The "Booty" Blog

2010-06-12T22:44:00.011-06:00

FINDING COLOUR

Last weekend I went out to try to capture some colour. I was specifically looking for bright, complementary colours. I couldn't find any complementary colours specifically, though I did find some bright colours.

Stupid Busy Week!

2009-10-21T20:47:00.002-06:00

So I have to say that this week has been super busy and quite draining, and it's only Wednesday!! I am done at the school for the week though because we have a conference the next two days. I wish I could say I had a four day weekend but I don't. Time sure flies when there are so many three day weeks but there is too much to get done in these short weeks.

Weekends are so busy too. Last weekend we were out in Calgary with the whole family and that was sure fun. I love my family and I love my nieces! Those girls are so much fun and I just can't imagine loving my kids even more. I would do anything for those girls. I just wish they lived closer. This weekend we are at the Kramer/Shakotko wedding and I am so excited for their wedding. I know both bride and groom and will be sitting at the guestbook table so it will be very fun.

But after this weekend, we are staying home for a bit. It's just been too busy and too much running around/travelling. It tires a person out. But I am going to head out and try to get to bed early tonight. That's what's been happening.

Brad: Products That Work - Special Blend

2009-10-15T16:58:00.002-06:00

It's time for another post committed to helping you buy products that do what they say, products that actually work!

This time i'm featuring an entire brand - Special Blend.

I purchased a Special Blend hoodie at a board store in Swift Current in Grade 12. I went into the store wanting to buy something to help make me more cool. I had a job, and I had some money, I had everything I needed to buy one. I walked into the store feeling awkward and out of my element. I randomly picked a plain sweater, nothing fancy, but it felt warm. It was blue with red and white font. There were no fancy designs on it, no skulls, nothing, just a plain old bunny hug. I then looked at the price tag...$120. Dang. Maybe not right now is what I thought, I couldn't justify that kind of spending on a sweater. I walked out of the store and, when I got to my truck, had a change of heart and went back into the store to buy it.

What a good decision that turned out to be.

I still have this bunny hug 8 years later. It has some signs of wear, the colours have faded a bit, and the fabric is starting to separate at the edges. In my opinion it is surprisingly little wear and tear for an 8 year old bunny hug that i've used a TON. It is quite frankly the warmest hoodie i've ever owned and is my go to sweater any time it's cold outside and i'm going to the outdoor rinks, ski-dooing, etc.

There are two problems with Special Blend. Problem 1 - it is expensive. Since 2002 they have expanded their line to include some lesser made items, ones that aren't as thick and solid as mine. But, a good quality SB hoodie is still going to run a guy around $100. Problem 2 - it is extremely hard to find. I have looked for Special Blend retailers for the past 6 months and have not found a single one. They have lots of products online, but I like trying things on before I buy them and that's not an option online.

The long and short of this post is that if you ever see SB gear, and have the opportunity to purchase it, do it no matter the price! It will be one of the best clothing investments you will ever make!

bjtb

Brad: Whose Line Is It Anyway Skit

2009-10-09T21:14:00.001-06:00

Probably the best skit ever...I wish this show were still on air. Good luck not laughing during this:

Brad: Sweet Video from Price Is Right

2009-10-09T21:04:00.002-06:00

Now, for your enjoyment and mine, here is a sweet video from the Price Is Right...from the opening line to the stellar background music, this is pretty sweet...

Brad: Happy Thanksgiving

2009-10-09T20:38:00.003-06:00

Well it's back to the blog after a week of pure illness. I have been sick all week, since Monday morning, and am just now starting to feel better. I missed 4 days of work this week as I was simply too tired, fatigued, and dizzy to go to work. It's been a rough week in the 'ole health department.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. Some of the in-laws are down for the weekend, and we have our Holderbein gathering on Sunday, which is always an awesome time. On Monday afternoon I have to work the Broncos game running the coaches/webcam camcorder. It's a fun thing to do that pays a little bit of side money into my pocket. Erin and I have just been putting it away as a vacation fund, so hopefully we can go somewhere warm this winter!

NHL hockey is back and i'm super pumped about that. It is going to be a sweet season. There seems to have been a ton of off-season changes throughout the league. It is still weird seeing Bouwmeester in Calgary, Cammalleri in Montreal, Khabibulin in Edmonton, etc. I watched the Phoenix/Penguins game the other night and was impressed with the Coyotes style of play - tremendously boring but very effective. Anyway, I think the Canucks will be the best Canadian team and I think the Pneguins, Blackhawks, Sharks, and Bruins will all be entertaining teams to watch and may have a shot. Funny how the Sharks look good on paper every year and tank in the playoffs.

Anyway, that's all for now. Will try to keep the posting more updated now that i'm well enough to be back to somewhat normal health.

Go Pens Go!

bjtb

Brad: My Problem with Big City Radio

2009-09-27T21:32:00.002-06:00

Erin and I drove home from Saskatoon today. I purchased the new Pillar CD, a christian rock band, but wanted to utilize the radio while we were in range, then play the CD when we weren't in range the rest of the way to Swift. Erin and I put the radio on C95, Saskatoon's "#1 Hit Music Station" and drove, and drove, and drove listening to commercial after commercial after commercial. From Saskatoon to 5 minutes on the Swift Current side of Delisle (about 25 minutes outside of Saskatoon) we did not hear a single music note played with the exception of the jingles in a small variety of commercials. We must have heard the Tim Horton's smile cookie commercial 6 or 7 times in that 25 minute span. I've never heard such a consecutive streak of advertising.

That's my rant, moving on...

Saskatoon was good this weekend. Erin and I spent the better part of Saturday shopping for clothes, bedding, and vehicles. I bought two new shirts for work and we bought new sheets for our bed. We were unable to find a bed-in-a-bag set that we liked but ended up with nice new sheets.

We test drove a good chunk of vehicles on Saturday. We took a friend of mines Toyota 4 Runner for the entire day. We also drove two Nissan Muranos, a Subaru Tribeca, and a Toyota Rav 4. While we haven't decided entirely on what we're going to buy it is becoming harder and harder to ignore the ridiculous quality that Toyotas are made of. There is a fairly good chance that we will be the happy new owners of a Toyota vehicle in the not-too-distant future. Muranos were very impressive as well and are still on the top of our list. The purchase of a non-domestic vehicle would be a first for me as i've only ever driven a Ford product, I guess we'll see how it goes.

Back to work tomorrow!

bjtb

Brad: Finally, An Update!!

2009-09-24T21:38:00.003-06:00

So the 'ole blog has been pretty neglected over the summer. We have lived a busy life in the summer months between trips, weddings, and a variety of other happenings it feels like the past couple of months have flown by.

I used to update our blog on my lunch break, however, since we sold Erin's car I have been walking home for lunch, quickly making a meal, then walking back. Once we purchase a new vehicle I will hopefully be more committed to updated this blog and keeping you informed.

Onto the vehicle topic...We're heading up to Saskatoon to vehicle shop and are still contemplating what to buy. One of our options is a Toyota 4 Runner (pictured) - great SUV on a truck frame, very durable, solid quality, ample space, but poor fuel economy and a high price to pay. I guess we will take a few vehicles for a rip and see what we like!

No, we still have not purchased a house despite beginning our search back in February. It seems like any houses we find that look nice on the outside are waste on the inside, and any that we like are far too high in price. A 30 year old house that still needs $30,000 in updates selling for $275,000 is ludacris; having to spend $400,000 to build new is even worse. I was anticipating prices coming down but am now not so confident.

We also are now the proud owners of a Serta king size bed. We just picked it up today and will get to try it out for our first sleep tonight - pretty exciting actually. Our old queen matress, which was 5.5 years old, had about an inch and a half sag in the middle and we were fortunate enough to receive a warranty claim on it. We decided to pay a little extra and upgrade to a king bed. Wow are they huge.

I am heavily anticipating the upcoming NHL season that starts in October. I am anxious to see how the Penguins respond to their memorable Stanley Cup championship last year. I sincerely hope that they do not follow the usual path of missing the playoffs the year after winning the cup. I am also eager to watch the Edmonton Oilers season unfold. They have a new look, behind the bench too, and it should be an interesting year for them. My prediction is too many small youngsters up front to be durable enough throughout the season. Only time will tell.

And a big shout out to Michael Scissons. Mike is probably the most loyal reader of this blog and is more than deserving of a shout out. In fact, I think in the near future i'm going to have to post an 'all about Mike' post talking about our friendship and how we've gotten to know each other...stay tuned for that!

ta ta for now.

bjtb

Erin-Still Alive & Busy...

2009-09-09T18:34:00.002-06:00

Well I have noticed that we have been neglecting our blog for a bit and it's not because there isn't anything going on, rather we have been busy. The start of the year (school year) is always a little busy and an adjustment. We are just finding the routine again and I am figuring out my new job. I really have enjoyed my new job so far and really enjoy the kids!! They treat me SO well out at the colony and Brad got to see that on Monday when I took him for his first experience at the colony. They feed you and will invite you over for coffee anytime!

Brad and I have been vehicle shopping which is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Why do all the nice vehicles have to be so expensive?? We headed to Regina this last weekend and fell in love with a Toyota Highlander. Really nice vehicle but more than we want to pay for a vehicle. We are really wanting a house soon. Two big purchase are scary. I am really looking forward to having a house. I am so sick of moving everything in the storage room to find one thing!! Urggh!

By the way, I have been LOVING this warm weather in September. I really like harvest time because I think it's such a great time of year. I love being able to see people farm while I drive to work. It makes me want to be at the farm with my dad during this time. But this weather can stay around say, til Christmas!! Well that's all for me!

Erin: Life

2009-08-21T08:08:00.003-06:00

Well this week it has been back to reality and back to work for me. After having the last seven weeks or so off, I am back to the school. Being a principal for the first time and in a new school division, it can be overwhelming at times. I was at the school for three days this week just putting the school back in place after they renovated the school this summer. It looks amazing and so different with the new upgrades. Now it's the second day of orientation at the division office and then next Thursday school starts. I am nervous but excited. I just want to get going and figure out everything. I know that it will be good, I just have to take each day at a time.

I was reminded again this week how we need to take in every minute of every day because we are not gaurenteed tomorrow. In the plane accident that happened near Saskatoon, a 28 year-old man died while learning how to fly a plane. His name is Ryan Chute and is a relative to friends of ours and we knew. A husband, a father of two boys, a son, etc. These stories always shock me and really make me think hard about my life. It also scares me because of the situation I am in. Being married to my best friend, I can't imagine losing him. BUT I have to remember that I can't live life worrying and just live life to the fullest. I am so thankful that Ryan was a man of God and is in a better place. We need to continue to pray for this family though.

Well on that note, I need to leave soon for the day. Enjoy your day and live each day as if it were your last.

Brad: Back Home, Back to Posting

2009-08-16T21:08:00.003-06:00

The 'ole blog took a vacation along with Erin and I during our trip to Las Vegas last week with my cousins Tracy and Jesse.

Wow, what an awesome trip.

Las Vegas is very hot in the summer as the coolest days we experienced were 39 degrees. The average day was around 43 degrees, which feels so much hotter with the traffic, mass amounts of people, and lack of grass/trees due to an abundance of asphalt. We were able to stay inside casinos and hotels for the most part, so the heat was not a huge concern, however, it's definitely hot in the desert in the summer!

Vegas is a ridiculously fun place to be. Whether it's the pools, the massive casinos, the shows, the lights, or the masses of people, Las Vegas is truly a unique experience.

I would have to say that the highlight of the trip for me were the two shows that we took in. Our vacation package included two tickets to Cirque De Soleil 'KA', a high acrobatic, high energy performance with a story line that I found hard to follow. We were told by Vegas folks that the stage in the theater was worth over $4.5 million dollars. It moved up and down in numerous places, rotated 90 degrees to turn completely vertical, and also pivoted 360 degrees in either its vertical or horizontal positions. Truly amazing!

We also took in Disney's The Lion King at our hotel (Mandalay Bay). This was an awesome show! The show had incredible costumes and very, very talented performers. The music and singing was all live, and our tickets were $53 each in an $85 section. We were very pleased with the bang for our buck on this performance. I highly recommend both shows to anyone going to Vegas.

On a different side, Las Vegas is a very sad place. Our room looked over the strip and we had a great view of all of the lights and action. On numerous nights I sat in a chair at the window and gazed into the surreal life of Las Vegas. How weird it is to sit and think that there are literally billions of people living in poverty, yet there are thousands of people (ourselves included) who simply throw away money in Las Vegas. It is a place where the rich get richer. I'll perhaps elaborate on some of my thoughts on this in a future post.

It also shocks me how busy life can be, yet how patient people are when they are on vacation. In "real life" everyone is in a hurry to get everything done as quickly as possible. On vacation, people simply do not care if they have to wait in line or sit on a hot bus that is barely moving from the insane amounts of traffic.

All in all, Las Vegas was a very fun holiday that came at a very cheap price (the recession isn't always a bad thing!) I am glad that we went and felt that it was money well spent.

We'll try to keep the blog updated more frequently now that summer is coming to a close. Too bad it feels like summer hasn't even begun; where's all the heat?

bjtb

Erin: Vegas and Illness

2009-08-06T10:29:00.007-06:00

Well the countdown is on and we are only three days away from being in Las Vegas!! However, Brad has been home for the last two days sick with some kind of flu-like illness. I am really hoping it is nothing serious and will go away quickly. He has been super tired, upset stomach and headachy. I am hoping this is not the West Nile Virus. So just pray that he gets over this sickness so we can have lots of fun in Vegas.

This brings me back to the week or two or three before our wedding last year when Brad got a wicked case of Swimmer's Ear. WOW was that ever not fun for him, or me! But God healed him the night before the wedding and he was able to hear again and go through our wedding day without being in any pain. Praise the Lord! Now we just need that to happen again this time. I hope this doesn't become a yearly thing! haha. I am really looking forward to spending our first anniversary in Las Vegas and can't believe it's already been a year! It has been a year filled with many unexpected family challenges but also filled with lots of blessings and lots of fun as husband and wife. I love being married to my best friend!! I pray we can have many many more years to come.

Brad: Nothing More Frustrating Than A Deleted Post

2009-07-29T12:05:00.002-06:00

Boy does it ever suck when you put together a nice big post and then, when you go to hit 'publish' the computer freezes. That happened to me yesterday and the post was lost. I'll try to pick up the pieces from that post...

Erin and I purchased our cash for Vegas last week when the dollar was nearing its peak. It was around 92.5 when we bought which, today, looks to be a good move. I wonder if it is worthwhile to hedge some of our savings into US currency...buy it when it's high and then sell it back to the bank when it's low. I believe there is roughly a 2 cent charge for every dollar that you buy or sell, so the dollar would need to fluctuate at least 4 cents before you see any returns, but with the dollar often going up or down 10 cents, that could be a big return (6%) in a couple of months. If a person did that over the course of years, i'm sure you could really compound some cash gains. It's something I think i'll look into further...

Our garden has really grown a lot lately. On Monday night we picked our first zucchini - roughly 15 inches long with a 4 inch diameter. I am still shocked how quickly garden produce grows when the heat picks up...

Vegas is approaching very quickly and it is so exciting for both Erin and I. It'll be a memorable trip for us as it's Erin's first flight, plus it will be a chance to get away for a few days...

I picked up a pair of rollerblades on the weekend. They were a pretty good deal at $80 (regular $159) and seem to be a lot of fun. It is taking me quite a while to get steady on my new 'jets', but it'll only improve with time...

Did anyone hear the stats on CTV news yesterday? Talking on your cell phone makes you 4 times more likely to get in a car accident. Drinking and driving makes you the same - 4 times more likely. Texting makes you 23 more times likely to get in a car accident. 23!! Stop texting and driving people, I know I will.

bjtb.

Erin: Summer

2009-07-22T16:51:00.002-06:00

I love summer!!! There are so many reasons why I love summer but one big reason is that I am on holidays for two months!! I love being at home and just doing things around the house and being outside during the day. It would be better if we had a house that I could work on but that will come in time. Brad always asks what I do all day and I assure him that I stay busy. I mean, I wake up (by that I mean pull myself out of bed by 10), then I get ready, do some facebook, email checking, maybe do some laundry and then make lunch for Brad. Then after lunch I usually do some work around the house or work on stuff for my new job. AND I have been rollerblading. It's really quite easy to fill a day.

As Brad mentioned, we are going to Las Vegas!! I am pretty pumped to fly for the first time in my life. I love travelling and get super excited especially for big trips like this. It will be fun to go with Brad and be able to experience some big things with my husband. I really appreciate how hard Brad works, even in the summer when I am on holidays. He really loves his job and we both feel very blessed to have the jobs that we do. God is good to us.

Another reason I love summer is the BBQ's and hanging out with friends and that is what we are going to do again tonight. We have such amazing family and friends here in Swift Current and that makes us feel very blessed and loved. So I will just say that I am loving summer!!

Brad: Almost at 1,000

2009-07-20T18:24:00.003-06:00

So the blog postings have slipped up the last little while in terms of frequency.

With it being summer outside (and summer inside - I hate not having AC!!) it is becoming more and more difficult to regularly post on here. It is so much easier to be outside enjoying the weather, or inside enjoying the sweet television that's on on the summer.

Anyway, I just checked our blog statistics and we are nearing in on the 1,000 visitors mark. Traffic has been steadily growing so that is great - keep checking back often as it gives us comfort in knowing that our blog isn't a total waste of time and is actually a good tool to update loved ones on our lives.

So, all of that being said, for those of you who visit our blog often...LEAVE COMMENTS! It is awesome reading comments of our friends and family. It's really not hard. Just click on the "comments" button at the bottom of any post, then go from there. The easiest thing to select is option "Name/URL" and just put your name with the post. Either that or put your name right in the post and select "anonymous". Leave some comments, let us know what you want to hear from us!

A quick update on the house shopping topic. It is slow right now. I have more or less concluded that summer is not the best time to buy a house so we're in a "wait until fall/winter" mode. We haven't looked at a house for about 4 weeks and actually haven't seen too many that we like. There are not a lot of fresh new homes on the market right now - most of the ones listed have been listed for months. I'm sure come fall there will be more people selling, hopefully at lower prices.

We've also slowly but surely began vehicle shopping. We test drove a Ford Escape and a Pontiac Torrent last week. Both were nice but the Escape gets my vote. They aren't the best built SUV, or the fastest, but they'll likely suit our needs for the price we're willing to spend. If anyone else has an SUV recommendation for us, leave it in the comments section.

T'is all for now!

bjtb

Brad: Finally, A New Post!

2009-07-13T20:00:00.002-06:00

It has been a while since the 'ole blog has received an update. Reason being? Summer holidays!

Erin and I spent the last little while doing a "Tour De Saskatchewan", as we liked to call it. Up to Turtle Lake, down to Saskatoon, down further to Regina, and finally west to Swift Current.

It was nice to get away - I think we both needed it and, despite not having the greatest weather at the lake, made the most of our time away from Swifty.

Being away for 9 days makes you appreciate what you have. We were both eager to get home and get back into our routines, although Erin's is a bit soft these days being that she is on two months vacation!

I had the chance to get to know a few of Erin's cousins during our cross-province road trip and certainly appreciated their hospitality and conversation. We truly are blessed with great family!

To update, Vegas is officially booked! We have been pumped about this trip ever since we thought of it in the winter. We are hitting up Mandalay Bay for 5 nights and, with the purchase of our vacation package, received two free tickets to any Cirque De Soleil show in Vegas. We attempted to get the tickets for "O" at the Bellagio but were unable to. We happily settled for "KA" at the MGM Grand which I have been told is the best Cirque show in Sin City. I was pleased to learn that our free tickets are in the fifth row!! How awesome that trip is going to be.

Oh, and congrats to Erin who shot a par on the 122 yard second hold at the Mervin Golf Course. Although it was followed by an 11 over 15 on the 3rd hole, it was awesome to see my girl shoot like Tiger to earn a par!

bjtb

Brad: Why Tiger Woods is "Da" Man

2009-07-02T23:54:00.004-06:00

I am a big Tiger Woods fan, and i'm this way for a handful of reasons. In no particular order, here is a non-inclusive list:

Career Path

I have been able to watch Tiger's career path since the start back in 1996. Tiger is the first true "dynasty" of our era. The same can be said for Roger Federer of tennis, however, I simply like golf more than I do tennis. Tiger burst onto the scene in the late 90's and has been cruising along ever since and it's something I have loved to watch over the years.

Pursuit of Perfection

Tiger Woods was the #1 ranked golfer in the world and came off some of the biggest wins (by margin) of his career. So what does he do? He completely changes his swing to make it better. The #1 ranked swing in the world needed to get better, only in the eyes of Tiger. His continual willingness to improve is admirable.

Poise

No athlete in my life has ever displayed calmness in pressure situations like Tiger Woods has. Five foot putts, although they look ridiculously easy, are hard. Even on Chinook or Elmwood (the courses in Swift Current) a five foot putt can more often than not be a 50/50 chance. When you factor in the difficulty of courses that pros play on, and the millions of dollars that are on the line every week, it is truly stunning how many 5 to 10 footers Tiger drops in key situations.

The Game

Tiger has revolutionized the game of golf. In the early 90's and years prior, golf was a less-than popular game, especially when compared to where the game is now. While other golfers in the field can easily hate Tiger for his impressive dominance, they should also be thanking him. In 1995 the winner of the US Open received just over $300,000. At the 2009 US Open the winner took home just under $1,300,000. That is a significant increase in earnings for PGA tour players in a 14 year time frame. Why the increase? The exposure that Tiger Woods has single handedly brought to the game of golf has increased TV ratings, which increases TV revenues, which increases PGA earnings, which increases purses. That, in addition to the 40,000+ people that attend these tournaments (it never used to be that many!), makes for big dollars in the game of golf.

In addition, Tiger has revolutionized the appearance of the game. Prior to his arrival, a fair chunk of golfers were beer leaguers at best - a big belly and a horrid sense of fashion. Now the golfers you see on TV are fit and in-style, something that is a direct result of Tiger Woods.

Nike

Tiger Woods has taken Nike Golf and turned it into a leader in the industry. When Tiger first started wearing the Nike swoosh, Nike Golf was merely an afterthought when purchasing any type of golf gear. With him as their "model endorsement", Nike Golf has become an industry leader in clubs, balls, and fashion. While it may seem ridiculous to sign one athlete to such a lucrative endorsement (I think Tiger's Nike contract is over $30,000,000 per year), think of their return on investment - it would be significantly higher! I hit a Nike driver and Nike 3 wood and both are excellent clubs. The 3 wood is the best i've ever owned.

All things considered, a lot of people do not like Tiger Woods. He is competitive and is often more of a "poor sport" than others. I, for one, have been a fan throughout his career and will continue to be in the future.

The next time you see golf on TV pay attention to how many people surround Tiger Woods compared to the other golfers in the field. There is a reason he gets as much air time as he does.

Tiger is expected to become a billionaire within the next two years, which I believe would make him the first athlete to ever make that claim.

He has also dived into golf course design, something that will likely explode in the next 10 years similar to how Jack Nicklaus has made huge revenues off his course designs.

I could probably list 30 more reasons why I like Tiger Woods, and why I would rank him as my favourite golfer. This is a small list of some of the incredible things he has done for the game of golf - I am a prime example of a young boy playing the game because of the efforts put forth by Tiger to promote the game to youth.

Go Tiger Go...only a handful of majors before he takes the coveted crown from Mr. Nicklaus.

bjtb

Erin: New Adventures

2009-06-28T21:06:00.003-06:00

Well I am finally back!! I kept meaning to update on here but didn't know what to write about. It's a common occurance in my life. I see that my husband has been keeping it well updated, which is good.

I am going to be embarking on a new adventure in the fall. I got the principal job at the Swift Current Hutterite Colony which means that I have a full-time continuous contract!! I feel very blessed as I have only been teaching in this division for 6 months. I am very excited. I will be the only teacher out there teaching eight kids and it's going to be fun. I love it out there!

I'm on summer vacation!! It started on Friday and I am excited. I have lots to do this week with company coming and getting ready to head to the lake but I am super happy to finally be on vacation. I hope to get lots of time to relax but I will also be working on getting ready for next year. AND in August we are going to Vegas!! That will be a first time flying experience for me. It will be a great way to celebrate our first year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's already a year, it's gone by so fast.

Well this week is going to be filled with friends, wedding, packing, cleaning, hopefully a baby for our friends, and lots of hot summer days ( I hope). That's all for now! I am leaving you with some pictures from last weekend where Brad and DJ (my brother-in-law) were trying to blow up those long balloons for my nieces' birthday. Pretty funny!

Brad: Didn't See It Coming!

2009-06-26T12:30:00.002-06:00

Quite the shocker yesterday with the passing of Michael Jackson.

I completely did not see that one coming, nor do I think anyone did, which likely adds to the shock.

My memories of Michael are the old school ones - the ones where he was talented and seemingly on top of the world. He played a big role in making music the way it is today and, love him or hate him, he'll likely be remembered for that, not for the happenings in his later years.

It's hard to believe that the boy pictured above is him, especially when you look at his most recent pictures. What a pile of plastic surgery.

Anyway, t'is going to be a fun weekend. Erin is officially on summer holidays starting this afternoon and the fair is also on - we'll be hitting the parade in the morning and the fair on Sunday. It should be a pretty stellar weekend, especially with nice weather forecasted.

I'm also interested to see what my former employer, the Swift Current Broncos, do with their vacant head coaching position. Whomever they announce as their new head coach/general manager will no doubt determine the future diretion of the team.

Erin and I are going to want to buy an SUV in the coming months, especially given her new position that is 15 kilometers out of town. Any thoughts on what we should buy? I want to spend less than 25 thousand on a vehicle that is no more than 2 years old with no more than 40,000 kilometers. Needs to be bigger than a Ford Escape but does not need to be a 7 passenger.

If anyone has any thoughts, send them our way via the comments section!

And lastly, Erin and I spent some time weeding the garden last night. Everything is above ground and a few of our veggies are really doing quite well, beans being the healthiest looking. Looking forward to that first bite into our home grown food later this summer!

bjtb

Brad: Monday Evening Randoms

2009-06-22T18:17:00.003-06:00

This picture has nothing to do with anything - it's just awesome.

Some random thoughts from the past little while:

- It rained a lot yesterday, especially where we were (Biggar, SK area). We had checked Erin's Grandma's rain gauge around 3:00pm and almost two inches had already fallen. Good for farmers, hopefully it's not too late.

- I am getting excited for Vegas. Erin and I are going to Vegas in August with my cousins and it is going to be spectacular. Erin has never flown, so it's going to be awesome. We're flying out of Great Falls and it should be a memorable 1 year anniversary for us.

- I like Michael Buble.

- Our annual trip to Turtle Lake is only a couple of weeks away. That week is an official launch to summer for us and is a spectacularly fun week - I'm pumped!

- Jon and Kate Plus 8 have a big announcement tonight and it seems to be pretty obvious that it is a divorce announcement. I am not exactly a Jon and Kate Plus 8 lover, but it has been interesting to watch the last couple of weeks as their marriage has all but fallen completely apart. It makes me wonder about my next thought...

Reality TV

Jon and Kate Plus 8 had 6 kids in one birth. They then signed up for a reality TV show on TLC, probably to help pay for some bills. Now, four or five years later, the stardom got the best of them and their marriage has ended. It makes you wonder if it's worth it.

Paul Teutle, both Senior and Junior, have been experiencing a similar fate lately. The two Orange County Chopper (a big custom motorbike shop) superstars, who became famous for their arguments, have now gone their separate ways and have a shattered relationship at best. It makes you wonder if it's worth it.

The great power of the all-mighty dollar has cost both of these families their lives as they know it. There are now six little kids growing up with separated parents as a result of our infatuation with watching other people live their everyday lives. What makes us think that everyone else lives such entertaining lives and what makes us think that their lives are any more exciting than ours? Celebrities are people, normal people.

- Erin and I are on the verge of diving into buying a home for the first time. I am going to put a post on here in the coming days of my thoughts on the current housing market in Swifty and want as much feedback as possible so get prepared to share your thoughts with us!

That's all for now. Have a great week all!

bjtb

Erin: Summertime Fun

2009-06-17T21:47:00.000-06:00

So I have been subbing all year and have been quite busy but it is still not like having a full-time job. It's been really nice being able to come home after school with no planning or marking to do and just enjoy my time with Brad. But I can definetely tell that it is time for summer vacation. I am so excited to be done working and just enjoy the summer. I love summer!!

I always look forward to going to the lake and spending time with friends and family. There is nothing better than being at the cabin and waking up to the lake right outside your window. I know I have talked about the lake before but I just can't wait to go. It's always so refreshing just to be at the lake and spend time away from the busyness. It is also Brad and I's first time that we will be at the lake as a married couple, that is exciting.

I like teaching most days but I do really enjoy being at home. Sometimes work is just an inconvenience. So I look forward to being off for the summer. It's a good perk to teaching. There is always the walks outside, picnics in the park, BBQ's and other summer fun to look forward to. Oh the joys of summer! And then it's the rejuvenating and getting prepared for the year to come! And I just wanted to add that the summer heat is great too (except when it makes your apartment like a sauna and it's hard to sleep at night!).

Brad: Some Things Remind Me of Me...Back Then

2009-06-15T17:25:00.002-06:00

This video is comical. Very comical, at least for me anyway because I can TOTALLY see myself having been this kid 10 years ago. Without a doubt those of you who know me know this kid could have just as easily been me:

bjtb

Brad: Garage Sale People Are Crazy People

2009-06-12T12:05:00.002-06:00

I can't believe how some people go so crazy over garage sales.

My mom is having one this weekend, and it is a huge garage sale. We're talking boxes that have been in storage for 15 years that, as I was looking through them, made me giddy with excitement to once again get to play with my old toys!

The garage sale started last night (yes, garage sales begin on Thursday nights now!) from 4-8pm and I was stunned at how many people showed up. At points there were 20 people in the garage at one time and only once or twice throughout the four hours were there not people buying things.

We sold a ton, and I mean a TON of our stuff last night. Most of the people were "regulars" that knew exactly what to look for and what deals they could not pass up. Quite a few people had the Booster guide with them, plotting out the next garage sale that they would populate.

Overall I was very impressed with the amount of "junk" that we were able to liquidate into cash.

Garage sales are an interesting thing to be a part of. There are some things that have such incredible value to you, the seller, that of little or no financial value. It is actually pretty tough to watch all of your old toys, games, and books sell for mere quarters. In the end it all adds up and you walk away with a good chunk of money, but it's interesting to watch people pick up what you "love" and then throw back on the table like it's worthless.

Anyway, garage sale is going again tonight from 4-8pm and tomorrow morning from 8am-Noon. It is just south of the courthouse (you can't miss it with all of my signage!) so stop by and pick up some classic Boutilier toys!

GO PENS GO!!!!!!!!!

bjtb

Brad: Life in Swift Current

2009-06-08T21:36:00.003-06:00

I love Swift Current.

Erin and I have been residing in Swift Current for just over six months now, continually amazes me how fast time ticks by.

Swift Current is where I was born and raised, it is the only city i've ever truly felt to be home and is where I want to be when Erin and I have kids. It isn't the best city in the world, but it ranks very high in my books.

What makes Swift Current, Swift Current? Here are the things that most attract/attach me to this wonderful city:

Welcoming. This city is very welcoming to new and old residents. The city has buckets of beautiful, mature trees that seemingly fill the city with a cozy summer feel. Although the street lights produce a dim, orange haze at night, this city has some beautiful scenery in the summer and winter months.

Activities. Whether it be the outdoor hockey rinks, tennis courts, walking path, golf courses, or Elmwood Park, this is a great place for active people to, well, be active. I try to utilize the beautiful city run facilities as much as possible; it is simply something that is too good to pass up on and isn't something that every city offers.

People. People here are friendly. The city is big enough to have some forms of entertainment but small enough to know almost all of your neighbours and fellow citizens. I like walking through the mall and saying hi to 65% of the people that you see, just because you've seen them walking in the same spot at some point in the past. People here say thank you, they hold doors for you, and they'll give you the shirt off their back if you ask for it. Big cities don't offer those same luxuries.

I am also attached to the history of this city, and that is something that nobody can take from me. Be it Billy Buffalo, Bronco hockey, or Minor baseball/hockey/soccer, my childhood memories are in this city and it's simply home to me - i'm thankful that it's now home for Erin and I as a happily married couple.

Swift Current...it's true, life truly does make sense here!

bjtb

Erin: New Adventure

2009-06-04T18:38:00.004-06:00

So Brad and I decided to plant a garden this year at his grandma's house. She has a nice big garden and although we didn't use the whole garden, we planted some really good things. We planted some of our favourite vegetables including corn, cucumbers, carrots, beans, peas, zucchini and lettuce. This is our first time planting a garden on our own so there's always questions that we have. Fortunately, we have some great gardeners around us. My mom loves to garden as well as Brad's grandma has a few years of experience behind her:)

Tonight, my question is whether we need to cover our garden or not?? I know that some forecasters are calling for frost. Frost in June!! It makes me so mad that we have to even think about it at this time of year. But I think I will have to either play it safe and cover or take the risk of frost.

We have enjoyed the excitement of waiting for our plants to grow. It is something to keep me busy during the summer when I am off work. Oh the joys of being a teacher!! Only 16 days left of school! And 8 days of teaching for me as of now!

Brad: World's Fastest Clapper

2009-06-04T17:57:00.002-06:00

He's really, really fast.

Saw him on Oprah once, thought you'd like to see him!

Brad: The Brain

2009-06-02T12:46:00.003-06:00

I came across some interesting tidbits on the human brain and heart this morning and thought i'd pass some of the along to you.

Hope you find it as interesting as I did:

Human brains have 100,000,000,000 specialized nerve cells (neurons)
A human heart beats an overage of 2,500,000,000 times in the course of its life
The average heart pumps about 7,200 liters of blood a day. My fuel tank holds 55 liters. That is a lot of blood

Erin and I took a quick trip to Regina yesterday to get her passport and they have really got their business together. We were in and out in less than 15 minutes, much less than anticipated!

We also hit up Winners, which has quickly become my favourite place for clothes. A new pair of Billabong shorts and Dockers shoes later, i'm once again "stylin"...Ha, I don't think i'm ever stylin.

And lastly, i'm off to a friends house tonight to watch the Penguins beat the Red Wings (lets hope). I have found the first two games to be relatively entertaining, but lacking the same excitement that the previous handful of finals have boasted.

Once again, GO PENS GO!!

bjtb

Brad: Cars For Sale!

2009-05-28T20:33:00.003-06:00

If anyone here wants to buy, or know anybody that may want to buy, either of our vehicles please let us know!

Erin and I are going to sell either our Sunfire GT or Cougar in order to purchase a newer four door car (no, not for any particular reason right now! Just thinking ahead for the future).

The Sunfire is in really, REALLY good shape inside and out and has been driven by Erin since day 1. Car has 181,000kms and still runs very very good.

The Cougar is a stick shift, fun to drive car with a V6 engine (170hp). Has roughly 168,000 kilometers and is also in good shape. Six way power adjustable drivers seat, two tone interior, aluminum 16" wheels etc.

Both cars have new tires within the last year or so and both still have tons of life left in them.

Spread the word!

On a separate note, the Detroit Red Wings enter their playoff games to Adrenaline by 12 Stones. It is a pretty good song that you should download and listen to. I will try to, from time to time, post some good songs that you may not have heard of!

bjtb

Brad: An Update

2009-05-26T21:13:00.002-06:00

Feels like it's been a little while since I've put a post on here so I'll just provide a little bit of an update on the latest happenings in Brad'ville - population: 1.

Erin and I were at the farm this weekend and I had a blast, I always have a blast going "home". It is seeding time for my father-in-law, my first time on a farm during seeding season. It was fun to help - picking up fertilizer, delivering fertilizer on the field, loading seed, transporting meals, etc. I learned a lot about farming in the process too - depth of seed, ratios of seed to acre, ratio of fertilizer to acre, the size of a quarter, the size of a section, costs of farming, etc. When I am new to something I tend to ask a lot of questions and I certainly did that this weekend.

I got a wicked sunburn on Saturday. For those of you who don't know, I enjoy doing yard work so I thought I would be a good son-in-law and hop on the ride on lawnmower to trim the grass. I thought it would be a good idea to get some sun so I had my shirt off the entire time. Roughly three hours later I went back into the house and the skin started to burn good and proper. It is now three days later and the weight of my shirt is still causing some pain, although less now than the previous two days.

I have also been doing a lot of work lately at my mom's house, which is for sale, to try to get the yard looking better than it has in the previous 5 or 6 years. Erin and I have raked thoroughly, planted seed, and watered the planted seed regularly. It is 30 minutes a day minimum and the results are starting to show.

Last night was poker night with the boys, my first time playing poker for money in a few years. It was only 4 people playing, but turned out to be a lot of fun. I finished 3 out of 4 in the first game after a foolish play cost me nearly half of my chips, and a bad beat cost me the rest. I was fortunate enough to win game 2, getting lucky on a few hands including an A8 win against an AJ pre-flop. Sure was fun to be in a competitive game again!

Erin and I also planted a garden at my Gramma's house this evening. In 55 to 60 days we will be feasting on biblical proportions of lettuce, corn, zucchini, green beans, peas, and potatoes. It is exciting to have planted our first garden together and, not gonna lie, I'm excited to see the plants pop up through the soil in the next 5 to 14 days (we read the labels a few times over!!)

And lastly, my Penguins (yes, I've been a fan long before the Crosby/Malkin era) are in the Stanley Cup Finals for the 2nd consecutive season. It looks like their opponent will be Detroit, a repeat match up of last years final. Interestingly enough, Marian Hossa didn't re-sign with the Penguins last summer and signed with Detroit instead to "play for a contender". How intense it would be if the Penguins hoisted Lord Stanley this season, leaving Hossa on the losing bench in back to back finals!

That's all for now - have a blessed week everyone!

bjtb

Erin:Saskatoon Berry Pie, Fresh Bread, and Other Wonderful Things

2009-05-25T15:54:00.004-06:00

So I picked up a small job teaching once a week/every other week at the Swift Current Hutterite Colony. It has been so much fun and I enjoy it thoroughly. There are nine students at the school and they are very well-behaved. Teaching there is so much fun and something that I look forward to. They are so welcoming and love to ask me questions about my life.

Another great perk of teaching there is that they LOVE to feed you. I go home every day with either fresh bread, fresh buns or today, fresh Saskatoon berry pie!! I think just from working there I will gain weight. It is so wonderful because they are hard working and they love to share as well. I have learned a lot from them. They even got up at 5AM this morning to make the pies because they had to also bake bread today! How many of you would do that?

Brad: Products That Work - Rain-X

2009-05-22T12:40:00.003-06:00

And now for the second installment of Products That Work.

Today I am highlighting a relatively well known product called Rain-X. You have likely heard of or seen Rain-X in stores as it is used in a variety of products - window cleaners and windshield wipers, to name a few. The one i'd like to focus on is the invisible window film.

How does this product work? As expected, you apply it to any windows on your vehicle and it creates an invisible film that protects your window from rainfall. It actually creates an incredibly slippery window that completely repels rain, similar to rain coats.

When you have Rain-X on your window you quite literally can drive through any rain or snow storm without having to use your wipers, the water simply beads off. It's also handy for bugs in the summer as they don't stick to the window and wipe off with much greater ease than they normally would.

Rain-X installs relatively easily with paper towel and will take 10 or 15 minutes to do an entire vehicles windows. It seems to last a very long time as mine has been on for over a year and still performs appropriately. You can buy a bottle of this stuff for $5 or $6 at Walmart, Canadian Tire, etc.

A purchase well worth the money!

bjtb

Brad: Brian Regan

2009-05-21T12:45:00.001-06:00

Neither Erin nor I are big into comedy.

That being said, one of the funniest comedians i've ever heard is Brian Regan.

Here is just one of many awesome Brian Regan skits.

I may post more again in the future.

GO PENS GO!

bjtb

Brad: May Long Weekend

2009-05-19T21:21:00.010-06:00

Back from camping, back to blogging.

May long with my boys (Devin, Ryan, Jason, Brian, and Sean) was my 5th annual trip and once again an unforgettable four days of eating, golfing, eating, fishing, eating, sleeping, and engaging conversation.

To pick a highlight is always a hard thing to do after this trip, but here are a few memories that I will take with me into future May long excursions:

Eating burger "appy's" with a main course of chicken, fish, potatoes, and carrots
Devin breaking his chair - it was time to go and the 50+ pounds of firewood on his lap helped speed up the process
The cold night - Sunday night must have dipped below zero after the temperature peaked at about 25 degrees in the afternoon. Violent temperature fluctuations made for an awfully cold night
Sweet Treats Ice Cream Parlour - my two orders: maple walnut sundae; hot fudge sundae. The owner there loves us and "looks forward to us coming every year"
Fishing - Fortunately, with a lot of luck and much thanks to Devin for helping me bring it in, I managed to catch an 11 3/4 lbs. Rainbow Trout that was roughly 30 inches in length. No doubt a big fish, and no doubt a tasty fish.

I will leave you with some photos of the weekend!

bjtb

Erin: Marriage

2009-05-15T20:32:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to say a few things about marriage. Brad and I have been married for 9 months now and it has been great. We have been through some really hard things but because of it, we have grown so close. I feel like we have probably matured in our marriage twice as fast as most newly married couples because of it. And even though things have not always been easy these last nine months, I can say that my love for Brad has grown abundantly through it all.

Now this weekend, Brad is away camping with the boys. I love that we both have such great friends who share so many of the same beliefs as we do. I know that Brad deserves to get away with the guys and have some good guy time. However, it is the first time we are leaving each other for more than one night. I know it sounds cheesy because it's only three days apart and many couples do that all the time, but it's really hard. I feel this empty spot inside me when he is away. He is my best friend and I miss him.

I am going to go to the Hat for a few days and spend time with some family. I am very excited to have such wonderful family to hang out with. I just want to say that marriage is something that you don't want to rush into. It is the best thing in the world but it does take a lot of work, each bit of it is so worthwhile. Having my best friend beside me to share my deepest thoughts and struggles is so wonderful. God has designed marriage and God needs to be the center of your marriage.

Brad: 40 Year Mortgages

2009-05-15T10:04:00.006-06:00

These are only my thoughts on 40 year mortgages, and i'll be politically correct as I know there are quite a few people out there who have them.

I went to school for Financial Services, which many people do not know, so I do actually have a history/experience in dealing with this stuff. I'm not as educated as somebody in the field who has every day experience, but I understand how things work.

As far as I know, banks have now been limited to issuing 35 year mortgages at the maximum with an absolute minimum of 5% of the purchase price for a down payment. This is different than it was last year when you could get a 40 year with 0% down.

So what is the danger of a 40 year mortgage and why is it so important to pay down your mortgage as fast as you can, even if it's only an extra 25 bucks a month?

Here are some numbers. Lets take a $250,000 home with a 4% interest rate. And, keep in mind that interest rates are exceptionally low right now so as prime rates increase, so will the savings from paying your mortgage wisely:

On a 40 year mortgage your situation would look like this:

Monthly payment - $1,039
Amortized interest over course of loan - $249,065
Total amount you will pay - $499,065 ($250,000 + $249,065)

On a 25 year mortgage your situation would look like this:

Monthly payment - $1,315
Amortized interest over course of loan - $144,513
Total amount you will pay - $394,513 ($250,000 + $144,513)

So, by absorbing a 25 year mortgage rather than a 40 year mortage, you would save nearly $105,000 on interest throughout the course of the loan.

If interest rates were 6%, which they were before the recession hit and prime dropped, the savings would amount to more than $174,000!

Now here is why it is so important to put every spare change you have towards your mortgage:

If you take the same mortgage ($250,000 over 25 years at 4%) and increase the monthly payment by $110 a month you would save an additional $21,000 in interest!

So the moral of this post is to be smart when buying a home and repay it as quickly as possible.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm off for a camping trip with the boys this weekend so the blog posting will be few and far between. It is an annual tradition and this is our 6th or 7th year doing it. Tonight is going to be rather chilly although the forecast says warm temperatures for Saturday and Sunday so lets hope that holds true!

This will be the first time Erin and I are apart for an extended period of time since we've been married so both of our emotions will be in a bit of a whirlwind throughout the weekend so pray for strength for the both of us!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

On a totally separate note: I endured a 10 minute back-log in traffic on my way to Canadian Tire this morning (needed a new camp chair). They were moving the old Bardahl's shop on the #1 and 4 bypass. With a police escort and quite a few flashing lights they eventually got things cleared up to pass through. It gave me a bit of nostalgia of being in Saskatoon all over again!

Ta ta for now and have a superb long weekend!

bjtb

Erin: My favourite Things

2009-05-14T16:47:00.004-06:00

So I am going to add to Brad's thought on his favourite things and do a list of my own. But before I start I want to tell you something. Brad always makes fun of me when he asks what my favourite things are because I always seem to have a different answer each time he asks. I guess I have just learnt as a teacher not to have favourites! Anyways, here it goes:

Favourite Food:

1. I really enjoy salty foods. Some of my favourite snacks would be popcorn or nachos and salsa.

2. I love Coca-Cola chicken but I also love lasagna.

Places to go:

1. I am a huge fan of the summer because I love going to the lake. My parents have a cabin at Turtle Lake and from as long as I can remember we have spent the summers at the lake. I just wish I could be up there longer and the drive was shorter.

2. I want to go back to Disneyland someday. I can't wait to take our kids there someday because it truly is the happiest place on Earth.

Sports:

1. I am going to say I like ths sport of shopping. It is really quite a team game where you need at least one friend or sister with you to work hard and come out a winner.

2. I do enjoy hockey. I have always enjoyed watching hockey and keeping up with who is playing and winning. I do think that NHL playoffs are fun to watch but it is ridiculous how long their seasons are.

And I am going to add my own category to this favourites list.

Favourite TV shows (right now):

1. The Biggest Loser- We decided to start watching it after my mom kept talking about them always watching it. I really enjoy the show and how motivating it is. And I enjoy that the people are so much happier when they are more healthy.

2. Hell's Kitchen- Even though I do not appreciate the way that Chef Ramsay treats people, I do enjoy watching the show. It is pretty sweet to see all the different things that these people have to go through and the hard work they put into it. So on that note, I am going to wrap this up and go watch the finale. I guess, since after tonight both of these shows will be done, I will have to wait for my next favourite show, America's Got Talent to start.

Brad: Favourites

2009-05-13T20:02:00.003-06:00

So what are some of my favourites?

Here is just a peak at some of the things I enjoy most:

Foods

Rice Pudding - My mom/gramma have the best rice pudding recipes ever. Creamy, warm, delicious!

Ice Cream - Plain vanilla ice cream with no toppings is one of the best tastes i've ever encountered. Then, when you factor in all of the possible varities, it is a fabulous snack.

Chicken - Chicken is likely one of my favourite staple foods. It is healthy and can be made in a ton of varieties.

Places To Go

Fairmont Hot Springs, BC - A few friends and myself used to travel to Fairmont for an annual golfing trip. I think we went three times and they were my first real getaways. The combination of golf, friends, mountains, and ultimate relaxation have made this one of my most anticipated places to visit. It was also the destination of our honeymoon!

Las Vegas, NV - Not that it is a mystery as to why this is such a popular place, I have been there twice (once last year and once when I was young) and it is such a surreal place to be. The lights, the limitless spending, the endless entertainment. Truly a "must" at one point in the course of ones lifetime.

Sports

Golf - I have always loved golf; before I ever stepped on a course I loved the game. It was the "mystery" that initially lured me as it seemed fun and wasn't easy for me to access like other sports. Once I golfed once I fell in love with the individual challenge and the simple concept of putting a ball in a hole 500 yards away in 5 swings or less. Now, golf is a relaxation for me - it is a way to get away from my thoughts and focus on a game no matter what is bothering me.

Hockey - I grew up watching it with my father and it is those memories that makes hockey so high on my list, which seems to be the same story as so many other Canadian boys. I am not a good skater and am not all that great of a hockey player, but there are few things that are more fun with a big group of guys.

That's all for now.

bjtb

Brad: The Worst Price is Right Contestant Ever

2009-05-13T07:43:00.005-06:00

This is simply stunning.

The best is watching Bob Barker (don't we all miss him on the show?) at the end...

bjtb

Oh, and feel free to leave your comments on the new blog template that Erin has worked hard on!

Brad: Three Hour Finales

2009-05-11T16:54:00.003-06:00

First the Celebrity Apprentice, and now the Biggest Loser - both have 3 hour finales this season!

I do not watch a lot of reality TV, but the Biggest Loser is a show that Erin and I have both been following.

I came home from work today and Erin mentioned to me the three hour finale. Really? Three hours??? What could possibly take three hours to show the winner? A good 45 of those 180 minutes are going to be committed to commercials.

Regardless, i'm looking forward to seeing who wins tomorrow night.

Can it really be healthy to lose 175 points in 18 weeks? They work out for four to six hours a day and consume under 2,000 calories. I question the risks involved with going from never working out and consuming 10,000+ calories a day to the complete opposite.

If I did that, i'd be 65 poinds by summer.

And lastly, after a weekend free from blogging, a happy belated Mother's Day to all the mom readers of our blog!

GO PENS GO!!

bjtb

Brad: The Best Games

2009-05-08T17:00:00.006-06:00

I am competitive. Some would probably consider it to be annoying as to how aggressive I am in games. To clarify - if you want to play a game, the only way it is fun for me is if I am focused and determined to win. Games are a challenge, and competitive people like challenges.

This isn't about video games, this is about board/card games, and here are my favourites:

5) Monopoly

Monopoly is a favourite just because of how big of a classic it is. Monopoly is a game that usually requires some serious luck to win, but it is a game that gives you a sense of power and seemingly everyone knows how to play it. I got the new "electronic banker" version for Christmas from the in-laws and it speeds up play by at least double, likely more. My only knock on Monopoly is how many different versions there are. Like vegetables? I'm sure they'll have a vegetarian monopoly at some point in the near future; why not, they have everything else.

4) Cranium

I will be honest, I've only played cranium a few times but every time it has been a barrel of laughs. It's a great game when you're in a big group of people, especially family gatherings, and is easy for anyone to play. Not a lot of strategy, just a lot of fun. The only knock on it is the red questions - they are annoying and way, way too difficult in comparison to the rest of the games questions/activities.

3) Personal Preference

Only my family will know this game (I think anyway). It was always a ton of fun to play at Gramma and Grampa's farm back in the day and it is the memories attached to this game that make it so high on my chart. Lots of questionable gameplay here!

2) Taboo

I probably like it the most because i'm the best at it. Taboo is a strength of mine and is a game that i'm always confident about. I seem to be able to think quickly and relate to those that i'm playing with which, for those of you who suck at Taboo, is the key to the game. It's also fun to use the buzzer as a shaver...come on everyone, you know it's still fun even after doing it every single time Taboo gets pulled off the shelf.

1) No Limit Texas Hold-em Poker (for $$$)

I emphasize the $$$ anecdote. Poker is all but useless unless you play for money. If you're not playing for money poker becomes a game of luck, not skill. When there is nothing on the line players will throw their money around faster than people can stack cups (see the video at the end of this blog post).

Poker is a challenge and is a game of intelligence. Strategy is a big component of a good poker play. You're not guaranteed to win just because you're good at the game, any player can have luck on their side during any game, but more often than not you will win at the poker table if you know what you're doing and outsmart your opponents.

I played a lot in college. I likely averaged 20 hours a week when you include online poker, and it helped me win around $1,500. I kept it all in an envelope at my apartment and when I convocated I put it all towards filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. OCC is a great cause and a great place for me to have spent my winnings.

I won't play poker to win money, i'm not a gambler, but it is simply pointless to me to play when there is nothing on the line so you might as well help brighten somebody elses day with your winnings.

As for the video, this kid was on Ellen yesterday. He is fast.

bjtb

Erin: My Life

2009-05-07T16:15:00.004-06:00

So I guess it is my turn again to post on here as Brad has posted 10 times for my one. I just find that I have nothing really "important" or intelligent to say. I do want to talk about my experiences as a substitute teacher though.

I have now been subbing since September in a couple of school divisions both Saskatoon and area and in Swift Current. I have enjoyed my experiences (ok, maybe not every one!), but the majority have been great. I also have subbed in Pre-Kindergarten classes all the way up to Grade 12. I enjoy the younger grades around grade four the best!

In my experiences, I have been called names, had a mom yell at me, had students not listen to me and then have had wonderful students who have treated me wonderful. In all of my experiences I have noticed it all comes down to how much respect the students have. I think RESPECT is SUCH a big thing that kids need to know about and act on. And I think it is something that parents need to teach their kids at home as well and enforce it.

I think that a large majority of children in our society are not being taught the basic manners and life skills that they need to be because there are so many other things that take up their time. This saddens me because if they can't have respect now, what will they be like when they are older? Or have a career?

It makes me think a lot about how I want us to raise our kids in the future because I see what so many kids are lacking. And it kind of scares me to know that our kids are going to be influenced by some of those kids who do not use respectful behaviours. But I guess all we can do as parents is to pray for our kids, teach them to be Christ-like and model, model, model.

Brad: Man Ram

2009-05-07T12:46:00.005-06:00

First off, Erin needs to post more. It kinda feels like this is just my blog and not ours. She will come around for all of you Erin followers on here!

Anyway, todays quick update is on baseball - sorry ladies.

Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox has been handed a 50 game suspension for testing positive with performance enhancing Drugs. His name is now added to a laundry list of others that have "ruined" baseballs reputation. Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark Mcguire, Rafael Palmero.

Those are HUGE names in baseball, all of which have tarnished their images by testing positive for steroids.

It is hard to believe that a sport could go from such a high (remember the McGuire/Sosa homerun fest a few years back?) to such a low.

Does anybody really care about baseball right now? There are a few bandwagon jumpers that have hopped on the Blue Jays train this year (don't worry, they will start to collapse anytime now), but on the grand scale baseball is almost an after thought to most unless there is a story surrounding these performance enhancing drugs.

I think steroids are a part of every sport, but none of have been ravaged quite like baseball has. Then again, no other sports have had such huge names brought forth in steroid allegations.

Just think, what would happen to:

Golf with Tiger Woods testing positive
Hockey with Ovechkin and Crosby testing positive
Basketball with Lebron and Kobe testing positive

It would be intense if any of these five individuals underwent the same scrutiny that baseballs big stars have been under and would likely have an even bigger impact on those respective sports.

I am sure happy that steroids have not entered golf and hockey, at least not to the same extent.

TSN reports that Manny's giving up $7 million in salary as a result of the suspension. That's right, Manny makes $140,000 per game over the course of a 162 game season.

bjtb

Brad: Worst Shootout Move Ever

2009-05-06T19:46:00.006-06:00

It is undisputed. Dennis Wideman has the distinction of worst shootout attempt ever.

This is from a few years ago, and Wideman has since turned into a star defenseman with the Boston Bruins. The shootout is fun to watch and i'm definitely an advocate of it, but as this video shows you, it took the players a little while to get "good" at it...

Brad: Products That Work - Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

2009-05-05T12:42:00.001-06:00

There are a lot of products on the market that simply do not deliver. They promise results on a 30 second advertisement, lure you into the purchase, then utterly disappoint you.

I am going to share some of my pleasant experiences with the opposite - products that actually work better than you'd expect.

The first every installment of Products That Work is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

They come in a box of 2 or 4 and are in the $3-5 dollar range. Seems like a hefty price, and it might be, but they truly are magic in how well they work. A little bit of warm water to saturate the sponge and away you go.

Erin and I have used them lots in the past and they quite literally work on everything. They are awesome for soap scum, floor scuffs, and pretty much anything else that you can't clean with other products.

I don't know how they work. They don't ooze with chemicals, they leave your hands clean, and they slowly disintegrate as you use them.

My only complaint with this product is using it for marks on the wall. It will definitely remove the mark, but it will also remove the glossy finish of the paint job. It doesn't remove the color or the paint itself, but in certain light conditions you can tell where Magic Eraser has been used.

Buy it and try it, you will be satisfied with the amount of work and scrubbing they will save you!

bjtb

Brad: Playing in the Park

2009-05-03T21:45:00.000-06:00

Erin and I went to the park today with about 10 of our close friends - what a fun thing to do (no, not Central Park...I could not find a picture of any Swift Current parks on google).

Frisbee, bocce ball, and plastic golf. I am proud to say my teammate Devin and I came out victorious in a ferocious three team battle. With our plastic clubs my longest drive was about 7 or 8 yards; not bad on a par 5 - 13 yard hole.

It is tremendous to be back to summer-esque weather. One of the things I'm most looking forward to is spending time with friends in the park throughout the summer and today's warm climate made me eager for summer heat to arrive.

Swift Current has really fantastic recreation areas. The parks are gorgeous (Southside and Elmwood), the golf courses are both solid (although getting a bit over-priced), the walking paths are well maintained, and the outdoor rinks are top notch. The city doesn't have a river like Saskatoon does, or a skyline, but it sure utilizes what it does have.

We like it in Swift Current. It is a place that Erin and I both would like to remain in for a long time. It is a great place to raise children and I'm sure they will be on their way sometime in the next year or two...I am sure Erin has more to say about that than I do!

I think we'll name them Alcamay and Maheen-leah. Thoughts?

Brad: Silly Deer

2009-05-02T10:44:00.000-06:00

This is what happens when you get in the way of a speeding race car...

I've never seen anything quite like it.

bjtb

Brad: Have You Kijiji'd?

2009-05-01T12:44:00.000-06:00

Kijiji.

It is a word that, as a surprise to me, a lot of people in Southwest Saskatchewan have not heard of.

There are a ton of websites out there that are extremely popular across the world, yet some people just don't know about them: Yahoo Answers, Twitter, etc.

Another that can be added to that list is Kijiji.

To sum it up, Kijiji is a huge online garage sale that, to a degree, is local. In Saskatchewan the only two markets on Kijiji are Saskatoon and Regina with Medicine Hat being the closest Alberta market to boast a Kijiji site. Kijiji is owned and operated by ebay, only it is a free site to post anything you have for sale rather than buy or sell products.

It is not a site where, like ebay, you can physically purchase items from. It is merely a link to bring buyers and sellers together. Houses, vehicles, furniture, clothing - you name it, it's on Kijiji.

I have sold a few things on Kijiji and certainly can't complain with the user friendly condition that the site operates in. Very easy to post, very easy to view.

I encourage you to check it out. http://www.saskatoon.kijij.ca/ or http://www.regina.kijiji.ca/ will get you started.

An interesting thing to do with Kijiji is to look at the incredibly low prices of houses in the USA right now. Pick a major USA city like Denver, or Houston, or Orlando, click on houses, and sort by "Highest Price First". There are obviously some extreme homes that are priced very high, but scroll through the pages until you get to the $200,000 and less homes. Some of them are brand new with outdoor pools, 5 or 6 bedrooms, 3 car garages, etc. There are mansions in the US that are being all but given away these days. Sure wish I had a few hundred K to drop on an investment property down there these days!

More of my thoughts on Saskatchewan house prices in a future post...

bjtb

Brad: What do you see?

2009-04-29T12:46:00.000-06:00

You tell me, what do you see?

Do you see a Shark?

Do you see a broken stick?

I see a broken heart.

What is with the San Jose Sharks? I picked them heavily in my office pool; 6 of 17 players, to be exact. All of that for a 1st round exit...again.

I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to be a Sharks fan. Your team is regularly one of the leaders in the regular season with loads of talent, only for a 1st round defeat.

I have doubted them in the past but truly felt this might be their year. They solved their problems from last year (or so I thought) by adding Dan Boyle to the blue line and former Bronco coach Todd McLellan behind the bench. With those two, in addition to Marleau, Thornton, Setoguchi, Vlasic, Michalek, etc. they really should have dominated the playoffs.

Oh how disappointed they leave us poolies. I now have 9 of 17 players remaining (6 Sharks and 2 Devils) and am currently in a tie for 2nd last and am in another tie for fewest remaining players. With the Sharks sinking, so does Brad's chances of winning this year's NHL playoff draft...sigh!

Oh well - GO PENS GO!

bjtb

Erin- The Biggest Loser Booty Style

2009-04-28T19:01:00.000-06:00

I have been watching the show "The Biggest Loser" this season and really enjoy it. Everytime I watch it I just want to go out and run. These contestants are amazing! They are so inspirational and I feel so proud of each of them for their accomplishments. Losing weight is not easy and I have a hard time getting motivated to be active, especially with the long cold winters.

Lately, Brad and I have been trying to make healthy decisions and watch how much we snack. But it is sooo hard sometimes when I know their is ice cream in the freezer or I could just make brownies and be enjoying them. I wish "The Biggest Loser" was on every night because it sure makes me want to be healthy and it gets me motivated. In the commercial breaks we do our pushups and crunches. I wish I could have a trainer like Bob, I'm not a big fan of Jillian, who could push me. But for now, I will just try to make good healthy decisions and be active. I think it's the best decision that everyone can make.

Brad: Sophisticated Indeed!

2009-04-28T12:50:00.000-06:00

I had the privilege of driving a 1992 Ford Tempo GL for 3 years of my life before its life sadly came to an end thanks to the back bumper of a 1999 F-150 drivin by my cousin.

It was fun while it lasted. Today I leave you with a Ford commercial from the late 80's on the Tempo. You are missed my Tempo...you are missed!

bjtb

Brad: Funny Wolkswagen Commercial

2009-04-26T22:58:00.000-06:00

This is a bit of an oldie, but it's a gooder.

bjtb

Erin: My turn at this thing called bloggin'

2009-04-25T17:58:00.001-06:00

So after Brad had the idea to start a blog for both of us, I kind of forgot about it and have only been on here to read what he has written. I guess that means that it is my turn to write. I will warn you that I am not nearly as creative as Brad and it takes me much more time to come up with something to write but here I go!!

This weekend I had the biggest urge to clean our house, and especially our kitchen. Brad likes to bug me that I clean every couple days. Living in an apartment, which we are really pleased with for the time being, can be difficult. We don't get to paint or do things that we want to so you get what you see. I sometimes feel that I need to do a really good clean to feel good and that's what I did this weekend. I know that I am kind of a neat freak and actually enjoy cleaning but it makes me feel good. I feel like it was a very productive weekend and I will enjoy the clean kitchen while it lasts.

While I am on the topic of things I enjoy, I will tell you another of my favourite things to do. I enjoy going for drives, even if it is only in town. Brad and I will take random drives around town just to look at houses or see what's happening. It is a good time to just sit and chat and get excited for the time when we buy a house.

Well I guess it's about time that I start my countdown to lake season. I LOVE going to the lake, probably a highlight of my summer each year. I usually start talking about the lake a lot in spring because I get so excited to go. I will leave you with a picture from my parents cabin at Turtle Lake, the most peaceful place to be.

Erin

Brad: My Wife is the Best Wife

2009-04-25T08:55:00.000-06:00

One quarter of one century, that's how old I became on April 15th. Hard to believe that 25 years of my life have already passed, but even harder to believe that there could be 50 to 75 more to go!!

Looking back, my 24th year on this Earth is likely going to be the most intense i'll ever endure. I grew up; for the first time, it felt like I matured a lot over the course of one year. I (in no particular order):

Moved from Saskatoon to Warman
Moved from Warman to Swift Current
Asked my future father-in-law for his daughter's hand in marriage
Asked my future wife for her hand in marriage
Planned a wedding
Got married
Realized the passion for my dream career of working in the NHL was lost
Changed careers, going from hockey to health care
Travelled to Fairmont
Travelled to Banff
Went through a parent divorce
Got swimmer's ear and lost hearing for over a month
Threw up over 25 times in one night
Took part in the 5th Annual May Long camping trip with the boys

That's a pretty hefty list, especially when you factor in a marriage and subsequent growing pains. Erin and I are nearing the nine month mark and it has been simply stunning to wake up next to her every night. We are truly blessed to have found each other.

My 25th birthday was set to be lackluster - go to work, eat supper with Erin, go to College and Career, go to bed. This would be a splended way to spend a day, but not a birthday!

After coming home for work and having a supper prepared for me it was off to Eastside Church of God where, without any prior knowledge, a birthday surprise was waiting for me. Hawaiian theme, biblical proportions of food, and my nearest and dearest friends and family in attendance.

I'd like to think of myself as somebody that is hard to surprise - I pay attention to detail (as Erin can attest to) and ask lots of questions when I am curious. This time, Erin got me good and I am grateful for it! Next time...watch out, the shoe will be on the other foot. As much as I like to be surprised, I like to surprise others ten fold!

bjtb

Brad: The Art of Yogging

2009-04-22T17:34:00.000-06:00

I do not like running.

It's spring; the birds chirping, the sun shining at 6 in the morning, the streets being cleaned. Spring means you'll find any excuse to go outside, you'd even resort to running.

Erin and I are on a bit of a health kick lately following a health assessment that I received that basically told me I have a longs way to go before I can be considered "healthy". I am currently in the 235 range. I have peaked at 272 and floored at 205. I want to be back to 205.

Without having the time to play racketball as much as i'd like to it seems logical to go for a 20 to 30 minute "workout" outside at the end of my work day - not only does it stretch out my legs, it also allows me to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day; something I committed to as a goal to become more health.

Today Erin and I went for another run, well, a jog would be more truthful.

Why is it never hard to run once you start running, but only hard to motivate yourself to get out the door and actually get your body in motion? For me that is the hardest part. Once I start i'm fine, it's just getting that key turned over and the engine fired up that gives me more problems that a 1984 crown vic.

But, in the name of health, and in the name of the 2000's, it's time for Erin and I both to get fit and be fit!

bjtb

Brad: Rice Pudding - Simply the Best

2009-04-18T15:39:00.000-06:00

Now that Erin and I are back to blogging, one of the things I like to do is share some little known things about myself.

For those of you who don't already know, rice pudding is simply my favourite snack. It is a bit of a Holderbein (mom's maiden name) tradition and has always been a top choice for me. I don't know if it's the creamy texture, the sweet taste, or the cinnamon that makes it such an elegant dessert for me.

Erin and I, as a congratulations gift to my aunt and uncle, are making a batch later today for their new home!

Mmm, can't wait!

bjtb

We are electric!

2009-04-14T20:51:00.000-06:00

Blog post number one - this is only a test, but you can leave a comment if you want.