 So, I got a web design job from a guy in Wisconsin who runs some Fitness Together franchise locations. At first, I was really a bit skeptical about doing the site. I was under the impression that it was going to be all about rippling abs and spandex. But, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Pete Piranio ( the owner of those locations ), was really serious about providing personal training for real people. My initial mockups included photos that you would expect to see in Gold's Gym marketing materials, but Pete would not have any of that. He said that Fitness Together cares a lot more about real people and that's what he wanted to represent in his site. His determination to avoid that image made me curious about his services, so I read the copy on his site a little more carefully than normal. What I discovered was really interesting! Pete's fitness locations offer a very personalized fitness program that is tailored to the individual. You really get more for your money because each part of the program focuses on you and your goals. If I lived in Wisconsin again, I would probably go to one of Pete's three locations to get in better shape because of the personal nature of his programs. I could really use it right now considering how much time I spend in front of the computer! If you're also interested in fitness or planning to live in Wisconsin, I highly recommend taking a look at Pete's web site. It's available at http://fitnesstogether.net, and it was kind of a fun site to design. Enjoy!
 Media Fast hired me to design this web site for their new Salt Lake City plant "Digital Depot". They wanted a really simple interface and some basic sections with information for visitors. I focused on the image of the girl with the CD most. Trying to abstractly communicate the concept of optical media production and keep the whole thing looking really nice with the existing Digital Depot logo was a challenge. But, after some time, it all seemed to come together. I'd put the site in my portfolio, but it's kind of basic compared to the majority of my work.
 I discovered currant juice this year in an odd stroke of fate. One of my friends, Zeb Weeks, sells fruit for his uncle in Paradise, Utah every summer. He also sells currant juice products from the farm including currant juice, currant jams, currant syrups, etc. The currant juice is a big hit with the locals up there in Paradise, because the currant is like an antioxidant producing berry "on steroids". Apparently, currants are well known throughout Europe for having an extremely high concentration of antioxidants and vitamins. I had never heard much about the fruit, but Zeb told me that his uncle has done a ton of research and has cultivated a beautiful crop right here in the mountains of Utah. He's been selling the juice and syrup for a while now, and I guess one lady up there swears that it cured her of cancer. I'm sure that the FDA has not evaluated her statement, but I've done some reading and confirmed that there are some definite nutritional benefits to drinking currant juice. Personally, I was just looking for a gourmet, non-alcoholic, and non-carbonated beverage to serve at my private dinner parties. And, the currant juices from Zeb's family's farm possess incredible flavor! It is a perfect addition to any dinner, holiday, or celebration. I liked it so much, that I offered to help Zeb build a web site to sell his family's juice online to folks across the nation. He gladly accepted my offer, and we built a nice little site with a store that uses a combination of a Mercantec shopping cart and Google Checkout to securely process payments. You can check it out at http://currantjuice.com! If you're new to the juice like me, I recommend the sampler. It's the best way to save some money and try all three flavors.
 If you're like me, you've probably told yourself that you should have learned to play the piano when you were younger. However, now that you're older, the work schedule doesn't permit you to take lessons during the day. Well, there is finally a comprehensive solution for folks who want to learn to play the piano but would rather take the lessons on their own terms and in the privacy of their own homes - using an electric keyboard with headphones to avoid annoying others. I recently discovered a great product that can help you do just that. It's a complete 16-week course on dual layer DVD's taught by renowned piano instructor, Merrilee Webb. I only found out about it because some friends were doing the video production and DVD authoring, and they recruited me to offer some help with them with the DVD entrapment and label design. Soon, I discovered that they had managed to cram 16 weeks of piano lesson material onto 4 dual-layer discs in one DVD case. That's a lot of video footage! The teaching system is based on the work of C.W. Reid, which has been used to teach generations of piano students all over the world. It is a system that could be used to quickly give you a foundation in piano study, and it can be used repeatedly to strengthen those foundation skills over time. Also, if you are already planning on taking regular piano lessons from a qualified instructor, this system is a great supplement for your education! It can give you an edge in your studies and help you advance quicker than other students. Or, if you have a family, you can purchase one set to be used by the entire clan. It's a must have for folks who really want to learn to play and need good reference materials to help all along the way. If you're interested in learning to play the piano, you can find the DVD set at: http://pianolessonsondvd.com/
 People ask me about my wife's work all the time. Even when I explain it, they sometimes don't really understand what she does. Quite simply, Barbara works for Media Fast and coordinates the manufacturing, printing, and packaging of CD's and DVD's in large quantities (anything over 1,000). She can help people with lower quantities as well. But, most of her business comes from corporations. So, don't be afraid to call her if you need a quote for a small job. Her web site is located at http://mediafast.biz, and you can find more information about Media Fast's product and service offering there. I can't brag about Barbara's work at Media Fast enough. She is amazing! She moves mountains to make sure that her customers' jobs get produced on time. Her prices are extremely competitive, and she does so much footwork for her clients that many of them have commented that working with her is like having a dedicated employee whom they don't have to hire, train, or pay. Much of her strength comes from years of proactive employment at corporations like IBM and TwinLab. At those companies, Barbara learned to utilized technology to organize and manage projects effectively. She also learned a lot about marketing, purchasing, and brand management. So, she's dedicated to quality control and customer satisfaction, and she has the skills and knowledge to deliver. If you produce any media on CD or DVD, for your sanity's sake, you should contact Barbara for a quote or more information. Her email address is barbara@mediafast.biz. I don't know of anybody who can take better care of you or your projects!
 OK, you were all probably wondering when I was going to get around to actually sending you links to some cool resources. Well, here's the first. The Marketing Authorities web templates store has some great design concepts that can be used to speed up the web design process and your web projects. The designs may require quite a bit of cleanup and customization, but they are good for starters and low-budget projects. See for yourself! And, don't say that I didn't tell you about this one.
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