Are We There Yet?

Vacation 2008

2008-08-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

I know that it has been a while since I have written on my blog (I should have that as a template for all my entries).

I am just not totally committed to my blog. I am a social blogger. I only write when the pressure gets so intense that I feel that I have to write to be able to look meema (did I spell that correctly?) in the eyes next time I see her.

So we went on vacation this past week to Higgins lake. Higgins lake is a great lake in Norther Michigan. The first part of the week was to have a burial ceremony for Steph's grandma. She has a lot of family up in that area.

The week was a lot of laying around, boat rides, and eating. I gained more than I should have, in large part due to the food just being on the counter and my re-kindling of my relationship with Vodka Tonics.

The house was right on the lake so that the kids could just play in the water and we could hang out and catch up with family.

The weather was great and we came home very relaxed ready for a slow month of August. School will be here soon.

Never Use Pancake Mix Again!

2008-06-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

So this post is sort of self serving. A few years ago I took some clients to a fishing lodge north of Baldwin. One of the people that went with us was Bob Beaumont. I learned a lot form Bob both professionally and in the kitchen. It is his BBQ class syllabus that is now my BBQ bible. Bob took some time off to go to culinary school, which lead to may non-work conversations. Bob has since retired and moved to Sugar Island in the UP. If somehow you find my blog Bob - Thank You for the great culinary direction.

So on this fishing trip he told me that he had a recipe for Buttermilk Pancakes that would make me never want a box mix again. I was skeptical. So now to the self serving part. I copied the recipe onto a small sheet of paper and then on to the box flaps of both of my electric griddles. I thought that it would be easier to be able to go to the computer and look it up. So here is the pancake recipe. As the story goes, Aunt Mamie used to make these pancakes for lumberjacks in the UP back in the day. They are the greatest pancakes and Bob was right, I have not purchaed a box of pancake mix since. Here is the recipe, Enjoy.

1 Egg
4 Tablespoons Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 Cups of Buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 2/3 Cups of Flour

Combine the first three ingredients (egg, sugar, salt) in a bowl and whisk well. To that add the last three ingredients (buttermilk, baking soda, flour) and combine. Do not over-mix, it should still be a just mixed.

I use an electric griddle on high heat. Pour the pancakes on the griddle. When you flip the pancakes, poke the top with the spatula to let the steam out.

Enjoy.

festival 2008

2008-06-09T05:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the annual festival of the arts in downtown Grand Rapids. This is an event that is close to our family as we have been involved in the event for 10 years as volunteers. I also Co-Chaired the even in 2004.

This year was the first year that Elliot was able to get involved in a real way. He was the "man about festival". He worked selling merchandise in the festival store, he emceed on stage, he even signed up the volunteer's massage list. He made me very proud. In addition to volunteering this year, he was also an award winner. He won second place in the Philatelic awards. That is a contest to design a stamp cancellation that is actually used by the USPS at the event.

This is such a fun event. We need to get more of our friends to come and volunteer with us to make it even more fun. In order to close some friends on the idea - there is festival red pop - that is for you Megz.

I look forward to the volunteer party that is coming up as there is going to be a big announcement about another Bergsma and festival.

Stay tuned for that one. (it is a festival tradition to keep this secret until that party)

Next Exit - New Career

2008-06-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

Well it is time to change roads on this journey. I have accepted a position with HP. This means that my travel will be statewide rather than countrywide. The position is one that seems to be made for me. It is selling products that I spent 8 years selling. The company is one that I have wanted to work for for a long time.

So as I approach the next stretch of road in the journey of life, I reflect on all the great people that I have met along the way so far, and look forward to all that I am going to meet in the future.

To all of the people that have helped me get where I am today, I thank you. Without the support of all of you through the years, this move would not have been possible.

In some respects, I am living a dream with this move. I look forward to making this dream come true.

Finally I can go into the wind

2008-05-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

We went to our friends house last night to enjoy Marco's Pizza, haircuts, and a great game of kickball.

But most important to me was that I finally got my hair product. American Crew Fiber. It holds up to the wind.

All of you loyal, devoted readers of this spellbinding blog will know that I have been using my backup product (a quick buy at CVS) for the past couple of weeks and it is just not the same.

Bring on the wind.

No Pressure At All

2008-05-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Well after recovering from the breakdown that I had over not putting anything here, I am now putting going to post out of the blue.

I love my neighborhood. We have the greatest neighbors in the world. I do extend my neighborhood out a few streets to include a couple of families (Richards - You Are IN!). We can all hang out and have a great time around the newly portable fireplace (see picture) and enjoy good times. The fireplace is totally legal according to the EGR Police Officer that rolled up on the party about 11:30 on Saturday evening. Luckily he was not looking for us, and even if he was we were not in front of my house, so for that night I would have played the part of one J. Doublestein.

I am looking forward to a summer full of just hanging out in each others yards doing a whole bunch of nothing.

Craking Under Pressure

2008-04-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

OK I admit it has been a while I since I put an entry into the world that is my blog. I can not take th pressure any longer. Even Mrs. R is on me about not adding any new material.

So while I am waiting for the Home Made Macaroni and Cheese that my wife is making, I am putting keyboard to internet and adding to my silly little blog.

What should I write about? How excited I am for another restaurant to open in Gaslight, how I am not happy that the weather is going to get cold here or the fact that I am out of my normal hair product and that the one I am using just does not hold up in the wind? So much to write about, but I am not sure that I want to get it all out now, then I won't have anything else to blog about.

So there you go all you critics who say you really wish that you could get to know more about me. Now I am going to go comb my hair, get my home made macaroni and wait for the new restaurant to open; all while celebrating the weather that is about to get cold again.

Until next time.. enjoy the ride.

Fred's for Mexican Food????

2008-02-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

So when I originally started this blogging thing it was to remember and share the great food that I try to find while I am traveling for business. It then turned into me blogging most times after Sarah would say to me"you have not added to your blog in a long time, I might have to remove my link to you".

Well I thought that I would share a great place to eat if you are in Souther California. While on a recent business trip we asked our client where they would recommend for lunch. They settled on Fred's. They told us that it was good Mexican food, we were skeptical (and who wouldn't be when they send you to Fred's for Mexican). I am here to tell you that when I think of Mexican - I now think of the name Fred.

Here is a link to Fred's where they always celebrate "Cinco de Fred" on the fifth of each month.

I know that you wished you lived on Orchard Ave.

2008-01-28T08:26:00.001-08:00

Who knows how to party? Orchard Ave knows how to party.

We had a great Progressive dinner the other night. The conversation made us blush, and the food made us full and the wine just helped everything.

I am posting out of what I call "Full On Blogging Guilt" that was inflicted by the queen of "cooter talk". I will not use names here as I do not want people to feel as though I have loose lips.

Anyway - here is my blog entry for the first quarter. To see the pictures, click the picture below.

Until my next guilt induced post...

Orchard Ave Progressive Dinner

Family Rocks

2007-11-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

I am sitting on the couch right now with my son and wife. My daughter is playing with Oliver (John and Dave's cute dog). We are all together in Philly to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

Being with Family (even if it involves a 12 hour drive) is the best. We drove halfway to Cranberry PA and spent the night. The kids were happy because they were able to swim. We are stopping back there on the way home as well.

As I write this, my wife is asking "you have a blog?". She really knew, but it is not of much interest to her, because she knows all that I write about before I write it.

Now I am going to give the Keyboard to my son Elliot so that he can write his first blog.

Here we go...........

school is awesome! and I got the teacher I wanted. family really rocks. these are my
friends: Connor, Cooper, Julia, Emily J, Emily A, Peter, Shama tomma , Nick, Jason, Jake s. Some things I like are, playing football, eating, and recess. That was fun!

Great Job Elliot. You ROCK!!!!!!!!

Chuckin' and Duckin'

2007-10-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the chance to go fishing. I won the trip on the radio (WLAV). The trip was supplied to the radio station by Doug Kool of Kool Toytota. I was fortunate to be able to go with a West Michigan Radio Legend, Tony Gates.

The day was cold and rainy. Perfect for fishing for Steelhead in Michigan. We were on the river by 7:30 AM and we fished until breaking for lunch at 11:30. The lunch was no ordinary lunch. Our guide, Dave Barkman of Schmidt Outfitters made us grilled tuna steaks and grilled shrimp.

After lunch we finally had some action in the water. We hooked up on 5 fish, and were able to land one. The one that we landed was my first Steelhead on a fly rod. We were using great Sage equipment. It made me want one of my own (maybe next year). The fishing slowed down once a cold front went through and the temperature dropped 10 degrees and the rain picked up again.

Above is a picture of me with the fish that we were able to land. It was a team effort. Tony hooked it, I landed it, and Dave rowed like crazy to get us there.

All in all a great day of fishing. Now I cant wait to get back out there. Maybe with a neighbor who can go fishing when ever he feels like it. You know the one that I am talking about.

Why Do They Call Them Wisdom Teeth?

2007-10-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am curious why they don't call those teeth "they are going to hurt like hell when you get them out" teeth.

My lovely wife is in pain right now from getting all of her "wisdom" teeth out on Friday. She is in so much pain. We have called the doctor to see if we need to go in (and consulted with out Dentist friend - Thanks Jason) and they told us that today would be the worst day for pain. I sure hope that they are right because she is in a lot of pain.

I would also like to say hello to the only person that reads this blog. Are you happy now that I have added a post? If you are reading this and you are not either me, or the one other person who reads this (and you know who you are) - Thanks for stopping by.

No Place Like Home.

2007-10-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

So I am back. It has been a while since I have added anything to my blog. Before that was not a problem, but now I have a friend (not plural yet - i am still working on that) that links to my blog. That means that there may be others actually reading this. To this point is has just been me, stopping by to see how cool it is that I have a blog.

This whole blog thing is pressure. I don't know what to write about. I could go into the boring details of the job that i do selling software, or i could detail the weather, or the state of the nation. But none of those really seem to be very interesting. So i will default to family.

My son has a birthday coming up that will make him 8 years old. I am so excited about how he is growing up. He is excited about school and sports, a trend that I encourage him to keep for years. My daughter is also in Kindergarten (going into her Senior Year of High School). She had me help her pick out her clothes last night before bed.

It is these types of memories that i want to hold on to. Family is so important. I hope that if anyone reads this, that they will be reminded of that. All families have their crazy aunt, or lose patience when your child waits to the last minute to do his homework, but there is still nothing that can compare to family.

I have to go sell software. (and maybe get home early to watch Oprah).

Crossing the Country for Fun

2007-09-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

So as trips go, this was a big one. I was suposed to travel to Califonia for a business trip. I made it to California, but while I was somewhere over Colorado at 36,000 feet my meetings were cancelled. So I arrive in San Francisco to find a note that says that I am free of Client meetings.

So I spend a night in a great hotel (www.cypresshotel.com) and had an average dinner at the Elephant Bar (www.elephantbar.com). I had breakfast in the hotel and now it is off to catch a flight home.

Trip recap - Left at 6:30AM yesterday, Traveled 3,472 miles on airplanes, spent one night in a hotel that I prepaid for two rooms for three nights (a lot of $$$) and will be home by 11:00PM tonight.

So the trip continues.........

Community

2007-09-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

I love a sense of community. I love tailgates, BBQs, get togethers, block parties, anytime that friends get together. Recently, I have added another category to my sense of community. I now enjoy reading blogs. There I said it. I am no longer a mysterious voyeur in blog land. I posted a comment for the first time this week.

While hosting a neighborhood BBQ, I went inside and posted my first comment. The comment was to a friends blog. It was a funny comment, that if you did not know me, would sound both out of place and incredibly vain. I would point you all (you all - like I have anyone but me reading this) to the post, but I don't know how to do that yet.

I must also confess that I am not sure how to handle the fact that I enjoy discussing US Weekly with my wife and the other Moms in the neighborhood. I think that it is alright that I was able to debate whether or not Britney is a fit parent right?

Well, that is enough writing for me today. I am getting ready for a business trip to California. I am taveling with our CEO, so i am sure that i will have some great recommendations for places to eat in Silcon Valley.

Stay tuned, the trip continues.

2007-08-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

I am not sure about you, but when I was young going anywhere over an hour seemed like forever. We would be ten minutes out and the questions would start. When will we be there? How long does it take? Are we there yet?

Since then not much has changed. We are older now, but still ask the questions. What's more is that now we not only are asking the questions (the trip is a little different now), but we also have to answer the very questions that made the drive feel even longer for our parents. I think that kids are programmed to ask these questions.

This is the start of my blogging career. Well, truth be told, I have tried in the past, but it never seemed to stick. So I thought that i would try it again.

Here we go....... Are we there yet?