My Top Ten Photos From Our Wedding Day

Posted on July 17, 2016 by brent

When we received our wedding pictures back, it was a little overwhelming. Hundreds of photos and hundreds of memories were suddenly under our noses. We took our time looking through them, taking a break, looking through them again, taking a break, etc.

I am now at the point where I am well-acquainted with the beautiful work that Nicholas Gore Weddings took on our special day. For today’s blog post, I thought I would highlight my top ten favorite photos from June 11, 2016. Please keep in mind that I didn’t pick out the top photos that a photographer probably would if he/she scanned the album. Rather, I just picked the ones that I enjoyed and that meant something to me. So, in my best attempt to go in chronological order, here are my ten favorites.

Behind the Scenes – Our photographer went to the house of my sister-in-law prior to the wedding to capture Sidney and her bridesmaids getting ready. This photo of Sidney with her robe still on but her hair and makeup done really shows the excitement of what is about to come. I love the behind the scenes aspect of it too.

Sidney getting ready for the big day to come (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

Sid and Her Mom – This photo is cool just because it is the point of no return. Sid is getting in the car to go to the church. With her mom helping her, it is both a sweet and serious photo.

My mother-in-law, Brenda, helps her daughter into the car to go to the church (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

We Did It!! – The look of joy and relief on our faces as we walk up the aisle after our ceremony says a lot. This is one of my very favorite photos that Nick took.

Now that looks like one very happy couple! (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

Making It Legal – After the ceremony ended and we embraced our family, we went back to the altar where we signed our marriage certificate. This shot is meaningful because it shows Sidney and I with the man who married us, Father James LeBlanc.

Fr. James LeBlanc, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Myrtle Beach, looks on as we sign our marriage certificate (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

The Wedding Party – How can’t the wedding party photo be one of my favorites? You might have seen it on my Facebook page yesterday but here it is again. Not a bad looking group, right?

This was our wedding party (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

A Picture Says a Thousand Words – In an earlier blog post I featured a photo showing the profiles of both Sid and I during our first dance. However, this one focused on Sidney just expresses so much more. All you need to do is look at Sid’s eyes to learn everything you need to about the photo. And even though the picture is of the back of my head, you can still see that I am smiling.

No caption needed for this one (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

Reaction Shot – This photo captures a special moment as it was when my brother was giving the best man’s toast. We loved it how Nick scanned down the whole head table and focused in on the reactions of Sidney and I.

When Glen delivered the best man toast, the camera focused on the reactions of Sidney and I (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

It’s All About the Kids – The Coin Dance is an Italian tradition where reception attendees throw coins on the floor while the bride and groom dance. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it also produces the best photos. I love this shot of Sidney and I laughing while the kids scramble to pick up coins. Coin Dance photos serve as the best historical record because they manage to capture most of the kids at the wedding. About 20 years from now this photo will be a lot of fun.

Kids get on hands and knees to pick up money during the Coin Dance (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

Cutting the Cake – I really enjoy this artistic, vivid photo. The way Sidney gently guides my hands as we cut the cake is captured perfectly.

Sid’s hands guiding mine as we cut the cake (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

The Moment Before – This image was taken the second before Sidney threw the bouquet. You can really see the contemplation running through her head. The fact that she looks absolutely beautiful in it makes the photo even better.

Sidney getting ready to throw the bouquet (photo courtesy of Nicholas Gore Weddings Photography).

Additional Special Moments…

The Ceremony – Fr. LeBlanc officiated a great wedding. The images below are a couple of my favorite from the ceremony.

Some shots from the ceremony, including our glamour shot up at the altar.

The Little People We Love – Nick made sure to get some awesome photos of our nieces and nephew. On the left is my sister’s little girl, Mikayla. On the right is Harrison, the son of my sister-in-law, Stephanie.

Great shots of Mikayla and Harrison.

Embracing Russell – Not forgetting our other niece, Sidney and I each shared special hugs with Russell (Stephanie’s daughter) after the wedding.

Sharing a moment with our niece, Russell.

Family Is Everything – After both of us said “I Do,” we officially became parts of new families. On the left I am with the Mathis Family and on the right Sidney is with the Reser Family.

Sidney and I with our new families.

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Thanks again to Nicholas Gore Weddings for doing such a great job. We will cherish these images forever. Don’t Blink.

Middle of Summer Thursday Rundown

Posted on July 14, 2016 by brent

It is the middle of July and that means we are in the heart of summer. I absolutely love this time of the year! Here I go with the latest edition of the Thursday Rundown…

Eating Good – One of the best parts about marriage is the food! Sidney has made me some incredible meals since we tied the knot. This week alone we have feasted on some terrific dinners. On Monday, we celebrated our one month wedding anniversary with delicious steaks. The meat was very flavorful and the homemade mashed potatoes she made from scratch would make Paula Deen envious. On Tuesday, she used inspiration from another recipe to create her own sausage pasta. Doesn’t it look pretty? The dish tasted even better yesterday when we ate it for leftovers!

Steak one night, sausage pasta the next.

Taco Time – A popular Mexican fast food restaurant in the northwest is Taco Time. This particular location below is a restaurant in Spokane. My brother sent me a snap of the marquee a couple days ago. With the Pokemon Go craze dominating the interest of our country right now, I thought the sign was pretty funny.

I enjoyed this message on the sign of a Taco Time restaurant in Spokane.

Movies – Over this past weekend, I saw two movies. The first one I watched was “Free State of Jones.” The film stars Matthew McConaughey and tells the story of southern defectors who fought against the Confederacy during the Civil War. It was interesting and the scenery in the film was beautiful. But what really stuck with me was the superb acting performance from McConaughey. It was worth the admission.

I also saw “The Purge: Election Year.” I went by myself to this one as Sidney is not into that type of stuff. I got pretty much what I went there to see: chilling and sadistic images of purgers. Tough to explain but I just like seeing the twisted costumes they wear and the way the producers highlight them for optimal “creep out” impact. Each film in the series sheds more and more commentary on the structure of society, with this latest movie doing it to a high degree. I was entertained by “The Purge: Election Year” but if given the choice, go see “Free State of Jones” first.

I enjoyed both “Free State of Jones” and “The Purge: Election Year.”

Trump’s Vice President Pick – First off, I was completely wrong when I predicted two months ago that Donald Trump would pick John Kasich as his running mate. Then, this week, my gut told me that Trump would probably select Newt Gingrich as his second-in-command. But with credible news agencies saying he is going with Indiana Governor Mike Pence it looks like I have no idea what I am talking about. To be honest, out of the finalists announced this week, I was hoping Trump would give the nod to Chris Christie (although I truly thought he was going to select Gingrich). That pair just seemed more entertaining to me.

Distinguishing Between Reality TV Shows – Before I met Sidney, I did not watch reality TV. Now I watch every episode of “Big Brother.” This isn’t by force either; I enjoy “Big Brother” and look forward to it. However, most of my reality show watching ends there. A co-worker asked me today if I watch the other shows that Sid watches. I answered no. The reason why I can watch “Big Brother” and not programs such as Real Housewives of whatever and “The Kardashians” is simple: I can relate to “Big Brother.” I see myself and I see others I know in the people on the show. There is strategy and there is a point. With the other shows, I don’t see anything familiar or real. I can’t bear to watch.

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It was a good week of blogging, I hope you all enjoyed. I will catch up with you on Sunday. Have a great weekend. Don’t Blink.

My Thoughts on Pokémon Go

Posted on July 13, 2016 by brent

I feel like I have dropped the ball by taking so long to write about Pokémon Go. Although the game has only been out for six days it almost seems like it has been out for six months. The coverage, enthusiasm, and obsession with the game has far surpassed what most would seem possible for a time period of under a week.

But here we are. Our country is caught up in Pokémon Go Mania. What do I think about it? Just give me a paragraph or two before answering that.

For the past four days, I did all I could to research and learn the game. I read forums, watched media reports, and tested the game out myself through trial and error. After a day or two of that, I changed my approach and did something else: I talked to college students.

Working on a university campus gives me access to bright minds who eat, drink, and sleep with the latest trends…Pokémon Go included. After picking the brains of students, a lot of my questions were answered and I felt I could somewhat navigate the game.

The crash course led me to creating some content surrounding Pokémon Go here at Coastal Carolina. It also made me feel confident enough to speak about the game to the media this morning. Furthermore, it provided me with the basics to actually play the game with a decent understanding of what I was doing.

With this said, I must let it be known that I am not crazy about Pokémon Go. I have absolutely nothing against it at all, I just don’t find it that fun. To me, the game is too slow. It bores me. I don’t get too excited about the “augmented reality” component either. When a Pokémon appears and the camera flips on, it doesn’t look cool or high tech to me. Rather, it just looks like a piece of clip art against the backdrop of the road I am on.

But what I do like about Pokémon Go is the excitement it has created. I like the joy it has brought to so many people. Even though I might not particularly care for the game, I had a great time walking with Sidney around the neighborhood yesterday as we both tried to “catch them all.” I find it cool that Pokémon Go is something that everyone knows about and that it actually fosters social interaction and physical activity. And, to be completely honest, I also like the game’s music (just ask Sidney, when I play I must have the sound on).

So I am not a big time Pokémon Go player by any means. I could live without it. But I do admire the stir it has caused and I look forward to see where the app stands a week from now. Don’t Blink.

An Awful Travel Dilemma

Posted on July 12, 2016 by brent

If you have read my previous blog posts, you know our honeymoon was perfect. However, the travel back and forth was not. For our transportation to and from Mexico, we flew on an airline we had never used before. We will never use them again.

I will refrain from using the airline’s name in this post because I want to be fair. My blog is not about bashing companies and discouraging potential customers. Furthermore, this particular post isn’t really about an airline but rather about the dilemma we faced. So at this point I am going to forget about all the other problems we faced flying with this particular airline and focus just on the big question.

We flew from Cancun to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was to be our only layover as we just had to switch planes and then coast through the short flight to Myrtle Beach. We were to get home early Saturday evening. After a packed two weeks, I was going to have a night of restful sleep in my own bed and then a whole Sunday to relax and recharge before I was to return to work on Monday.

To make a long story short, there was a major communication meltdown with our particular airline at the Fort Lauderdale airport. The confusion on the part of the airline staff led to us narrowly missing our flight. It was disappointing news to us but we assumed this particular company would make things right or at least try to soften the blow a little bit.

Fat chance.

The lady at the front desk and her manager both told us the only way we were getting back to Myrtle Beach without driving or walking was if we spent the night in Fort Lauderdale and left the next day…

…at 9 p.m. in the evening!!

We were given no hotel vouchers, no food money, no ground transportation, no alternative options, and absolutely no sympathy.

Sidney and I, both dejected, walked away from the line of angry travelers and sat up against a wall. After some thinking and a “Get Home Before Sunday At 10 p.m. Attitude,” my wife approached the airline desk again and made sure to talk to someone new. Sid told this representative that we would pretty much do anything to get home at a reasonable time.

With the word “anything” driving the staff member’s thought process, she went to work on her computer. After about ten minutes she did something that her co-workers could not; she found us, although not perfect by any means, a solution.

If we were up to it, we could criss-cross the northern United States (we were in Florida at the time) and fly back south to make it home by midday on Sunday. The route? We would go from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago to New York to Myrtle Beach. And we had to hurry up and make our decision because our flight from Florida to Illinois was leaving soon!

We weighed the pros and cons of each option. Neither of us were too keen on hanging out at the Fort Lauderdale Airport all night and all day Sunday. Thus, if we were going to stick around we would be renting a hotel room and finding something to do around town the next day (all at our expense). Going on the cross country tour of the eastern part of the United States would be taxing. Would it really be worth saving roughly $200 and five hours?

In the end we decided that it was! By the time we had made our decision we had to run to the gate to get on our plane to Chicago. When we arrived at O’Hare International Airport in the wee hours of the morning the place was empty. We went to the gate we would depart from in the next several hours and I found a place on the floor and Sid sprawled across a few chairs. Sweet dreams.

We woke up around 4:30 a.m. to the sound of airport activity. I got us some breakfast and we waited to board our 5:30 a.m. flight to New York. We flew into the JV airport of the city, La Guardia. After a long layover of twiddling our thumbs and trying to sleep, we finally boarded the plane that would take us home. When we touched down in Myrtle Beach, we were so happy to see the smiling faces of Sidney’s parents.

So what I want to ask is this: Would you have made the same decision we did? Or would you have shelled out a little bit of cash, enjoyed a good night’s sleep, and flowninto town late on Sunday? Sidney and I both look forward to your responses. Don’t Blink.

Coco Bongo

Posted on July 11, 2016 by brent

I am not a big club guy. I don’t (can’t) dance. I don’t particularly even like loud music at the bar. The whole idea of “going hard” late into the night while the beat bumps doesn’t intrigue me that much. So, normally, I pass on the high cover charges and the VIP velvet ropes.

However, while on our honeymoon we made one exception.

Early on during our stay in Cancun we met a couple of fellow honeymooners at the pool. We hit it off with them right away as they were our age and the girl was even a second grade teacher just like Sid. While in the pool, a couple of young guys promoting a club called Coco Bongo came around. Our new friends had heard of the particular venue and were all about going. They tried to persuade us to go but we passed at that particular moment.

The next day I texted the husband and asked how their experience at Coco Bongo was. He replied with this: AMAZING. I RECOMMEND TO ANYONE.”

I trusted this couple and thought it might be worth it to give the place a try. The next day, Sid and I went to downtown Cancun. While we were hitting up the shops and flea market, we saw the Coco Bongo venue. It looked spectacular as the exterior was uniquely decorated with a large Spiderman sculpture dominating the entrance. Signs from a CNN news story headline saying that Coco Bongo “Puts Las Vegas Nightlife to Shame” were in full view.

This is Coco Bongo from the outside (photo credit to http://totaltravelblog.co.uk).

I went up to one of the several guys out front selling tickets. After a short discussion, I bit the bullet and purchased $70 passes for Sidney and myself. To celebrate, the guy bought us a round of drinks and presented us a gift bag with t-shirts. Sid and I suddenly had big plans for the evening!

Later that night we ventured back out to downtown Cancun. When we arrived at Coco Bongo, it was a chaotic scene outside. Lines of people went in several directions, traffic was heavy, and about 20 Spiderman and Beetlejuice impersonators were working the crowds trying to get club goers to take photos with them. We found a line that matched our wrist band we had purchased and were quickly ushered inside.

Okay, at this point I should explain what Coco Bongo is all about. The concept of this place can be summed up as follows: live concert meets Cirque de Soleil meets the coolest club you could ever imagine. High quality celebrity impersonators and acrobats/performers put on a spectacular show while you dance, drink, and enjoy yourself.

I only took a couple photos when we were in Coco Bongo and they are all grainy. However, this is one of Sid and I. The club was insane.

When we got inside, we were taken through a maze. We didn’t know what direction we were going other than we were ascending up. At every corner they had shots and drinks that you could just grab. After maneuvering through the maze and security, we went through one final door and into the club which was actually more of an arena. Before we could really register the spectacle that was surrounding us, security took the two of us and escorted Sid and I right up front to where an elevated stage was. Underneath the stage at eye level with us was a bar. Directly behind us a few feet was another stage. People surrounded us pretty much shoulder to shoulder and two levels of seats ran around the outside of the area. All the seats were packed and all those people were looking down at us.

It didn’t take me long to figure out this was a type of club I had only seen in the movies. Confetti blasted out constantly from large tubes elevated above us. Balloons were dropped. Cold air was released upon us. Bubbles appeared. It was absolutely wild.

Coco Bongo had Cirque du Soleil type performers who would do their thing right in the middle of everything.

It was an open bar and because of the package we had purchased, it was easy and painless to get a drink. Combine that with the fact that the bar was only a few feet away from us and you probably get the idea that we never went thirsty.

But the awesome club atmosphere and the free drinks couldn’t hold a candle to the best part: the entertainment!

We watched front row as acts such as Queen, Bruno Mars, Moulin Rouge (Lil’ Kim, Mya, Pink, Christina Aguliera), LMFAO and Madonna put on fun and energetic performances. In between acts, they would play the best dance mix ever while projecting the music videos for each song on their giant, crystal clear video board. Often the music videos would cut out and a live stream of the crowd would cut in. They would zoom in on different people and it was just pure fun.

I took this photo after Sid and I took bathroom breaks. This was towards the end of our night when LMFAO was on stage.

But they had more than just singers. They had Beetlejuice and a mini Beetlejuice do a number. They had a couple of Cirque de Soleil inspired acts where performers would take over the stage behind us and do crazy things on ropes and bars. In one incredible instance, they had a Tron act where probably 30 actors in full robot gear came out and dazzled. They had people on stilts, they had people in masks. It was nuts.

For a guy who doesn’t like clubs, I enjoyed myself for almost four hours that night. I (tried to) dance and had a great time with my wife. I could tell just by looking at her that she was having the time of her life and that made my time in Coco Bongo even better.

As we reached that four hour mark we both looked at each other and knew that it was probably time to go. The party would go on well past 3 a.m. but leaving at 1 a.m. was just fine with us. We were let out and took an elevator back to the chaotic downtown Cancun reality. We jumped in a cab and went back to our resort with the memories of a truly great club experience. Don’t Blink.

Our Memorable Photo Shoot in Cancun

Posted on July 10, 2016 by brent

Sidney and I wanted to bring back something from Cancun that would always remind us of our honeymoon. Of course we could have purchased one of the million items from the flea market but those souvenirs have a way of getting lost. Rather, we wanted to almost freeze a moment in time. We wanted to have something that would take us right back to the white sandy beach and the turquoise water.

We wanted to forever remember our honeymoon.

In our hotel lobby was a kiosk operated by a company called DreamArt Photography. Early on in our honeymoon, I asked the lady working at the kiosk what time it was (we didn’t carry our phones around). She pleasantly told me the time but while I stood there my eyes caught the large monitor displaying rotating photos of happy couples. The pictures weren’t like anything I had ever seen. Each image contained so much detail, so much personality, so much emotion. Best of all, the photos were set against the backdrop of the beautiful beach at the resort we were staying at, Sun Palace.

DreamArt Photography is a company that takes candid photos of couples in tropical locations.

For a second I turned away from the kiosk and started walking back to the elevator but then I went back to the desk and talked to the woman about the photos. She told me how DreamArt Photography worked and explained rates and availability with me. I knew if Sidney and I took time out of our vacation to do a photo shoot, we wouldn’t regret it.

I knew the photos I saw of other happy couples would morph into photos like this if we went through with our own photo shoot with DreamArt Photography.

I pitched the idea to Sidney a day later. I was sensitive to the fact that she probably wouldn’t want to waste precious morning time to be in front of a camera while people on the beach stared at us. But she was totally down for it! The two of us knew this would be that special keepsake from our honeymoon that we would always cherish. Also, like I said, we didn’t have our phones with us much of the trip so we didn’t have many of our own photos from our time in Cancun. This would fill that void.

We wanted something that would remind us of beautiful Cancun.

We scheduled our session on Thursday of our honeymoon week. On Friday morning we were the stars of a photo shoot! DreamArt Photography contracts out superb independent photographers. The day of our session we met ours. When we met her, she sat us down in the hotel lobby and gave us a quick pep talk. In her thick accent, the photographer told us that we would work together to create great shots. She told us the effort we put in would be the direct result of the final product.

In order for our photo shoot to be successful we were going to have to work hard and have fun.

We started by taking photos in casual clothes around the resort. We went on staircases, patios, and balconies. We even posed on the hotel floor itself. I guess I shouldn’t even use the word “pose.” Our photographer was strictly against anything that was posed. Rather, she would just have us interact. For example, for the floor shot she just told us to get comfortable and then she directed me to “whisper something sweet into your wife’s ear.”

This was one of our photos on the floor.

After we did our more formal shots around the resort, it was time to hit the beach. Sidney and I changed outfits and then we walked out on the sand with our photographer. This was where the real work of the shoot took place. Our photographer had us running back and forth along the shore. She had us kicking sand. She had us splashing water at each other. She had us doing all of this over and over. One particular point that sticks out to me was when I picked up Sidney and spun her around…about 8 different times. I was so incredibly dizzy that I thought I would pass out.

I was so dizzy after we perfected this shot. However, I love how it turned out.

By the time our shoot was over we were ready for drinks! We had given 100% but our photographer probably gave 110%. While we were in comfortable beach clothes she was not. She worked extremely hard to get all the shots that she thought we would be happy with. As we walked off the beach, she told us she took over 1,000 photos of us.

These piggy back photos were some of our favorites that she took.

The next morning was when we got to view our photos. We went back to the kiosk where our photographer arrived to give the files to the lady working the kiosk. Sidney and I then sat down as the lady played the images for us on the monitor. It was such a cool experience! The photographer had narrowed her work down to about 100 photos or so and most of them looked great. We had just never really seen photographs of us like that before. After we went through all the images, the DreamArt employee went through a couple rounds with us to narrow it down to 12-13 images that we would actually purchase. We made our cuts and by the time we were headed to the airport later that day, we had a true reminder of our honeymoon bliss contained right on a flash drive.

The photos look absolutely effortless. But believe us, there was plenty of effort poured in.

I would 100% recommend DreamArt Photography or other similar companies that set up shop at resorts in tropical locations. You truly get amazing work. Not only that, but I believe it is the best way to take advantage of the beautiful area you are in, an area which you probably won’t visit too many other times in the future. We wanted to cement Cancun in our hearts forever, and these photos will help us do that. Don’t Blink.

A Thursday Rundown of Joy, Pride, and Embarrassment

Posted on July 7, 2016 by brent

It almost feels like cheating. Between last week’s Thursday Rundown and this week’s Thursday Rundown, only two regular blog posts have been published. Furthermore, I have only written one of those (Sidney took over my blog last night). But that is what happens when you celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. Cheap or not, here we go with this week’s rundown…

Wedding Pictures Back – Yesterday we received our wedding photos back after more than three weeks and we can both admit that it was worth the wait. We love the work that our photographer did. He mixed it up in a way in which about 80% of his shots were candid, exactly what we wanted. However, the posed shots of our wedding party were terrific as well. Over time I will share some of the images here on this blog. If you are in Myrtle Beach or Charleston, I would recommend Nicholas Gore Weddings.

I loved the photos that Nicholas Gore Weddings took. Most of the selection are candid shots.

Point of Pride – Sidney was quick to change her last name. Facebook came first. Immediately after we returned from our honeymoon she went to all the official places (social security card office, driver’s license office, etc.) to make it legal. Although she didn’t waste time making the change, I bet it was a little hard to part with the name she had used her whole life. From my perspective, it just makes me so proud. To know that someone loves me enough to change their last name is hard to describe. The fact that the newest person carrying the “Reser” last name is an amazing and kind person brings prestige to my family. We are all just so honored that Sidney is now a Reser (although she will always be a Mathis at heart).

This “R” that Sidney made decorates our front door.

Celebrating A Man Who Means A Lot – Last night, Sidney and I had the chance to help mark a milestone of the man who married us. Almost four weeks ago, Father James LeBlanc officiated our wedding. On Wednesday evening he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. It was our distinct pleasure to attend his commemorative mass and then enjoy the reception afterwards. After he gave a short speech, Fr. LeBlanc made the rounds to each table. When he stopped by ours, we were able to thank him for doing such a great job for us at our wedding. In a card that we gave to him we placed some photos that included the three of us on our wedding day. St. Andrew Parish is in great hands with Fr. LeBlanc as pastor.

The photo in the upper left hand corner is of Fr. LeBlanc giving his speech at his 20th anniversary of ordination reception that was held last night. The other photos are from our wedding on June 11, 2016.

Bad Thing to Forget – Because I work out every morning before heading to the office, I haul all my work clothes to campus with me in a duffel bag. Each night I pack my bag with what I will wear that next day. I thought I had it down to a science when it came to packing my necessary wardrobe but this morning I realized otherwise. When I got to my locker I realized I had left my dress shoes at home. Not willing to make the hour round trip to go back and pick them up, I came to terms with the fact that I would look a bit funny today. Tending to my feet last, I finished my outfit by slipping back on my work out shoes…the ones I had just sweated in for 80 minutes. If it was just the unpleasant feeling of wearing them it would be one thing but do you know how ridiculous worn out sneakers look with a collared shirt and dress pants? Luckily my awesome wife brought me my professional shoes at noon, meaning I only had to shake off the embarrassment during the morning.

It was miserable wearing my tennis shoes at work this morning.

Who is That Actor? – In another case of embarrassment for me, I failed to recognize a very famous actor. Last Friday, Sidney and I sat down to watch “Meet Joe Black.” I missed the opening credits of the film. As one of the main characters took on a prominent role in the plot, I asked Sidney who he was. She looked at me dumbfounded and finally got the words out to tell me it was Brad Pitt. Of course she tweeted about it. I don’t know, I guess I just think of Brad Pitt’s appearance in more of a “Fight Club” sense. As for the movie, I thought it was pretty good.

Sidney tweeted this out when I asked her who this actor was.

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Thanks to all for giving Sidney such great support with the blog post she wrote last night. It seemed to speak to a lot of people. Have a great weekend everyone and we will catch up on Sunday. Don’t Blink.

Finding My Husband

Posted on July 6, 2016 by brent

Tonight is a special blog takeover. Brent’s wife, Sidney, once again takes the reins of Don’t Blink. However, this time the subject matter is a little deeper. Enjoy this beautiful reflection from Mrs. Sidney Reser.

I am back to take over yet another blog post! Only this time, I’m sporting a fancy new ring and a fabulous new last name! That’s right, this is my first (but certainly not my last) blog post as the official Mrs. Sidney Reser! It’s taking some getting used to, but married life is blissful.

Marriage is beautiful.

In the weeks leading up to, and following our wedding, I found myself humbled by all of my blessings. I have been blessed with not one but TWO loving families. I have been blessed with supportive friends. But most importantly, I have been blessed with a wonderful husband. A generous, dedicated, doting husband, whom I could never be more thankful for!

In fact, as I was reflecting on our relationship before our wedding day, I found myself reeling because I truly believe that Brent was placed in my life purposefully. Divine intervention is the only way I can explain it. I know what most of you may be thinking….Good grief. Her mind has been clouded with newlywed bliss. She’s lost her wits. You’re wrong. I’m completely lucid in saying that meeting and falling in love with Brent was fate. Destiny , if you will. And for tonight’s blog post I’ll explain why. But first we’ll need to back up a few paces. To the time before I had met the love of my life. So….here we go…

In the earlier parts of 2014, I was feeling a little down and out about love. Don’t get me wrong, I was NOT some sad, sulky girl desperate for love, but I was frustrated with my current dating pool. At that time, most of my friends were either married, engaged, or in seriously committed relationships. I’d worn so many bridesmaid dresses I was starting to give Katherine Hiegl from “27 Dresses” a run for her money. My best friend Leslie and her husband, Brooks, had done their fair share of setting me up on blind dates, but each date came up short. It was one night while hanging out (after another catastrophic date no doubt) that Brooks said something that was more meaningful than any other dating advice I’d ever heard. He said, “pray about it.”

Seems innocent enough, but I took it to heart. Being the analytical mind that I am, I began to wonder….so if I pray about it, what should I pray for? Should I pray for a man? Should I pray for companionship? Should I pray for love in general? I wasn’t quite sure, so I set off seeking the knowledge I needed to pray for love. And where would one look for this knowledge, you ask? THE BOOKSTORE! DUH!!

So while scouring the shelves of my local Barnes and Noble for books about prayer and love…I happened upon one that seemed to offer just what I was looking for. The title : “What Women Don’t Know (And What Men Don’t Tell You)”. The second I read the title, a siren went off in my head!! DING DING DING!! WE HAVE A WINNER!

This is the book I picked up, “What Women Don’t Know.”

I bought the book, and immediately set off to the pool to do some heavy soul searching and reading, while also catching some rays. (Can you say multitasker??)

Anyway…as I’m reading through this book, I start to feel a little of what I call “buyer’s remorse”. I didn’t think this book was giving me much more than what I already knew, until I came across some scripture that really hit home. I had an “A-HA” moment, and suddenly everything made perfect sense in the realm of dating. The bible story I happened upon came from John 5. If you’re interested, it’s worth the read, but for those of you who like short cuts, I’ll gladly give you Sid’s cliff notes version. Here it goes:

So there once was a healing pool called Bethesda. It is said that the pool could heal the sickliest of people when its waters were churning. There was a catch though. Only the first person in the pool after the waters began moving would receive its healing powers. So when Jesus went to visit this pool, he was surprised to find that the pool’s five porches were filled with ailing people. Some were blind, others were deaf, and even some ailing with paralysis. So in his astonishment, Jesus approaches one of the paralyzed and asks (I’m paraphrasing here) “Do you want to be whole?” In other words, Jesus is asking, “Don’t you want to be better? Why are you hanging out on the porch here, silly? You’re right next to a healing pool!” The paralyzed man (who, mind you had been waiting 38 years. 38 YEARSS!!) replies to Jesus, “I can’t sir. Because I have no man to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. Each time I try to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.”

A scene from the Pool of Bethesda

It’s when I read those 4 little words (I HAVE NO MAN) that it hit me like a ton of bricks. This was me. I was the paralyzed man (figuratively, of course.) I was paralyzed by the longing for companionship. I was just sitting on the porch of love, waiting for a man to dip me into the pool. But in fact, I didn’t need a man to dip into the pool. I just needed God. Just as Jesus helped the paralyzed man into the pool of Bethesda, he could help me into the pool of love.

So I did just that. I didn’t seek love. No, in fact, I worked really hard on developing a love for myself and the Lord. I felt that if I loved myself, then I could feel whole. And let me tell you, I did.

I felt whole! I was very happy. I had friends to enjoy my time with, a family to support me, and job that I loved. There wasn’t much else I needed. I was good to go.

But then….I kid you not….within a month…I met Brent. The instant that I had found comfort within myself…the most perfect of men was plopped smack dab in the middle of my life.

This is Brent and I on our first date over two years ago.

And it’s here that I believe it was fate. It had to be destiny. Divine intervention had to be at play when I met Brent. The timing was impeccable. I mean let’s look at the facts: I’d been down and out on love. I found confidence and love for myself, and then magically, a man moves ACROSS THE COUNTRY and within his first weeks here crosses my path. And we were a perfect match for one another. (Puzzle pieces, is what I call it.) What are the odds?

So in reflecting on all of this, I have to think, it was meant to be. Brent is truly my soul-mate. A gift from God. I think of this often when I look at Brent. And there are many days when Brent will catch me staring at him and ask “What are you looking at?”…my usual reply is “Oh how handsome you are!”, but in my mind I am silently counting my life’s most meaningful blessing. Him. Don’t Blink

What the Coastal Baseball Team’s National Championship Means

Posted on July 5, 2016 by brent

I took the Fourth of July weekend to recharge from the two weeks of fun and craziness that resulted from the Coastal Carolina University baseball team’s victorious College World Series run. Over the last couple days I tried to pin down what I thought was the biggest story of this remarkable feat. With the local and national media already covering all the angles from the impact on the university to the legacy of Gary Gilmore to the legendary Cinderella story to the memorable cast of fun student-athletes and quirky dugout props, I looked for something a little different.

It turned out that the “something” I mentioned above is really two things for me. Yes, when I remember the College World Series run 20 years from now, I will remember a couple key things.

1. A national championship was won
2. A community was recognized

In regards to my first point, I don’t even think about the underdog aspect of it. You see, numerous powerhouse programs compete for the baseball national championship each and every year. Many more average programs and mid-majors do as well. At the end of it all, 294 Division I college baseball teams come away disappointed. Only one team stands atop that mountain as champions. It doesn’t matter if you are a favorite, a Cinderella, or a dark horse, winning a national championship is the prized goal.

The Coastal baseball team attained it.

When you open up a book of baseball history 100 years from now and look at the list of champions, you won’t see any information on whether a certain school was supposed to win or not. Rather, you will just see that school’s name.

So what I am trying to say is that I realize the fact that a medium-sized, mid-major university winning the College World Series is a big selling point right now. However, over time that part of the story might fade but Coastal’s achievement as the best team in college baseball in 2016 never will. Let that soak in. Coastal Carolina University is home to a national champion and nothing will ever take that away. I love an underdog story but to me they are just the champs.

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The other part of the College World Series experience I will remember is the remarkable support and pride that swept over the whole Grand Strand area and much of the state over the past few weeks. Now I know any community will embrace a team when it brings back a championship but this situation is just a little different.

Our state is home to two giants in higher education, Clemson and South Carolina. Sometimes a young institution such as ours with a smaller enrollment and alumni base can get overlooked by others. The run to baseball glory brought national attention squarely on Coastal Carolina University and #TEALnation shined. Just as our student-athletes exhibited passion and pride on the diamond each night, the Conway community represented itself with the same principles as well. Other Palmetto State citizens saw this and jumped on.

Covering the welcome back event at the airport on Thursday night was insane. There was an energy in the air that was unmistakable. Although my career has been short, it was one of the coolest moments I have ever experienced. When the student-athletes ran off that plane they brought some leftover Omaha mojo and combined it with the hunger and desire that was brought by the crowd, producing an unbelievable scene. The atmosphere was awesome and our Coastal Carolina community was fostering it.

The same show of support was on display a day later at the ceremony in Springs Brooks Stadium. The place was packed with teal and it was almost a surreal moment. However, with the national championship trophy resting comfortably on the podium it reminded us all that it was in fact reality and that the Coastal Carolina/Conway community was alive and well.