New Header Image – Mt. Rainier

Hey folks! I’m still living in Utah. I was looking on Flickr.com for some good Utah-oriented images and found a bunch of good ones but they weren’t quite hitting me right. I thought for a bit and remembered one of my big passions growing up. Mt. Rainier in Washington State. I grew up near Tacoma in a town called Bonney Lake. There are a few lakes in that area and one, Lake Tapps, is pretty expansive and there’s a road you can travel on around the lake and at one point, you can see this majestic peak hovering above the lake.

In school, I wrote many a report based upon my mountain. I had posters and pictures and maps in my room. I even have a wide panoramic framed picture of Mt. Rainier in my office at home now! I love this mountain and it makes me think of home. I have not been back to WA since my Father passed away in November of 2006. I’ve seen family here and there since as they’ve come to visit. I really get to missing home. Perfect weather (yes, I love rain!), lots of green and of course the magnificent Mt. Rainier.

Above, you see a fantastic view of Mt. Rainier from the farmlands of Enumclaw, just at the entryway to the Cascade Range and foothills. My Aunt lives on a farm in Enumclaw and had an incredible view of the mountain. It was my favorite part of visiting my cousins. I hope you enjoy the scenic and beautiful image of Mt. Rainier as much as I do.

-Timmy

Building a New Family Website

If you’ve been over to http://www.marinifamily.org lately, you probably noticed things there haven’t changed much. Honestly, they haven’t in a long while, other than some minor headline info. I’ve really focused a lot of effort and focus on this blog, facebook and twitter lately. I still have an HTML itch that needs to be scratched occasionally so I’ve begun designing the new version of the Marini Family.org homepage. My main goal here is to provide good and relevant info all on one page.  You can preview it at http://www.marinifamily.org/newsite. Just be aware that I will be working a lot with it and it will change a lot.

I have yet to really immerse myself into some of the higher levels of web design and programming, such as Flash or Java/AJAX, etc… Most of what I do is plain html and some little java applets to add a little spice.

Most of my efforts will stay on the previously mentioned sites but I will be really focused on the new site a lot. Go take a look and feel free to give me ideas or thoughts.

Thanks!

Independence Day – 2009

Independence Day - 2009

Remembering our Freedom and our Liberty.

Happy Independence Day, America!

4th of July Weekend Camping

Thanks to our wonderful friends, the Baileys, we are heading up to Logan Canyon/Bear Lake this weekend! They have a family cabin up there and invited us to come and “camp” with them. While our idea of camping generally involves sleeping bags, tents and lots of fire, this is totally acceptable as an alternative as Brandy is quite pregnant.

Their local family is all heading up there on Saturday for a 4th celebration and BBQ. It should be tons of fun. We’re so glad to have become friends with the Baileys. (not just for their cabin!!)

July looks to be a pretty busy month. Camping this weekend and then a couple weeks later for Pioneer Day (July 24th), we’re going tent camping up in that same area again. We found some great campgrounds up there and it’s pretty close to all the Bear Lake action. See previous Bear Lake camping posts Here and Here.

We also get the new challenge/fun of bringing Lexie with us! This should be a great adventure for all of us.

I will try to post some pics when we return.

Happy Independence Day!

-Timmy

RIP, Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, as you’ve most likely heard, has passed away. He was 50 years old. He was a genius. He brought pop music more life and excitement in the past 4 decades than many others could ever wish to claim. Yes, as a private individual, he had his problems. Yes, he was strange. Let’s focus on what a creative giant he was and what influence and power he brought.

I am a huge fan and will continue to be. Two albums: Thriller and Bad pretty much made up my entire upbringing. I always listened to music on the radio or on tapes or records growing up. Michael Jackson was a major component of that. I was consistently entertained by his talent and star power. His music, his videos, his performances.

Michael Jackson’s leaving has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. No one could be like Mike.

We will miss you, Michael. God bless you and your family.

-Timmy

Movie Reviews: Star Trek & Transformers 2

Star Trek

2009 has been a great year for movies, so far! Today’s post will be about the new JJ Abrams take on the classic TV Series and movie saga, Star Trek and the sequel to 2007’s smash hit, Transformers: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Star Trek was a great film! Taking the lead is Chris Pine who’s been in Just My Luck and Princess Diaries 2, on the big screen. He’s also played parts on ER and CSI Miami on television. He did well playing the cocky James Kirk character and gave a solid performance. Opposite him, playing the young Spock was 24 and Heroes star, Zachary Quinto. A highly logical selection for the Vulcan commander. This is a reboot of sorts of the original series and movies as it creates a back story to who these characters were and how they came to be at the helm of the Enterprise. The pace was quick and well written. Dialog was excellent and there were many references to link this movie to the past. Leonard Nimoy also makes an appearance and provides an excellent tie-in. In all, a fun movie that you may even take the youngsters to. Not much language or questionable content.

Congratulations to Deborah and Jake Denison!

Deborah & Jake

Today, at the Manti, UT LDS Temple, Jake Denison took Deborah Yorke as his bride for eternity! They have been dating for a few months in the Dallas, TX area. The families are all very excited and happy for the couple. We would like to thank all those who traveled and who were involved in any way in the preparations for this blessed occasion.

In the LDS Church (aka Mormon), when two worthy members of the Church wish to be married, they can do so in one of the Temples and be sealed together forever in an eternal marriage. This great privilege is something very unique to the Church and is an essential step in our eternal progression. For more information, please visit this LINK at mormon.org.

Congratulations and many happy wishes to the Denisons! We all wish you the best in all you do now and for eternity as a family.

-Timmy

Things are going to start moving quickly now!

Summer’s here and just when you’d think things would mellow out, no sir! Here’s what we’ve got coming…

• Deb’s and Jake’s wedding in Manti
• We get Lexie, our puppy
• Camping @ Bear Lake
• maybe camping elsewhere

OK, so that doesn’t look like a ton, but read between the lines! Most of Rachel’s family are coming for the wedding. We’re hosting many, if not all, activities either at our house or at the chapel up the street. Lots of cleaning and buying food and such to be ready. Lexie is going to be a huge adjustment in lifestyle! We will need to puppy-proof the house, buy food and supplies and a kennel. We’ve built the gate and put a net up over the garden. Camping is lots of fun, once you’re out there doing it. It takes some good prep and work to get ready.

We should have a lot of fun this summer and I’m excited we can share it with a new member of the family, Lexie.

-Timmy