Brent blogs...but why?

Social-ist

2008-08-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged much lately, I know. I've been caught up in this social stuff with Twitter and Facebook. I can't believe I let myself do that.

I'll try to blog more. Life takes time, so blogging gets less of it. Twitter has been a mild substitute, but I don't really use it effectively.

Threadless Sale

2008-08-29T10:05:00.001-07:00

Go check out the sale at Threadless. Tees are $9 or $12.

I'm not a fan of everything they have, but some of them are great. Tell them I sent you.

Do you use social networks?

2008-07-06T15:41:00.001-07:00

Until about a week ago, I had avoided social networks.

To my chagrin, I've joined Facebook. Now I'm getting requests to join Twitter and LinkedIn. Why did I do this?

Are you using social networking? If so, for what?

Help Set A Guinness World Record

2008-06-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

Today is Download Day. Don't forget. Starting at 10:00am Pacific.

Update: It's after 10:00am...the Mozilla Firefox site still shows Firefox 2 for download and the Download Day site is down.

Update 2: One of our network engineers thought it would be funny to block the download site with our filter.

Update 3: 2:15pm - I have now downloaded and installed Firefox 3. The site has still been up and down, but it looks like it's working now. I have done my part for a Guinness World Record.

We Are NOT The Champions

2008-06-12T16:23:00.001-07:00

So much for another great hockey season.
My season has come to an abrupt end.

No, I did not get injured. That would make for a much better, yet horribly tragic story.

They are moving our team up to a higher division again, which means myself and several other players have now been cut. We were sent an email to tell us to find another team. It was worded a little better than that but still really lame nonetheless.

So I will not be playing this season.
Sorry to those that wanted to come out and watch us play. Thanks Pete. I think they sell hot dogs but no beer anyway. Hopefully I'll be back at it in the fall with some new equipment and an urge to smash some heads.

We Are The Champions

2008-06-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

My hockey team won our league championship. Not a big deal when you play in the lowest level of an in-house hockey league, but we had a good season. Most of the leading scorers were on our team, and we led the league in most goals scored and least goals allowed. This season was a big step up from the last place team we had last season.

But alas, the Gophers are no more.

Our team has been disbanded in favor of creating a new team in the next division. We've added a few new players, and we're off to a good start as a new team. New name, new jerseys, same winning attitude.

Here's to another championship season!

Download Day 2008

2008-06-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Mozilla is attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the most downloaded software in a 24-hour period with the release of Firefox 3, the newest edition of the popular web browser.

They have setup a Download Day website to take pledges from those interested in participating. You can pledge by signing up your email address and region, and Mozilla will notify you when Firefox 3 launches and is available for download.

Join me in pledging your support for the best browser available.

Lord Stanley's Cup 2008

2008-06-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Detroit Red Wings won the 2008 Stanley Cup championship.

Enough of that....
The Ducks will take it back next season. Go Ducks!

Catch of the Day

2008-03-25T14:56:00.001-07:00

Don't Mess

2008-03-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

Amber disappeared

Was she vaporized or something?

This wasn't even staged

She kept spinning the cart

Actually it's even funnier with the pictures in reverse order. It would play like this: 1) Amber irritated me by spinning the cart, 2) I threatened to shoot her with the laser, 3) I shot her, and 4) She disappeared.

Disneyland is fun.

Let Them Eat...

2008-03-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Pi Day!

π

Student Zone

2008-03-13T19:45:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Josh took me on a tour of The Refinery, formerly the Student Zone. I can't wait to see it open and filled to the brim with students. It's going to be off the hook!

Check it out:

Girl Scouts

2008-03-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

I received my Girl Scout cookies today - I'm excited!

My initial order was lost. Luckily I was able to buy some from a coworker's daughter.

Get yours while you can.

Note: The Girl Scouts recently switched baking companies, and the cookies taste different to me, but I still love them and eat them in one sitting.

Congratulations

2008-03-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

...to Drew and Annie.

Drew and Annie were married on Sunday at the beautiful Rancho Las Lomas in Silverado.

I didn't want to be that guy, so no pictures of the ceremony with my phone, but I did take some pictures of the wildlife on the property. They even have tigers and zebras on the property.

Shannon took pictures of the ceremony, so she might post some.

Amber in the phone booth

Amber in the bathroom

Birds

More birds

Improv Everywhere

2008-03-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

This looks like a fun group that according to their blog "causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places."

Here's two of my favorites from them:

If I was in Grand Central station when this happened, I would have freaked out. Very clever.

This is classic. How much fun would that food court have been?

You can find Improv Everywhere at their blog.

Dead Phone

2008-03-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

Motorola Q sucks!

Everyone I know that has/had one would agree.

I was issued a Motorola Q for work. It completely died on me. I had problems with it before, and it's not the most intuitive "smart" phone. Finally, a couple weeks ago, it just died. It gave me the equivalent of an unrecoverable Windows BSoD.

Fortunately they replaced my phone under warranty. Unfortunately they replaced it with the same model. I was hoping to get the new version for Sprint, the Q9c (which may have as many problems - I haven't heard any feedback).

Anyway, I'm mobile again with the same problem phone.

Jon Foreman

2008-03-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Note: No Todd Cooper sighting.

Amber and I saw Jon Foreman at The Glasshouse in Pomona on February 25.

Sean from Reeve Oliver opened. He's always fun on stage.

Tyrone Wells played the middle set. He was amazing. He's local, so my friends have been following him for years, but this was the first time I've heard him live. Great set. He even yodeled. Go check him out.

Jon. I don't need to say anything else. He is so talented. The organic, acoustic sound suits him as well as the rock sound of Switchfoot does. Just Jon with his acoustic guitar and Keith on the cello filled that room with sound. Check out the season EPs that Jon is releasing - Fall and Winter are already out.

No pictures - my phone broke and they weren't saved for some reason. I was bummed.

Update

2008-03-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

That's my girlfriend. Hot!

I turned 26 last month. I'm old.

Lost is back. Yay!

I saw Jon Foreman in concert. Loved it.

I am taking two computer networking classes. Genius.

American Idol is back. No comment.

Not Quite Back To Blogging

2008-02-28T17:19:00.000-08:00

I apologize for my lack of posts lately.

I've been busy. I am taking a couple classes right now, so I'm back to reading and studying. Although I probably should never stop reading and studying anyway.

My next post was going to be about an acoustic concert I saw on Monday night. Unfortunately my phone broke, and I can't get the pictures from it.

I'll be back soon. Sorry Josh.

All Stars

2008-01-29T10:45:00.001-08:00

The NHL All Star Game was played on Sunday in Atlanta.

The game saw appearances from four Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference team's lineup: Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry. Pronger and Getzlaf were selected by fan votes prior to the close of voting, while Perry and Niedermayer were selected as replacements for injured West players.

Niedermayer scored during the second. Then in the third, after being ribbed by teammate Pronger during a second intermission television interview, Getzlaf got on the board with a goal.

Overall a good show for the Ducks, but the West lost to the East by a score of 8-7.

The Return, Part 2

2008-01-29T10:37:00.000-08:00

After the triumphal return of Scott Niedermayer to the Ducks lineup several weeks ago, the Anaheim Ducks announced Monday that the NHL club has signed Teemu Selanne to a one-year contract that will bring him back for the remainder of the 2007-2008 season.

Thanks Pete for the comment. I would have been remiss to not mention this.

Go Ducks!

UFO Sighting

2008-01-19T12:56:00.000-08:00

No longer unidentified, a burrito was seen flying over the new Chipotle in Lake Forest last week.

Smaller burritos were seen flying into my coworkers' mouths as well.

They gave out free t-shirts and small stress burritos to the first 100 people in line. The rest of us were able to enter a drawing to win free burritos for a year.

Still doesn't compare to a Chick-fil-A opening.

Quick Review: VeggieTales

2008-01-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything:
A VeggieTales Movie

Funny. Cute.

Slow.

Great kids movie. Good moral back-story.
Best part: the music video at the end.

Quick Review: Juno

2008-01-11T23:35:00.000-08:00

Juno

Funny, smart, and well written.

Sad but honest. Probably too true.

Ellen Page and Michael Cera were brilliant. Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman were a little disturbing. Overall, good for a laugh and definitely worth seeing.

True Americans

2008-01-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

The writers strike is still going strong, but lucky for you, this show doesn't require writers. Tonight marked the return of one of the greatest television shows ever.

Yes, American Gladiators is back with a vengeance. All the great challenges are back with a few new ones to boot. A hot new group of gladiators is in with no shortage of crazy nicknames to cheer on. Larger-than-life hosts, who dominated their own share of arenas, take charge in Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali.

The best part: the referee from Dodgeball mans the whistle.

Television at its best!

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

...to all who read this.

And to my Spanish-speaking readers: Feliz Año Nuevo

Smooth as a baby's

2007-12-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

I decided to shave since I'm on vacation.
After this though, I think I've decided to bring the beard back and keep it.
Or at least rock the goat.

Happy Christmas

2007-12-25T01:11:00.000-08:00

...to my loyal blog readers.

Decorating The Tree

2007-12-24T15:41:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, I met Amber at her parents' house to decorate the tree and have dinner. There were so many ornaments in boxes - we probably only used a third of them to cover the fake Christmas tree. My favorite were the mini Mickey Mouse heads in different colors.

After eating and decorating, we went to church with her family. The service was recorded and will be airing on Fox News Channel on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Gingerbread Mania

2007-12-24T15:27:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago Amber and I went to Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney to build a gingerbread house. They hold a workshop each Christmas. They give you the gingerbread house in pieces - four walls, two roofs, one man, one snowman, and one tree. They also give you three small bowls of candy and a bag of icing.

It was fun, and our house turned out nice, but for the price - almost $50 for one house set - it wasn't really worth it to me. Lunch was optional but not included in the cost. Instead, I'd buy the kit for $6 and any candy you want. The only thing you wouldn't get would be the professional advice of a master chef.

I wanted to save the house until Christmas.
But Amber has been slowly eating pieces when she visits.

Here's a picture of our house from above, cozy inside its box for the trip home:

Fire Danger

2007-12-19T15:21:00.000-08:00

This is Nathan. Don't let him near fire.

He melted a spoon.
He almost melted a bowl.
Smokey the Bear talked about people like him.

Appetite for Construction Tour

2007-11-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

Last night the Bren Events Center at UCI hosted the Appetite for Construction Tour with Ruth, Relient K, and Switchfoot, benefiting Habitat for Humanity.

Epic got a group of tickets spread around the arena. We had great seats - first row off the floor.

Ruth opened. We arrived around 7:00pm, so by the time we got the tickets from will call and went through security, we made it in time for the last couple songs.

Relient K was up next. They were awesome. There were some great highlights from their set:
Josh from Avner sang on "I Need You" with them
Note: Coop sighting. Of course he'd be there. He's in Avner with Josh, and he knows Switchfoot. There is always a Coop sighting at Switchfoot shows.

They played "Sleigh Ride" from their new Christmas album with blow-up Christmas decorations on stage. It's not a Relient K show without some crazy stage props.

They played the theme from The Office, followed by a love song to Michael Scott and company. I wish I could get the live recording of that. Sick!

They closed the set playing "Sadie Hawkins Dance" with some percussion and guitar help from a couple fans.

Switchfoot put on a great set, as usual. No major highlights, but some great new arrangements and a couple new songs.

They played "Rebuild" with Relient K and Ruth. The song was written for this tour and Habitat for Humanity. Jon said the song became more significant for them after Relient K's bus burned down and the wildfires in Switchfoot's hometown of San Diego.

Overall, great stuff. Wouldn't expect anything less.

Freeway Face-off

2007-11-26T11:10:00.000-08:00

Stupid name for the local crosstown hockey rivalry. That's all I got to say about that.

Sunday night I went to the Ducks-Kings game at Honda Center (The Pond). It was a great game to see with some friends and coworkers.

The Ducks beat the Kings, 3-2. Unfortunately one of my workers had to watch his Kings lose to my Ducks from his hospital room, instead of being at the game with us. Hopefully his recovery goes unhindered by this loss.

After the game, a few of us went to BJ's to hang out and grab a bite. It was a good time with some good people.

BSoD Buzz

2007-11-20T09:15:00.001-08:00

Yes, BSoD even strikes Buzz Lightyear.

Free Rice

2007-11-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

I saw this over on Alli's blog. It appeals to the genius in me. It's fun, and you donate rice to poor nations without a cost to you.

Zack Barker is lame (on this note, but he's cool otherwise).

Germans

2007-11-14T14:51:00.001-08:00

Soeren is in from Germany for a few weeks. We went to lunch today with Taffy and some other peeps to talk about a live CD/DVD project that we're going to be working on.

Taffy suggested Round Table Pizza for an all-you-can-eat pizza and salad buffet. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad for $6.99.

Anyway, somebody played the old pepper shaker trick on Soeren. I don't think it was anybody at our table, so it must have been whoever was there before us. Soeren went to shake some red pepper onto his pizza and this happened:

Yes, it went everywhere. How did he respond? He put the lid back on, put it back in the metal rack, and proceeded to dip his pizza into it. It didn't phase him at all.

Jesus saves goats and chickens

2007-11-14T13:49:00.000-08:00

Rob Bell was at The Wiltern last night. It was great. He is a masterful storyteller and communicator. Just him and a giant altar on the stage was all he needed as he weaved his tale.

Rob talked about how different religions propagated fear and uneasiness throughout history and how the biblical God altered that paradigm to show mankind love.

I'm all wet...again

2007-11-11T11:35:00.000-08:00

Just one week after going on Splash Mountain at Amber's request, getting totally soaked, and vowing to never ride it again or let her pick another ride, this happened:

How did it happen? Amber and Andrew wanted to ride Splash Mountain after the Haunted Mansion. Of course, Amber joined in their request. I, being outnumbered 3-1, reluctantly agreed. The four of us got in a log with two other guys and proceeded to get completely soaked. We all decided to pose for the photo on the final drop, but Amber was cut off by Andrew's head. It was still a great picture though.

We wanted a better picture, so again I reluctantly agreed to go on the ride for a second time. Luckily there was no line, and could we really get any wetter? Yes. We did. But at least we got this great picture for our efforts.

On Blue Bayou

2007-11-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

No, not this Blue Bayou. This Blue Bayou.

Sunday afternoon Amber and I met up with Amber and Andrew for lunch at Blue Bayou in Disneyland. It's the nice restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Everyone, except me, had eaten there before.

The signature dish is the Le Special de Monte Cristo. It is a ham, turkey, and swiss sandwich in a lightly fried egg bread. It comes with a berry dipping jelly and two sides, plus a soup or salad. I had to try it.

It was really good and very filling, but everything on the menu was a bit pricey. I don't mind paying for good food, but unless it's a special occasion, I don't think I would eat there for the cost.

I will eat there again though, so I can try the Flying Dutchman dessert. It's a replica of the boat in dessert form. Who could pass that up? I was too full to try it this time.

Note: Amber did not get lost this time.

Tradition

2007-10-31T08:41:00.001-07:00

Last night we carved pumpkins at Movie Night. It's an annual Halloween tradition.

But the best part of the tradition: Flaming Pumpkins

Yes, we shoot flames out the mouth of the pumpkin. It's awesome.

Don't try this at home. It's frickin sweet though. Sorry, no pictures to show. Maybe Brian will post some if you're lucky.

Pumpkins R Us

2007-10-30T23:25:00.000-07:00

The Group Shot

The "Homer" by Tanya

The "Mask-querade" by Ken

The "Scary Night" by Amber
and The "Little Goblin" by Brian

The "Robber" by Brent

Amber's and Mine

The "Blue Flame" (hand sanitizer lit on fire in a swirl shape)

My pumpkin got a little nervous before the robbery.

Iron Stomach

2007-10-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

This is my coworker Nate.

Nate wanted a free milkshake at Chick-fil-A so badly that he offered to drink a small milkshake sample mixed with barbecue, polynesian, honey mustard, buttermilk ranch, buffalo, and honey roasted barbecue sauces.

I happened to mention this desire of Nate's to one of the employees. She wanted to see if happen, so she made us all Cookies and Creme milkshake samples. Score one for me. I'm a genius. She made Nate a special one with whipped cream, then she brought it out with the sauces, and she watched as I mixed all the sauces into the milkshake.

Mind you, Nate had already eaten a large order of fries, a cool wrap, an order of nuggets, and a large sweet tea. Plus we had already received free nuggets to sample, which he also had eaten. I would have been sick by then. I was getting sick from just mixing it. Nate faithfully drank the concoction though. Unfortunately for him (and us), he was too full to even order the real milkshake as his prize.

Next time. Free milkshake for Nate.

Wii might have a problem

2007-10-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

I got a text message from Jon on Sunday.

"The new Target has Wiis."

I was excited, but I had no intention of buying a Wii anytime soon. Then on Monday morning I saw that Guitar Hero III was being released on the Wii. That made me rethink things.

On my lunch break, I decided to go to Target to see if they still had any in stock. They didn't. Nate had gone with me though, and he suggested we call some other Target stores in the area. So he did. Sure enough, two other stores had a few each. So we drove to the closest one, and there it was.

I couldn't resist. I bought a Wii. Then I needed some games. I had to get Guitar Hero III with the wireless guitar controller. Then I needed an extra controller, right? So I also bought WiiPlay, a game that comes with an extra controller.

I spent way more than I wanted to...since I didn't want to spend anything. But it was so worth it. Guitar Hero rocks! The Wii rocks! I'm so excited to play whenever I'm home. I just hope Wii don't have a problem.

Hockey Night not in Canada

2007-10-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

I love hockey. I love to win.

Saturday night we beat the best team in the league.

I played with Jon and Matt (first time we'd met) on my line, and we had a great night. I scored the first goal of the game. Jon scored the next goal. Our line just clicked and played really well together.

Jon did almost die later in the game though when he got pushed into the net. He was able to duck in time, so his head narrowly missed the crossbar. I also got hit with a puck in the rib cage where there is no padding. Not fun.

So I guess it was high and low night. I thought we did well to outplay the other team, but they kept it close, and we barely pulled out the win in the last minute with a final score of 7-6.

With the win comes some confidence - we can beat any team in our league.

Don't eat this cookie

2007-10-29T06:21:00.001-07:00

Sunday was a Disneyland day again for Amber and I. We went to the Big Thunder Ranch to decorate cookies with Woody. It didn't taste good.

We met up with Andrew and Amber, and we went on Buzz Lightyear a few times as we always do.

Went on Splash Mountain twice and got soaked. Picture to follow soon.
Took a holiday at the Haunted Mansion.
Enjoyed the fireworks spectacular.
Amber got lost. We found her though.

Fire Central

2007-10-24T14:41:00.001-07:00

Southern California is on fire. It's crazy. There are fires everywhere.

The Santiago fire has filled this whole area with smoke. This is what I looked like today. I made sure to wear my protective mask whenever I left the office.

Don't hate. Don't suffocate.

Blooming Roses

2007-10-22T09:35:00.001-07:00

My cousin got married on Saturday afternoon in Palos Verdes. It was a beautiful site with the Pacific, the sun, and clear skies behind the ceremony.

The reception was great as well. Cool DJ with some good tunes, amazing food, and fun with the family.

Congratulations Aaron and Konoko. God bless.

Post-CHOC Walk Disneyland

2007-10-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

After the CHOC Walk, Amber and I reentered Disneyland in an attempt to ride Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

We thought we were being sneaky. We waited in line to enter the park from the Monorail entrance at Downtown Disney. We weren't the only ones that had that idea. Others on the Monorail were talking about the same thing.

It would be perfect - the Monorail drops off right at Nemo. Suckers. When the Monorail came over the top of the ride, we could see the line already in place. Three hour wait! Our genius plan failed. Next time we'll figure out a way to beat the system.

Since we couldn't go on Nemo, we rode Buzz Lightyear twice. Then we got a FastPass for the Haunted Mansion.

Then Amber decided she wanted to go on Splash Mountain. That's the last time Amber gets to decide what to ride for a while. We got absolutely soaked. Not just a little bit - a lot a bit. Then we went on Winnie the Pooh while soaking wet. After drying off, we went back and used our FastPass for Haunted Mansion, and then used another FastPass on a third Buzz ride.

I was ranked 9th on Buzz (and 14th) for the day and set a personal best. Amber was ranked too. Unfortunately our picture was blocked. Inappropriate behavior?

CHOC Walk 2007

2007-10-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Crowded. Good cause. Lots of money raised.

Jury Duty

2007-10-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

I have the day off from work today.

Nope, not for anything fun. I'm currently sitting in the jury assembly room at the courthouse. We've watched two orientation videos, Live with Regis and Kelly, and The Price Is Right.

Did I mention I'm not feeling well?

It's a fun day so far. Note: That was sarcasm. I am trying to catch up on some blogging though since I have nothing better to do.

Epic Disneyland Day

2007-10-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday was Epic's first trip to Disneyland. I had to work in the morning but made it to Disneyland in the afternoon to meet up with Amber, John, Tina, and Brian.

John was the lead on this one. (No comment.)

One of my new finds at Disney's California Adventure was the character development wing of Disney Animation. There are pictures on the wall that show the development of characters in recent Disney films. They also have this sweet stop motion display that looks animated when they start spinning it and flash a strobe light on it. The picture probably doesn't do it justice. Go check it out next time you're in DCA.

Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure were also decorated for Halloween. Some cool adds, like the candy corn pieces that replaced the A's that spell California outside the park.

Epic peeps fell off throughout the day, but it was a fun time.

Chocodile Mile

2007-10-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

Wildside has an annual tradition.

Think back. Remember Crocodile Mile. It's a slip and slide that sprays water onto a plastic strip that you put on your lawn. You run and slide down the plastic.

Now take away the water. Add chocolate syrup and baby oil. Add crazy junior high kids. Add a crazy man named Dave. What do you get?

Chocodile Mile...so I don't have video or pictures of the chocodile mile. But I do have pictures of Dave before he became the chocodile mile national champion.

Go Dave!

DC*B

2007-10-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Amber and I had tickets to see the Remedy Club Tour at the House of Blues, Sunset Strip in Hollywood.

The tour was playing the next night in Anaheim at the House of Blues, but unfortunately it was sold out before we could get tickets. Amber bought tickets for Sunset Strip, but because they wanted to let more people see the show, they moved it to The Wiltern.

The Wiltern is a great old theater in Los Angeles that has been refurbished in recent years. It was amazing. The show was general admission on the lower level with reserved seating in the mezzanine.

Since Amber and I bought tickets early, we had general admission. Epic bought tickets later from Transparent Productions and had reserved seats in the front row of the mezzanine.

The Remedy Club Tour was David Crowder* Band with The Myriad and Phil Wickham.

The Myriad opened, and they were awesome. They are an up and coming band that was recently featured on MTV2. Phil Wickham was next. Phil is so talented. Oddly though, he didn't have a backing band with him. He played with a track on most songs and used looped pedals on another, but with the crowd helping him sing the tunes, he sounded great.

DC*B came onstage to a huge welcome from the crowd. Little did we know how awesome the show would be. They played several songs from their new album, Remedy. David busted out the keytar on a couple songs from A Collision. The highlight, besides David playing the Super Mario Bros theme song on the keytar, was the modified Guitar Hero controller. Yes, BWack (DC*B's drummer) had modified a wireless Guitar Hero controller to actually play chords. It was ridiculous!

DC*B brought the night to a close with a couple of their older worship tunes that had the crowd jumping and singing so much that the mezzazine floor was bouncing almost a foot. I thought the projector and speakers was going to fall on us from above. It was such an amazingly worshipful time - a glimpse of what heaven will be like.

Hockey by the Foot

2007-09-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Broomball,
Sorry I missed you. You are fun. You are my favorite sport tweaked for the commoner. I hope to see you again soon. Please tell Verizon to get better parking, so I can see you next time.

Lovingly,
Brent

Muse-ical Genius

2007-09-25T13:02:00.001-07:00

Allison, Zack, Bethany, and I saw Muse at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on September 21. It was so fun. The show was fantastic, and those three peeps are hilarious. I could not have had a better time.

The biggest laugh of the night came when I realized who the opening act was, Juliette and the Licks. That's not the surprise. The surprise was who Juliette was - it was Juliette Lewis - yeah, the actress.

I wasn't enthralled with their performance, but they made a new fan in Alli. I will give her credit though. Juliette is a performer. She was all over that stage, squealing out the lyrics, playing some percussion parts, and trying to get the crowd into it.

I expected a good show from Muse. The show far exceeded my expectations though. It's no wonder the band has been given awards for Best Live Act and Tour of the Year for the past 4 years. These guys are very talented, classically-trained musicians and overall great performers. The crowd was on its collective feet the entire night, belting out every song with the band. Amazing!

2007-09-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

Personal Best

2007-09-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

Amber and I had another fun day at Disneyland with friends. I am really enjoying my Annual Passport. I'm getting my money's worth - that's for sure.

We met up with Steve and Amber. Got stuck waiting for Space Mountain while it broke down. Went on Pirates, Jungle Cruise, and Indiana. (Amber did not forget her new sunglasses this time.)

Set a personal best on Buzz

Spent some time with Andrew and Amber

Annie and John joined Amber, Amber, Andrew, and I for dinner at Tortilla Jo's. We enjoyed each other's company by playing dots and hangman on the kids menu. It was a fun night. We left prior to fireworks....and Amber got hurt.

I still don't like rides much, but I do like Disneyland.

I'm normal. Really.

2007-09-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Your Score: Joe Normal

39 % Nerd, 34% Geek, 30% Dork

For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.

You scored less than half in all three, earning you the title of: Joe Normal.

This is not to say that you don't have some Nerd, Geek or Dork inside of you--we all do, and you can see the percentages you have right above. This is just to say that none of those qualities stand out so much as to define you. Sure, you enjoy an episode of Star Trek now and again, and yeah, you kinda enjoyed a few classes back in the day. And, once in a while, you stumble while walking down the street even though there was nothing there to cause you to trip. But, for the most part, you look and act fairly typically, and aren't much of an outcast.

I'd say there's a fair chance someone asked you to take this test. In any event, fairly normal.

Congratulations!

THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

Random Photo of the Day

2007-09-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

Please keep all hands and legs inside the car at all times.

I said 'Not It'

2007-09-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

Amber tagged me....cereal?

It's fun! (Not my words.) You have to use 3 words to answer each question. No more, no less. It's harder than you think!

1. Where is your cell phone? Work or personal?
2. Who is your boyfriend/girlfriend (or husband/wife)? Amber the Baker
3. Where is one of your parents? In his car
4. Cheesecake? The Cheesecake Factory
5. Your favorite thing to do? Not telling you
6. Your dream last night? I don't dream
7. Your favorite drink? Make it strong
8. The room you're in? My home office
9. George Bush? W or HW
10. What you're good at? Everything but nothing
11. One of your wish list items? Only pick one?
12. Where did you grow up? South Orange County
13. The last thing you did? Send a text
14. What are you wearing? My sleeping clothes
15. Who stole your sunglasses, amber? Not my fault
16. Ketchup? Has a purpose
17. Your computer? XP / Vista / Ubuntu
18. Your life? Pretty good now
19. Your mood? About a five
20. Your next blog? At some point
21. Your car is? In the shop
22. Your summer? What's a summer?
23. Your relationship status? I'm a boyfriend
24. Your favorite color(s)? Match my eyes
25. When is the last time you laughed? All the time

So the game goes...A, E, and Lo - it's your turn.

Random Photo of the Day

2007-09-13T15:17:00.001-07:00

Andrew and I from LW's birthday party last week

Random Photo of the Day

2007-09-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Great shot of Zack and LaLa.
This was taken in front of a random backdrop set up in a room.
Classic.

Not It

2007-08-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

I never really liked tag as a kid, but I guess I'm it, so here we go.

Tagged by Chym and Stack.
Slight protest for being called Brest, but I can appreciate the nickname.

The Rules:
1. Post these rules before the facts.
2. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their 8 things) and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

The Random Facts/Habits:
1. I am an only child, and I'm the youngest child.
2. I wouldn't use a pacifier as a baby, but I sucked my thumb.
3. I haven't paid for a haircut ever.
4. I have a degree in psychology.
5. People often think I'm an extrovert, but I'm really introverted.
6. I just built a geek machine at work for testing purposes.
7. I spent less than 2 years at my high school but graduated.
8. I'm a contradiction of sorts (if you hadn't noticed yet).

Brian, Cassandra, John and Lauren you're it.

Friday Night Fireworks

2007-08-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

My coworker Rick offered me his Angels tickets on Friday at 3:00pm. The game was at 7:05pm. What could I say? Sure, I'll take them.

I ran home after work and dropped my stuff off, picked up Amber at her house, and off to the game we went. We were a little late and missed a couple runs, but we got to see a good game. The Angels won 3-0 against the Toronto Blue Jays. We had a great time, watching the game and talking.

It was Friday night, so that meant fireworks after the game too. I love fireworks, especially on a hot summer night. It was awesome. Fireworks, summer baseball, and a yummy ice cream sandwich. Can't beat that. Except when you add good company.

I'm A Hockey Player

2007-08-26T10:19:00.001-07:00

Jon and I are joining an adult ice hockey league.

We were asked to come play an exhibition game with some guys in the current league. They put us with the lowest level teams to test how good we were. We had a great time, and we both played pretty well. I scored a couple goals. The only downside: we were both completely wiped, no energy after 30 seconds.

They have invited us back to play the last game of the current season with them. Then we'll probably join their league on the same team next season. Hopefully one season with them and we'll be ready to move up to the next level. It should be fun.

Congratulations

2007-08-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Erik and Julieann.
They had a beautiful wedding next to the beach in San Clemente.

America's Got...A New Vegas Act

2007-08-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

*Spoiler Alert*

Last night was a special Tuesday night. It was the season finale of America's Got Talent. Actually it was Kane's birthday celebration night, first and foremost.

After going to Lucille's to celebrate - yes, that's four times at Lucille's in four days for those that are counting - we went back to the Tuesday night house to watch the season finale of America's Got Talent.

It came down to the final four contestants: Butterscotch, the beatboxer; Terry Faytor, the ventriloquist; Cas Hayley, the blues/reggae master; and Julienne Irwin, the young country girl. My personal pick was Julienne, but I knew she wouldn't win. She's probably got the most natural talent since she's only 14 and can sing great with no real training. The most entertaining and talented contestant was definitely Terry Faytor, so I was rooting for him.

They showed a final performance from each contestant with a special guest performer. Then one by one, fitful with montages in-between, they eliminated Julienne and Butterscotch. Finally it came down to Cas and Terry. The ending was so drawn out. I'm expecting a clip on The Soup this week.

Anyway, Terry Faytor won. He gets $1 million and a showcase at Bally's Casino in Las Vegas. He's the one act in the finals that I think would make a great Vegas act. I would go see him. He's amazing. I couldn't believe how much he sounded like James Taylor last night. So amazing!

Congratulations to Terry Faytor, America's Most Talented Person.

Tuesday Night Highlight:
The show stopper of the night has to go to "The Hoff" though. Yes, David Hasselhoff, who is one of the judges on the show, was also one of the show's guest performers last night. What can I say? Hoff it - it was so hoffing glorious.

Dear Josh

2007-08-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

If Claim Jumper had to fight Lucille's in a cage match, I would choose...

Well, let's break it down by round...

Lucille's has sweet tea or Muddy Waters (iced tea and lemonade). Claim Jumper only has Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade).
Winner: Lucille's

Lucille's has banana pudding, bread pudding, and the best chocolate cake ever. Claim Jumper has chocolate chip calzone, cookie sandwich, and Motherlode cake.
Winner: Tie

Lucille's has biscuits with apple butter. Claim Jumper has garlic cheese toast.
Winner: Tie

Lucille's has toothpicks and Tootsie Roll pops. Claim Jumper has root beer barrels.
Winner: Claim Jumper

Lucille's has an old southern home vibe. Claim Jumper has an old west log cabin vibe.
Winner: Depends on mood

I'm going to have to say they are both great. I would choose one over the other only based on my current mood and location.

Lovely Lucille

2007-08-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Amber has requested a post about our weekend at Lucille's.

Yes, we ate there three times in two days.

Saturday we had lunch at 11:15am. I had the southern fried chicken and sweet tea. I really wanted dessert. I had a craving for it, but I was too full after my entree and just couldn't do it. Lunch was still great.

Sunday we went back for lunch again after church. Same craving for dessert. Same waiter from the day before, who immediately recognized us. I split the BBQ chicken sandwich and fried pickles with Amber. Unfortunately I still was too full for dessert. I was upset to say the least. Lunch was fine.

Sunday night we went back for the sole purpose of eating dessert. I couldn't go any longer. I didn't eat dinner. I only ordered dessert. We ordered the banana pudding, the best chocolate cake ever, and the berry cobbler. We looked funny ordering three desserts for two of us, but we were waiting on Andrew and Amber to join us. Then we didn't look like pigs. I didn't care. It was delicious and it hit the spot. Yum!

I will be going back at some point this week.

Beach Baptism

2007-08-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

Last night my dad got baptized at Doheny State Beach with over 100 other people from church. It was great. Some family and friends joined to celebrate at the beach and afterward back at the house. It was a fun day and night.

PS=2

Arrr

2007-08-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Amber got to meet her "2nd favorite" cook on Saturday at the mall. Jon, Amber, and I joined her. It was so lame, but she got the biggest kick out of it, so it was fun. We watched him cook and then waited in line to have him sign her apron and take a picture with her.

P.S. I love Lucille's!

Quick Review: Superbad

2007-08-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Superbad

Funny.

Super bad. Crude. Disturbing.

I'm a little ashamed to admit seeing this. I wouldn't recommend it. Definitely not for anyone under 18 (or 21 for that matter). You will laugh a lot though.

The Ambers and the Boys

2007-08-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

Last night Andrew, Amber, Amber, and I went to Disneyland after church.

We had fun walking around, eating, and going on a few rides. Dole Whips are awesome. I can't really go to Disneyland anymore without getting a Dole Whip (and saying it exactly how you think I would). The corn dogs weren't half bad either.

It was a hot night, so we just took it easy. Rode the usual culprits: Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear...

My gun sucked, and Andrew's wasn't much better.

The Ambers were intentionally missing targets,
but one of them accidently hit one.

Funniest/Weirdest moment of the night:
"I can backdoor you."
Those were the guy's exact words. So here's the context. We wanted to go in the Tiki Room after we got Dole Whips. The entrance was blocked since the next show wasn't scheduled to start for 20 minutes. Well, when we asked the guy at the gate, he said he could let us in right away. Except that quote is how he phrased it. Awkward. I laughed through the whole opening of the Tiki Room show.

Thanks awkward door man...I think.

The Future of Future of Forestry

2007-08-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

Friday night was a bittersweet night.

I saw Future of Forestry for the last time. At least in its original state. Sadly the guys are going separate directions, but it's ending on a good note.

The guys put on a great show. They were touring for two nights before moving on to new things. Unfortunately I wasn't going to make it to San Diego on Saturday night to see the last hometown show. Friday night at the Vault would be good enough. Nick on the theremin is definitely a sight I will miss. Eric's vocal sounded great. Spencer continued to lay down some wicked beats. Luke just shook the room with some crazy bass action.

I'm going to miss seeing these guys. Luckily I was able to connect with each of them after the show and told them to keep in touch. Eric is going to continue leading worship with Spencer at Flood. Nick and Luke are going to continue touring and recording with other acts. It's sad to see the split, but I'm excited to see what God has in store for these great musicians in the future.

Quick Review: Transformers

2007-08-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

Transformers

Awesome action. Surprisingly funny.

Award-winning dialogue. Cheesy.

This movie was great, but don't expect to take it or yourself too seriously. I'm totally going to see this again and probably buy it.

Los Angeles Times

2007-08-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

I don't like the Los Angeles Times...except today.

My uncle works there. He has for a long time. Today I received a special gift from my aunt. A very rare gift that is stinkin' amazing. I have to thank my aunt, my uncle, and the Los Angeles Times for it.

Long live the Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks!

Fair-ly Good Day, The Sequel

2007-08-04T15:46:00.001-07:00

The Orange County Fair ends tomorrow, so I met my mom for lunch today, and then we went to the fair. We walked around, looking at the animals and the exhibits. We went through all of the halls and saw what boring people do in their free time.

We watched the pig races, which was awesome.

I finally had the deep-fried Oreos, which tasted like an Oreo-flavored donut.

The best part, besides hanging with my mom and seeing Harry Porker win the pig races, was this giant sand sculpture at the entrance. It was absolutely amazing. The picture doesn't do it justice. I'm pretty sure this wasn't there last time I went to the fair either.

On a side note, the cows that they drove down the beach and through the city streets to the fairgrounds are now being held in the same arena where the demolition derby was. Just thought I'd throw that in for free.

Bud Hit

2007-08-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Bud for my new profile picture.

Crazy Night at Angel Stadium

2007-07-23T23:12:00.001-07:00

Actually it was Singles Night, but that's beside the point and that's not why I was there.

My friend Lisa called me a few hours before game time and said she got two tickets to the Angels game. So we went.

The game sucked. The Angels just couldn't hold it together on defense and left too many stranded on base when it counted. The highlight was the multitude of fights that kept breaking out in a section near us. It really was a crazy night. People were getting ejected from the game left and right. I probably spent more time watching that than the game.

We actually left early, which I never do. Lisa was way fun, as usual. We ate at Chick-fil-A on the way to the game and got dessert there on the way back.

And The Good Times Roll On

2007-07-21T16:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday marked a momentous occasion.

My car hit 100,000 miles. I was hoping to have people in the car with me when it happened, so I could force them to get out and take some crazy picture with me. Unfortunately it rolled over on my way home from work.

So here's what you get:

Fair-ly Good Day, Part 2

2007-07-15T23:07:00.000-07:00

EPIC had planned a night at the Orange County Fair, complete with a visit to the demolition derby.

I wasn't planning on going, but I didn't have anything else to do, and I knew a big group would be there, so I went.

It was great. The rednecks came out in droves. There was bad karaoke. There were dancing old flag guys. There were trashy women on cars. It was everything you would expect from the demolition derby at the fair. It was fun to cheer on the car carnage, and even more fun when the cars caught on fire. Amazing. I think I would actually go back next year to see this again.

I didn't get to enjoy a deep-fried Snickers or a deep-friend Oreo, but I did enjoy the demolition derby. Here's some pictures for you to enjoy:

Fair-ly Good Day

2007-07-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

Today was a chill Sunday.

I slept in. That was nice.

Then I went to Overdrive. Doug Fields was teaching again this weekend. Great message with lots of funny bits that make you laugh but strike a cord too. The worship set was awesome. Heard some songs I haven't sung in a while. Good start to the day.

In the afternoon I helped turned the stage over in the Worship Center. Delirious? was the guest worship leader for the evening services, so we had to clear the stage and set it up again for them. After loading in their gear, ran to lunch with the Tech Arts team.

Contemplated Transformers but nobody could go, so I go another day without seeing it. Instead I went to the 4:30 service just long enough to hear Delirious? play.

Then off to the fair...

Quick Review: Harry Potter 5

2007-07-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Most action in the series. Love the fight sequence.

Disjointed a bit. Had some story gaps to fill.

This is my favorite Harry Potter so far.
Now I'm thinking maybe I should read the books.

Random Phone Pictures

2007-07-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

They gave me a Motorola Q for work. Here are some pictures I have taken with the camera on the phone but haven't blogged yet:

The Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup victory celebration -
I meant to blog about this night, but I just uploaded the pictures, and it needed to be a bit more timely to post.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim versus the Pittsburgh Pirates -
My coworker gave me tickets to the game, and I went with my friend Jeananne. We had a good time, and the Angels kicked the Pirates, 10-1. I wanted to blog this too, but again untimely post once the pictures were uploaded.

My creations -
When you play with kids, stuff like this happens. I'm so proud of myself.

Wonderful You

2007-07-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with Lisa and Hayley. We saw Harry Potter, did some shopping at Target, and shared a great meal at Lucille's. It was a fun time with two of my favorite people.

The best part (besides the company):

To finish off the night, I decided to watch When Harry Met Sally.
Good idea? Probably not. Good movie? Sure.

Fantasmical

2007-07-10T17:33:00.001-07:00

Last night John, Cassandra, Candice, and I went to Disneyland. We pulled into the parking lot during the fireworks show and fought the crowd as they exited after the show.

First stop: Fantasmic!
It's been closed since I got my pass, so this was the first time I've seen it. It was awesome. I would totally sit there with my ice cream or Dole whip and watch that show anytime. Some lame park employee made me sit down though because "you're not allowed to stand." I forgive him, but next time I'm not sitting down.

Next stops: Big Thunder, Matterhorn, and Space Mountain.
Not a bad night for only two hours. We didn't have to wait very long for any of the rides. It was chill.

It was a long night though. I didn't get home until 1:30am and had to get up for work at 6:00am. I made it through the day, but I'm lagging now.

It was a Fantasmically fantastic evening.

Touchscreen Goodness

2007-07-01T09:18:00.001-07:00

I don't care what your thoughts were on the iPhone before, but once you get your hands on one, you'll want it.

Jon and I made a stop at the Apple Store yesterday. It was packed with people trying to see the iPhone. I thought the concept and the features were sweet when Apple announced it, but I wasn't going to rush out and buy one. After touching it and playing with the features, add it to my list of things to covet. Jon needs prayer more than I do though. The temptation was solidified with that encounter.

The iPhone is amazing. Go check it out, but try not to sin over it.

Acoustic Goodness

2007-06-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was supposed to go see a movie with friends. Instead I bailed.

What would cause me to neglect them and miss out on the new Pixar flick?

Jon Foreman from Switchfoot made a special appearance at The Vault.

Avner was headlining the show, and a couple of the bands scheduled to play weren't able to make it. That's quite a replacement for some no-name local bands. Jon had just flown in from Cornerstone Festival in Illinois. He played a six song acoustic set. It was great. I was standing at the door when he came in, and I guess I looked pretty starstruck. My friend Tom said I looked like an idiot. It happens.

Sorry to my friends.

Todd Cooper lives.

Shuffle Up and Deal

2007-06-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Kurt tagged me to list the first 15 songs that come up when I hit shuffle on my iPod. Here we go:

More Than Useless - Relient K
Yellow - Coldplay
Shut Me Out - Kutless
The Heart of Life - John Mayer
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin
Polite - Mute Math
Which To Bury, Us or The Hatchet - Relient K
The Best Thing - Relient K
Intro - Muse
Sacred Place - Future of Forestry
Slow Dancing In A Burning Room - John Mayer
American Dream - Switchfoot
Never Again - Kelly Clarkson
Boston - Augustana

I might have to hit shuffle more often. This is a great list with some of my favorite songs. I'm happy. I know that's only fourteen songs - the last one was a different version of a song already on the list, so I omitted it.

Your turn: Annie, John, and Julie

Congratulations

2007-06-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

...to my friends Greg and Summer, who finally got married this weekend.

Apologies

2007-06-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

To my loyal blog readers (ie, Pete and Julie),
I'm sorry for not blogging much lately.

To those bloggers I read (ie, Allison and Josh),
I'm sorry for not reading and commenting lately.

I have a job now, and I have not quite adjusted to fit my blog writing and reading time in to my schedule lately. I will do better. I'm starting to catch up on my reading, and I have several blogs waiting to be written.

Thank you.

Side note: Now that I have a job, I'm putting myself back on the market.
Just thought I'd throw that in, although it doesn't mean much.

Quick Review: Ocean's 13

2007-06-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Ocean's Thirteen

Not repetitive. Funny. Enjoyable.

Nothing groundbreaking or stellar.

If you've seen Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve, see this one. It's worth it.

Rock The Boat

2007-06-12T00:40:00.001-07:00

I saw this concert on Monday night at the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal Citywalk. Good show with some great bands. The theatre was really nice. Ran into Todd Cooper as usual. Had quite a few friends at the show too.

The show was a promotional event for the new movie, Evan Almighty. It was also a benefit for Habitat for Humanity. They had cameras everywhere and taped the show. It's being aired online Saturday June 16.

Switchfoot is the best. Relient K was awesome. Jeremy Camp is always good. We missed DecembeRadio since we decided to see Knocked Up before the concert.

Quick Review: Knocked Up

2007-06-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

Knocked Up

Very funny. Honest. Heartfelt.

Crude and graphic.

With all the guys from Freaks and Geeks, it's good for a great laugh and some awkwardness, but don't expect it to be clean.

2007 Stanley Cup Champions!

2007-06-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

The Anaheim Ducks eliminated the Ottawa Senators to win the Stanley Cup.

The Ducks defeated the Sens tonight in Game 5 by a score of 6-2 in front of a sellout home crowd at Honda Center. The win closed the series out at 4-1 and brings the Cup to Anaheim for the first time in franchise history.

No time was wasted in celebrating. The championship banner was dropped from the rafters immediately when the game clock hit zero, as fireworks and streamers shot from the ceiling.

Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks captain and the only player in the lineup to have previously won the Cup, was named the Conn Smythe award winner as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Niedermayer quickly put the trophy down to accept the Stanley Cup and pass it around to his teammates.

Congratulations to the Ducks. Let the celebration begin!

One To Win

2007-06-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

After losing Game 3 to the Senators, 5-3, the Anaheim Ducks looked to rebound in Game 4 in Ottawa.

Unfortunately for the Ducks, it would again be without defenseman Chris Pronger, who was suspended for a hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond. Pronger was not penalized for the hit during play, but the NHL suspended him for one game after reviewing the incident.

Fortunately for the Ducks, Pronger's absence did not hinder their play. The Ducks came out hitting and controlling the puck in Game 4. Neither of those happened in Game 3. Despite several bad calls and several hit posts, the Ducks would prevail. Andy McDonald scored twice in the second period, and Dustin Penner scored in the third, to lift the Ducks to a 3-2 win. J.S. Giguere continued to exhibit his playoff prowess as he stopped 21 of 23 shots.

The series returns to Anaheim for Game 5 on Wednesday. A win at Honda Center will end the series and see the Anaheim Ducks skate the Stanley Cup around their home ice for the first time ever.

Go Ducks!

2-0 Cup lead for Anaheim

2007-05-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators Wednesday for a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Ducks dominated most of the play, outshooting the Senators 31-16. But the game remained scoreless for 54 minutes thanks to the tremendous play of the goaltenders, J.S. Giguere and Ray Emery.

Giguere was especially spectacular when it was needed most. The Ducks gave up a 5-on-3 power-play midway through the first period, but Giguere made several great saves to keep the Senators off the scoresheet.

Samuel Pahlsson would be the hero for Game 2. His line continued to shut down the offense of the Senators, as they did in Game 1, and the pressure would pay off. With 5:44 left in the third period, Sammy entered the Ottawa zone and shot the puck through defenseman Joe Corvo's legs and past the glove of Ray Emery. The Ducks would hold on for the remaining time as they continued to dominate puck possession time.

The Ducks will look to extend their lead to 3-0 as the series returns to Ottawa for Game 3 on Saturday.

I was at a Stanley Cup game! So great! Even better since we won. The place was electric. We had a good time, even with the Ottawa fans sitting behind us. Too easy to give them a hard time.

Ducks take early Cup lead

2007-05-28T22:30:00.001-07:00

The Anaheim Ducks wanted to make a statement tonight in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. That statement came late in terms of scoring but early in terms of hitting.

Travis Moen gave the Ducks their first lead of the game with 2:51 left in the third period, and J.S. Giguere would come up big again, as the Ducks held on to defeat the Ottawa Senators, 3-2.

Special teams faltered a bit for Anaheim tonight. The Ducks' penalty kill struggled, giving up two goals in seven disadvantages, and the power-play failed to score in four attempts.

Goaltending and physical play were the keys to the Ducks win tonight and will continue to be key in the rest of the series.

Game 2 will be Wednesday at 5:00pm Pacific time at Honda Center.

Quick Review: Hot Fuzz

2007-05-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hot Fuzz

Hilariously funny. Action packed. British humour at a high.

A little disturbing.

Josh: "awarded the very first certified 5 Yarmulke™ rating."

I finally saw it and loved it.

Quick Review: Shooter

2007-05-25T23:18:00.001-07:00

Shooter

Great action. Lots of sweet shooting and explosions.

Nothing new. Don't expect a great screenplay.

Worth the $1.50 it cost me.