Shawn & Lesa

Now a Two Bike Family!

2006-04-04T21:42:00.000-05:00

I couldn't be more proud - my wife bought her first bike today!

Washington, DC Trip

2006-03-28T21:42:00.000-06:00

Lesa and I are planning a trip from Nashville to DC next week - 2 days to get there and back and 2 days in DC itself playing tourist. We plan on staying in Johnson City, TN the first night and Blacksburg, VA on the way back. It will be our first "long distance" ride on our new bike!

We know all the places in DC we want to see (Washington Monument, White House, National Archives, etc) and plan on taking "back roads" as much as possible on the trip.

The nice folks at Garmin have loaned us a StreetPilot 2720 (thanks to the guys at Honda of Cool Springs for mounting it for us!) so we can find our way around without too many issues (I've been testing it around Nashville and it *rocks*) and the Butt Buffer people have got our....well...butts covered. :)

Are there any sights/places/restaurants/roads you think are can't miss? Any ideas, no matter how odd or wacky, are appreciated.

Also, we've got a Royal Star Tour Deluxe with nice big saddlebags. But I'll be picking up a "Touring Bag" for the passenger seat so we can put in clothes and such. The bike has been checked out and is ready for the ride.

What else do you suggest we bring along? We've got the usual (extra cel phone batteries, emergency numbers, cameras and a computer to upload pics :) ) but do you have any other suggestions? I'm going to grab a couple of extra face shields and we'll bring enough and the right clothes but.....

It's snowing!

2006-02-18T13:09:00.000-06:00

Speaking of Brazilian Wax Jobs

2006-02-14T18:01:00.000-06:00

Look at their faces - it doesn't seem *that* bad.....

Speaking of Brazilian Wax Jobs

Our 1st Married Valentine's Day!

2006-02-14T17:49:00.000-06:00

So....I come home this afternoon and my Blushing Bride is working at her computer and listening to Howard Stern. One of the guys on the show is getting a Brazilian Wax Job - not exactly what you want to hear as you come home on Valentine's Day!

It got better though.

I brought home 2 gifts - one pair of silk pajamas and the 2nd gift she hasn't found yet. :) And I had Peruvian Lilies delivered.

She had a huge, heavy box on the coffee table waiting for me.....check the video below to see what was in it. :)

Our 1st Married Valentine's Day!

Take this Test!

2006-02-04T10:21:00.000-06:00

It says Shawn is:
"messy, tough, disorganized, fearless, not rule conscious, likes the unknown, rarely worries, rash, attracted to the counter culture, rarely irritated, positive, resilient, abstract, not a perfectionist, risk taker, strange, weird, self reliant, leisurely, dangerous, anti-authority, trusting, optimistic, positive, thrill seeker, likes bizarre things, sarcastic."

And:
Stability results were high which suggests you are very relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic..

Orderliness results were moderately low which suggests you are, at times, overly flexible, improvised, and fun seeking at the expense of reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment.

Extraversion results were medium which suggests you are moderately talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting.

Very interesting.....

Yes, it was a 'Real' Wedding

2006-01-26T11:25:00.000-06:00

In case you hadn't heard, Shawn King and Lesa Snider, of Your Mac Life and The Graphic Reporter, were married during Macworld Conference and Expo, on 12 January, 2006.

It wasn't some kind of goofball thing on the show floor, it wasn't officiated by a Steve Jobs lookalike, the vows weren't exchanged via iChat AV, it wasn't webcast. It was a wedding, for all the reasons people get married, and it was beautiful. But yes, when you hear about something like this, the trainwreck potential on the surface is SO high...

Yes, it was a 'Real' Wedding

The Marryin' Man

2006-01-23T09:16:00.000-06:00

Andy Ihnatko's take on The Wedding.

Stories about the Wedding

2006-01-17T09:38:00.000-06:00

A Mac Wedding, by David Pogue

A Wedding Made at Macworld -- The Photos

A Totally Macworld Wedding

A Macworld Wedding, Literally

iDo: A Macworld Expo Wedding

Best (Wedding) Party

We got Married!

2006-01-17T09:30:00.000-06:00

Not only did we get married, we were lucky enough to have the most wonderful ceremony and great friends to share it with.

Pics are here in various places and the Wedding video is here. Andy Ihnatko performed a beautiful ceremony.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words and best wishes!

2006-01-12T07:24:00.000-06:00

@ Macworld Expo

2006-01-10T11:02:00.000-06:00

Playing Poker @ Binion's!

2006-01-07T19:47:00.000-06:00

Well....kinda.....:)

2006-01-06T22:25:00.000-06:00

Vegas, baby!

2006-01-06T22:24:00.000-06:00

Where are we registered?

2006-01-02T13:09:00.000-06:00

I'm *completely* blown away and humbled by the number of people who have asked about our gift registry. We've picked a few places that we like and listed them below.

If you have to search for us on any of the registries, search for "Shawn King" or "Lesa Snider", with an event date of January 12th, 2006 and/or a location of San Francisco, California.

Target Wedding Registry

Crate and Barrel Wedding Registry

Amazon Wedding Registry

To be honest, between the two of us we've pretty much got everything a small apartment needs. So, if you'd like to donate to our "Buy Shawn and Lesa a Motorcycle" Fund instead, you are more than welcome to. :)

The email address to send money to is shawn@yourmaclife.com.

For those of you who feel more comfortable sending in a check or who don't have PayPal accounts, our mailing address is:

Your Mac Life
C/O
Shawn King
1930 Air Lane Drive
Nashville, TN
37210

Thanks!

The Groom

Santa's Little Helper

2005-12-21T18:28:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-19T19:03:00.000-06:00

Brian's Fried Turkey

2005-12-17T19:47:00.000-06:00

First time ever having fried turkey - *man* it was good! I usually hate white turkey meat because it's too dry but the fried version was *delicious!

The Bunganut Pig Pub

2005-12-17T14:53:00.000-06:00

Queen's Biscuits

2005-12-17T13:54:00.000-06:00

Appetizers

2005-12-17T13:44:00.000-06:00

The Bunganut Pig Pub in Franklin, TN

2005-12-17T13:35:00.000-06:00

Wedding favors... compliments of Mackenzies-Chocolates

2005-12-14T11:36:00.000-06:00

::squeals with delight:: These gorgeous favors will be given out at our wedding, compliments of Ian Mackenzie of Mackenzies-Chocolates. Each golden box will house two truffle crowns, one dark and one milk chocolate. Ian sent a box full of their truffles so we can choose the fillings. (sigh) It's a tough job but somebody has to do it. Thank you Ian!!!

The Bride

Sunday Breakfast....

2005-12-11T13:35:00.000-06:00

At Sam Hill's Food & Spirits in Columbia,TN.

If you get a chance, *don't* eat here. :(

If you can't sleep....

2005-12-02T04:09:00.000-06:00

Can you really call it insomnia if you just can't sleep?

Apparently not....

OK..so I just can't sleep and it's 4am. I hate when this happens. Can't turn brain off, thinking too much (Expo, wedding plans, motorcycle, party planning, CES, Hockey Jerseys, show guests) and, even though it's 27 F outside (colder than Vancouver!) and the bedroom door is open, I was still too hot to sleep due to two damn cats sleeping on my legs!

They usually sleep at the foot of the bed but, every now and then, they decide to sleep right between my legs. It's not easy to sleep with 35lbs of cat lying on you!

At the Titan's Game

2005-11-20T14:43:00.000-06:00

Just give her the chocolate...

2005-11-16T16:49:00.000-06:00

And no one gets hurt.

Growlers of

2005-11-13T14:30:00.000-06:00

Their Vanilla Cream & the "Kilt Lifter"!

Tunisian Piza

2005-11-13T13:47:00.000-06:00

2 Beers

2005-11-13T13:29:00.000-06:00

Vanilla Cream & Coalminer's Stout

Out Riding

2005-11-13T13:25:00.000-06:00

Now having a beer in Clarksville, TN

"Let's Go See a Hockey Game!"

2005-11-10T16:14:00.000-06:00

Yeah! That will be fun! I'll surprise The Bride by taking her to a Nashville Predators game tonight. After all, they are playing Dallas (almost her home town; she's actually from Ft Worth) and she's never been to a game before.....

If only the Nashville Predators and Ticketmaster would have cooperated. :(

I go to the Preds web site to buy tickets online. Their Order Online link isn't recognized by the Ticketmaster web site. So I enter the Preds info only to find out Tickets are currently not available online.

Oookkkkaayyyyy......

Back to the Preds web site....maybe I can buy by phone.

Their Predators' Quick Connect to Ticketmaster: 615-770-PUCK (7825), Press Option #1 also isn't recognized by Ticketmaster. I spend 5 mins on the phone with the really *annoying* computerized voice system, going through a half dozen prompts *painfully* slowly.

I'm then put on hold for 5 minutes.....

TicketMaster Person: Hello, my name is Adam. How may I help you?

Me: What?

TM: How may I help you, sir?

Me: What do you mean? I just spent 5 mins telling your computerized voice system what I wanted.

TM: Could you tell me what you are looking for?

Me: Wait a minute. What is the point of the computerized system if, when I get to a real person, I have to repeat all the information?

TM: I don't know sir.

Me:.....

TM: What tickets would you like to purchase sir?

I go through the same thing with him that I did with the computer.

State....wait for him to look it up.....

City....wait for him to look it up.....

location....wait for him to look it up.....

Event...wait for him to look it up.....

Team...wait for him to look it up.....

Number of tickets...wait for him to look it up.....

TM: Im sorry sir...those tickets are not for sale at this time.

Me: Are you kidding me!? Is the game sold out?

TM: No sir. They are just not available for sale right now.

Me: (hanging up)

So I call the poorly named Box Office. I say, "poorly named" because the web site says, "you cannot order tickets by this phone for Predators games".....

Box Office: How can I help you?

Me: Can you tell me why I cannot buy tickets for tonight's game online or by phone?

BO: You can buy tickets directly at the Gaylord Entertainment Center box office, sir.

Me: Yes, I know that. By why can I not purchase them online or by phone?

BO: After 3pm, we cannot get the tickets to the box office in time, sir.

Me: Excuse me? That doesn't make any sense....

BO:....

I hang up. Don't these people know that computers can communicate to each other, as if by magic, and people can pay for tickets in one place and then pick them up in another place....oh...perhaps their own freaking Will Call Window!!!!

The Groom

Stuffed Full of Cheesecake...

2005-11-06T15:01:00.000-06:00

The Bride's Godiva Cheesecake

2005-11-06T14:43:00.000-06:00

The Bride's Brunch

2005-11-06T14:13:00.000-06:00

DW @ The Cheesecake Factory!

2005-11-06T13:53:00.000-06:00

Must be.....

2005-11-03T17:08:00.000-06:00

Because of the new pink ball and new pink shoes!

She's Getting Better!

2005-11-03T17:03:00.000-06:00

My Feet are Killing Me!

2005-10-30T19:41:00.000-06:00

Wow... it turns out, chasing an NFL Films cameraman up and down a football field for 3 hours is like 8 hours in the "real world". We are *exhausted*.

Rob is a big guy but when the action on the field moves, he moves like a linebacker. It was honestly tough to keep up with him and I stopped trying in the *3rd* quarter!

As sore as my feet are, I had a blast. I've watched thousands of football games on TV, attended a bunch of CFL games and a few NFL games and *nothing* compared to actually being on the sidelines - standing on the grass, seeing the players and "famous faces", feeling the crowd, hearing the hits...and then add to it, your "job" of making sure the camera guy you are working for doesn't get creamed by a huge linebacker looking to make a big hit.

Luckily, I didn't have to save Rob from anyone. Hopefully, you'll see some of what he shot on TV in the coming weeks but, even if you don't, know that he works *very* hard at his job and is undoubtedly *very* good at it.

Thanks Rob. I'll be your wing man any time!

BTW, Titans lost 34-25. I blame Lesa - she bet Raiders in the Football Pool!

Raiders vs Titans Pics

In Her Stance

2005-10-29T23:32:00.000-05:00

But it was a gutterball. :-(

Thanks to NFL Films...

2005-10-29T13:43:00.000-05:00

The Bride and Groom are going to this Sunday's Raiders vs Titans game!

One of YML's listeners is a cameraman for NFL FIlms. His usual assistant can't make it this weekend so he has asked me to help out (basically as a sideline gopher - nothing glamorous) and he has an extra Sideline Pass for Lesa.

I've never been *that* close to a professional football game and am really looking forward to it. I've been a big admiring of NFL Films for years (they do amazing camera and editing work) and being on the sidelines, even as a gopher, should be a real blast.

What will make it even more fun is, not only is it a *Raiders* game, but it's a Halloween game too. The crowd should be deliciously weird. :)

I'm allowed to take pics so look for them on Sunday night!

The Bride...

2005-10-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

Hates losing.

The Bride & Groom...

2005-10-29T13:38:00.000-05:00

Went bowling on Friday night.

The Ring

2005-10-27T16:33:00.000-05:00

Men, the glorious creatures that they are, never cease to amaze me. Of course the engagement deal wasn't sealed until I sported a bright shiny rock thrust upward from the deepest depths of the earth by nothing short of volcanic force! A man simply must convey his intent in a tangible manner, don't you think? To Shawn's credit, he did buy me a beautiful birthstone ring with which he used to propose in March.

Call me crazy, but I like this ring even better. It's more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, and by waiting, Shawn got an outrageously good deal on it. Maybe sometimes, when the planets are aligned just right, men know best :)

The Bride

Well... It's Official

2005-10-26T13:18:00.000-05:00

Lesa and I are getting married. While that surprises a (disturbingly high) number of you, we are very happy about it. :)

But... I thought we had made it official *months* ago. Back in March, I proposed to Lesa on our show. In *my* mind, I figured I was done.

As usual, I was wrong.

Turns out, *Lesa* didn't think it was official until I actually put a ring on her finger. Apparently, it wasn't "real" to her until that happened. Women. Regardless, the best part of all of this is that now, we can talk about it and start making real plans.

We hope (if everything goes as planned) to get married in San Francisco during Macworld Conference and Expo this coming January. Lesa and I don't want or need a "Big Church Wedding" so we thought this could be a lot of fun for everyone!

The Groom

How it Happened...

2005-10-25T12:52:00.000-05:00

Lesa and I have known each other for three or four years, having met at previous Macworld Expos. I thought she was *really* cute but had to be taken. She was.

Every six months, we'd see each other again, briefly, just long enough to say hi or to chat at an event or party.

It wasn't until Macworld Expo 2004 in SF that things started to "heat up" and not until this past 2005 Expo in SF that we got really serious. Long distance relationships are tough at the best of times, so she moved in with me last April.

We live in a nice, quiet little apartment overlooking some woods with her cats, Samantha (the pretty but skittish one) and Sylvester (the fat and lazy one). Interesting how the cats mirror the people. :)

The Groom

After 500 Miles

2005-10-23T18:13:00.000-05:00

This is what things look like.

I don't Know Where I Am...

2005-10-23T18:03:00.000-05:00

But I'm stopping for a beer!

Breaking the Law in Lynchburg

2005-10-22T14:51:00.000-05:00

Even though (and, oddly enough, considering the Jack Daniel's Distillery is in the county) the town of Lynchburg (and Moore County)is officially "dry" (that is, no booze is allowed to be sold in the county), we managed to find one guy who would sell us a few beers. :)

Out Riding with a Few Friends

2005-10-22T12:22:00.000-05:00

Lynchburg, TN is the home of the Jack Daniels Distillery. It's also a cute little town. Our "new biker friends", Brian and Jamie, invited me to go riding with them down to Lynchburg where the town (population 5740) gets quadruped...seemingly with Harleys alone!

Today, they had the 17th Annual Jack Daniel's Barbeque.

Just Proposed!

2005-10-22T12:08:00.000-05:00

Out riding today with Brian and Jamie and a few of their friends. When we got to Lynchburg, this guy told his girlfriend to get something out of his bike's saddlebags for him.

In the bags was the ring - he asked her to marry him. She said yes. :)

Latest Rental

2005-10-21T13:29:00.000-05:00

A Honda ST 1300