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Friday, January 07, 2005

Gold, Silver and Bronze - OH MY!

Thanks to Photographer Eric Hartline for sending me these amazing photos that he took of Brendan for the year end issue of the Deleware County Times. And thanks to John Lohn for the hook up! The images are high res and perfect for autographs. I'll be posting 1 each day for the next 3 days. Y'all enjoy!


posted by Michelle at 1/07/2005 01:16:00 AM

75 Comments:

  • *thud*

    Must go back to hospital....

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 12:30 AM  

  • Liz is incapable of coherent speeck at the moment, please leave a message after the beep. And, if you really care, send a medic her way.

    *BEEP*

    Thanks Michelle, that was a nice reward for checking the blog before heading to bed. Sweet dreams to me and happy Friday as well!

    By Blogger lizook12, at 1/07/2005 12:31 AM  

  • Doctor stat for Lena!

    Knowing that this is on the first of three and how Meesh loves to tease, this is just the beginning of the pretty.

    *proceeds to pass out*

    By Blogger afadingvoice, at 1/07/2005 12:33 AM  

  • Sigh....so nice!

    Michelle...I should've known you'd be a tattoo tease! You are going to wait to pimp us that pic until sunday aren't you? NICE!

    PS. You like my ghetto speak?

    By Blogger Kimberly, at 1/07/2005 12:33 AM  

  • Wow, just wow. Me likey. Me likey a lot! As you can tell, I'm sorta speechless right now. Now that's one beautiful picture! Brendan looks so serious in it too. I can't wait to see the rest! Squee times 10!

    By Blogger Janine, at 1/07/2005 12:34 AM  

  • Yay! and its a close up..nothin better than those baby blues!!
    thanks so much Michelle for posting the pic so soon!

    By Blogger jenny, at 1/07/2005 12:35 AM  

  • Lovely eyes. :D

    By Blogger Andrea, at 1/07/2005 12:37 AM  

  • Hello ladies -- I have come out of my very sick cubbie hole to actually post *cough*feelspecial*cough* :P

    That picture is just ever so pleasant, and definitely made me feel better!! Now i can go to bed -- Its the simple things in life ;)

    *crawls back into hole to not get everyone else sick*

    By Blogger Kim, at 1/07/2005 12:40 AM  

  • Oh thansk for that MIchelle! And Brendan! And Chris Hartline? Very very nice. What a great shot of those bigboy blues.... babies don't bring it like that! OOh and John, thank you too! This is so great! And just think, in October we were worried if we would see any Brendan once the swimming stopped.

    By Blogger lala, at 1/07/2005 12:59 AM  

  • I don't know how the pictures can keep getting better, BUT THEY DO. Thank you to everyone that helped supply the pictures. More to come, what a great weekend ahead. Michelle how DO YOU find more and more pictures?! Genius

    By Blogger Anna, at 1/07/2005 1:31 AM  

  • Ooh, high res - very nice! Look at those blue eyes. And I can't believe no one's mentioned the hands yet... John my man, well done on the photography hookup - you never disappoint. *Gives John a x-country high five*

    Enquiring detail-oriented minds want to know, is Chris/Eric the photographer having an identity crisis? Or is "Chris" his blogger name, much like "crackinup" is my self-descriptive pseudonym? Reminds me of a friend in college who was named Jim and called Chris. Or maybe he was named Chris and called Jim? I can't remember because I thought it was so amusing that I just called him ChrisJim. (Thankfully he had a sense of humor because it caught on.) But I digress. Whatever your name is Eric-Chris, great photo!

    By Blogger crackinup, at 1/07/2005 2:07 AM  

  • Ok, double posting to say welcome to all the new folks who delurked on the previous thread!

    By Blogger crackinup, at 1/07/2005 2:17 AM  

  • Ahhh..Handsome!!

    What more is there to say really?? =)

    *grins like idiot*

    *runs back to hospital to hold Lena's hand*

    By Blogger Stephie Mc, at 1/07/2005 5:57 AM  

  • Oh ladies...

    I do love this blog. And those blue, blue eyes. *le sigh*

    By Blogger Dana, at 1/07/2005 7:26 AM  

  • What a beautiful picture! So crisp and clear and close-up.


    crackinup - I can't believe no one mentioned the hands either! So I shall mention the hands.

    Oooh, nice hands.

    I'm so articulate.

    By Blogger Angie, at 1/07/2005 7:28 AM  

  • See,I had to go to work a couple of hours early last night and look what I missed. I truly believe my job is getting in the way of my Bren obsession. Oh,wait,maybe that is a good thing...lol.

    Very good pic! And I did notice the hands. ;) That's going to be a pic that Bren's children can look back on and be so proud of their daddy. Lena,now you make sure your kids get to see it,okay? :p Pretty blue eyes....*Sigh*.....Why so serious?? I want the smile,please. Is there any of those?

    By Blogger blairbecky, at 1/07/2005 7:31 AM  

  • blairbecky! My sister in nighshift. I'd say I feel your pain, but I get to go online at work. :)

    By Blogger Angie, at 1/07/2005 7:46 AM  

  • Very, very nice. Very, very nice.

    By Blogger No Good User Names Left, at 1/07/2005 8:05 AM  

  • Ohhh, and I would have mentioned the hands..but I got lost in the beautiful baby blues. *le sigh* =)

    By Blogger Stephie Mc, at 1/07/2005 8:11 AM  

  • Angie,yay for the third shifters,we rock!! Okay,maybe I'm just excited someone else feels my pain. :) Actually,we used to be able to get online but people started abusing it so they took it away. :( So now we just sit around talking and goofing off. Not much more productive but then again who am I.

    By Blogger blairbecky, at 1/07/2005 8:31 AM  

  • I think this may be my favorite pic of him...really simple and maybe boring compared to others, I know... but something about it just sums it all up perfectly.
    Has someone mentioned what its says on the back of the medal before? Its an awesome story how I found out about it...

    By Blogger swimphilly78, at 1/07/2005 8:43 AM  

  • *This message is delivered by the hospital*

    Lena thanks everyone for the thoughts and the holding hands. She loves the eyes and the hands in the pic. But she cannot still talk clearly.

    Hospital policy: You can send flowers, balloons, candy, cards and a pumpkin.

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 8:46 AM  

  • swimphilly - I for one have no idea what it says on the back of the medals, and I'd love to hear an awesome story!

    :)

    By Blogger Angie, at 1/07/2005 9:45 AM  

  • i think Aunt K/C or Mrs H might have posted this awhile back...but oh well

    first a little back ground - the only Olympic medal I have seen in person was a bronze medal from a girl I know who was on the national field hockey team...didnt touch it, but it was THE coolest thing nonetheless - at the time.
    Brendan was back home in the fall soon after Athens, and I was talking to him, (I had sworn to myself I would not ask to see the medals right away) well, he must have noticed the crazed look in my eye, and he offered to show them...he took them out, and as my hands were shaking I held them. He told me to put it on. I was shaking like a leaf! It was very surreal - any of you who have played any kind of competitive sports, and won an event or championship- knows the feeling of getting a medal put around your neck. My highschool fieldhockey team won the state champ. - totally LAME compared to the olympics, but along the same lines...
    So there I was, standing there w/the gold medal draped around my neck -and I notice the back has markings - but it was a small paragraph. So I ask Brendan - what does this mean?
    His response, "It doesnt matter what color this medal is, you are a true athlete(or champion) for participating in the Olympics" It may not be exact, but its something like that...and let me tell you - knowing Brendans story, and hearing him tell me that, and having him standing right in front of me w/ those baby blues - NIAGRA FALLS people. I was all teary eyed, had to walk away!
    I still get the chills.
    I cant wait til 2008.

    By Blogger swimphilly78, at 1/07/2005 10:19 AM  

  • What a nice story Swimphilly. I bet it was soo exciting and nervewracking to be there right in front of Bren wearing his medals after he just offered to show them to you. ahhh

    By Blogger jenny, at 1/07/2005 10:26 AM  

  • What a great story swimphilly! Thanks for sharing it. I'm sure if I was in your position, the waterworks would have begun with me as well. Totally natural ;)

    By Blogger afadingvoice, at 1/07/2005 10:31 AM  

  • "NIAGARA FALLS people"

    Swimphilly, that is the best story! I swear something about the Olympics makes me get a teary-eyed. Especially the last two Olympics, 2002 and Athens. Everything that has happened after September 11th, makes it so much more powerful to see all these nations come together, if only for 2 weeks of peace, to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the athletes. It gives you hope, again if only in those two weeks, that someday we can all coexist peacefully. I'm a sentimental freak though so it could just be me!

    By Blogger Kimberly, at 1/07/2005 10:34 AM  

  • awww..swimphilly! You're the cutest. Ok, you are coming to Beijing and meeting up with me. It's official. We can bawl during the National anthem together. =)

    By Blogger Stephie Mc, at 1/07/2005 11:06 AM  

  • I was over at a friend's last night and she used clay to make this fascinating coffee table sculpture - she imprinted the back of her medal (she won a silver in women's crew) and when it dried, she mirror imaged it back. So you can read the back of the medal in clay. Then she put the medal in a safety deposit box because she couldn't sleep with it in her room, it made her heart catch in her throat to see it! I mean, how cute is that.

    That is a fantastic picture. It's very upfront, it just 'is what it is.'

    By Blogger Dana Cara, at 1/07/2005 11:07 AM  

  • This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger AimsRos, at 1/07/2005 11:12 AM  

  • What a great picture of Brendan! Thanks, Michelle, John, and Eric Hartline!

    That is such a great story, swimphilly! I'm such I would have been sobbing as well.

    By Blogger AimsRos, at 1/07/2005 11:16 AM  

  • That's a great story swimphilly!

    And this is now my favorite picture of Bren. I'm a sucker for bright blue (or green) eyes, and you usually can't see Bren's eyes in most of the pictures of him. This one catches them very nicely. Good job Eric!

    By Blogger JHD, at 1/07/2005 11:37 AM  

  • what an awesome, very hot picture. now i just got all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled out this morning, and i'm not drooling that badly, but when i saw bren's picture, and those amazing baby blues, well, let's just say that i needed a bib. haha. not really, but you get the idea. =D thanks michelle for posting that pic, and thanks for eric hartline for the pic.

    awesome story, too, swimphilly!

    =D erin

    By Blogger erin, at 1/07/2005 11:52 AM  

  • Erin, the 4 at the same time? OMG... hugs for you!

    *back to the hospital patiently waiting for the tattoo pic*

    See meesh... I'm being a trooper. And a team player, cause even if I'm admin in here, she's not showing it to me early.

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 11:55 AM  

  • Sorry Eric, I was mislead but our fearless web mistress with your name, but I still want to say thanks for that snap. And also I want to thank you in advance for taking a picture of the rings. I can't wait... Michelle, can we have them today?
    Nah, I am not strong enough to handle it right now. Patience is the only virtue that I can still truely hold claim to.

    By Blogger lala, at 1/07/2005 1:21 PM  

  • S-Mac - I cant do Beijing. No way, Jose! It would take alot for me to do worlds. I get too worked up and I'm not even related. I'm sure I'd need some of Aunt K's meds, and I'd be smoking 18 packs of Marlboro REDS(and I'm not a huge smoker), I would be an alcoholic for those two weeks. Thats how I was for Athens, and I was watching it on TIVO!!!!!!
    prime example of my stress - my bro is an awesome wrestler Div1 college, I go to his meets, my mother and I are the biggest freaks - pacing outside, jumping up and screaming stuff at the ref's/at my brother (we know nothing of wrestling but we scream - my favorite is my conservative, pettite mom screaming "GO FOR HIS KNEES!")
    what a nightmare. I'd be thrown out of the pool complex at first site of Cheato!
    ( I type all this as I have Cheaptix.com up looking for fares to a certain Asian country...)

    By Blogger swimphilly78, at 1/07/2005 2:02 PM  

  • Lol, swimphilly... you're describing me!
    I was watching Indy at my house with my parents and I was all over the place screaming "Go Pumpkin!" (yes, I used to call him that before Indy)"Go Pumpkin!" and my dad was all like "Go who?"

    And it was not even Argentina racing! Can yo imagine the mess I made when Jose Meolans was racing? It was late in the evening in here and I was screaming "Vamos Pepe!" from the top of my lungs...

    I'm not gonna make it to Montreal nor Beijing, but I'm pretty sure I'd be escorted out of the pool next to you ;)

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 2:18 PM  

  • Glad I could help Michelle. Of course, now it looks like I'M the one with the identity crisis. ;-)

    Swimphilly, what a great story, thanks for sharing!

    As I look at the picture again, there's something so very powerful in the simplicity of it. But then you see the three medals - certainly not a "simple" accomplishment. I love that juxtaposition.

    I haven't even planned what I'm doing tomorrow night, but Beijing is already on my agenda. Interesting.

    By Blogger crackinup, at 1/07/2005 2:23 PM  

  • AWESOME! I'll have company when I get thrown in the slammer...I hear the prisons in China leave something to be desired...not sure they have TIVO in the Beijing penitentiary.
    oh well- it will be so worth it... and being the cool family they are, hopefully the Hansens would bail us out!
    but maybe we should start a "blogger bail bond" fund for 2008 to be safe.

    By Blogger swimphilly78, at 1/07/2005 2:24 PM  

  • "Vamos Pepe!" haaaaaaaa how cute is that? "Vamos Pumpkin, VAMOS!"

    By Blogger swimphilly78, at 1/07/2005 2:26 PM  

  • but maybe we should start a "blogger bail bond" fund for 2008 to be safe.LOL. BHO's first entrepreneurial venture: Blogger Bail Bonds. I could just hear that ad on daytime TV...

    By Blogger crackinup, at 1/07/2005 2:29 PM  

  • crackinup - I kid you not, this may have to take a front seat over other Beijing 2008 funds...like "Food and Drinks Fund," "Hotel Accomodations Fund," its a close second to the "Swimming Tickets Fund"

    btw - anyone ever read ESPN Page 2? There is a writer from Boston named Bill Simmons, the Sportsguy- one of the funniest writers EVER. here is a link to the page if you're bored. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/index

    this is what I do friday afternoons, post on bren's blog, and read ESPN. good times!
    Happy weekend guys! see you monday!
    GO JETS!

    By Blogger swimphilly78, at 1/07/2005 2:36 PM  

  • Happy weekend to you too... be sure to ahve fun and maybe tie some Handsome to the computer to post...

    Just an idea ::whistles innocently::

    Vamos Pumpkin! That was a good one...

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 2:39 PM  

  • Crackinup - I could have just made the change and then posted that I didn't know what you were referring to. Then you'd really look crazy. Hmmmmmmmm. ::hatchingevilleplan::

    There is a new wallpaper featuring this photo on the main page and on the fan stuff page for those interested. I made it for my own wide screen monitor, but it will work on a regular screen if you select center instead of stretch. Otherwise it will be a little distorted.

    By Blogger Michelle, at 1/07/2005 2:39 PM  

  • This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger Maxine, at 1/07/2005 2:48 PM  

  • What a great story swimphilly! I am sure I will be VERY VERY VERY nervewrack if I meet Bren or hold his medals. I think Bren would look more handsome if he smiles instead of being too serious.........
    *Run to airport, fly thousands of miles to Argentina, run to hospital, present flowers, chocolate, and balloons for Lena.* Lena - if we are going to go together to see pumpkin, I will carry AED in case if you pass out. I had first aid and CPR training and my certification is still valid :)
    I will be there for 2008 even though if I am broke after pay off my college loan. We gotta make a biggest and loudest group of fans everyone ever see in their life!

    By Blogger Maxine, at 1/07/2005 2:48 PM  

  • Hmm. i have no idea if i will be able to make it to Beijing in 4 years. Im having trouble trying to make it to trials in April. (we'll see) But it wouldnt hurt to try to get those Blogger Bail Bonds in the works... hilarious

    By Blogger jenny, at 1/07/2005 2:49 PM  

  • Great wallpaper, Meesh.

    Almost looks like a PSA or Nike ad. (hint, hint, Nike!) Either way, I wouldn't mind seeing Bren on a billboard or in magazines....

    By Blogger JHD, at 1/07/2005 2:50 PM  

  • LOL Michelle. Ironically, when I first typed up that response, I had an after midnight moment too. I wrote, "John never fails to disappoint" instead of "John never disappoints" or "John never fails to come through". See what happens when I mix cliches? I get an asinine double negative hybrid, that thankfully I caught and corrected before realizing that I NEEDED SLEEP.

    By Blogger crackinup, at 1/07/2005 2:52 PM  

  • JHD - Nike should totally be putting a swoosh on that WP and throwing it up on a billboard. We should start a campaign.

    By Blogger Michelle, at 1/07/2005 2:57 PM  

  • Oh wow, JHD and Michelle, you are both so right. That would make such a fantastic ad/billboard. Second BHO entrepreneurial venture: Sports Marketing Firm. (I know a few others are already on board with this one...)

    By Blogger crackinup, at 1/07/2005 3:12 PM  

  • swimphilly - You've never heard me at a football or hockey game! Normally, I am very quiet and unassuming *halo appears out of thin air* but get me at a game, or even at home..and WHOA!! I am sure my poor little lungs will get a work out at home watching this weekend's Broncos game (GO DENVAH!) I'm training for Beijing too, it's just that its vocally. =)

    See you know you want to go! And I will set TiVo to record everything while we're in Beijing! Oh the trouble and GOOD TIMES we'd have! hee! =)

    As for bail money, I think we already started a collection back when the vote, delete cookies, refresh thing was going on. We'll just keep it in a jar and continue to take contributions. I can see the headlines now: "Crazed Swimming Fans Cause International Incident" (Don't say you all weren't warned)

    And hey, I don't like that Bill Simmons guy. He trashed my Broncos! Well, all you non-believers will see..Denvah's gonna kick some butt! Don't be hatin'!

    Meesh- AWESOME new wallpaper. It's definitely Nike billboard material.

    OK..now time to go work out. Meh!

    By Blogger Stephie Mc, at 1/07/2005 3:20 PM  

  • Maxine, thanks for the lovely thoughts. And i'm secretly hoping that if I ever get to meet Pumpkin and if I faint, he'd be a gentleman and hold me tightly in his arms. Hopefully in a tuxedo and we'd look out of a 19th century novel.

    Ooook... I think the meds are finally getting on my insanity.

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 3:24 PM  

  • Ahhhh, I do love this website :) What a fabulous picture of Brendan, he looks so serious.

    By Blogger Alexandra, at 1/07/2005 3:35 PM  

  • swimphilly et al - I completely empathize - 2002 Nat'l championship NCAA lacrosse game - I had no voice and uncontrollable convulsive shakes for three days. It was the first time I ever truly understood those anti-anxiety medication commercials.

    I also remember my mom, very New Jerseyan, frosty blonde, bears an uncanny resemblance to Carmela Soprano - anyway - I remember my mom getting so worked up then that she screamed at the ref that he was a "naval orange." (we were playing army) ... um ... Mom ... no more games for you --

    By Blogger Dana Cara, at 1/07/2005 3:37 PM  

  • Posted by Lena:
    Maxine, thanks for the lovely thoughts. And i'm secretly hoping that if I ever get to meet Pumpkin and if I faint, he'd be a gentleman and hold me tightly in his arms. Hopefully in a tuxedo and we'd look out of a 19th century novel.

    LENA, I LOVE IT. It's like one of those really lusty historical romances, where everyone has a heaving bosom and creamy thighs and you're wearing 100% silk. It's a fantastic image.

    By Blogger Dana Cara, at 1/07/2005 3:38 PM  

  • Go Jets? Go Broncos? Shouldn't the BHO admins be banning this kind of crazy talk? :)

    I remember my mom getting so worked up then that she screamed at the ref that he was a "naval orange." (we were playing army) ... um ... Mom ... no more games for you --THAT is hilarious.

    By Blogger Verbal, at 1/07/2005 4:11 PM  

  • "Go Jets? Go Broncos? Shouldn't the BHO admins be banning this kind of crazy talk? :)"

    Exactly. Because we all know the Steelers are going to win the Super Bowl. As a Cowboys fan, this KILLS me to say, but since I went to same school as Ben Roethlisberger, I gotta root for the kid.

    By Blogger JHD, at 1/07/2005 4:15 PM  

  • Oh JHD, how you trample on my fragile Iggles heart!

    By Blogger Verbal, at 1/07/2005 4:17 PM  

  • "Go Jets? Go Broncos? Shouldn't the BHO admins be banning this kind of crazy talk? :)"She would if she had any idea what are you people talking about...

    Dana Cara, ywah, that could be an option. another one could be Barry White's music kicking in... God, I miss Barry.

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 4:24 PM  

  • Meesh, beautiful wallpaper hun. I'm having a harder and harder time choosing what my computer background can be.

    Well everyone, I'm off for the weekend and will be going through massive internet withdrawl. I'll talk to y'all later. Don't have too much fun without me ;)

    By Blogger afadingvoice, at 1/07/2005 4:33 PM  

  • *Handsome Hansen* is all I could think of...*Le Sigh*.

    Did ya'll notice his curls?? =).

    -Maria

    By Blogger Maria, at 1/07/2005 4:59 PM  

  • Just as many have said, I love the wallpaper. The quote is soo powerful; nice work!

    By Blogger Simmy, at 1/07/2005 5:02 PM  

  • okay, I'm gonna jump on the delurk bandwagon. Michelle-this site is wonderful and everyone here on the blog is hillarious. And for all the football fans out there E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES! Bring on the post-season! Happy Friday!

    By Blogger pixley, at 1/07/2005 5:08 PM  

  • Welcome!
    Jump into the madness....

    Topic of the day: Who loves the baby blue eyes?

    By Blogger Lena, at 1/07/2005 5:25 PM  

  • swimphilly, that was a cute story. i know how you feel with the whole medal thing. when my cousin got a silver, my mom was like "i just wanna touch it." haha and at worlds, i got to hold a gold and silver medal, it was the coolest thing ever.

    that is a really nice pic of brendan. i do agree though that he looks even more handsome when he smiles. i have two pics of me with him (cause our camera was messed up and they turned out orange) and the first he was kinda smiling but the second he was really smiling and he looks really handsome (even though he's orange).

    By Blogger Cait, at 1/07/2005 5:27 PM  

  • I LOVE THE BABY BLUE EYES! You can just stare at em for hours...not like i did that or anything though...Ahem :)

    By Blogger Danielle, at 1/07/2005 5:36 PM  

  • Exactly Danielle. I noticed the sparkling blue eyes too but only stared for a couple of minutes....yea right!

    By Blogger jenny, at 1/07/2005 5:43 PM  

  • What is it about the trio and nice eyes? I swear they have really nice eyes. Brendan's whoa...very nice!

    By Blogger Kimberly, at 1/07/2005 6:44 PM  

  • Ditto everyone with those fabulous eyes!!! That picture is absolutely wonderful :)

    By Blogger _cesca_, at 1/07/2005 7:54 PM  

  • Cait,I think if you sent in an orange pic of Bren it would be pretty funny. He does post as pumkin and he is Lena's favorite Pumpkin. Lena,are you feeling better yet? I know the pic and the idea of the rings in plain view are overwhelming. You've got to be strong....yes,strong,or at least that's what I keep telling myself. :p

    By Blogger blairbecky, at 1/07/2005 9:25 PM  

  • blairbecky, i thought about how he posts as pumpkin after i posted. it's pretty funny actually. i think i'll send it in, as soon as i can find it cause we got a new computer and my dad transferred all the pics to weird places. i have some nice pics of him from worlds too. :)

    By Blogger Cait, at 1/07/2005 10:01 PM  

  • Cait - Send me ALL the pictures you have of Brendan. ALLLLLLL of them. Please Please Please. :D

    By Blogger Michelle, at 1/07/2005 11:26 PM  

  • Michelle, you are going to post Pic #2 of Bren right at midnight right? right? Pleassse!

    By Blogger jenny, at 1/08/2005 12:05 AM  

  • Michelle, it's officially Saturday in all the Time Zones....=). Can we have the precious....er....the pics now??

    :D Maria

    By Blogger Maria, at 1/08/2005 8:46 AM  

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