The difference a baby can make

With Christmas Day just hours from now I know this will be the last Christmas that Stephanie and I will experience being just the two of us. With our little bundle of joy on the way I really can't wait for next Christmas! However, tonight as I ready for bed [hey, Santa doesn't come when you're awake] I have not only our baby to think of -- and the magnitude of change that will come with him/her but I'm incredibly thankful for yet another baby that changed so much for all of us. Let us not forget the "reason for the season" and take a moment to be thankful for all we have and all we are given, because of Him.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Merry Christmas.
-J

Best Christmas Ever!

If you haven't heard by now, Steph and I are going to be parents in six months or so! I've been wanting to be a dad for quite a while now -- it just sort of 'clicked' one day. Though obviously shocked to hear the news from Steph, I'm now ready for my greatest challenge. I never fully understood "I loved you before I ever knew your name" until now. "Peanut," as we are affectionately calling the baby for now, is always on my mind. I know that Steph and I are going to have our eyes opened to all that having a baby brings.

I know I won't be a perfect dad, Peanut, but I promise I will do everything to the best one I can be. Love, Dad

A Weekend in: Chattanooga

Last weekend Steph and I enjoyed a relaxing weekend trip to Chattanooga. She had never been and it has been almost 15 years since I had been there myself. Early to mid November gives the best fall color on the two hour drive from Nashville, especially through the Monteagle area. We stayed at the Chattanoogan Hotel on the south side of downtown which was a nice place to stay with a great breakfast buffet at their own restaurant, the Broad Street Grille. We enjoyed the Tennessee Aquarium's two buildings -- Ocean Journey and River Journey. Saturday evening I took Steph to Niko's Southside Grill and we enjoyed the most tender filet ever and topped it off with probably the best, moist, and sweet strawberry cake I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Sunday, on the way home, we toured Ruby Falls which was amazing to me. If you're a nearby reader, or are up for a trip, check it out, especially in the Fall!

Fall, Christmas, stars in the sky, and "that smell"

We've arrived at my favorite team of the year. I despise being hot -- and I get hot very easily. In fact, as a child I recall sitting on the floor of our family room coloring with crayons and sweating like I had been running a marathon. When Fall arrives and the temperatures drop I absolutely love it. Crisp breezes, colorful foliage, that smell of a wood-burning fireplace, and the thoughts of the holidays ahead -- I love it all. This evening I took a walk through our neighborhood and for the first time in quite a while the air was so clear and fresh I could see the stars. In front of our house I saw the brightest dozens, but as I neared the lake and the street lights didn't interfere my eyes adjusted and I saw thousands. What an amazing sight! I could stare at them for hours.

It's at this time that I begin the anticipation of the holidays ahead, Christmas in particular. It's no longer the "gifts, gifts" anticipation of a child, but the joy of watching children open their gifts, decorating the house, giving and giving, donating, and remembering why we celebrate Christmas. Though I try to be thankful to God throughout the year, it's this time that I slow down and take the time I should always take to thank Him for everything. What a wonderful time of the year! So what if stores are stocking the shelves in October! Fantastic! I can't wait to put out the few outdoor decorations and lights that I put up each year -- it's one of my favorite things to do.

Finally, I want to take an opportunity to remember my grandmother, "Babi." It's this time of year that I miss her the most -- probably because it was this time of year that I got to spend the most time with her. Earlier this week I was walking through our house, and once at work in my office, and there was "the smell". This smell instantly sends my mind to Babi's house. It was the unmistakable smell of her house -- not a bad smell at all, but one that snaps my mind back to that place of comfort, love, and wonderful food! I still have no idea what caused me to smell it as I could never locate the source and as quickly as it came, it left. But, it will return, and then, so will the memories.

Coinstar

I seem to collect loose change. As a habitual swiper of plastic I rarely have a chance to use coins. Over the past several months I amassed a significant quantity of change. While watching Modern Marvels I learned of Coinstar. I had seen the Coinstar machines in various locations nearby but had never used one -- until today. Coinstar machines count your loose change (just pour it in and watch the numbers climb). Those coins are sorted inside the machine, removed by an armored truck service (such as Brinks) and taken to one of their processing facilities to be recounted and repackaged for redistribution to banks, retail establishments, and more. Normally, Coinstar charges 8.9 cents per dollar counted/accepted (the machine kicks out damaged or unrecognized coins), but they now offer FREE counting if you use their gift card or eCertificate service. Being a regular customer of Amazon.com I thought I'd give it a try today. So, thank you Coinstar and Amazon.com for converting my $77.85 of loose coins into something I'm more likely to use!

Mimis Cafe

Stephanie and I tried out Mimis Cafe recently for breakfast. In our area there are locations in Hendersonville and Murfreesboro, but they have many others. Great atmosphere! The food was delicious and plentiful. I highly recommend their blueberry muffins which are made with applesauce making them incredibly moist.

Thanks for supporting SU2C

Friday night's show was great and I look forward to hearing how much money was raised Friday night alone. All things considered, didn't Patrick Swayze and Christina Applegate look good? I'd like to thank the friends and family that donated to SU2C. This list are the people I know donated and deserve a special thanks. If I missed your name, let me know!

A in-no-particular-order very, very special thanks to...

• Stephanie!
  
• Rick & Sandra Bradley
• Jim & Linda Hutzel
• Jesse & Mattie Bradley
  
• Michael & Sarah Bradley
• Mr. & Mrs. Miller
  
• Beth & Tim Lemons
• Greg & Laura Hutzel
• Jon & Jennifer Hutzel
• Mike Hutzel & Jennifer Robinson
• Adam & Christina Pawlowski
• Rusty Boozer
• Gabe Keller
• Shawn Wall
• Fred & Jennifer Rice
• Tammy Johnson
  

StandUp2Cancer

Readers,

Many, if not all of you, know of my battle with cancer from 2003-2004. Many of you also have family, friends and coworkers that have been affected by cancer -- and some of you, like me, are also a Survivor. I'm donating and feel that Survivors owe it to themselves to fight back beyond the physical toll by helping make this the beginning of the end of cancer so others never have to go through the same thing we have.

For those of you that haven't heard, the StandUp2Cancer organization is having a ground-breaking telethon on September 5th @ 8PM Eastern / 7PM Central. What channel? Oh, ABC, NBC, and CBS! (See the awesome advertisement for it here.) All three major networks have donated commercial-free time to SU2C for this incredible opportunity. This initiative is to raise more money then ever before to be distributed directly to cures for cancer. Also, calls will be answered by celebrities: Casey Affleck, Dana Delany, America Ferrera, Danica Patrick, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Fran Drescher, Sally Field, Christina Ricci, Goran Visnjic, Christina Applegate [recently diagnosed], Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Charlie Gibson, Robin Roberts, Forest Whitaker, Lance Armstrong, Kirsten Dunst, Neil Patrick Harris, Homer & Marge Simpson, Brian Wiliams, Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Edwards, Salma Hayek, David Cook, Elle Fanning, Scarlett Johansson, Meryl Streep, Katie Couric, Jon Favreau, Masi Oka, and Hilary Swank are all confirmed -- with more signing up.

I realize that I have asked several of you before for your support, but it's needed now more than ever. You can be a part of history -- and affect the lives of millions. How? Donate. $1, $20, $50, $100, $More -- anything you can do! You can donate in more ways than ever.

• You can donate by joining my SU2C team at http://www.standup2cancer.org/mysu2c/teams/join/1010 to show me you're standing up with me. (If the link doesn't work, visit www.standup2cancer.org, and search for the "Jason Bradley" team.)
  
• Donate by a one-time charge of $5 to your cell phone bill! Simply text the word STAND to 40202. (You can do this up to 5 times per billing cycle.)
  
• Call 1-888-90-STAND and donate by phone.
• Participate the night of the telethon and call in to donate.
• Donate by mail (if you need to write a check): STAND UP TO CANCER, FILE 1224, 1801 W OLYMPIC BLVD, PASADENA CA 91199-1224

If you donate through any means other then joining my team, please email me to let me know so that I may personally thank you.

-Jason

Cube Runner

Andy Qua, thank you, for bringing us Cube Runner to the iPhone/iPod Touch via AppStore. The game's objective is simple: fly through a 3D landscape littered with cubes. Hit a cube, you 'splode. Don't hit a cube and you rack up points. The further you go the faster you fly and the more complex landscape you must navigate. Well done, sir. Well done.

Want to give it a try? Click here to go directly to Cube Runner in the AppStore.

iPhone 2.0 update

Unfortunately with Vandy buying my iPhone in March I don't expect a 3G will be coming my way anytime soon, but I am pleased with the outcome of the 2.0 firmware update for the iPhone (both first-gen and 3G models). The 2.0 update brings me ActiveSync with the Exchange system at work for live updates of email, contacts and calendars including multiple contact groups. The scientific calculator has been handy for subnet calculations. Probably the greatest thing is the AppStore with hundreds (and growing) applications available over-the-air with over 50% of them free of charge. I've been accused of becoming an Apple fanatic -- a label I'm willing to live with -- and in keeping with that I will say the iPhone is one of the greatest devices for the consumer wanting a phone, digital audio player, portable video and a browser capable of full-screen browsing. Sure, there are others out there but how many have such an easy-to-use interface that well, even a two year old can master?

The Dark Knight & Hancock

This weekend I saw "The Dark Knight" as well as "Hancock". DK was, in a word, awesome! Christian Bale is the definitive Batman and Heath Ledger is hands-down the best Joker. Bale easily portrays Bruce Wayne in a way that Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, and George Clooney (was that even worthy of 'Batman' status?) never could. Let's hope he continues the Batman saga and doesn't disappoint with Terminator 4. Ledger's performance as The Joker was evil, dark, unyielding and overall stellar. It's a shame he will no longer be able to give another powerful performance. Dark Knight's two and half hours didn't feel that long thanks to the intense action and steady plot. No spoilers here but one question for my audience -- where can I get one of those Batmobiles?

"Hancock" was a decent movie and worth seeing in the theater (compared to the wasted $17 dropped on "The Happening"). Will Smith was good in this movie and the one-liners were hilarious! Jason Bateman's role was nondescript basically serving as a cast filler to make the story work with Smith and Charlize Theron bringing the brawn and beauty, respectively.

Wow! That's-a-lot-o-dirt!

Having owned my car for just over a year now I thought it would be a good time to change the cabin air filter. If you don't know, many cars built since 2000 have cabin air filtration systems. Want to know if yours does? Check out a site like Google or check in with AutoZone.

Don't try and clean it, just replace it. They average $20-30 at AutoZone and three cars that I've changed the filter on took no more than 15 minutes each. Most manufacturers recommend changing them annually, or 15K miles. It does make a difference! See for yourself (obviously, new filter on the left)...

Independence Day

232 years of freedom. Happy 4th of July to all Americans!

Michael & Sarah Bradley

Today's post is a heart-felt congratulations to Michael and Sarah. God put two great people together and we wish you both all the love, health, and happiness in the world.
Photos by Bob Miller.

LiveSTRONG Day, May 13, 2008

Friends and Family,

TOMORROW, May 13th, 2008, is LiveSTRONG Day where you can show your support of cancer survivors everywhere by wearing YELLOW.

I'm sorry for the short notice, but would really appreciate it if you show your support to me and all of the Survivors out there! In fact, if you wear yellow tomorrow, snap a pic of yourself wearing yellow (or get someone to) and send me the pic! I'm collecting them this year! Send it by email, cell phone, Facebook, or pigeon!

Thanks!!!

Today's Student, Tomorrow's Worker

As many of you know, I work in the IT field. Last year I searched Google 5,617 times, composed over 5,000 emails, and read 3 printed books. This is interesting to me, because though I'm not yet a father, I wonder about the quality of the education my future children, and your children, will receive. Many classes today still teach the same way I learned -- I sat in a class of 20-30 students, with a printed textbook, and listened to my teacher speak or show me transparency slides. Today, the textbook is outdated the day it is printed and those static slides won't keep any child's attention. So, how are you kids being challenged and engaged to learn in the 21st century? Have you spoken to the teachers yourself and made them answer the question?

Please take 15 minutes to watch the two videos below. It's not about how they will learn in the future. I think they do an outstanding job of opening your mind to what your children face TODAY.

Watch: Did You Know? 2.0

Watch: A Vision of Students Today

Have a thought? Comment below. /jab

Weather in Tennessee

I know many of my readers are outside of Tennessee... just 2 days ago it was almost 75. They say if you don't like the weather, wait a minute...(yeah, taken with iPhone)

Lifehouse's Everything Skit

My brother recently shared this video with me and it is truly one of the most amazing skits I've seen performed. I hope you all enjoy it!

4 years, but who's counting?

Two posts in one day? Yeah, I need to thank people as I celebrate my 4th anniversary (I know I'll leave someone out, I'm sorry, I don't mean to. So, THANK YOU, too!)

THANK YOU...

• God, for opening my eyes, for the best doctors, medicine (though they can use a little more work) -- something with that Dimetapp grapey goodness would be great -- and for Your love.
• Stephanie -- for never leaving my side, for your tireless care, attention and love. I love you.
• Mom and Dad -- for always being there, for loaning me the brown leather couch in the bonus room with the brown blanket for hours of sleep, for the countless calls at all hours, for helping Stephanie. You guys are the best.
• Michael -- for your countless prayers and endless brotherly love. Sarah's getting a great one.
• My grandparents, Pa, Granny, and Babi -- for your prayers, love, and comforting words of encouragement.
• Chris -- you've been my best friend for half my life. Now that's either because you couldn't find anyone else to put up with you, or you're actually a good guy. :) Thanks for the hundreds of Pez.
  
• Doctor's Shipley, Guha, Conner, and Roberts -- for your care and your devotion to your work, which you do so incredibly well
• Oncology nurses of Tennessee Oncology -- angels on earth. Every single one of you. Thank you.
• ICU Nurses at Centennial -- for your limitless attention to patient needs, comfort, and well-being. You're amazing individuals.
• To countless friends, extended family, and complete strangers for all of your prayers and wonderful words of encouragement.

/JB

Faith

Having just celebrated four years of being cancer free I couldn't be more happy. As time has passed it has become easier for me to talk about what my family and I went through. Recently, I've shared the story I originally wrote in 2004 -- "Six Months in Heaven" -- with several friends that didn't even know me at the time. I have been asked a question by several people which they probably thought would be a tough one to answer.

The question, in a nutshell, is "How can you believe in [or love] God when faced with having cancer?"
The simple answer to this seemingly tough question lies in a single word -- Faith.

My copy of Webster's defines 'faith' as [1] allegiance to duty or a person, and [2] something that is believed with especially strong conviction. For many, seeing is believing. For me, Faith in God is believing even when you can't see.

Cancer was not punishment. It was a fierce, violent, physically damaging storm that I knew would end, but the end was never in sight. I had Faith then as I have it now, my friends, and every day since the sunsets are more and more beautiful.

Microsoft Home and CIW of the Future

Earlier this month I enjoyed another great trip to Seattle (pics) for Microsoft Sharepoint Conference 2008. The conference was really beneficial to our progress at work in leveraging Sharepoint for our intranet, collaboration, and data management to the extent possible. After the conference we were privileged to visit Redmond, Washington, at Microsoft's headquarters. There, in Building 33 -- better known as the Microsoft Executive Briefing Center -- Chris and I were invited to visit the Microsoft Home of the Future and the Center for Information Work.

Microsoft Home of the Future
I enjoyed this tour more than the CIW, personally. It starts in an Asian-style entry way where when the doorbell rings the homeowner's cell phone chirps with an image of the visitor. The owner can then choose options to ask the visitor to leave a message or even unlock the door remotely. Once inside, the house -- "Grace" -- tells where the members of the family are, the weather and a few reminders. "Grace" presents herself visually using OLED technology, hidden behind the painted wall. We saw pervasive use of RFID tags in place of today's more common UPC labels. The RFID technology allows for items -- decorations, greeting cards, anything -- to be tagged with meta-data. The house 'knows' what items are on the kitchen counter, what ingredients are missing from the recipe that's being projected onto the counter. The dining room can be redecorated on the fly for the child's party -- changing wall projections, and even projecting interactive placemats on the table that the kids can play with. There's way too much to mention here, but wildly entertaining.

Microsoft Center for Information Work
Still impressive was the CIW. In this room there were a multitude of workstations. Some had what appeared to be three 20" projection screens, some were tablets, many flat panels, and even haptic-based input panels (aka multi-touch). We saw voicemails converted to text on the fly and placed into your Inbox with emails, meetings, and more -- with the system able to filter out what you don't want or what is lower priority. Advanced videoconferencing was shown with Microsoft's Roundtable device, along with Office Communication Server to demonstrate the ability to be "seated" across from a panel of speakers even in a standard office environment setting.

"Across the Universe"

This week I had the pleasure of watching (in Blu-ray goodness) one of the past year's greatest movies -- "Across the Universe".

This movie tells a story of love, war, hope and peace told through the music of the Beatles. Nearly 20 Beatle hits, sung in a myriad of ways, provide one of the most amazing soundtracks I've heard. One scene in particular, centered around 'Let It Be' is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes, depicting the Detroit riots in the early 60's.

I encourage you to make this one of the next movies you see.

...and we're back!

Hey, friends! Sorry about the hiatus. Work and life got a bit hectic in January. Coming soon... more witty banter. :)