It was just hovering there. It wasn't moving at all, and I had to do about a 20-take while driving at 70 mph. I've never been one to give much thought to UFOs and aliens, but after seeing that thing, I really started to question myself.

I got into the office and I started to hear the buzz about the a UFO flying around the city. I knew I wasn't crazy...well at least not certifiable (yet.) I stood there in one of the conference rooms watching this huge ass blimp-like thing maneuver ever so carefully around the federal building. That was a little sketchy...this mysterious airship making circles around the fed bldg. Hmm. Anyway, this ship moved with such precise movement, that it looked almost fake. It would turn at a right angle, and then stop on a dime. So robitc, it was a little creepy. We couldn't see how it was being propelled, though we looked as best we could. One of my co-workers, "Craiger" calledone of the local new stations, and he said they acted like he was truly certifiable. Who laughed last Craiger? You my friend. It almost touched down on 200 South for a moment, then it lifted straight in the air and flew over our 24-floor building. About a dozen of us ran over to the other side to watch where it went. It slowly began to descend and soon vanished behind a parking garage. After the suspense nearly killed me, I ran to the elevator togo investigate. Naturally, there were five people in there with me and they all were stopping on floors before the lobby. (Damn Murphy's Law.) As I rounded the corner, there it was. This massive silver zeppelin sitting there. This other lady and I struck up a conversation, and she said tat she had seen it too and had the same WTF thoughts I did. I asked her to take a picture of me with it to show the boys in the office what it was. The lady I was with said she would stay with it until the guy who owned it came to pick it up. I got back showed a couple people the picture and we all had a good laugh.

Towards the end of the day, Gadd told me to send the picture into KUTV because they had all these pictures of the blimp flying around, but none like the silly one I took. So I thought why not. So I sent it in, and last night, I saw my picture in the paper and my name all over the internet. All from a little picture I took on my ancient cell phone. A reporter from the SL Trib called me last night to ask me about the day's events. So funny. Now that I think of it, I think I have some other photos that I thought I erased that I sent to that lady...stay tuned.

YAWN...

2007-06-12T23:39:00.001-07:00

Holy Crap...I haven't even watched one minute of the 2007 NBA FINALS, and I'm about to fall asleep writing about the series. I just have to throw a little rant out there for you all to snack on...it is 12:42 am right now, and I am struggling to write a press release for one of my clients. Super-Awesome stuff, but so much to do in so little time. I did travel to Madison, Wisconsin last week and I had the chance to visit the University of Wisconsin's campus. Freakin' wicked campus. I even stopped in to see the brothers at Sigma Chi. Well, I should get back to my work...go Badgers!

Okay...okay

2007-05-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

Well, my Jazz are now out of the playoffs. Good run fellas, good run...well until the San Antonio Series. Good Hell. I'm a little distraught over how things turned out..oh well, its all good, the Jazz are young, and they'll be the terrors of the NBA next year...Ah next year, my favorite saying with my favorite teams (see left.) I have a vast array of 4 AFC Championship rings, 2 Western Conference Champion banners and one National League Championship Ring. The eternal Red Ribbon Winner...jeez. Wait, there is always next year!!! Oh, and bytheway....................................... these guys are still Assclowns.

Celtic Woman - Caledonia (Stereo)

2007-05-23T23:06:00.001-07:00

One of my favorites

Voices of the Angels

2007-05-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the privilege of going to a concert of one of my favorite groups. Celtic Woman has to be one of the greatest ensembles of female vocalists of all time...go ahead and fight me on that one. I can trace my love for this vein of music to a river running trip to the Green River I made over 12 years ago.

My buddies and I were all sitting around the campfire talking about the finer things in life, and from out of one of the tents came this angelic voice that I had neer heard before. I never knew Lloyd could sing like that...oh wait, no it was the first time I ever heard Enya sing. He has his stereo playing the CD The Celts, and instantly I was transported to medieval Caledonia. Enya and her music soon became an obsession of mine, and I could not get enough of her melodic voice. My Saturdays were filled with yardwork with my huge-ass CD player shoved in my pocket playing Enya over and over again. A little weird? Here I was a 16 year old putz spending hours listening and memorizing the Gaelic verses of the famous artist. Ya, ok...my wife still makes fun of me and my obsession with all things ancient. A few years later I went to Scotland and there I fell in love with the bagpipes (I even began bagpipe lessons later that summer,) and became so intrigued at my family's Scottish and Irish ancestry.

Anywho, fast forward a few years, and I happened to be watching PBS and stumbles upon a group from Ireland named Celtic Woman...and once again, I was immediately bewitched. I sat there for two hours, open-mouthed and teary eyed (try and not cry when they sing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring,) and again, my wife made fun of me. I found out when the next showing was and fired up the TiVo. I had to talk about it at work the next day, and one of my co-workers saw it too, and he was caught in the mystical web that is Celtic Woman. Fast Forward a couple of months, and a business trip opportunity arose for about five of us at the agency to go to New York and New Jersey to plan and execute a World Record event. It was decided that my fellow Celtic Woman fan and I would spend our time on the Jersey side while the other three worked the New York side. During my endless media research for the area, (The New York/New Jersey media market is the largest in the nation,) I 'happened' to stumble upon the smallest newspaper in the entire media list's website, and there was a little banner saying that Celtic Woman was going to be playing at a venue 15 miles from our hotel...on one of the nights we were there. "Are you kidding me?" My associate likes to say that this event was truly brought to pass by "The Hand of God." Seriously, what are the chances that the two Celtic Woman fans in the whole agency would wind up in New Jersey together, on that date, in FREAKING HOLMDEL, NJ? It can only be pointed to one thing..."Divine Guidance." So, needless to say, we made it a point to get to the concert come Hell or High Water. Let me just say that the venue was unbelieveable (the P.N.C. Bank Arts Center)

The concert blew us away, and I have to say it was probably the best concert I had ever been to.

Fast forward to last night, when my best buddy, his wife, me and my wife hit the E Center and saw the Celtic Wom(e)n fill the arena with haunting melodies. As we were leaving, my buddy said it was probably the best concert he had ever been to. Our wives even liked it...who is laughing now honey? HMMMM?!

So if you haven't checked them out, I highly recommend looking at Celtic Woman.

Here is a little taste for you all: Check my next post.

Once Again

2007-05-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Ah, again, my beloved Jazz make it through another round...and once again, I am amazed that nobody picked them to do it. I have to admit, I can't stand watching the Golden State Warrior play ball, it makes me feel like I am watching a swarm of ants running helter skelter all over the place. I do have to give them props for knocking out the Mavericks...honestly who saw that one coming? I have always been a fan of Don Nelson (especially during his previous run with the Warriors. I love Chris Mullin, and loved the old Warriors, Mullin, Richmond, Hardaway RUN T-M-C anyone?) Anyways, I've always had a soft spot for the runt of the California NBA family. A couple of times this series though, I wondered wat the hell was going on to see a couple Warriors take it hard to a couple of the Jazz players. I don't mind a hard foul, in fact there are times when I look for it, but this series made the Warriors look like Thuggish Streetballers. Pretty lame if you ask me. Another thing that just kills me is the endless bitching at calls that don't go their way. It isn't just the Warriors, I've notices it a lot in the NBA nowadays, and I'll throw Jazz players into that mix. You can argue a call, and I'm not going to be bothered by it, but the endless bitch sessions that seem to take at least 5 minutes out of each game has got to stop...anyways, I gotta throw a little love out to the GSW. Helluva playoffs boys, and the fact that after each game they were all very complimentary of the Jazz, really showed a lot of character. (Especially not bitching about the officials...which both teams could have done throughout.) At the end of the game last night, Stephen Jackson walked over and gave Coach Sloan a congratulatory hug really was impressive. Now my last rant for this post...

Wow, it looks like one of you "experts" pulled their heads out. Congrats Mr. Anthony, you are the strongest link this week...the other four of you...ASSCLOWNS!

Waste of Space

2007-05-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

Enough Said...

Phew

2007-05-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

So I sat down to watch my Utah Jazz play in Game 7 of the '07 Playoffs. It has been awhile since the Jazz have even been in the playoffs, and this team has brought back Pro-Basketball to Utah...(We still love you John, Karl and 'Horney'.) I gotta say that this team we have now is so fun to watch. The wicked thing is they are still so young. I love everyone on the team from Boozer to Araujo. So back to the game...it was a hard fought war that had me on the edge of the couch all night. I chowed my Costa Vida Sweet Pork Burrito down like it was nothing and downed a couple glasses of apple juice just waiting for T-Mac or Yao to do something that would screw us up...that or the 'Zebras' homering for the Rockets screwing the Jazz...again. But in the end, I sat back and realized it ws 11:00 pm and I was spent. One thing I thought about was the fact that so many people, "experts" as they call themselves were so quick to write the Jazz off. Hmm...who's laughing now?

Certainly not these Assclowns...

Anyways, I love how the Jazz were one of the top teams all season, and hardly anyone gave the Jazz any love. Anyways, who cares, second round here we come. I don't have time to let my fingernails heal from the abuse they took last night during the game, but we'll find something else to chew. So I'll wrap this up with a bad-ass shot found on espn.com that says it all...

The Dark Mark

2007-05-03T22:40:00.001-07:00

Morsmordre...one of my absolutely favorite parts in the Harry Potter movies. I'm just fascinated by the dark arts...even if they are J.K. Rowlings creations.

Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix International Trailer

2007-04-25T21:15:00.001-07:00

I can't wait for this freaking movie to come out. So excited that I can't even stand it.

Bastardization

2007-04-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

So on my way to work the other day, I experienced another one of my pet peeves. A stupid local car dealer's new radio ad came blaring out over the airwaves, to the tune of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" song. I sat there and listened in disgust for about 10 seconds and thought, where the hell has creativity gone? I can see the meeting now, "Hmm, what can we do with a new commercial...something that will speak to our target demo...lets take a classic song, and bastardize it to promote our cars..." We saw it with that dumbass with the banks singing U2's "One," and that was an abomination in and of itself. C'mon people, can you not do your own thing? Isn't that what you get paid for? I'm sure if the Man in Black had heard this commercial, he would walk into that dealership and (see above.)

Havasupai...Four Years Ago

2007-03-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

It was nearly four years ago that all my cousins (well, most of them) and I made the uber-long drive down to Havasupai, AZ. The drive down was really long, but ERK made it go by a lot faster with his anecdotes and super smart math skills. The 10 mile hike was hot, dry and tiresome, but dang when you hit that water, it was all worth it. The water was as crystle clear as Hawaii or The Bahamas. The where four main sets of waterfall...Navajo, Havasu, Mooney and Beaver. This picture was a snap of me just about to jump. When I launched, it was a little higher than I thought, and let a choice word or two echo throughout the canyons. That was a good time. I'd love to go do it again...sometime. Ok, enough nostalgia for the evening.

300

2007-03-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

So I went and saw this 300 movie to see what all the talk was about. (Sidenote: I love the previews, almost as fun as seeing the actual movies...) First of all, I have to comment on the cinematography. Absolutely breathtaking. If Gladiator and Sin City were to have a child, it would be 300. During the 2.5 hours, I could barely keep my jaw off of the floor. The acting, music, storyline were all so good, I couldn't believe it had taken me so long to finally go see it. The battle scenes were absolutely unreal. Anyways, great family flick...ok maybe not family.

The Power of a C.B.

2007-03-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, I served my mission in Japan. Having always been a fan and supporter of the soda industry, I took pride in my taste of the finer beverages in life, (Dr. Pepper, Coke, Pepsi, Root Beer, Mountain Dew...you get the idea.) It was until 1996 however, when a whole new world of soda choices opened before me. I think the Japanese people like soda just as much, if not more than Americans. (They just don't drink 108 oz. at a time.) The two years I spent in Japan were awesome for so many reasons, and one of those was the endless line of beverages I could enjoy. Sometimes I tell myself that I would give up Coke for a Mitsuya White Cider, or give up my Diet Pepsi for a BYG (Cola, Grape or the deadly Melon.) The power that a Cold Beverage has over me is rather disturbing. It seems that I always need something near my hand to drink...it doesn't even matter what it is. It has to be cold, carbonated and crisp...there you go, the three "C"s to a good C.B.

Music

2007-03-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

So it is no secret that I love music that not many people know about, or considered "Mainstream." Case in point, I've popped into a couple of MySpace groups and I received an invitation to check out this group called Creature Feature. Looking over it and seeing what the actual CD looks like (old school record,) I immediately fell in love. I just had to have a copy. Just another testimony that the best music out there isn't the pre-packaged crap we here so much of on the radio. It had been almost a year now since I last listened to the radio in my car...I prefer silence to the crap that a DJ/station manager wants you to listen to. Half the time, the best songs are the ones they don't play. Screw that crap. Halleluiah for awesome bands like Creature Feature.

Road Trip...for work.

2007-02-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I am close to wrapping up my Montana Tour of Duty. I have been to Great Falls, Billings, Butte, and now I am sitting here in my hotel in beautiful Missoula. I have discovered a whole new world of culinary treats during my week. When I was visited Billings, I went out to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings, and I must say that I fell in love instantly with it. I even bought a couple of sauces to take home with me, thanks man. Another fun spot is HuHot. Fan-freaking-tastic. Anyways, now I need to go crash for the night, cause I ate my own weight in Mongolian BBQ. Whywe don't have either one of these fine establishments in the SLC, is really beyond me. Franchise opportunity? Anyone, anyone? Frye...Frye?

F.O.R.

2007-02-09T15:33:00.000-08:00

I used to work with a guy who had the most unique system I have ever seen. It wouldn't matter where we would all go to lunch, the guy would pop pill after pill to keep his body regular. Not "REGULAR," but normal. More times than not, he would make a b-line to the bathroom as soon as we got back to the office. He would even share a recurring nightmare he would have with us, his fellow workers about how he would be at home and two guys in labcoats would show up on his doorstep with coolers and request his organs. His little disorder was henceforth known as Full Organ Rejection. Finally a name given to a disorder that many people have been afflicted with. I.B.S.?? Child's Play! Diarrhea?? Please! Screaming Shits? Not even close. F.O.R. Baby! Full Organ Rejection! Now that I have wasted 5 minutes, I bit you adieu...for now.

Drowning

2007-02-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

<------Ever felt like this? When work gets to be so bad that you begin to get sick every night just thinking about all the crap that needs to get done the next day. Depression sets in during the commute, and you do everything you can to keep your eyes open because you were up all night worrying about your piles of papers you need to get to. It almost doesn't seem worth it...the insomnia, sick stomach, constant migraine headache...the hours of unpaid overtime you spend at the office while your family slowly forgets what you look like because you are at work all the time. I spend 2x more time with my coworkers than I do with my wife and son...and thats sucks ass.

Mondays

2007-02-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

Enough freaking said...

One of the Next Movies I plan on Seeing

2007-02-04T10:27:00.000-08:00

I Might As Well Take Up Smoking

2007-02-02T08:21:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months, a dirty disease has crept over my beloved SLC-Town. Every Winter, our valley becomes a bowl of sickening pea soup. Every morning, the weatherperson talks about just how damn bad the air is in SLC. No wonder so many people and kids are coming down with respiratory problems. Look at this picture...is there any doubt what could be causing it? I have to walk up and down six levels of stairs in the morning and evening to get to my car, and you can almost taste the crap that is in the air. Ever sucked on a muffler?

Lowest of the Low

2007-01-31T11:56:00.000-08:00

You know, I can't stand to watch the news anymore. I'm done. If I see one more story about a pissed off girlfriend/boyfriend whoever hurting a child to 'get back' or 'prove a point', I'm going to blow my top. Every night, I see a new story about some dipshit who put a kid in the oven or some other crap like that. WTF??!! Anyone, and I mean anyone who would do something like this deserves to be hogtied, horsewhipped and stoned to death. I mean, lets think about it...I'm pissed off, I've been hurt...so how can I take it out on someone that won't bite me back? You selfish bastards. If life were so damn hard that you are gonna beat a kid or worse...do the world a freaking favor and throw yourself into the woodchipper. At least then you could serve a purpose. Since you're a piece of shit anyways, might as well fertilize something. I would love to see these kids grow up and stick your sorry ass in the furnace. Scum of the earth.

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones...it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." - Matt. 18:6

The Sundays

2007-01-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

Well, it is 10:12 PM on Sunday evening...( a time which I believe is the worst time of the week.) I hate Sunday nights when the sports is over...all I have to look forward to is another week @ work. I know that I have about 18,000,000 tasks that I need to tackle tomorrow, and my way of not dealing with it is delaying Monday. I stay up late on Sundays, because the later I stay up, the longer my weekend. What a stupid thought. Come Monday morning, I'm draggin' some serious @$$. This is what I call "The Sundays."

Sundance Film Festival

2007-01-23T07:08:00.000-08:00

It is once again time for the Sundance Film Festival. I have to admit, that I think it is an awesome thing. For a little part of the year Park City is transformes into Tinseltown. I actually have been to Sundance...saw a movie premiere and went to an after party. I had a blast. Good times all around. On my way into the office this fine Tuesday morning, I past countless Escalades that were part of a limo service with Sundance stuff all over them going out to the airport...I assume to pick more stars. It got me thinking about some of the discussions I have heard over the years. Every night I see throngs of young teens, young adults freezin' to death walking the streets of P.C. star gazing. The sad thing is, I know a portion of those people dress up, doll-up, fake-up and then head for the mountains to be discovered. I guaran-damn-tee that is the mentality of some of these people. I've seen the signs, I seen the people. You poor people, when was the last time you saw Leeza Gibbons or that strange-duck "Cojo...Kojo????" Who cares talk about an actor who was discovered standing in the snow in Park City with a sign that said, "Hollywood, your search is over." Here's a little taste of reality folks...{Boot To The Head}...you are wasting your time, and you probably scare the people from Hollywood away with your tactics. You have more of a chance being discovered having your buddies pepper-spray or taser you nearly to death. Just ask Johnny Knoxville and his crew. Much love to Knoxville and the Jackass/CKY stables...you all have made being an insomniac an enjoyable thing. Here's hoping for a Jackass 3. Anyways, for those of you thinking about going to Sundance to be the next big thing, put your posterboard and markers down, grab your bus ticket, go to Blockbuster...hell go to Red Box and grab a cheeseburger and fries, select a fine feature film and enjoy...because thats the closest you're gonna get to Hollywood. Seacrest out----->

Monday at the office

2007-01-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

On my way into the office this morning, I stopped at my local 7-11 to refuel after a long weekend of watching football and movies. As I filled the 44 oz. cup with tasty tasty Dr. Pepper, I thought about just how much I was not looking forward to today. Friday afternoons are always nice because the work piled on your desk can wait 'til Monday. Well now here it is Monday morning, the temp. outside is about 10 f'ing degrees, and I have resorted to drinking an ice cold beverage (C.B. I'll explain later,) to wake me up/make me happy. So now here I am...my DP is half gone, and the time is slowly ticking away...and the work keeps piling higher. I must agree with that old fat orange cat Garfield in saying I don't do Mondays.

Try this out for size

2007-01-19T23:00:00.000-08:00

Technorati Profile

People @ The Movies

2007-01-19T22:41:00.000-08:00

Today was a fine day, work was hectic as usual...all work and no play make Jack a dull boy. That is why we went out with the "Bs" for a fine sushi dinner at Sushi Express and saw Night at the Museum afterwards. After we enjoyed our Mars rolls and extra wasabi/ginger, we bankrupted ourselves with the $4.50 small popcorns and $5.50 Dr. Peppers...good gar. Anyways, what really amazes me is that when the movie starts, a select few in the audience seem to think that once the lights dim in the theater, everyone but them vanishes. Parents, please please please please please keep the children quiet. We listened to a commentary throughout the whole movie about how it was scary/spooky...was the T-Rex real...the monkey is naughty huh momma?! The real kicker here is this. The damn parents would respond in the same loud voice, thus teaching their kids that...to heck with everyone in here trying to enjoy the movie, I am going to take this time to educate my kids...as loudly as I possibly can the finer points about special effects and the fact that you are far more important than anyone sitting around you. Now that I have put that gripe to bed, here we go with another rant. Judas Priest people, how many f'ing reminders do we have during the pre-movie slideshow reminding us to turn the damn cell phones off? Hmm...I counted at least 8 times. Yet, sure enough some dumb crap's phone goes off in the middle of the movie...what really kills me i that they seem to think that if they ignore it, it will go away, or that noone else can hear it. Thats right, I can't hear the digitized singing and bells going off behind my right ear. Then, they play the dumb card..."Oh is that my phone going off? Well who the hell else's could it be you jackass...then comes the frantic fidgiting throught the purse that could hold about 3 horses and the dumbass proceeds to answer the call. Congratulations, you are now the official @$$hole of the year. If I had the $ to toss around, I would stand up toss them a ten-spot and tell them to wait to rent it so they can talk all they want without annoying anyone else. I have a dream where movie theater ushers become movie theater law enforcers...wouldn't it be sweet to see the 110 pound 17 yr old run up the isle and crack someone over the head with their maglite for talking on the phone? Vigilante ushers...so in short, people if you are going to a movie, sit down, shut up and enjoy the flick in happy silence. You dumb bastards!

Paco Belle

PDR or Proper Drink Run

The #PDR Mystery Explained (Tomorrow)

Why I Love Twitter

One Quarter

Manage the Mess One App at a Time

It's time for a Big Gulp #PDR ... cupcake (link to my friend's blog)

The Magic of Sports

An Apology to my Wife or "Cold Soup"

Patience

Loyalty? Not so much

Haunted By Memories...Updated 6/14/2010

My Wordle - What My Twitter Friends Think of Me

You Know It Is Time...

Memories of Dracula

Lazy Sack O' "S"

My Favorite (blank) in Utah - Sushi

Dedicated Poem

New Gang in Town

Surprise Packages

brains....brains....BRAINS!!!!

New Half-Blood Prince Trailer

The Wagon is Coming

Oh My Gosh

For Paul

A Quickie

Big Plans

WOW

When it hits...

The 2007 ~ 2008 NBA Finals...Hooray!

Of Pine Trees and Taxi Cabs

Taser, Taser, Taser

I Love The Daily Show

Are You *BLEEP*ing Kidding Me?

Oh Hell No!

Anything else?

Moving On...

WTF?

The Lord of the Ring...an Epic Tale

2007...Later

While I Am At It...

Have You Ever Thought About It?

Tuesday Triple Play

Return to Hellview

A little random fun...

Saturday Movie Review

Leave Nothing Behind

Catching Up

Movie Review #3

Tuesday Movie Review # 2

Just for you J.B(squared)

Tuesday Movie Review

Pilgrimage

Tribute

Health, Work & Hell

Sure Enough

The X-Files (Salt Lake Episode)

YAWN...

Okay...okay

Celtic Woman - Caledonia (Stereo)

Voices of the Angels

Once Again

Waste of Space

Phew

The Dark Mark

Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix International Trailer

Bastardization

Havasupai...Four Years Ago

300

The Power of a C.B.

Music

Road Trip...for work.

F.O.R.

Drowning

Mondays

One of the Next Movies I plan on Seeing

I Might As Well Take Up Smoking

Lowest of the Low

The Sundays

Sundance Film Festival

Are You BLEEPing Kidding Me?