Gannett Layoffs, Beacon Rock & Timbers Match

Article Posted: July 2, 2009

Above: A view from the eastern end of Beacon Rock. To see this photo a bit larger, and for more photos from my trip, including the promised photos from Tuesday’s trip to Tacoma, please click here.

Okay, so Wednesday was a pretty chill day. Pretty simple in fact, with only two things on the agenda. Hike Beacon Rock and head to the Portland Timbers match against the Seattle Sounders.

The day did not start well, as I found out through multiple means that the company that owns the paper I work for, Gannett, is on the fast track to laying off 1,400 people come July 8. I find it extremely disconcerting that I found out by reading it on the New York Times before the letter from corporate ever arrived in my email box. I won’t comment more other than to say that Corporate telling the media before they told their own employees is pretty backhanded, if you ask me.

However, I was not going to let that news deter the good times this day had in store. Joel and I headed up to Beacon Rock, only about a 25-minute drive from Washougal, and hiked the dang thing. I got some good photos, he got light-headed. He admitted that he didn’t eat before our excursion. We made it up and down in an hour and ten minutes.

Above: The view looking west from Beacon Rock. The scenery in the Columbia River Gorge is quite wonderful.

I dropped Joel off and headed into Portland for the Timbers match against the Sounders in the U.S. Open Cup. I arrived an hour prior to match time, where I met up with Brian Taylor at the Cheerful Bullpen just down the street. No, I did not drink any alcohol, but they did have $2 fries.

Onto the match, where PGE Park was sold out to the tune of 16,500 people. We heard it was the fourth-biggest crowd in US Open Cup history and the largest Timbers crowd to date. Eat that, everyone that thinks MLS won’t succeed in Portland.

After a rousing pre-game shindig that involved a tifo of Timber Jim cutting down the Space Needle, the action started and not even a minute in, Seattle scored. They would add another in the 27th, then Portland would add one in the 43rd. That would be it as the teams ran up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down in the second half and nothing materialized. 2-1, Sounders win, but Portland fans were treated to a good match.

Above: I think this was the first soccer match ever for the guy on the right. “It’s Wednesday night and this guy would rather be at the club,” said Brian.

Funniest thing I’ve ever seen at a sporting event: around the 75th minute or so, a Seattle forward faked an injury after missing horribly on a pass to the corner. He rolled over on his back and, being close to the Timbers Army, heard a cascade of boos. Not soon after he started writhing did someone throw a full bottle at him and hit him nearly square in the junk. Totally unsportsmanlike but totally worth the price of admission.

After the match was over, Brian and I headed over to the Agency, a sports bar just across the street. We indulged in some cheeseburger sliders and while talking about the match, lo and behold, our good friend Noel from our Rainier days joined us for a bit, along with Brian’s friend Jonah from college. We all condensed the last seven years of our lives into a half hour, which as anyone who has ever tried it would know doesn’t work too well with the time constraint.

We all said our goodbyes and I headed back to Cris’s place in Camas, where Cris, his brother Daniel, Joel and I all watched the movie S.W.A.T.

After seeing a dude get decapitated by a train, it was time for bed.

Hasta luego.

Oh, here’s that tifo from the Timbers game last night, courtesy SoccerCityUSA.com.

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The Rattletrap, Disc Golf, Tacoma Trip And More

Article Posted: July 1, 2009

(Above: This idiotic machine makes an appearance in everything from Monday on forward. Read on.)

Sorry guys, I haven’t had time to recap every single day of my vacation since it’s been so action-packed. I’ll try to catch you guys up on some stuff that happened yesterday and today.

Let’s begin with yesterday, of course.

JUNE 29, 2009
VEHICLE RENTAL, 8 A.M.

I knew the day was off to a bad start when I was cursed with a Nissan Versa hatchback that gets crappy mileage and has no auxiliary audio port to connect my iPhone to for music during my travels.

In fact, here’s how my conversation with the Enterprise agent went when it came time to check the vehicle. This is brilliant.

Agent: “What do you think?”
Me: “Neat little rattletrap, but this car doesn’t have an auxiliary audio jack. I gotta plug my iPhone in for some tunes.”
Agent: “We have some great radio stations here.”
Me: “I’ll be traveling up to the Tacoma/Seattle area tomorrow though.”
Agent: “They have great radio stations there too.”
Me: “Can you name three of them?”
Agent: (sighs) “Uh, no.”
Me: “You do know that I did ask for a car with an auxiliary audio jack when I reserved my vehicle online, right?”
Agent: “I’m terribly sorry we couldn’t hook you up with one right now, all our other vehicles are out.”
Me: “So what am I to do?”
Agent: “Well…we do have great radio stations here.”

I would have had a more fruitful conversation with a cantaloupe.

DISC GOLF, 3 P.M.

I picked up Brian Taylor in the afore-mentioned rattletrap and we headed on out to Forest Grove to play some disc golf in the shadow of McMenamins Grand Lodge. It’s a pretty little course with a few crazy obstructions and a 10th goal in which you initially throw from the hotel balcony. Pretty wild.

We both finished the first round two over, but the wind kicked up and Brian once again fell apart down the back stretch as he did often times two years ago…I won the match, +7 to +9.

We both suck. Me, just a little less.

JUNE 30, 2009
TACOMA TRIP, 10 A.M.

To counter the Rattletrap not having an auxiliary port or cassette deck, and Portland stations overpowering my iPhone’s FM transmitter, I ran off to buy a 10-pack of CD-R’s which would serve as my emergency music supply. I re-burned all my music (I think 150 songs or something) onto seven discs for the week, so it’s only a minor annoyance not having a shuffle button and instead having to switch out CDs because I’m tired of artists beginning with the letter C.

I was on my way out of Camas at 10 this morning, en route to visit my friend Holly from Lakewood (Tacompton suburb) when I began to be tailed by a Camas police officer. He followed me from downtown to Highway 14. This delayed me several minutes.

I was also delayed several minutes — this one intentionally — as I stopped in Centralia for coffee, hitting up Cuppa Joe just off the Mellen Street exit (81, it would be numbered). This has to be the first time in which two people tag teamed to help me — a young lady made the coffee, which was great, and I had a nice chat with the young man who rang up the order. He introduced himself as Elisha, and we chatted for a few minutes about his family’s musical venture (they sound REALLY good, by the way) and about my job and connection to the area — and found out we have some mutual friends from Lewis County. Whodathunkit…it’s a small world after all.

I arrived in Lakewood around 12:30 and my friend Holly and I spent some time driving around aimlessly, heading to a few parks, taking photos and even heading to the Museum of Glass in downtown Tacoma. It was cool and I’ll upload photos soon…I promise.

We also spent some good time snacking on fresh cherries that Holly had picked off trees in Corey and Michelle’s yard. We held a seed-spitting contest of sorts and I almost got lost in Parkland.

The ride home sucked, as there was stop and go traffic from Tacoma all the way into Lacey, and the Rattletrap guzzled gas like nobody’s business.

If the Rattletrap was my own vehicle, I’d key it because I hate it so very badly.

BACK IN CAMAS, 8 P.M.

I didn’t make it back in time for prayer meeting at New Horizons, but I did get to hang out with Joel Senior for a bit over at Papa’s Ice Cream.

Talk about an incredible hangout spot…the place just opened in the Washougal Town Center a couple months ago and it looks like a great place for folks to come hang out. It’s owned by a gentleman who is a Christian and once served as a youth pastor in his church, so that alone is enough for me to give the thumbs up on the place.

They serve Umpqua ice cream there…yeah, they don’t have that in Missourah.

After that, we went to the Caminas’ house where a bunch of us young men hung out in the kitchen and ate food, reminisced about times past and looked forward to the day I shall return for good to the Northwest, although no one knows when it shall occur.

I just lied. I know when it will occur.

CONCLUSION

It’s so wonderful to be able to come back here to the Northwest and even so much as see the beautiful landscape and scenery here. The facts that everyone I’ve seen here so far has been very welcoming and that I have had time to catch up with old friends just go to indicate the level of friendship that I have with many folks here. It’s almost as if we haven’t skipped a beat even though it’s been two years since I moved away.

On to more fun things tomorrow…aloha, babes.

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Review: Washington YAK Camp 2009 (With Photos!)

Article Posted: June 29, 2009

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(Above: The group that attended this year’s YAK Camp at Millersylvania State Park, Washington. Check out my full gallery of photos from the weekend here.)

What a wonderful weekend this was.

Not only was the weather gorgeous, nor did I only get to see people I haven’t seen in a fair amount of time, but the gentle and peaceful presence of the Lord was evident at all times this weekend as He ministered to me in a way I have not felt in years.

There were over fifty paid participants, and directors Bill and Cindy Davison shared on the first night that this year’s attendance shattered any previous high number over the past eight years.

YAK maintains a different feel from the other camps in that it is more laid back and more free time is given (naturally, since the attendees are young adults), but in that same vein the Lord ministered to many in a quiet, calm way that spoke peace and grace over the entire weekend.

Pastor Frank Smith of New Horizons Church gave the message on Friday night and kept with the camp’s theme “I Shall Not Be Moved.” He spoke on how our faith needs to be unshakeable especially as we face increasing hardships in our lives day by day. The altar response was great.

Saturday morning, classes were taught by Sarah Nelson, Rick Bear and Ruthie Turner. Each of their classes focused on a different spiritual topic and was very beneficial, ministering to many.

Then throughout the afternoon, free time was a highlight for many. Personally, I spent most of it chatting it up and catching up with people I haven’t seen in years, but if you know me I can’t turn down a good basketball game. We had two heated yet friendly games of four-on-four in which I scored 15 and 10 points, respectively (winning score was 21). Yes, I came to play!

After some good free time and dinner, we gathered for worship led by the NHC praise band and then Cindy Davison delivered a word the Lord had given her regarding our walk with Christ. She said the song “Slow Fade” by Casting Crowns had come to her mind and she began to pray about the message the Lord had given her…the word to us, the campers, was to always be vigilant, keep our faith in the Lord strong, be accountable to each other and pray for one another in our relationships with the Lord so we do not falter. After listening to the song, Pastor Smith gave an altar call in which eight people were received the salvation of the Lord. That message was the highlight of my weekend.

The post-church movie and bonfire was excellent, and suffice to say that sleep evaded many of us as we continued to enjoy each other’s company.

Today it was all over but the crying, but after a good breakfast we wrapped up the retreat with a prayer in which the camp staff came around and prayed for each camper.

It was an excellent weekend full of many blessings for me. Some of which I’ll list below:

- I particularly appreciated a lengthy chat with Greg and Sherry Johnson. Not only did we catch up, but they offered words of wisdom and prayers that blessed me in a way beyond my imagination.

- It was a blessing to be able to hear about what the Lord is doing with the Bremerton (Perry Avenue Chapel) youth group from Tim and Danielle Moon. They are tremendous people.

- I shared a cabin with Brandon Lord, Tom Marshall, Blaine McCowen, James Ells and Ryan Russell. A great group of young men that the Lord has blessed tremendously and their lives will only get better as they follow His leading.

- The Lord gave me some tremendous direction this weekend regarding my life in general. The Lord used two people I had never met before this weekend to speak a word into my life that I will regard as a word of knowledge and I will grow from it.

Praise the Lord for such an awesome time, and I wish it wasn’t only confined to 48 hours. I pray blessings upon everyone that was there, campers and staff alike.

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Driving To YAK Camp

Article Posted: June 26, 2009

Here is a shot of my camera on the dash of Cris Birch’s truck. I have an interval meter set to take shots every seven seconds. This is looking at Interstate 5 northbound near Vader, Washington.

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Jeepin’ Through Portland & The Blazers Draft Party

Article Posted: June 26, 2009

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Yesterday was a neat little excursion into downtown Portland for the Blazers’ draft day party with the brothers Perozzo (Michael and Jordache). Michael let down the top on his Jeep so we went cruising on the freeways…as you can see from above, I claimed the back seat and thoroughly enjoyed it. As for Michael and Jordache, they had a little bit of protection from the deafening winds.

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I’m jealous. As for the Blazers draft party, we selected some dude who apparently is going to save the franchise. Watch in the second installment of the Chris Brewer Experience, coming up later today or sometime this weekend, I’m not sure.

I better get back to refining the packing of my suitcase for camp.

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My Reaction To The Death Of Michael Jackson

Article Posted: June 25, 2009

Don Blumenthal, a family friend and my youth pastor for a time, put it best when he wrote on my Facebook page that the death of Michael Jackson is this generation’s passing of Elvis.

I see resemblances between the two in so many ways — both had reached the pinnacle of success years before their passing and had struggled with medical and mental problems short of their deaths.

Michael Jackson needs no description. We all know what he has done and what he is famous for. His accomplishments are many, his music known by millions around the world, and his image ingrained in our thoughts and many people’s hearts.

Yet in his later years we saw him fall from grace, suffer through numerous illnesses, and even face the legal system. He was trying to restore his image and make a comeback in the musical world this year, and obviously that’s been cut short.

One thing bothers me greatly about the death of a man so iconic and idolized by so many in our world.

In the long run, and I’m talking eternally, what are all of Michael Jackson’s accomplishments worth? All the Grammy awards his album Thriller won. The millions of dollars he earned. His very presence creating a buzz among anyone who came near him.

In the long run, what does it all amount to?

I am in no place to judge one’s soul but I have been praying and hoping that Michael Jackson knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

The ultimate tragedy is that we have lost a man whose influence upon millions will never truly benefit anyone in the long run.

May we all remember through all this that we must strive for higher things than even the greatest fame in the world can provide.

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Safe & Sound In The Pacific Northwest

Article Posted: June 25, 2009

You know you’re in the Pacific Northwest when clouds roll overhead, you don’t hear thunder, it’s still somewhat warm and a cool breeze blows with no humidity.

I made it safely to Camas, Washington after a 40-minute delay on my Southwest connector from Las Vegas last night — I got in around 12:30 this morning and my friend Cris Birch came over and picked me up. I’m staying with him, so we headed over to his apartment where I now occupy the guest room.

In less than an hour, I’ll be heading out to the Portland Trail Blazers’ NBA draft party at Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown PDX. The draft doesn’t start until 4 but we’re heading over VERY early to get good seats and check out the landscape — not to mention get some early food. I’ll see if I can rub John Canzano’s head for good luck and see what we come away with in the draft today. Should be good.

Tomorrow begins the first day of YAK Camp, which I’ve been plugging on this blog since I knew I would be going. Got a couple extra surprises in store this weekend so hang tight to find out what it is.

Also be prepared for some very short posts with photos…I’ll be posting regularly from my iPhone throughout the course of the days to come to show everyone what I’m up to at that point in time. Kinda like Facebook updates but not exactly.

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Random Musings While Sitting At McCarran Int’l Airport

Article Posted: June 24, 2009

- The U.S. soccer team came away with a brilliant 2-0 win over Spain in the Confederations Cup. Spain had won 35 straight matches and the U.S. isn’t anywhere near the best team ever. Where was I?
30,000 feet above the ground, that’s where.

- Some dude with an Arabic accent came up to me not an hour ago, told me he was from Canada and asked if he could use my laptop to e-mail his “seester.” I said okay, but only if I could use his credit card to go buy food. He walked away. Fast.

- My flight to Portland has been delayed at least fifty minutes. Can’t be due to weather, I don’t think, so I’m still wondering what’s up. This means I will get into Portland well after midnight.

- I shot a bit of video today, just enough to create a TCBE Episode 2. I may hold off on it though, and just shoot tomorrow’s gathering with friends in Portland for that episode.

That’s all for now, keep it locked here for more trip updates.

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Told Ya It Was Coming Today: T.C.B.E.

Article Posted: June 24, 2009

The Chris Brewer Experience is finally here, just as I promised it would be.

This, in the middle of packing for my trip to the Northwest. A freak thunderstorm intensified near Republic and hammered our town with wind and rain for about 15 minutes yesterday…and I caught some of the imagery on video.

Weather around here in really weird, and I especially don’t like it when it blows heavy trampolines straight up and sets them down in my yard.

Here’s the CBE, Episode 1. Hopefully you enjoy it somewhat, there’s no real humor in it, but rather just a simple video blog. It’s all shot on a Kodak Zi6 and edited in Avid Media Composer.

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God Bless Tammey Burns!

Article Posted: June 23, 2009

Some of you may hearken back to a story we did at the Springfield News-Leader on Tammey Burns, a woman who has now lost over 400 pounds. We caught up with Tammey at the end of last summer during the Sunshine Run, where she racewalked the entire course — a whopping ten kilometers. Six miles for those of you wondering.

If you don’t remember, I’ll provide the video after the jump, because it autoplays…
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