New Year, New Challenges, New Possibilities

If you know anything about me - my life is less than dull and boring. Sure I spend way to much time on xbox and the Internet being a geek ... but when it comes to ideas and formulating the next "great idea" my mind never rests. Recently, as you all know, I tried to start a company that was going to revolutionize the real estate market and help agents generate leads on houses - well, seems I was about a year to early with my idea ... which has taught me a valuable lesson:

1. Timing is almost everything!

There are a few other nuggets of wisdom that I now carry with me from my 9 month experience, but timing is at the top of the list. How can you convince someone that your solution can solve their problem, when they don't know they have a problem yet ... at the same time, how can you convince someone that you can solve their problem when they have either become complacent with their problem or there are 15 other solutions out there because so many people have the same problem.

This has been on my mind lately because I have had a couple new ideas tossed around in my head ... and one idea brought and placed in my lap. Before when I was starting my company, last year, I thought about to me ... it worked. Now, I am turning it around and asking "is society ready" ... will this solution be accepted by the masses in general? Its a gamble and a science all rolled into one. The science is being able to see the trends before they happen and the gamble is having the means to build your vision.

This year I am going to focus my senses on looking for trends, seeing what is on the horizon and using what I have learned to create my ideas. How many times have you said ... "That seems so simple, why didn't I think of that?" Well friends - you think about it everyday. You think about those simple solutions all the time ... you just need to tune your logical brain in with your creative brain.

And that is how empires are built!

Till next time ... (and next time will be very soon)

Christmas, New Year and The Bristers

Well it is now 2008 and the holidays are over, life is getting back to a reasonable pace and the boys are wrapping up their 2nd week long trip to see us. It has been an amazing 2 weeks spent with Tyler and Bryan. We have had some good laughs and some very good conversations (however, the boys call them "lectures") ... but overall it has been a good time and I am very proud of my boys.

We are focusing this year on planning for the future ... goals, dreams ... What they wanna be when they grow up! So far all I have been able to get out of them is "I don't know!" So, I guess persistence is going to be my focus for 2008.

Dawn and I have been talking allot about "resolutions" for this year ... she jokingly says her '08 Resolution is to be more mean! ha ha ... I nervously laugh at her when she says that (don't want to give her a reason to start living her resolution) *smile* - My resolution this year is to be a better friend to those that are worth my friendship. I have many acquaintances, a good group of people I call friends and a few great friends. I am going to focus on investing more of myself into my great friends and core group of friends. Open myself up, become an example of how a friendship works. I'll write more on this later ... since I have Tyler and Bryan peering over my shoulder while I type this - they are waiting for us to head over to Universal Studios today!!!

The boys go home tomorrow - it will be sad to see them go, and I will look forward for the next time they come down here to visit.

Oh yea - my other resolution is to commit to this blog more. Make frequent updates and use this as more of a "life journal" for me.

I wish you all a happy and wonderful New Year ... I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday with laughter and family!

Till next time ...

Thanksgiving and Our Boys

Its 10am on Saturday November 17th and I am picking the boys up at the airport today. This will be the first Thanksgiving I have had them in a very long time and I am so excited! Got me thinking about all the things I am thankful for ...

1. Family - Dawn, Tyler, Bryan, Mom & Dad, Eric, Cina and the girls ... yeah, it may be cliche but when you boil it down to the basics ... Family comes first. I have an amazing, very close knit family (Mom makes sure of that!) ... I am so blessed to have everyone I have.

2. Friends - Not the friends you see "once in a while" ... the friends you talk to every day. The friends you see more than once a month. The friends who are still your friends after all the time they spend with you ... and they still accept you for who you are. Dawn and I are extremely lucky to have such incredible friends in our lives here in Celebration ... along with Southern and Northern California ... and now Illinois!!!

3. Life - Not just the living / breathing life ... but the life we inject into our days. Our conversations, our disagreements, our teamwork, our motivation to overcome the obstacles "regular life" puts in our way. My "Life" now is full of life - if that makes sense. My outlook, My passion, My drive ... all stems from the "Life" I have created ... and I could not have asked for a better team mate than the one I have now!!!

So - this week, while Tyler and Bryan are here with us ... I am going to take the time to talk with them about what makes them happy, what makes they thankful, what they want to see change and happen over the next year to improve their lives. Yeah - I know, pretty deep for a 15 and 12 year old ... but I am confident they will understand what I am teaching them ... in about 10 years when they "grow up!" Its been a while since I have posted and I am going to start adding more frequently ... hopefully I still have people popping onto the blog! Maybe I'll blast out an email to everyone letting them know I am back above water! Its been a CRAZY 4 months to say the least.

Till next time ...

Yes - I know its been forever!!!

In just a few more days - the new game in the series ships ...

One Year Anniversary!

Dawn and I are preparing to celebrate our one year anniversary in 28 days ... We are celebrating a bit early this year (2 weeks). This weekend we are preparing ourselves for 11 wonderful days in Italy. On Tuesday Sept 18th we take off for 3 days in Rome and then Saturday we fly to Sicily for 7 days. We have an overnight stay in Rome before we head home on the 29th. I can not believe how fast this year has gone by. So much has happened and all I have to say is I HOPE the next year, 5 years, 10 years are as fun, challenging and educational as the past year has been.

I do not know if there is going to be access for me to post updates to the blog ... if there is you will know. If there is not - check back on October 1st for the updates, pictures and stories.

Till then ...

Barber and Beauty Emporium

Hey all - its been pretty quiet here over the past month. Tyler and Bryan are back in school, Tyler is in his Freshman year of High School and is playing football - according to him its "tiring and hard" ... but when you ask him about the plays and hitting people his eyes light up. Hopefully we'll be able to post up some pictures of Tyler playing. Tyler also turned 15 this past week ... yes, to answer your question - I do feel pretty old right now! Bryan is starting the 6th grade ... so far so good - no complaints from him yet.

So ... the big news of the month (aside from Tyler turning 15 and Bryan starting the 6th grade) is that my friend here in Celebration owns a beauty salon called Barber and Beauty Emporium you can CLICK HERE to see the website. Anyway - over the past couple months the local NBC affiliate WESH 2 News has been holding a contest for the "A List" which is like a "Best of ..." contest. There were about 15 or so other salons competing for the "A List" and last week the votes were counted and they announced that Celebration's Barber and Beauty Emporium had won the "Best Salon" category!

I just wanted to throw this info up here quickly - Al and his salon is awesome, I will post more about Al later ... right now Dawn needs me to spark up the grill and get it ready for the delicious steak I am about to serve for lunch!

Hope you all are well ... more to come soon.

Why Celebration Florida Rocks!

1. We live 10 minutes from Disney World and can hear the fireworks every night from our house.

2. We live 4 hours away from the Florida Keys - its absolutely a tropical paradise.

3. We live 90 minutes from either coast - West Coast (Gulf Side) or the East Coast (Atlantic Side)

4. We live 30 minutes from Universal Studios.

5. Our downtown is quaint and the people know our names when we walk into stores.

6. When the Space Shuttle takes off for the International Space Station ... this is what we see from our balcony!

There are many many other reasons why we love living here ... these were just the ones that came to my mind in the last 3 minutes it took for me to create this posting!

Dawn is out in California again - San Jose this time. I cant wait for her to get home again - I am starting to get good at this "clean up at the last minute" lifestyle! What we men do for our women to make them happy!

Hope you all are well ...

If you look close - you can see a BBQ!!!

My backyard ... plus the addition! I finally got a BBQ to play with. The story goes like this - when Dawn moved out of the apartment she was renting when I met her it was because they were turning the apartment complex into condo's. They offered Dawn the opportunity to purchase the unit she was living in, she turned down the offer since she had finished the paperwork to own the condo we live in now. So - since the apartment she was living in was becoming a condo and the condo she bought would not be completed for 16 months she had to move. She moved to the apartment complex near me and was unable to bring her BBQ with her, her father so generously offered to hold onto her BBQ while we were in the apartment waiting for the condo to be finished. Well - after a year and a half we begged enough for Dawn's father to allow her to have her BBQ back. Here is a picture of our maiden voyage on the grill ... Brat's and Rib Eye's with Portobello mushrooms!!! I can not tell you how happy I am to have a grill again. I sure have missed the smell, the sound and the taste. If you are ever in the area, just call and tell me you want something BBQ'd ... your all welcome here for dinner.

Not much else going on here - Dawn is home this week, however the past 2 weeks she has been traveling for work and it looks like the next 2 weeks she'll be back on the road.

Tyler and Bryan will be here for Labor Day weekend, that should be fun ... since they both love the BBQ so much. I did have to call them and rub it in that I was BBQing last night ... oh, and tonight too! Bacon wrapped Filets and Corn on the Cob!!!

YUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

Till next time ...

Its An Ocean Thing!

Here is Dawn with Heather (Jose took the picture) ... We met Jose and Heather on our Honeymoon Cruise! The coolest part is we have stayed in touch through email ... I have tried to hook up with them when I do my quick trips out to LA to catch a Hockey Game of visit our God Son ... but I have never been able to get together with them. This time Dawn was able to visit them. Dawn had a GREAT time and they were kind enough to take Dawn out to the coast so she would be able to hear the waves crashing and the beach sound - Dawn called me, but all I could hear was the wind blowing! Oh well - next time we go out there, we'll make it a point to catch up with Jose and Heather!

In The Land Of Duck!

Thats right - Dawn is visiting the resting place of the 2006/2007 Lords Stanley Cup! Anaheim, California ... and when Dawn goes to Anaheim ... what does she visit??? CASA Lindley!

My wife is out playing with our best friend and his family ... thought I would share a few shots she sent me of OUR God Son (oh yea, and one of the whole Lindley clan too)

They went out to dinner tonight ... dont the look cute all cuddled up in the booth together??? I wish I was there - I get very jealous when Dawn gets to go play with our friends and I dont!

Dont know what my buddy is trying to prove here ... but if it is his Hockey Face ... he needs to work on it!!! ha ha

CRAZY Life - quick and painless update!

Tyler and Bryan are back home ... Dawn is away on business and I am running around with my hair on fire!!! Will post more later ... hope you all are well!!!

Dawn and Tyler pretending not to love each other - heavens forbid they get their picture taken!

6 people in a 2 bedroom condo ...

... sounds like the title of a song! However, it is my REALITY this week. My mom and dad flew out from California last week, Tyler and Bryan arrived last Friday for 9 days of NON-Stop action and fun with Grandma and Grandpa! I'll tell you - it has been full speed.

We have been having fun ... visited our cousins in Ocala, went to a local race track to watch the Sprint Cars, Shopping, Movies, Projects! Since my dad is here ... and I am not all that "handy" around the house. We put a fan up in the living room and under cabinet lights in the kitchen - Well, not "WE" per-say ... more like "Dad."

Today (Tuesday) we are going to finish school clothes shopping for the boys and then we will go see that new movie "Ratatouille" (or however you spell it). Dawn is very excited about seeing this movie since she has allready purchased the little figurines of the rat! Yes ... and she has them displayed in the kitchen too! *smile*

Tomorrow - July 4th ... we are going to spend it with friends, BBQ's and an 80's themed party in downtown Celebration where at 8pm the band "A Flock of Seagull's" will be playing. If you went to High School in the 80's ... dont be jealous! ha ha ... I'll be sending pictures and video's from the concert to the blog for everyone to enjoy.

I cant belive we are half way through the boys visit here ... time goes by way to fast for me when they are here. We have so much fun and do so many things ... it will probably take Dawn and I about 4 days to catch up on the lost sleep we need.

Anyway - its time to head out AGAIN!

Till next time ...

Hockey and the Quest for the Cup!

Hello friends ... I am proud and pleased to announce the launch of a NEW BLOG! Yes, thats right ... yesterday I worked on the format, I played around with colors, I posted some things along with Clint.

WHY you might ask ... well, this blog I have started is a collaboration of knowledge and insight shared by Brian Lindley, Clint Bundrick and myself. I decided to try this out because throughout the Hockey season the 3 of us enjoy a friendly NHL Fantasy Hockey league and we also share through email the musings of our smack talkin'.

This blog is still in its growth phase - we will be adding to it more information more functions and more stuff in general.

Check it out - http://icejunkies.blogspot.com

Hope you all are well ... till next time

Universal City Walk

Dawn and I went to a comedy show last night at Universal's Hard Rock Cafe' ... We saw Brian Reagan, it was a funny show! Doesnt Dawn look gorgeous? How did I get sooooo lucky???

The Coveted Lind-Ster-Rick Cup!

Clint won the trophy this year - defeating Lindley by 300 points and Me by 1000 points ... I still think he cheated somehow. I just cant prove it yet! Here is his victory speech last night at the awards ceremony! If you cant understand him, he is saying "Here is to a winning strategy Lindley ... a WINNING strategy!"

For that story - stay tuned for more info and more pictures!

The Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Lindley was at the game where the Ducks took the Cup! I am jealous, and at the same time, so happy that he was able to witness this experience. Here is the email he sent me the next day describing his evening!

I sat outside on the fire hydrant for two hours. Went to standing room only line, they shut it down. Went back to fire hydrant at 4:10. at 4.25 dude comes up – I complete the transaction… and wow, I was so flippy happy, I seriously could not believe I was getting in. so.. after two hours of sitting in the sun I went straight to the Coors light stand and downed a cold one. That beer tasted so good…!!! Then up to my seat to check it out. PERFECT!!! Then down the team store to buy hats, line was 30 mins long game started in 12. back up to the concourse for another beer and phone calls… Bam the lights went out inside the pond – a deafening roar came up and I headed in just in time to see Anaheim take the ice. The place was rockin. The game as you know was great, I did not want it to end, the second period felt like about five minutes. In between 2nd and third I did not want another 26 oz beer, did not want to miss any of the third period, so I ordered a Stanley Cup on ice. (my new drink I named it!!!!) Kettle one with three limes, one for every period in a hockey game. Slammed that puppy down and floated up the staircase for my appt with the cup.

At the five minute mark a huge roar came up in the crowd and again at two minute mark, and the loudest at one minute, the place was shaking… count down and then pandemonium!!!!

Then everyone and seriously… their mother, lifted the cup. After about 30 mins I was able to get down rink side they were not skating the cup tho, they were only kneeling next to it for pics, all the players were one by one putting their kids in the bowl for pictures – oh the hockey wives were there too.

So… it had been a long – but short eve and I’ll be gal darned if I didn’t for get to eat. I was soooo starving. Drove home on surface streets, they shut down the freeway, Michelle had a tostada plate waiting for me slammed another Coors light and settled in for the replay. Yes, three more periods of hockey, had to watch it again, barely made it thru, but in all ... a great day to be a hockey fan.

So there you have it - Lindley has crossed off one thing on his life list that still remains on mine. Watch the raising of The Stanley Cup. I am planning to hit up the NHL All Star Game in January and hopefully, next summer, I will have the opportunity to cross this milestone off of my list!

Till next time

The Bundrick Wedding - June 2, 2007

Last night Dawn and I went to witness Clint and Cailin get married. Tyler and Bryan were absolutely wonderful at the wedding and I was so very proud of them and the way they behaved. My two boys are growing up so fast and becoming responsible young men!

Now - The Wedding! What an awesome and beautiful wedding Clint and Cailin put together. I will have to write more later about the wedding and maybe I will get Dawn to add some words also. In the meantime - here are some pictures of the wedding and a couple video's to watch too. Sorry about the quality of the video's ... I was using my phone to capture the moments!



Here Comes The Bride!!!



Husband and Wife!



Already assuming his role!



Glowing and Gorgeous!



I was able to get them to stand still for 3 seconds while I snapped this picture for my blog!



Thier First Dance!



Clint goin for the Garter!




Everyone always threatens to smash the cake into the brides face ... but nobody is SUPPOSE to actually do it ... RIGHT???




Their First Dance as Husband and Wife ... they are by far one of the cutest couples we know (right up there with the Lindleys and US of course!)

Congrats Clint and Cailin Bundrick - We are so very happy for you and we are excited to finally have you 2 back in a "normal" routine!

Tyler sitting on the fountain at Epcot - in France

Have you seen our Godson Jaden lately? I was out visiting the Lindley's last week - my boy is so big! I forgot how fast they grow as newborns - My boy is all growns up!