Jake Ludens' Mental Environment» Jake and Diane http://jakeludens.com/blog Advertising, Politics, Literature, Thought, and .... I forget. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:14:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 New Year, New Post, New Stuff http://jakeludens.com/blog/new-year-new-post-new-stuff http://jakeludens.com/blog/new-year-new-post-new-stuff#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:39:19 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=315 I took a few days vacation from blogging. I was participating in a 30 day challenge to blog each day for a month, well I fell short. It wasn’t that I didn’t have time, it was that I wanted to clear my head and follow the theory that less is more. I thought, making blog posts just for the sake of posting really dilutes the quality of the content your readers expect.

Further more, I took a few days off from blogging, twittering, txt’ing to spend some time with family that was in town. I feel all of us who embrace the social media world need to be reminded from time to time that spending time with our real family is more important that spending time with our virtual families.

Now that my disclaimer is out there, I have a few hours here before I leave to go see the Arizona Cardinals take on the Atlanta Falcons and it gives me time to reflect on 2008. What a year it was for my life. Here is a Harper’s Weekly style summary for everyone.

January – Diane and I Celebrated New Years, by accidentally being allowed into a $200 per person private party at a fine Italian restaurant here in Vegas. (no names, don’t want them to find out).

February – Turned 29, went to see Artie Lang at Mandalay Bay and Diane got to meet him after the show, super cool.

March – Diane and I purchase a house and construction begins.

April – House construction was in full swing, started choosing options for the house.

May – The house started looking like a house and Diane and I already sold almost everything we owned.

June – Selling Source / PartnerWeekly eliminated my position to change their corporate structure.

July – Go to work for Black Diamond Digital Imaging.

August – Closed on the house and hours later on our way to Idaho with VegasGeek for a two day concert. This was one of the most fun trips I have ever taken. Can’t wait to do it again in 2009. Any excuse to wear a cowboy hat.

September – Economy really started to fall apart, but was able to get away and visit my parents in Wyoming. That is always a party.

October – New theme for JakeLudens.com and Diane and I went to a record number of Halloween Parties. Normally I am not one to dress up a lot.

November – Diane and I got engaged! Yeah how crazy is that? I am excited, should probably set a date for the wedding, 2010, 2011?

December – 30 day blog challenge. My parents came to Vegas to see the new house and stay with us for a week. It was great, our first Christmas in the new house and we had all of the family here.

2009 is starting out great, I spent yesterday spending gift cards from Christmas and watching football. Now I am off to see an NFL playoff game in Arizona. I can’t wait to see what 2009 has in store for the bloggers, tweetfreaks, and this crazy life of mine.

]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/new-year-new-post-new-stuff/feed 3 Snow In Las Vegas http://jakeludens.com/blog/snow-in-las-vegas http://jakeludens.com/blog/snow-in-las-vegas#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:26:30 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=298 Ok, just a quick post tonight. I am sure by now most of you are sick of hearing that it snowed in the desert. Well, at our house we got around 4 inches, and Buster the snowman arrived to bring us some great Holiday cheer. Check out his face mask.

Buster the Snowman 054 055 ]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/snow-in-las-vegas/feed 1 2008 still full of suprises! http://jakeludens.com/blog/2008-still-full-of-suprises http://jakeludens.com/blog/2008-still-full-of-suprises#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:37:52 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=175 I have had a very eventful couple of days. The biggest news, Diane and I are engaged! I am very excited. This year has been my most life changing and having Diane say Yes to my proposal on Sunday night was further confirmation that I am on the right path and icing on the cake of life. Trust me, I was nervous. It took me from lunch on Saturday ‘til lunch time on Monday to eat. Love You Diane.

I have also been working very hard to update things at Black Diamond Digital. John helped put together a Twitter Meet Up on Friday night and we had a great turn out. Thank you to everyone for making it down and supporting First Friday and the Las Vegas Book Festival. Check out John’s Post.

]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/2008-still-full-of-suprises/feed 1 New Page and Site Theme for Jake Ludens.com http://jakeludens.com/blog/new-page-and-site-theme-for-jake-ludenscom http://jakeludens.com/blog/new-page-and-site-theme-for-jake-ludenscom#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:14:29 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=150 I haven’t posted in a few weeks due to focusing my energy on a few other projects that I have been working on. However, I was able to update the JakeLudens.com blog site and I hope you like it.

In an attempt to simplfy my life and to make better content here at JakeLudens.com I will be transfering over some of the content of my other blog FeedingTheBlind.com and slowly phasing that site out for future uses. Not to worry, it will return. For now check out my new page where I will be listing books that I have read that I think others would enjoy. In the next few weeks look for small review snippets for each book listed. I am constantly ready, so please leave a comment on the books page me know any books that you recommend.

I have also updated my blog roll, check out Diane’s Recipes. She has been creating great, low fat, heart healthy foods and getting some great responses over at Recipe Zaar.com

Finally, watch for the closing blog post on Diane’s and My new house. We are finally moved in and have some great finished photos.

]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/new-page-and-site-theme-for-jake-ludenscom/feed 1 Summer is almost over http://jakeludens.com/blog/summer-is-almost-over http://jakeludens.com/blog/summer-is-almost-over#comments Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:43:03 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=106 I was looking at my calander this morning and I can’t believe how fast this summer has gone by.  This past month has been very crazy but now I am starting to get back in to a groove.  Here is a small recap of the month of August.

The month started out in a rush, I have a new job that promises to be a lot of fun and work, but I am ready. Diane and I got the keys to the new house on the 7th of this month and after having the keys for only about 20 minutes, we jumped in to John’s car and raced off to Idaho.

John wrote a great recap of that adventure here

My parents have been going to the Sturgis Motorcycle Classic for as long as I have been around and I always knew it was a good time there, I think the Braun Brother’s Reunion could easily become the same type of yearly ritual for us.

Also Diane has posted more photos up on Flickr – Check ‘em out.
First Set
Second Set

Once we got home from the Idaho trip, Diane and I were in full moving mode and were able to move most of our belongings into the house using just our cars. We hired movers to get all the large stuff.

That was the week of August 11th, so now we are finally settled, all the waiting for utility companies and deliveries is over :)

Apart from that we have been moving forward with expanding Black Diamond Digital Imaging. I am excited to see how great this company is going to be. Check out the website and I will be blogging over there as well.

Finally, now that the house is built and we are moved in, what in the world am I going to blog about?

Maybe one of my other passions – Advertising, Hockey, Football, Books - nah already blog about that, I will think of something.

]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/summer-is-almost-over/feed 0 One Day to go http://jakeludens.com/blog/one-day-to-go http://jakeludens.com/blog/one-day-to-go#comments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:11:53 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=100 I know most everyone is bored with photos of the house, but need not worry my faithful readers, I will have a new subject in just a few days.

But for now, check out the newest photos

A few last minute touch ups and it is all ours!

We are going to be out on the road with John and Chris for a few days but wait for the final house building post coming soon!

]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/one-day-to-go/feed 1 Doubled the size of our yard, Cabinets in place http://jakeludens.com/blog/doubled-the-size-of-our-yard-cabinets-in-place http://jakeludens.com/blog/doubled-the-size-of-our-yard-cabinets-in-place#comments Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:14:13 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=78 Yet again they are ahead of schedule. Our cabinets were placed this last week.

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We were also able to negotiate a huge increase to the size of the back yard. That is for Phase 2 of the house.

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They have the counters in for the bathroom and all of the banister work is installed, but not yet stained.

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Finally, we also have a garage door, drive way and front steps. Can’t wait to have a sweet car up on blocks for all the neighbors to enjoy :)

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]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/doubled-the-size-of-our-yard-cabinets-in-place/feed 0 A Lot of new things happening http://jakeludens.com/blog/a-lot-of-new-things-happening http://jakeludens.com/blog/a-lot-of-new-things-happening#comments Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:58:19 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=71 Diane and I checked in on the house, it is looking amazing.

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Just as we asked the builders were able to move out our fence line and create what will be the perfect back yard.

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The entry way is looking great with the custom front door we had installed.

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The house was locked up when we got there yesterday, so I hope to get out there this week during the day for some photos of the inside.

]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/a-lot-of-new-things-happening/feed 0 House Update Then Off to the US Open http://jakeludens.com/blog/house-update-then-off-to-the-us-open http://jakeludens.com/blog/house-update-then-off-to-the-us-open#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:34:35 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=64 Hi Everyone,

A quick house update, the drywall is done and stucco is drying.

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Can’t forget an update on the outhouse

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Lookin’ good,

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Tomorrow Diane and I are off to San Diego for the US Open Golf Tournament, check back for photos from that.

]]> http://jakeludens.com/blog/house-update-then-off-to-the-us-open/feed 0 Garage is almost done….don’t tell Diane but that is the most important part ;) http://jakeludens.com/blog/garage-is-almost-donedont-tell-diane-but-that-is-the-most-important-part http://jakeludens.com/blog/garage-is-almost-donedont-tell-diane-but-that-is-the-most-important-part#comments Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:17:09 +0000 Jake http://jakeludens.com/blog/?p=57 We are ahead of schedule and we have drywall in about 40% of the house already.

Garage lookin good Garage lookin good2

Should have the inside all finished in the next few days.

Living Room

Flat Screen Wall Diane

Loft

loft

Master

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And we should have drive way soon to go with that garage.

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I am going to make an offer on the Outhouse to say where it is.

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