Fight Cancer: Sponsor a Flying Turkey

Hey everyone,

My mom’s side of the family has a pretty extensive history fighting and overcoming cancer (my mom, two of her three sisters, and two of their husbands, have all successfully fended off various forms of the disease), and as a result they’ve become dedicated supporters of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Every year we all get together for the big Livestrong Challenge event here in town. We “race” under the team name of The Flying Turkeys, since the sisters grew up on a turkey farm just outside of Austin. Now that I’m back in Texas, this is my first year running with the Turkeys, and I couldn’t be more excited. It also means I’m a fundraising noob and asking the internet to provide me with its copious small-donation bounty.

If y’all would like to donate to the cause, I’ve set up a direct link for easy online donations:

http://bit.ly/cancersux

My family and I appreciate anything you can give, so thanks in advance and feel free to pass this post on to others.

Thanks!

—Matt


The Flying Turkeys take flight (sort of)

The Flying Turkeys take flight (sort of)


Friday, October 2nd, 2009 | No Comments
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From Austin, Without Internet

antiques-blog

We’re back and settling in, but the house we’re in can’t get internet access. Photos and posts will trickle in when I can make it to a coffee shop.

Above, a shot from our last week in the Bay, when some friends came to visit.

Thursday, May 21st, 2009 | No Comments
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Flickring for Change

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

I enjoyed theWhite House’s Delivering on Change photoset on Flickr.

Interesting for me personally were the behind-the-scenes shots, which reveal, in mannerisms at least, that Obama the President doesn’t look a whole lot different than Obama the Guy on a Book Tour Who Maybe, Just Maybe, Could Run for President.

2009:

By Pete Souza

By Pete Souza

2006:
barack obama 3

Thursday, April 30th, 2009 | No Comments
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Back to Austin!

For the last week I’ve been buried under enjoying our last couple weeks in California and trying to finish editing Lilly’s wedding before we move. Photos will be light, but Twittering should remain active for those wanting to keep in touch.

We roll into Austin on May 1! Can’t wait!

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 | No Comments
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The last big protest I saw at the Texas Capitol…

immigration

Wondering if the Tea Party in Austin today will compare at all to the immigration-law protests back in 2006, which didn’t have a huge discernible effect on legislation. Guessing these won’t either… God willing.

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 | No Comments
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Lilly Looking Happy

lilly-looking-real-happy-copy

Probably my favorite shot from the wedding. Took me a while to edit, though, because there was a light fixture in the background that appeared to stick straight out of Lilly’s head. Three cheers for the digital age.

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 | 1 Comment
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United Airlines: customer service at its finest

This is why I always try to fly Southwest:

  1. Months ago, book an SFO-Dallas flight using frequent flyer miles.
  2. Get laid off.
  3. Have to move back to Texas.
  4. Call United and ask to cancel my flight and hopefully get back some FF miles.
  5. Woman tells me that she can cancel my flight, but there’s a $150 charge to re-credit the miles. However, since I lost my job, I can get that $150 refunded by calling United’s refund department.
  6. Call refund dept. Agent tells me that fees for re-crediting FF miles are non-refundable. But since my flight’s already been canceled, I’m stuck with that $150 charge on my credit card. For my FREE flight. Which I got because I was such a loyal customer.
  7. Remind the dude that I canceled the flight because I LOST MY JOB and am broke. No luck.
  8. Request to speak to a manger, which apparently means waiting for a manager to call me back sometime in the next 24 hours.

Way to go, guys.

UPDATE: Holy lord, my story is nothing compared to the woman who couldn’t be at her mother’s deathbed because a United ticket agent went on break. WTF is wrong with this company?

Monday, April 13th, 2009 | 1 Comment
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Before the Service

adjusting-the-tie-copy

Lilly says this is classic Mark.

Monday, April 13th, 2009 | No Comments
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First photos from Lilly’s wedding are up

lilly-reading-her-vows-copy

The set of Lilly and Mark’s wedding on Flickr.

Many more to come. Congrats, guys! Tons of fun, and the old house was sweet, too.

Friday, April 10th, 2009 | No Comments
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First Dance

first-dance-blog1

From Yael and Ross’s wedding.

Will spend the rest of the week sorting the photos from Lilly and Mark’s wedding, where I was actually on the clock.

Both ceremonies were beautiful, and a blast to boot.

Monday, April 6th, 2009 | No Comments
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