One more time

I love Lego's. Bar none they have to be one of the best toys ever created because of they allow a child to express their creations in a physical world. There are many memories of which I am sure you share of building fantastic castles and other faraway destinations that were brought home by these simple plastic pieces in their array of colors and shapes. You always hoarded the little one piece jeweled pieces for use as currency or bombs and what was so extraordinary about this boon of the imagination was that they gave permission to others to join your play. I spent many a night plotting how we would make a stop motion movie of our masterpiece in order to tell the world the real story of Zelda and her hero Link. Many years later those pieces hopefully lie in a box awaiting a child's touch to awake their phenomenal magic. Embed is a short film that awoke this bit of nostalgia tucked away in my brain.

Sofia to the rescue!

Yesterday a wonderful thing happened to me while I was driving to school. My car started making click, click, clicking noises... of course I did the intelligent thing and kept going down the highway instead of pulling over. It was the type of thing where I just wanted to make it to the institute building, park, go to class and deal with my lovely red bundle of joy later. Obviously my car had other plans for me because it decided to start on fire (just in the hood). So of course I pulled over and got waaaaaaay away from my car so it wouldn't explode in my face. Long story short our wonderful friend and neighbor Sofia brought Clifford to me and then she took me to school. It's a blessing to know we live by someone so close who is so giving and kind and willing to go out at 9 in the morning on her day off with her little girl still in P.J's to pick me up and take me to school! Thank you Sofia!

- Brynn

2009, a year in pictures

A few pictures documenting a wonderful year. Marriage, Honeymoon, the move to Portland, school, callings, work, the abundance of love from families and friends. We really were blessed this last year and I look forward to another prosperous one in 2010.

One for the road, two for the journey, three because they're really tasty.

Watching the documentary, "I am trying to break your heart" about the making of Wilco's album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and I have to say I just never gets old. I would be so lucky to live in Chicago where these giants live and play but here I am stuck in Portland where the biggest sighting of my life was the one I had was of former Portland coach Mo Cheeks by Pioneer Courthouse Square, yipee! But after reading so much about this period of time in the band's history it really brought home seeing those  vivid images of a band trying to create a masterpiece and how the process unfolds on screen of the destruction of the relationship between Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett. It's hard to believe that for all of us time will wear down our relationships, that they eventually will run their course. It's an icky part of this existence and as an optimist and one who values the profound effect people have on my life I want to deny that idea, but to a certain extent there is truth in that, in how life pulls you in different directions and you just move on. There are times in my life that I would deem pivotal or defining because they helped shape who I am today and as I examine those memories I see the players who still remain active and others who have simply faded out and to some degree it's never whom I would suspect, really it is all so fascinating. Back to the documentary and a feeling that I want to share though there is a caveat (of course) because through the advent of more sophisticated recording technologies which have become more accessible and has allowed an artist much more freedom to record as they please,  in general record companies stink, are afraid, and  shame on them. There is so much intellectual property that is fantastic and mind blowing and it's out there and the people who labor to lovingly create those pieces walk amongst us each day remaining hidden by the fact that some AR stiff won't take a chance in this jaded world where money is the decision maker. Well hey, I guess a brother has got to make a dime, too bad we will miss out on the beauty that is art all because Fiddy Cent needs to pad some fat cat's wallet with his next chart topper. I only hope that in the next few years we will see the way people interact with music expand to a point where I can drown out the noise that comes through my radio. Which reminds me of a discussion Brynn and I had the other day. It stemmed from a Portland Tribune article about a new innovation in the Sound Scan system that allows the ratings big wigs to track the actually listening habits of a person being monitored through a brand new doo hickey that recognizes the music playing from nearby radios, which has lead to a more accurate picture of which stations are actually top dog in the metro area. Before they had to log information on paper and pen but now with these devices the analysts are finding that those logs weren't entirely reliable and it's turning the charts upside down. The biggest pinch are being felt by public radio stations which general posted higher listener ratings because people tended to fudge results towards what they wanted to hear than what they actually heard throughout the day. What they tended to omit when reporting the numbers were all the ambient stations playing in the background while the worked, shopped, visited the dentist, etc. Thus KINK FM is getting a solid boost. Now to my point. When trying to explain to Brynn what kind of music KINK played, the discussion turned to older music and what would be played forty years from now? What will represent us and become our oldies? Will I be doomed to hear a DJ lead into another nauseating spin of "Hit me baby one more time" by Ms. Spears? Or would a revolution occur where I would be able to turn and dial and hear Jeff Tweedy serenade me with "California Stars"? Already I can get on demand music with an mp3 player and Sirius/XM does offer a broader array of music to choose from, throw in Last.fm and Pandora into the mix and life is generally great, that is until I get into a car. Will radio even continue to exist as the man behind the microphone introduces me to another Portland act during "All songs Considered"? I don't know, but after ten years of innovations in the way I get my music and the technologies that appear around me I can't help be excited and curious what lies around the corner in 2020, I guess i'll just have to live it to find out.

 PS I don't care about your political affiliation but you got to admit that looks like Obama has got the right taste in music.

The weekend and pizza

I love Mississippi Pizza. They offer some of the best pizza in the city (though like a lot of the specialty shops they are grossly expensive, twenty one bucks for a pepperoni when you can get a cheese from Rovente's for a mere eight) and one of the most eclectic lineups for entertainment choices. I know that throughout the week they offer karaokee (at least they used to as I have some firsthand knowledge), quiz shows, and a spelling bee but every once and while bands sneak in there to play shows. This is is what (for me) Portland is about. Any night of the week is open (once Brynn has her birthday) to go out and enjoy the sounds of the city. What makes these dulcet tones better are when your friends are the ones producing them as you can take pride in their sublime skills (yes you do detect a hint of jealousy). On a night usually reserved for work, Brynn and I found ourselves with no commitments and at the Atlantis Lounge (part of Mississippi Pizza) listening to Canoe (or half of). I got to know Matt and Sofia back when (there were part of "If bears were bees")we were in the branch and with interest have been able to follow them (as much as one can with the whole mission thing, exile in Salem, etc) so it was good to reconnect with them and what they have been up to. They played a wonderful set, trying out a few new songs and I think that Brynn and I agree that Matt's voice is one that would lull you to a sweet dreamy sleep. So glad we went after a year of quiet (last concert was Mason Jennings in Eugene).
Speaking of returns to old haunts, Sunday saw a special event occur that may happen only once in a lifetime. A papal eclipse. While I was sharing my feelings of gratitude Frank (acting Pope) entered the Vatican creating the ultimate line of power during the Vatican's Thanksgiving. After years of plans, dreams, backstabbing, wars, and empty promises (roller coaster in the front yard, anyone?) it was good to be back among friends giving and receiveing a little love (also known as Marion Berry pie and just about every delicious food that I could stuff in my mouth), the Vatican will always have a special place in my heart.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving my peeps. Perhaps a leftovers potluck this weekend?

A proposition about art

When we went to the Cox's house today we saw the most magnificent decoration in the world... HOMEMADE ART. What they had done was give some family members some canvases and asked them to paint. Now mind you the the family has something like six kids but what came out was so great because on one wall of their house are the "fruits" of their labor. Each of the kids and mom had painted a different piece of fruit on a piece of canvas including the great oranges that look like a) chili peppers or b) carrots. So here is our proposition, we only have two pieces of art hanging on our walls and we need your help to fill the wall. Heck I would love to go around and get different pieces of canvases to give to you if you want to help in this project since my artistic abilities are limited to my world renowned stick figures, will your painting be the next Mona Lisa?

Sunday dinner

Food is the quickest way to my heart. Bar none. One of the things that i've grown to love is spending Sunday with friends and having food, drinks, and games. This is a tradition that dates back to the days of Vatican I (ps very excited for the Vatican's Thanksgiving, Brynn and I are totally there) and one that remains dear to my heart. Hanging out around the firepit, kicking back a few, and relaxing. The week lying ahead never mattered because you were guaranteed to always be in good company. Now that tradition is revived in some form as we make our rounds in the Maplewood Ward, eating and greeting, getting to know the other couples of the ward. Granted the dynamics are a bit different with the odd kid thrown in here and there, negotiating bed times and shoe off rules, but it's just as great. The setting is reminiscent of the traditional American Sunday dinner, though admittedly growing up in my home we didn't have one, it was always guaranteed that we would be home to spend time with family because Sunday was usually a day that our busy bee activities didn't intrude to lure us away from the hive. I am so happy that we are in Portland, surrounded by so many friends and making new ones.

Pound for pound

Brynn's been a wee bit sick lately with the aches and pain but she's a fighter and you can call us Mr. Mover and Mrs. Shaker. After a weekend full of pumpkin patches and zoos, it's been game week. Personally I love games so much because it's a easy way to get a conversation going, putting everyone at ease (that is if you aren't playing Monopoly) and have fun all wrapped up in an activity. That and I like to win. Not that it matters, but I do. A lot. Win, win, win. And having fun.... winning. It's a funny psyche because when it comes to matters with kids this a dangerous mentality and one that I abhor. Having refereed and coach I have seen the desire to win be put before the welfare and enjoyment of the child. That's a big no no in my book but when it comes to personal matters as an adult it's ok to want to be the best. It doesn't preclude me from having fun or ruin my night if I lose (except at Boom Blox when the game cheats you). We've thoroughly enjoyed the week thus far really getting to know and enjoy the company of others and hope that we do this much more often (because we've have spent a little too much time letting Netflix and Hulu become our best friends) so invite us out. Also I think I have come to the conclusion Beatles Rockband is probably one of the top five video games, EVER. Yeah I said it, yet my heart always has a place for board games, especially Monopoly (because I WILL WIN).

Snooty people

So I haven't posted in awhile because our laptop was acting out and we had to send it to the company to be fixed. So all we have is our iPod which is really annoying to type on but I figured I would suffer through it since it's still going to be awhile till we are reunited with our computer again.
This week has been a great one so far... I had Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off which isn't good for our funds but it's been good to have a lot of time with Clifford. Monday we visited some art galleries which was really fun and in the first one we bought two prints! Our first pieces of art! It was a larger store and the workers were pretty snooty which made me want to change my mind and not buy anything. Since we weren't buying several hundreds of dollars worth of stuff we got crappy service and had to wait forever for someone to check us out!
Tuesday we went out again and explored Lake Oswego. They are a bunch of fancy pants too!! We ended up going to ikea and Clifford saw the magic of it!! He was won over by the 50 cent hotdogs! We didn't buy anything but got some good ideas.
Wednesday Clifford "went deaf" for a class project. It's been really difficult since I don't know much sign. I really sympathize with the deaf and loved ones of the deaf. It's so hard to communicate. Also we watched tv with the sound off and closed captioning which really shows how much sound plays a huge part. It's been great to walk in different shoes but I will be grateful in ten minutes when he can hear again!
I went to the temple with my dad again yesterday! It's been great having him come because it's really gotten me motivated!! I had a goal to go more since we live like 5 min away!
We've made friends with a family in our ward. They were new the same Sunday we were! They are a lot of fun and we've been having game nights with them on Sundays. They have a darling eight month old girl and she really is sooooo cute! We played the Beatles Rockband and she was singing (or making noise haha ) along with her mom and dancing! She just wanted to be a part of it and it was soo cute!
Well I think that's all we've been up to!

Whadda’ busy week!

Geez you’d think we were movers and shakers.

Quick recap of what was a big week as we ended up Portland in a much anticipated move.

Tuesday with a little help from some from friends we packed up our belongings and skirted up to our new home in Portland. We were able to find a wonderful two bedroom apartment off of Barbur Boulevard. It’s centrally located between Portland State and PCC, right on a bus line, just in the middle of everything. Today on our last day off together (as we’ve been enjoying our one week summer vacation) we were able to go both to Portland and Tigard for breakfast, shopping, and sights with ease. In particular i'm fascinated how each of the neighborhoods bring their own flair. Mississippi Avenue is one of my favorites, next week I think we'll hit up the Portland Spelling Bee that is held every Monday night at Mississippi Pizza. Ahhh it’s so good to be back in a city I love so much.

Church was great and we’ll be seeing many changes in the coming week. Apparently the stake here has been in a real flux and this Sunday’s attendance (of around 100+) was the biggest in about a year. They’ve redrawn the ward boundaries and we don’t know where we will be by this time in two weeks so we’ll see where we will end up. Met quite a few friendly faces and for really the first time, young married couples who are our age which is really nice. A few of them ended up being old faces from my other branch at Portland State which was a neat surprise. It’s weird though starting anew as I personally am somewhat of a introvert and making new friends hasn’t always been my strong suit so there is the obvious wish to have things remain the same but if experience has taught me anything is that with change we can have something better if we are willing to sacrifice the comfort we desire.

With school starting in a week and part of the reason i'm up here is to attend PCCto become an ASL interpreter and I am amazed on how the Lord will bless us in the most amazing ways. For the first time ever I was able to sit in on a deaf branch of the church. It was located in this very classic looking church (so different looking that I passed it three times because it clearly isn't part of the church's building plan) made of stone and with sweeping steps in the back, intricate woodwork, just gorgeous. It was a very uplifting moment as I sat there and looked at the gospel being brought to people through the hands of His children. I'll be excited to go back and continue to absorb and in time serve.

Brynn got a job at the Lloyd Center Jamba Juice and has been working since Friday. We had a little fun on the bus as we practiced getting from home and work. I’d never thought twice about how the bus worked as I had for most of my life ridden the city bus. Trimet’s system is wonderful but as I saw Brynn fumble around so cutely with the money machine I wished that everyone would get the opportunity to experience what a wonder it is to be able to get around nearly at will. I won’t lie though there are the pitfalls of the transit system as it brings everyone and I mean EVERYONE into one place. Brynn had the pleasure of being hit on the MAX when she was riding alone on Saturday. Haha. I won’t lie in that he made a good choice but next time he’s a dead man.

Saturday also brought dark clouds, ten foot breakers, and a big red dog on the ocean (even for only a few minutes). Got to live the life on a boat as I spent all of Saturday with Joel and Greg Warnock out in the Yaquina Bay, fishing, eating burgers (on a boat), and fighting the ocean. I can’t describe how fantastic it was being on the ocean riding the waves. It was wild and somewhat scary looking back and seeing how big those waves were and how quickly the caught up with the back of boat and lifted it with impunity. Man if only I could retire today (yeah, yeah I know, I haven’t even begun the fight) I would plunk down some dough and get myself a fine sailing vessel. It’s of course a lush lifestyle and we didn’t actually bag any of those jumping salmon but it was exhilarating, every single minute of it.

Farmers we are not...

Well it is official. Gazing into our crystal ball we have forseen a future in which the smell of cow poop is not part of our life... besides after cliff's in the bathroom.
We went to our friends pool party right next to a dairy... enough said.
I now teach the 5 and 6 year olds at our church in Sunday School. It went well besides the one kid wearing cowboy boots who was kicking the other teacher and eating people with his toy dinosaur. I've found in life that there are always the same kids in almost every group. There are the annoying ones, the quiet ones, the mean ones, the smart ones. As a whole the class went pretty well after we got the kicking kid calmed down. We learned about being accountable for our actions. At this age, they are kind of willing to listen to a lesson although snack is a must. So it was actually quite enjoyable. We also played a fishing game and a matching game which the kids loved.
Last Saturday we went to the Temple. Afterwards we went to eat at a place called The Montage. Its a cool, off beat little cajun restaurant in a random part of town. Clifford got alligator linguini which actually wasnt too bad.. it kind of tasted like shrimp! I got the old mac' which was delicious. Also, instead of giving you a box for your leftovers, they rap them in tinfoil and make crazy creations. Clifford got a swan and I got a flower!!
My mom and I went to a new cafe called The French Press. They serve coffee, smoothies, and crepes. I had no idea there were meat crepes. We got a cordon blue crepe and it was delious!! We highly recommened this place. It is on commercial across from the strip mall with jamba juice and Verizon.
Our lives haven't been too exciting lately but we thought we would update you!!!