sloanie.com v3

New RSS feed (ie new blog address)

2009-02-02T18:32:20Z

Posting this to the old blog so that it gets published via my old RSS feed...

If you're using Google Reader or some other RSS reader to keep track of blogs and you happen to follow this blog, update your reader to use this feed: sloanie.com/blog_v4

Thank you, that is all. =)

Superbowl Ads

2009-02-02T17:43:24Z

The Superbowl was great (though we did skip the half-time entertainment as usual). Seems like we had a lull for a while where the commercials just weren't that great-- which, let's be honest, is why a lot of us watch the superbowl-- for the commercials. But this year the game was fun (even if I didn't care about either team), and the commercials were entertaining.

Here's one out of left field-- the Cash4Gold commercial. Those are usually the most obnoxious ones, so we were apalled at first... "What?! How the H did a commercial like this get airtime during the superbowl?!" But only a few seconds in we get M.C. Hammer saying "I can get cash for my gold medallion of me wearing a gold medallion!" Ahh, good times ensued.

Even some of the ones that weren't funny, per se, were still cool, like the Coke commercial with the insects stealing the coke, among others. (Though perhaps I might register my disgust with the GoDaddy commercials... not funny, not clever, just degrading. And what the heck was up with the Cheetos commercial? Creepy.)

So what was your favorite commercial?

Comment crappiness.

2009-01-16T04:41:59Z

So, I've noticed that comments seem to take an excessively long time to go through, and that often the same comment goes through twice (whether that's from people hitting the button again or the system being buggy). At first I just thought my server must just be slow as molasses. Then it occurred to me to try commenting on Marianne's blog, which is also hosted on my server, but runs different software (she's on Wordpress, I'm on Movable Type, as I have been for close to 6 years).

Turns out her comments go through instantly. Problem definitely has to be with this version of Movable Type. So thanks for your patience in commenting... I'm looking into the problem. It'd be sad if I had to ditch MT and go to Wordpress, but perhaps it's for the better. Hopefully I'll get it figured out soon.

F U

2009-01-11T08:16:36Z

You know, if someone has a problem with me, I wish they'd let me know so we can resolve it rather than getting up early in the morning to write harsh letters in the frost on driver's side window of my car, haha. Seriously. What the H?

Winter

2009-01-09T22:42:34Z

You know, I don't hate Winter in and of itself. I don't mind the cold, I don't mind the snow (save for driving in poor conditions). What gets me down is when there's just a jacket of gray crusty snow on the ground, overcast skies, and smog, so that *everything* is just gray and dull. I sort of just go into hibernation during this time of year usually.

So for the most part I don't mind the snow we've been getting lately-- even if I grumble a bit at having to drive in it. Because it means when the snow is gone, that it'll be gorgeous outside like it was today. The snowy mountains against the clear blue sky create such a beautiful and serene picture. It feels good to be alive on days like this... it's almost strange the impact sunshine and clear skies can have on how you feel. Why am I writing all this? Just an excuse to express my appreciation for the winter scene before me :)

So this is the new year.

2009-01-09T01:29:20Z

Deliciousness that I look forward to each New Years, courtesy of Aunt Heather. Mmm...

The Sloanies got to spend some good times with Jeffe over the holidays, as he was visiting from Maui. This was New Years Day, after watching "Yes Man", and prior to heading out to Italian Village for dinner later on. (I enjoyed "Yes Man"-- both the comedy and the certain level of personal truth in the movie. This means I think of myself to some degree as a "No Man", haha.)

So the Holidays have come and gone, and I find myself once again facing a new year. I started back at school today, after an eight month break. (Last semester I procrastinated signing up for classes and ended up not being able to get into the one or two classes offered that I still needed to take.)

My initial impression is that the semester I'm facing is bit daunting. Perhaps not because of the difficulty of the coursework, or the volume, though it'll certainly consume most of my time outside of work. I think it's because I haven't done anything with design for a couple years now-- the classes I've been taking to fulfill requirements for my major (Graphic Design) have mostly been electives in other areas, like digital painting, 3d modeling, 3d texturing / lighting, and senior seminar-- none of which required any traditional design work. On top of that, I put what creative energy I did expend in 2008 into photography-- and that's more expressive than anything. I haven't really had to stretch my brain to be creative and come up with ideas for some time now. It's kinda like being out of shape creatively and realizing that not only do you need to go back to the gym, but certain levels of performance will be expected of you in very little time.

So here I am in a class that's geared towards helping students prepare to find jobs-- preparing a physical portfolio, refining and adding to the work in that portfolio, doing a digital portfolio, creating / designing a resume. And I find myself asking whether I see myself as a professional graphic designer. Above that, I ask whether I see myself as professional anything, haha. I feel as if I don't take life seriously enough most of the time. I've always been a jack of all trades and master of none.

I'm along for the ride, though. I think I'll enjoy the opportunities to learn and grow in these classes, something that can't be avoided when I have to leave my comfort zone.

Happy New Year ;)

Merry belated Christmas & Happy New Years!

2009-01-01T03:04:39Z

Ahh... I had this long post written up that I was going to split into three parts with some festive images and peaceful Christmas music. Alas, I ran out of time on Christmas Eve. Of course, on Christmas Day, I slept all day, haha. Oh well-- those thoughts will still be relevant next year ;)

Christmas was awesome this year. We did our usual Litza's / Temple Square routine on the 22nd, then on Christmas Eve... best Christmas Eve meal ever. I bought a beef tenderloin filet mignon at Costco, Steve got a big smoked ham, I made real mashed potatoes, Marianne made this amazing layered jello (it was practically dessert), mom made her signature rolls, and mom cooked the meats to perfection... possibly the best Christmas Eve dinner I've ever had, everything was so tasty and perfectly prepared (thanks Mom and Mel!).

The sibling gift exchange was pretty entertaining too-- despair.com calendars, easy-bake ovens, Hulk smash gloves, all kinds of great stuff. Christmas morning was fun seeing Addie experience her first Christmas and overall it was just really satisfying to see everyone being so generous with one another. In some way I feel like I've bridged this gap... I went from being a kid and enjoying Christmas as a kid, to reaching a point where I was old enough that Christmas just didn't feel the same anymore, and now I appreciate and enjoy it in a different way while still feeling the magic of childhood Christmases remembered.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas as I did, and hope you're still enjoying the Holidays and looking forward to the good the new year will bring. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!

Last Christmas (music rant)

2008-12-16T01:44:02Z

One of my favorite things about Christmas time is the music. Especially that music which uplifts, warms the heart, and focuses the mind of the Spirit of Christmas-- peace on earth, good will toward men, brotherly love, and so on and so forth.

However, I expressly avoid the radio during the months of November and December, and that is because there is a deluge of crap labeled as "Christmas music" out there. Some of the songs are disgusting perversions of *good* Christmas music, either stylistically altered to the point of bearing little to no resemblance to the original, or perhaps so performed in such an overdone way as to detract from the spirit of the original and focus the song instead on the artist performing it. (Not to say there aren't some poppy renditions of songs that I love-- some classics include Jars of Clay's "Little Drummer Boy" or perhaps Sarah McLachlan and the Bare Naked Ladies doing "We Three Kings"... awesome stuff. They're done in a way that you still appreciate them as the classic Christmas tunes that they are.)

And then there's the crap that isn't based on Christmas at all. "Last Christmas" is the source of my rant today. I never really thought about the song until this year, but just considering the lyrics... I can't help but laugh at how it makes no sense, in addition to having really nothing to do with Christmas. Here we go...

"Last Christmas I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away..."

Ok, first of all... if we're speaking metaphorically of giving one's own heart to someone they love... I'm having a hard time understanding the metaphor of that person giving it away to someone else. It just doesn't work for me. Now, I understand the metaphors of breaking, stabbing, smashing, stomping on and ripping to pieces someone's heart. But giving it away? Who can they give it to? Seems more likely they'd simply discard it in the trash or return it to the sender (if they're really thoughtful)-- these make much more sense as forms of rejection.

"This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special..."

Ugh. As if you're THAT much smarter this year. You probably thought you were giving your heart to someone special LAST year. Be prepared for more tears, my friend.

Also, what does this song *really* have to do with Christmas? I mean, it tells us WHEN it happened... but there just isn't anything festive about it. No mention of Christ, His mission, or any of the principles he taught us to live. Disgraceful.

"Once bitten and twice shyed
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby
Do you recognize me
Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me
Merry Christmas, I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying 'I love you', I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kiss me now, I know you'd fool me again..."

Hahaha. Yeah, not so smart. A year later and you're still pining for the same jerk. By the way, how are you giving it to someone special if they gave it away? Did it make its way back to you somehow? Also, I have a hard time believing that, since you're still stuck on this person who rejected you a long time ago, that you're really in any shape to be open to someone else special this year. I'll tell ya what you need this year...

It's too bad people listen to this junk masquerading as "Christmas Music". That's not to say that artists don't create *good* new Christmas music from time to time, but this... this is the epitome of lame. The music stinks, the lyrics are moronic, and it's devoid of any Christmas spirit.

P.S. I've given little thought or focus to this subject, I'm not that bitter. But I did find it amusing enough to jot down and post, hehe. Perhaps I need to do a post following this to showcase some more uplifting Christmas music.

Christmas Shopping with Mar & Addie

2008-12-06T01:27:48Z

So I headed downtown today to meet up with Mar, Jesse, Meloo and of course little Addie for lunch at Siegfried's today, followed by a little shopping excursion at the Gateway with Mar and Addie.

First stop was J Crew-- so we had a little fun with the full size mirrors (could Addie be any more adorable?)

You can see she's lively and happy...

After Brookstone and Apple, however, she's just about all funned out-- she has even less stamina for shopping than me, it seems... or maybe she just thinks the Apple store is real boring, hehe. Here she's fading...

Annnnnnnd gone! Hahaha... look how sweet she is.

And you can't blame Mar for giggling a little. Poor kid didn't really have any other way to sleep than to slump over on her side like that. Even with her back to Addie, Mar was tuned in to her movements and position while they made their way around the mall... and Mar knew when she was fading, haha. It was only a little cat nap, though-- she was awake in a matter of minutes.

Farewell, Tutu!

2008-11-17T16:44:25Z

I did pay tribute to Grandma McKinlay a few months ago, but I thought I'd post one more time as sort of my way of working through the experience of her passing. A way for me to explore my feelings a bit.

I have a habit, from time to time, of shutting down emotionally (not entirely, but for the most part). The last couple months have been one of those times-- for some reason or other I withdraw, I throw on some armor. All I have to do is control where I allow my thoughts to go.

Well a little over a week ago came one of those experiences that the armor can't withstand. We kind of knew that Grandma's days were numbered as her health deteriorated more rapidly. Then on Friday, November 7th, I got a text from Soogie saying that grandma was bleeding and likely wouldn't be with us much more than a few days, and that we should come and visit if we wished to say goodbye. She'd stopped eating and drinking as well, and at that point it's only a matter of time anyways.

So I wrapped up a couple errands and headed down to where Grandma lived. It was difficult to make out anything that she'd say, but even in the state she was in-- mouth all dried out, unable to do much more than move her arms a little and look around a bit, she still had light in her eyes. There are some things dementia could not take from my grandmother over the last few years, things that not even those final, likely painful moments could take from her. This light and boundless love were such things. I was always able to make her smile and laugh by making silly faces at her, and even as she lay there a little over a week ago she would still light up and smile.

It was a tender moment to spend holding grandma's hand during some of her last hours. Though, as I mentioned, I couldn't understand much of what she said, there was no mistaking the "I love you" that came from her. I do love my grandma, too.

I shared with my cousin-in-law Emily how as I stood by and watched others with her, the photographer in me saw some really tender images. And while the photographer wants to capture things like that... it was too heart-breaking to do. Emily's response helped give me some perspective on how I felt. She said she'd had similar experiences with her own grandparents, and that she had decided that the way she wished to remember them was the way they were before.

I also shared an inclination to make a picture she shared of grandma's hand being held by her little baby girl into a monochrome / aged black and white look. She responded that she'd initially had the same thought-- but that it just didn't seem to fit with who Grandma was and what she was trying to convey, that sharing the photo in color was more true to the life, energy and light Grandma exuded throughout her time here on earth. Thank you, Emily, for your thoughtfulness. I whole-heartedly agree.

We should celebrate life, not dwell on death-- as hard as those temporary absences may be. At the viewing last night, I couldn't help but think that Grandma appreciated that atmosphere. It wasn't dark or depressing-- it was full of life, a reuniting of her posterity, in a way. I'm sure it filled her with pride and joy to see them enjoying one another's company and to feel the bonds of love there. We all owe part of our existence here, not to mention part of who we are, to her.

Lastly, I'm grateful for the perspective I have as a Latter Day Saint. While Grandma has gone from us for now, her leaving earth ends an absence for someone else as she returns to a more heavenly home. And though her time here on earth has ended, our time together has only been put on pause for the brief duration of our remaining days in mortality. As I told Grandma a few months ago, we will be friends forever.

Thank you for being who you are, Grandma Tutu (I love that we called her that, I really didn't know what Tutu meant when I was growing up.) Thank you for the life you lived, the light you shone, and the love you shared so abundantly. You are already missed, but I know you watch over those you love and that we'll see you soon.

Things to Mend

2008-10-16T04:41:29Z

Justin

2008-10-15T04:16:49Z

From the camping trip in Carlsbad. I thought this was appropriate for October / Halloween season and all ;) This is Justin, Mar & Jesse's nephew, on October 8th while we were sitting around the camp fire. What's better than using flashlights and LEDs to make scary faces? Taking pictures of scary faces ;)

Perfect (cape) weather

2008-10-14T05:24:44Z

I was in California last week, camping at the beach in Carlsbad. Somehow it decided to get really cold in Utah and even snow-- so I enjoyed telling people back home that we were experiencing perfect weather (70s, a little breezy, mostly sunny, etc...).

However, while I described it as "perfect weather"... Shawn described it just a little more articulately. Kate and I were sitting on the beach Thursday afternoon when we saw Shawn approaching from a distance. It looked like he had his beach towel tucked into his shirt collar... and he did. Apparently he had been headed down to the beach holding his towel in such a way that the wind would catch it like a cape, at which point he decided to turn it into a cape, it was awesome. When he arrived where Kate and I were sitting, he exclaimed:

"Man, this is perfect cape weather!"

Music for the Road

2008-10-07T17:13:00Z

So I listened to a song last night and was reminded of how great of a driving song it was.

I wonder what kind of indicator it might be...

2008-10-02T15:38:55Z

...if all I want for breakfast is chocolate?

I couldn't yank myself out of bed early enough to make breakfast before I had to be to work, so I took a swig of Darigold chocolate milk on my way out the door and then stopped at possibly the worst place to get breakfast on the way to work: the gas station.

What did I buy? A quart of chocolate milk, a chocolate frosted chocolate cake (Dunford) donut, and a Nutrageous bar. So far I've just eaten the donut... and subsequently feel the need to drink a gallon of water... in any case, I think I've got enough chocolate to fuel me for the rest of the week.

Though I've been hearing some hype about chocolate milk lately. It's too bad I didn't work out this morning so that I could claim I was using it to "refuel". I mean, just look at how HEALTHY chocolate milk is for me! (never mind that the quart sitting in front of me has nearly 900 calories and 36 grams of fat...)