Super Size This Thursday Rundown

Posted on January 21, 2016 by brent

Thank you for welcoming my blog back inside the screen of your computer or smart device. It is time for the weekly tradition of the Thursday Rundown…

“Concussion” – On Martin Luther King Day, Sidney and I went to the mall and decided to watch a movie. We did not look at showtimes before arriving and went up to the box office blind. The only movie that was showing in the next half hour was Will Smith’s “Concussion.” Although not my first choice of films, we bought tickets to see it. The movie exceeded my expectations, mostly because my brother gave it such an uninspired review. I had no idea that Smith had assumed a Nigerian accent for the role until the first scene of the film but he was fabulous. I enjoyed the story and social commentary that defined the production. I would recommend “Concussion.”

Our “Concussion” tickets from this past Monday.

Trump – Sorry to all my readers who despise him but I can’t stop talking about Donald Trump! Each day he seems to grab the headlines and increase his stock. I am observing this all in awe. Again, this is not because I idolize the guy but rather because I admire his calculated strategy. I have to give him credit and say I was very impressed with his debate performance last week. His improvement from the first debate (where I ripped him) to the one this past Thursday was remarkable. As we get closer and closer to Iowa, the race keeps getting better and better.

“Super Size Me” – It only took me about 13 years to finally see one of the most famous documentaries ever made. Last evening I sat down and watched “Super Size Me.” I enjoyed watching the filmmaker go to different McDonalds restaurants around the nation and stuff his face. I also found the history and interviews contained in the documentary very interesting. However, I didn’t take his results too seriously. I would have found it more intriguing if he went on a McDonalds diet but didn’t super size everything and also found the time to exercise a few times a week. I think the filmmaker was too set on proving his point that McDonalds is terribly unhealthy. I mean come on, I could gain just as much weight by going on a “mother’s cooking diet” where I only ate large portions of my mom’s food and didn’t exercise A diet that was somewhere between Jared’s Subway diet and the super size method mixed with some physical activity would have produced a better documentary with more impactful results.

In honor of a documentary about eating hamburgers, here is a photo of me just about to eat a hamburger.

Super Bowl Choice – It hurt watching the Seahawks get eliminated last weekend. I was thankful though that Seattle actually made a game out of it after trailing 31-0 at the half. No questions asked, I definitely want to see a Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos Super Bowl. When it comes to the NFC rep, I want to see the team repping the Carolinas make it! The Panthers have had such a good year, I would like to see it culminate in a Super Bowl appearance. As for the AFC rep, I detest the New England Patriots so much that the motivation to see the other team advance is already there. Adding more to my case for cheering for the Broncos is that I am a Peyton Manning fan and I would have no problem seeing him reach another Super Bowl.

Wedding Update #16 – I do have a significant item to report in this latest update…I booked our honeymoon!! After much research and discussion about what we exactly wanted, Sidney and I will be staying at the Sun Palace in Cancun. We ended up booking with the Sun Palace because it is a couples only resort and it consistently appeared high on lists ranking the best hotels in Mexico. I depend on Instagram to gain honest feedback on hotels/restaurants/venues/etc. and everyone I messaged remarked that Sun Palace is nothing short of superb. Take a look for yourself if you want, we can’t wait to go!

We will be going to a resort that is basically made for honeymooners…the Sun Palace.

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Take solace in the fact that the days are getting longer. Late January might not be the best time of the year but each day is a gift. Have a great weekend. Don’t Blink.

When “Unpleasant” Could Feel Much Worse

Posted on January 19, 2016 by brent

This is a different topic and one that is kind of difficult to explain, but I want to try to type out a few words about it tonight. Sometimes when I am exposed to a small amount of unfavorable stimuli, it makes my brain work. I end up thinking about how the unpleasant sensation I experienced would feel if it was 100X worse.

This morning I went to take a shower in the locker room after my workout. For whatever reason, there was no hot water today. The water that gushed out of the shower head was ice cold. I did what I could to dodge the stream while washing myself but there is only so much you can do if you really want to get clean. I had no choice but to stand under the shower head when the time came to wash my hair. The unforgiving freezing water seemed to send my body into shock as it splashed against my head and funneled down on my shoulders and back.

The cold shower seemed to take my breath away. As I walked from the shower area to my locker, a vision played in my head. I was visualizing myself ice fishing. I could see a blizzard type situation in -20 degree temperatures. In the middle of this picture was a thickly frozen over lake with a circle cut out in the very middle. I visualize myself fishing in the circle, icicles forming on my face. Suddenly, the ice cracks and I fall in. My body sinks in deep unforgiving freezing waters and I slowly drown. How would that feel?

I take the uncomfortable moment I had just a couple minutes ago and realize that thousands of people have experienced moments much, much worse than what I just did. Although my recent moment felt unbearable at the time, others have really known what it is like to be cold.

Have you ever stood too close around a bonfire when someone adds fuel to it? The byproduct from the flames might touch your skin and at that moment you realize there is nothing more savage than raw heat. The feeling of getting burned or almost getting burned is torturous. The times I have felt the whispers of flames made me think about one thing: burning to death.

I could not fathom going out that way. Having flames pass by my body is brutal enough…but being engulfed in them?

One final example. Every now and then I will have a tough time sleeping because of nightmares. I will lay in my bed and the second I close my eyes the bad dreams immediately start. When nightmares overcome you in the middle of the night nothing is scarier, even if you will just be able to laugh them off in the morning. It is at these points in the dark of the evening that I realize a tiny fraction of what hell must be like. To me, nothing is more miserable than feeling paralyzed by fear.

I rarely go this deep in my blog posts but my shower today really seemed to “wake me up.” No matter how in pain or uncomfortable we are, things could always be a lot worse. Don’t Blink.

An Embarrassing Episode at the Gas Station

Posted on January 18, 2016 by brent

I had a couple other ideas to write about this evening but a moment happened about 30 minutes ago that I feel I need to devote a short blog post about…no matter how stupid it makes me look.

I left Sidney’s house to return to my apartment. About 20 minutes, or roughly 11 miles, separate our residences. As I departed her place I knew I needed to get gas as I was on empty. I pulled into one of the gas stations close by her home.

I exited my car, pressed the button to open the mini door to my gas compartment, and screwed off the cap. I inserted my debit card, keyed in my pin, and chose my fuel grade. I then took the gas pump in my hand and moved it toward the fuel entry.

I never pay much attention to when I insert the gas pump into the entryway of my car. I just jam it in. However, when I did it today the pump was met with a thud. The hose part of the gas pump was blocked. Thinking it was some type of freak occurrence I tried jamming it in again. No luck whatsoever. I tried again…no entry.

Taking my finger I tapped the metal flap that covers the entryway. It moved effortlessly. Hmmmm? Obviously the metal flap wasn’t malfunctioning. I used my finger to open the flap while trying to stick in the pump. It wouldn’t work. It appeared as if I couldn’t keep my finger there long enough to open it up before the pump wiped my limb away and the flap closed.

I started to think about the work I had done on my car just a few days ago. I had my battery replaced at Wal-Mart and it took forever. Did the workers extend the job to try to mess with me? Did they tamper with the gas compartment?

I had another idea. I took one of the ballpoint pens I carry with me at all times and tried to use that to open up the entryway so the pump could fit. Despite my best efforts and quick reflexes with my pen it wouldn’t work. By this time my hands were covered with black scuff marks and coated in gasoline.

Again some thoughts started to swirl through my head. I was running low on gas, I needed to re-fuel somehow. Luckily I had Sid and her family close by but what would happen if this problem persisted? Would I need to take my car in again? Would I have even enough gas to get there? Today is a holiday so good luck on finding a mechanic. I couldn’t try to let my near-empty tank last me much longer because not only is it 20 minutes to get home but it is also a 25 minute commute to work in the morning.

How much would it cost to fix a bizarre problem like this anyway? I just booked my honeymoon this weekend. Not looking to spend more money.

Out of desperation I decided to get in my car and go to another pump station. Of course it seemed to defy all logic (if it didn’t work with one gas pump, why would it work with another gas pump?) but I was going to try. I pulled up to another pump on the other side of the station and exited my car…

At that moment my eyes immediately widened! Could it possibly be? Was I really that dumb? I was looking my stupidity right in the eye.

If I was correct in my thinking, I had attempted to use the DIESEL PUMP at the other gas island. This time around I made sure not to use the diesel option and went for the other pump. It fit right in the entryway and the gas poured freely. A crisis was averted.

The coolest thing I learned in this ordeal is that people smarter than me make it impossible for idiotic motorists to put diesel in their cars. I had to admire this well-thought out protection while getting over my embarrassment.

I will take the small hit to my ego; I don’t have car troubles like I originally thought and that is a great way to end the holiday weekend. Don’t Blink.

A House Divided (but not really)

Posted on January 17, 2016 by brent

The only other place I would rather be today than Myrtle Beach is 170 miles northwest in Charlotte. The Seattle Seahawks will clash with the Carolina Panthers in a divisional playoff game inside Bank of American Stadium at 1:05 p.m. ET. Why did I let the minimal drive stop me from representing the 12th Man? Well, when you are fresh off booking your honeymoon you have to scale back a bit.

I am ready to cheer on the Seattle Seahawks today!

Last year, the Seahawks and Panthers also met in the divisional playoff round. Also, like last year, I once again find myself rooting for the wrong team based on my geographical location. In the blog post I wrote around this time 373 days ago, I detailed how I would be rooting for my beloved Hawks in a bar full of passionate Carolina fans. What could be more contrasting than that?! Oh man, let me tell you…

This afternoon I will be watching the Seahawks vs. Panthers game with Sidney’s family! Why did I put an exclamation point at the end of that previous sentence? Yes, you guessed it, they are Carolina fans.

Sidney’s family always entertains on Sundays and today they are centering the festivities around the big game. Because they are such great people I knew they wouldn’t shun me just because I am a Seahawks fan. However, I thought I may have pushed my luck when I dressed Sidney in a Seattle Seahawks shirt a few weeks back when we were in Spokane. My natural fan allegiance was one thing, but purchasing apparel of the rival team for one of their daughters to wear? In some family circles, that could ended wedding plans right there.

Some families would consider this crossing the line.

But of course the Mathis family isn’t like that. When I teased last night that I might have Sidney grace that exact same t-shirt she wore in Spokane for today’s game her mom replied back, “That’s okay. That is what makes it fun.”

Okay! So while I might be in the minority today in terms of my rooting interest, I will hardly be in hostile territory. It should be a fun afternoon. Don’t Blink.

A Jackpot Thursday Rundown

Posted on January 14, 2016 by brent

I replied to someone’s tweet a little over a week ago that questioned when is it not okay to say “Happy New Year” any longer. I think January 14 serves as a great day for the cutoff. Let’s get to the Thursday Rundown…

Powerball – I think I might have been the only person not to come down with a case of Powerball fever over the past week. As I witnessed lines at gas stations that were insane in length, I was immune to the virus even when I was standing right in the middle of them with my six-pack of beer. I did enjoy watching Sidney get excited about the Powerball as she entered into a work pool with her fellow teachers, but personally I was never tempted to buy a ticket. As I wrote extensively about a couple years ago, I understand the allure of these games but my rationality prevents me from playing.

Obama Through the Years – One year ago, I reflected on a past school project by writing this: My junior year of high school I was in an honors humanities class. The major culminating project of the class called on us to prove a thesis that we were to present to the community. Teamed up with two of my classmates, we presented and proved our thesis that the Office of the Presidency greatly accelerates aging. Besides all the research, science, and writing that went into our project, we built a walk-through replica of the White House that included before and after portraits of the Presidents from the time they started their term in office to when they ended it. Below is a two image graphic that shows President Obama during his first State of the Union Address and his last. I definitely think the Presidency has aged him but maybe not as much as I thought a year ago.

This graphic shows President Obama during his first and last State of the Union addresses.

Gas Prices – As the price of gas plummets across the country, I would like my western friends to know that down south we have enjoyed sub $2 fuel for a very long time now. In fact, at this point, $2 gas seems expensive to me! Just take a look below to see what I filled up for last night. Yep, this is a reality in Myrtle Beach.

The price of gas in Myrtle Beach is a pretty good deal.

FOOTBALL Talk – The National Championship game on Monday was terrific. Not only was it a good game, but the level of ability by both teams was more apparent to me than any other college football contest I have ever watched. I kept telling myself that these really were the two best teams in the land.

But what I really want to talk about are the Seattle Seahawks! The ending to this past Sunday’s game against the Vikings was shocking. I went from despair to joy. You see, it just isn’t about my favorite team winning or losing. It is also about having another week to get excited about and follow a cause that is special to me. When Seattle takes on the Carolina Panthers just a couple hours from where I live this weekend, I will once again be pulling hard for Coach Pete and his team.

I can’t wait to cheer on the Seahawks again this weekend.

Wedding Update #15 – Earlier this week, Sidney put three cloths of different colors in front of me and asked which one I liked best. I picked wrong. She was showing me colors of bridesmaid dresses (unbeknownst to me at the time) and I don’t think I exactly chose what she was hoping I would. It is all good, Sidney has more intelligence than to ever take my advice on fashion anyway.

After announcing last week that we had two finalists for the resort we will stay at for our honeymoon, we decided over the weekend our ultimate choice. Booking will take place very soon.

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With it no longer appropriate to say “Happy New Year,” perhaps some of you might be thinking about letting your guard down on your resolutions. Don’t do it! Stay strong and keep focused. Have a great weekend. Don’t Blink.

The Two Female Musical Artists I Enjoy the Most

Posted on January 13, 2016 by brent

After last night’s blog post about my top casual dining restaurants, I thought it would be appropriate to probably lay off writing about food for the rest of the week. However, I do want to keep the “Brent’s Favorites” theme going.

I am not someone who obsesses over music. I know many people who couldn’t live without it. Although I don’t need music buzzing every second of every day to keep me happy, I still do enjoy it. So, in the spirit of what some call “the universal language,” I want to identify my current two favorite female musical artists.

Hanging out with my two favorite female musical artists.

When it comes to purely voice, there is no other person (male or female) I like more right now than Ellie Goulding. To me, her voice is heavenly. It is distinctive and meaningful. I have never said this about any other artist before, but I also sense a bit of mystery in her voice. To me, I think her music just keeps getting better. I was never a big fan of her first huge hit, “Lights,” but since then I think she has kept improving. Songs like “Goodness Gracious,” “Anything Could Happen,” “Burn,” and “Love Me Like You Do” are melodies I never tire of hearing. But like I said, I think she keeps raising the bar. I really enjoyed her first single off her new album, “On My Mind.” However, when Sidney let me watch the Victoria Secret Fashion Show I immediately gravitated to the song that Goulding performed live, “Army.” Once it starts getting radio play you probably will too.

I am not the only Ellie fan…Sidney loves her too. Most likely, one of the first dances at our wedding reception will be to an Ellie Goulding song. I should have used “romantic” up above when I was describing her voice.

The other artist I am pretty high on is Demi Lovato. Sure her voice is above average but I just like her style and attitude. I also find her the most attractive female performer out of them all. To me, she just looks real and healthy. I know using “real” and “healthy” to describe attractiveness might sound strange but that is the best I can come up with to explain it.

I became a fan of Demi’s when I first heard “Give Your Heart A Break” because she belted out a couple verses that made me really recognize her. Since then I have continued to follow her music. A year and a half ago I wrote about another single she released that I enjoyed enough to mention in my blog. Since then, her music has become a little sexier but she still sounds really good.

If I wanted to end this blog post in a creative way I would have mashed up Ellie and Demi lyrics. Instead, I think I will just go purchase more of their music to my phone. Don’t Blink.

My Top Ten Casual Dining Restaurants

Posted on January 12, 2016 by brent

The other night, Sidney and I sat across from each other at Outback. As we waited for our food to come, we discussed what national corporate restaurants we would choose to work at if we had no other choice. It all started when I asked her if she would rather wait on tables at Outback or Olive Garden.

Well, this discussion sparked a blog post in my head. Because I haven’t written enough about food and eating over the years, I figured you would be interested in hearing my top ten casual dining chain restaurants. When compiling this list, I kept in mind my own criterion for what a “casual dining chain restaurant” is:

– Not a glorified fast food place such as Waffle House or Fuddruckers
– A place that would be acceptable to go for a birthday dinner. Thus, the restaurant puts in enough effort to sing “Happy Birthday” or an equivalent song for guests on their special day.
– A place that is “national” enough so that my friends on both the east coast and west coast know what I am talking about.

Here is my list…

10. Applebees – I use to despise this place on the same level as Red Robin but over the past couple years my attitude has changed. I have come to tolerate and mildly appreciate the theme. Having traveled to a bunch of them now, I do appreciate that each location tailors the “junk” that it keeps based on the community it is in. While I don’t care for the main entrees, I do enjoy the appetizer sampler and the yummy milkshakes.

9. Texas Roadhouse – I love that Texas Roadhouse restaurants offer peanuts. I also enjoy the large portions that they give out. Conversely, I also hate the large portions that they give out. No, that is not a typo.

A meal I had (the closest plate to the camera) at Texas Roadhouse about four years back.

8. Hooters – While I am not a big fan of the signature item at Hooters (just to clarify, I am talking about the wings), I do love their burgers. There might not be anything better than ordering a western BBQ burger and a cold Blue Moon. I just wish the restaurant wasn’t as tacky as the slogan happily brags about.

7. Olive Garden – This is another restaurant I didn’t always care for. I will still go to my deathbed saying that the breadsticks are completely overrated. But over the years I have warmed up a little more to the Olive Garden. A couple of experiences with outstanding service and a couple others with pretty good food when I was really hungry has helped to change my tune.

6. Outback Steakhouse – I really enjoyed my dinner with Sid the other night. I had a 12 ounce steak that was cooked perfectly and topped with blue cheese crumbles. Food is always pretty decent but I do think items are a bit overpriced and I have never been too impressed with a blooming onion.

Enjoying dinner at Outback on this past Saturday night.

5. P.F. Changs – When I think of P.F. Changs, I think of special dinners with my family. The five of us would go out on occasion to the restaurant and we would each order an entrée. We would then pass them around and share. The white and brown rice that comes before the main course is nice and the show the server puts on while mixing the sauce is cool too. Also, the lettuce wraps are completely legit.

My family loving life at P.F. Chang’s in November of 2011.

4. Carino’s Italian – This is probably the most obscure restaurant on the list but it is a national chain. Wikipedia says it has 130 restaurants. Carino’s is an Olive Garden competitor with a similar menu. In my mind, however, Carino’s is quite a bit better than its more well-known opponent. In my opinion the food is less expensive, but better, than the Olive Garden. I also would say that the bread offered at Carino’s is 5X superior to that of OG. Last but not least, I find the restaurants at Carino’s quite cozy, a far cry from what you find at Olive Garden.

3. Longhorn Steakhouse – I apologize because this restaurant violates the final condition of my criteria. You see, I am pretty positive most people out west don’t know about Longhorn Steakhouse even though the chain has almost 400 restaurants in 35 states. In fact, I actually had never heard of such a restaurant until I moved to Myrtle Beach. Good thing I did though because I love the place. The steaks are better here than at Outback and I think the value is a step up too. I also don’t eat that much salad but at Longhorn I will gladly chomp away because their mix is always so fresh and light. Also, I enjoy the fact that Longhorn is a well-lit restaurant. Many steakhouses like to dim all the lights and I don’t particularly care for that. Don’t get me started on their fantastic desserts.

2. Buffalo Wild Wings – I am a Buffalo Wild Wings fanatic. You know what? I never really even liked wings until I tried out BWW. It doesn’t matter what location you go to, the food always tastes great. My favorite thing to do is go to the restaurant with Sidney or my brother and split 20 boneless wings divided up among four different sauces. However, if for some reason I am not feeling wings that day I have no problem ordering a burger as I think the chain does a great job at creating delicious and unique selections. Of course BWW does the sports theme better than any other casual dining restaurant and the beer selection at the bar is always vast. I will never turn down an invitation to go to Buffalo Wild Wings.

1. The Cheesecake Factory – I have always enjoyed the Cheesecake Factory. In fact, without any influences the restaurant would be highly rated on this list. However, I think Sidney and her family helped me decide to catapult it to the top spot. When the Mathis family goes to a town that has a Cheesecake Factory, they are going to eat there no matter what. When we were in Atlanta together this past summer the first Cheesecake Factory location we went to had a two hour wait. Instead of going to another nearby restaurant, we drove to the other Cheesecake Factory location across the city and dined there. But you see, the food really is that good.

Sidney and I enjoying the Cheesecake Factory in Baltimore

You sit down and receive different types of bread to munch on while you look through the most expansive menu in the restaurant business. You then enjoy an entrée that tickles your taste buds and makes you think it must be coated in butter. Next comes the signature dish, a decision where you can’t go wrong no matter how many different types of cheesecake you have to choose from. Plain and simple, the Cheesecake Factory is just delicious and fun.

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This isn’t the first nor will it be the last time I make myself hungry while writing a blog post. If only there was a Cheesecake Factory in Myrtle Beach. Don’t Blink.

Why You Should Watch “Making A Murderer”

Posted on January 11, 2016 by brent

I had not watched a television series with as much anticipation and concentration as the one I watched last week. As someone who doesn’t care too much for sitcoms and dramas, it probably comes as no surprise that this particular series I consumed with giddy excitement was a documentary. I am talking about the Netflix masterpiece, “Making A Murderer.”

“Making A Murderer” is an extremely well-done documentary.

Real quickly let me address two items. First, those folks who haven’t heard of “Making A Murderer” might want a bare bones explanation of the plot. A man belonging to an outcast family in a Wisconsin town is accused and convicted of rape. After 18 years, Steven Avery is exonerated and set free. Not too long afterwards, he is accused of murder. “Making A Murderer” covers Avery’s trials and tribulations through the justice system.

Second item I want to address is that you can feel the same way I do about sitcoms when it comes to documentaries and still like “Making A Murderer.” How so? Let me explain.

The best writers in Hollywood could not have penned a better script than the real life story that revolves around Steven Avery. The twists and turns that abound in the ten episodes will leave you dumbfounded. Of course a major reason why the story is so incredible centers right on the people the documentary covers. Everyone starting with Avery leaves an impression. You have the arrogant prosecuting attorney, the old school law enforcement officers, the stern judge, the conflicted community members, the dialed in members of the local media, the tortured family members, etc. “Making A Murder” offers a gripping tale with complex and colorful characters.

Besides the heart of the story itself, you will like “Making A Murderer” just because of its completeness. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, the documentary covers 35 years (1980-2015) without seemingly missing a thing. Complete action from court, hundreds of jailhouse phone calls, interrogations, countless family interviews, local newscasts throughout the years, and anything else you can think of are all preserved and reflected in the documentary. It is absolutely incredible. I kept looking over at Sidney and wondering aloud how long it must have taken to compile all this information and then sort through it to put together a powerful product that made sense.

Any good story makes you think. “Making A Murderer” is so impactful because it will make you question some societal givens. Many people will watch the documentary and question law enforcement. Many will question the judicial system. Many will question the caste system that so many communities seem to establish. You won’t watch “Making A Murderer” and not reflect on what you saw.

But besides the great story, thoroughness, and thought-provoking themes, there is something that I enjoyed about “Making A Murderer” most of all. Hands down, I loved watching the attorneys for Steven Avery in the second murder case mount his defense. The documentary gives a candid, behind the scenes look at Avery’s two high profile lawyers as they fight for his innocence. In one scene, Avery’s counsel will be engaged in a heated press conference; the next they will be sitting on a couch cheerfully discussing the case. In another scene, they will be in a stuffy room talking with Avery’s family as the dad offers his own “legal advice”; the next they will be driving in a car discussing the day’s action in court, giving credit to the prosecution for making a good strategic move. The analysis and reasoning offered by these two men is just so honest and clear that it is superb television. They break it down in a way that a football coach would a game, dissecting the big plays and exposing what went right/wrong.

My favorite part of the whole documentary is the last piece of advice given by one of Avery’s lawyers to the family moments before the verdict is read. Outside the courthouse before walking inside to hear their son’s fate, the attorney tells the Averys to be careful in the event of a not guilty verdict. He cautions them to not let anyone follow them home. If they feel that someone is tailing them, he advises the family, drive directly to the police station. Basic, yet impactful.

Having the opportunity to see that type of last minute advice in a totally raw fashion is something that I really enjoy.

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So how easy is it to watch “Making A Murderer”? Well, anyone will be able to enjoy it and comprehend it. It just comes down to how long you want to take to view it all. Sidney and I watched two episodes (60 minutes each episode) over the course of five nights. Sidney said she could have binge-watched the whole thing. Personally, I would not have been able to. The later episodes are heavily focused on litigation and while it is all very interesting, I couldn’t do it hour upon hour. However you watch it though, you will enjoy it.

In closing, as with any documentary, there is an agenda that the filmmakers push. As you watch “Making A Murderer” it will become clear.

Agenda or no agenda, I highly recommend “Making A Murderer.” It provided Sidney and I with five nights of suspenseful television. Give it a chance and wrap your mind around some powerful themes. Don’t Blink.

A Quirky and Romantic Tradition

Posted on January 10, 2016 by brent

NOTE: After a holiday break, Brent’s fiance, Sidney, takes over Don’t Blink for a Sunday. Enjoy today’s post where Sidney reveals a special tradition that Brent has started.

Happy New Year! It is my pleasure to be back writing for www.brentreser.com again in 2016. Some of you (let’s be honest – probably none of you) may have noticed that I took a brief hiatus from my monthly blog-spots during the month of December. Though you may not have noticed my absence, I certainly hope that all of you were able to keep up with me (and Brent) as we celebrated the winter season. In lieu of writing, I was soaking in time with my “other family” on the west coast and basking in all the GLORIOUSNESS that is SNOW! (A true southern-bumpkin, I couldn’t help but love spending two whole weeks in the powdery stuff.) Last Christmas Day, Brent and I weren’t even in the same time zone, much less within arm’s reach of one another. So to say that the past holiday season was memorable would be a vast understatement.

I had a wonderful time with Brent in Spokane.

Could I go on for pages and pages recounting all the fantastic things I did over the Christmas holiday? You bet-your-bottom-dollar I could. But thanks to Brent’s vigilant writing and updating about our winter ventures, most of the good material has already been written. But lucky for all you Don’t Blink readers there is one little “Christmas tradition” that has not been addressed. The very last little nugget of Christmas cheer that Brent has yet to write about is his affinity for Christmas cards.

Yes, that’s right, Christmas Cards. Well, wait…let me be clear….Brent has an affinity for greeting cards in general. But he takes Christmas Cards to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. As you all probably know, Brent likes to be a little “over-the-top” sometimes. Don’t be fooled, Christmas is no different. His most over the top gesture to date is sending Christmas cards. I know he probably sends a card to many people during the season of cheer, but Brent sends a Christmas card to me EVERYDAY during this special time.

When you send a card on a daily basis, they start to add up.

Need some clarification?? Here you go!: during the month of December, Brent sends me a Christmas card…in the mail….EVERYDAY. So this means that each date in December…when I check my mail…I can guarantee there will be a red/green/gold colored envelope shoved inside and addressed to me.

He started doing this for me during the Christmas season of 2014. This year he continued with the tradition. I have to admit, at first I thought he was being a little ridiculous, but as the time went on, I found myself looking forward to checking the mail every afternoon. There were some days when the mail would get a little wonky, and I might get two cards in one day, and the next day get none. But all in all, every card sent is dated and proves that there is one for each day leading up to Christmas.

The cards hold special meaning to me.

Some of you are wondering, what had he written in these 50 some-odd cards? Well, the answer varies.

Some of the cards were filled with line upon line of sweet nothings. You know, a bunch of mushy-gushy stuff that no one would appreciate but me.

On other occasions, he would send an additional card in the mail that accompanied that romantic one. This alternate card had lines upon lines of the same friggin word. (My theory is that these cards were Brent’s attempt to extract a dramatic eye-roll from me…he succeeded).

There is nothing better to me than opening up the mailbox and seeing a card addressed to me.

Then there were a few cards that just give a brief rundown of what the two of us did that day and what he enjoyed most.

Brent would also put inside the cards one of his (obnoxious) Don’t Blink business cards. On the back he would scrawl some type of question for me. At his request, I would have to text the answer of the question to him. Most of the questions he asked on the back of his card were centered on the theme of Christmas…such as: What is your favorite Christmas movie? What was your favorite gift from Santa?

Then, of course, Brent would send an off the wall question too. My favorite odd ball question from this year: What is your favorite flavor of Gatorade? (Like seriously….WHAT?…..so random!)

Throughout the entirety of our relationship, Brent has sent me dozens and dozens of greeting cards…137 cards to be exact. My two sisters joke that Brent single-handedly keeps Hallmark in business. Is it a little quirky to get a card in the mail from the man I see each day?? Yeah. Are some of the cards a little silly and pointless…well duh. It wouldn’t be in true Brent-fashion if they weren’t. But it’s also thoughtful because I know there was a great deal of effort put into sending me these cards.

It takes a box to put these 137 cards in.

These cards are a trove a treasures. Nothing cheers me up on a bad day more than re-reading some of the cards he has sent me. It’s also fun to read the cards and follow the evolution of our relationship. There are some cards from the beginning, where he calls me a “great friend”, and cards from a couple weeks ago where he tells me he can’t wait to call me his wife.

Although I give Brent a hard time about his quirks, this is the one that I love the most. I hope that he never stops sending me cards so that I can have a lifetime of memories set out on cardstock. I can’t wait to see how 2016’s Christmas card tradition will play out, seeing as though we’ll be living under the same roof. Knowing Brent, I am sure he will come up with something. Stay tuned to find out what he does. Oh, and don’t let me forget….until then…..Don’t Blink

First Thursday Rundown of 2016

Posted on January 7, 2016 by brent

Good evening to you all. This year I decided not to do Thursday Rundowns.

Just kidding!! I present to you my first Rudown of 2016…

Experiencing Uber: It took me long enough, but I finally took an Uber ride. On New Year’s Eve, Sidney, my brother, his girlfriend, and I took advantage of a promo deal for a free pickup. When we identified the vehicle in the parking lot we hopped in and I immediately thought one thing: Man, this car is really clean. The driver was probably in his 40’s or 50’s and made no attempt to talk to us. As we had just finished celebrating the new year, we didn’t mind picking up the slack. We chatted happily with him but only received one word answers. It didn’t matter though, it was a safe and free ride. I would ride Uber again.

From the Archives: Two years ago today, I sat down with Bryden Vukasin, a former contestant and key player on “The Bachelorette.” To this day it is still one of my favorite blog posts because he painted such a vivid picture of what a high profile reality show is really like. The day after I met with him at a Missoula bar, I wrote this post. For your behind the scenes look at what truly goes on during the course of shooting, I encourage you to give it a read.

Bryden Vukasin and I exactly two years ago on January 7, 2014.

Making A Murderer: The Netflix documentary “Making A Murderer” is all the rage right now. I must say that the hype is justified. Sidney and I started watching the documentary series on Monday night. Watching two episodes per night since then, we have now viewed six of the 10 episodes. I don’t even want to explain the plot because what I detail might not even come out as the truth when we finish it up. Just know that the series focuses on a man who is accused of heinous crimes and spotlights his tribulations through the justice system. What stands out to me the most about “Making A Murderer” is just how much research and time must have been devoted to making it. It seems there is not a single jailhouse telephone call, evening newscast, courtroom confrontation, or attorney press conference that is left out. It is very, very thorough. When we finish watching “Making A Murderer”, I might devote a whole blog post to it.

NFL Playoffs/College Football National Championship – Big football weekend coming up! The NFL Playoffs will start this Saturday but I could care less until Sunday rolls around. My Seattle Seahawks will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. The fact that the Seahawks already beat the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium this year makes some Seattle fans confident and others nervous. In my case, it makes me a little nervous. However, I really hope they pull it out and give me plenty of entertainment throughout the rest of January.

As for the national championship on Monday night, I am “All-In” for the Clemson Tigers. Sidney’s sister and brother-in-law (both Clemson alums) will be in Arizona for the game and I want them to leave happy. Also, I have really grown to admire Dabo Swinney this week as the stories chronicling his amazing life have swirled around. Talk about a guy who is easy to root for!

Sidney and I will be ready to cheer the Seahawks on.

Wedding Update #14 – We are now just five months out from the wedding! I have narrowed my choice of our Mexican honeymoon location to two resorts (thanks everyone for the suggestions). I hope to book by mid-month. As for the rehearsal dinner venue, I am still struggling on that front. You would think that in a town of over 1,000 restaurants it would be easier. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, our initial desired location did not work out. On a lighter note, Sidney’s dress arrived this week!

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This completes my first week on my normal blogging schedule since my holiday vacation. Please excuse me if my writing seems a little rusty. You will have Sidney on Sunday with her latest blog takeover. We will chat again on Monday. Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser

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