Carving A Pumpkin!

Posted on October 17, 2016 by brent

I love Halloween by almost all counts. The candy, the costumes, the horror, and the cool autumn evenings are all aspects I really enjoy. However, two years ago I quickly revealed for the first time a part of Halloween I don’t particularly care for.

Carving pumpkins.

Carving pumpkins has never been one of my favorite activities. However, last night Sidney and I carved one. Read on to hear about my experience (photo credit to my mother-in-law).

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate pumpkins in general. In fact, there is a lot of pumpkin-related “stuff” that I enjoy. I rarely pass on pumpkin inspired food. I get a good feeling when I go to the grocery store in October and see loads of pumpkins in crates for shoppers to buy. I still fondly remember going to the pumpkin patch as a kid. And, to this day, nothing says “Halloween” more to me than walking down a dark street and encountering a few lit up jack-o-lanterns on the porch of a house.

However, just in the same way that I like to eat a delicious cake but not put in the work to bake it, I have never really enjoyed taking the time to carve spooky faces or themes into a pumpkin. For at least the past 15 years, I have not participated in pumpkin carving activities.

All of these photos were taken at least 15 years ago.

Okay, let me be straight up with the two main reasons why I am not a pumpkin carving enthusiast. For one, it is dirty work. I don’t enjoy the smell of raw pumpkin upon cutting the top open and I am definitely not a big fan of pulling all the “guts” and seeds out. Two, I am not an artistic person. Using a knife to carve something into a large hollow vegetable is not my forte.

But after a decade and a half of not getting within a few inches of a pumpkin not called pumpkin pie, Sidney and I decided we would carve one last night.

We went to our local grocery store in the late afternoon and picked out the perfect pumpkin. (Full disclosure: We took the pumpkin from an autumn display in the floral section just because it was so much better looking than all the others in the crate).

After checking out, Sidney proudly put the pumpkin on her lap in the passenger’s seat as we drove home. We waited for it to get dark out and then I turned on a spooky Halloween YouTube playlist while Sid covered the kitchen table in paper.

This is a look at our pumpkin right before we started carving it.

I told myself that if we were going to carve a pumpkin, I was going to be a full participant. This meant facing my fear of getting my hands dirty with pumpkin innards. After Sid cut open the top, I plunged my hand deep inside the pumpkin and started pulling out the insides. My handfuls were matched by the scoopfuls that Sid was taking out with the apparatus that we were given in our pumpkin carving kit.

Once we cleaned out the pumpkin, we selected the pattern we would use (no easy, unoriginal jack-o-lantern face for us). Deciding on a bat and pumpkin portrait that was titled “Besties,” we taped the paper on and got to work. Sidney would poke along the pattern for a little bit and then she would turn it over to me to poke. So it went for a few rotations until I pressed too hard and broke the tool. Sid completed it by using a screwdriver.

This was the pattern we chose. We had to tape on the paper before we got to work.

After we had laid out the foundation of the pattern, we started to cut out the pieces. Sid would cut a piece and then I would cut a piece. I was much more at ease using the tiny orange knife our kit provided as opposed to a large kitchen knife. Finally, the last little jagged piece was gone and our design had transferred from the sheet of paper to our actual pumpkin!

It was at this time we realized that we didn’t have a light source to put in our masterpiece. However, we were not going to be disappointed. We went over to my in-laws and Brenda gave us a candle to use. Placing the candle in the pumpkin while turning off the lights, we admired our jack-o-lantern.

This was what our final product looked like! 45 minutes of hard work.

Let me say this…pumpkin carving is hard work! It took us 45 minutes to complete ours. It took us the longest to poke the holes around the pattern while the cutting part was tough but not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Honestly though, last night was a lot of fun. Sidney and I enjoyed working as a team to create a respectable jack-o-lantern. Most of all, it was great practice for me. I can’t wait to carve one for my new son/daughter next Halloween! Don’t Blink.

Please Don’t Let the Presidential Election Give You Anxiety

Posted on October 16, 2016 by brent

Over the past week, a lot of discussion has focused on the scientific fact that half the United States population is experiencing anxiety over the 2016 presidential election. With the never ending coverage on cable news networks combined with the social media hot topic that it is, those who can’t turn off the television or stop checking their Facebook account feel overwhelmed by it.

For those who are losing sleep over the election or feel that the stress is too much to wake up to in the morning, I say this: Relax.

It is no secret, I have loved following the presidential election this year. I have annoyed my wife with my enthusiasm for watching political talk shows and staying up to watch all the conventions/debates/campaign speeches live. For me, it has been a lot of fun. However, I have not allowed it to consume my life with anxiety.

When I was younger, I based a good day on whether my favorite sports team won or lost. I was convinced that the players on my team were the good guys, the players on the other team were the bad guys, the opposing fans were “deplorables,” the referees were always against us, and the game itself was life or death. By the time I turned about 14, I decided to broaden my worldview just a little bit.

In the way that I used to think about sports, many today think about politics, especially the 2016 presidential election. When someone, especially an adult with responsibilities, puts so much energy on the outcome of an election, is it really that surprising that they might develop some anxiety? Hardly.

Look, I know there is a lot at stake in this election. I know many of us directly identify with one candidate. I know many of us despise another candidate. In the heat of the moment, which is pretty much right now in mid-October, it feels like this election is everything. However, we must realize that life will go on after November 8.

Yes, someone will win the presidency and someone will not. Thus, according to polls, half the people in this country will be able happy with the outcome and the other half will not. But to the half that loses, whatever side that might end up being, please keep this in mind: You will still live in the best country on the planet, you will still have every right to believe in your political views, and you can rest assured there will still be checks and balances on the person who is elected president.

Don’t get yourself worked up to the point of anxiety over these next few weeks. How can you do this? Well, for starters, you don’t need to respond to someone on Twitter who has a different viewpoint. You don’t need to become so angry at a network that seems to lean a certain way. You don’t need to watch the opposing candidate’s stump speech to the point that your blood boils. You don’t need to read the editorial section of the newspaper. You don’t need to do anything that will bring you right in the middle of this bitter, crazy election.

Seriously, there is no need to feel anxiety over the presidential election. Take a step back and breathe. Then, take measures to limit yourself from the mediums that will start to trigger your boiling point. Remember, one of the greatest aspects of this beautiful country, the election of our president, is about to take place. Instead of letting it make us sick, how about we allow it to make us proud? Don’t Blink.

Cereal and Steak Thursday Rundown

Posted on October 13, 2016 by brent

It is so nice looking ahead to an upcoming weekend that calls for plenty of sunshine as opposed to one that calls for a hurricane. With the weekend in view, it must mean that it is time for the latest Thursday Rundown. Here we go…

How I Pass the Time – What do I do when I am bored? Tweet at sugary cereals of course! While browsing Twitter the other day, the Lucky Charms account popped up as a suggestion to follow. Not only did I heed the situation but I sent a tweet to Lucky Charms as well. It looks like the way I have always ate the cereal isn’t really all that unique.

Lucky Charms supports the way I eat the cereal.

Meme Worth Sharing – I love Facebook birthday wishes, especially really creative ones. Pete, my friend from Montana, posted a custom meme to my wall this past Saturday. It not only made me laugh, it made my other Facebook friends laugh as well. Since the meme generated so much engagement on Facebook as well as my Instagram account where I re-posted it, I thought I would share it on my blog as well.

This was the meme that Pete posted to my Facebook wall on my birthday.

Milk With Steak? Why Not? – Apparently it is a slow news day and that is why there is a story out about Jim Harbaugh drinking milk with his steak dinner. Recently, Harbaugh went to Ruth’s Chris and ordered milk with his meal. It sparked minor outrage as people questioned how someone could ever pair a glass of milk with steak. However, I am just chilling over here saying WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? I am a big milk drinker and I don’t think twice about drinking it with my steak when at home. However, I will concede this: ordering milk at Ruth’s Chris might just be a tad bit unconventional. Do you want something even more unconventional? Harbaugh once used Gatorade instead of milk in his cereal…yuck.

I have no problem with drinking milk with my steak.

Throwback Thursday Photo – When I worked at the University of Montana, one of my duties was to serve as the mascot coordinator. During my tenure I learned a lot about the pressures of being Montana’s favorite grizzly bear. My last year working at the college we filmed several mini movies centering on our mascot (I starred in one of them, click here to watch). This photo was taken on October 13, 2013, outside of the local hospital. Click here to watch it. Miss you, Monte!

This photo of Monte and I was taken three years ago on this date outside of St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana.

From The Archives – One year ago I wrote about the downfalls of both Steve Spurrier and Steve Sarkisian. However, that blog post doesn’t hold a candle to the one I wrote on this date two years ago. On October 13, 2014, I wrote about the worst hotel experience in my life. To this day, it is still by far the absolute nastiest hotel situation I had ever found myself in.

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That is a wrap. Thanks again for reading my blog and I hope you have a great weekend…and watch out for those clowns! Don’t Blink.

Why Working Out in the Morning is the Best

Posted on October 12, 2016 by brent

Although I enjoyed working out in different gyms during the Hurricane Matthew Shut Down, there is nothing like returning to your home gym. At noon today, University Recreation opened back up. That meant our super nice gym at Coastal Carolina University was back in business.

It was nice to walk back inside my home gym today.

I used my lunch hour to visit the place I spent a week away from. It felt great to use the equipment I am comfortable with, enjoy the amenities that the CCU gym provides, and see familiar faces. Tomorrow the facility will go back to operating on regular hours and while I enjoyed today’s experience, I am very glad for one big reason…

Working out in the early morning is simply the best.

Trust me, I can speak on this. I have gone through stages in my life where I worked out at all different times in the day. In fact, today’s noon workout used to be the normal for me. I spent my last couple years working at the University of Montana by exercising right when my lunch hour hit. Because I worked so much basically seven days a week, I could take a longer lunch, thus enabling me to work out beyond the standard 60 minutes.

When I first started working after graduating college I opted to get my workout in once I got off. It made for some late nights but I was single and it didn’t matter what time I arrived home. For the first couple years of high school, I lifted in both the mid-morning and the mid-afternoon, depending on when my weights class was scheduled.

However, throughout my whole life I have always gone through stages where I worked out bright and early in the morning. It started with zero hour weights during the latter part of high school and translated to college where I worked out at 6 a.m. all four years. When I started working professionally, although I mainly exercised after work or at noon, I would still get my pump on in the morning if I had a day off or if I was visiting my family in Spokane. When I arrived at Coastal almost two and a half years ago, I decided that I would revert back to always working out in the morning.

I don’t care what you tell me, working out in the morning is the best time to do it and let me tell you the main reason why: there is simply no better way to start the day.

A sign at one of the gyms I worked out at over the Hurricane Matthew break had a sign that read “Want To Be In An Instant Good Mood? Get Your Workout In.” This is so true. It doesn’t matter when you exercise, it is going to make you feel good. However, why not get that euphoric feeling in the morning so it lasts you the whole day? If you work out in the morning, it will give you a great outlook on whatever you are going to face over the next 12 hours. It is powerful.

But working out in the morning isn’t just about feeling good the rest of the day. It is also about taking advantage of the gym when it isn’t crowded. It is also about using the equipment when it is at its freshest. It is also about sharing the space with other dedicated people who don’t mind waking up at 5 a.m. so they can arrive at the facility five minutes before it opens at 5:55 a.m.

Another main reason why I choose to exercise in the mornings is to get it done with. Believe me, working out is a hobby for me and I enjoy it but it can also stress you out. When I would work out in the evening, it would always be in the back of my mind throughout the day. I knew after I finished the long work day I couldn’t just go home; rather, I had a date with the gym. Even when I worked out during the lunch hour the fact that I had to hit the rec center always loomed in my brain. It is so nice to exercise early in the morning and then not have to worry about setting aside time later in the day to work out and get sweaty.

The morning is really where it is at. If you are new to working out, I would really suggest you consider starting your day with it. Don’t Blink.

The Top 10 Things I Did During Hurricane Matthew Shut Down

Posted on October 11, 2016 by brent

After almost a week off, tomorrow I will return to work. I can’t describe how ready I am to get back on campus. Although I completely understand it, as I have declared before, I dislike missing work for unplanned weather events.

However, I did my best to try and enjoy the time off I had over the last several days. Even though I was working from home a majority of the time, I did make provisions to take advantage of the fact that I was not in the office. Tonight I want to briefly share the top ten things I did during the Hurricane Matthew Shut Down.

10. Watched every Governor Nikki Haley press conference – Along with the rest of the state, I became a fan of interpreter Jason Hurdich.

9. Got out of the house and went to the movies with Sidney to watch “The Girl on the Train.” – Although I can’t recommend the movie, the popcorn I had at the Coastal Grand Mall Cinemas was some of the freshest I have ever had the pleasure of eating.

We enjoyed getting out of the house last night and going to “The Girl on the Train.”

8. Ate Cinnamon Toast Crunch and doughnuts for breakfast one day – Sure beat my usual half of a peanut butter sandwich.

7. Watched day time TV, including “Let’s Make A Deal.” – Turns out I am not missing much when I am at work.

6. Intensely followed the U.S. Presidential race – What a wash, absolutely nothing happened at all.

5. Worked out at three different gyms – If only the exercise I put in could compensate for the roughly 10,000,000 calories I ate over the past week.

Over the last several days I worked out at Planet Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and Sky Fitness.

4. Managed to petrify all of my relatives who feared that Hurricane Matthew would sweep me away – Hey, the national news made the hurricane look like it was Armageddon.

I had many family members texting me to make sure that I would survive Hurricane Matthew.

3. Celebrated my birthday – No better way to ring in your “dirty thirty” than in a state of emergency with no electricity.

On the day that Hurricane Matthew hit Myrtle Beach, I celebrated my birthday.

2. Experienced my first major hurricane – Pretty big deal for a west coast boy.

1. Grew a Hurricane Matthew beard – Well, my best excuse for a beard anyway.

It was the best I could do.

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So happy to return to work tomorrow. It is time to get back to normal. Hurricane Matthew, it has been real. Don’t Blink.

The Ten Reasons Why I Love “Forrest Gump”

Posted on October 10, 2016 by brent

Over five years ago, I wrote a blog post titled “The Top 5 Movies That Are Shown Way Too Much on TV.” Despite the seemingly sarcastic nature of the title, the post was actually an homage to the movies on the list (trust me). Holding the number one spot was “Forrest Gump.”

Well, five years later I still have the same passion for the movie that garnered the top spot on that list. In fact, believe it or not, my love for the movie has grown even more. This says a lot coming from a guy who usually can only stand to watch a movie once. Last week the film was on television once again. Sidney and I couldn’t resist watching it. Although it was probably the 557th time I watched “Forrest Gump,” I probably laughed and cried as much as ever.

While watching it last week, it became obvious that I had to write about it again. For today’s blog post I want to share the top ten reasons why I love “Forrest Gump” so much.

Forrest Gump is a masterpiece and I have ten major reason why I like it so much.

10. Savannah – The city of Savannah is special to me because Sidney and I went there for our one-year anniversary. It is a great and beautiful American city with an incredible history. Savannah is home to several historic parks right in the heart of the city. One of these parks is the setting where Forrest sat down to catch the city bus. Of course it is where he told a large portion of his story and he uttered his famous “Life is like a box of chocolates…” line. Because the movie reminds me of our one-year anniversary and because I had the opportunity to visit the bench spot, it serves as a good reason for why I love the movie.

9. The Unbelievability – “Forrest Gump” combines actual historic events with things that are borderline unbelievable. Although I prefer non-fiction, I still love the story of Forrest Gump running across the country twice, mowing a lawn for free, and making it to the White House based on his own merit three times.

8. Acting – The acting in “Forrest Gump” is incredible. Although I am especially partial to the way that Forrest and Lieutenant Dan are portrayed, the whole cast turned in memorable performances. But why do I have acting so low on the list? How could I make acting #8 when Tom Hanks won the Oscar for Best Actor? It is because, for me, the movie is so good in so many ways that acting simply doesn’t take one of the top spots.

7. The Way the Story Is Told – I love the unique way in which the events of the movie occur. It starts off in the present as Forrest is sitting on a bench. He then reflects on his past. However, the movie doesn’t end when he tells his whole story. Rather, he leaves the park bench and goes to find Jenny and the movie goes on for another hour. I think the non-chronological way in which the movie was made is extremely creative.

6. One Liners – “Sometimes I guess there just aren’t enough rocks.” “Does this mean I can’t play ping pong no more?” “I was runnin’!” “And that’s all I have to say about that.” ……

And they go on and on and on. “Forrest Gump” introduced so many phrases and humorous one liners into our lexicon. When watching the movie, you can’t help but say them with the characters. Over 22 years since the movie was made and many of the one liners are as popular as ever.

5. Watchability – As I mentioned in the opening, there is not another movie I can easily re-watch more than “Forrest Gump.” If I turn on the TV and it happens to be on, it doesn’t matter what point of the film it is in, I can easily just start watching it. When adapted for television, the film is three hours long. If I am fortunate enough to catch “Forrest Gump” as it starts, I will devote the full length of time to watching it. The movie is just so smooth, so fun, and so gripping that I can’t turn away.

4. Emotional Moments – I hate to admit it, but “Forrest Gump” makes me cry…a lot. The film contains so many scenes that just get you. From Forrest putting his head down on his mom before going off to Vietnam to Forrest seeing his son for the first time to Jenny and Lieutenant Dan meeting at the wedding your heart is tugged so many times. The movie makes me feel some type of way.

3. The Music – First off, “Forrest Gump” uses some of the iconic songs of American music throughout the movie to signify the current era the film is in. The makers of the movie did this in a superb fashion. In fact, many classic American songs from the 1960’s – 1970’s that I hear today immediately remind me of “Forrest Gump” simply because they were used so brilliantly in the movie. However, it is the original instrumentals in the movie that stand out to me the most. From the triumphant melody played when Forrest breaks out of his leg braces to the soft instrumental that is played throughout the whole movie, these unique pieces bring emotion and harmony to the film. It really is a thing of beauty.

2. The History – The movie “Forrest Gump” is a history lesson. World events, public figures, and American attitudes are presented throughout the entire film from the perspective of the lead character. The music, the actual historical footage, and the cinematography all lead to a genuine and fascinating look at the United States of America in the mid to late 20th century. As a history buff, I genuinely appreciate the heartfelt and humorous look at our past.

1. The Writing – “Forrest Gump” is just beautifully written. While I understand that the film was first a book, the way it was adapted for the big screen was phenomenal. I can lay in bed and close my eyes and listen to the movie and just feel great and peaceful. The narration is soothing, funny, and beautiful. You can watch a scene from the movie and just blurt out loud, “Man, that was just described so well.” Go ahead and take away the music, the actors, and the cinematography because “Forrest Gump” will still stand as a masterpiece based on the writing alone.

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Can you tell I like this movie? “Forrest Gump” is an American classic and I think history classes should show the film. However, if you are a teenager and your teacher hasn’t played it for you yet, do yourself a favor and watch it on your own couch. Don’t Blink.

Surviving Hurricane Matthew

Posted on October 9, 2016 by brent

Good news and bad news.

First the good: Hurricane Matthew has passed us by.
Now the bad: His aftermath has not.

But let’s first start from the beginning. The most concerned I was during the whole Hurricane Matthew episode came late Friday night (technically Saturday morning). I awoke at around 1:30 a.m. to the sound of what seemed like an army of men pounding on the outside of our house. The high speed winds and bands of rain made sleeping tough. Laying in bed, my mind raced about whether or not everything was secure outside. Several times throughout the night I walked back and forth from the bedroom to the living room to look outside the window to make sure all was okay.

Morning finally came and our house was intact. However, we knew the worst part of the storm was still to come. Sidney and I went with my in-laws over to Steph and Jon’s house (sister-in-law/brother-in-law) for the day. It was there that we spent most of the day riding out the storm. We ate a ton of food, played games, watched college football, and celebrated my birthday. We also kept our eye on the storm as the rain came down with more intensity and the wind picked up in speed.

Over time though, the rain started to lessen. By 4 p.m., it had stopped. Although the wind was still whipping, we thought we might be out of the woods. But then the power went out!

With the news that a majority of the city was dealing with no power, Sidney and I decided to venture out into the storm to see the state of our own home. We drove extremely cautiously as we dodged large debris in the road and non-working traffic lights. When we arrived at the house we were ecstatic to see that we still had power. We were less ecstatic to see that the storm had taken out several sections of our fence. But, considering the nature of Hurricane Matthew, suffering a broken fence wasn’t too bad.

The rest of our family came and joined us at our home. As of this afternoon, much of Myrtle Beach, including my in-laws and Steph/Jon, don’t have power. We still have a full house and we are enjoying each other’s company as we wait for the city to do damage control.

Personally, I am busy with work as we communicate to the Coastal Carolina University community about campus operations. Campus will be closed tomorrow, meaning I will have another day out of the office. Horry County Schools also canceled classes tomorrow so Sidney will be at home with me. I am anxious for things to get back to normal.

One final note…today Sidney and I went to church. As mass started, the power was out. The service went along without electricity until we stood up for the Lord’s Prayer. Right before we started, the lights triumphantly turned on! Without missing a beat, Father Norbert Mendonca proclaimed “Praise God!!”

He is right. Although we are still dealing with a few issues from Hurricane Matthew, we are all lucky to be safe thanks to God. Sidney and I appreciate all of the calls and messages we have received over the past few days inquiring about our safety. We have survived Hurricane Matthew! Don’t Blink.

Happy At 30

Posted on October 8, 2016 by brent

It is official. I am old. No longer can I hide behind the excuse that I am “in my twenties” (despite holding onto it all the way through my last day as a 29-year-old). Today I turned 30 and I can’t deny that the age carries with it a notion that I am now a mature grownup. Those carefree years of being a twenty-something are gone.

So go ahead and throw all those “old” jokes at me. I deserve them and I will take them in the stride. However, I don’t know if I would be such a good sport if things weren’t as good as they are now. Because, to be honest, I am too happy to worry about my advancing age.

As a new 30-year-old I have an amazing wife who I couldn’t imagine life without. The two of us have a baby on the way who will be here in less than six months. We both have good jobs with a nice place to come home to at night. We have amazing families who love us both very much.

But let me stop with the bragging because I can sense all my readers throwing up in their mouths right now. Basically I just want to get across the point that I realize I am not young anymore but at the same time I am not stressing too much about it.

My 29th year was the best one of my life. What a great way to lead me into my thirties. Furthermore, 2016 has already cemented itself as the best calendar year of my life. To know that I have three more months of this blessed year to warm me up to being 30 is a good feeling.I am ready to be old!

Thanks to everyone in my life who has made my first three decades on this earth so rich. I am extremely lucky and I love you all. Don’t Blink.

Hurricane Matthew Thursday Rundown

Posted on October 6, 2016 by brent

As I sit in our living room watching the news and working on my computer, I figured this would be a good time to write my Thursday Rundown. Here we go with today’s five topics…

Hurricane Update – Yesterday I gave a summary on how the lead up to Hurricane Matthew is impacting us. I also mentioned the toll it might take when it actually reaches us. Here is the thing: Weather forecasters are having a tough time charting the exact track of Hurricane Matthew. It keeps moving around, causing frustration not just for weather people but for citizens trying to make plans. However, no matter what course the hurricane takes, our area in Myrtle Beach is going to feel the presence of it in someway. Hurricane Matthew is still not expected to directly hit our area but strong on-shore winds do figure to give us some problems. We are also expected to receive MORE than 10 inches of rain. Because our soil here in Myrtle Beach is already saturated, this could give us some real issues.

I took this photo of a TJ Maxx this morning as I was coming back from the gym. The store boarded up its windows in preparation for the storm.

Alternative Places to Exercise – Because the Coastal Carolina campus is closed, so is the gym. This has forced me to go elsewhere for my workouts. Yesterday I went to ultra fancy Planet Fitness. This morning I got my pump in at traditional Gold’s Gym. Talk about the tale of two gyms! Planet Fitness was modern and large. Gold’s Gym was old school and small. Although I prefer working out at my home gym, venturing out these past two days hasn’t been too bad; in fact, I have kind of enjoyed it.

This is me taking a selfie inside the old school facilities of Gold’s Gym this morning.

A Good Business – I want to give a shout out to the person who helped us with the chalk art portion of our baby announcement. Brooke Holden provided us with the board and wrote the actual text on it. She was very helpful, affordable, and quick. Brooke specializes in weddings. If you have any calligraphy or chalk art needs, I highly recommend you take a look at her website.

This is the sign that Brooke Holden made for us.

Happy Birthday, Steph! – Last night we celebrated my sister-in-law’s birthday. Stephanie turned 34 and we celebrated with a little get together at her house. We enjoyed pizza and then ate cake and ice cream. We finished the night by watching her open presents and by playing with the kids. One final happy birthday wish to my great sister-in-law!

A scene from Steph’s birthday celebration last night.

Our Newest Show – Sidney and I have a brand new network show we are watching! “This Is Us” is a program on NBC that chronicles the adventures of triplets. Well, I am using the term “triplets” lightly since one of them is not biological to the two others. Anyway, Sidney got me to watch the premiere and the second show was equally as entertaining. Making things even more interesting is that my family out west is also watching the show so it gives us something to talk about with them. If you are looking for something to watch on Tuesday nights, I recommend it!

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If you live in South Carolina, please be safe this weekend. Thanks to everyone who has been thinking about Sidney and I. Like I said yesterday, I think we are going to be just fine. Don’t Blink.

Here Comes the Big One…Hurricane Matthew

Posted on October 5, 2016 by brent

Since living in South Carolina, I have written a few times about hurricanes. There was Hurricane Arthur, Hurricane Joaquin, and Hurricane Hermine. Each storm impacted us here in Myrtle Beach in some way. However, those three hurricanes supposedly won’t hold a candle to what we have coming.

Hurricane Matthew is set to rip through Myrtle Beach and the Horry County area on Saturday.

How serious is the threat? Yesterday we closed campus and canceled classes at Coastal Carolina…for the rest of the week! Today we evacuated our residential students. All schools are shut down in the area too, meaning Sidney is joining me at home as we wait out the storm. The governor is holding press conferences twice a day. Large scale evacuations in parts of the state started at 3 p.m. this afternoon.

Portions of Myrtle Beach will start evacuating tomorrow. Where Sidney and I live, we are in an evacuation zone. However, we are in Evacuation Zone C. Right now, just Evacuation Zone A must evacuate. It looks pretty good that we will be able to stay in our home as the hurricane arrives.

People are vigilantly preparing for Hurricane Matthew. Good luck finding bottled water in Walmart. Also, there is another resource that is getting sucked up. In her press conference yesterday, the governor advised everyone to fill up their gas tanks. Trying to heed her advice, I planned to make a stop at our local gas station. As I neared the area, I called Sidney to let her know I was going to make a quick stop. When I told her I was stopping to fuel up, she simply said “good luck.” The timing was like that of a movie because once she said that I looked to my right at the gas station and saw the chaos. A station with 12 pumps had what looked like 36 cars crammed around them.

In another eerie scene today, Sidney and I drove through our neighborhood and watched as neighbors boarded up their windows. People are not messing around.

With all this said, please don’t worry about us too much (seriously). I know in my gut that we will be fine. As of the latest update today, it looks like the hurricane’s impact won’t be as severe as once projected. Currently, we are bracing for the storm by just relaxing and having fun. Although I have to work from home, I am finding time to enjoy myself. This morning I hit up a new gym for a workout (since our gym at CCU is closed). I then went over to my in-laws and hung out with Sidney and our niece and nephew. We even went hunting for the ice cream man, it was great fun. So please know that we are doing just fine.

We had a great time hunting down the ice cream man today (top photo is courtesy of my mother-in-law, Brenda).

Thanks for all the texts and calls we have received. Come Saturday (the day the storm is supposed to hit us in Myrtle Beach), I hope to take some footage of Hurricane Matthew that I can share with you. Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser

Monthly Archives: October 2016