Thursdays 9/8c...

Each generation has a TV Show that encapsulates the said generation, there was I Love Lucy, Happy Days, Cheers, Seinfeld, Friends, & most recently The Office.  A show beginning on the BBC network made it's way to American almost 10 years ago and wasn't an instant hit, but through its' longevity, loyal fans, and comedic humor, it has become one of the most beloved shows of our generation.  

If you haven't already guested, my wife and I are huge fans of the office and were heartbroken when it was revealed last summer that this would indeed be the last season.  I fell in love with the show during the airing of its' second season while I was in High School.  Quickly renting the first two seasons, only to get hooked very soon after that.  I would then jump into live episodes in season 3 only to have met my future wife mid way through season 4.  I knew that if this show had such a huge impact on me, I knew it would have an impact on Jenny.  We spent the spring break of 2010 catching all the way up to the current season and she was hooked.  We then, looked forward to every September when the previous season's DVDs would be released shortly followed by the premiere of the current season.

My wife and I grew alongside the relationships of Jim & Pam, Dwight & Angela, & eventually Michael  & Holly.  By the middle of the series aching for each of the characters as if they were a part of our lives and feeling like as we struggled with heartache we could always throw in those DVDs and see that their are others in this world that share in it.  As the years past, my wife and I created an even greater tradition that on every Christmas Eve, we will watch each Christmas Episode of the Office (currently there are 6) as we celebrate the holiday.

As you can see, this is not just a show that airs on NBC thursdays 9/8c, but it was much more than that.  It was a show that I grew up watching, it was the first show my wife and I shared together, and it was truly one of the first things we shared together.  Even as we spent our 2 year relationship long distance we would still have the office.  As we have purchased each season on DVD, we know that each year on Christmas we will have the office tradition to look forward to.  Our Children will look forward to Christmas Eve, when they will get a glimpse of their parents past.

As the show came to a close on its' ninth and final season, we could not be more sad, but what we do know is that we owe a lot to the office and it is and always will be much more than a show for us.  It is what has and will bring us together.  It changed a generation and what resinates with me is that it changed OUR generation.  Thank you NBC and the entire Office Cast.  Could not be more grateful.


till another day,



normallyINDIE.

An Obsession...

It is that time of year, time to update you all on our latest addictions to DVDs and now introducting Netflix/Apple TV. For christmas my wonderful Father in Law gave us an Apple TV, which for those of you who do not know is a little black box that streams anything and everything entertainment to your HDTV. Thus our DVD viewing has drastically changed with the introduction of netflix streaming wirelessly to our brand new 47" Vizio HDTV (thanks again Duane). Now that are viewing format has drastically gotten better I will go on to tell you the great shows we have become interested in over the past 6 months since the new year began.

Top Shows on DVD
1. One Tree Hill (Season 1-9)
2. The OC (Season 1 - 4)
3. The Office (Season 1 - 7)
4. Friends (Currently watching Season 6)
5. Full House (Season 1 - 8)

Top Shows on Netflix
1. Parks and Recreation (Season 1 - 3)
2. One Tree Hill (Yes on DVD & Netflix)
3. CNBC Documentaries (Alec is a Nerd)
4. Psych (Currently watching Season 3)
5. Saved by the Bell (season 1 - 5)

Tops Shows on Cable
1. Bachelor/Bachelorette Series (Jenny :)
2. How I Met Your Mother (Season 7)
3. The Office (Season 8)
4. The Voice (Season 2)
5. American Ninja Warrior (Alec is Lame)

Top Shows Coming Soon to DVD/on our Wish List
1. The Office (Season 8)
2. How I Met Your Mother (Season 7)
3. Parks & Recreation (Season 4)
4. Friends (Season 6 - 10)
5. Boy Meets World (Season 2 - 7)

As you can see my love of DVDs and specifically television shows has rubbed on my beautiful wife Jennifer. We each have our favorites and are excited for what is to come. But if anything we can share together in our love of laughing, crying, and getting attached to a great TV sitcom. Thank you to all those actors we love so much and for making it so easy to share together in this obsession with Television.

till another day,


normallyINDIE

Book Review - Through my Eyes by Tim Tebow

If you have spent any time with me at all, you know how much of a Gator fan I am.  I spend much of the year anticipating Labor Day Weekend for the start of the college football regular season and another Gators run at a National Championship.

From 1997 - 2000 my family and I lived in South Florida.  These were my formative college football years and upon learning of the power of Florida football, I had to choose Miami, FSU, or Florida.  For some odd reason I decided to choose Florida and ever since 1999 I bleed blue and orange.

Naturally over the last 6 years I have grown to love our very own Tim Tebow.  Since his first start as a freshman in 2005 I was a fan.  Part of me wishes I would have watched him in high school, but in junior high I was not as much a gator fanatic as now.  As he brought two national championships, a heisman,and countless other awards, my love for Tim Tebow continued to grow.  I am currently a St. Louis and Indianapolis fan in the NFL therefore I hoped that when draft day came around in 2010 that one of my teams would call Tebow's name.  But sadly that did not happen and I had to become a Broncos fan as well.    This was not hard seeing as both the Colts and Rams are in the midst of rebuilding years.

Upon hearing about Tebow's book Through my Eyes, I realized that if I was a true fan I had to read is book and most of all understand a little more about the character of the person that I call a role model.

The book offers just that.  It offers the reader the opportunity to be involved in the life of Tebow, his struggles and sins, as well as his successes and spiritual triumphs.  The book lets you into the private life of Tim Tebow and most of all his thoughts about not only his time at Florida, but also his time presently at Denver.

The book is an easy read, but I sort of like that for the audience he is trying to reach.  It is not deeply rooting in any literary ideals, but it gets the point across in a powerful way.  It shows Tebow's true passions as a player and a person.   I highly recommend this book for someone who is looking for someone to model after.

As the hoopla of TebowMaina is in full swing, I would suggest you read this book before you decide to jump on the Tebow Train although it is very soon headed for a Super Bowl.



till another day,



normallyINDIE

Home, Sweet, Home...

As I have gone on a blogging spree to catch up from a long eventful break, you all must know that Jennifer and I have moved from Indiana to Ohio recently (I live here now Jennifer will be joining me after we get married in March and she currently is living in Indy still).  On December 30th, we officially moved into a new home on the corner of 8th & Main in Downtown Cincinnati.  It is a dream home for us, a 2 bedroom apartment (1 for us 1 for Jennifer's studio), that is on top of a business in the heart of downtown.  With that being said I would like to give you a little outline of the place and some of our favorite parts.

As you approach the front door, you see that it is purple, which is just awesome.

Our Front Door

You then walk up the 4 flights of stairs to get to the top floor and open the door to  our entryway which includes three great windows that overlook the canopy of Arnold's Restaurant (oldest in Cincinnati) as well as a full scale reading room complete with a tiger rug, wingback chairs, and loads of books.  Not to mention this the room that the bathroom is located, which is important to know.

Bathroom

Reading Room

Continuing through the apartment you head into the dining/living room that has some great future and wood flooring from the early 1900s.  We will be adding internet and a much bigger TV in the near future.

Living Room/Dining Room

You then turn right into the kitchen complete with new floors, countertops, loads of storage, and new appliances.  The old cabinets and pantry are both things that Jennifer and I loved.

Kitchen

Continuing to the end of the tour is the bedroom on the left and Jennifer's studio on the right.  Her studio is a work in progress as she has not fully moved in just yet, but I am sure that all things Turquoise Feathers will be taking over that place.  The bedroom features a queen bed which we just purchased thanks to Grandma Jeanie.  We have collected some great furniture pieces from both of Jennifer's grandmothers, but we are still looking for a rug and another dresser to accommodate Jennifer.

Our Bedroom

Jennifer's Studio

Well that is a small tour of our apartment as it is today.  There will be continued updates as time goes by and if you would like to come visit let Jennifer and I know and we would love to have you.


till another day,


normallyINDIE

The Best of 2011...

January seems to be the season of new beginnings there always seems to be a moment of reminiscing.  For me, 2011 was a long year of a change, heartbreak, and growth; not to mention fun, excitement and great adventures.  So I have compiled a couple of lists of some of my favorite happenings of 2011.  Here they are: 

Top Albums

1.  Simple Math - Manchester Orchestra 

2.  21 - Adele 

3.  Jack's Mannequin - People & Things 

Top Songs

1.  Virgin - (Simple Math) Manchester Orchestra  

2.  Pumped Up Kicks - (Torches) Foster the People    

3.  You are a Tourist - (Codes & Keys) Death Cab for Cutie 

Top Movies 

1.  Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2 

2.  Water for Elephants  

3.  Midnights in Paris 

Top TV Shows 

1.  How I Met Your Mother - CBS

2.  Scrubs - FOX/ABC

3.  The OC - FOX

Top Reads 

1.  Simply Christian - N.T. Wright 

2.  A Grief Observed - C.S. Lewis 

3.  Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - J.K. Rowling 

Top Events 

1.  Our Tattoos - by TJ Harmon (8 total) 

2.  Moving to Cincy/New Apartment

3.  Remembering Family 

Top Purchases 

1.  iPhone  

2.  Our Antique Stuff 

3.  Urban Outfitters Shopping Spree 

Top Internship Moments 

1.  McTuesdays 

2.  Dallas 2011 

3.  The Brew 

Top Check ins 

1.  Qdoba (US 135 in Greenwood) 

2.  Strange Brew (Smith Valley Rd in Greenwood)   

3.  Brass Ring Lounge (Shelby St. in Fountain Square, IN)

Top Sports

1.  Cardinal's Playoff Run 

2.  Colts Sad year (2 - 14 in 2011) 

3.  Butler's March Madness (Part 2)   

Top Experiences 

1.  Interviews

2.  My week at UO

3.  Handcraft Fests 

Top Hashtags

1.  #Awkward

2.  #love

3.  #11in11 

Top Apps 

1.  Twitter 

2.  Instagram 

3.  ESPN ScoreCenter 

Those were a couple of lists to help guide you through the next year.  Each of these things were great and special in their own way and I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to share most of these with my fiancé Jennifer Schroeder.  

We have a big year planned here in 2012 with a new job, new city, our Wedding, and Graduations, just to name a few.  Be following along here at www.normallyindie.com for updates, insights, and thoughts about this beautiful we call home (until the good Lord returns to save us all).  

till another day, 

normallyINDIE 

Reality TV...

Although the original reality TV is considered to be Survivor, I like to think otherwise.  I like to believe that the trails and tribulations of the lives of those who call Newport Beach, CA home was indeed the first reality TV show.  Although the OC is not technically reality, it was based on a reality.  And I do find it to be embracing, but after getting the first and second season on DVD and spending the past weekend watching much of it, I have begun to realize the connections that can be found between "reality TV" and "reality".  Yes I said it connections between Ryan, Seth, Marissa, and Summer of the OC to our reality.

Those of you who are/were fans of the OC know that life at Newport Beach is filled with drama from beginning to end.  With the beginning of a new problem, soon following the resolution of the fast conflict.  this cycle, although abstract, may be closer to reality than we think.

It may not necessarily be the same drama that has hindered the lives of the Cohens that occurs in our world, but it is just not.  Week seek for our lives to simply go day to day without any problems and work themselves out to the way that we sit fit.  For example, if my fiancé and I had it our way there would be no problems in our relationship, no tension in our family, no job searching (first job was a yes), and no financial worries.  But the reality is that our will is not "his" will.  Although it may seem tedious or trivial, God has led Jenny and I through ups and downs that have built us to be who we are.  Not merely to make us better "people", but to prepare us for the ministry he has set before us.

We are all given opportunities in our life to bring glory to his name and our lives are a living testimony to the glory that is found in the arms of God.

Our lives may be just as dramatic as the Cohens of Newport Beach, but what is known is that through the ups and downs and through the drama purpose is found.  A purpose of living a life worth being called Son's and Daughters of God.  We have been given an opportunity to serve God that goes much deeper than the trivial and tedious acts of day to day life.  But instead the glory that is shown today will ring in the hallways of heaven for all of eternity.

till another day,



normallyINDIE

The Small Screen...

If you know me personally, you very well know that I have a mild addiction to DVDs.  Since the beginning of college and my parents telling me I had to build my own library of DVDs, I have spent countless hours sifting through sale bins, glazing my eyes over titles at discount stores, and searching the web for the next best DVD.  My total DVD collection is somewhere in the upper 200s, not to mention 50 or so DVDs in my lovely fiancé's possession.  This "addiction" is so prominent that it is a running joke amongst my family that for holidays all they need to do is send me with 50 bucks cash to Disc Replay and I will be happy carrying out 25 new DVDs.  But recently, because of the convincing from a couple friends, I have moved from buying movies on DVD to buying TV series on DVD.

I have enjoyed a few TV series since the beginning of my college years and if I don't already I seek to have them on DVD so I can share and enjoy them with family, friends, and mostly my fiancé.  Favorite TV series are as follows:
                   
                      The Office (Own Season 1 - 7)
                      How I Met Your Mother (Own Season 1 - 6)
                      Scrubs (Own Season 1 - 8)
                      LOST (Do Not Own)
                      Boy Meets World (Do Not Own)
                      Friends (Do Not Own)
                      Rob & Big (Own Season 1 - 3)
                      Saved by the Bell (Own Season 1 - 4) [Jenny's Favorite]
                      Parks & Recreation (Do Not Own)
                      the OC (Do Not Own) [Embarrassed that I like this Show]
                      Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory (Do Not Own)
                      Psych (Trying to get into this show for  Tyler Cadwell )

The list goes on and on as I find a new show that seems worth buying.  I know what you are saying, "What about Netflix?  They have most of these shows and you get them all for $7.99".   I do have a subscription to Netflix, but I am just more of a old school kind of guy in the fact that there is just something about having the box in your hand that makes it seem much more real.  Not to mention I hate when TV show skips cause the internet connection is poor.

So yes it may be an addiction, but I am okay with that because one of my joys in life is buying a new DVD and sharing it with those I love hoping that they get a laugh or are convicted by the message that is given.

If you have any suggestions for TV series' that I should be buying next on DVD or any other DVDs I should be buying comment below.


till another Day,



normallyINDIE