Five for Friday: Office space

I'm finally ready to reveal the office-slash-guest bedroom makeover, which is still so much a work in progress. I'm happy with how the room has evolved, considering it has been a major source of frustration for me.

It is by no means finished, and I figured this would be the perfect way to express the goals, looks, problems that need solving, etc. for the room.

The not-so-inspiring before:

The room was depressing and lacked everything I was trying to accomplish with the design, so I decided to start over. I cleared everything off the shelves, which really helped, and went from there.

The fiance hung the curtains ...

And I took care of the rest.

But as I said before, much more has and can be done to the room, which is where the Five for Friday comes in. Any and all thoughts/suggestions/ideas are welcomed!

1. Floored: The space is desperately lacking a rug. I wanted this one, but the last time I went to IKEA, the saleslady said they were sold out and discontinued. So why does the Web site taunt me and say there are three left?

2. Style and comfort: The amazing window seat, one of the features that sold us on the townhouse, needs a cushion. Not only would it dress up the space, but it would make the seat way more comfortable.

3. Space constraint: The area where the filing cabinet, floor lamp and Lack table are still doesn't look right. I'm thinking of adding a five-shelf bookcase from downstairs to that space. A bigger piece of furniture may do the trick. Plus, you can never have enough storage. I'm open to any ideas, too.

4. I don't love lamp: The current floor lamp is old, cheap-looking and boring. I'm thinking this would literally brighten the space and add some style via the pretty drum shade and modern tripod frame.

5. Trash collector: The room needs a real garbage can. In the meantime, an old plastic bucket will do the trick.

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50 states: Mom, meet Arizona

The lack of posts this past week correlated with my Mom's first visit to Arizona. And we packed plenty in during her eight-day stay. We had an amazing time shopping, swimming, catching up with friends, celebrating the fiance's 29th Day of Birth, a weekend trip to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Sedona and watching a Diamondbacks/Reds game.

I am incredibly blessed to have such a caring, strong, selfless, hilarious and kind woman as not only my mother, but best friend.

I love you, Mom.

Our impromptu Grand Canyon photo shoot.

Five for Friday: Remembering my Dad

John "Jack" Patrick McFadden: 

Nov. 15, 1943-Aug. 13, 2005

Today is the five-year anniversary of my Dad's passing, and I wanted to honor him with this post. In lieu of the regular format, I'll share five favorite memories, things, times, etc. involving my Dad.

1. Dad's Weekend 2003

My Dad and cousin made the five-hour trek to Pullman for the annual weekend for fathers. It was even more special because my Dad's favorite comedian, Jay Leno, was the headlining performer for the weekend. After witnessing WSU's narrow victory over Oregon State, we headed to Beasley Coliseum.

I had never seen Dad so excited. The night was filled with laughter as he was able to see someone he watched every night on TV in person. I, because of too many adult beverages consumed during the game, fell asleep on my Dad's shoulder. I woke up a little later and finished watching the rest of the show. Jay was making his exit, which just so happened to be by our seats. Dad was yelling out to Jay, who looked up and waved. Dad swore he was waving at us. A perfect end to a most amazing weekend.

2. All in a ... nickname

You could meet my Dad once and leave with a nickname. It was something he was known for. My Brother's nickname is "Mole." Dad dubbed him as such because of his big hands, which were just like our Dad's. My nickname is "Nanny Girl." Apparently, it stems from me sounding like a nanny goat when I was little. Only something my Dad could come up with.

3. The great outdoors

The woods were Dad's second home. He logged all of his life. One summer while I was home from college, I went with him to clear out trees from my cousin's new property. It was hard work. He would cut the trees into pieces of wood and I threw the pieces into the back of the trailer.

At the time, I kind of wanted the day to go quickly because the work was extremely tiring. But looking back now, it is one of my most cherished times with him. He was sharing one of the things he loved most with me.

4. Blasting from the speakers

Dad's favorite song was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Fishin' In The Dark." He would always have the tape with him and you could expect it to be playing in one of his Ford trucks. One night in particular, my cousin from California was visiting and my Dad insisted on playing the song for my cousin. Well, that turned into my Dad and cousin driving up and down my Dad's road at 11 in the p.m. blasting you guessed it, "Fishin' In The Dark." 

5. Afternoon drive

Later in his life, Dad took in a rescue dog named Millie. The Maltese was abused and scared, but Dad soon made her feel safe and part of the family. He loved to take Millie for rides on his four-wheeler. He tucked the little dog into his shirt and away they'd go down his road. I can still hear the sound of the two of them zooming off to go visit the neighbors.

Sometimes it seems like five years. Others, five minutes. But one constant remains: The words you used to always say.

"Gone, but not forgotten." 

Well, Dad you may no longer be with me physically, but you'll always remain in my heart. 

Gone, but never forgotten.

Images around the diamond

I went through and chose some of the best photos from the tournament. The multi-talented fiance took a lot of the action shots, while I snapped the landscape photos. The skies and play provided more than a few great pictures.

Whirlwind return to journalism concludes with 14s title win

The Tri-Valley 14s made sure my brief return to sports journalism went the distance. The All-Star team from the Bay Area ended up winning the Babe Ruth Pacific Southwest Regional title on Saturday and will represent the region at the World Series in Virginia later this month.

Last week reminded me why I decided to be a journalist in the ninth grade. It's not seeing your byline published in a newspaper or on a Web site. It's not for awards or recognition. It's meeting new people and telling their stories. It's having conversations and crafting a written account to inform, highlight and hold accountable.

A few years ago, I probably would have scoffed at the idea of covering Little League. There was an older gentleman who would call the Tri-City Herald looking to publish bowling league scores. Faye, the caller, was usually wasted, but my boss, the sports editor, always took the time to talk with him. I used to think my boss was just patronizing him, but I understand now. 

It doesn't matter if it's the local bowling league or the PBA World Championship; a Babe Ruth regional tourney title game or Game 7 of the World Series. Whether it be sports, news, entertainment, people want their stories told.

Moving, the deterioration of the print industry and the desire to have weekends off have made me decide to pursue other dreams, but journalism will always have a piece of my heart.

And who knows? Maybe sports journalism and I will find each other again. I didn't anticipate the opportunity to cover the Babe Ruth regional tournament. And you can be sure that someone somewhere has a story waiting to be told ... No matter how insignificant it may seem at first.

Day 4 story:

Tri-Valley 14s win regional tournament

Sports reporting return, Day 3: 13s out, 14s in and finding inspiration for a story lead

Friday was hot, sweltering and blazing, with a little extra sizzle thrown in for good measure. And since it's monsoon season, there was a chance of late storms, which prompted the tournament director to bump up the Babe Ruth Pacific Southwest Regional game times from 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

I was made aware of this change at about 12:45 p.m., and it takes an hour to get to Surprise from Phoenix in traffic. Needless to say, I wasn't going to make it on time. I arrived as the 13s' and 14s' games were wrapping up.

Trying not to panic, I checked the scores of both and decided to cover the 14s since they were tied and the 13s trailed by a lot and would most likely play another game later in the day. 

The 14s didn't disappoint. They ended up winning by one in extra innings. I did my interviews with the 14s and got ready for the 13s' second game. They lost again and were eliminated from the tournament.

Afterward, a parent in the 13s crowd asked if it's harder covering a game if the team loses, which got me thinking. I came to conclusion that I don't think it is. A team could win and there still not be a lot to write about. A team could lose, but maybe something happened in the defeat that lends itself to a good story. Sometimes the story is more than just the final score.

In this instance, being tardy to the games actually worked in my favor. I wasn't bogged down in details. I could focus on the end of the 14's game, where the story was, and fill in the earlier play-by-play details as needed.

I try to identify a central theme, an outstanding player or play in the game. Or maybe it's a quote from a coach. Or words from the spectators, which is what happened in the 14s' extra-inning win.

Someone yelled, "We need a hero" when it was the 14s' turn to hit in the bottom of the eighth inning, with them trailing by one. Two batters later, the 14s players hit an RBI-single to score the winning run. I could've led with the play-by-play action, but it's more interesting to include little details a reader wouldn't see if they weren't at the game. And maybe they were even at the game and didn't pick up on it.

Anything can be inspiration for the angle of a story.

Day 3 stories:

Tri-Valley 14s rally to defeat Hawaii 

Tri-Valley 13s’ tournament run comes to end

Five for Friday

 I can't believe it's already the weekend. Time flies when you're covering Little League, apparently.

1. Write on: The baseball teams I'm writing about both have a good chance to advance to the title games Saturday. So I may be doing double duty, championship style, which is scary and exciting.

2. Reservation for one: My mom arrives in Phoenix on Tuesday, and I can't convey the level of my excitement. It's been four months since we last saw each other, but it feels longer. I'm stoked to show her the townhouse and all the area has to offer.

We're planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, which I've dreamed about since I did my 4th grade state report on Arizona. It will be nice to just spend time together in person, too, something a lot of people take for granted.

3. Birthday boy: Bruce's Day of Birth is next Saturday, so I have to finish shopping for and creating his surprises. Happy early 29th, my love.

4. Thrifty recap: We did some bargain hunting last weekend and found a few cool local second-hand and vintage stores in our neighborhood. Post with pics coming soon.

5. Dressing room: Time permitting, I will experiment with the blog design again. I like how it currently looks, but there's always room for improvement.

 

 

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Return to journalism: Day 2

My thoughts and observations from the second day of the Babe Ruth Pacific Southwestern Regional Tournament. 

• Little League baseball has the equivalent of those toddler beauty queen stage parents. I saw their craziness first-hand in the opponent's dugout. Note to psychos who shouldn't have been allowed to breed: It's only a game.
• There's always a story to tell ... No matter how big or small you think it is. 
• Journalists touch people's lives as evidenced by the countless "thank yous" I've received from the Tri-Valley community for covering the tournament.
• Journalism is best experienced without office politics and douchebags.
• Sometimes the best interviews happen in the parking lot after the game when you least expect it.
• Covering this tournament has reminded me why I love journalism the past few days. 

Day 2 stories:

Tri-Valley 13s defeat Central California at regional

Tri-Valley 14s roll past Westchester

Back in the journalistic saddle

Yesterday was fun, nerve-wracking, fulfilling and tiring all wrapped into one Babe Ruth regional tournament. My return to sports reporting started at 4:45 p.m. and ended at 2:30 a.m. ... Standard journalist working hours, which I love. And I get to do it all over again today.

Despite having some difficulty covering two games happening simultaneously, it was great talking with people, which is something missed after leaving the Tri-City Herald, where I was the high school softball, girls basketball, tennis and swimming beat writer. 

I focused on design and copy editing at the Fresno Bee, which is what I wanted. But I always longed for the feeling you get after having a great conversation with someone and being able to tell their story. And for the week, I get to have that joy again.

Day 1 stories:

Hooper leads Tri-Valley 13s to regional-opening win

Tri-Valley 14s edge Taylorsville

Variety is the spice of life ... and this blog

You know the old saying. Well, I've taken it to heart in regard to my little corner of the Internet. I changed the look of the blog again, going from a two-column to a three-column layout, adding social media icons and a spot for some of my favorite photographs. 

I figure the design and information available here should grow with my HTML skills, and I'm pretty stoked with what I've come up with so far, being self-taught and all. Of course, any suggestions, feedback, comments, concerns, questions are always appreciated.

Do you like the new goodies? Has the three-column style enhanced or hampered the blog navigation? I'm toying with the idea of making two skinny columns on either side of the post section, but for now, this is the design.

A sample of my favorite snaps in the Polaroids section:

In rotation: Week of the leak

It's usually a given albums will sneak out before their street-release date. But imagine my surprise [followed by immense joy] when the stars in the music universe aligned this week and three of the records I was most stoked for that were set to come out in the next two months dropped early. 

But it wasn't love at first listen on the new Arcade Fire, Ra Ra Riot and Interpol offerings. But that has since changed. I'm sure it has something to do with listening to each record like 10 times a piece. But that's how I get a feel for music. If I don't dig it past listen number 10, it's probably not going to happen.

I don't expect or even want a band to replicate the sounds of previous albums because how boring would that be for the group and the listeners. But keeping some consistency while building off past success should be the goal. And I didn't hear that in any of the albums the first few times through. 

Then something clicked. Maybe it was finally recognizing and appreciating the new direction each band has gone. Maybe I'm just sensitized to all the new sounds and they really do suck. For now, they're all in heavy rotation.

Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs" | Release date: Tuesday

Win Butler and company seem to have a fascination with geography. And the Montreal super group's latest record is no exception, with suburban expansion, sprawl and nostalgia being among the major themes.

And for the art and music lover, the album will be released in eight different covers.

Ra Ra Riot - "The Orchard" | Release date: Aug. 24

The anticipation for the sophomore album by the orchestra-savvy Syracuse indie pop group has been building in large part to all the goodies they have been sharing on their Web site. Get a free download for "Boy" and check out preview videos for "Keep It Quiet" and "Too Dramatic." The images are from the recording process in a Stillwater, N.Y., orchard ... hence the album name.

And that album art ... amazing. Just one more reason why I love them.

Ra Ra Riot on tumblr

Interpol - "Interpol" | Release date: Sept. 7

New York's favorite brooding bunch is back with their fourth album and it's good, considering the group went from a foursome to a trio after "Interpol" was finished. Perhaps the album cover is a nod to said breakup? Nothing will come close to "Turn On The Bright Lights," but this is a solid effort.

Five for Friday

It's full-blown monsoon season in Phoenix, but that won't stand in the way of my weekend goals, which include staying dry.

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1. Eff you, rut: I began last week's list detailing my ever-growing frustration with the stalled project that was decorating the office-slash-guest bedroom. Well, I'm happy to report I kicked the design block's ass. 

The look of the space has progressed in a direction I'm totally happy with this week. The addition of curtains, a restyling of the bookcase and a few wall decorations getting a home makes me a happy wannabe interior design maven. Stay tuned for the full reveal.

2. Retirement temporarily suspended: I'll be dusting off my reporter's notebook next week. My college homie and fellow Daily Evergreen alumnus Kyle Bonagura asked me to cover two Bay Area baseball teams at a tournament in Surprise for his Web site, Patch.com.

I'll admit I'm a little nervous considering I haven't written a gamer since leaving the Tri-City Herald in 2006. My time at the Fresno Bee was all about copy editing and page design. But I'm embracing this challenge. I should've known sports journalism wasn't going to let me get away that easy.

3. Second-hand search: A trip to the thrift shop across the street is in order. I have a little nook in the office/guest bedroom begging for a small chair or table.

4. Lack-luster: If the mission to find something at the thrift store fails, I have an IKEA Lack side table from 2002 that needs to be repurposed. I'm thinking something like this.

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5. Gone too soon: Tomorrow is not promised and that was never more evident Wednesday when I learned a friend I'd known since junior high had passed away. Les was an extraordinary person, touching so many with his musical talent, infectious smile and comforting embrace. 

 

One of Les' songs.

Cherish one another, be grateful for each breath and appreciate the beauty in the little things. Rest in peace, Les.