Monthly Archive for December, 2007

What I (Hope To) Look Forward To In 2008

Posted December 31, 2007 at 2:34 am // 1 Comment

For your reading pleasure early this Monday morning, and continuing my retrospective on 2007 — let’s look forward to 2008. The past year has been full of disappointments but it’s time for some positive thinking here.

I firmly believe that the good Lord brought me to Springfield for a reason, and even though I don’t know what that reason is at this point, I do have some things I am asking Him to provide me in 2008, and as such these are things I look forward to. In bullet list form FTW!

- A new job. I have longed to move out on my own and become financially secure since moving here in late August, but the pay scale at my current job makes that impossible. It is enough to get me by for now and I thank the Lord for His provisions, but I am looking to save up some money (unheard of for me) and eventually rent an apartment or even buy a house here in Springfield. Plus with my background in media and creative arts, I believe the Lord will open the door for me in due time.

- More friends! The friends I have now have carried me through the first few months here. I don’t know how they’ve done it, but they have and I appreciate and love them. I simply have a desire to branch out, meet new folks and get to know a bunch of people better. I’m at my best when surrounded by people, and I would love to be able to be myself in front of a huge group of friends and make folks laugh like I used to be able to do so easily. Also, with more friends, there exists the possibility of meeting…

Continue reading ‘What I (Hope To) Look Forward To In 2008′

The 54321: Electronic Music I Discovered In 2007

Posted December 30, 2007 at 3:05 pm // 2 Comments

I know I previously said my next post was going to be what I can look forward to in 2008, but I was listening to some music this morning and came up with a great idea…to make a post about the best music I happened across in 2007. So I’m presenting you a 54321 with a 6th track.

All of this music is going to be of an electronic nature, so be prepared to get out of your chair and jump around. Even if you are plagued by sinusitis today, like myself. Enjoy.

6. “LoveStoned (Tiesto Remix)” by Justin Timberlake.

She’s got me lovestoned. I think that she knows. This remix has me lovestoned as well.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Continue reading ‘The 54321: Electronic Music I Discovered In 2007′

The Year 2007 According To Chris Brewer

Posted December 29, 2007 at 12:25 am // 3 Comments

We’re only 50 hours away from saying goodbye to 2007, and with that I will close the book on one of the most tumultuous years in my personal history.

With everything that happened both bad and good this year, I figure that as I look ahead to 2008, it’s only appropriate that I link back to some blog posts and recap some events that made this year what it was for me: an unnecessary roller coaster.

Here everything is, in chronological order. To set the scene, beginning January 1, I was jobless and living with my then-girlfriend’s parents. Enjoy the ride through the agony and ecstasy that was 2007, after the jump.

Continue reading ‘The Year 2007 According To Chris Brewer’

Life Isn’t Fair. Neither Are Televangelists.

Posted December 28, 2007 at 12:07 am // 1 Comment

Last week all the weather guys around here predicted 5-8 inches of snow for the Springfield area. Here in Republic, we only got dusted.

Now today, reports from friends back home in Oregon serve as proof that life is not fair. We rarely got snow up there, maybe once or twice a year…but they got SOCKED today with over a foot of the white stuff. I wonder what it looks out my old bedroom window now.

I want snow and I want it NOW.

On a more serious note of life not being fair, some friends of our family back in Washington state were involved in a nasty accident on Christmas day. Some guy illegally passed other vehicles around a curve on a country road, and the Almond family, who were on their way to visit family in Camas, were the unfortunate participants in the accident the man was begging to get in. They’re all physically hurt pretty bad so keep them in your prayers. They’re great friends of the family so it’s tough on Mom and Dad especially. Praise the Lord they all made it out alive…the sheriff said he was astounded there were no deaths in the accident.

Now moving on to the televangelist portion…just read this from CNN, and even though the story is on the most liberal news network in America, it still raises a good point that those who buy into the prosperity gospel are being led down a horrible road. I haven’t picked on Benny and his televangelist cronies for awhile but since this came up on the CNN front page I figured now is a good time to. The preachers who bilk people out of their money have a lot of things to answer for if they make it to heaven, that’s for sure.

Simply Amazing.

Posted December 26, 2007 at 8:32 pm // 0 Comments

Check this video out. Can you guess what song it is in the first minute and five seconds of the video?

Hope Your Christmas Was Good Too!

Posted December 26, 2007 at 12:40 am // 3 Comments

Christmas is over, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t be happy and festive. In fact I’m a little schnocked from some spiked eggnog. Ok, not really, but I am excited because I got to watch the Blazers beat Seattle tonight 89-79, giving them 11 straight wins. What in the name of Bill Walton is going on here?

Tomorrow it’s back to work amid a flurry of good news. After a huge scare Monday in which I was told I had a 90% chance of being let go by Friday, the other 10% won out and I have been allowed to keep my job until I find employment elsewhere (which we’re all praying is soon). This means my job is secure, and God will continue to provide and has once again proven Himself faithful.

It was good to have the family here today, first time in three years we’ve all been together on Christmas and the first time the whole family has been together on both holidays since 2001. Turns out Dad is going to stay five extra days until Dec. 31 and Jason isn’t leaving until Jan. 3. We’ve got a few more days to look forward to, together. And wouldn’t you believe it, no stupid arguments have arisen between my brother and I. Guess you could say we finally grew up. ;)

Here’s to hoping it snows tomorrow, and before I go I want to let everyone know the good old folks who made the Commodore 64 wish you a Merry Christmas (I gotta get this in before the day ends):

Hope you’re all diggin’ the rotating header image featuring photography I shot back home in Oregon, and hope your Christmas was as good as mine.

Personal Reflections On This Christmas Holiday

Posted December 24, 2007 at 3:48 am // 2 Comments

I will be the first to admit that it really doesn’t feel like Christmas much this year. Chalk it up to a variety of reasons — Christmas music being overplayed at work, the weather having been so crazy recently, or me just not being able to get into the spirit — but it feels like another Christmas will have come and gone without much fanfare.

Growing up back home in Rainier, Oregon, in a small single-wide trailer in a trailer park (it was OUR home and we were proud of it), Jason and I used to get so wound up and excited for Christmas. We would eagerly anticipate the gifts of course, and for some reason whenever I think of Christmases past I remember that blue trailer and even though our family never boasted much, we had a ton of fun every year.

We used to drive up Fern Hill Road and across the backroads, eventually ending up in Rainier itself, looking at Christmas lights all evening. We would drive across the Columbia River and the state line into Longview, Washington and follow a normally predetermined route as we would drive up into Snob Hill and check out the gorgeous houses and Christmas displays.

Then we would all come home, watch some incarnation of A Christmas Carol and all go to bed. Then it was up early the next day where we would gather in the living room, have breakfast, Dad would draw out his prayer a little longer than usual to keep us waiting, and then we would open presents.

I remember some of the best presents I ever received. Mom and Dad bought Jason and I a huge K’NEX set, and we built a roller coaster with it. We couldn’t maneuver in our room but it was still wonderful. Then there was the year they bought me a subwoofer system with satellite speakers for my computer. I still use those today.

Continue reading ‘Personal Reflections On This Christmas Holiday’

Jonathan Lee Riches Is A Smart, Hilarious Man

Posted December 23, 2007 at 12:35 am // 1 Comment

I don’t know how I initially heard about this guy, but boy am I oh so glad I did.

Jonathan Lee Riches is an inmate at FCI Williamsburg in South Carolina, convicted of wire fraud in 2004. Instead of doing his time, playing ping pong, working out in the gym, and eating mystery meat, this guy comes up with the most resourceful use of his time anyone could ever come up with.

He writes lawsuits. Tons of them. Against everyone and everything in existence.

You think I’m kidding? Check this out. Pages and pages full of frivolous lawsuits against people who are popular in the media, sports teams he despises, and … phone numbers. Not kidding, folks. Here are some of my favorites.

Riches v. Pitt, et al. – Plaintiff Jonathan Lee Riches sued Defendants Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Maddox Jolie Pitt, Zahara Jolie Pitt, Shiloh Jolie Pitt, and Pax Jolie Pitt. Plaintiff alleged that Defendants Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie kidnapped Madeleine McCann in a major conspiracy plot to adopt her against her will, as part of a secret plot to take, kidnap and adopt a child from each of the 192 world wide countries. Plaintiff stated that he learned about the plot from his pen pal Billy Bob Thornton.

Riches vs. Starbucks Coffee Company – Plaintiff Jonathan Lee Riches d/b/a Political Prisoner sued Defendants Starbucks Coffee Co. and Howard Schultz and seeks $5 million and release from solitary confinement. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Starbucks are conspiring with FCI Williamsburg to keep him away from the general population and the courts. Plaintiff also alleges that Defendant Schultz is friends with Michael Vick, and that Defendants want to burn him with hot coffee.

Riches v. Billy Joel – Plaintiff sues Billy Joel for “stealing his Philly soul.” Alleged that defendant Billy Joel the Singer is his step-father, and sent him to defendant Vision Quest Psychiatric Facility in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Plaintiff alleged that Vision Quest forced him to sleep in teepees with no UFO radar defense system. Plaintiff also alleged that Italian hitmen made him sign an omerta silence oath, Vision Quest made him travel around the country in horse and buggies like the Amish, and “We Didn’t Start the Fire” was in the stingrays head when it killed the croc master Steve Irwin.

As you can see, the guy writes some hilarious stuff. I can’t imagine Hollywood ever coming up with something like this…ever. My all time favorite is Jonathan Lee Riches v. Bill Belicheck, Tom Brady and Randy Moss. My favorite phrases: “Bill Belichick is the real father of Tom Brady’s child” and “Belichick is a peeping Tom Brady.” The dude is a genius.

Except for the fact that he’s wasting us taxpayers’ good money.

Recap Of The Past 24 Hours

Posted December 22, 2007 at 12:43 am // 2 Comments

11:45 PM yesterday - My younger brother, Jason, arrived home for Christmas two days early. What a nice surprise.

2:05 AM today – Jason gives his heart back to Jesus. Hadn’t been living right for a few weeks and realized what he was doing was pretty dumb and needed to rededicate to Christ. Good choice. Mom and I helped him pray and a huge weight lifted from our backs. You can even see, he’s a different guy altogether.

3:00 AM – I go to bed.

10:38 AM – I am awakened by a text message. Evin wants the $7 she spotted me two weeks ago.

Noon – Pastor and I meet at Cielito Lindo on South Campbell for lunch. Evin and Shauna were there, and Nick drove over to meet us all. We talked, laughed, ate, had fun, etc. Pastor’s lunch was my treat, and I was also able to pick up the tab for Ev as well — there’s that $7.

1:30 PM – I finish up my Christmas shopping. I think I sat in traffic on Glenstone for a greater period of time than I spent in any one store.

5:00 PM – I get home. Total time in stores: 1 hour, 23 minutes. Total time in traffic: 1 hour, 37 minutes. Total gas wasted: I don’t want to know.

7:00 PM – Mom goes to get Dad from the airport, I wrap presents.

8:07 PM – Jason and I play some Mario Kart 64. That’s right, yes, the Nintendo 64. On my computer.

11:35 PM – The Blazers win their 10th straight at the expense of the Denver Nuggets, 99-96.

11:46 PM – Bedtime.

Thank God For A Day Off

Posted December 21, 2007 at 12:24 pm // 4 Comments

My work schedule is pretty relaxed this holiday weekend. I am off today, work 9-5 tomorrow, get Sunday off, work Monday for 5 hours, get a paid holiday over Christmas, and then I work 40 hours next week. So this paycheck will be pretty decent as well, and thank God for that.

Today I’ve got to go get a bunch of Christmas shopping done, and I feel bad because I’ve been slacking off on doing what I need to do and buying stuff for other people. Thank God my family is easy to buy gifts for as we all just basically generalize our gift ideas and base it more off what everyone wants to get us rather than what we want to get. So shopping today, while a pain, should be a bit easy.

Pretty soon the entire family will be here for Christmas. Dad flies in tonight and I am excited. Thought it was Sunday originally for some reason, but no he will be here tonight.

I’m off to lunch with our Pastor, and I need to leave this house because my Mom is playing an endless stream of Mannheim Steamroller — while cool, too much of a good thing can poison you.

Peace in the Middle East on this Christmas holiday.