Ask and You Shall Receive

So things have been going pretty good for me recently, just wanted to share my cornucopia of blessings.

Last weekend, and the one before, I had the distinct pleasure of using Dave's grill. I have not really been able to grill much in a safe environment for tasting, but I've been really excited about the flavors that you can bring out with a grill and an open flame. Two weeks ago, I made about a billion barbecued chicken breasts, with a monstrous side of potatoes and onions and colored bell peppers, also done on the grill, while inside Mindy and Julie helped me to prepare pork pot-stickers (which as it turns out Mindy and Joshe love… ask them). So I seemed to have not messed that up too bad, as everyone seemed to enjoy it.

So I decided to try a little more adventuring on the grill this last Saturday. I made six Hawaiian chickens (teriyaki chicken with grilled pineapples like I love at Logan's). Also, six more with a super secret ingredient which I cannot yet divulge. I also grilled half inch slabs of red onions marinated in the Hawaiian chicken marinade, and super yummy bushels of asparagus. If that wasn't enough, I boiled corn on the cob and finished it on the grill. I learned a lot from this experience, not the least of which is that gazillions of asparagus are hard to keep from falling down through vertical grates when you have so many to watch. Also, the Harding's on 9^th street, however friendly a market, is not a good place to shop for meat or produce.

Wrapping up, I had a lot of fun, and I was very thankful to Dave for sharing his grill and utensils with me, and I can't wait to grill more. I actually told him that I was thinking that I might need to go out and grab a little charcoal grill to leave in my garage for grilling on weekends. I told him though that I'm going to have to wait because I'm trying to not buy anything that I don't absolutely need for one year. Of course, a few things that I will not be surrendering are good food, golfing, and Griffin's tickets. Things I will be giving up or severely cutting back on computer parts, dvds ([cry] Quantum of Solace), eating out at lunch, extravagent purses, and everything that Mindy likes. In the words of Lord __________ (a movie villian), "That is a sacrifice that I am willing to make."

As always, please comment with either the name to fill in the blank or another quote from this movie, so others can keep playing.

Long story short, as is never true with me, I came home and found a sunbeam gas grill - big one - sitting next to the garbage, as someone had moved out that weekend. I haven't had a chance to see if it the propane delivery system works, but I can at least convert it to a charcoal grill if I wanted to. I was amazed at how my needs are provided for.

In addition to grilling, Mindy and I fell in love with our future wedding location. You should read all about it on her post about it. I would ask you to remember that we have not put any money down yet, so don't get too excited about the date which Mindy haphazardly posted therein. But the pictures really don't even do it justice, and I think Mindy's pictures are quite stunning. It just really blew us both away, but I'll let Min explain that to you.

Logo CraZayness

Check this hilarious article of business logo parodies out here.

You guys have to check out Dan's latest blog post, particularly the American military spending graph as published on the Economist's website. That is simply mind-blowing.

Also, I was strangely approached by a stranger on youtube to design a logo for him. His business name will be "CraZay Video Productions." At first blush I wasn't going to do it, but then I thought about it and figured that it might be fun. So I'll try to have that for him in the next couple weeks, and if I need any help I'll definitely be asking all of you.

Mindy's Radio Fame

So travel back in time with me to an episode from last month maybe two weeks ago.

Well as it happens, I am sitting at work, as normal on a Thursday night, when I get an IM from Mindy who is usually doing what ever she can to not kill herself from boredom in her late COMM class. This instant message was pretty unusual however, as it read "OMG! It's Len O'Kelly. Golden throat is here in our class talking to us! OMG! I can't believe it."

Okay, so we have to peddle the way-back machine a little while further.

Len O'Kelly is a morning show host on a local oldies station. He works with FreeBeer and HotWings in their radio cluster with a few other morning shows. Anyway, at one point FreeBeer and HotWings had him in their studio to do what is called "ramping" a record. That's where DJ's attempt to "hit the post" which is fill airtime with interesting information, and stop talking exactly when the first lyrics are beginning. So one day, when they got some new mics they decided Len O'Kelly, who they affectionately refer to as "Golden Throat," should try out the mics. (Sidenote: he was awesome).

Flash forward to Mindy's class. She's losing her mind - starstruck. When I finally got home she was still pumped up about running into a local celebrity! She decided that she simply had to write an e-mail into FreeBeer and HotWings relaying her experience.

When we woke up Friday morning, I wanted to get to work because we would be leaving early for the D-Zone game, but she said she absolutely had to check her e-mail to see if any of the guys responded. I was alerted by a shrill chirp that FreeBeer had in fact responded.

The rest of the day unfolded without much incident, until we arrived at the game.

As it turned out, the Griffins decided to enforce two hands, two beers rule, which caused quite a commotion when the "beer she-nazi" would come down to us and confiscate unmanned or over-the-limit beers. This forced FreeBeer to spend most of his time talking with the fans in our row about the incident. I of course had some opinions about that situation, so after talking to him about that, I knew that I could embarrass Mindy by bringing up that she was the one who had sent the e-mail the night before about Len O'Kelly. To Mindy's great surprise, he informed us that they had actually READ HER E-MAIL on the air, while they had Len in studio that morning.

That brings us to the following, enjoy.

If the above player, doesn't work click here: Mindy's Email

Pay special attention to the fact that Zane muses that she sounds "rather smitten" and FreeBeer announces very softly at the end "writes Mindy."

Weekend Awesomeness

This weekend we celebrated Andy's birthday at a surprise party at his house. It was just wonderful. Happy Birthday Andy.

Interestingly enough, Luke came out to our house last weekend, and during the course of gabbing we happened to talk about one of our classmates, Maz, from highschool. So as it turns out, he ended up being our server at Seva this morning in Ann Arbor. How about that?

I would like to point out to anyone who may be curious about any twittering from friday that each beer is 21 oz... Just FYI. [*cough]lightweight.

As a sidenote: Andy and Vickie rule the world.

Potty Mouths Turn Me On

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Mature Audio Warning

Someone may take himself a little too seriously. He is my absolute tippy top man crush though. He seems to be a serious, serious asshole - which only makes me like him more. I never knew Batman had such a potty mouth. Speaking of potty mouths, I can't wait for hockey tomorrow.

Here's a little something for the older crowd…

PS - I still have a very cool huge multimedia extravaganza post on the way about copying

"Let's talk abou' it." - Best Cheaters quote ever

The Price I Pay

I guess Snow Plows being my only driving company is a small price to pay for the luxury of getting to work at nearly noon…

We have a big product launch at work today that I'm really excited about. That's why I'm just getting home now. Anyways, I'll tell you how it goes some other time.

It's Been a While

"Well, gosh, kind of a lot's happened since then."

For brownie points, name that movie in the comments, but name it with another famous quote from that movie so that subsequent readers can still play.

But seriously, Mindy and I went to Texas to celebrate Christmas, then we came back and went to Dad's to celebrate Christmas, then we had Christmas at her house, and now she is off in Wisconsin celebrating with her Dad. I have had a great time, and I'm so happy that we could are done traveling, but I'm missing Mindy very much.

There's a lot to say about while I was gone, but I think I have had a chance to talk to most of you about it who would care; so you'll have to forgive me for not going over it again here. One thing that is pertinent for this blog is that Mindy and I watched the entire third season of Dexter - the best show on television bar none. This past season starred Jimmy Smits who you would recognize from NYPD Blue fame. He was wonderful alongside Michael C. Hall, and this season was a return to glory that was season one (not as quite as great, but definitely on par).

Speaking of, I was wandering around the interwebs, exploring my somewhat closeted love for typography when I stumbled upon this article from fontfeed.com. I'm not so glib as to assume that most of you would have any interest in the direct subject matter of the article, which is accurate font replication, but the case study was of a fascinating marketing campaign by Showtime to promote Dexter. It seems that they parodied some of the most popular magazine covers, and they did a great job. I'm posting a few of my favorites here, but I insist that you visit the original source to see the full collection. Pay special attention to the dual storylines wittily presented by the headlines which mimic the tone of the show which make it so great.

In other news, I found a really awesome text-only poster while on that same typologically motivated tear. If you'd like to check out the other 29 read about it here at ilovetypography.com.

3 Things that are Small

3 things that are small… well one is about as big as you can get, but it's a small change that I'm specifically talking about. How's that for a tease?

One thing that is objectively small and insignificant is this blog. Thank you for reading, but I'm only talking to six people tops; so I'm just being realistic. However, it is its complete lack of importance which makes this anomaly so interesting. Actually, if my blog was huge, this occurrence would not surprise me at all. This occurrence - the fact that someone actually found my blog through the following search phrase "don't let your mouth make promises." Not only that but for that search phrase (including quotations), I hold the TOP TWO LISTINGS in google.

Look at what I beat! Google's own books.google listing. How about that. What's more, that post is only about two weeks old.

Now, for me, this means nothing. But it is a proof of concept, that we can still make a mark on the world and that in some ways the internet is still the wide open. The same sort of thing happened to Chad a while back he was top dog for the search phrase "sa rnr" (San Antonio Rock and Roll marathon) and generated traffic on account of that search term. It's very cool and some special feeling to be tops on google (even for something admittedly stupid).

The second small item, I would say is even more amazing. Watch this video from a story called "It's a Small, Small World" which was featured on ABC World News Tonight. You absolutely will not believe this video.

Now the third small item, is a small change that got sneaked in with the massive redesign to youtube and google reader unveiled today. While you might have your own feelings about the redesign (particularly the youtube one which I dislike excepting the widescreen format), you probably didn't notice that you can now officially log in to youtube using your google account. The ability to link your existing youtube account with your google account just represents one more cog in the wheel of google dominance and convenience for its users.

Easing of Budget Woes

Everyone has budgeting concerns around the holidays. Thankfully, my woes have been eased by Chad as I no longer need to buy him a Christmas present this year. You and he might be wondering, what is it that he could have done to earn such a fate. Oh, I'll tell you. Mindy and I sit down to watch the best show that exists on television - Dexter. If you aren't familiar with Dexter, you should be, so wise up. But here it will have to do to say that it is the most phenomenally addictive show that I have ever watched. More than Lost, more than Fringe. It's amazing… or at least it was UNTIL I WAS WATCHING A BLANK SCREEN BECAUSE HE HAD TO TAPE THE F-ING CLONE WARS!!! Which he already *owns* by the way (almost certainly multiple copies).

Now, I know at this point Chad is just about losing it with laughter because he can see me sitting there watching my pathetically small television that I got free from one of his bosses three years ago, hanging on every word, waiting to see how Dexter Morgan could possibly get out of this one, when the screen fades to the most desperately insulting gray-mauve I've ever seen, and he can see me getting up stomping around the house doing laps around my ludicrously small apartment cursing infuriated that I had been so masterfully denied pleasure. You see, he had earned some wonderful gift this year by in fact taking the time to actually record the entire season for me on DVD and then mailing it to me; however, he masterfully guaranteed himself a full stocking of coal when half way through the first episode the picture vanished leaving me with nothing but questions, naughty words, and an awful attitude.

Upon further consideration, I might additionally drag his stockings through a burr field not too unlike the soccer fields at the old Mattawan Elementary playground. Seriously, you have seen The Clone Wars approaching one billion times. ARRRGGGGGGG! [Wallows in rage and self-pity]

In other news, I did two little banner ads at work today that I am pretty proud of. I like the backgrounds particularly of the buy the whole set one, which is desaturated from the outsides in making an interesting vignette effect, that really makes the blue pop. *Quick note* Just because I am putting some of my work on this blog don't feel like I need compliments on it. I would actually prefer criticism, but they make me happy to look at so I thought I'd share them.

PS. This sale doesn't officially open until tomorrow at ten, but I have left the links in if you would like to purchase the pack (after ten feel free to read Bonnie's post blog.tatstore.com). Special sneak peek just for you guys. Ooooooooooo!

The best picture I've ever taken

This will be a quicky. As you can see from my tweets, Mindy and I spent our long Thanksgiving break looking for reception venues. We went out to the Kalamazoo Country Club, which is our most promising location since the Lawton Community Center. Once again, we forgot to bring the camera to take pictures to show.

Also, at work Bonnie had this great idea to suggest some DIY Christmas crafts using our Swarovski crystals. She put them on ornaments, candle holders, and even Christmas cards to add a unique and tasteful touch.

Anyways, I had to take pictures… It turns out that it's pretty tough to take a good product picture of a glass orb. In fact, they work like tiny convex hospital mirrors and actually show a reflection of the entire room in every shot. It was very frustrating. Fortunately for me, Bonnie had also purchased some frosted finish ornaments which were easier to photograph.

So I took the following picture, and by dumb luck it came out marvelously. I'm not much of a photographer so it was sheer luck that I happened to be reflecting the light properly to achieve this cool shot.

This is slightly photoshopped.

This is the original unaltered shot.

Hmm… what to write about?

Hmm… nothing comes to mind. Oh wait, Friday.

Well, Mindy and I had just had a fabulous time at the Griffins's game, our second D-Zone game, and we wanted to go hang out with Devan and Ben since we hadn't seen them since they left for their honeymoon (congratualtions yous guys). So we get almost all the way down there, stop for pizza, and we come out and our car won't start. Which is a problem by itself, but a bigger problem since I had just taken my car into the shop that day, and it was done but I couldn't pick it up until after the weekend.

So there we were with a car that wouldn't start, and another car in the shop. Thankfully we have wonderful family already who could help us out, but I wanted to get the car to the shop so I called a tow truck. He got there in no time flat, but he wanted to know what the car was doing. So I hopped in and tried to start it - once, twice, nothing. It doesn't even make a sound, it isn't trying to turn over or anything, just nothing. Then I turn it a third time just for kicks, and it starts right up. I couldn't believe it.

We decided to drive it home and we would just hope that it started today to bring it in. I am happy to report that it did start, and I was able to drive it to my guy who had the 240 ready for me to take home. Unfortunately, God had decided to pelt us with a very beautiful, but very slippery s-ton of snow. So my little car, which runs phenomenally well now, slipped and slid and fishtailed all over the place barely making it up hills (usually completely sideways). I am so thankful to have that car though.

Anyways, Mindy had been making fun of my car ever since Uncle Tim first loaned it to me. Omg, we have to get you another one, that is going to break down. So I promised her I would make fun of her that her car broke down before mine. LOL

Don't let your mouth make promises your a** can't cash

Dr. Pepper wants you to get your own free doctor peppper.

Free Dr. Pepper

I guess they were so sure that Axl Rose wouldn't come out with his Guns and Roses Chinese Democracy that they promised every American could have a free Dr. Pepper if it actually came out this year… well, drink up America

Ultra-cool movie posters

Here's a link to a pretty cool list of movie posters. Check them out! In case you didn't want to, I'm going to borrow a few of them here. Man still marketing like this is where it's at Billboards, cover art, movie posters, magazine ads - so brilliant. I'll post one that's any good if I ever make one. Mine so far have been less than magnificent, unlike the following. (Like me, this blogger seems to have a thing for Christian Bale or Batman or both).

The best show on tv.

Pretty good movie - pretty great cast and posters.

One not from the list but almost certainly featured in part one of the author's series.

I can't wait to rock it this hard. Speaking of rocking it hard. Take this electronic band from Spain named Wings of Icaro they have been amazing me all night. Also, named after mythology. You know I'm going to like that. Check them out they publish their music for free with a creative commons license, download it, share it, all free.

Family Fun

Today Mindy and I took a day trip to Mattawan to see the fam. We went down to Grandma and Grandpa Hegedus's for a family dinner where I got my hair cut (yes, I know that certain of you readers are very excited by that) and got to see Dad, Stacy, and Sierra's pictures from their missions trip to Jamaica the land of no problems.

After that we stopped by Uncle Tim's to see Grandpa before he took off for Texas. To our great delight and surprise, not only was Grandpa there but so was Sarah and Uncle Tim, so we hung out with them for quite a while (Mindy says I bored them nearly to tears with my ultra-fast rambling tech talk) and then we all played Rock Band on their Wii. So good.

Anyways, I am about ready for bed, but I wanted to say that I just finished my blog for Monday which is scheduled to be published at 10:00AM on the TatStore Blog which I have linked at right on my list of blogs that I'm following. If however you would like to access just my blogs sorted out from the rest you can read them any time at blog.tatstore.com/category/benn. I will probably suggest that blog just about every week if I think it's something that some of you might be interested in. This week, last week, and some indeterminate weeks into the future I am exploring a series on efficient computing. Last week, I covered Cut, Copy, and Paste, and this week is about using tabs in a browser. Feel free to check them out anytime, and leave a comment here there or anywhere or email me at bennthewolfe@gmail.com or benn@tatstore.com.

I love you all and hope that your weeks get off to a great start, Benn

PS. I would also urge you check out two other blogs from my close friends Jackson and Dan which you can find also at right named Considerations and Hannibal Ad Portas respectively. I have really enjoyed several of the posts on these blogs which explore technology, politics, sports and more.

First night of the D-Zone! wow

Oh boy do I love hockey. Mindy and I attended our first D-Zone game. D-zone is the area where the griffins play defense in the first and third periods. It's in the area of Van Andel where the stage would be if you were catching a concert there, in which case you would probably be smoking pot (which you could now legally argue was for strictly medicinal purposes)… Anyways, this section was sold as a special mini-season ticket package from 97.9 and the FreeBeer and Hotwings morning show. I thought Mindy and I could use a little time to get out and be together doing something we both love. So these kind of just fell into our laps. Another benefit of these friday night games is that for the whole stadium it is dollar beer / dollar hotdog nights, but the perk for us is that we get our own personal vendors that come down to us with the beer and the dogs. I liked the dogs, mindy didn't, but we both agreed that the buns were delicious. I am not kidding you, I think they were fresh baked, they looked like soft deli buns from Arnie's; they were good. I may or may not have had five beers though, and I may or may not have made a total idiot out of myself with FreeBeer, Hotwings, and Producer Joe RIGHT BEHIND US! It was fun. More about that still to come, as I promised Mindy I wouldn't blog past three. Hope you like my new header btw, I think it's pretty cool.

Blogging seems to be for quitters

I have embarked on the long and exciting path to quitting this blog. Back in the day, I had my first blog. It was hosted by livejournal, and I quit it. Wow, long time ago. Anyways, when I moved here to Grand Rapids, I felt a great need for connection so I thought I could blog. I threw a few posts up there which were of course about what was important in my life at that moment. My brand new shiny job. Sounds like a great plan right. But when I awoke after just one such blog and checked my email, I was shocked. As it turns out, the Internet is not quite like a real journal, because other people can read it. As I sat there in my pajama pants, I read my google alert email for "TatStore" which alerted me that google had, in the night, crawled my lowly blog to which no real person even yet had a link, and returned it to me as having relevancy to my new company. This would not do, I realized that every time I shoot my mouth off, I could be scuffing the polished finish of the place that pays my checks. So, while I grappled with the ramifications of an increasingly flat world, I let that blog die. But like any chronic quitter, I have begun again. Writing, rambling, complaining, and this shall be my way.

Cliff-hangers to encourage return visits

• Why "Today, I'm legal"
• Why "I got the day off"
• and Why "You'll be green for my glowing red keyboard"