Jill and I are watching The Bucket list. I haven't read Sharla's blog about the show, but it's got me thinking. What is on my bucket list? I have accomplished quite a bit in my short 34.679 years alive. There aren't a lot of people who have picked up a second language, bungee jumped, ran a marathon, performed a marriage ceremony, and swam the English Channel. Okay I haven't done that last one, but still the fact that I have done the first 4 isn't so bad.
What other fun things should be on my Bucket List? Here are a few of the fun things I could think of, but please feel free to add a few things for me because according to my calculations I still have about 40 years to cross things off the list before I "kick the bucket."
Play the guitar
Visit the place of my birth (Japan)
Pay off my house
Be on a reality show (maybe Survivor)
Read "The Odyssey" By Homer
Fly in a hot air balloon
Visit New York on New Years Eve
Anyone else have something worthwhile that I should add to the list?
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Entrada
The Entrada was the vacation destination for the Ken Bryant family for 08. This place is AMAZING! Thanks to the tip from aunt Judy, Mom found a terrific place for the entire family to gather and bond.
Located in the suburbs of St. George it was a little warm in the 3rd week of June, but when it got to warm we would go out in the backyard and swim our hearts out. That was by far the favorite pastime for the 8 children.... and for all of the adults as well.
The only member of the family who wasn't able to attend was Brian (of Shanel and Brian)as he had to work at his new job with Fidelity. The rest of us all had a terrific time and can't thank Mom and Dad enough for the great time that it was.
Have you ever noticed that whomever you know best, when speaking about them and someone else, you use that persons name first? An example of this is taken from our family where we have, Keith and Lara; Dan and Vicki; Carma and Lamont; Liz and Trent; Michelle and James; Trish and Matt; Jake and Becky Jo; Shanel and Brian; and Sharla and Jeff. Should there be a national standard where the women's name goes first? After all "ladies first." Should the man go first because his name is taken by the woman (most times). Whatever the decision is I think there should be a standard to make it less confusing.
Back to the trip the highlight for me was running with my wife on a 4 mile run. It was the longest she has ran before and she did terrific! She's training for the Des News 10K and she should do terrific.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Lakers vs Celtics
The West Coast vs East Coast rivalry heats up once again. Only this year it's special. A battle of the ages. Nostalgia at it's finest as Los Angeles plays Boston for the championship of the NBA.
As you can tell from the title of my post I am a Lakers fan. Or should I say I was a Laker fan. As a basketball loving youth, I loved the sport in the peak of its greatness. Sure there are purists who would say basketball was better with Wilt Chamberlain or Oscar Robinson. But anyone my age knows the true height of basketball greatness was in the 80’s. And the individuals responsible for that greatness was Ervin Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
There was something special with those games. Seeing Magic play with James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, and of course Kareem, was such a special combination. Something that I never thought I would see again, something that I probably will not see again. Of course they were matched by the Celtic lineup of Larry Bird, Robert Perish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge. Thinking of those games takes me to a great time in my life as a young man. It was a time where my biggest worry was, who was going to win that game?
Now to fast forward 20 years and see the yellow and green playing again it’s terrific. Is it as good as it was back in the day? I think the level of play is probably much better than it was in the 80’s. Are the characters as endearing? Probably not. One thing that drives me crazy is the players and talking heads who are saying it’s not fair to compare this series to the series of the 80’s. To those people I say, if we don’t compare this years series is less entertaining. Kobe Bryant (no relation) is a dichotomous player. You either love him or you hate him. But even putting Kobe aside (along with his, he said she said Colorado romp) are the players as interesting and endearing as they were in the 80’s? With the creation of the X-box, Playstation, Tivo, ipod and cell phone, is basketball as popular as it was in the 80’s? Can the layman even name more than a few players on each team?
I had better ask my cousin Garret, because right now is his nostalgia. He is a boy who loves basketball. His favorite team? the Lakers. To him “this” is going to be the good old days. A simple time when the most important thing is, who will win this series.
This years series has been highly entertaining to watch. More so because of the rich history that exists between these two ball clubs. It doesn’t matter if Kobe finally wins one without Shaq, or if Kevin Garnett will finally win a ring. What matters to me, is that basketball is fun again. It’s fun to watch a great game, it’s fun to talk about, but most of all it’s fun to remember. Remember a terrific time in my youth that I will treasure all of my life.
As you can tell from the title of my post I am a Lakers fan. Or should I say I was a Laker fan. As a basketball loving youth, I loved the sport in the peak of its greatness. Sure there are purists who would say basketball was better with Wilt Chamberlain or Oscar Robinson. But anyone my age knows the true height of basketball greatness was in the 80’s. And the individuals responsible for that greatness was Ervin Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
There was something special with those games. Seeing Magic play with James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, and of course Kareem, was such a special combination. Something that I never thought I would see again, something that I probably will not see again. Of course they were matched by the Celtic lineup of Larry Bird, Robert Perish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge. Thinking of those games takes me to a great time in my life as a young man. It was a time where my biggest worry was, who was going to win that game?
Now to fast forward 20 years and see the yellow and green playing again it’s terrific. Is it as good as it was back in the day? I think the level of play is probably much better than it was in the 80’s. Are the characters as endearing? Probably not. One thing that drives me crazy is the players and talking heads who are saying it’s not fair to compare this series to the series of the 80’s. To those people I say, if we don’t compare this years series is less entertaining. Kobe Bryant (no relation) is a dichotomous player. You either love him or you hate him. But even putting Kobe aside (along with his, he said she said Colorado romp) are the players as interesting and endearing as they were in the 80’s? With the creation of the X-box, Playstation, Tivo, ipod and cell phone, is basketball as popular as it was in the 80’s? Can the layman even name more than a few players on each team?
I had better ask my cousin Garret, because right now is his nostalgia. He is a boy who loves basketball. His favorite team? the Lakers. To him “this” is going to be the good old days. A simple time when the most important thing is, who will win this series.
This years series has been highly entertaining to watch. More so because of the rich history that exists between these two ball clubs. It doesn’t matter if Kobe finally wins one without Shaq, or if Kevin Garnett will finally win a ring. What matters to me, is that basketball is fun again. It’s fun to watch a great game, it’s fun to talk about, but most of all it’s fun to remember. Remember a terrific time in my youth that I will treasure all of my life.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Rocky Steps
So this week I was visiting the City of Brotherly Love. Yes Philadelphia PA. Sure Elton John sings a great song about Philadelphia Freedom, but that's not the highlight of the trip. The highlight by far is; the Rocky Steps.
Sure the Declaration of Independence was signed there. But if you really think long and hard about what makes this country great, is it the Founding Fathers sitting around signing a form, or is it the inspirational song playing in the back of your mind as you imagine Sly running up the steps as he prepares to triumph over the villain Apollo Creed?
I rest my case.
A few months ago I was in Philly and a coworker's wife took a tour of the city. The tour director spoke about all of the highlights and the deep history that Philly offers. He said that many people were interested in some of these historical facts, it never moved them out of their seats. However when the bus would swing by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the people would bull each other over getting off of the bus and run up the oh so famous steps made famous by Rambo.
The first Rocky movie came out well over 20 years ago, and at any given time of the day you will find multiple people running up the stairs and raising their hands high above their head a la the Italian Stallion. In fact it was only a few years ago that the Statue of Rocky was taken down from the stairs and moved to sidewalk level in a grassy area to the north of where the stairs begin.
At the top however, remain footprints of his Slyness that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, stands on to reach out and channel the conquering spirit that Rocky symbolized in Rocky I.
While I was at the stairs, there must have been dozens of people run up the stairs and take pictures of themselves. It was very fun to think this touched so many people and has a deeper reach than... say..... the Benjamin Franklin museum.
I did drive by the area where the Declaration of Independence was signed, (After all Nicholas Cage was there in National Treasure so it was something I could talk about) but if any of you go to Philly you must get a Cheesesteak and go see the Rocky Steps.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Better David Won!
Okay I know if I put a contraversial title up ALL of my loyal Utah readers will be ired up enough to comment. Okay Murray high alum lay into me. But if you think American Idol is rigged, you may be right, but history will judge this to be the right choice. 10 years from now..... 5 years from now...... even 6 months from now who's CD would you rather buy? (I know we don't buy CD's anymore)
I'm as big of a homer as the next Utaharnn, and would have loved Archie to win. But if you can put down your Utah colored glasses for just a moment, and take a big picture view it's obvious. David Cook will outsell David Archuletta not only on itunes, but to those 300 people who bought Zune's as well.
It was a fun run, Murray got to parade it's goofy mayor on national tv, Fox 13 got a bump in ratings, and once again Utah was in the national spotlight.
Archie can join Neliah Dennis from Survivor, The Love Sac guy from Rebel Billionaire, and Julianna Huff from Dancing with the washed up stars, as Utah celebrities who will be touring a fireside near you in the not to distant future.
We can still buy his music, his forthcoming book, and tickets to his upcoming Stadium of Fire appearance in 2009. Utah, you have only begun to hear from David Archuleta.
While we bask in Archuleta's fame, the rest of the country will all be buying David Cook's music and seeing him on MTV Spring Break!
America you got it right.
Now I have to go download a few David Cook's songs..... OUT.
I'm as big of a homer as the next Utaharnn, and would have loved Archie to win. But if you can put down your Utah colored glasses for just a moment, and take a big picture view it's obvious. David Cook will outsell David Archuletta not only on itunes, but to those 300 people who bought Zune's as well.
It was a fun run, Murray got to parade it's goofy mayor on national tv, Fox 13 got a bump in ratings, and once again Utah was in the national spotlight.
Archie can join Neliah Dennis from Survivor, The Love Sac guy from Rebel Billionaire, and Julianna Huff from Dancing with the washed up stars, as Utah celebrities who will be touring a fireside near you in the not to distant future.
We can still buy his music, his forthcoming book, and tickets to his upcoming Stadium of Fire appearance in 2009. Utah, you have only begun to hear from David Archuleta.
While we bask in Archuleta's fame, the rest of the country will all be buying David Cook's music and seeing him on MTV Spring Break!
America you got it right.
Now I have to go download a few David Cook's songs..... OUT.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Always a Bridesmaid
Phil Jackson owns Jerry Sloan. Back in the late 90's when the Jazz had a champion caliber team, they could never win the title. Why? Phil Jackson. Okay so really it was Michael Jordan, but the coach was Phil Jackson. Two years in a row and the Bulls crushed the Jazz dreams of winning a championship. It would be the best chance the Jazz would have in the 20 century.
Usher in Century 21, and who would have thought Utah has two dynamic players that dare I say could eclipse the accomplishments of our beloved Stockton and Malone? Well D-Will and Boozer had a terrific season winning over 50 games and peaking at the end of the season. Everything was going to well right up until........ Phil Jackson.
Only this time Phil Jackson traded in his Chicago Bulls Red jersey to the Purple and Gold colors of the Las Angeles Lakers. After 5 hard fought games, the Jazz roll over, at home none the less, in game 6. The only good that came from this game is that I didn't spend $500 a ticket to actually attend the game. Maybe Mom could provide some insight to what it was like to actually attend this Jazz breakdown.
The Lakers will probably go on to beat the winner of the New Orleans San Antionio game, and probably win the team from the east in 5 games or less. Utah had a terrific season, they have terrific players, and played a terrific first round in the playoffs. It's to bad they ran into a team that will ultimately win the NBA championship, and is better than they are.
The problem that vexes me the most is there are 4 all stars on this team! The Jazz stand a chance to loose some of these players this year because they can't stay under the salary cap with the all star power they currently possess. AK may have just played his last game as a Jazz player. Brewer is looking better and will probably leave to have a chance at making more money. Not that I can blame him, I'd probably do the same thing. It just sucks from a fans standpoint. It leaves the Jazz again alone at the alter left without the ring.
You'll note that this blog was written even before the end of the game. I was so bored watching this debacle, I decided to update the blog for my 3 loyal fans.
Jill and I did have a great time at game 6 of the Houston series. Notice how tall this guy is? Jill and I had backstage passes to hang with the Jazz players' families after the game. I shook some hands of the players and pretty much hung with Kyle Korver after the game.
Kandis Eat Your Heart Out!
Usher in Century 21, and who would have thought Utah has two dynamic players that dare I say could eclipse the accomplishments of our beloved Stockton and Malone? Well D-Will and Boozer had a terrific season winning over 50 games and peaking at the end of the season. Everything was going to well right up until........ Phil Jackson.
Only this time Phil Jackson traded in his Chicago Bulls Red jersey to the Purple and Gold colors of the Las Angeles Lakers. After 5 hard fought games, the Jazz roll over, at home none the less, in game 6. The only good that came from this game is that I didn't spend $500 a ticket to actually attend the game. Maybe Mom could provide some insight to what it was like to actually attend this Jazz breakdown.
The Lakers will probably go on to beat the winner of the New Orleans San Antionio game, and probably win the team from the east in 5 games or less. Utah had a terrific season, they have terrific players, and played a terrific first round in the playoffs. It's to bad they ran into a team that will ultimately win the NBA championship, and is better than they are.
The problem that vexes me the most is there are 4 all stars on this team! The Jazz stand a chance to loose some of these players this year because they can't stay under the salary cap with the all star power they currently possess. AK may have just played his last game as a Jazz player. Brewer is looking better and will probably leave to have a chance at making more money. Not that I can blame him, I'd probably do the same thing. It just sucks from a fans standpoint. It leaves the Jazz again alone at the alter left without the ring.
You'll note that this blog was written even before the end of the game. I was so bored watching this debacle, I decided to update the blog for my 3 loyal fans.
Jill and I did have a great time at game 6 of the Houston series. Notice how tall this guy is? Jill and I had backstage passes to hang with the Jazz players' families after the game. I shook some hands of the players and pretty much hung with Kyle Korver after the game.
Kandis Eat Your Heart Out!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Let the Posturing Begin
So now it's down to the final 4 and the contestants are going to have to play hardball. This is way beyond song choice. It's time to sell yourself to the audience and get those votes. Here is the breakdown.
David C - The rocker finally has to sing first and he goes with the safe song. Hungry Like a Wolf was a pretty great song and he did an okay job with it. What is up with Paula's comment, "that performance had me hungry for more of you" What the......? Paula has zero credibility and the only reason AI keeps her on the show is because of her incompetence that continues to make the news. I guess the adage is true that any news is good news, because at least the public is talking about the show. While Cook is my favorite to win, he sure looks smug up there, and I would like nothing more than to wipe that smile right off of his face.
Syesha - If you can't sell the song, sex it up a bit and get the votes. I'm not sure which was a more desperate plea for the vote, the sexy image or the plea, "I researched this song and it was written during the civil rights era." That just solidified the entire black vote. Then crying? crying? There's no crying on American Idol! Oh wait you can cry but you end up going the way of other teary eyed contestants a la Brooke White and Ramyelle.
Jason Castro - Another desperate plea for votes singing the song of the man you most resemble. I've got news for you Castro, You can't possibly smoke as much of the wackky tabacky as did your idol and it made his music amazing. You can't copy the immortals. Caribbean soul music can't be sung by a cracker (I know his last name is Castro). Jill pointed out that he had the guitar but didn't seem to play it on his first song. The second song fell apart! It was like watching Brooke White sing when he forgot his lines!
David A - This just in! David A will be singing the National Anthem at the Jazz Lakers game on Friday. If you can't get enough of our local celebrity you can hear him live on Friday (I'm told win or loose on Wednesday's results show).
Tonight's show was an easy one to pick. Castro can go back to the beach and do whatever he does after the Idol Tour. He doesn't have to worry about singing next week, but the question remains which of those hideous songs will he choose to sing tomorrow when he sings his farewell song? To bad for Brooke she couldn't have hung on for another week because Jason would have beaten her to the exit with tonight's performance.
David C - The rocker finally has to sing first and he goes with the safe song. Hungry Like a Wolf was a pretty great song and he did an okay job with it. What is up with Paula's comment, "that performance had me hungry for more of you" What the......? Paula has zero credibility and the only reason AI keeps her on the show is because of her incompetence that continues to make the news. I guess the adage is true that any news is good news, because at least the public is talking about the show. While Cook is my favorite to win, he sure looks smug up there, and I would like nothing more than to wipe that smile right off of his face.
Syesha - If you can't sell the song, sex it up a bit and get the votes. I'm not sure which was a more desperate plea for the vote, the sexy image or the plea, "I researched this song and it was written during the civil rights era." That just solidified the entire black vote. Then crying? crying? There's no crying on American Idol! Oh wait you can cry but you end up going the way of other teary eyed contestants a la Brooke White and Ramyelle.
Jason Castro - Another desperate plea for votes singing the song of the man you most resemble. I've got news for you Castro, You can't possibly smoke as much of the wackky tabacky as did your idol and it made his music amazing. You can't copy the immortals. Caribbean soul music can't be sung by a cracker (I know his last name is Castro). Jill pointed out that he had the guitar but didn't seem to play it on his first song. The second song fell apart! It was like watching Brooke White sing when he forgot his lines!
David A - This just in! David A will be singing the National Anthem at the Jazz Lakers game on Friday. If you can't get enough of our local celebrity you can hear him live on Friday (I'm told win or loose on Wednesday's results show).
Tonight's show was an easy one to pick. Castro can go back to the beach and do whatever he does after the Idol Tour. He doesn't have to worry about singing next week, but the question remains which of those hideous songs will he choose to sing tomorrow when he sings his farewell song? To bad for Brooke she couldn't have hung on for another week because Jason would have beaten her to the exit with tonight's performance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
