Lovin it in Cali

Everytime I visit the Bay Area I miss it ... the weather, the scenery, the things to do! Then I get caught on the 880 in Oakland at 12:45 pm ... one would think that there should not be any traffic on a 3 lane highway around noon. OH NO! Traffic was STOPED! I sat there and went 3 miles in about 30 minutes ... I was hoping the person or persons in the accident were ok and that their friends and family would not be to worried ... was there an accident??? OF COURSE NOT!!! All of a sudden traffic just speeds up and we're off like they just waved the Green Flag at Daytona!!!

Whew ... my friend Kelly is here ... gotta run ...

Until next time ...

Goin Back to Cali ... Cali ... Cali!!!

Dawn and I are heading back out to California this weekend ... well, first we are running to Chris and Judith's tonight for dinner and to drop off Bernardo!!! He is going to stay with his brothers for a week while we are gone. Then Saturday ... Dawn and I are driving out to Tampa to see Spamalot (Monty Python if you never heard of that) .... its a broadway play. Then, Sat evening we get home, pack up and get ready for my bazillion hour flight from Orlando to Washington DC to Los Angeles. You would think I could get on the flight from Orlando to Los Angeles non-stop right ... NOOOOOOOOO! That would be to easy and cost twice as much ... so I opt for the "swing by DC" route. Dawn of course is flying the non-stop ... so she leaves 2 hours after I do and gets to LA 30 minutes before me ... LOVE THAT?

While we are in California, I am going to be meeting with some business potentials, old friends, people I have not seen in many many years. Then we are off to Los Angeles again. OH YEA, we are renting a car in LA and driving up to San Jose ... then on Thursday, we are staying in Monterey for a nice "romantic" evening (meaning I cant have my cell phone with me) *YIKES!!!*

Once in LA we are staying with my buddy Brian Lindley ... going to get to know Jaden our Godson ... hang out ... eat yummy steaks, drink delicious wine, play a little cribbage, watch the super bowl (GO COLTS!) ... then come home Monday afternoon.

Lots going on ... going to be busy busy ... will try to get some information up here while I am out in California. I hope you are all doing well.

Until the next time ...

Disney's Recruiting Efforts

The boys were approached by this soldier while we were walking around Disney's MGM Studios park. He asked if the boys wanted to serve in Disney's elite squad ... I was able to distract the boys with an ice cream sandwich shaped like Mikey's head. Whew ... that was close!

13 days between posts - thats unacceptable!

Last thing I new it was January 6th, Dawn and I were getting mentally prepared to wake up at 4am so we could drive over to Disney World and voluteer our time at the Disney Marathon.

Sunday morning came and went like a flash ... the Marathon was incredible! Dawn and I (along with Chris and Judith) were handing out water around the 10 mile mark. About 40 minutes after the start of the race ONE guy runs past us like he had a lion chasing him. He ended the marathon in 2 hours and 19 minutes!!! When he ran by us I dont think he had broken a sweat yet. So, I think I heard something like 32,000 people were in the 1/2 marathon (on Saturday) and the full marathon (on Sunday) ... I am not sure how many there were in the full marathon only but there were PLENTY!!! It was very inspiring to stand there and hand out water to the runners. Many of the runners were so appreciative and would thank us when they ran by ... and it was the kind of "Thank You So Much" that made you want to run out there and give them a hug ... but they were sweaty and it would have been ackward to run and hug. Dawn and I are going to start walking this year and plan to walk the 1/2 marathon next year at Disney World ... anyone care to join us?

These past 2 weeks have been going at an amazing pace ... I am at the point where I need to raise some sort of money for my company or its just NOT going to support itself, let alone ME! So, I have been hitting the path meeting with people, talking to everyone I can about mobile marketing and what I do. We had another nice write up about us in the last newspaper ... check it out! http://www.celebrationindependent.com/Pages/1.1.07%20stories/individui.html

I did get in a good chat with a group that is doing an exotic car festival in April that raises money for the "Make A Wish" foundation. He and I talked about different ideas regarding text messaging and giving the crowd something to do ... we came up with a few ideas that are going to be fun. I also was thinking about how I could help raise money for charities and non-profits. I have a few ideas that I am working through right now and researching on ways to team up with the charities. I'll have more on that later!!!

Dawn and I are getting ready to pick up Tyler and Bryan tonight (Friday Jan 19th) ... they are coming down for the weekend to hang out and do a little theme park action! I'll more than likely throw some pictures up here for you all to enjoy.

Next weekend, Dawn and I are heading to Tampa to see the broadway show Spamalot - if you dont know who Monty Python is, then you dont know Spamalot! Its going to be awesome. Then on Sunday we head out West again. We'll be in California for a few days ... Dawn has some regular meetings at work and I have set up some lunches and breakfast meetings with investors and potential clients. I just confirmed a lunch meeting with the Oakland Raiders! I am VERY excited about that. I'll update you all when I return ... I am hoping for big things this time.

Well - I better start making some calls and sending some emails. I hope everyone is doing well and I will write more soon ... I promise!

Till Next Time ...

The Newest Addition to our Family Fridge!

We finally are able to add a picture of our God Son ... Jaden Lindley! As ya'll know my best friend Brian Lindley and his family (Michelle and Madeline) welcomed Jaden into their lives on Nov 15th 2006. Brian and Michelle asked Dawn and I to be the God Parents and we accepted PROUDLY!!!

Click on the picture and you will be able to see the newest addition to the Brister extended family!

Thank you Brian for sending us this picture - we will share Jaden with everyone who visits.

Also - if you click on the picture you'll see our vast array of cheesy fridge magnets. Dawn and I have taken up the joy of collecting a cheesy fridge magnet everytime we take off on a trip. We have magnets from Rome, Napa Wineries, Prague, London, Paris! Its a fun little hobby ... so, if your out and about and see a cheesy fridge magnet - send it our way! If it has a cute story about how you were on vacation and saw the magnet and thought fondly of Dawn and I ... it MAY make it to the Brister Family Fridge!!! *grin*

Happy Hunting ... Till next time!

Change Smange!

Dawn posts!

Yes, I live!

I for one do not understand this year of change. I like things just fine the way they are! Why should we change? We have good friends, a loving family and a great newlywed marriage. Somehow my husband thinks this is a recipe that requires CHANGE! HARRUMPH!

So fine. I agreed to his little challenge. I'll change . . .

So . . . I decided that my contribution to change would be a new cooking toy!!!!! How fun!

For those who gave us gift certificates to Macy's you have created a monster! We purchased a pressure cooker this weekend. I did a ton of reading online and looked at all the models on the market, went to Williams-Sonoma and Macy's and looked into different models. My best resource was Miss Vickie

We went with the Fagor set at Macy's it has an 8 quart and 4 quart pan. Last night was supposed to be the trial run, but if you know anything about how my day went yesterday -- you know that if I had tried to use an appliance like a pressure cooker I would have surely blown the roof off the house, burned my arm off and scared the dog . . . so today was the day I tried my new toy. I made Mushroom Chicken MMMMMMMMM

Of course first, I ordered a couple books (If Michelle Martin reads this she's already laughing at me) researched on line and watched a video as to be certain that I did not do all the damage mentioned in the previous paragraph!

Mushroom Chicken:

One package (about two pounds) Chicken thighs
two cans Roasted Garlic Mushroom soup
1 cup (roughly) Chicken Broth
One onion
One package Mushrooms (8 oz cut in half)
cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste
Two sprigs Thyme


Take the base of the pressure cooker and heat it on high heat with oil (a couple table spoons is more than enough)Brown the chicken on all sides and set aside.

Drain excess fat and saute mushrooms and onions until a little brown (add salt and pepper to taste)

add soup and broth (white wine would also be good) and Chicken to pot. Stir put thyme on top. Close the lid and bring to pressure. Cook 15 minutes then let the pressure subside naturally (i.e. don't release the valve or put the pot under cold water) This will take about 30 minutes.

Serve over egg noodles.

Act like a chef while your family marvels at how wonderful you are! NEVER tell your secret!

P.S. You all know what you are getting for Christmas next year!

2007 - The Year of Change!!!

Bill Brister here ... posting about the upcoming year ahead for Dawn and myself. This year is being refered to as "The Year of Change" for Dawn and I. Exactly what does that mean ... we have a few ideas ... one is, I (Bill) have ventured out into the world of Starting my own company. I have mentioned it a few times here on this blog and will start talking more about it in the coming months. I have always dreamed of launching a company and building an empire, but have never been in the "right place at the right time" ... there were always things in the way for me. More like excuses, but I didnt realize that back then. My company is here ... www.individui.com ... my mantra is "Live Life Mobile!" If you know me well, you know that I LOVE gadgets! I love technology and the new toys that are created by new technologies!!! So, my company is all about Living the Mobile Life! I think that in this day and age with the Web 2.0 emerging and Web 3.0 just around the corner, mobile access is highly in demand. My vision is to create Individui as a major player in the mobile communication field. That is my first change.

My second change is to lose weight ... I challenged myself to lose 50 pounds before my wedding. It took me 6 months of working out, watching what I eat and getting outside to walk, jog, ride my bike ... at my wedding I was down 30 pounds. This year I am committed to dropping the other 20 I set out to lose!!!

Dawn and I are continuing to build our life together, I still learn things about her every day and she challenges me to think or look at different perspectives. My goal for us as a couple this year is to learn to "work" together. We got the "living" together down. We are pretty good at the "going out in public" together ... *smile* ... especially to France or on a cruise!!! The true test of our relationship is to actually "work" together ... I hear it all the time about husbands and wives having a working relationship and how hard it is. Dawn is helping me understand what Marketing is for a company, MY company ... I tell her what I want to say, she writes it down how I should say it. Sounds easy right??? Well, lets just say that when I tell her what I want to say for my company ... there are 50 different questions she wants to know before she will write anything for me. Like ... Who do I want to hear what I have to say! OH YEA, and the answer "EVERYONE" is unacceptable. She is letting me learn the lessons of how to postion something and how to answer questions with information you want to answer with. Most of you all reading this blog know me ... I say it like it is, and I cant stand B.S. Well, Dawn is teaching me the finer points of "Saying it nicely" ... and well, lets just say we have a whole year to learn how to work together!!! Dawn is absolutely an inspiration ... I am greatful that I have her in my life to walk with me down this unchartered path. Thank you Dawn ... for everything!

With that said ...

We are going to need some help this year ... so, when you email Dawn or when you talk to us ... ask us how our Year of Change is going. Ask us what have we learned over the past week about eachother and how are we growing in our working relationship. We may tell you to pound sand, or we may just start laughing ... but one thing for sure ... we will appreciate YOU and the positive support you bring into our family!!!

Most of my "resolutions" are business related. I have milestones, I have goals ... I have NO clue how I am going to get there ... but that is the journey right? I look forward to talking and emailing with each of you reading this. Drop me a line if it has been a while since we have spoken. If I dont know you ... still shoot me a note!!! I am a nice guy ... just ask Lindley!!! ha ha

Anyway ... Happy New Year Friends. I'll see if I can get Dawn to sit down and pontificate about her "Year of Change" for you guys!!! That should be a fun excercise!!! ha ha

Till next time ...

Just watched the ball drop!!!

Well we made it 10 hours at Epcot ... the crowd was estimated at 78,000 people!!! We decided to head home around 10pm and watch the NY party from the comfort of our couch wearing a pair of shorts!!!

Happy New Year everyone ... I wish the best for you all in 2007!!!

Stay tuned ... I'll be sharing my triumphs and challenges.

Till the next time ...