Al Gore's Dream home

It was recently reported that Al Gore's energy usage at his residence was 20 times that of the average home owners so being the nice guy I am I've been scouting out houses for him to help him maybe cut down on energy uses since he's such a energy conscience guy. Here's one I found for ya Al.

This passive-solar house is positioned to absorb winter sunlight, warming the interior walkways and walls of the residence. Geothermal Heat pumps circulate water through pipes buried 300 feet deep in the ground. A 40,000 US gallon underground cistern collects rainwater gathered from roof urns; wastewater from sinks, toilets, and showers cascades into underground purifying tanks and is also funneled into the cistern. The water from the cistern is then used to irrigate the landscaping around the four-bedroom home. “By marketplace standards, the house is startlingly small,” says David Heymann, the architect of the 4,000-square-foot home. Furthermore for thermal mass the walls are clad in "discards of a local stone called Leuders limestone, which is quarried in the area. “They cut the top and bottom of it off because nobody really wants it,” Heymann says. “So we bought all this throwaway stone. The house is even a nice "green" color for those "green" individuals.

Now Al, I don't know what the price will be (but I'm sure that's no worry since you just made a lot of money from your recent documentary) but I do know who the owner is that you can contact... his name is George W. Bush. Yep you read it right this is his house on his Prarie Chapel ranch in Crawford, Texas, maybe you guys can work out a deal???

Success after EWU

The other day I saw an intersting article posted on the website of Eastern Washington University's (the school I attend if you didn't know) website. It was a list of people who graduated from EWU that have gone on to be "something". I was pretty impressed with the list but I am sure that those of you reading that have graduated college have even more impressive lists to pull from since the schools are larger and probably a little more elite (ie. KU,BYU,MSU and even Purdue) but anyways here's the list from "my" university in little Cheney, WA it goes to show ya that it doesn't really matter where you go, there are brilliant people all over. (my comments are in red)

Jess Walter (’87 BA journalism) achieved new literary heights in 2006 when his newest book, The Zero, was named a finalist for the prestigious National Book Award. (Haven't read it but I guess this is a novel about the day after 9/11 or something)

Kris Monaghan (’03 BA recreation management) a 15-year LPGA Tour player, went to Beijing, China, in 2006 to become the first LPGA golf professional at Central Golf Beijing.

Luke Clausen (’01 BA business) can lay permanent claim to being the greatest bass fisherman in EWU history. He caught an all-time record three-day bag limit of 56 pounds, two ounces, to capture the Super Bowl of professional fishing - the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic and the $501,000 that went with it.

Angela Pixton (’83 BS nursing) is the first female commissioner of The Washington State Potato Commission. (I wonder what that job consists of?)

Mohammed Al Falasi (’98 BA business) heads up operations in Pakistan for Emaar Properties, the world's largest property development company.

Linda Boggs (’84 BA reading, ’88 MA school administration) was named a National Distinguished Elementary School Principal of the Year in 2003 for her work at Blue Ridge Elementary in Walla Walla.

Colin Cowherd (‘85 BA radio-television) can be heard every weekday on ESPN radio interviewing the biggest newsmakers in sports as host of “The Herd.” (I was surprised by this one because this is someone I listen too when at work quite often, and I had no idea.)

Todd McFarlane (’84 BA general studies) is creator of the Spawn comic book series and current co-owner of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.

Thomas Hampson (’92 BA government) is a Grammy-nominated opera singer.

Launi Meili (’90 BA liberal studies) took home the gold medal in women’s three-position small-bore rifle shooting at the 1992 Olympic Games.

Michael Roos (’05 BA business) is a starting offensive tackle for the NFL's Tennessee Titans. (Michael is one of Jenny Schlenker's-Emily's best friend from High School- husband's best friends and was in their wedding so this is someone I've actually met, it's pretty cool to watch someone in the NFL you have a connection with.)

Tom Thompson (’72 BA general business) was named the Nation’s Restaurant News Chain Leader Operator of the year in 1998 for his work as chief operating officer of CKE Restaurants Inc., parent company of the Carl’s Jr. restaurant chain.

Larry Rencken (’84 BA marketing) is CIO for Welch's. The Concord, Mass., company is the world's leading producer of juices, jams and jellies.

Mary McCormick Busse (’74 BA radio-television) is CEO of MBI Media in Los Angeles. She’s listed in the Who’s Who in Entertainment, 1st Edition, and Who’s Who of American Women, 15th Edition.

Scott Schaefer (’85 BA radio-television) was nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award as part of the directorial team for Showtime’s Penn & Teller special. Schaefer previously won three National Emmy Awards for writing for Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Terry Langston (’78 BA professional accounting) is a co-creator of the blockbuster board game Pictionary. (Interesting, I thought this game had been around forever)

They forgot an important one:

Thomas Bybee (hasn't graduated yet) ran in and WON- in his age division- the 2006 Chief Joseph Run in Laurel, MT.

What happened way back then?

Although it's not quite my birthday month yet (although I'm sure most of you are reading this in Feb.) I had to get my third post in for the month to keep with my resolutions (see last post). So I thought I'd try to learn something about the year I was born. Then thought it be interesting for everyone to learn something about the year they were born if they didn't already know so here's a little help. Here's mine for 1979. Make sure to post your too. Click the link at the bottom to find out what happened your birth year.

In 1979 (the year you were born)

Jimmy Carter is president of the US A major accident occurs at a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island near Middletown, PA An American Airlines DC-10 loses its engine and crashes seconds after takeoff, killing 275 people Hurricane David kills over 1200 in the US and the Dominican Republic Some 90 people, including 63 Americans, are taken hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan ESPN starts broadcasting Aaliyah, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Norah Jones, Heath Ledger, and Kate Hudson are born Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series Pittsburgh Steelers win Superbowl XIII Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup Kramer vs. Kramer is the top grossing film Sophie's Choice by William Styron is published "My Sharona" by The Knack spends the most time at the top of the US charts The Facts of Life premiers

http://www.blogthings.com/whathappenedtheyearyouwerebornquiz/

My Favorite Outakes!

Have you ever had a picture of yourself that you despise? The ones you see when you get your pictures and tear them up or delete them before anyone has even the slightest chance of seeing? Well these might be some of those pictures. I hope that the retaliation from this post isn't too harmful (in other words hope nobody "kills" me for posting any of these) but I couldn't resist these are some of my favorite out takes. Oh and one last note,even though you may beg to differ, no alcohol was consumed prior or after any of these photos were taken. So enjoy. I've titled each of the pictures with the first witty or not so witty thing that came to mind (if you have better suggestions for titles be sure to share)

"The Swamp Thing"

I really don't know what to call this one (This is Evan when only a few weeks old if you can't tell)

"Could someone take me drunk becuz I'm home" (New Years Eve at the Andersen household...just to reiterate no alcohol was involved...seriously!)

"Underwater Craziness"

More GREAT Outakes!!!

"The Sceaming Duo"-Elizabeth and Jordyn whoopin it up.

"The inebriated Cruella"

"Cutestcouple??@pychward.com"

"There goes lunch...a classic kodak moment" (Emily just happened to snap this picture at the instant Elizabeth spit up)

Resolutions...Resol-smlutions

I hate to write about them since that is all that has been talked about in the media the past couple weeks but it is a new year, and that of course means new resolutions. I would report on how I did on my last years (2006) resolutions but I don't remember any of them, that is part of the reason I thought I'd share some of my resolutions for 2007 here. I always hear you need to write down your goals for them to be effective, so what better place than here because you "readers" will hopefully remind me and help me achieve them. I'm sure you all are thinking of the same thing as far as a goal I can work on for 2007 so we'll just get that one out of the way first...*

1. I will update my blog at least 3 times per month (I know, I know you are all thinking goals are supposed to be realistic, but I believe in myself and am determined)

2. I will floss my teeth at least 3 times per week (I know it's supposed to be daily, and to be honest I don't know if I know anyone who does that so-Him without sin cast the first stone- . This is yet another hard one... I brush the recommended amount per day and chew gum (sugar free) constantly, but I was never trained in this department, being from cowboy country a toothpick after dinner (which I still enjoy) is as close as it got. I remember going to the dentist a few years ago and him asking how often I floss my response "I never have." which really surprised him but he said I was lucky and had very nice teeth and gums but of course would recommend it in the future...well this year I'll get around to it.

3. Now an easier one - I will eat healthy and exercise more often (this is usually not the easy one but Emily and I have been doing this for the past 8 months so it should be easy to continue...hopefully) although I've slacked off on my exercise lately so I'll have to pick that back up.

4. Graduate (June 16 if you wanted to know) and get a job (at the informal request of my wife and parents this HAS to be included in the list)

5. WIN AMERICAN IDOL -Just kidding but this one could be just as hard... I will finish (not last) a sprint triathlon. That is a half mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run- and if I get lucky I'll be the only contestant and win the whole thing- it's happened before. Let me know if any of you want to join me in the suffering and I'll get you the training schedule.

*not a comprehensive list and not in any particular order

Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you for 2007!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I don't know if anyone even visits my blog anymore,which I know is my fault, since I haven't put anything new up forever(if you're interested in exactly how many days it has been ask Jenny, she supposedly keeps track of these things. *see comments on "A Short Halloween story"). So to catch up I finished my fall quarter of school and now have a month off...YES! I have been very busy working the past couple weeks since school got out, installing Christmas lights. I think we (my friend Dan and I) have averaged 12 hour days 6 days a week for the past two weeks. It was a lot of work, but I must say I really enjoy putting up lights. It's always fun to see how they turn out, and even more fun to see the kid's reactions to the lights. I can say it helps me get into the Christmas spirit, even though it's disturbing what people will pay just to have lights on their house for a month (the house below was a $1400 job and we only did the front of the house)...crazy huh? Anyways, it's a good time and works out perfect for a little extra funds during the holiday season. My friend Dan and I who wash windows, just decided to try this whole Christmas light thing last year and it's been a great success. Last year was stressfull because we didn't really know what we were doing at first. This year has been a little stressful, because we had too many jobs to do and Dan and his wife had their baby right in the middle of that too, but overall it was worth the stress. Well that's what I've been up to...hopefully helping people enjoy the Christmas season a little more, and I hope you all have a great Christmas season as well! One of the larger light jobs we enjoyed decorating. It is on top of a big hill that overlooks the city so it can be seen from miles away.

Although we didn't decorate this tree, it is very impressive (it's over 50 ft. tall) it had to have taken days to do (with the rental of a hydrolic lift) and has a least six different power sources running to it, since you can only hook 5 to 6 sets of lights together end to end. I commend the person who does this every year for other's to enjoy.