Tramon Williams

Tramon Williams Article

This guy is a beast.  Packers got this kid, out of Lousiana Tech, on the Free Agent market.  Paid him some millions and then BOOM...instant return on investment.  I really like this guy.  Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams.  The leaders of a Super Bowl bound team.

GO PACK GO!

Rules of Engagement

My sister got engaged over Christmas break!  Special times.  It seems everyone knew it was coming.  Except my sister.  John, the groom-to-be, took her to Old Town Pasadena, where they first met.  Took her to the exact spot, I think, and got down on a knee and did his thing.  I was in the Apple store riding some waves on a Billabong game and I got pitted, so pitted.  Then she called me, we met up with them, gave hugs and handshakes, and then drove home to tell the parents the grand news.  And then it was time to take out a camera:

The future John and Mariann Matson.  The wedding is being planned for June 2012.  I'll be there.  Will you?  (Probably not)

Float On

The Rose Bowl Parade, also known as the best parade in the world, lines up the floats the night before the parade on Orange Grove Blvd.  Since Melissa was in town, I decided to take her to see what some view as a Pasadena tradition.  Her mom was going to yell at her if she didn't take advantage of this and so that also made it an easy decision.  Take a gander:

 

And just in case you were not aware, every part of the floats are made from some living thing (seeds, flowers, stems, fruit, etc.).

Granddaddy of Them All

Pretty much every year from about 2000, my dad and I have gone to the Rose Bowl game on New Year's Day.  It's probably my favorite tradition.  We witnessed the best Rose Bowl of all time, Texas vs. USC in 2005.  Or should I say, Vince Young vs. USC.  He dominated the game in a way no one else could.  A lot better than Cam Newton in the National Championship game.  We also saw the multiple beatings USC put on the likes of Michigan, Illinois and Penn State.  Basically, aside from Ohio State beating Oregon on 1/1/10, the Big 10 has been awful.  Which won't change any time soon.

Back to the present...

1/1/11.  Wisconsin vs. TCU.  Big, Midwest boys vs. Smaller, Texas boys.  Last time I checked, people from Texas know how to play football.  And TCU showed up, with a chip on their shoulder, and showed the nation what a Non-AQ team could do to the "big boys."

Hands down one of the best parts of going to the Rose Bowl is seeing the Navy SEALs parachute into the stadium.  I love every part of the U.S. Military, but SEALs are my favorite.  Here they are parachuting onto the stadium grass:

 

So amazing.  Go America!  Back to the game...We were sitting right in front of Wisconsin's tunnel.  Probably the most fun I've had waiting for a game to start.  Lots of action happening in front: players running in and out, coaches walking by, cheerleaders practicing, band members walking around, and hearing all they players interact with each other was the best part. 

 

Then, maybe the 2nd best part of the game came.  The flyover!  In the past they have had the B2 Stealth Bomber, but this year we had 4 F-16s.  Another reason why America is the best.  

After all the pregame excitement was over, the teams actually ended up playing a game.  I was rooting for TCU.  I love Andy Dalton (QB) and their whole defense.  Under-sized but fast and not afraid to hit you in the mouth.  Their uniforms were great, as usual, and featured the horned frog with a rose in its mouth on their helmets...great touch to honor the Rose Bowl.  After the most exciting 4 possessions I've witnessed at a Rose Bowl (4 possessions, 4 scores), the defenses finally settled in.  And the 2nd half was exciting on the first drive (TCU TD), and Wisconsin's last drive (TD with failed 2-pt conversion to tie).  Go Horned Frogs!

Another year, another great Rose Bowl.  Thanks, Dad.

Visitor From the North

And by north I mean NorCal.  Here is the visitor profile:

Name: Melissa
Occupation: Student, University of Colorado at Boulder
Major: Architectural Engineering
Relation to David: Girlfriend

Here is Melissa:

Anywho, Melissa came down from the bad part of California to the good part (SoCal).  She even came up with my friends and me to Alden's Big Bear cabin for a couple days.  Good way for her to meet the crew. 

She met most of my friends and they seem to enjoy her company.  I'm sure Alden will invite her back to Big Bear at least.  I might even invite her back to this part of the state over the summer...if she's lucky.

In closing:
She's awesome.  I'll keep her around for a little longer.

Christmas

The best time of the year.  Best holiday.  I don't care what anyone else says, this is the best day of the year.  So as you know from a previous post, I got a new lens for my birthday.  I also got one for Christmas!!

I got a 35mm beauty of a lens.  It is now my favorite lens and takes the best portraits of people.  Examples:

I love how it blurs the background so much, producing pretty bokeh.  Like this:

Anyway, I got some other great things also.  I won't show those because I don't want to.

What you should get out of this: I love my camera. I love my new lenses, especially this one.  Cool pics to come from it.

Sorry 'Bout It

Sorry for the long, long delay.  I had a pretty busy break and am now back to blogging.  First day of school today.  Posts from the events over break are coming later this week.  Stay tuned.