tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45078838615134203062024-03-13T09:07:55.240-07:00brad got a blogbradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-45408608459977656522016-04-09T17:34:00.002-07:002016-04-09T17:34:45.173-07:00Questival was a success. We didn't win, or even come close, but it was a good time getting out.<br />
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<img src="webkit-fake-url://d424e931-cdd6-4ea6-b366-dfe410dc20b9/imagejpeg" />bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-33505660638911953072014-05-04T11:11:00.001-07:002014-05-04T11:11:27.712-07:00So We Went to Europe: ParisIt was late when we got there and then, then I felt really lost. See in England they had at least spoke English. They don't speak English in France. Or at least the one worker that was still in the train station when we got off. By a bit of a miracle we found where the bus was we were supposed to get on the bus that would drop us off near the hotel. Unfortunately Paris hotels are a bit hard to find. So we wandered in the direction I thought it was in and then realized we were never actually going to find the hotel (I should add in here in is probably one in the morning). By another miracle someone passed by us, and I asked him for directions, and amazingly he spoke English! And he let me use his iPhone and that got us going in the right direction. <br />
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It was not exactly smooth sailing from that point. It still took us another thirty minutes or so to find the hotel. And all of this time we were starving, we smelled terrible (remember there was no shower at the temple, and we had been outside walking all day), and the luggage carrier that Ariana and Tyler gave us was<i> really</i> struggling across the cobblestone sidewalks. But we made it.</div>
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The room was very nice but <i>very</i> small. We went back out to try and find food, though at three in the morning options are limited. Turns out, Paris doesn't have many Denny's in the proximity of that hotel. We did however find a scary convenience store where we had the option of buying a small can of Pringles for about $8 or a small bag of chips for $5 or $6. So with two tiny bags of chips we went back to the hotel showered and went to bed (not quite the romantic Paris evening I had planned).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First view of the Eiffel Tower.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It said that the room had a balcony.<br />
Apparently in French, 'balcony' means 'window with bars across it.'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eP8Yb0jZvqw/U0HgSzKWu4I/AAAAAAAACF0/zs_MVVRr-bg/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eP8Yb0jZvqw/U0HgSzKWu4I/AAAAAAAACF0/zs_MVVRr-bg/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was about a foot and a half of space all around the bed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCqdG1T25_w/U0HgST9ENpI/AAAAAAAACFo/ll1H7Av-Amo/s1600/IMG_1681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCqdG1T25_w/U0HgST9ENpI/AAAAAAAACFo/ll1H7Av-Amo/s1600/IMG_1681.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The view in the morning was beautiful though.</td></tr>
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What seemed like fifteen minutes after I had gone to bed the phone rang. Turns out, it was one in the afternoon! As amazing as the blackout curtains are, it makes it very hard to wake up at a reasonable hour when you're exhausted. So we got up, went and check into a much cheaper hotel just down the street, and it was actually way closer to the Eiffel Tower. The downside was no air conditioning. And two twin beds. But for a third the price, we could make due. And the staff was super friendly which is always a plus. The first day we mostly walked around and saw stuff, ate some fun food. Day two we went to the Louvre which was pretty cool. I mean, we saw the Mona Lisa (not really the most impressive of the pieces of art). There was also a lot of other cool things that I recognized from some of my old art books. We saw Notre Dame, witnessed part of some kind of service there, ate at a place that had good crepes but terrible creme brulee, and paid $17 for a equally terrible cheeseburger and fries. </div>
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Despite the mostly bad food it was still so fun to be there. And then came Rome.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Our second little room. We ended up pushing the beds together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nzqCGmDmUA/U0IK77E3VaI/AAAAAAAACGQ/gsUOQdmfsTc/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nzqCGmDmUA/U0IK77E3VaI/AAAAAAAACGQ/gsUOQdmfsTc/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside of the Louve.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gt6JyoqNA1c/U0IK7sO-AKI/AAAAAAAACGI/9bVZ6JRLc5Q/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gt6JyoqNA1c/U0IK7sO-AKI/AAAAAAAACGI/9bVZ6JRLc5Q/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we scraped on initials on the front of this lock, put it on the bridge,<br />
then threw the key into the river. I guess it's all the rage :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_P7xzAEPDXw/U0IK9Eq1MkI/AAAAAAAACGk/woflpiEhX5w/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_P7xzAEPDXw/U0IK9Eq1MkI/AAAAAAAACGk/woflpiEhX5w/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is really one of the best pictures of us on the trip.<br />
Too bad the creme brulee wasn't as good.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pV-ErDWYyIw/U0IK9NuYdiI/AAAAAAAACGg/xc4gJXqJBIc/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pV-ErDWYyIw/U0IK9NuYdiI/AAAAAAAACGg/xc4gJXqJBIc/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a bit of a crowd in front of this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hutWCz5NC1k/U0IK-hcb6KI/AAAAAAAACG4/y7lSJJI3grQ/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hutWCz5NC1k/U0IK-hcb6KI/AAAAAAAACG4/y7lSJJI3grQ/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how huge this is!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just so cool!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6U1PGM9sGg/U0ILA5kaTLI/AAAAAAAACHQ/P6bQVq9aGuQ/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6U1PGM9sGg/U0ILA5kaTLI/AAAAAAAACHQ/P6bQVq9aGuQ/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real mummy = real dead person here. Weird.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious desserts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EoV1FfYKHCg/U0ILBKTwd4I/AAAAAAAACHY/midH_LKXiK0/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EoV1FfYKHCg/U0ILBKTwd4I/AAAAAAAACHY/midH_LKXiK0/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a few kissing ones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is outside the first restaurant we ate at.<br />
It was actually in a movie we saw the other day too, which made us feel awesome and cultured.</td></tr>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-66332961419321111852014-04-06T15:33:00.003-07:002014-04-06T15:33:36.021-07:00So We Went to Europe: England Part 2After leaving them we took the train back to London. When we got there we found a place to leave our luggage for the day, taking the bare minimum for what we thought we would need at the temple. We hopped on the train and headed out again. I might have forgotten what stop we were supposed to get off on though...and the train ride was considerably longer than we had anticipated.<br />
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I got pretty nervous towards the end of the ride. Turns out, the very last stop happened to be the right one. I can't remember now how we knew to get off there. Anyways. Luckily Brea talked me into getting a cab instead of walking, and a few miles later we got to the temple accommodations.<br />
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Turns out it's not really so much like a hotel. I had expected there to be towels and stuff at least. Nope. So we had no towels, no soap, nothing. The sheets were folded on the end of the bed that we had to make ourselves. But it was only thirty or forty pounds which was cheaper than we would have found elsewhere I'm sure. That night we walked to a pub/restaurant where I got the huge half chicken in what they called Yorkshire pudding covered in gravy. It was alright, though not as amazing as it could have been. <br />
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But the temple session was great at least. We happened to be there with a stake from France, so we were the ones that had to were the headphones. It was a really nice spiritual moment in the middle of the vacation. It definitely made me appreciate the proximity of temples in the US. I had certainly never had to plan a temple stay to visit a temple before, and these French saints had to travel hours longer than we had. I am always impressed with the sacrifice of so many church members.<br />
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After our session we headed back to London where we walked around and visited some of the famous sites: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, and a few of the cathedrals around. Stopped at a little cafe for lunch/dinner and the jumped on the train for our few hour long ride underneath the English Channel to Paris!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though it wasn't bad, it unfortunately wasn't as delicious as I wanted.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J02TsngL9AM/U0GwjZL8VNI/AAAAAAAACDU/qYPCKa99vCQ/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J02TsngL9AM/U0GwjZL8VNI/AAAAAAAACDU/qYPCKa99vCQ/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where all the workers live I think.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxbosqC3Yxg/U0Gwk9y7BoI/AAAAAAAACDg/sSSBfcsOl0E/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxbosqC3Yxg/U0Gwk9y7BoI/AAAAAAAACDg/sSSBfcsOl0E/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little room after we made the bed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEq0pN4jj5o/U0GwlwgeUcI/AAAAAAAACDo/bAxq1aG7mLo/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEq0pN4jj5o/U0GwlwgeUcI/AAAAAAAACDo/bAxq1aG7mLo/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But they do include this helpful reminder.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckingham Palace</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knKBELUequc/U0Gwo-JAc1I/AAAAAAAACEA/vlgwr0A1Gzs/s1600/IMG_1568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knKBELUequc/U0Gwo-JAc1I/AAAAAAAACEA/vlgwr0A1Gzs/s1600/IMG_1568.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ve8h2Rfb9KE/U0GwpjMyBPI/AAAAAAAACEM/hPutZDcChkY/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ve8h2Rfb9KE/U0GwpjMyBPI/AAAAAAAACEM/hPutZDcChkY/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The English person on the other end of the line<br />was getting very worked up.</td></tr>
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<br />bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-87672061893133110772014-03-09T18:31:00.000-07:002014-03-09T21:02:08.507-07:00So We Went to Europe: England Part 1Sometime around 10 a.m. Saturday morning we landed. Now I feel like I've traveled kind of a lot. I am pretty good at winging it. Turns out, I freaked out a little when I stepped onto UK soil. Everything went fine up until the point that I realized I had no idea how much cash I needed to pull out of the ATM, no idea how much I would get charged for it, and no clue what the best option would be for getting to Newcastle to see Tyler and Ariana.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Y9yz0Afh0/UwvZa124V8I/AAAAAAAAB-4/mNbVwxu66yA/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Y9yz0Afh0/UwvZa124V8I/AAAAAAAAB-4/mNbVwxu66yA/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">We are a bit tired.<br />
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After someone told me it would be very expensive to get to the other station, a really nice guy stopped us while we were wandering aimlessly about. Apparently, he could spot people that were "lost", which indeed we were. Instead of getting on the bus that would have taken forever, he said we could take the "tube" and it would only cost like $10. So off we went!! And yes, I laughed a little inside every time they said I was on the "Piccadilly Line to Cockfosters" in their excellent British accent. We made it to the King's Cross station, paid an exorbitant amount for train tickets, and were finally on the last leg of our initial journey. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ldk41RGXM5U/UwvaWL5GOfI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Ckduyt96bI8/s1600/IMG_1465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ldk41RGXM5U/UwvaWL5GOfI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Ckduyt96bI8/s1600/IMG_1465.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cockfosters. Hehe.</td></tr>
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After three days of traveling, all without sleeping in a bed (this was Saturday afternoon, we hadn't laid down since Tuesday night), it would be hard exactly to describe how comfortable that train was. Sitting down, listening to a five year-old girl talk with her dad in her adorable accent, knowing vacation had finally started, it couldn't have been more amazing in that moment. Unless Publishers' Clearing House showed up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H0Pt7TRb17U/UwvaVRf7YXI/AAAAAAAAB_A/m3bb2qJUo2I/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H0Pt7TRb17U/UwvaVRf7YXI/AAAAAAAAB_A/m3bb2qJUo2I/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least there was room on the train.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLAwIrepKrc/UwvaWZHUCOI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/WRsXUGbp_fM/s1600/IMG_1466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLAwIrepKrc/UwvaWZHUCOI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/WRsXUGbp_fM/s1600/IMG_1466.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those were some swollen feet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt2k6SO_lFQ/Uwvab7ukJCI/AAAAAAAAB_o/4SVPUAY_QJA/s1600/IMG_1470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt2k6SO_lFQ/Uwvab7ukJCI/AAAAAAAAB_o/4SVPUAY_QJA/s1600/IMG_1470.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sandwich looks an awful lot like it came from Fresh & Easy. <br />
But the bacon was more like prosciutto and pretty gross.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyFW3958YWE/UwvaZCxi7XI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/heplT1Ab22c/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyFW3958YWE/UwvaZCxi7XI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/heplT1Ab22c/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty view.</td></tr>
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Four hours later we stepped off the train and there were our friends!!! And wow it was good to see them cause it had been forever, and a little sweeter cause I felt quite a bit less lost. And there was someone else to carry the duffel bags! And they had food! And a baby!<br />
<br />
One more 45 minute train ride, a little walk, and we made it to their house. After a trip like that, to lay down anywhere, even on the floor, was more amazing than I could have anticipated. So there I laid for a bit until Tyler and I headed out for food.<br />
<br />
Obviously we had to get fish and chips. We went to this little shop and for seven or eight dollars you get a piece of fish that is about an inch and a half thick, and 12-15 inches long, covered in delicious batter, topped with more salt than I could fathom ingesting (oddly enough, it wasn't that salty when we ate it. Not sure how that happened), and of course the fries. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K46DdlDlzLY/Uwvabd_tI_I/AAAAAAAAB_k/S1NWfqafubk/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K46DdlDlzLY/Uwvabd_tI_I/AAAAAAAAB_k/S1NWfqafubk/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">She was pretty impressed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_s8_Luo2vyE/UwvagRCry-I/AAAAAAAAB_4/tj0teG9sPmQ/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_s8_Luo2vyE/UwvagRCry-I/AAAAAAAAB_4/tj0teG9sPmQ/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">And excited.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EcP1-wsft40/UwvcP5DOzXI/AAAAAAAACAA/u1KG76iQd5g/s1600/IMG_1485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EcP1-wsft40/UwvcP5DOzXI/AAAAAAAACAA/u1KG76iQd5g/s1600/IMG_1485.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Millie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y87f5wn4RRk/UwvcRWPTp4I/AAAAAAAACAo/rH1YT92JQs4/s1600/IMG_1494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y87f5wn4RRk/UwvcRWPTp4I/AAAAAAAACAo/rH1YT92JQs4/s1600/IMG_1494.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was very excited to be holding the baby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqdY37jxkHo/UwvcSiMp7EI/AAAAAAAACAg/JIgLaumK8BU/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqdY37jxkHo/UwvcSiMp7EI/AAAAAAAACAg/JIgLaumK8BU/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited. Still.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_UoNXsBWUg/UwvcQHIgBzI/AAAAAAAACAE/Wg0kDALVJZI/s1600/IMG_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_UoNXsBWUg/UwvcQHIgBzI/AAAAAAAACAE/Wg0kDALVJZI/s1600/IMG_1486.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I even held her for a bit. I guess it was okay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4uhJbG6ZZc/UwvcQRwhBdI/AAAAAAAACAI/nSYVoZR1j-U/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4uhJbG6ZZc/UwvcQRwhBdI/AAAAAAAACAI/nSYVoZR1j-U/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach right outside their house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOAo2k17qkE/UwvcQt5sFQI/AAAAAAAACAM/VuYz3R3-J70/s1600/IMG_1492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TOAo2k17qkE/UwvcQt5sFQI/AAAAAAAACAM/VuYz3R3-J70/s1600/IMG_1492.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We even found greyhounds! Made us miss wax a bit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQKTRERcqec/UwvcZbHTP5I/AAAAAAAACBU/szxoyZeQQO0/s1600/IMG_1496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQKTRERcqec/UwvcZbHTP5I/AAAAAAAACBU/szxoyZeQQO0/s1600/IMG_1496.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What great little houses. And everything was so clean.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-HH7QqRgVc/UwvcUdYtLZI/AAAAAAAACAs/_JRIfQmSijc/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-HH7QqRgVc/UwvcUdYtLZI/AAAAAAAACAs/_JRIfQmSijc/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No one goes to church anymore, so they convert the old buildings <br />
into little shopping centers like this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3l35w_mKPAI/UwvcWpxmbdI/AAAAAAAACA8/QG6Z2GVNCxE/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3l35w_mKPAI/UwvcWpxmbdI/AAAAAAAACA8/QG6Z2GVNCxE/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will probably own this one day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCzSPyIjWZo/UwvcWWFnbYI/AAAAAAAACA4/S3aRZjEMvh0/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCzSPyIjWZo/UwvcWWFnbYI/AAAAAAAACA4/S3aRZjEMvh0/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone takes their dogs with them, and just tie them up <br />
they go inside. They were all <i>very</i> well behaved dogs.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxVSQOqmuKA/UwvcXsEhIFI/AAAAAAAACBE/1xfjHZ7gaO4/s1600/IMG_1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxVSQOqmuKA/UwvcXsEhIFI/AAAAAAAACBE/1xfjHZ7gaO4/s1600/IMG_1507.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old castle of sorts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4J55odq-fU/UwvcYnD4QkI/AAAAAAAACBQ/caKz4bw6XBc/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4J55odq-fU/UwvcYnD4QkI/AAAAAAAACBQ/caKz4bw6XBc/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunny day at the beach. With water WAY too cold to swim in.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6F-Cb55x-I/UwvcZwdMcLI/AAAAAAAACBc/DhPRW_j9CQc/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6F-Cb55x-I/UwvcZwdMcLI/AAAAAAAACBc/DhPRW_j9CQc/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ventured out to a neighboring town (alone) to go grocery shopping.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-towc8R30CtE/UwvcawI_0nI/AAAAAAAACBk/BjNFjTuQqgI/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-towc8R30CtE/UwvcawI_0nI/AAAAAAAACBk/BjNFjTuQqgI/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And found another dog.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their flat was one of these.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHA7dIidZJ4/Ux0UXehFegI/AAAAAAAACCA/Vut2fL4B7ls/s1600/IMG_0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHA7dIidZJ4/Ux0UXehFegI/AAAAAAAACCA/Vut2fL4B7ls/s1600/IMG_0775.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got yelled at for taking this picture. Those Brits get a bit serious at times.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q5kM4A5uDQI/Ux0UXj8_fSI/AAAAAAAACCI/YYnZhFNe5A4/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q5kM4A5uDQI/Ux0UXj8_fSI/AAAAAAAACCI/YYnZhFNe5A4/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful architecture. </td></tr>
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It was such a good time that we decided to spend another two days there. It was really just great to see our friends after so long, and somewhere so far away. While the rest of the trip was fun, I don't know if it really got better than those few days in Tynemouth. </div>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-82824634994095702012013-11-07T06:31:00.000-08:002013-11-07T06:31:24.620-08:00So We Went to Europe: Leaving the USWe got on our plane in Phoenix around 6. Sometime in the afternoon we made it to Charlotte and found some delicious burgers that I had seen on some food show (Bad Daddy's Burger Bar). And that was the good in Charlotte. The bad is they needed to repair a seat in the plane. Which took hours. And then they closed the airport for about fifteen minutes because of a storm. After the airport was reopened they spent another thirty minutes working on the seat, and then we started boarding. I am wondering about this time, what could be so difficult to fix about a seat?! Apparently, a lot. When we finally boarded, they had removed the entire back rests of two seats!!<br />
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Anyways. We finally take off hours late and of course land five minutes after our flight to Glasgow had left. They give us a new itinerary with a flight leaving in four hours, landing in London, and then another eight hour layover before we went to Glasgow. After about an hour of angry phone calls and talking to different customer service personnel, I <i>did not</i> get upgraded to first class since they blamed the entire delay on the fifteen minutes of inclement weather, and the best I could arrange was to end the flight in London. Oh and then we got stuck on the runway with another plane malfunction for two hours. So slightly after midnight Friday night we were finally on our way.<br />
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<br />bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-76427083384810089912013-08-04T22:45:00.000-07:002013-08-04T22:45:35.461-07:00So We Went to Europe: Leaving Texas9Fine, fine, I'll write about Europe. I know it will be a year in a week, I've been busy okay? I'll try to get this done in a week.<br />
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First of all we had to leave Texas. We decided that to save gas and give me an extra day to work we would tow the Camry with the 4Runner. I didn't really think it would be that big of a deal. But there was some vibration coming from the car occasionally. With a helpful employee of some auto shop we found the source, some swing arm suspension thing of sorts. They couldn't fix it then so I went to Autozone and bought it for $35. It didn't <i>look</i> like it would be hard to replace. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ypRRyBkGGCQ/Uf85BeyCrjI/AAAAAAAAB-E/wTfmr9FMQl0/s1600/IMG_1459+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ypRRyBkGGCQ/Uf85BeyCrjI/AAAAAAAAB-E/wTfmr9FMQl0/s320/IMG_1459+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It doesn't look hard to slide out, right?</td></tr>
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I started working to remove the three bolts about eight at night. With the assistance of an improvised cheater bar I finished that in an hour and a half. Next came a pin that I had imagined would simply come out. It didn't. After an hour or so, after reading forums online, I gave up and went to Walmart for a propane torch. Then I came back home for my wallet. Then I went back to Walmart to <i>buy</i> the torch. Another hour or so of effort I finally found success. Fifteen minutes later the new piece was on, and by one o'clock we were on the road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jiq8dgR9fWI/Uf85BuOUbSI/AAAAAAAAB-M/Mkjs4WrCfco/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jiq8dgR9fWI/Uf85BuOUbSI/AAAAAAAAB-M/Mkjs4WrCfco/s320/IMG_1461.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I might have been a little tired when I took this. You see the dog sleeping? And the car following too closely (every time I saw it in the rear view I freaked out a bit).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the little angel sleeping.</td></tr>
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Through the night we drove, stopping for Denny's-to-go about four a.m. The next eight and a half hours passed relatively uneventful. When we reached Van Horn I told Brea (for the third time that year) that I broke down there once. Not quite a mile after I uttered that phrase, I noticed the temperature gauge sneaking up. I pulled off into the first rest stop (a dirt area with a covered picnic table). We stopped, the thermostat kind of exploded, or at least draining itself of all the liquid it held. I called AAA, requested a tow. During the hour or so that it took the truck to arrive, we discussed our options. If we could get the radiator replaced in the next few hours we could possibly still make our 6 a.m. flight the following morning. Unfortunately after calling a few shops we realized that wasn't going to happen. I had resigned to missing the flight. Then Brea asked if we could tow the 4Runner. Though I had contemplated it the memory of burning up my last Camry's transmission, even with an aftermarket after cooler, was still pretty vivid. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcQrrti48uU/Uf85RcX1bvI/AAAAAAAAB-c/hb0hLaPh8HU/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcQrrti48uU/Uf85RcX1bvI/AAAAAAAAB-c/hb0hLaPh8HU/s320/IMG_1462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we started the day.</td></tr>
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That being said, I am a risk taker. And Brea thought we should try. We unpacked the driver's seat of the Camry and took it off the trailer so I could drive to the auto parts store for a tow hitch that I didn't have with me. But then I had to disconnect the drive shaft of the rear-wheel drive 4Runner (I had read about it earlier). And in the process I stripped one of the bolts. The next few hours involved me under the car with a tiny hack saw trying (unsuccessfully) to cut my way through the bolt. I am not a mechanic. I do not have mechanic's hands. What that means is that including the previous night, the eight or so hours I spent pulling on tools was <i>really</i> starting to hurt my sissy boy hands. And the back of my head was bruised from the pavement. And I cut my head open under the car. And my wife and dog were dying of heat. Luckily a nice lady stopped and gave us a little water and a few other snacks she had grabbed from her hotel before she left. We were slightly less miserable but still no closer to getting home.<br />
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Finally, luckily, Brea had enough. Though I had prayed, she had us pray together for a help, really for a miracle. I just needed a sawzall, was that to much to ask for?! For another little bit nothing happened. But then a semi pulled up!! I asked Brea to ask if he had one. And....he didn't. After talking for a bit we found out he only stopped because he only saw Brea standing by the car and thought that the poor girl needed some help. He checked his truck for tools and came back with a pipe wrench. I took it skeptically and....IT WORKED!!! I wanted to cry. Instead we just got in the car and left (accidentally leaving a handful of things on the side of the road).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--tggFnKLKfs/Uf85RdOiUNI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/Had4oBe3UUE/s1600/IMG_1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--tggFnKLKfs/Uf85RdOiUNI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/Had4oBe3UUE/s320/IMG_1463.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we ended the day.</td></tr>
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We scraped the hitch a lot, drove twenty under the speed limit, but we made it!!! The seven hour trip ended up taking about ten, but we arrived at Brea's parents' house around two in the morning. Christin met us there, we dropped off our dog and cars, went to her house, showered, got a bite to eat, and then left for the airport. Europe here we come!!!bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-24809159922646159412013-06-19T20:11:00.002-07:002013-06-19T20:11:27.098-07:00I Got a JobIn December of 2006 I signed my first contract to work doing alarm installations. Though it definitely had it cons along with its pros, it was pretty awesome as far as jobs go. For five and a half years it was the only job I had. <br />
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Then I went out and got married. When things like that happen, moving across the country at a moments notice to make some quick money get less fun. Mid-October my alarm career finally came to an end.<br />
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Now here I am working for a gigantic company, GoDaddy. Though not necessarily in employees (there's a little over three thousand of us), we made over a billion dollars last year. We sell more domains than the eight next best sellers combined.<br />
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I know it's not a dream job. But for right now it pays the bills, which is swell. And they have awesome Christmas parties that they rent out Chase Field for, and give away over a million dollars at. And they have a lot of other cool contests and giveaways (that I don't win). Right now I can deal with that.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chase field, revamped.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately I will always look pasty next to this girl.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some good ol' arcade games.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the pitcher's mound where we ate dinner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my training friends and the giant digital graffiti wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She whipped me at Blackjack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We might have been the only ones that could muster excitement for the B-52's.</td></tr>
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Complete with Psy impersonator.</div>
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The million dollar give away. This went on for 15 minutes, twice, and got much faster.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ow Ow!</td></tr>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-29059736162809300652013-06-17T09:42:00.001-07:002013-06-17T09:42:24.251-07:00Christmas in the SouthThough this was my second year being married, it was the first since my mission that I wasn't with my family, and honestly, it was a bit weird.<br />
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The in-laws were great, they really are. But I'm a little biased towards Carbiener Christmases. So we did the best we could to make sure it felt as Christmasy as possible. We did a little decorating inside. We wrapped the palm trees with lights again (much to the chagrin of Jeffrey who had to deal with a rather brightly lit room). We made our yearly trip to Starbucks for some spiced apple cider and to the best tree lot ever (the only one I will ever go to as long as I'm in Arizona). We watched Christmas movies and of course read the Polar Express. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8fBLEAIx9-U/Ub5lRp_m6mI/AAAAAAAABxo/6O6dT08yA8A/s1600/IMG_2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8fBLEAIx9-U/Ub5lRp_m6mI/AAAAAAAABxo/6O6dT08yA8A/s320/IMG_2038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Shopping</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IKEVqwYwiF0/Ub5lSJbiu3I/AAAAAAAABxs/zxInEKUIbvM/s1600/IMG_2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IKEVqwYwiF0/Ub5lSJbiu3I/AAAAAAAABxs/zxInEKUIbvM/s320/IMG_2041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They said we could bring Shelby, I told you it was the best tree lot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QF1msJ_HIKU/Ub5lSM9HS-I/AAAAAAAABx0/1QmRSqLRDk8/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QF1msJ_HIKU/Ub5lSM9HS-I/AAAAAAAABx0/1QmRSqLRDk8/s320/IMG_2042.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I helped with the lights, but Brea did most, if not all of the decorating of it. And a wonderful job she did.</td></tr>
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Though one of my bosses tried to guilt me into taking a six a.m. shift I managed to keep the day off. And it really was pretty good. We opened up some presents ourselves, we Skyped with Idaho Falls for a bit, and we made our way over to the in-laws to check in.</div>
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Though I'm glad we'll be back up in the snow this coming year, sometimes it's good to try new things. At least that's what my dad always told me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I wanted my gingerbread house to look like. It didn't.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGvBoWuN9Dw/Ub5ltLY0w8I/AAAAAAAAByE/mSoT_-lv8h4/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGvBoWuN9Dw/Ub5ltLY0w8I/AAAAAAAAByE/mSoT_-lv8h4/s320/IMG_2129.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas lights at the temple.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starbucks' cups at the temple are funny.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's really a very tolerable dog.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2AOOgcgyvd0/Ub5lyJMFmBI/AAAAAAAABzU/gZnfP7RAdO8/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2AOOgcgyvd0/Ub5lyJMFmBI/AAAAAAAABzU/gZnfP7RAdO8/s320/IMG_2160.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wax got Shelby a rawhide Christmas card. And then tried to steal it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s0nVBDql5I/Ub5l0T_eEuI/AAAAAAAABz8/D-wLVBs8cBE/s1600/IMG_2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s0nVBDql5I/Ub5l0T_eEuI/AAAAAAAABz8/D-wLVBs8cBE/s320/IMG_2165.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Please just let me open one of them early!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J245o66dhUs/Ub5l1EHKPoI/AAAAAAAAB0I/USnIVuPgAJI/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J245o66dhUs/Ub5l1EHKPoI/AAAAAAAAB0I/USnIVuPgAJI/s320/IMG_2170.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish we had any extra money, cause this was awesome. Sometimes Walgreens surprises you.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHwYDr1Ic0E/Ub5l3KeGt2I/AAAAAAAAB0g/JAbHG0palmI/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHwYDr1Ic0E/Ub5l3KeGt2I/AAAAAAAAB0g/JAbHG0palmI/s320/IMG_2174.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presents around our tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsXH4qJnqUA/Ub5l4ZiYlzI/AAAAAAAAB00/bRSWeKM_0Mw/s1600/IMG_2177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsXH4qJnqUA/Ub5l4ZiYlzI/AAAAAAAAB00/bRSWeKM_0Mw/s320/IMG_2177.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe a bit more than she could handle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkYZPtVaRWM/Ub5l4mkpFFI/AAAAAAAAB1A/4w4SKK9q14k/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkYZPtVaRWM/Ub5l4mkpFFI/AAAAAAAAB1A/4w4SKK9q14k/s320/IMG_2178.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smaller box of toys. She loves that squeaky penguin.</td></tr>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-90821632741912871152013-02-18T11:37:00.000-08:002013-03-04T14:10:23.050-08:00Breakfast With TateSix months ago we were hurting for some money so I called an alarm company I used to work for, and a few days later we headed to California. I think we were only there for a week, but it was a good trip, and Shelby loved that we let her sleep on the other bed. Though she still seemed a little put off that we wouldn't let her cuddle in ours. <br />
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The fun thing about the trip was that we completely forgot Candice and Adam were there too, and only like forty-five minutes away. We decided to go see them one night after I got off, and we showed up a little after the kids had gone to bed. Brea and I slept on a mattress in the living room. That is until we heard, "Mr. Jones, how did you get here?!?!" from a tiny little voice. At five in the morning. Despite our repeated attempts to get Tate to go back to bed, and our insistence that Shelby was definitely not Mr. Jones, we spent the next fifteen minutes hearing about Mr. Jones' new spots on his belly, and about how much he likes carrots. We were very grateful when Adam showed up to haul him off.<br />
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However, he is a dang funny kid. With some kinda crazy imagination in that little head of his. I decided to video him eating breakfast, just so you could have a little taste of it. And now I have no idea where it is, so I suppose these will have to do.<br />
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<span id="goog_1613564212"></span><span id="goog_1613564213"></span>Found them but blogger wouldn't let them upload. So YouTube it is. They're a bit long and slow but probably still worth watching.</div>
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<br />bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-24542877102797553932012-12-26T14:55:00.001-08:002012-12-29T13:51:36.260-08:00If Only Every Present Got This ReactionMerry Christmas everyone.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qxfTQjH8n4M" width="640"></iframe>bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-14911030913397805032012-10-28T16:10:00.000-07:002012-10-28T16:10:54.984-07:00Sexy and I Know ItLast year we didn't dress up for Halloween. Partly cause we both got sick, and partly cause I couldn't decided on anything I wanted to do.<br />
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Brealynn decided this would be unacceptable this year (which it would have been). She began asking me ... probably around the beginning of July what we were going to be. As usual, I couldn't think of anything that far in advance. Sometime in September we settled on Scooby Doo, Fred and Daphne.<br />
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The nice thing was, our total cost to put together that look was something like fifteen dollars. This included a wig and some shoes that Brea decided not to wear. But we looked super awesome, and had a super good time at our friends party (and I made s'mores with Reese's for the first time. Oh my gosh they are delicious).<br />
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Saturday I got the great idea that Brea would make a perfect member of the group LMFAO. She took a little while to believe it, but with ten dollars (which helped purchase a $4 pair of red snakeskin skinny jeans), a lot of hairspray, a black shirt that I lettered, and a pair of ridiculous shoes that were actually in her collection already, her look was completed.<br />
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With a can of gold spray paint and two light up bracelets taped inside for glowing eyes, I had my costume. And we looked ready to Party Rock. I sure am glad my wife's so fun to dress up as. And only complained a little when I asked her to dress up as a man. Maybe my dad could try this out next year....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mystery Inc., minus Velma and Shaggy</td></tr>
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What we were going for:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aFEIC5UoAe4/UI25OvVdikI/AAAAAAAABwA/fBEU56VioGs/s640/blogger-image--332791066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aFEIC5UoAe4/UI25OvVdikI/AAAAAAAABwA/fBEU56VioGs/s640/blogger-image--332791066.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one on the left goes by the name "Redfoo"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VyLMg1Ub8-g/UI25N_awT9I/AAAAAAAABv4/dx0hC5TdaDY/s640/blogger-image--1644541091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VyLMg1Ub8-g/UI25N_awT9I/AAAAAAAABv4/dx0hC5TdaDY/s640/blogger-image--1644541091.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZnaXIX64mRQ/UI25PRpj1sI/AAAAAAAABwI/-JYRGE3Bk_A/s640/blogger-image-107331528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZnaXIX64mRQ/UI25PRpj1sI/AAAAAAAABwI/-JYRGE3Bk_A/s640/blogger-image-107331528.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Robot Pete.</td></tr>
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And the finished product:</div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G6a0Zro6Wfk/UI2m-fMTMgI/AAAAAAAABvM/5ar4lKr9x80/s640/blogger-image--468780171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G6a0Zro6Wfk/UI2m-fMTMgI/AAAAAAAABvM/5ar4lKr9x80/s640/blogger-image--468780171.jpg" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4jY_ouWfO48/UI2m-08PcDI/AAAAAAAABvU/IWlcMEyCUUQ/s640/blogger-image-1842969009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4jY_ouWfO48/UI2m-08PcDI/AAAAAAAABvU/IWlcMEyCUUQ/s640/blogger-image-1842969009.jpg" /></a></div>
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And in case my dad wants to watch the whole video:</div>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-50950866417643781742012-10-28T15:57:00.000-07:002012-10-28T15:57:01.004-07:00Spooky Alley aka It Matters to THAT StarfishAfter this, in true Carbiener fashion, we go to build this Spook Alley with Christin. At ten o'clock at night, the evening before the party. In her defense, she was busy, but she could have probably at least done the decoration purchasing. Though in hindsight, Brea and I provided invaluable assistance with this and with the construction. And I confirmed my assumption that I am entirely too big to fit in one of those anymore. And it ended up totally awesome.<br />
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And possibly those kids won't appreciate it too much, and maybe there wasn't too many of them, but it's probably one of the best they'll ever see. Nice job Christin. And us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-78Zy4o452i8/UI2kAKulLlI/AAAAAAAABuA/vjguB4F2nuQ/s640/blogger-image-1196415758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-78Zy4o452i8/UI2kAKulLlI/AAAAAAAABuA/vjguB4F2nuQ/s640/blogger-image-1196415758.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUPER creepy Christmas light spiders.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YbfHSoAR0Ls/UI2kBGXJ5CI/AAAAAAAABuI/pnxvgX3gXt0/s640/blogger-image-1186485639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YbfHSoAR0Ls/UI2kBGXJ5CI/AAAAAAAABuI/pnxvgX3gXt0/s640/blogger-image-1186485639.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really like these ghosts. But they took up a lot of room in there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a71PJle8NS8/UI2kCJpSZ3I/AAAAAAAABuQ/uPaATwZVIVo/s640/blogger-image-190846994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a71PJle8NS8/UI2kCJpSZ3I/AAAAAAAABuQ/uPaATwZVIVo/s640/blogger-image-190846994.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Christin was excited about it which makes it all worth it.</td></tr>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-69818029689867880272012-10-28T15:56:00.000-07:002012-10-28T16:12:08.106-07:00Spa DaySo my mom came into town. Really, it's always wonderful when I get to see my parents. I do miss them sometimes more than I realize. Anyways, her and my aunt Jill decided to spend a few days at a spa I believe to reward themselves for having taken such good care of my grandfather the last few years of his life. <br />
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Just because she's so stinking nice, she paid for Brea and Christin to come spend a day there too, which include both an hour long pedicure and an hour long massage. And a waterfall pool, and hot/cold pools, and the sauna, and the steam room. I hear they had a blast. I of course stayed home slaving away, cleaning the house to perfection (alright, so maybe it wasn't EXACTLY like that. I did clean a little though). I showed up at the spa just in time for dinner and ate this delicious sea bass. Piled in a corn tortilla and with that sauce on it, it was the most I've enjoyed a bite of food for a while. As well as some excellent company.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ummm could you smile Jill?</td></tr>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-79075072398158066702012-10-28T15:54:00.000-07:002012-10-28T15:54:06.038-07:00Halloween Pumpkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our first pumpkin carving activity was a few weeks ago with Jeffrey and Olivia. Yeah it was a bit early but it was a good jump start to get us in the Halloween mood. Mine is supposed to be a zombie, maybe eating a brain in front of it. Kinda hard to get. Brea's is a super cool Pac-Man with vampire teeth, and Olivia made Domo. And Jeffrey was afraid of touching the pumpkin guts so he just watched.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BEy0o4KEmh4/UI2jQHCWxbI/AAAAAAAABto/zDsQFeOrC_E/s640/blogger-image--247786833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BEy0o4KEmh4/UI2jQHCWxbI/AAAAAAAABto/zDsQFeOrC_E/s640/blogger-image--247786833.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does it make sense that that is a brain?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k6KE1xLeGWw/UI2jQ2xtc7I/AAAAAAAABtw/p6Mpj_zQpNU/s640/blogger-image-1762599297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k6KE1xLeGWw/UI2jQ2xtc7I/AAAAAAAABtw/p6Mpj_zQpNU/s640/blogger-image-1762599297.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess we left Olivia's out of the picture....</td></tr>
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The second go was the next weekend. We had Brea's friend, Amanda, and her guy come over and I carved a devil, Brea rocked a minion, and Amanda and Jose did Hello and Mummy Kitty, respectively. And now the pumpkins have all long since rotted and been thrown out. Now we have none. Too bad we don't live in Idaho or they would freeze and last forever outside.</div>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-69312400887362455452012-10-07T23:25:00.003-07:002012-10-07T23:31:25.977-07:00The Trip HomeFinally it came time to leave Texas. <br />
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I had promised Brea a good steak dinner before we left, so we went out for some the night before at this place that had been open for like fifty years (it has gotten a great deal more classy over that time I think). It was expensive, but oh so delicious. And places that offer 38 oz steaks on their menu have to be good, right? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Gq4J5BH42XQ/UHJyV5j-JZI/AAAAAAAABso/tSMOCBFWDJc/s640/blogger-image-463960945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Gq4J5BH42XQ/UHJyV5j-JZI/AAAAAAAABso/tSMOCBFWDJc/s640/blogger-image-463960945.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge blocks of cheese at the salad bar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DE</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LISH</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OUS</td></tr>
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And yes, if you were wondering, those were hand picked twenty oz ribeyes that we had the butcher in the back cut off for us.<br />
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On Thursday, the day we were actually leaving, I had been working most the day which left Brea to pack the house all by her lonesome. And load one of the cars with the things from our third floor apartment. When I finally got home around eight, I started to replace a broken idler arm. It was supposed to be easy. It turned out taking three hours and involved me going and buying a propane torch. But it finally got done, and by one in the morning we were on the road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-daXJHHT3ZWY/UHIXHNcu7OI/AAAAAAAABo0/CSOT-CbxryU/s640/blogger-image-41295372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-daXJHHT3ZWY/UHIXHNcu7OI/AAAAAAAABo0/CSOT-CbxryU/s640/blogger-image-41295372.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do I look a little tired?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepin'.</td></tr>
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So on the road we went. It was a relatively smooth trip. Though the 4runner is probably not the best car for towing, but it did it's job for the most part. For a while at least. We drove through the night and had made it about twelve hours out of Houston. You remember when I broke down between Van Horn and El Paso years ago? And then in El Paso over Spring Break? Well we had just passed Van Horn, heading towards El Paso, when I noticed the temperature gauge start creeping to the right. Then a little more. Seeing as how I had already seized one engine relatively close to there, and Adam and Candice had just seized the one in the Suburban, I wasn't taken any chances. I pulled over just in time to watch the radiator dump all the coolant out. </div>
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We were going to tow it. But then we found out it could not be fixed that day, something that was absolutely necessary since we flew out the next morning at six. We did some discussing and decided to switch the cars. That is right, we bought a new tow hitch and pulled the 4runner up onto the car dolly. The rear differential did not come off nearly as easy as I had hoped, but thanks to a few miracles and some very generous people that had stopped to assist with water and a pipe wrench, I got it unhooked and off we went. And despite all our worrying, actually towed it like a champ. We didn't risk taking her over sixty, something which made that drive excruciatingly long, but at quarter to two we finally made it home. A quick trip inside for clothes, a quick shower at Christin's house, and off we went to Europe!! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a good little car.</td></tr>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-63209755485397350692012-10-07T21:22:00.003-07:002012-10-07T21:22:44.675-07:00Relient K<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A lot of the music that Brea listened to when we started dating I had never heard of before. And I didn't like a lot of it, or a lot of the stuff that I had heard of for that matter. But then there is Relient K. Which I listened to a little of with her but not much. Then Brea found out the would be in concert in Houston, and we got some tickets to the House of Blues.</div>
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I took my first night off of the summer and we headed down there and it was so much fun. It started off with a band called House of Heroes which weren't bad. And then a guy named William Beckett who was excellent. Hello Goodbye followed and were surprisingly fun, as well as surprisingly old and nerdy. A little like Jeffrey honestly. </div>
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Relient K did not look at like what we were expecting, which is more like what they look like in the music videos. But the good news is, they sounded awesome. It was such a good show all around. Oh yeah and we found Olivia's slightly heavier doppleganger.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TcCAgXazaB8/UHJEtaCyudI/AAAAAAAABqs/trIFaAu1BZI/s640/blogger-image-1403325234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TcCAgXazaB8/UHJEtaCyudI/AAAAAAAABqs/trIFaAu1BZI/s640/blogger-image-1403325234.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another great smile.</td></tr>
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And so you know I'm not making this up:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JR8Ru8oRxvc/UHJGO4uddAI/AAAAAAAABq0/B5smcO2LF9g/s640/blogger-image-585370959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JR8Ru8oRxvc/UHJGO4uddAI/AAAAAAAABq0/B5smcO2LF9g/s640/blogger-image-585370959.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Olivia!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-56g1hCxOgg8/UHJEsxM0wKI/AAAAAAAABqk/jdIg00b0Muk/s640/blogger-image-1371342374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-56g1hCxOgg8/UHJEsxM0wKI/AAAAAAAABqk/jdIg00b0Muk/s640/blogger-image-1371342374.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's crazy, right?!</td></tr>
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And for those of you who want to know what Reliant K sounds like:</div>
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This is one of their bigger ones.</div>
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This is one of my favorites, a lot because I really like the lyrics.</div>
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This is another one that I really like, and it was one of the last songs they played.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZweLOIPERoA" width="640"></iframe></div>
bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-77028531936109555812012-10-07T19:34:00.001-07:002012-10-07T19:34:03.693-07:00Chase and BrettThe nice thing about Houston was I had the chance to catch up with some old friends and introduce them to my new wife. The first of which was Chase. And he's still Chase, still obnoxious as ever. Though now he has daughters to pick on, and accidentally make cry when he tells me on the phone that he'd sell me one. It was fun to hang out with them a few times though, even though it was only a few times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EpXNSS81fRY/UHI03v2bxAI/AAAAAAAABpg/aiAIQHXDRdQ/s640/blogger-image-1450215025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EpXNSS81fRY/UHI03v2bxAI/AAAAAAAABpg/aiAIQHXDRdQ/s640/blogger-image-1450215025.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brea got to hold the baby which put a smile on her face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iFzNNQj9Es8/UHI1LeRSIEI/AAAAAAAABpo/tK-uG2CU2QY/s640/blogger-image-276275249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iFzNNQj9Es8/UHI1LeRSIEI/AAAAAAAABpo/tK-uG2CU2QY/s640/blogger-image-276275249.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelby wanted to eat her I think.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jtxeOT89xNM/UHI1L-jInuI/AAAAAAAABpw/YBbh3J4rqlE/s640/blogger-image--1207339889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jtxeOT89xNM/UHI1L-jInuI/AAAAAAAABpw/YBbh3J4rqlE/s640/blogger-image--1207339889.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, Chase is a dad.</td></tr>
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I don't know how I didn't take any pictures of Brett and his family. But they're cute and it was so good to see them again.</div>
bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-32258481864010601192012-10-07T16:32:00.000-07:002012-10-07T16:32:16.867-07:00I Am BatmanThough I Facebooked it, I think I should probably include this as well. A theater in Texas had a Batman marathon for twenty five bucks for the premier of Dark Knight Rises. Brea made up a few shirts, complete with capes (I didn't actually know how ridiculous I would feel in a cape) and after missing Batman Begins thanks to a late install, we made it just in time for The Dark Knight (which I appreciated way more the second time around), and then of course the finale. It was so fun to go to, and so fun to dress up (thanks Brea) and feel a little like it was 1989 again (the original) or 1992 (Batman returns) and I was going to see Batman as a kid again (thanks dad).<br />
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-22233965702082991392012-10-07T16:19:00.001-07:002012-10-07T16:19:56.703-07:00The Greatest Show On Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The circus was in town, and since I drove by it everyday I eventually talked myself into buying tickets. I thought it would be a surprise date for us. One day, maybe two days before the show, we drove by it and Brea says something to the extent of, "One day I'd like to go to the circus. That's on my bucket list." And then I said, "What if we go Thursday?" </div>
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It's kinda fun when something that you don't think is that big of a deal gets a good response. This was one of those times. She gets real quiet for a minute, her big old eyes well up with tears, and she asks if I'm serious. When I say that I am, then come the tears. Not sobbing mind you, but good little happy tears for the next few minutes. It reminded me a little of the youtube girl that gets to go to Disneyland for her birthday. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iW2ZJe2eZ3A/UHIIXTzWIaI/AAAAAAAABlk/Z0NUnzGaHSo/s640/blogger-image--536534520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iW2ZJe2eZ3A/UHIIXTzWIaI/AAAAAAAABlk/Z0NUnzGaHSo/s640/blogger-image--536534520.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does she look a little excited?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IGEk8K5t8pM/UHIIXnQyQCI/AAAAAAAABls/bTU4NeTZDGg/s640/blogger-image--926543981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IGEk8K5t8pM/UHIIXnQyQCI/AAAAAAAABls/bTU4NeTZDGg/s640/blogger-image--926543981.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pnLve7HvRdg/UHII6G3UaJI/AAAAAAAABl0/fxLS81OIXgQ/s640/blogger-image-1351096739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pnLve7HvRdg/UHII6G3UaJI/AAAAAAAABl0/fxLS81OIXgQ/s640/blogger-image-1351096739.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still excited.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NU7zcLpz8S0/UHII7M5V7CI/AAAAAAAABl8/mUBFEoZXhVI/s640/blogger-image--89238918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NU7zcLpz8S0/UHII7M5V7CI/AAAAAAAABl8/mUBFEoZXhVI/s640/blogger-image--89238918.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look like I'm still trying to wake up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4wZyN2j0kz0/UHIJIjg5exI/AAAAAAAABmE/71X7lxnPOOA/s640/blogger-image-327345537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4wZyN2j0kz0/UHIJIjg5exI/AAAAAAAABmE/71X7lxnPOOA/s640/blogger-image-327345537.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And really excited now, with an elephant.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vdPBBBcC0s4/UHIJZdZK8KI/AAAAAAAABms/GyuiKEMFA8o/s640/blogger-image-213285319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vdPBBBcC0s4/UHIJZdZK8KI/AAAAAAAABms/GyuiKEMFA8o/s640/blogger-image-213285319.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the hair.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White tiger, as I'm sure you saw.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w5j-1SM4GKM/UHIJRvM0UVI/AAAAAAAABmc/Uh2AW9JCiV0/s640/blogger-image-186300629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w5j-1SM4GKM/UHIJRvM0UVI/AAAAAAAABmc/Uh2AW9JCiV0/s640/blogger-image-186300629.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some more (I think they had nine).<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dI8TJ3xa4cc/UHIJY4XB_6I/AAAAAAAABmk/8SXtbGkFPU4/s640/blogger-image--98081150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dI8TJ3xa4cc/UHIJY4XB_6I/AAAAAAAABmk/8SXtbGkFPU4/s640/blogger-image--98081150.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey my sister got me that shirt.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QG8xjF42cE8/UHIJhDd1ywI/AAAAAAAABm0/BqjezH4ZuaY/s640/blogger-image--1635696865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QG8xjF42cE8/UHIJhDd1ywI/AAAAAAAABm0/BqjezH4ZuaY/s640/blogger-image--1635696865.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CO5DhZgmi-k/UHIJh1i-WVI/AAAAAAAABm8/pHPtkKMi0C4/s640/blogger-image--1115139640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CO5DhZgmi-k/UHIJh1i-WVI/AAAAAAAABm8/pHPtkKMi0C4/s640/blogger-image--1115139640.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the elephant can paint.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AT-PPKtPxnw/UHIJv5Rj74I/AAAAAAAABnE/q5DVbdXDCfE/s640/blogger-image--342408236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AT-PPKtPxnw/UHIJv5Rj74I/AAAAAAAABnE/q5DVbdXDCfE/s640/blogger-image--342408236.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey remember these swords dad? Best purchase that guy ever made.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EDOQ237qHSQ/UHIJwQw8qJI/AAAAAAAABnM/Kl2kv7VTyOs/s640/blogger-image-405788302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EDOQ237qHSQ/UHIJwQw8qJI/AAAAAAAABnM/Kl2kv7VTyOs/s640/blogger-image-405788302.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When everyone came out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kFByRkQ-s6s/UHIJ5zYt5qI/AAAAAAAABnU/5IOKhK4WpZo/s640/blogger-image--271482308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kFByRkQ-s6s/UHIJ5zYt5qI/AAAAAAAABnU/5IOKhK4WpZo/s640/blogger-image--271482308.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys did some cool things running around in and out of those loops while they spun around.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TmWPDrPOmqY/UHIJ6kuJ5-I/AAAAAAAABnc/o163LXBtkkc/s640/blogger-image-375236083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TmWPDrPOmqY/UHIJ6kuJ5-I/AAAAAAAABnc/o163LXBtkkc/s640/blogger-image-375236083.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course more of the elephants.</td></tr>
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I was honestly left with a little bit of sadness after seeing the show and then reading the reviews. I think our society has become so used to Vegas type shows that they can't enjoy a circus anymore. Complaints about prices were all over the place. It seemed like thirty dollars a ticket was more than fair to pay for the few hour show that we saw, and I imagine it's not terribly cheap to travel around with a fleet of elephants and tigers, and horses, and all that stuff. Though it was lousy there was no trapeze. That was pretty lame. Other than that. it was an excellent show. And yes, Brea was smiling just as much after the show.bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-55538635892700961812012-10-07T15:46:00.001-07:002012-10-07T22:05:00.010-07:00Two Month Hiatus Coming to a CloseI can't believe I haven't blogged for more than two months. That's absurd. <br />
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But we're back from Texas. Let's see if I can come up with a few things we did there. Well after we moved to Houston we started seeing people. One of those people was Sierra, Brea's sister. She came out for a week to keep Brea company and it was fun. Not that we did a whole lot. But we did go to the Houston Zoo. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1bqpAwPOs7s/UHIBRfthnBI/AAAAAAAABkE/F1BNW8C8S30/s640/blogger-image-669171747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1bqpAwPOs7s/UHIBRfthnBI/AAAAAAAABkE/F1BNW8C8S30/s640/blogger-image-669171747.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ape's are so funny. And she is so cute.</td></tr>
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And then they went to the aquarium.<br />
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And we went out to eat barbecue.<br />
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And really that was about it. I'm sure it wasn't the most exciting vacation, but it sure was nice to have her there for a few days.<br />
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But Brealynn blogged all that.<br />
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Then there was the fourth of July.<br />
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And we bought her a 4runner. It is kinda fun.</div>
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Did I mention the selection of Blue Bell in Texas? And this doesn't even include the equally large pint size section.</div>
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We had some delicious crawfish at Ragin' Cajun.</div>
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I attempted to touch up her roots.</div>
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I might have not done an excellent job (though this picture doesn't look bad). She had me color it all dark again a few days later.</div>
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We made my mom's chicken noodle soup.</div>
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We bought Shelby this wire kennel.</div>
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And then this huge plastic one. We got rid of both and got the black plastic kind. And she hates all of them. And we're not mean, we put her bed in there every time she goes in.</div>
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We went and saw Ana and Felix.</div>
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Brea's parents' car exploded. Literally. Luckily everyone narrowly escaped and there were no casualties.</div>
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bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-76039163344115449182012-10-02T16:17:00.001-07:002012-10-02T16:17:48.276-07:00Better BusinessI have been known to do a fair amount of business through retailers that, though cheap, may not excel in customer service. This includes individual sellers from eBay or craigslist. It was nice however that when I bought Brea her expensive heels I bought them from Nordstrom's. The first week she was out in Texas (maybe the fourth time she has worn them, we noticed the sole separating on the shoe, and not just a little. Though the super glue has held the shoe since then, I told Brea to call and complain, and that she would get taken care of. A phone call later there was a gift card one the way for the purchase price of the shoes, which ended up buying me two new shirts from Nordstom Rack and Brea two new MAC lipsticks. Sometimes bad things turn out good.bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-58771601247235928942012-07-25T12:41:00.002-07:002012-07-25T12:44:48.979-07:00You Just Might Tear Up A BitIt makes you a little more grateful for what you have.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tZ46Ot4_lLo" width="560"></iframe>bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-83667108983906277572012-07-25T11:43:00.004-07:002012-07-25T11:43:46.569-07:00It's the Little Things<span style="text-align: center;">I'm generally rather annoyed when I have to go to the alarm warehouse and get equipment. I don't really think that is my job. However last week they had me stop by Wave Electronics, and it was not the worst stop I've ever had to make. This place is way prettier than any alarm store I have ever been to, to start with. Next they didn't quite have my stuff ready yet, so they told me to have a soda and sit on the comfy chairs. So I did. And it was magical. I might just start going there when I have a few extra minutes.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-57sEC1jO1_A/T_2zLUOgKmI/AAAAAAAABjg/gepXBPkLLrY/s640/blogger-image--1948746118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-57sEC1jO1_A/T_2zLUOgKmI/AAAAAAAABjg/gepXBPkLLrY/s640/blogger-image--1948746118.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you see how much the sodas are? Yep. Free.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The comfy chair area. Complete with huge tv's to watch. Excellent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I however opted for the most amazing massage chair. It was a little bit of heaven.</td></tr>
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It's really the small things that make a difference. I'll be back.bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-87762958976451370452012-07-25T11:36:00.001-07:002012-07-25T11:44:17.085-07:00Home Sweet Home<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">About a month ago our office decided to up and move to Houston. Though the work was way better in Corpus, as well as the gym, the apartments, and the beautiful beaches, there are some perks to moving. I do have a few friends up here that I hadn't seen in entirely too long. Also, on the way we were able to take a little drive down memory lane (my memory lane at least). </span><br />
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Welcome to Bay City. I lived here from the time I was about five until I was eleven. And as small and ghetto as parts of it are, I loved it. And I had only been back one time since the initial move, and I was fourteen. It was so weird to be back there again, and I'm such a nostalgic fool. I had to drive everywhere I could think of and get a picture. So let's go for a little ride together, eh?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new high school. A big upgrade I would say.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main drag. We passed the courthouse that used to hold market days there and where we got Hogan. Do you see Shipley's and HEB? Puts a smile on your face, doesn't it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shipley's got a make-over.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HEB looks the same. I dropped a bottle of IBC root beer once and it shattered.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay Cinema 4. Edward's theater, watch out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matagorda County Fairgrounds, the site of the rodeos and most of my birthday parties.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old church.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry Elementary, I was here for Kindergarten through third grade.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tenie Holmes had me for fourth and fifth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Del Norte Pool, where I spent a great deal of my summer days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bv1a_N6jeOE/T_suFuz0ZpI/AAAAAAAABi0/3QYlwrp0laU/s640/blogger-image--1340716603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bv1a_N6jeOE/T_suFuz0ZpI/AAAAAAAABi0/3QYlwrp0laU/s640/blogger-image--1340716603.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm almost positive this was our last rental house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the other possibility. It's been a while, and I wanted to be sure I got a picture, ok?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rjHLgpkyt8c/T_suGYeoIFI/AAAAAAAABjE/os2ClDLQ8dI/s640/blogger-image-2000737620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rjHLgpkyt8c/T_suGYeoIFI/AAAAAAAABjE/os2ClDLQ8dI/s640/blogger-image-2000737620.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house my parents had built for us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Azwy7Ws83r4/T_sszFkKo1I/AAAAAAAABhM/rSlNsT2bGt8/s640/blogger-image-1462838120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Azwy7Ws83r4/T_sszFkKo1I/AAAAAAAABhM/rSlNsT2bGt8/s640/blogger-image-1462838120.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those trees are just "a little" bigger than they used to be.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BcdEg99kQ8w/T_suHMcuo3I/AAAAAAAABjU/gud1U9XyLoI/s640/blogger-image--1164651200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BcdEg99kQ8w/T_suHMcuo3I/AAAAAAAABjU/gud1U9XyLoI/s640/blogger-image--1164651200.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the Ashcraft's old pad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D35g0Tavym4/T_suDTRcB6I/AAAAAAAABh8/n2fADozzYBg/s640/blogger-image-923439287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D35g0Tavym4/T_suDTRcB6I/AAAAAAAABh8/n2fADozzYBg/s640/blogger-image-923439287.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course, A&A Barbecue. Still delicious if you are wondering.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ltT7jqWDqbE/T_suG5jY3zI/AAAAAAAABjM/_l7gV8SDEAo/s640/blogger-image--177718088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ltT7jqWDqbE/T_suG5jY3zI/AAAAAAAABjM/_l7gV8SDEAo/s640/blogger-image--177718088.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sure will try to come back one of these days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wSNYBExDLbM/T_stJV1fmdI/AAAAAAAABhU/sKik11oAILQ/s640/blogger-image-1847234553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wSNYBExDLbM/T_stJV1fmdI/AAAAAAAABhU/sKik11oAILQ/s640/blogger-image-1847234553.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the bike on the terrible bike rack (it fell off on the free way). Now the red plastic pieces have sheet metal screws attaching them to the frame, and the bike is tied on rather securely with alarm wire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ycAKeBD6ltY/T_ssCm63zoI/AAAAAAAABgs/j9a0BJ0kPws/s640/blogger-image--808295290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ycAKeBD6ltY/T_ssCm63zoI/AAAAAAAABgs/j9a0BJ0kPws/s640/blogger-image--808295290.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course the dog loungin'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EPuk2pX6sqY/T_ssgx4hslI/AAAAAAAABhE/TT6TWgmGkto/s640/blogger-image-84555802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EPuk2pX6sqY/T_ssgx4hslI/AAAAAAAABhE/TT6TWgmGkto/s640/blogger-image-84555802.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Glad Shelby had the paper towels there to keep her comfortable.</td></tr>
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</div>bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507883861513420306.post-1176931667345753972012-07-19T02:19:00.001-07:002012-07-19T02:19:27.640-07:00Sometimes I Like NightsI am without a doubt a night person. The sun goes down and my mind becomes alive and active. I struggled with falling asleep for all of high school, lying in bed for hours trying to drift into that elusive world of dreams.<br />
<br />
Though I have been blessed with much better sleep over the last decade or so, I still often struggle. Like tonight. Tonight it is nearly four-thirty and my mind is racing with thoughts of my new business ideas, excitement at the prospects and frustration at my ignorance of Adobe Design software and my inability to locate software designers. I am worried about the lack of work, bills to pay, my sister and her struggling family in California, my other sister and her complete inability to actually have a real, grown up "break-up", my sister-in-law and her poor decision making, my in-laws and their exploding car, etc. Tonight I just wish I had an off button. I'm ready for bed now.bradleyjohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898940436433836208noreply@blogger.com3