What Five Topics Tonight?!

Posted on June 5, 2014 by brent

Last Thursday worked out so well with me doing my multi-topic blog post that I knew when the next Thursday came along I would have to do the same. So here we are today. Same format, same conditions. Time for me to take a deep breath and throw five totally unrelated topics at you. Legggggoooooo…

The Boathouse: Last Friday my friend Seth invited me out to a place called the Boathouse. He told me Joe Diffie was playing a free concert and that it was the place to be. Once Sidney arrived at my place the two of us met Seth at the Boathouse. To say the least, it was an awesome venue. Inside they have a perfectly sized bar/restaurant with attentive service and a very charming country theme. But outside is where it is truly at. You walk out the back door and a grassy hill greets you. At the bottom of the hill sits a stage nudged right up against the Intracoastal Waterway. People pack the hill and overflow to two covered outdoor bars in the back. The vibe is awesome and the atmosphere unmatched. Best of all the quality acts they bring in are free. Everyone says the real party happens during the venue’s “Sunday Funday” series…don’t know if I will be making any of those.

Before Joe Diffie took the Boathouse stage an opening band covered some current Top 40 country songs..

South Carolina Bans Texting: It felt weird driving in a place where I didn’t have to look in all directions before sneakily grabbing my phone to send out a quick text. Both in Washington State and Missoula (the state of Montana actually does not have a ban on texting but many cities in the state do) you would get pulled over immediately if a cop suspected you of talking or texting on your phone. To not have those restrictions here in South Carolina did bring me a sense of freedom even if it did feel different at first. But that taste of liberation will disappear very quickly. South Carolina has become the 49th state to pass a ban on texting (Montana is now the only state not to have one). Although the ban does have an exception that I love: Drivers can still text at stop lights. Believe me, this is a big relief. Myrtle Beach is home to FOUR MINUTE RED LIGHTS and usually in that time when I am stopped I send out at least three tweets, catch up on texts, and respond to e-mails. To not have the option to be productive while wasting my life away in traffic would have been devastating.

Cold Water Challenge: At Coastal Carolina University today we started our own Cold Water Challenge campaign. Chauncey and myself went out and met a staffer who braved the ice water dumped over her head. I filmed, edited, and posted the video. There should be a lot more of that for me come tomorrow as other staffers respond to her call out. Unfortunately, I know my time will come very soon when I have to take the challenge myself. Keep your eye on this blog for an update.

Coastal Carolina University staff member Diane Fabiano took the Cold Water Challenge with an assist from Chauncey.

“Maleficent”: On Tuesday night, Sidney and I went to the movies after feasting on macaroni and cheese egg rolls at Kingstreet in Market Common. We saw “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie. The movie rocked the box office this past weekend and came out with a lot of fanfare so maybe my expectations were too high going in. Whatever the case was, I didn’t get too excited after watching it. I am not a fantasy movie fanatic to begin with, however sometimes I can be swayed. I actually really enjoyed “Snow White and the Huntsman” and thought “Maleficent” might impress me as well. But I just found the movie too slow and some of the characters annoying, although I don’t speak of Angelina Jolie’s title character in that way. Funny to say, but Jolie reminded me of Katy Perry in the movie.

On Tuesday night, Sidney and I saw “Maleficent” at the Grand 14 Cinema at Market Common in Myrtle Beach.

2014 NBA Finals: I thought about writing a blog post about the Finals but figured it would just be the exact same thing I have written for the past three years…I hope the Heat lose. I am not a Spurs fan by any means but my dislike for Miami makes me hope that San Antonio wipes the floor with them. I would love to see a sweep. I admit Lebron has done some great things since making the move to Miami but I still can’t get over “The Decision.” That was a deal breaker for me and I really don’t want to see King James pick up his third title. I want to see the people of South Beach embarrassed by how bad San Antonio beats their team.

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Another movie is in the cards for me tonight (after the basketball game) and a fun weekend is on the horizon. However, that is for another blog post. Have a great Thursday night everyone and a safe weekend. Go Spurs! Don’t Blink.

Walk Off Strikeout? Yawn

Posted on June 3, 2014 by brent

Watch the video that is the basis of this blog post by going here.

I heard rumblings about it all day through Twitter. Then, when I finally got home I quickly realized how big this certain play had gotten. First there was the Bleacher Report article accompanied with the news clip anchored by none other than one of my favorites, Beth Beechie. Then I turned on “Pardon the Interruption” and watched Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon debate it. Sportscenter followed with a major tease of the play and then full coverage of it when the program returned from commercial.

This past Friday, Billings West and Big Sky (Missoula) squared off with the Montana state softball title on the line. Billings West needed to defeat Big Sky twice to win the championship. The Golden Bears took care of business in the first game and then won the second game in odd fashion. Thanks to a dropped third strike and a couple of throwing errors the batter who originally K’d rounded the bases on a walk off strikeout to win the state title.

Although blooper filled disasters are funny and people love to see them, I just don’t know if the ending to the Billings West-Big Sky game deserved national attention. Sure it was the state title game and Billings West went through hell and back to win it but tell me if a rather ugly display of softball really is worthy of Deadspin? More perplexing, was it really deserving of the number one play on Sportscenter? Let me answer that latter question…NO!

Side Note: Even though I don’t necessarily agree with the play making Deadspin I do find it incredibly cool that my friend and ABC Montana sports anchor Dominic Shelden called the highlight that the website picked up.

I honestly don’t even think the play was all that unique. Watch a couple innings of any high school baseball or softball game and you are bound to see silly errors and head scratching plays. Did you see the girl round those bases? To me it looked like little league base paths. I think I could probably lay down a bunt and slide in with a triple on that field. I have seen far more wild and crazy plays not even make a SportsNation Top 100 Jeers program to see something like the walk off strikeout earn the number one spot on Sportscenter’s Top 10. I mean even the errors themselves were melodramatic. The catcher missed the mark with her throw to first base. The ball rolled to the fence and an outfielder threw the ball in to an invisible player at second base. By that time the runner had scored. End of game. Yawn.

I guess I really don’t have a good reason to complain about this. I mean it is cool to see Montana get some coverage on the national stage. It is also cool to see the work of my sports reporter friends get highlighted. For some reason though I just don’t think the play itself warranted the acclaim that it got. Don’t Blink.

Bridging Thousands of Miles: Skype

Posted on June 2, 2014 by brent

Each Sunday I do something besides go to church and get ready for the week ahead. Although the time might fluctuate I take out my cell phone, text the word “SKYPE” to my mom, and she connects with me through her tablet. Sitting on my couch with my lap top in front of me I eagerly anticipate her Skype call.

People ask me each day if I miss my family like heck and if I can possibly survive the chronic home sickness I must be feeling. I wholeheartedly understand where they are coming from but I do respond with the truth and let them know that while I love my family very much I am not killing myself just because I happen to be 3,000 miles away. As for the home sickness part let me ask you this question: If you moved from a cold, dreary climate to a place of endless sunshine, hot temperatures, and beautiful women would you be home sick? I didn’t think so.

A huge reason why I don’t think the long distance from home and the impossibility of seeing my family on a regular basis impacts me that much is in large part because of Skype. But back up for just one second. Understand that for the past seven years I lived in Montana. I lived a couple states over and a dangerous 200+ mile drive from my nearest relative. So for the past several years I didn’t see my family regularly either. During those Montana years I never once Skyped my mom while going months without seeing her or any of my other family. Now here in Myrtle Beach I get transported right into my living room each week. I know it sounds crazy but it almost seems like I am closer to home out in South Carolina than I was in Missoula.

I kind of wish I Skyped when I lived out west. I genuinely look forward to my Skype calls with my mom. Although the calls weren’t much fun for me before my mom actually understood the technology and could successfully activate her camera and speakers I now have delightful chats with her. It is always nice to see her face and I am not kidding when I say it feels like I am there. Many times my mom will take her tablet around the house or outside in the yard and show me different things. For the past couple weeks my dad has appeared on screen with my mom as well. In a true treat last week not only did I get to Skype with my mom and my dad but my sister’s cat also made an appearance.

Last week my sister’s cat made an appearance in our Skype session.

Skyping does give my mom a chance to dish out her motherly nags. The computer screen will somehow make my face look a little skinnier than what it actually is so my mom will tell me to eat more. The screen also has a way of making my face look darker (who am I kidding that is the actual complexion of my skin) so she will tell me to stay out of the sun. She will also tell me other things that I need to do or quit doing. These directions seem to hold more weight over a video call than just an audio call.

But of course these calls are much more than just my mom setting me straight. We catch up on our weeks. I show her around my apartment. We swap stories. I do something goofy on screen to make her laugh. We converse as if we are sitting right next to each other. For twenty minutes we talk like moms and sons do, totally forgetting the eternity that separates us.

Skype is an amazing technology that is responsible for the bridging of gaps thousands and thousands of miles wide. The service makes things easier and gives moms who worry about their sons some relief. I know whenever I want to see the face of my dear mom I can do so in a matter of seconds and I have to admit, that is pretty comforting. Don’t Blink.

Snacking Southern Style

Posted on June 1, 2014 by brent

As I continue to experience southern living I am attempting to try many different pieces of the culture. In the five weeks I have lived in South Carolina I have tried to experience the activities, the restaurants, the dialect, the climate, and much more. Today I decided to take a break from my busy Sunday schedule (yeah right) and try the snacks of the south. To get totally equipped for this mission I went to a southern experience all in itself, Piggly Wiggly, to pick up my goods.

Piggly Wiggly is my neighborhood grocery store and where I went to purchase my southern snacks tonight.

Once inside the grocery store I picked up my items. They included a cheese cracker type snack, a soft drink, and a very different take on a type of nut I love. After shelling out the $7 for my “Sunday night taste of the south” I returned home and after conducting my own little mini photo shoot I went to work on taste testing the items. This evening I wish to share with you the fun time I had tasting cheese straws, Cheerwine, and boiled peanuts. Are these three items really representative of the snacking culture in the south? Not exactly, but they all do hold a rather big part. Furthermore, each item has a personal story relating to why I chose it which I will share right before I express my thoughts on how it tasted.

I had an interesting time trying Cheerwine, boiled peanuts, and cheese straws.

Cheese Straws
The Story: Our media relations and publications director at Coastal Carolina University was telling us at lunch a couple weeks ago about the simplicity of Baptists weddings in Conway and the even simpler receptions that followed. Who needs cake? He explained that at many of these receptions back in the day the only item served was a delicacy called cheese straws. I kind of looked at him funny but he wasn’t kidding. When we asked him to describe what a cheese straw was I knew I needed to try it for myself.

The Review: Cheese straws look exactly like crinkle cut French fries. Of course the consistency is much different. Not crunchy like a chip and not soft like a cheese stick, it is pretty much right in the middle. I would say the taste falls right about there too! To me it did taste kind of like a mix between a Cheez-It and a Goldfish cracker. I was a little sketched out before I put it in my mouth but it tasted way better than what it looked like and felt like. However, these things made me thirsty immediately, much more than any cheesy snack out on the market that I have tried. These snacks aren’t bad and I will probably finish the box over time but I probably won’t go out of my way to buy them again.

Cheese straws will make you very thirsty!

Cheerwine
The Story: This past Friday I was out with my new friend Seth who works in the athletic department at Coastal Carolina. While talking he asked me if I had ever tried Cheerwine before. I made him repeat. When he did I thought he was talking about an alcoholic beverage. Nope, Cheerwine is a very popular soda down south. He said I would need to give it a try and even mentioned that his family had a connection to the popular soft drink.

The Review: I don’t drink soda that much so I am not a worthy critic but I liked Cheerwine. As the name hints at, it is a cherry flavored drink. I found it very smooth and refreshing. You can definitely taste the cherry but it is not as bold as say the orange flavoring in orange soda or the grape flavoring in grape soda. To me it tasted kind of like a much more mellow Dr. Pepper. Every once in a while I do enjoy a soda and this hit the spot.

Cheerwine is smooth with a faint cherry taste.

Boiled Peanuts
The Story: When I rolled into South Carolina I started seeing signs on the side of the road advertising boiled peanuts. Boiled peanuts? I had no idea what such a thing was. I absolutely love peanuts so I thought that maybe it would be something that I like. The person I turn to whenever I need southern clarification on what certain things are/where I should eat at/what areas I should visit, Martha Hunn, gave me the lowdown on boiled peanuts and told me I need to try them but that they need to be fresh. She listed a few places that have good boiled peanuts…Piggly Wiggly was not one of them.

The Review: If you thought I was sketched out about trying the cheese sticks then you don’t even want to know what I thought when I opened the can of boiled peanuts. Sitting in a thick liquid I had to pour the contents into a bowl, microwave it for two minutes, drain the liquid, and then “enjoy.” However, like the cheese sticks, I didn’t find them as bad as I thought, although they taste nothing like a traditional peanut. You open up the shell and liquid oozes out. You then eat the boiled nut just as you would a regular peanut. What everyone will tell you is that the texture will throw you off if you are expecting it to resemble a peanut in any way. It is not the least bit hard or crunchy. It is soft and slightly chewy. It has a very salty taste. The smell reminded me of Sunday dinners at my parents house when they would cook green beans. I ate two of the boiled peanuts and then threw the rest out. I think I will stick with traditional peanuts but I will try fresh peanuts from one of the vendors Martha recommended if the opportunity ever presents itself.

Yep, this is what boiled peanuts look like (hungry?).

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What a great excuse to snack, huh? Honestly though, next time I think I rather do it with jalapeno chips and Hoody’s peanuts. But the Cheerwine can stay! Can’t wait to write about my next southern experience. Have a great week everyone. Don’t Blink.

Results and Character

Posted on May 31, 2014 by brent

Many of you know that I send out a quote from the Life’s Little Instructions series each day (for the full story on how this got started, go here). Although some are incredibly stupid every now and then I will see one I like and stash the calendar page in a special place. Earlier this month I came across one that seemed to especially speak to me at the current stage in my life. It read: “An impressive resume may get you a job, but it’s character and results that keep it.”

This instruction from May 6 spoke to me.

With exactly one month in the books working at Coastal Carolina University I have tried to take this attitude into the office each day. I think what makes this instruction so valid is that it addresses things we can control.

While others around me and extenuating factors will contribute to my success, when it all comes down to it the results regarding CCU Social Media start and end with me. Each day I am trying to do all I can to make the university look good on a social level, go above and beyond the job I was hired to do, and follow through on the vision and promises I made to the people who hired me. I am results-driven and every single day I am putting myself on audition. I really want to impress.

But while I can’t say with 100% certainty that I will deliver on the results in the way that they should be delivered, I know that I can maintain my character day in and day out. Each morning when I wake up in beautiful Myrtle Beach I have the choice to act in a way that will recognize, inspire, and help others or act in a way that is counterproductive. I choose the former.

One month down and I am so happy that I am in this position at Coastal Carolina. I want to be the absolute best employee possible and bring honor to this university that has given me a life changing opportunity. If I remember to deliver the two things this instruction mentions, results and character, I know I will do just that. Don’t Blink.

Thursday Night Top Five

Posted on May 29, 2014 by brent

With the weekend almost here I don’t think there is a better way to celebrate than to write another rapid topic, random blog post. Sound good? Okay! Here are five things you probably don’t care anything about.

Side of the Road BBQ: This past weekend I fulfilled my dream to eat at a hole-in-the-wall, sketchy southern BBQ joint. For the past couple weeks I have noticed a small shack-like structure on the side of the road during my commute to work. I knew I wanted to hit it up sooner than later. This past Saturday night I pulled up to True BBQ and parked in a diagonal lot several feet away. I then went up to the hut, looked at the paper menu taped onto a window, and told the girl inside what I wanted. About ten minutes later she presented me with a heavy Styrofoam container of BBQ. I came home and pigged out. I got the pulled pork plate and for my sides I chose baked beans and a dish I had never tried before called rice and hash. It was delicious! If there weren’t so many other restaurants around here that I need to also try I would say I would be back real soon.

This place was good. The sign is on the left and my delicious dinner is on the right.

Great Time to Start at Coastal: I joke that I carefully selected my start date at Coastal Carolina University. To start it all off my first day was on a Thursday, making it a very short work week. I came right at one of the most exciting times on campus, graduation. Then just a week after I arrived summer hours took effect at CCU, a glorious thing where we get off at 1 p.m. on Fridays. To top it off, this past Monday we celebrated Employee Appreciation Day. After a ceremony in Blanton Park (beautiful green area on campus) we were treated to a delicious lunch of hamburgers/hot dogs, chili, cole slaw, baked beans, chips, and desserts. What a great first month at CCU!

“Million Dollar Arm”: Recently I saw my first movie at the theaters in Myrtle Beach. My friend Sidney and I went to the Grand 14 Cinema in Market Common. We watched “Million Dollar Arm” and I must say I really enjoyed it. Typical Disney inspirational sports movie but the whole plot is very interesting and a couple of intriguing acting roles helped to make the movie a winner. You will laugh, cry, and root for the characters involved. A movie is always a little bit better when it is based on a true story, and “Million Dollar Arm” is.

Proof that I actually went and saw the movie.

Extreme Weather: You can’t beat the weather in Myrtle Beach. Sun, sun, and more sun….except for brief instances. Last Friday the sky opened up and we received golf ball-sized hail. In my lifetime I have heard the term “golf ball-sized hail” but never experienced it nor seen it. Although not all the chunks were that large as you can tell from the picture below some of them were. Amazing that my car didn’t get dominated. As I sit here right now the National Weather Service is warning about a powerful thunderstorm that is about to come through. Looks like a night indoors for me!

I had never seen hail this big before.

NBA Playoffs: I want to see a Pacers-Thunder Finals but most likely I will get the exact opposite. Although it was a little gratifying to see Indianapolis defeat Miami last night it is unlikely that the Pacers will win two more to win the series 4-3. I am just so sick of Lebron James. The Erik Spoelstra interviews get old too. And I won’t cheer for any team that has Birdman on it. In the west I am pulling for Kevin Durant’s team and I am looking forward to Game 5 tonight (series is knotted at 2-2) but I just have a feeling that the experience and poise of the Spurs will eventually win out. If someone made a deal with me and said they would guarantee that one of my teams would make the Finals I would definitely choose the Pacers. I would much rather see the Spurs representing the Western Conference than seeing the man behind “The Decision” and his team rep the east.

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Besides the terrible writing that post wasn’t too bad, was it? Have a great weekend, everyone. Thanks again for your support of this blog and please know I am always open to suggestions and criticism. Don’t Blink.

It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s a QUADCOPTER!!

Posted on May 28, 2014 by brent

One of my last nights spent out west found me in the driveway of my parents’ house in Spokane. It was the early evening of Easter Sunday as my dad, brother, and I watched my sister’s husband play with his new toys. Puffing on cigars we watched Jay use his thumbs to manage the remote control he held in both hands. We all got a pretty good kick watching the device that he was controlling.

It was a relaxing Easter evening.

Never since that Easter had I seen a quadcopter before. That night I saw two as Jay brought both of his treasured gadgets over to the Reser residence for some flying time. For those who don’t know, quadcopters are drones. They are tiny machines that fly high in the air, manipulated by a person with a remote control on the ground. My dad, Glen, and I watched as Jay put on an exhibition of sorts. He shot it way up into the sky at fast speeds. He sent it across the street to the playground at the park where kids stopped playing to look up. He entertained the people out for a Sunday stroll who stopped at the edge of our driveway to marvel at the small aircraft and ask questions. He made the neighbor dog go absolutely nuts by hovering the craft over his head, just slightly beyond his out of control leaps.

The dog, named Kokanee, went ape over the quadcopter.

I enjoyed the show and thought the things were pretty cool. However as I moved across the country the quadcopter display became a long lost memory…until recently. Last week as I walked across campus I passed our video team having a great time flying around their own quadcopter. Although they all had smiles on their faces they weren’t merely taking the drone for a joy ride. This model came equipped with a camera and they were using it to make a sweet aerial video showcasing the Coastal Carolina campus. When I saw the finished product this week I was amazed at the quality, beauty, and height of the footage. Say goodbye to the necessity of rounding up a helicopter and crew to go airborne, things are now much easier.

A look at our beautiful campus here at Coastal Carolina University from a quadcopter.

Coincidently this Sunday I became exposed to yet another use of drones. In an “Outside the Lines” report I learned that many football teams at the college and high school level are now using the machines to take practice video. It goes without saying that evaluating formations and player performance from up above is advantageous. With the recent easy availability of quadcopters combined with the flawless images recorded by them why wouldn’t you use the technology? Well because there are legal ramifications. But that is not for this blog post. It is worth noting though that this potential stumbling block has also made sporting teams think twice about using them as part of the gameday experience.

Crazy to think that normal civilians used to not have access to drones. The military enjoyed exclusivity with the technology but no more. The masses now have their hands on them and it is improving both how we have fun and how we shoot video. Talk about a win-win. Don’t Blink.

Fear of Oversleeping

Posted on May 28, 2014 by brent

Last week I ate lunch in our conference room with Martha Hunn, our Director of News and Public Affairs. While chatting she brought up a challenge that she faced in her life that I battle with on a much smaller scale. Before accepting her position at Coastal Carolina, Martha worked at WBTW, a local news station here in Myrtle Beach. Throughout her time as a very popular news personality she spent a portion of her tenure anchoring the morning show. While she loved doing that newscast she had a constant worry in the back of her head.

Martha’s fear was oversleeping. As anyone remotely familiar with morning shows can attest to, the hours are obscure to say the least. Rising at 2:30 a.m. to get dressed, commute, and then prepare for a 5 a.m. or 5:30 a.m. show is not easy. Doing it on a consistent basis makes the possibility of oversleeping greater. Martha explained to me that despite going to bed early, she never really got a good night’s rest during those morning show years. The paranoia of somehow oversleeping and leaving the station without its morning anchor terrified her. Because of this her sleep was choppy and she would awake several times during the night.

I too struggle with not letting the thought of a possible alarm clock malfunction or a deep sleep mess with me. I definitely have a fear of oversleeping. I get up at 5 a.m. each morning to go to the gym. For me missing a session at the rec pretty much seals the deal that the day will be a complete disaster so I put a lot of stock in making my workout. But as 5 a.m. does come early and I have to really push myself to get to bed before midnight I do worry about oversleeping. It is on my mind constantly.

I pretty much have just accepted the same symptoms Martha dealt with. When I lay my head down on the pillow I am prepping myself to jump out of bed in five hours. Once I finally fall asleep I am back up again an hour later, then another hour later, then another hour later, etc. I check my clock to make sure it is not 5 a.m. yet and then check my phone just to confirm. I set my alarm for 4:50 a.m. to give me a ten minute window to fully wake up before jumping out of bed before the clock can read 5:01 a.m. I like to think I am Cal Ripken Jr. with a long streak of not missing an early morning session. With that type of pressure it makes me extra obsessive over not oversleeping.

Flights, early morning weekend activities, and 7:30 a.m. Sunday mass also strike fear in me about possibly sleeping too long and screwing everything up. Because of my nerves when it comes to oversleeping I go through the same routine of going to bed with a paranoid conscience and waking up throughout the night.

Here is my question: Is there a name for this? I am sure a lot of people besides Martha and myself have dealt with it. Although I would like to relax myself a little more I don’t necessarily think it is a 100% terrible trait. It just means that we are committed and serious about making our obligations. I am a perfectionist and I can’t have any wrinkles at all in my day, especially not right off the bat.

So it is almost 12:30 a.m. here in Myrtle Beach and as you all know I got a 5 a.m. (well, actually 4:50 a.m.) wakeup call coming my way. Time to hit the hay and get some rest before another great day tomorrow. Don’t Blink.

Playing Putt Putt in Myrtle Beach

Posted on May 26, 2014 by brent

When I flew out to Myrtle Beach in March for my interview I noticed something as my shuttle took me from the airport to the hotel. On the side of the road I kept seeing elaborate themed structures. I saw a pyramid. I saw a zoo like setup with fake animals all around. I saw a tropical jungle. I asked my driver what was with all of these cool roadside attractions. “Oh,” the driver nonchalantly began, “those are putt putt courses.”

I knew Myrtle Beach was the golf capital of the country but I didn’t know it was the putt putt capital too. My new town boasts tons of spectacular miniature golf courses. But don’t call them miniature golf courses, I got straightened out real quick by the locals. It is putt putt. As I was saying, the courses here are insane.

Think “Happy Gilmore” style courses. They are all beautiful, inviting, themed properties that will make you smile. Since arriving here in the area I have had every intention of conquering some of the courses. Well, four weeks since rolling into town I finally got the opportunity last night.

Last night my friend Sidney and I visited the Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff course.

My friend Sidney and I went to the Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff putt putt course on Sunday evening. Couple things right off the bat that differentiate putt putt here in South Carolina from miniature golf in the west. Here, because of warm weather, the game is played primarily in the evening so courses stay open late. Interestingly, these places have higher quality lighting systems than most Major League ballparks. Also, the properties themselves have a couple different courses to play and many of the individual holes themselves have different variations to choose from.

You might think that because these courses are out of this world the price to play might be too. Complete misconception. Sidney and I both played for a total of $14. The Mt. Atlanticus course blew my mind with its beauty. Water surrounded most of the greens. Cool animal sculptures awaited you all over the place. Palm trees and other lush green vegetation grew everywhere. I was definitely playing the coolest eighteen holes of putt putt golf I had ever enjoyed in my life.

A dragon in the water!

Since the course was built to resemble a mountain, it slowly took us up in elevation from hole to hole. Although it seemed like we would only go up a few stairs every other hole or so it really added up in the end. By the time we reached the eighteenth hole we had a gorgeous view from up high of the whole course. From there we had to descend about six different flights of stairs to reach ground level again.

The view of Mt. Atlanticus from the 18th hole.

The creativity of Mt. Atlanticus was so cool. On one hole if you successfully putted your ball into a stream of water it would take it for a windy ride and sure enough drop it in the cup. The 19th hole (ball return) challenged you to smash your ball across a skinny strip of green while avoiding the sparkling blue water on either side of it. I saw sand traps for the first time ever on a mini golf course. Straw huts lined the course and housed several holes. A waterfall gushed out of the rock structure. Playing the course at night on a beautiful late May evening gave me a wonderful first experience with putt putt in Myrtle Beach.

Sidney and I had a great time playing putt putt.

Sidney and I had a blast. After a week of buildup on who would beat who we finally got to settle it on the course. At the end of eighteen competitive holes I came out on top with a slim two stroke victory (wait…was I supposed to let her win?). Call me a little kid but playing putt putt last night might have accounted for the most fun I have had in a while. I am already looking forward to the next course I get to play and the creativity I will see. Myrtle Beach does miniature golf….um I mean putt putt….the right way. Don’t Blink.

The Soundtrack to My Beginning in Myrtle Beach

Posted on May 22, 2014 by brent

Music has a way of helping us remember the times. We all have songs that take us right back to a certain event, period of time, or maybe even to a piercing feeling or a strong smell. I hear songs that take me immediately back to my senior year of high school, my first Vegas trip in 2008, the 2009 Griz football season, a failed relationship, Fourth of July 2012, lazy days at the pool in the summer of 2013, and so on. Music defines memorable experiences for us.

Moving to Myrtle Beach has definitely resulted in a significant and memorable moment in my life. In the almost four weeks I have called this beautiful place my home I have started a new job, experienced a different way of life, met new people, and gotten a feel for what it is like to live almost 3,000 miles from everything you once knew. A few songs will forever remind me of this major transition period for me.

Since moving to South Carolina I have listened to a lot of country music. Five out of the six stations on my car FM dial are country stations. Four out of the five days of the week at the gym country is playing. Whenever I walk in stores or visit a restaurant I bet you can guess what type of music greets my ears. Not that I mind this at all. I am a huge country music fan and if I had a soundtrack to my life I would choose this genre. But I wanted to explain this so you know why the five songs that will always bring me back to my first several weeks in Myrtle Beach are all country songs. Here is my list:

“Play it Again” – Luke Bryan

This song, along with the song I mention underneath this one, are the two that I have heard the most in my time here. I will hear it twice on my drive to the gym in the morning (switching between stations), once at the gym, two more times on my drive home, and then again if I go anywhere else that night. For Pete’s sake on Sunday night Luke Bryan even performed it at the Billboard Music Awards. By this time the words “Play it again, play it again, play it again” are cemented inside my head.

“Cop Car” – Keith Urban

As I mentioned I have heard this song A LOT. Just like with Luke’s song I hear it multiple times a day. But it is all well and good because it is a nice narrative song with some clever lines. The imagery is great too. Adding on another similarity with the song above it also talks about young romance with the guy sharing a unique experience with the girl. When I hear this song twenty years from now I will think about entering the HTC gym doors at 6 a.m. as it has greeted me more than once the minute I have walked into the facility.

“Slow Me Down” – Sarah Evans

Just hearing the intro to this song will transport me to the start of my adventure in South Carolina. Also the way Evans’ elongates the word “down” (think doooooooooooooooooooown) will always stick in my mind. The lyrics themselves also kind of hold some meaning to me in my specific situation. Although Evans is singing about a relationship I connect to them in a different way. With so many changes happening so quickly for me with the move sometimes it felt like I could have called out “Slow Me Down” a time or two.

“19 You + Me” – Dan + Shay

Do the lyrics “It was our first week at Myrtle Beach, where it all began” say enough?

“Rewind” – Rascal Flatts

Although I don’t particularly care for this song that much and even though it isn’t even that new I have seemed to hear it a crazy amount of times down here. As with the Sarah Evans song the lyrics also seem to address my situation. Even though I don’t necessarily want to rewind anything (I am very much a forward thinking person) it does make me realize that if I did go back just a month or two I would be rewinding to a much different time in my life with a totally different job in a totally different state with totally different friends.

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So I will put these songs on a playlist and title it “The Myrtle Beach Beginning.” Or maybe I won’t. By this time I am so sick and tired of these songs that I don’t know if I want to hear them again. But I do know that down the road when one of these songs sneaks up on me it will take me straight back to a very big time in my life. Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser

Author Archives: brent