The difference 20 years will make

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I found one of the first head shots I ever did. I was 19 at the time and going to do a cattle call in Fresno for a movie that was going to shoot at the time. (Some Sci-Fi movie) Now I know I have had some plastic surgery between these photos but it's a little crazy to me how different these two shots look.

This, that and a dash of 'other'

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My mom wanted to see what her grand kid was up to. As you can see she is JUST as worthless as ever.

So lets see what's been up since my last update?

Chicago is on a "weird" winter so far. Not as cold and snow filled as last year but that's OK.

Amanda joined a "Corn hole League" (for you west coast peeps check this link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornhole) So every Wednesday her and a friend from work will be tossing bags and drinking beer. Me and the other hubby will be the cheering section. Half price wings and beer specials wake it even more fun.

Amanda and I are coming to California in February and I am really excited to see some friends and family AND! I am performing at iO West on the main stage! More on that here - http://siteadelic.com/feb12th

I'm also stage managing again for a midnight show at Comedysportz. Then I joined a group that meets on Saturday mornings... So the weekends have become long for me.

Nothing new on the job front for Amanda and I. Still waiting...

Amanda got a new phone. She got a Blackberry Tour and seems to like it, the battery life kind of sucks. I still LOVE my droid! It really is a dream phone for me. I am still amazed with the things it does.

I'm watching Dexter season 3 and loving it! It's such a weird show but I like quirky shows. Now to see if Amanda will watch it.

My body has grown a earlobe in the center of my back... Just kidding, checking to see if you are actually reading this.

I don't know, I guess not much else is going on. What's up with you?




Christmas and a 2009 recap

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We got through all the Christmas craziness with out too much fuss. We kept it pretty low key this year since we are recouping from all the wedding and honeymoon expenses. Christmas Eve in the afternoon we drove to Toledo and let me tell you we may do that every year we go to Toledo for the holidays! There was NO TRAFFIC at all! I'm pretty sure we made it there in record time. Meili helped by sleeping most of the trip. I don't know if it's becuase she is getting older or just more used to the 5 hour drive.

We did the normal Widmer family hotlap - Grandmas house, parents house then uncles house. Lots of food and lots of fun. The only down side was the ring we got from Robbins Brothers (remember the company that went belly up right after we gave them $1100?) broke at the bottom of the band. It REALLY upset me since it was a huge stress to me this summer and something of a miracle that they actually got us a ring before they closed their doors. More on the ring later.

One of the highlights of the weekend was Amanda's mom got Band Hero (the Guitar Hero version of ROCK BAND) it was tons of fun seeing everyone sing and play drums or guitar. Kent is a wiz on the drums and got 90% to 100% on singing even it he had never heard the song before. His version of "Do you really want to hurt me?" by Culture Club sounded like a lounge singer version. It was AWESOME!

We got home to a cold and snowy Chicago. It does not seem as bad as last year but the effects of winter are in full effect. We want comfort all the time and do not really feel the need to go out as much... YAY!

We are also waiting to hear if Amanda has a permanent job here in Chicago or if we have to move to a new city. Earlier we were looking at Atlanta Ga. now we are tentatively looking at Tucson Az. Her boss has indicated that she will get a job here but we have to cover out bases.

We have been married three months now. People keep asking how it feels to be married as if we somehow gained super powers when the rings went on our fingers. Really the one big difference I notice is that we are not planning a wedding anymore. That's not to say we are not happy to be married it's just that the wedding planning is SUCH A HUGE part of 2009 that there does not seem to be a time that we were not planning it. And we have been together for four years now! Crazy...

I went to Zales Monday to get my ring re-sized and took Amanda's to see if they would fix hers too. Turns out Zales has a pretty good jeweler on site and can not only fix her palladium wedding band from Robins Brothers but also weld it to her Platinum engagement band. My ring was a full size too big (go figure!) and after picking it up last night fits like a glove now. We will get Amanda's ring next week.

For the new year we are throwing a party again. But this time we actually have the room to do it! So nice... Last night we went and spent a grip of money at Costco so it should be a fun time.

Looking back at 2009 -

Our first Christmas in Chicago - Everyone made us feel at home. Eternally grateful to Bryan and Sarah and Amanda's family.

Our first party in our small house - Played Wii and generally rubbed elbows with everyone since out place was so small. Bryan on Sype with Will in Fresno and someone dropping their pants on the cam.

President - We got to go to Obama's rally in the park by a total fluke. Standing there and watching the person you voted for win was emotional to say the least! Then CNN picked up some of the video I took of the rally with Amanda's point and shoot camera.

Fresno - The morning after the rally I flew to Fresno and surprised everyone! Much fun.

Wedding planning - Kicked into high gear! Fired a best man, got a new one.

New Friends - Chris, Mike, Greg, Harz, Jerome, Nicole, James and Rima, Shane and Lindsey, Kristen, Lindsey C. and many more made 2009 an AWESOME year!

Truck - Paid off Amanda's truck!

Improv - Graduated from Comedysportz and spent the summer doing shows there. Started Annoyance and put together a two man improvised musical for a competition and did pretty good. Auditions not so good, but whatever...

Work - Got my hours cut down to half time two months before our wedding. BOOOOOOO! Picked up some new clients and sold some websites to make up for the loss.

Travel - Amanda went to Colorado and PA for conferences and then I got to go to Portland with her for one. I spent a weekend in a luxury cabin in Wisconsin with friends riding ATV's and eating great food!

New home -
We moved again in 2009! This time to a three bedroom duplex and I can't say I have been happier with a place as I am with this one. And for once we have all the room we need.

Grandpa - Amanda's grandfather passed away in his sleep just a few weeks before the wedding. Very sad.

We got married - WOW! What a ride! But it all turned out great and people are still talking about it (although I am done with hearing about it...) Thank you to everyone who helped!

Honeymoon - Our first vacation in over a year and what a trip! We love Kauai! The island is magical and the people laid back and wonderful. I lost my ring and got it back. We had a house and a red mustang convertible, rode horses and ate at a Luau! We saw Pearl Harbor and the Grand Canyon of the pacific. Really just the thing we needed and thank you to everyone who put into the honeymoon fund to make it an extra special trip!

What's that you say? - After years of Amanda asking me when I was going to get my hearing checked I did it. And sure enough, I'm hard of hearing and may have been my whole life. YAY! Lucky for me my hearing can be corrected with hearing aids. Sadly insurance does not cover them and we don't have the $3000 - $6000 they cost... Until then don't mumble around me OK?

Those are the big things that jump out to me. 2009 was all in all a good year with some great things that happened and I am looking forward to 2010!
   

Badger's Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

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So this week I wanted to make my own chicken pot pies. I hopped on the interwebs and searched for "Easy Chicken Pot Pies" what came up were all very easy but they were also large pies and I wanted to make individual pot pies like you get in the frozen food section. I took inventory of what I had here at home and then made my way to the store. Here is what I ended up with - (This is a GREAT recipe for guys! Super EASY!)

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2 Large cans of canned chunk white chicken (use one if you like your pies less meaty)
1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 bag of Vally Fresh Red Potato and Green Bean Steamers
2 boxes of Pilsbury Ready Made Pie Crust
4 small pie tins or if you can find them like I did pot pie tins

First get your pie crust to room temperature so you can lay the crust into the tins. Now the crust is of course round, don't sweat this since you can splice pieces together. I used three out of four of the crust rolls that I had and froze the last one. Put the finished tins to the side.

Steam the bag of veggies (takes 6 minutes)

In a medium size pot pour your soups, can of  chicken and the veggies. You can also add more veggies at this time. Since the veggie bag comes seasoned I did not add any more seasoning. Cook over medium heat until warm.

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Place two scoops of your mix in each pie tin (more if you have it) lay your top crust on the pie and pull off the extra. You will have to take the extra strips and make the last pie top from these not a big deal guys, put a little flour in your hands and roll it together then flatten it out. Mold the pie top to the crust in the tin until you have a raised edge all around. With a fork go around the edge pushing down until you have a serrated pattern all around. I also took a knife and placed two vent holes (but I don't think you need to, it just looks nice to me)

Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees, place the pies in the oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown. DONE! You now have individual pot pies!

Amanda liked them but had some notes for me so I thought I would add those here. She suggested thinning the pie filling a little with chicken broth and adding more veggies and less chicken. I would also think you could make a nice Shepherds Pie this way with ground beef seasoned with onions and pepper on the bottom, a layer of sauteed carrots and then mashed potatoes. Bake open topped or cover with pie strips in a cross thatched pattern. YUM!



Avatar - A Badger review!

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Many of you may have missed a little gem of a movie opening in theaters this week called Avatar. In case you did let me give you a little Badger review. Honestly, I'm not going to do the whole "This movie is directed by" blah, blah, blah. Everyone knows who James Cameron is and we all saw Titanic. By that I mean WE HAVE ALL SEEN TITANIC! In fact every single being on this planet that pumps red viscous fluid in their veins has seen at least one movie by James Cameron.

Now, as for the movie plot let me sum it up this way -

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Pocahontas meets Dances with Wolves meets Apocalypse Now... In space!

Oh, and there are flying dragons / dinosaurs that only bond with one person their entire life (Ala The Dragonriders of Pern)

No, really. That's the story.


Now I could end my review right now and go eat the piece of chocolate cake that is waiting for me in the kitchen, but I really feel that there is more to this movie than a paper thin (and more than a slightly preachy) storyline.

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This is a a good movie. I honestly did enjoy it immensely! The effects and the 3D that Cameron has put together feel like you are there. Also I personally did not end up with a headache like I usually do when I watch a 3D flick. I think the thing that really blows my mind is the consistency of the whole movie. You never once think that something feels out of place during the whole experience. Never one effect that outshines the others. The tech that the humans in the story have is sensible and more than once I found myself thinking that in a few years we could have those things. On the other side the world of the Na'vi (The ten foot tall blue natives) feels alien and dangerous.

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The stars are actually well cast and people I consider to be very talented but much like a Star Wars movie the dialog is many times predictable (and often just bad.) I could have done without a full blown Braveheart "Round up the troops and inspire them to beat incredible odds" speech. Besides all that, this the movie is very entertaining. If you turn off your Flux-Reasoning Capacitor and just sit back and enjoy you will find Avatar to be a great popcorn movie full of eye popping effects.

I have already heard rumors of a sequel and and I assure you I will pledge some of my hard earned money to see where our blue friends go next. Maybe we can get something more like The Empire Strikes Back on the next go around.

This badger gives the movie four out of five paws.




Our tree is up!

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Our tree is up!, originally uploaded by josiahbadger.

I forgot about some of the cool ornaments we have aquired in our travels, including one from Devils Tower and a pinapple from our honeymoon. I managed to salvage the Pekingese angel orenament that the wings broke off of last year.

We're making ice cream!

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We're making ice cream!, originally uploaded by josiahbadger.

One of our wedding gifts was an ice cream maker and since we had some frozen
black berries from Amanda's parents garden we are making black berry
vinilla. GREAT SUCSESS!!!

Video of Meili in the snow

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Amanda meets baby Jimmy!

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Amanda meets baby Jimmy!, originally uploaded by josiahbadger.

We went to breackfest with Jason and Carrie and got some 'baby time' with
their new arrival James. He has a full head of red hair and I hope they know
what they are getting into with a red headed boy! Right mom?

Mini Life Update

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Not too much going on -

I managed to drop my BRAND NEW Droid phone in the toilet. Luckily our insurance got us a new one less the $90 deductible. Guess that's my birthday and Xmas present.

Amanda is working nights this week.

We got our 150 page bound book of wedding photos and that is PRETTY AWESOME!

Meili got groomed and was not too happy about it. But at least she no longer smells like the water I soaked my phone in and is ready for the holidays.

Going to Toledo next week and I for one am pretty excited to get out of town for a bit.

My friends and I are shooting a short film from the Nikon Film Fest. First prize is $100,000 wouldn't that be nice?

Going to keep Christmas small this year so we can build up some savings again. Amazing how a wedding will clean out your bank account.

Almost all the leafs are gone from the trees, soon we will have snow again. I am happy that we do not have to go outside, walk down a alley and then into a basement just to do laundry any more. Our new place costs a bit more but is defiantly worth it.

I guess that's it! Hope everyone has a great holiday!
-Alan

Wedding


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