It's been one year to the date that Casey and I have been married. It seems like just yesterday since we were frantically putting together everything that's involved with a wedding. In the many months since... my father had a health scare but is doing very well now, our wedding photographer had her baby, we've changed neighbors on both sides (one was a foreclosure and their house is now on the market), Casey graduated from UK with her Master's, we visited Mexico, and we've attended THREE of our friends' weddings. And in the same time, we've only painted 1.5 rooms in the house. Hey, we're working on it.
Anything else to add, Casey?
"NOPE!"
Monday, September 1, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Goin' to the movies
Oh yeah, I meant to write about this last week…
So Casey and I finally saw The Dark Knight (hereafter TDK) film last Sunday. We both liked it for the most part. Casey likes Batman Begins better, but I thought Heath Ledger’s performance in TDK set it apart from its predecessor.
Let it be known that I am not a movie guy (anymore). In my younger days, I would frequent more films. TDK was the first film I saw in an actual theater in over two years. Why is that? Two factors for me: price and quality. There doesn't seem to be a lot of fresh ideas coming out of Hollywood nowadays. I was always a fan of the independent films, but I suppose my interests have taken a turn away from film in general.
And let's not forget about the price. When I was a senior in high school, it was $6.75 to see a feature film. I remember saying with my high school friends that if it got over 7, I was done going to the theater. The matinee price for TDK was $7. THE MATINEE PRICE!!!! Features are now $9.75. So take the $14 for see to see the movie, $4.75 for a soda (optional, I know), and about $5 for popcorn (not optional for Casey :) ), and we're out $25 before the movie starts. I can't imagine how a family of four goes to a feature anymore.
So while I'm glad I got to see TDK in the theaters, getting the full experience, I'm not rushing back any time soon. I'll just wait for Casey to bring movies home from the library.
So Casey and I finally saw The Dark Knight (hereafter TDK) film last Sunday. We both liked it for the most part. Casey likes Batman Begins better, but I thought Heath Ledger’s performance in TDK set it apart from its predecessor.
Let it be known that I am not a movie guy (anymore). In my younger days, I would frequent more films. TDK was the first film I saw in an actual theater in over two years. Why is that? Two factors for me: price and quality. There doesn't seem to be a lot of fresh ideas coming out of Hollywood nowadays. I was always a fan of the independent films, but I suppose my interests have taken a turn away from film in general.
And let's not forget about the price. When I was a senior in high school, it was $6.75 to see a feature film. I remember saying with my high school friends that if it got over 7, I was done going to the theater. The matinee price for TDK was $7. THE MATINEE PRICE!!!! Features are now $9.75. So take the $14 for see to see the movie, $4.75 for a soda (optional, I know), and about $5 for popcorn (not optional for Casey :) ), and we're out $25 before the movie starts. I can't imagine how a family of four goes to a feature anymore.
So while I'm glad I got to see TDK in the theaters, getting the full experience, I'm not rushing back any time soon. I'll just wait for Casey to bring movies home from the library.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Just hangin'
I felt compelled to make a post to this blog since there's been no activity for over a month.
Well... Casey's still reading. I'm still doing computer stuff. The cats still whine for food. In other words, not much is new.
I did go to a heavy metal concert without Casey last Saturday. While the show was very good, I realize my mosh pitting days are long behind me.
Well... Casey's still reading. I'm still doing computer stuff. The cats still whine for food. In other words, not much is new.
I did go to a heavy metal concert without Casey last Saturday. While the show was very good, I realize my mosh pitting days are long behind me.
Monday, June 30, 2008
I FINALLY got to play Western Hills Country Club!
You can't even write stuff like this...
So today, I was able to play Western Hills Country Club — a course that I have driven past probably thousands of times, but never had the opportunity to play. Those of you that know me know my parents live right off of Delhi Par 3 — a pitch and putt that's been in operation since 1955. Although WHCC was literally a half-mile from my parents house, I never had a desire to play it, although I often wondered what was behind the fence and gates. I didn't take up golf until the first trip to Kiawah in 2002 (this was NOT the trip during which Casey and I started dating). Regardless, Western Hills Country Club always remained sacrosanct and I was never sure that I would get an opportunity to play it.
The Greater Cincinnati Golf Association (GCGA) had two Open Play Days this year: one at Clovernook Country Club and one at Western Hills Country Club. Since the OVGA, the organization whose Web Site I am in charge of, is a member of the GCGA, I was able to attend both events. As excited as I was to be able to play Clovernook, I was ESTATIC to be able to finally have the chance to play Western Hills Country Club. Unfortunately, I played my worst golf of the year at Clovernook. Since then I've worked hard on my swing and even harder on my mental game. After putting together a couple of good rounds, I was ready to give Western Hills C.C. my best shot.
Making the right turn into the club off of Cleves-Warsaw Rd. and passing through the gates was so weird to me. I was finally within the barbed wired fence. I would finally get to see more of the course than the road holes (more on those later). I arrived at the club at 2PM for my 2:30 tee-time. I ended up playing with a very nice gentleman who's a member of Four Bridges Country Club in West Chester.
So how did the round go? Well, the front 9, I had good rhythm, made birdie on #8 and went out (term for first 9 holes) in 43. As I don't keep score during my round, I did not know this. What I do know is all the work I had done on my game was paying off big time. My concentration lapsed a bit on the first road hole (#11) and I probably hit my worst two shots of the day, ending up with a double bogey 6.
I made up for it on the next road hole, the 175 yard par 3 12th, hitting the green in regulation and nearly sinking the birdie putt, ending up with a 3. I told my playing partner, Jim, that I think the course was trying to tell me that it wanted me to join.
My streak of good holes continued. Bogeys at 13, 14, 15 were okay with me. On the last road hole, the par 4 16th, I crushed a drive and hit a 9 iron to 25 ft. Missed birdie by a foot and made par.
A bogey on 17 would bring me to the par 5 18th needing par or better to break my personal best of 87, that I shot at Brook Hill Golf Club last year. Again, I don't keep score during my round, so I didn't know this at the time. I crushed my drive, but messed up a bit on my layup shot. I had 165 to the middle of the green with a helping wind. I would normally hit a 6-iron from that yardage, but I went with the 7-iron because of the wind and because I'd rather be short than long. I hit probably the best iron shot I hit all day, a nice soaring draw that ended up 8 feet from the hole. I barely missed the birdie putt and wrapped it up with a routine par 5 for a score of 86!
Needless to say, it was an other-worldly experience. To be able to step foot onto ground that had been so long intangible; to be able to play the best golf of my life; I cannot explain the feeling I had when I finally went back through the gates to head home. My round at Western Hills Country Club was everything I wanted it to be and more. It's a fantastic course. The staff and other members were very welcoming.
Final verdict: If I ever get the invite to come back, I would do it in a heartbeat. If Casey and I can get some work done around the house and we're doing well off, perhaps we'll have the opportunity to join (Jr. Member rates are very reasonable). Until then, each time I drive by the course, I'll remember the great time I had there one late June afternoon in 2008.
So today, I was able to play Western Hills Country Club — a course that I have driven past probably thousands of times, but never had the opportunity to play. Those of you that know me know my parents live right off of Delhi Par 3 — a pitch and putt that's been in operation since 1955. Although WHCC was literally a half-mile from my parents house, I never had a desire to play it, although I often wondered what was behind the fence and gates. I didn't take up golf until the first trip to Kiawah in 2002 (this was NOT the trip during which Casey and I started dating). Regardless, Western Hills Country Club always remained sacrosanct and I was never sure that I would get an opportunity to play it.
The Greater Cincinnati Golf Association (GCGA) had two Open Play Days this year: one at Clovernook Country Club and one at Western Hills Country Club. Since the OVGA, the organization whose Web Site I am in charge of, is a member of the GCGA, I was able to attend both events. As excited as I was to be able to play Clovernook, I was ESTATIC to be able to finally have the chance to play Western Hills Country Club. Unfortunately, I played my worst golf of the year at Clovernook. Since then I've worked hard on my swing and even harder on my mental game. After putting together a couple of good rounds, I was ready to give Western Hills C.C. my best shot.
Making the right turn into the club off of Cleves-Warsaw Rd. and passing through the gates was so weird to me. I was finally within the barbed wired fence. I would finally get to see more of the course than the road holes (more on those later). I arrived at the club at 2PM for my 2:30 tee-time. I ended up playing with a very nice gentleman who's a member of Four Bridges Country Club in West Chester.
So how did the round go? Well, the front 9, I had good rhythm, made birdie on #8 and went out (term for first 9 holes) in 43. As I don't keep score during my round, I did not know this. What I do know is all the work I had done on my game was paying off big time. My concentration lapsed a bit on the first road hole (#11) and I probably hit my worst two shots of the day, ending up with a double bogey 6.
I made up for it on the next road hole, the 175 yard par 3 12th, hitting the green in regulation and nearly sinking the birdie putt, ending up with a 3. I told my playing partner, Jim, that I think the course was trying to tell me that it wanted me to join.
My streak of good holes continued. Bogeys at 13, 14, 15 were okay with me. On the last road hole, the par 4 16th, I crushed a drive and hit a 9 iron to 25 ft. Missed birdie by a foot and made par.
A bogey on 17 would bring me to the par 5 18th needing par or better to break my personal best of 87, that I shot at Brook Hill Golf Club last year. Again, I don't keep score during my round, so I didn't know this at the time. I crushed my drive, but messed up a bit on my layup shot. I had 165 to the middle of the green with a helping wind. I would normally hit a 6-iron from that yardage, but I went with the 7-iron because of the wind and because I'd rather be short than long. I hit probably the best iron shot I hit all day, a nice soaring draw that ended up 8 feet from the hole. I barely missed the birdie putt and wrapped it up with a routine par 5 for a score of 86!
Needless to say, it was an other-worldly experience. To be able to step foot onto ground that had been so long intangible; to be able to play the best golf of my life; I cannot explain the feeling I had when I finally went back through the gates to head home. My round at Western Hills Country Club was everything I wanted it to be and more. It's a fantastic course. The staff and other members were very welcoming.
Final verdict: If I ever get the invite to come back, I would do it in a heartbeat. If Casey and I can get some work done around the house and we're doing well off, perhaps we'll have the opportunity to join (Jr. Member rates are very reasonable). Until then, each time I drive by the course, I'll remember the great time I had there one late June afternoon in 2008.
Monday, May 26, 2008
We're Back!!!
Casey and I just arrived back from our honeymoon in Cancun and the wedding in Chicago. Both were amazing, but Casey and I need to grab some beauty sleep. Stories and photos to come later.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
How Criss B. Pulled Off the Surprise.
Now for my two cents on the surprise party.
Criss is HORRIBLE with surprises. He has too many "tells," you know, like in poker. He was able to surprise me one other time but it was a very short time span and over the phone. That time he was in Florida on a golf trip but wasn't having the greatest time. I told him, "Come back early and see me!" but he said no, he was going to go to an amusement park and would keep his original flight. Little did I know he had already arranged an earlier flight and was waiting for me in the parking lot when I got off work. So cute!
This time, looking back, there were signs but I mostly chalked them up to Criss being his weird self. First, when a coworker asked me to work for her on Saturday his first reaction was an immediate "No!" I thought he just wanted to spend time with me but now I realize he was worried the timing would be off if I worked. Second, when we discussed what we were going to do on Saturday afternoon he said that he thought we would shop until about 6:30. At the time I thought, why does it matter how long we shop? Next, when we were getting ready to go out he wouldn't let me change from my work clothes. He said he liked what I was wearing and wouldn't even let me put on jeans. Turns out our friend Becky told him to make sure I looked nice so I wouldn't be embarrassed when a whole bunch of people were at my house. It was a really weird exchange between Criss and I though because usually he doesn't have much (or at least doesn't express much) of an opinion regarding what I wear (unless he's seen me in my sweatshirt one too many times). Finally, he wouldn't stop for food on the drive home and he drove the speed limit or under the whole way. If I hadn't been so sleepy and pretty much just napping during the drive, I would have said something. I wonder what his response would have been?
When we got home, my first clue that something was up was the fact that the cats weren't crying. It was well past their dinner time and usually they would be screaming through the window, but no cats. Then when I came in the door their was food on my table. I hesitated before going in but I still thought it was just going to be his parents. I was wrong! My whole kitchen was filled with friends.
This is probably one of the best things Criss has ever done for me and reminds me why I married him. I know how hard it was for him to get everything organized and keep it a secret and it means even more to me because of that. Thank you to everyone who made it. I had a great time!
Criss is HORRIBLE with surprises. He has too many "tells," you know, like in poker. He was able to surprise me one other time but it was a very short time span and over the phone. That time he was in Florida on a golf trip but wasn't having the greatest time. I told him, "Come back early and see me!" but he said no, he was going to go to an amusement park and would keep his original flight. Little did I know he had already arranged an earlier flight and was waiting for me in the parking lot when I got off work. So cute!
This time, looking back, there were signs but I mostly chalked them up to Criss being his weird self. First, when a coworker asked me to work for her on Saturday his first reaction was an immediate "No!" I thought he just wanted to spend time with me but now I realize he was worried the timing would be off if I worked. Second, when we discussed what we were going to do on Saturday afternoon he said that he thought we would shop until about 6:30. At the time I thought, why does it matter how long we shop? Next, when we were getting ready to go out he wouldn't let me change from my work clothes. He said he liked what I was wearing and wouldn't even let me put on jeans. Turns out our friend Becky told him to make sure I looked nice so I wouldn't be embarrassed when a whole bunch of people were at my house. It was a really weird exchange between Criss and I though because usually he doesn't have much (or at least doesn't express much) of an opinion regarding what I wear (unless he's seen me in my sweatshirt one too many times). Finally, he wouldn't stop for food on the drive home and he drove the speed limit or under the whole way. If I hadn't been so sleepy and pretty much just napping during the drive, I would have said something. I wonder what his response would have been?
When we got home, my first clue that something was up was the fact that the cats weren't crying. It was well past their dinner time and usually they would be screaming through the window, but no cats. Then when I came in the door their was food on my table. I hesitated before going in but I still thought it was just going to be his parents. I was wrong! My whole kitchen was filled with friends.
This is probably one of the best things Criss has ever done for me and reminds me why I married him. I know how hard it was for him to get everything organized and keep it a secret and it means even more to me because of that. Thank you to everyone who made it. I had a great time!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
SURPRISE!!!!!
Casey graduated from Graduate School this past Saturday. Since she wasn't doing any of the formal ceremonies down at UK, I thought I'd surprise her with a surprise graduation party. Those that know me know I'm horrible at keeping surprise stuff like that a secret. And it's not that I don't keep other peoples' secrets; I just can't keep my own.
I first made sure that my parents and Casey's parents could attend. I wanted Casey's brother, Matthew, to join us if he could; but since he's still in undergrad and had exams the week after, he wasn't able to join us. I invited a few of our other friends and they were able to keep the secret.
Keeping the details a secret proved to be easier than I thought. I finally got around to buying a grill that my father and grandmother contributed funds to. I certainly procrastinated long enough in buying it (bought it Thursday), but all worked out. I was able to deliver copious amounts of alcohol to my parent's house under the ruse of "picking up Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra tickets". And finally, on the day of the party, I was able to get Casey out of the house under the ruse of "shopping".
While Casey and I shopped around town, the parents helped set everything up and our guests arrived. As Casey was getting hungry and cranky, I did my best to stall our arrival. I tried everything from putting gas in my car at a slow rate, driving at speed limit, etc. When we finally arrived home, I made sure that Casey opened the door while I got our shopping items.
As Casey opened the door to our house, she could tell something was up. In the now immortal words, she said, "Criss B. Did you do something?" Then came the surprise :)
We had a great time with those that were able to attend. We christened the new grill with many hamburgers and enjoyed a rousing game of Apples to Apples. George, Casey's father, got to witness the "I'm the Juggernaut8...!" YouTube video. Never got his opinion on that one...
I first made sure that my parents and Casey's parents could attend. I wanted Casey's brother, Matthew, to join us if he could; but since he's still in undergrad and had exams the week after, he wasn't able to join us. I invited a few of our other friends and they were able to keep the secret.
Keeping the details a secret proved to be easier than I thought. I finally got around to buying a grill that my father and grandmother contributed funds to. I certainly procrastinated long enough in buying it (bought it Thursday), but all worked out. I was able to deliver copious amounts of alcohol to my parent's house under the ruse of "picking up Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra tickets". And finally, on the day of the party, I was able to get Casey out of the house under the ruse of "shopping".
While Casey and I shopped around town, the parents helped set everything up and our guests arrived. As Casey was getting hungry and cranky, I did my best to stall our arrival. I tried everything from putting gas in my car at a slow rate, driving at speed limit, etc. When we finally arrived home, I made sure that Casey opened the door while I got our shopping items.
As Casey opened the door to our house, she could tell something was up. In the now immortal words, she said, "Criss B. Did you do something?" Then came the surprise :)
We had a great time with those that were able to attend. We christened the new grill with many hamburgers and enjoyed a rousing game of Apples to Apples. George, Casey's father, got to witness the "I'm the Juggernaut8...!" YouTube video. Never got his opinion on that one...
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