Best Man Toast

Giving a Best Man Toast can be one of the most anxiety-injecting and stressful events in a young man's life.  I've given two such toasts and luckily both have gone well.  I had so many compliments on my latest toast for my brother Reid and wife Holly's wedding that I thought I'd share the script.  My method is to write up a script and practice it a few times like that, but then go to the notecard approach and not try to follow the script at all.  That worked really well as I was able to deviate from the script when needed and get more crowd interaction (highly underrated aspect of giving toasts). 

My actual toast went better than any of my practices, and probably the best compliment I got that it was "Razzle Dazzle," from my bro JD.  :)  I'm just happy to have added something good to the wedding; it was a great day.  Without further ado, here it is (I wish I had it on video ...).

"Hello Everyone! For those of you who don't know me, I'm Brent, Reid's older, more dashing brother. We're going to do a few toasts here, so make sure you have your glasses filled with your favorite beverages. First off, I wanted to thank everyone for making today possible, including Mom and Dad who did an amazing job with the landscaping and a thousand other tasks. Holly's Dad Ted helped with all the party setup and is a mastermind at hanging lights. Lynn provided an amazing rehearsal dinner with her now famous lasagna. Thank you Aunt Bonnie, Aunt Heidi, and helpers for the catering and service today. And, also VERY IMPORTANTLY we need to give a little pre thank-you the DJ and bartenders for keeping this party going all night long – no pressure guys!


Reid and I are only 16 months and 3 inches apart. We grew up very close. Going through all the old photo albums this week it reminded me that we were literally always together; rarely is there a photo with just the one of us. I also noticed that Reid has 3 classic poses, and ONLY three. In classic pose #1, Reid give the camera a “why the hell are you taking a picture of me look.” Classic pose #2 is Reid showing off his belly. Classic pose #3 is the most priceless with Reid having about a gallon of drool on the chest of his shirt and some more drool coming off his chin. Even though Reid wasn't the most photogenic we grew up together and became best friends and sometimes biggest rivals.


I was always grateful that Reid was able to keep Mom and Dad's attention most of the time with all kinds of stunts. He was always the more mischievous and wild one while I was able to sit back and be entertained. Inevitably, Mom and Dad would need to punish us boys to get our attention. Punishing Reid was nearly impossible, so Mom and Dad had to come up with some creative punishment. Dad made this cat of nine tails type device with a wooden handle and leather straps coming off it which I thought was pretty intimidating ... Reid on the other hand would get a couple swats with it and laugh the entire time. Mom and Dad needed to come up with even more creative ways to get our attention. Reid and I were about 11 and 12 years old one day when we were probably telling each other just how much we enjoyed each other’s company. Mom must’ve had a bad day because she had a short fuse; she came up with the most creative and effective punishment yet. Mom decided the best punishment would be to have us hold hands, look each other in the eyes, and tell each other loved each other. I don't think we performed the act admirably enough because then Mom took it to the next level … I’m sorry to say Holly that you were not Reid’s first kiss because Mom made us kiss ... on the lips. I'm glad to see that Reid has found someone who enjoys kissing him on a daily basis because I sure didn't.


All kidding aside, Reid is a great man and has been a awesome brother to me and friend to so many of us. Some of his greatest strengths are his positive attitude, charisma, and loyalty. He makes the people around him happy and in the end that is what makes him great. The fact that is becoming a NASCAR fan is just an added bonus for Holly.


All the Beros are excited to welcome Holly and her family into our family. I'd imagine especially my Mom who finally will have a girl around after more than 25 years of just boys. JD and I get a cool new sister who has to set us up with all her girlfriends. :) We know that Holly is committed and dedicated after a nearly decade-long relationship with Reid, well and maybe a sucker for punishment too. :) And, just because she is beautiful and funny doesn't mean that she is a prissy girl. Just a couple days ago I was watching Holly use the table saw ... it wasn't even a big deal to her. I was impressed but more so scared she was going to cut a finger off just days before the wedding. Apparently she's taken a power tools class ... looks like my Dad will finally have someone who can help him out with all his projects.


I am very excited for Reid and Holly. I know that the two of them are a great match for one another, just wait 'til they get out on the dance floor. Let's all raise our glasses to Reid and Holly and wish them a happy marriage and prosperity. To Reid and Holly, Cheers!"

Ode to the Smart Phone

Smart phone, oh Smart phone
How you change my every day
Unlimited information just a touch away
Navigation, internet, SMS,
E-mail, Pandora, jokes featuring Chuck Norris!

The HTC Evo has a killer app
A kickstand which makes viewing a snap
You streamed World Cup straight to the pool
8 megapixel camera everywhere I go

Video chat is weird but fun
Smart phone, oh Smart phone
This rhyme is now done!

Landscape Design -- Kinda Awesome?

So, I'm making baby steps at re-landscaping the Bero backyard. I hired a landscape designer to come up with some plans and I'm fairly pleased at what she came up with. This lady had a passion for what she was doing and I think it shows up in the quality of the design -- very cool.

For anyone else considering any major landscaping, I highly recommend getting some help. The design itself was cheap ($150) and the designer thought of some things I would never have come up with like putting the water feature in the center, keeping but modifying the fire pit area, and adding a seating wall. That's the value of perspective. I might swap out some of her recommended plants and trees, but for the most part I like the design. Thoughts?

California Sunshine

One thing I’m grateful for is the predictable California sunshine. It used to be such a novelty for a former Washingtonian like myself to be able to predict sunshine more than a couple days in a row. Now, I’m warmed by 300 days of sunshine a year and a solid six months of sunshine predictability. I’m weather spoiled!

California Sunshine, how predictable are you? You warm me every morning and make the evenings so pleasant. You get a little toasty during the day but that is why we have a/c and icy beverages. 300 plus days a year you are here making all our activities more fun. I salute you California Sunshine!

Here’s to you California Sunshine.

Millenium Class + 10

Yesterday was the day of my ten year high school reunion! Wow, time sure is passing by fast! Unfortunately, I did not attend the festivities. The distance makes it a little tough and I’ve been travelling a lot recently, especially to the Seattle area. Next weekend is Reid’s bachelor party then three weeks later is his wedding.


Still though, this milestone is an opportunity to look back upon the past 10 years. I think I’ve accomplished a lot, learned a lot about myself, become closer with my family, and made some really great friends. Six of those ten years were fairly dedicated to getting my education, albiet with a lot of fun when I wasn’t working too hard. :) Going into college I didn’t have an exact plan, I just knew that I wanted to get the most out of my education ... somehow that led me to getting my Master’s degree in engieering. Luckily it’s a degree that is valuable and I’m still very pleased with; it’s opened one significant door for me and that is working for one of the most respected tech companies in the world, Intel. I’ve been at Intel four years now and things are well. I am passionate about technology and how it can change our lives, especially mobile technology and how it connects people and brings efficiencies to the world. It’s just amazing how life goes by. I’m extremely grateful that my parents taught me the value of getting an education and also sacraficed financially to make it happen. Thanks M&D!

So much else has happened these past 10 years. I’ve taken risks, moving to California all on my own; so far so good there. I’ve been consistently taking care of my health and keeping habits to live a long happy life. I’ve been a groomsman in 6 weddings; best man gig #2 is coming up in a month! There have been some interesting adventures, from achieving the summits of Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Shasta as well as crazy road trips, Nelson BC, Malaysia, Montana fishing, and snowboarding adventures. Definitely good times. I seriously think I’ve had 25 different roommates / housemates in this decade.

I think I’ve worked hard and played hard. The next 10 years hold a lot of promise. I will continue to work hard and play hard and as well as take time to celebrate life more frequenty. I’m adopting a modified motto, courtesy of Justin Moore: “Work Hard, Play Hard, Hold my Baby Tight.” These next ten years will be different though, no doubt. I don’t know exactly what’s down that road for me but I’m hopeful to marry that special lady, start a family, stay healthy, be there for family and friends, continue in a rewarding career, explore the world more, and have many, many more adventures.

As I sit between past an future, the present is here and it is to be celebrated. I hope you celebrated all night long Bellarmine Prep class of 2000 and poured out some bubbly for me!

Independence Day Weekend in Pictures

The July 4th holiday is always great, especially when you can expect glorious sunshine here in California.  For the 2nd year in a row I did some boating with friends on New Melones Lake, near Sonora CA.  The Marks really know how to boat, with a party barge, speed boat, and a spread of ribs, shrimp, cookies, margaritas, fresh fruit, and Bud Light.  This year I tried water skiing and wake boarding -- both very difficult.

With the rest of the weekend, I went for a hike in the Stanislas National Forest and spent a lot of time on the ST 1100.  Let Freedom Ring.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bbero82/4thOfJuly2010

Abstract Much?

Whenever I look at art I am always drawn to the abstract pieces ... all too commonly the most expensive ones at the gallery. Landscapes, traditional, portraits, and classical just don’t do it for me. Some nature pieces are alluring though; my parents have an especially interesting piece called the “Midnight Wolf” by Robert Bateman.  Do you see the wolf?

What is it about abstract art? I think I like how the normally geometric shapes resemble something or give you an idea yet leave perhaps even a more to the imagination. Not to mention all the vibrant colors. Here is a piece that I have in my home, one of my favorite purchases.

Earlier this year, I was in Puerto Vallarta and found an art gallery with a few pieces that caught my eye. When I walked in, I saw a piece I really liked and saw a price tag of $4000. I left that day but made my way back to the gallery a few days later intending to buy the piece. I assumed the price was marked in the local currency, pesos. :) That would have made the piece ~$400 USD. Unfortunately it was marked in USD! Some other day I guess. Here is the piece, done by Alfonso Pena.

I think it makes a lot of sense to try to buy art from travel locations because it’ll always have a special meaning, even though the logistics might be challenging. Hopefully I’ll stumble across more affordable pieces during future travel.

One last piece that recently caught my eye, surprisingly some local art displayed at work.