Then This Happened: Part 120

One of the most epic days of skiing I'd had in a long, long time. I'll remember that one for a while. How many days did you ski this year?

More photos to come.

Then This Happened: Part 119

I love breakfast. LOVE breakfast. I admit, I don't eat it every morning like I should but that doesn't change the fact that I'll eat breakfast food at just about any other time of day. This was 2:30pm "breakfast" at Succotash in Kansas City, MO. They do a great little weekend brunch. Fresh squeezed OJ in a jar? Win! Be sure to check it out if you're ever passing through.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT PANCAKE.

Then This Happened: Part 118

Then This Happened: Part 117

Then This Happened: Part 116

B23 isn't a very good boarding number for Southwest Airlines, especially if you're getting on a continuing flight that already has a number of passengers flying on to the next destination. You line up with the B's, hoping for some aisles and windows to choose from. You get on the plane and it's another story entirely. There are only a few aisle seats and window seats left at the very back of the plane and the twenty people in front of you will, without question, fill those seats before you even make it past the exit rows.

So the exit rows are where I decided to stop, suck it up, and ask to get into a middle seat.

"Do you want the aisle seat instead?", asked the bald man with the mustache. "Why don't we just do that and it'll be easier for everyone," he said as he moved one seat over.

I said "sure" and "thanks" and sat down, a little taken by the fact that the gentleman has just forfeited his aisle seat for a middle one. Who does that?!

Seriously.

Nobody, that's who. He did, though, and thanks to him for that. People can be so surprising.

Then This Happened: Part 115

Then This Happened: Part 114

It's raining outside and I would do just about anything for a piece of that pie right now.

Then This Happened: Part 113

Missed a post yesterday in the midst of work and travel. A two and a half hour flight delay before my nonstop departure, no airport wifi, and getting in after midnight didn't help my cause either. Oh well! There are a lot of things that you just can't control.

So, today will be a two-for-one starting with this. Happy weekend everyone!

Then This Happened: Part 112

Then This Happened: Part 111

Kevin Chaves on his way to a race-win in the 29-and-under division at the 2010 Carlsbad 5k. Go Chavi, Go!

Surprise Ball!

I grew up with these, spoiled by my mom and her creativity. They've evolved over time but the joy is always there when you open one. A Surprise Ball never ever fails to make someone smile.

Never. Ever.

This one is from this past Christmas. For whatever reason, I felt like I hadn't opened one in years and suddenly wanted one really, really bad. On Christmas morning, my brothers and sister and I each found a Surprise Ball in our stockings. Smiles all around. Thanks, Mom!

Surprise Balls are awesome. Check them out at Sandra Juto and get one at KIOSK. You won't regret it!

Kate Spade Opens A Surprise Ball

Untitled from kate spade new york on Vimeo.

My mom's Surprise Balls have popped up on the interwebs again! Kate Spade recently opened one and made a little film to document the process. Very cool. It's pretty awesome to see my mom's creations in the hands of other creative people. I think the folks that shot the ironing film that I posted last week should make a short of someone opening a Surprise Ball. Can you even imagine how incredible that could be?

Yeah, Mom!

Then This Happened: Part 110

Then This Happened: Part 109

Then This Happened: Part 108

Print journalism seems to be dying a slow and painful death. Maybe it's actually a fast one? Either way, it's painful and it's sad.

I don't have a newspaper subscription right now but it's definitely something that I want to have one day. I don't want an online subscription either. I want the real thing. Unfortunately, everything that is available online is precisely what's killing printed newpapers these days. I remember the death of printed newspapers being a frequent off-hand discussion topic in my college journalism classes and while I'm not in the loop on everything journalism, I can't imagine that the state of print journalism has improved much in the last three years. Online news seems to be the inevitable.

Devices like the iPad are only going to accelerate the shift from print to electronic. Don't get me wrong! I wouldn't decline if someone handed me an iPad and told me to keep it but it's positioned to do away with newspapers and erase the tangilibilty that comes with a printed paper and I can't get excited about that just yet.

Call me stubborn and archaic but I like opening up a real newspaper when I can. And will the iPad ever feel and smell like a newspaper? I don't put too much past Apple but I don't see eau de newspaper being added as a new feature anytime soon.

Then This Happened: Part 107

I have siblings that swim, so there are a lot of these.

Then This Happened: Part 106

Then This Happened: Part 105

Then This Happened: Part 104

Hotel Shangri-La. You wouldn't have to twist my arm too hard to get me to stay here. Looks nice.  I'd say yes to Art Deco.  At least for a long weekend.

I Will Train To Do This

“Ironing techniques by professional craftsmen (shirt)” - プロの職人によるアイロンがけテクニック(ワイシャツ)

This short instructional film showcases unmatchably masterful ironing technique that we’d all do well to learn from, but it’s also one of the most absorbing, delicious demo videos I’ve ever seen.

via Joel Zimmer, from a series of similarly beautiful instructional videos at Garra.jp(WARNING: ALL-FLASH and Japanese)

I know it's strange and maybe even a little sick but I definitely want to be able to iron a shirt with this type of skill, speed, and precision.  People who really know me know that this is right up my alley.  Look at that iron and that ironing table!  Ah, wants and aspirations.  It's a beautifully shot piece, too.  The imagery, the sounds; all of it is just gorgeous.

Yes, I just used the word gorgeous to describe a video of an Asian man ironing a shirt.

So what?  Enjoy the video and thanks to Mom for sending this to me.  Found at Put This On.

Then This Happened: Part 103

Safety first, people.

Then This Happened: Part 102

Then This Happened: Part 101

Then This Happened: Part 100

Triple digits! This is by far the most consistent I've ever been about posting to my little blog. One hundred posts in one hundred days probably isn't the biggest deal but it's definitely a small victory for me and a step in the right direction. I'm all smiles.

Then This Happened: Part 99

There is absolutely no shame in yelling your ass off for your teammates. None whatsoever.

Then This Happened: Part 98

Then This Happened: Part 97

I left the office pretty late tonight. Yuck.

Orchids. Not so yuck.