An A-Mazing and A-Musing weekend

"I usually try to take advantage of exceptional opportunities when they present themselves."

-Whitney Olsen

Basically life is precious, life needs to be lived, lessons need to be learned; through a myriad of perfect circumstances, I can say I felt the guidance of an angel today. The angel that guided our car in a 360 degree spin across two lanes of traffic, in front of at least two cars. The angel that stopped the car in the snow before the gaping hole; the force making sure the car split the space between the two posts. The weather angel that cleared out the clouds and let the sun peek through to give us some relief from the cold; the snow that stopped as we were working things out. The tow truck driver, who was on top of his job and making sure people were safe, who just so happened upon us 10 minutes after we were stuck, who accepted AAA, even though I didn't have a card; who lectured us on the importance of driving safely during inclement weather. The exact timing it took for us to be where we were, when we were. The decision made the night before to stay the night in Vegas, even though we wanted to just drive through the night. When a crappy scenario happens, there are circumstances, the BEST circumstances, that you could normally only ask for. All of those happened. I cannot think of even one thing, apart from NOT having the incident occur, that could have gone better. I would almost even say, I'm glad it happened. It was kind of terrifying, but at the same time, it was a huge testimony builder that there really is someone watching out for me.

Usually I avoid any kind of bad weather driving when it's not completely necessary, but let me start about a week ago, December 6^th to be precise. Whitney Spurrier, a friend from my home ward and long ago, spurred (no pun intended…especially as her last name is now Olsen J )a chain of events that would lead to one of the best weekends of my life; at least this year 2009. She posted a facebook status asking if anyone in her realm of friends were Muse fans. Muse is amazing; I LOVE Muse; I have wanted to see them live for a LONG TIME now. When Whitney posted her status asking if anyone wanted to go to the sold out show in Vegas, I jumped on it. Jennifer Sorenson decided to live up life a bit and go out of her way to the Muse show in Vegas, something not many people would do. Myself included. When I almost couldn't find anyone to come with me, I almost gave up. Finally Adam answered the call to Muse, and said we should go. From that point on I was excited beyond measure. The week lead with so much school work, and stress about finals, I almost forgot what was to happen Saturday night at 8:00 PM in Las Vegas, but luckily my brain remembered and the day arrived.

We decided to leave Saturday morning as Adam had a field trip on Friday night, and we figured there was no need to drive during the night when the concert didn't start until 8 pm Vegas time. We left Provo about 9 am, and meandered down to Las Vegas. We didn't really encounter much weather, just a bit of snow and fog, but after that it was smooth sailing. We got to Vegas and decided to search out my Uncle Andy's house, as we made accommodations to stay the night with them. We found the house and talked to my Aunt for a bit and decided to go out and see the strip a bit since Adam and Jenn hadn't really ever seen it. Of course if you are Mormon and don't live the lifestyle Las Vegas offers, there isn't a TON to do. We didn't have tons of time either to go shopping or to search out anything spectacular. We walked around a bit, saw the Lions at the MGM, saw the slot machines….the thousands of them….saw some bums, and people starting to get drunk, and made our way back to the car. We decided to search out the venue where the concert would be, and find parking so as not to have to deal with it later on. We found everything, and found that the concert would be happening in the Hard Rock Hotel, at a venue called The Joint. We had about 3-4 hours to kill, so we decided to go eat at the Hard Rock Café. It was good, nothing AMAZING, but good. Probably not worth what we spent, but hey, as Adam said "How often are you going to be in Vegas to see Muse, and eat at the Hard Rock Café?" Yeah, probably never again; so that was my excuse to get a $20 steak. You gotta live right? Isn't that what this world/life is all about? Making the world your playground, living life to the fullest, doing those things you normally wouldn't do, taking chances and making life exciting. After dinner we walked around a bit, went to a golf store where Adam bought a present for his Grandpa, then went to get in line, 2 hours early, in a line that seemed to be 10 miles long.

FINALLY we got into the venue at about 7:30, after standing in line for an hour or so. The show started pretty close to 8 pm, as we weren't on Mormon Standard Time, and opened with a band called "Afghan radar." I won't even begin with how ANNOYING and NOT Muse they were. Essentially they played the same song 5 times over, with a different beat. It was two guys, one singing, one head banging and jamming out to a electronic board…or something….it may have been nothing to be honest. Who knows. If I wanted to go clubbing, I would have gone to a club, where techno dance electronica music is expected. After a good solid half hour of annoyingness, they stopped. I wonder how much of the clapping was people being thankful they were done vs. people actually enjoying their tunes…..yeah….that. Anyway, next up was a band formerly unknown, now LOVED, named Paper Tongues. I sincerely would like to see this band take off as they have an extremely unique sound, and are awesome. Check Them Out Here!! Basically they're one of my new favorite bands, and they don't even have an album out yet. Part of the reason I love going to concerts is to learn about new bands. Bands that harmonize and sing rock out, and sound stellar, are harder to come by these days; I really hope they take off. After they played, a band known as Cage The Elephant played. The singer was crazy, completely insane….I swear he was going to have a seizure, or was having one half the time he was singing. They were pretty rad, not exactly my taste for live music, but I'm sure their studio stuff sounds good. They played a good while, then left the stage and left us in earnest waiting for Muse.

Muse is AMAZING. That's all I can say. I always had an appreciation for them and their musical talent, but I never fully realized how amazing they are. They hit every note, every sound, played with energy and emotion, got the crowd involved, and so much more. I haven't ever felt so tired in my life, but didn't care and wanted them to play more. They only played an hour, which was extremely disappointing, but it's also understandable when they were playing for a radio station event. Luckily, they are coming in April to Salt Lake, and yes I will be going. There's no way I can miss it, it would just be a travesty.

By the time everything was over and we got out of the Joint, it was well past midnight. We got to my Uncle's house around 12:30 or 1 a.m., and found they had kicked 3 of their kids out of their beds to accommodate us. We weren't expecting anything more than the couch or the floor as they have a pretty full house, and we were extremely grateful to crash on comfortable beds after a long 4-6 hours of straight standing. Adam and I read a Chapter from the Book of Mormon, got ready for bed, and zonked out. Much to our avail, the alarm went off 5 hours later for us to get up and leave. Starting with this timing, the events for the rest of the day were perfectly aligned to protect us, or at least that's how I see it.

The roads from Las Vegas to St. George were basically perfect. No snow, no real weather, just some wet roads and normal driving. We stopped in St. George and filled up with Gas, another key to events that would occur within hours. We started on our way towards Cedar City, and encountered some weather. We didn't think much of it because we've driven in weather before, and so we were just cruising along. We pulled up behind some cars, and were going a bit fast for the conditions, and that's when things happened. We cut over to pass them, or at least avoid hitting them, and by doing so hit a patch of snow/slush/ice and started losing it. So there we are in the left lane on the freeway going Northbound in between St. George and Cedar, with two cars in the right lane next to us, one behind us, and our car losing control. The back end of our car started coming around to the left, we continued across two both lanes, IN FRONT of the cars, spinning in a 360, missing the cars completely, careening off into the snow on the side of the row, and finally coming to a stop. After our hearts stopped racing, and we were able to change our pants (ok, not really), we realized how lucky we had been. As anyone knows who has driven in winter from St. George to Salt Lake, the roads can be disastrous. Luckily for us, everything happened perfectly where the only real problem, was us being stuck in the snow. My door wasn't openable due to the amount of snow now surrounding us, so Adam got out assessing the situation. A number of other factors occurred unbeknownst to us at the time. The poles that supplement the highway, while not very big, could cause a problem, were behind and in front of us. We split them exactly in the middle. The car stopped about a foot short of a gaping hole, which had our car not stopped where it did, who knows what could have happened. I called my Dad and informed him of what was going on, and he got on the horn with AAA to see if they could get a tow truck to us. Adam tried to flag someone down, but to no avail. Jenn had a shovel, so he started trying to dig us out a bit, but that was completely useless. Someone finally stopped and made sure we were ok, and informed us there was a tow truck behind us a bit pulling someone else out for $50. The clouds parted and the sun started shining a bit, and made things seem just a little bit better. When the tow truck got to us, him NOT pulling us out wasn't an option. He was doing it no matter what. He meant business and was barking orders (and cursing the people who didn't get over or slow down passing him) at Adam (who had taken control to try and get the car out of the snow). My Dad informed us AAA approved pulling us out and they would reimburse him for the service (even though I don't have a card of my own, but I am on the policy as of now….I told my parents to put me on years ago….). He pulled us out, and we were on our way. The car was shaking a bit, and we thought the alignment was off or something. We got to cedar and inspected things and everything seemed ok. We knocked some ice off the tires and wheel wells, and got things as cleaned out as we could, and went on our way. The car "fixed itself" and worked fined the rest of the way, so we figured it was probably just ice buildup or something, and it was shaken off (probably literally) by driving. We made it the rest of the way with no problems, but passed two rollovers (one with an ambulance on site), MANY evidences of people sliding off the road, and many snow plows. We know things could have been so much worse, but they were not. Incidentally, after we initially slid off the road we said a prayer and thanked our Heavenly Father for protecting us and making things happen in the right order and at the right time.

Here is a picture of the Car stuck, and the gaping hole that could have made things so much worse.

Also is a drawing of my rendition of what happened. As I'm not an artist, I do apologize for the squareness of the cars, and the complete lack of scale…..but hey, I'm human J

(Here's a Link to the picture to see it bigger...)

Why does it take something like this to happen to make you realize how much God cares for us? I know he loves me, and I know he cares about my well being and protects and watches over me, but sometimes with the business of life, one forgets. The fact is, no matter how you live your life; God loves us and blesses us when he can. Of course living better makes that line of communication much stronger, but regardless I know he watches over his children. Sometimes I don't feel worthy for blessings like this, but like Adam said, God will bless us no matter what, and loves to bless us when he can. It's like "Man, I thought I was SO CLOSE to being even!!" But in reality, there's no way we will ever be even with him and what he and our savior Jesus Christ have done for us as humanity and children of God.

This weekend taught me a lot. I think the number one thing I learned, is the first line from this post. I'm going to take more opportunities when they present themselves. You never really know what's going to happen, and like Ferris Buhler says "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't take some time enjoy it, it'll pass you right by" (something like that)

On top of everything, I gained a new friend. We all decided (Jennifer, Adam, and I) that we now have no choice but to be friends. That's just what happens when you have experiences like this.

Life needs to be enjoyed. Life needs to be lived. Life is precious, but Life needs to be fun. Experiences need to be had. Asi es la Vida.

Hello World, Small, Big…

 

    Yes, I am in fact, alive. I realize it has been months since I have last written, and I really meant to write more often than that. School and life just gets the best of you, and you let things slip. For example, my room has been completely neglected. I ran out of clean clothes 2 days ago. Papers and crap is scattered everywhere. Luckily, today was the end of school (classes at least, and that eases things up a bit. Finals just need to be out of the way.

    Tonight was the Nuskin yearly Christmas/Holiday party. I love my work; they really know what it means to value their employees. I complain a lot about what I do at work, but that's just my actual job. I love my company, it's the best. This year they gave everyone an iPod shuffle, $100 gift card to Costco, 2 week pay bonus, and there was a really nice dinner involved tonight. I need to be thankful, where I'm getting bonuses and other gifts, other people don't have jobs, or are losing theirs. This hits especially close to home this year. I was working in the Provo store today, and I signed up to donate to Nourish the Children; Nuskin's primary Charity. We were doing it for selfish reasons, to try and win the Ambassador award at the party tonight, but honestly I'm glad I didn't win. It wouldn't have felt right. I need to start giving back to the world, helping people, fulfilling some of my life goals and ambitions.

    My American Christianity class taught me a lot; mainly it taught me that the world is full of good people. Brother Fluhman brought in 3 Evangelical friends of his on the last day of our class. We had the opportunity to just ask them any question we wanted as far as lifestyle, beliefs, views, etc. It was just good to know there really are people out there who are striving to be like the savior. As it IS Christmas time, I've been trying more to focus on what Christmas is actually a celebration of, rather than the retail holiday. I don't really know what to ask for Christmas anyway, and seeing how I don't need anything, I'm not remotely worried about it. I'm just going to focus on him, and try and be a better person. That will be my gift to the Lord. I can't ever repay him for what he did for me, but you know, I feel like I'm trying to live the best I can and I know he'll make up for where I lack in my imperfections.

    I want to give. That's all I want. I'm done being selfish. The End.

A LIST

In a tumultuous world full of uncertainty, with good and bad things happening around us, I think it's important to take a second and truly think about all that is going well in our/my life. I know a lot of my posts are negative, and just me complaining, but I've really tried to be positive lately and think about the good things rather than the bad or unhappy. I've decided to make this post (well the remaining part) into a list of those things I am most happy, thankful, and/or appreciative of. This list will be in no specific, I just have a lot of things in my mind and I want to get them written down.

I am Thankful:

    For my parents, my family, Love, Peace, kind hearts, the Gospel, a loving Heavenly Father, my savior Jesus Christ, the scriptures, the Temple, knowledge and the ability to learn, the opportunity to go to school, a good job, my cell phone, my computer, my guitar, music period, inspiration, posts from people on Facebook letting me know they care, messages and/or emails from a lost friend telling me they've missed me, being missed, being loved, having good health, having doctors and hospitals ready to take care of me when I'm sick, the opportunity to serve those that are sick and afflicted, a good country and government who is trying to do what they think is the best for us, the fact that no one is perfect and no one can be or ever will, the ability to be perfected in Christ, knowing he is there no matter what, acceptance, humility, feelings of greatness, warm fuzzies, talks about life with friends who listen, Thai food, Wendy's JBC's, Frosty's, Cheesecake, Dad's Bennihannas, Green Shakes, all my roommates being back, the Summer, the beauty of the Winter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the goodness of people, Samantha Jordan and her understanding of what I need from her, my car, my iPod, new tires, birthdays, celebrations, family parties, weddings, cousins, grandmothers, grandfathers, Fridays, weekends, sleeping in, Sleep, my bed, blankets, the houses I live in, security, comfort, The Goonies, blogging, journals, emotions, the Human Body, free stuff, having money to buy things I need, Ozzy being on a mission, Brent being amazing and an inspiration and example to so many, Camille teaching 1^st graders how to Live life and be good at it, the example my parents have given me, Good Bishops, close friends, confidence, trust, carpet, couches, pianos, trees, flowers, Tiki, the mountains, rivers, the Ocean, scuba diving, Bolivia, the mission I served, the people I helped, and the world going on around me and me being able to take part in it.

I couldn't live without:

    My family, especially my Mom and Dad who listen to me and still support me; good roommates, who make living in Provo bearable and fun; technology, giving me the ability to write this and share it with the world, giving me the chance to watch my favorite TV shows without having to watch them ON TV; TV shows, that make me happy and give me a moment to relax from the real life and be fully immersed in a different world.

I don't know where I'd be without:

    Anything mentioned above. My parents and what they've done for me. Good friends and the ability to be a good friend. Technology, more specifically the internet, cell phones and cars. The guidance I receive from the temple, and from the Lord. The scriptures and all they can and do teach us.

There really isn't any reason to not be thankful. My list could go on and on, and I think I might make a more specific list and talk about why and how those things have affected me, but for now this will do.

Positive thinking, That's all it takes.....Right?

So there I was, sitting in church yesterday when a thought came to me. This thought was nothing unusual, and probably something really obvious to most people; the thought was "Be Positive and Happy."

When I was first starting out on my mission, I had a companion Elder Baadsgaard (yes, that really is his last name, and sounds just like you would guess). He was a good kid, and ended up being an assistant later on during our service. We were only companions in the MTC, but he really helped me change a lot and it was through this same idea. He helped me to always see the positive and happy side to things, rather than the negative and unhappy. Again, this is a very obvious solution to some of life's biggest problems, and although it doesn't ACTUALLY solve anything, I truly believe it can be a great influence on anyone's life.

Skip Warner is a guy in my current ward, BYU 206th, BYU 21st Stake (this is just so i can remember, plus I want to start actually remembering people for when I go back and read this 20 years from now). I've NEVER seen him in a bad mood, sad, or down, or just being alone. Of course I've really only seen him in social/church settings, but even in those people sometimes aren't in a good mood or make it apparent they don't want to be there. To me, he is an amazing example of one who is truly trying to (how about that alliteration) follow the Savior. He often gives his testimony on fast Sunday, and did yesterday, which is where this post is stemming from. I didn't realize it at the time, but as I sat in my room last night planning out my busy week, this realization came to me; be positive and happy about my life and the things going on currently. There's just no valid excuse or reason to NOT be happy. He talked about school, and how so many people complain that school sucks and it's hard and annoying, and etc. He said something along the lines of "I enjoyed school while I was in it, sure it was hard, but I had fun. I don't know why anyone else can't do the same." It really is....baffling why I let school get the best of me. It's just school, not like it's going to affect my future at all....ok maybe that's the ONLY purpose. Nevertheless, I'm trying things different this week; I planned my week out, with the things I will do during the day, and am having 3 different people, maybe 4, monitor what I'm doing during the week and checking up on me sporadically, just to make sure I'm on top of things. This may seem somewhat "high school ish" and like i can't be independent, but I really think it will help keep me motivated. It also makes me wonder about the future. There are stats out there, I don't know of any real ones or anything confirmed, that once a person gets married, generally their grades go up. I think it might because of this reason.....they have someone who can be vigilant of their progress, and help them get things done.

I don't love my job, more specifically what I'm required to do everyday; answer phone calls from people in various countries. It's nothing glorious, it's monotonous and tedious, but it pays the bills. The few bills I have. There's just no reason for me to essentially not be happy about being at work. My job REALLY isn't that bad, I make pretty good money to answer the phone all day, the company is amazing, I have a lot of friends here, and with such a high unemployment rate, I HAVE A JOB. I'm blessed, and there's no reason for me not to be positive about that. Plus, I'm only here at work for....5 hours or less a day, not really a sacrifice at all. I just need to learn to organize my time better, and be more productive, efficient, and effective with my time.

Along with this new positive line of thinking, I'm going to start implementing the "Yes" theory. The movie "Yes Man" really has many implications of how much fuller and exciting a persons life could be if they started to say yes to things where they would normally say no. I'm not going to say yes to Persian Wife Finder, but a Yes to a party or a Yes to writing a Paper for no reason other than doing it (BYU has regular writing competitions), would really change my life in so many ways. It would make life feel more productive, more meaningful, and more exciting. Too many times I've found myself sitting at home on a weekend doing nothing more than staring at the wall, or my computer screen. Along those same lines, even IF I am in a home alone situation, hopefully with all these new things, that time would be used more effectively as well.

Along with these new things, I've decided to not be intimated by girls. No one really has any VALID reason to be intimidated; we're all human, we're all imperfect, no one is actually better than anyone or deserves anything less than the best. There's a girl in one of my classes who I've been wanting to ask out essentially from the first day of class. However, because of her obvious intelligence, she scares me more than anyone I've ever wanted to ask out. She's in a pretty intense major, and at BYU where everything is intense ANYWAY, It's not like it's any surprise that she's smart. Plus, being a girl in a heavily male populated major, in an already competitive field, she has to be even more of a genius to fit in. Yesterday in church I attended a "Dating and Relationships" class they have every once in a while. The teachers were the second counselor and his wife, whom have been married probably just over a year. This was the last week of a 4 week session, so they had everyone write down questions they had for them and for the class in general. I asked the question "How do I ask a girl out that intimidates me?" The answer they gave was basically what i wrote above in Bold. There's just no reason to be intimidated. What's the worst that's going to happen; she only has two options: Decline or Accept. Either way, life will move on and that's just how it goes. Jamund (teacher, wife is Carrie....Ferguson) made a good point too: what if everyone else thinks the same thing about her, and she never gets asked out because of this "Intimidation factor?" Break the chain, break the ice, break the cycle. Be different and confident, and things will work out for you.

I guess this post has turned into making some new goals for my life, and even though they aren't specific and don't have time frames, they really are things that I'm going to change which in turn will change who I am. I don't not like who I am currently, I just think there's so much more Jefe for the world to know and discover, and for myself to discover, It's unfair I've been this pent up for so long. Having these goals, these changes, is really making me excited and gives me something to look for. I'm really interested in other ways i can improve my life, to be better at it, and to better the lives of others around me. Isn't that one of our main objectives here on Earth? To progress and better ourselves and those around us? Seems simple enough, so why don't I or other people do it constantly? I guess that's part of figuring out who we are and what we stand for. I'm 25 and just barely starting to figure it out.

My 24th year of living, "Things Sure were different 25 years ago"

I'm 25. I seriously can't believe it; I really don't feel that much older. I suppose from October 3rd to October 4th, I'm still only a day older; but it feels like oh so much more.

I've been meaning to write, but couldn't think of anything I wanted to write. A review of my 24th year will be the best thing I think, for myself and for others.

School. I'm still in it, as much as I dislike the whole idea. I know it's necessary though and have finally decided to stick with a major. Communication Disorders, although a heavily female populated major, is what I have chosen to stick with. I started it last winter semester and even though I still didn't do that well in one of the core classes, I feel like it's where I should be at this time. I know I just need to get done with school, then move on to grad school, or whatever else life throws at me. I've already written about my classes this semester, so I won't go into depth with that. Currently I'm scheduled to graduate December of 2011, basically a year longer than I originally expected. The reasons for this vary, but the biggest is probably because i started the major so late. Byu thinks it's a good idea to offer certain classes only certain semesters, and to make you take classes in a certain order, and because of this I can only finish as fast as i can.

Mosiah 4:27 : "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and ^aorder; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order."

At least I have the end in "sight," it's closer than I think, I just wish it were closer. Of course after I finish my undergrad, Grad school will happen, but I've heard grad school is alot more chill than Undergrad. All in good time.

Work. I'm still at Nuskin, still working in the call center, still a peon. I've tried to obtain and applied to various jobs, but with no success to my avail. Of course when I didn't obtain a position, and after so long, and feeling that I more or less deserve it or am at least qualified, it's been hard to be motivated to stay here. Right now in the world I live in, its a good thing to have a job at all. I've also tried to look at the whole situation in a long run/positive way. Had I obtained the last position I applied for, I wouldn't have been able to take classes this semester, and it would take me even longer to finish school. So i'm grateful to have the job that I do, get paid the amount I do, and work for such a great company. I think there's more at work than myself with this one.

Dating and relationships. Since my birthday last year, 2008, when Camille broke up with me 3 days before, I have had 2 relationships: Chelsea Wrathall, and Kat Miller. Both of them were great relationships, and I learned a lot about myself, who I am, and what I want in a future eternal companion. Dating still isn't fun, well the drama that comes with dating at least; for this reason I haven't dated much lately, but have decided I need to get back on the bandwagon and get er done. I feel like my next step in life is to find a wife, and move on. I'm 25, and even by "worldly" standards, 25 is an old enough age to be serious about finding a wife. It's been on my mind a lot and I know it's important enough to be one of my top priorities. My Mom told me the other day she was reading my mission letters, and the the last one I wrote before leaving talked about me getting married within 2 years. I've been home almost 4 (January will mark that time frame), so its time I get on it. My cousin Sterling Davis was married last week, October 1, and he hasn't even been home from his mission a year yet. If he can do it that fast, why can't I right? I have a goal to be married BEFORE Austin gets home from his mission. So before or by June 3rd 2011.

Big or significant events. There hasn't been very many significant or big events in the last year that are extremely note worthy, but I can think of a few. I think the biggest thing was Austin leaving on a mission, June 3rd, 2009. Not that I ever doubted he would go, I just didn't know much he would get into it or what the feel would be. So far, 4 months down the road, I've been nothing but Impressed. It's so amazing the change I can see and feel from him, just from his letters. Before he left I spent a lot of time at home, and many weekends just to be around and support him as he was preparing to go. Even before he left, I saw him go through some pretty intense changes that most missionaries go through after having been out for some time.All I can say is that I'm extremely proud of who he is becoming and of the spirit and power that emanate from his letters. We write back and forth sometimes just between us, personal things, and advice for one or the other. I think he is learning to relate more to me than anyone else in the family since I'm a "recent" RM. It's been a great experience for him, the family and myself as well. Other than that, except for a few trips, nothing too exciting happened in the last year. Camille is still dating Brandon, who's a good guy, I just don't know what's going to happen with that one. Brent is a genius. He nailed a 32 on the ACT, WITHOUT STUDYING......seriously, how did the genes skip me? He's 16 now, driving, and starting to date. I feel old. My parents both turned 50 this year (2009), which makes me feel even weirder seeing how I'm exactly have their age, by number at least. As my Grandma would say, according to my Dad, "Things sure were different 25 years ago"

As I continue to live life and try to be good at it, I will make goals for the next year, goals which i will complete when they are within my power. I never really make goals, and maybe that's why my life is usually uneventful. More coming soon.

Children; One day I will have my own, but they will have instruction books

It's interesting the experiences we have as human beings. Last week while driving to Lagoon for our company party, the girl that was with my roommate made an observation I hadn't ever considered before. There are 6 billion people on earth (I'm inserting that number, I think she just said "a lot"), and every single person has their own story and feelings and things going on in their life, and there is absolutely no way for me to know or understand EVERY single one of them. It's really mind boggling to think about the immensity of the scale of knowledge one would have to obtain to understand that many people. It really makes me wonder how God can do it; it literally seems completely impossible. But I know that he does do it, and he does know each and every one of us, and sends us people in our lives to learn lessons. The lesson from tonight came from Garrett Godsey.

Lj was a roommate of mine from about January-November of 2007, give or take. Roommates are interesting things. They are all different (such as noted above), and everyone has their own story. LJ is a bigger guy, not big fat, but tall and bulky; he's balding in his early age, but by no means is an old man. He's a pretty funny guy, who makes anyone around him feel comfortable and welcome. LJ married Michelle Messinger November 2, 2007, and ever since then I don't get to see much of them. However, they are good friends and I do what I can to make the effort to see them every once in a while. They had a baby 7 months ago, whose name is Garrett.

Today, September 18, 2009, is LJ's Bday. He is 2 weeks and 2 days older than me, but to me he seems much older. He's a good guy, really, and I appreciate his friendship. I was talking to Michelle the other day about what she was planning to do for his birthday and she told me she wasn't really planning much, but I could come over to have dinner with them and celebrate. I was trying to think of the best thing I could give them, and I thought the probably most relaxing and relieving thing would be to watch Garrett while they went out to a movie or something fun they probably haven't done for a long time. I wasn't terribly worried about it since I like kids, and I'm generally pretty good with them.

They left the apartment and I was just watching TV, Garrett was mulling around on the floor doing his own thing; I don't think he even noticed they were gone. About ten minutes after they left, I picked him up and played with him for a minute, and walked him around, did the things I'd seen LJ doing to make him feel comfortable. Then he started crying. I honestly didn't know what to do; Michelle told me he would probably be hungry pretty soon, and to make him a bottle, so I did such. He wouldn't eat it and in fact, he wouldn't even lean back to eat. The only thing I could do to keep him from crying was to walk around holding him. If I sat down at all, or even motioned to sit down, he'd start right back up again. Kelsey told me she would come accompany me to babysit him with me since she likes kids and was ok with it since she didn't have other plans. He quieted down more for her. I swear girls just have the special touch….it's no wonder a baby is birthed from a woman, they know what they're doing. In the end, we still couldn't get him to stop crying or eat, or do anything. We were looking around in his room and walked out, and there stood LJ and Michelle. I guess their movie was sold out, so they just rented one and came home. I was kinda relieved to see them so soon, but also bummed out that they didn't get to spend some time together just the two of them. Of course when Mommy showed up, Garrett stopped crying and all was well. Kids learn from a young age to shape up when their parents are around. J

Honestly I was ok, I wasn't like freaking out or anything and I'm sure I would have figured something out eventually. Garrett is a funny baby and a good kid too. I've been around him when he's just fine and doing his own thing. It truly amazes me though, how Michelle REALLY knew EXACTLY what to do. When I was talking to LJ about it, he jokingly said "You know, when you get married and have a baby, they give you instruction books in the hospital about what to do every circumstance. It's not like we learned this on our own." It really made me think, a lot, about what we as human beings are capable of. In my language development class we've been talking about basic language and how a child learns to speak. There are many theories behind how a baby learns anything, and one of them is simply put "Human Beings are "wired" with an ability to learn." Now there is debate on whether or not babies are wired to learn how to speak, or just wired to learn….and because people speak around them, they pick it up because of that ability. It's not like it's a super power, but in a way it is. Watching Garret tonight trying to take steps with the help of his Dad, it really blew me away….how something so simple to the average person is something actually extremely complex. To take one step, the brain has to think "left foot forward, now right," etc. But it's really so much more than that. What IS a foot….does the brain know what a foot PHYSICALLY IS, or does it just know "the thing on the end of the long thing on the bottom of this thing I'm controlling, needs to move with the long thing attached to it." I don't know how a person could look at a human body and not believe there is a stronger force out there putting it all together.

This blog took a direction I wasn't really planning on, but I like the outcome of it and the flow of what I was trying to get across. I really wish when I have kids they would come with instruction books. That would be pretty much amazing. But I guess the real instruction book is confidence in the Lord and doing what is right and being lead by the spirit to help raise the soul he has entrusted you. Wow I'm deep. Go me.

Blogging For Credit, That is Extra

I have an English Class, 316-Technical Communication, where my teacher informed us if we keep a journal or a blog, he would give us Extra Credit. He wants us to write at least once a week, and since I already have a blog AND I haven't been updating like I should be, it's good motivation to do so.

This Entry is just going to be my classes and what they are and how I feel about them thus far in the semester.

ComD 331-Clinical Phonetics: Taught by Dr. Shawn Nissen, whom I had for Speech Anatomy last winter semester, should be interesting. The lectures up until now have been more or less a slight review of Speech Anatomy, which isn't necessarily that great since I didn't do terribly well in that class last semester. However, having taken a Spanish Phonetics class, it will be interesting to see the difference in technical parts of language between Spanish and English. The Lectures haven't actually been terribly boring, and overall Nissen teaches pretty well. We have Lecture twice a week (M, W 1-1:50), and then a lab on Friday (various possible times). Expected Grade, from knowledge of Nissen's Exams and my past phonetics experience, and level of interest: B

ComD 330 - Language Development: Taught by Dr. Martin Fujiki. Under circumstances of being taught by a different teacher, I would say this class would be really interesting and captivating. However, under Dr. Fujiki, it unfortunately is not. I actually find the material quite intriguing, since Language is something we all just....know....and to think that it also has to develop in some way, is interesting. Fujiki has the most monotone voice i've ever heard, and the worst part, he know it and doesn't do anything to change it!! I guess when you get stuck in a rut, or get stuck in your ways, it's pretty hard to change; you would think a TEACHER would at least try to captivate their class. The good thing about this class is having people I actually know to keep me company, awake, and help me do well. Justin Morgan, Christina Saurers, and Liam Clancy (whom i also have 331 with, and was in SA last year with me) are all in the class together. Hopefully this can make up for the yawn-ness of a class. Expected Grade: B or higher. (only because of how boring it is.......)

American Christianity: Taught by John Fluhman. This class is AWESOME!!!!!! Basically it is what it sounds like, Christianity in America, but as far as I can tell, it will hardly be about the LDS church. The class is HUGE, and I believe for the reason that as LDS students, most people don't really know much of anything about other religions, let alone their own.....maybe we know about the LDS church....but where Christianity stems from, and the importance of background before Joseph Smith, not at all. On top of it, the teacher is extremely animated and exciting to listen to. Luckily i have this class AFTER Fujiki....so it makes up for the boringness of the former. Too bad i don't have it before, i'm sure it would make Fujiki more bearable. Expected Grade: B+ or A-

English 316 - Technical Communication: Taught by Nate Jackson. I've never really been a huge fan of English classes, but I think this will be the one during my career at BYU that I'll actually enjoy all the way through. My teacher, ironically, works full time in the Marketing department at Nuskin, and is a Part Time teacher. Major props....i'm pretty sure that's crazy. Then again, he only teaches one class (mine) and there are literally like...20 students...less than that. However, there is one specific Kid in my class that makes it freaking Hilarious. I'm not sure he's 100% in the head, I think he might have a slight handicap, So he just says things sometimes and gets so excited, it's pretty much the funniest thing ever. This is the class i'm actually going to be blogging for, which hopefully will get me back into the rhythm. Expected Grade: B+ or A.

Stats 221 - Principles of Statistics - I'm just going to say one thing. Gross. I'm not excited about this class, At ALL....ZERO excited. But i guess if I HAVE to take it.........I will........At least i have some conocidos in the class....but that doesn't help much to motivate me to go. But I go. I go, because I need to go, I have to Go. So I go. Expected Grade. B as well.

I Have a Bowling Class, but that doesn't start until halfway through the semester. Should be fun. hopefully an Easy A......

The semester is almost 3 full weeks in. It ends on December 10, well at least classes do. Finals run through the 18th. I'm really trying extra hard this semester to get to ALL of my classes...yes I've already missed a couple, but I'm really trying to dedicate myself to going to every class, that is required. This is My goal. Only miss the classes I literally can't make it to. (Circumstances being: Out of Town, Work, Being too ill to leave my house, Family functions *Weddings, etc.*)

I really do enjoy blogging. It helps me relax some....to get things off my mind, and also share with the world. I know i need to put more pictures on....but i'm just not a picture saavy person. Plus every time i put pictures on, i can never get it to look exactly like i want. I hate the parameters the internet has....i guess it HAS to, to work, but i think someone should invent some way to make it like a piece of paper, where i just draw what i want, write what i want, WHERE i want. THAT would be an awesome Blog template. Times ten, plus pollo.

Schoooooooooool..........

This Is how i feel.

School starting always leaves me with so many mixed emotions.....I'm actually quite relieved not to be BORED out of my mind everyday, but at the same time, i'm not terribly excited about going to class and having homework. Actually, homework won't be so bad. I honestly just dislike physically going to class. By the time you drive to campus, or walk, whatever, then hike 8 miles it seems, then get to class and you're only there for less than an hour.....it seems like alot of effort for nothing. At least that's how i feel :) But i'm actually ok with my classes this semester. Only ONE of my classes i know of now, i don't know someone. It's nice to have an acquaintance in class....it just makes it easier. I'll report more as the semester goes.

GET TO IT!!!

Boating is never......Typical...or Mabey it is...but it's Lake Powell right? (Second Title: Way To Be on Top of it....)

For anyone that has a boat,
or goes boating, knows that with toys comes problems. My family has been boating since i was basically a baby, and even though we haven't had a boat my whole life, we've had one off and on more recently than not.

The Last boat we had was a Cruiser, 28 foot, with a cabin and everything else. Heat, A/C, Fridge, Bathroom, everything anyone would need. It wasn't at all a houseboat, but you could essentially live on it. I've always wanted to go on a house boat, but i just haven't ever had the chance. If anyone wants to invite me, i'd be more than willing to accompany them :)

So the boat we have now, well actually it's not even ours, is a 24 foot cobalt that my uncle bought from an old neighbor/friend of ours. The main difference is it being an open Bow. (is that the right form/word for bow?) The main problem with an open bow is the non-escape from the sun, whereas with a cabin boat, you can escape it. We knew this would be different and maybe a problem, but we were ready to go for it anyway.

So as i stated before, Boating and toys=something usually goes wrong. We decided to leave on Thursday July 16th, in order to get down to Powell and maybe even go out on Thursday night. Well of course timing is everything, so by the time we got to Powell and checked into the hotel (somehow they had "canceled" our reservations...Problem #1, but easily overcome), the sun was already going down. We decided that since we already had paid for the slip for Thursday night, we would hurry and launch the boat and get it in. So we back the boat down the ramp, get it in the water, and try to start it....Dead. Absolutely NO battery power at all. FUN! So there we are at about 8:30, the ramp closes at 9, it's getting dark, other boats are pulling off, and ours is dead in the water, at least it was still on the trailer. So my uncle pulls a battery charger/jumper cable thing out, and hooks it up to the battery. We let it sit for a second, and....nothing. The batteries were that dead. Apparently somehow the radio, vhf not like music radio, had been left on thus draining the batteries. Completely no juice left. (Way to be on top of it us.....) So my Dad walks over to another boat that was just launching as well and asked if they could help jump us....jumping a boat is NOT easy either. PLUS, the guy was pulling the trailer out meaning his wife was in the boat to help us....since she really didn't know how to drive the boat that well, it was even more fun to pull her up along side us. I jump into her boat, (Crawling over carts and cases and boxes and boxes of alcohol...seriously were they there to boat or to get drunk? Couldn't they just as well gotten drunk at home? Somehow i don't think that Drinking and boating go too well together....some people.....)...to catch it and hook up the cables, and we let it sit for a second, still, nothing. So i then proceed into her boat and rev the engine up a bit in neutral, since she didn't know how to do it, and BAM it started. FINALLY. So after like an hour after putting the boat in the water, we got it started.

We back off the trailer, my Dad pulls it out, and goes to park it. Well....now it's dark, so we need to turn the lights on right? Guess what, they don't work! MORE FUN!! We figured out that the red/green light bulb was burned out. Then the spot light didn't work, but that was the cigarette lighter adapter thing. Anyway, we were basically floating in the dark. But we had a mag light, so it was ok!. So we decide to try and find where the slips are (this is the first time we've ever been to Wawheap (Sp?) Marina so we had no idea where they were or where to go. You'd think it'd be easy, but in the dark, it was extremely difficult. We motored around but got into shallow water in the bay and decided almost to just dock by the ramps. We pull up and there's another boat hanging out who was kind enough to lead us over to the slips. So we dock the boat for the night, and head up to our hotel room. Day 1 down.

Day 2. We woke up kinda late if i remember and went down to the restaurant for a the supposed "Breakfast to die for" as Jenn had been told. I didn't think it was that great, i mean not bad or anything, but definitely not to die for. After Breakfast we went out to finally go boating, exciting right? Well we get on the boat, and get everything ready to go, thinking all is fine. The Boat starts fine, sounds fine, it's a wonderful nice day out, problems ended last night right? Wrong. So we pull open the engine compartment, for something random, and notice water leaking from somewhere in the engine compartment. So we're thinking a broken hose or something since it was lake water. So after trying to figure it out for like half hour, then going to the CRAPPIEST Marina parts store EVER, (Good Job being crappy store) and calling the mechanic who....TUNED UP the boat...Way to be on top of it Mechanic......we decided that it would be ok to continue the trip. Even knowing there were problems with the boat, having been informed they weren't imminent, we didn't actually have any problems the rest of the time. It seems though, every time i can remember, there always has to be SOMEthing wrong with the boat/snowmobiles (which we no longer have), etc.

So even though the boating went fine, other things just....yeah...something, there's always something right?

The next day we went to breakfast again at the hotel restaurant. We were expecting about the same service as the day before, but did we get it? what do you think? This is about how it went:

Server: "Hi how are you guys today, what can i get for you?"

US: We order. I get the buffet (Smartest move any of us made probably on the trip), and get my food.

40 minutes later: Uncle Dan "Lets ask this other kid to see where our food is...."

our Waiter to Jenn: "Ok. here is your egg, and unfortunately we didn't have any English Muffins, so i made the liberty of making you wheat toast..."

Jenn: "Umm...ok. But i wanted White Toast, and do i get the rest of the food i ordered? I ordered the "Powell Special" (equivalent to like a grand slam at Denny's), and i wanted scrambled eggs...."

Waiter leaves, and then takes 9 years to come back. Mean while, i get up and get Jenn some White Toast from the buffet, and my sister eggs with cheese in them since the bus boy somehow thought she was done with a full plate of eggs, and took them away.

Way to be on top of it Hotel Restaurant, that was supposedly "To DIE FOR..." Yeah we almost died waiting and in hunger. Good job. High Five!!

In the end we didn't pay for my buffet because the waiter realized what a crap job he did, but i guess it happens. It's amazing what you pay for at a Vacation Destination. For example: $54 for items for lunch, including a $12 tube of Sunscreen, 2 bags of ice at $4.50 each, and other food items. it was pretty much ridiculous. But you go on vacation, and you have to pay what they ask. Oh well.Yes, this was a PB & J that was part of a $54 lunch ticket. Although the food was only like probably $10 of it. Good times. Oh this is also where the waitress informed us "Oh yeah, they have a full on restaurant there and everything." The restaurant was.....a store, and an ice cream/snack bar thing.

That night we docked the boat and decided to go into Page for dinner. For some reason we were all craving Taco Bell, easy & fast right? WRONG!!! We pull up to the T Bell, and walk up to the door, which was locked. Odd. The hours on the door say they were open until 9 (SERIOUSLY? 9!?!?!) It was like 8:45, so we should have been fine right? There are a TON of people inside, so my Dad knocks on the door and someone lets him in. We walk in, and it's just a disaster, it looks like no one has cleaned for like 2 weeks. Food on the tables, garbage everywhere, and PEOPLE everywhere. WHAT THE HECK is going on?!?! We walk up to the counter and this is the response we get:

Lady at the counter: "Hi. So, if you want to order you can, but it'll be a 40-45 minute wait on your food."
Dad: "What....ok....umm bye"

Way to be on top of it Taco Freakin BELL!!

HOW!!! At TACO BELL!?!?!?!?!? Wow....FUN! It turns out, i Think at least, it was a Customer Appreciation day or something, so they were way backed up. Whatever I guess. So we went to Denny's, where we actually ate food and had good service. I guess there were SOME snags at Denny's. The 3 girls ordered Chicken Noodle soup, easy right? No, they were out. Way to be on top of it Denny's. Ok they did fine in the end, but i'm sure the timing (after trying to even get INTO the Denny's parking lot alone...was time consuming) would have been about the same. Although, i do love the new Chicken Burritos from Taco Bell. .89 cents, awesome burrito. No complaints there. But i'll never wait 45 minutes for one. No way.

On top of ALL this, Kelly had a pretty fun Friday night. We're on our way to Paige, page? not sure how to spell it. Anyway, on our way to paige Kelly gets a voice message, or gets a call, or something. No, Uncle Dan got a call from ADT saying that Kelly's garage alarm had been tripped. So to make things even more fun she had to call them back and see what was going on. It turned out to be her roommates sister, whom Kelly was unaware was staying at the house, trying to get in. The great thing, about everyone one of the people we "left" at home knew about it and was basically on their way. Ben, my Mom, Marge, i'm sure her Home Teachers, Bishop, The Pool man, Easter Bunny and probably a few random people were informed too. We love Kelly :) At least she doesn't have to worry about being left in the dark.

Really, Way to be on top of it ADT. That's what we have security for right? At least that's comforting.

I think the absolute Highlight of the trip was my Dad. Apparently a few weeks prior to this trip he was with his scouts or whatever and trying to order food at subway. He says this was about how the conversation went at the register:

Dad: "Ok so that's 12 subs, $5 a piece, so $60 right? Also can we get two bottles of water?
Guy behind Counter: "Total seven tuuoo" "water you want?"
Dad: "Brent, please speak to him in SPANISH and tell him we want two bottles of water"
Brent: "Dad, that's rude"
Dad: "Tell him it's RUDE to not Speak MY LANGUAGE when he lives in MY COUNTRY"

Ok, i don't know if the last line was true, but i wouldn't doubt it. The funny thing is he's had this mass run in with people not being able to speak english, and is getting pretty fed up. Every chance we had this trip he made sure we knew. It's a good thing the guy at the Restaurant (please see above) spoke English, or he probably would have thrown him out the window. We love my Dad too :) ( LEARN SPANISH DAD!!)

So either my Dad and the rest of America needs to learn Spanish, or everyone needs to learn English...since there are more than Spanish speakers flooding our country. Way to be on top of it immigrants.

I can't think of any other incidents that happened to us while we were there. I'm pretty sure there were some, like certain couples not getting along, but that happens :), and i can't think of any at this moment, and this post has been in the making for like a month or more. If any of you reading this can remember, let me know k? Despite all the problems and crap we had to go through, Lake Powell was just as awesome as it could have been. It was amazing weather almost the whole time, the water was amazing and clear, and warm. The sun was amazing, i got a nice tan while everyone else got burned. I love my awesome tanning ability :)

This Is why lake Powell was Worth it. Oh, so worth it

The rainbow bridge. I haven't ever been here, that i can remember. Supposedly i came when i was a little kid, and back in the day you could basically swim underneath it. You have to walk 2/3 a mile to get there now, and when it's 105 degrees....it's almost not worth, but still pretty Cool. Pretty sure we all got heat stroke on Saturday afternoon. everyone started getting grumpy and no one wanted to do anything, so we found a cove and jumped in to cool off. Happened more than once, and i don't think i've drank so much water in my life.

Yeah, We were Definitely on Top of it this trip.....Ok maybe less than NOT AT ALL. But hey, you know, after like what, 20 years?, boating, you think we'd have learned. But it's been awhile since we had a boat, and we are re learning :)

I'll Have you Knowe (Like the English way....)

I was at Wal-Mart the other day, and noticed all the toy impossible-claw machines were titled

"Toy Shoppe"

First of all, shouldn't it be called Suck your money into a hole-waste of time-trying to impress a girl-impossible claw thing-Shop? Second......What? Where the CRAP did ShopPE come from? AREN'T WE IN AMERICA? Maybe i've been spelling it wrong as "Shop" all my life...anyway, hence the title.

So I know i haven't written anything for a REALLY long time, but i just wanted to inform all those....probably 3 people that read this....that i had my first banjo lesson today, from this guy....

Geoff Hohwald

Man, What a guy. First of all, what a sweet name. I think i was actually going to be a Geoff, but my Grandma feared i would hate it and convinced my parents to just go normal Jeffrey. Maybe i should change my name to Geoff? Opinions?

When i got my Banjo, I received with it an Instructional DVD and Book (The book is lost...) So since i didn't really have any other way to learn, i put it into my computer And Geoff taught me for a while. The Banjo is weird....So if anyone has any Pointers on playing the banjo, to make it feel easier or more comfortable let me know. I don't want to make it feel like the guitar, but any similarities would be awesome. I'm guessing there's not though. It's probably one of those things that takes getting used to. I tried to think of a good example, but it's late and i can't think. My brain is dead. Sorry this is all you get for now.

Ok i lied. I recently discovered a secret truth....i think alot of people know so it probably isn't much of a secret, but really Restaurants will make you whatever you want. It happened the other day at Wingers, and tonight at IHOP.....i'm going to start making up things i want and make servers make me special orders. (It's kind of like the exceptions thing at my own work. People think we have a rule and like the "System" or "computer" won't let us budge from that rule. But 99% of the time, it's just a rule and can be bent.) Because i'm the customer, and the customer is always right. Even though today at work I am 100% sure that the company was right and the customer was just completely insane and dumb and should never call us again.

I seriously WONDER how some people live so long in this life, not knowing how to live life and be good at it. Really. I'm not a pro, but i think i'm getting pretty good at it. I treat people right, I don't drive insane (ok only on occasion has Reagan had any reason to call me a utah driver...), I'm honest with people, i understand situations and what i'm doing in them, and if i don't, i don't act like an IDIOT trying to figure them out. Casual is what makes the world go round. All the people tied up in politics and debates, and unnecessary stressful situations, are wasting their time. Well that's my opinion...not sure where that came from. But it's true! Ok we are ALL children of the Same God, but sometimes i wonder if some of us were adopted from another God of Another Planet :)

PS. I Read today that Boozer is signing with the Jazz for this year. I really think they need to just get rid of him. Steve thinks he'll get traded, and i think that would be awesome. Then we can sign Millsap, he can develop more, and him and DWILL (if he actually stays with Utah) can dominate and destroy the Lakers. Ok it's a dream i know. Dreaming is good right?

PSS. My Rays are catching the Yankees. This is good news and makes me happy.

Pictures? Family is cool.

I have a fellow blogging friend that said Pictures make a Blog Awesome. I think this has a lot of truth to it....and i rarely ever upload pictures. Probably because i don't take many? But i love photography and have a good video camera, that also takes pictures, so it leaves me question myself....why am i not taking more pictures. Ok. I will start

I also discovered hanging out with my brothers is quite enjoyable. Especially when you go to wal-mart, and the brother (Brent) you are with, had to get up at 5 am...on a Saturday...to go to Drivers Ed...and didn't sleep after. Yeah. Quite Loopy, but makes for a pretty funny experience. Even choosing Ice Cream can be a chore...... I'm actually kinda wondering what it will be like when Austin goes on a mission. I've gone on a mission, and i remember the letters and reactions of my family when i left. I hope i can be a good letter writer and supporter, because missionaries need that...especially from Family.

Also, Since when did "hair care" things get put in a completely different section in Wal-mart? Apart from the "Home" section, which includes things such as towels and bathroom stuff..... Wouldn't hair products, such as the Brush i bought (my hair is getting out of control, and i realized i had never purchased a brush in my life), fall under the "Home" Category?.
(Yes, this is the first brush i've ever purchased.....Go Me)

I really want Thai food. Any takers? I think i need to learn to make Thai Food. That would be stellar....but i don't think it would turn out nearly as well.

I want an Adventure. But I am afraid to take a step into the unknown. Not really. Kat Taught me, well tried teaching me, that I need to just dive in head first....(or feet first?)....sometimes. I think she's right. I'm going to do something, extreme, sometime soon. Before July. I promise. I just need to "plan" it. Maybe it'll involve moving...i doubt that, but who knows right?

PS. The New Green Day CD Is freaking AMAZING!!!

Summer 2009 Goal

My Goal is not:

1. To be Stewie Griffin.
2. Eat a Straw of wheat
3. Sit on a Box...maybe i will though, just for fun.
4. Have a football shaped head.



My Goal IS:

Learn The Banjo.

Of course i have other goals i would like to accomplish this summer as well, but The Banjo has been sitting there collecting dust for way too long. So It's gunna happen.

It's Been So long. Hi......This is it....well for now, it's Me.

Hello All you Blog readers!!! It's currently 3:38 AM, and i'm at work. End of Month, covering calls from Spain. It's quite fantastic really. I get to sit here and do basically whatever i please for about 4 or 5 hours, until the normal markets open. I'm currently watching the move "Atonement," and doing this as well. I know it feels like I've been away for....ages....I thought it had only been a matter of weeks, but apparently it's been over a month....and the last post i wrote was short and sweet. So even longer since I've really hounded anything out. This last semester kept me crazily busy, so busy I never realized I was that busy until the semester ended and I had nothing to worry about. I realize now too that I even let some of my friendships slide down the hill a bit, nothing irreparable. I'll be ok. I think?

I don't really know where to start. School is over, Thank goodness. I don't think i'll end up with HORRIBLE grades. I know for a fact in my Speech Anatomy class I didn't do well, at all, but i am pretty sure I'll at least end up passing the class. Sometimes that's all that really matters right? I had a teacher who made a good point once. When you are a professional "Whatever," and you have a masters or a PHD in this field of "Whatever," no one is going to care in any way whatsoever what grades you got in you undergrad courses. Of course grades do relate somewhat to where you go to Grad school, which could also in turn matter when you get your PHD and people don't recognize it unless from a certain school, but in the end it's just the same. Education is important. I love learning, i just don't test well. I've known that my whole life, and I guess that's how it's always going to be.

My brother got his mission call to the Arizona, Tucson mission. I cannot believe it is already time for my little brother Ozzy to go on a mission. I've been home now off of mine for 3 years and almost 5 months. So it's been 5 1/2 years since i was getting ready for mine, like my brother is now. I had the opportunity to go through the temple with him for his first time last Friday, the 17th, and had a pretty amazing experience. You know how the Lord will answer things for you when you aren't really looking for an answer to any particular question? Or maybe you don't.....it's kind of crazy actually how he does things sometimes. I was just excited to finally get back to the temple, I hadn't been since December sometime. The Lord in his tender mercies decided it fit for me to received probably the strongest testimony of temples and the importance of them, that anyone could ever have. I haven't had any kind of strong spiritual experience since being on my mission, that I had in the temple that day. The strangest thing of the whole ordeal, as i mentioned above, was the fact that i was not expecting anything like this to happen at all. The Lord knows what he's doing, that much i know for sure. He puts things in your path and people in your life to help you gain an understanding of simple things, complex things, small things, large things, anything really that he wants you to understand. And in ways you wouldn't expect, at all, in fact, in ways you would think completely the opposite.

I gained a new Friend this past semester, a Friend that was one of the unexpected things/people referred to above. She was in my ASL class, for the entire semester, and only the last 3 or 4 weeks or so did we even become real friends at all. She is a very good friend to me now, and we've already shared alot together. I know she trusts me and i trust her. She is the reason i was able to gain such a strong testimony of the temple. I really don't know honestly if anything will really ever happen with her, and that's ok, since sometimes people come into your life for a short season and for a particular reason (no rhyme intended :) ) and once that reason has come and passed, i suppose it's possible to 'lose' that friend, although in my case i hope to never lose her as a friend. I don't lose, or let go of, friends very easily. Probably one of my stronger...downfalls...or maybe it's a strength. I just know what it means to have a good friend, and i appreciate those that i care about and care about me the most.

This movie is weird.

I'm still at my job. I considered quitting for the summer and going to install security systems. I decided against it though more because i feel it important to be around to spend some time with my brother before he leaves. I know i've threatened to quit Nuskin for...like 2 years now...or longer...probably longer....but i just can't seem to get away. I keep applying for jobs, and not getting them, but when i find out who got the job, it makes sense and i agree they were better qualified for the job. If anyone knows of any actual good, real, jobs for me. Let me know k :)

I guess this is where I come to an end. I know this isn't really alot for over a month of no writing, but the fact is I just have come to a blank. It tends to happen when you're at work at 3 am.

I'm alive

I'm not dead, or dying, or anything similar. I'm sure no one reads this...but in case you do, don't worry, I'll be writing something soon. I kind of have a lot to write about actually. Just be patient :)



I attempted a mustache a while ago. This is as gross as i let it get.

aLL i wAnTeTh: SoMe tHiNgS

I've decided all I want, is to Serve people. I came to this realization two nights ago after talking to a friend who is/was going through a really really rough time right now. All I could think of was how much I really want to help them in SOME way or form. I do realize though, that this is almost a selfish desire….I love the way I feel when I help someone, or serve…which is normal, but is it bad for me to have a desire to have that feeling always? I dunno. I think this is why I want to become a doctor, or a physician, or a therapist in SOME way or form. I just want people's lives to be better because of something I did to help them. It's a selfish, but good desire, I just need to figure out a way to do it….I know there are a billion places I could volunteer at, and I really should look into those. It's just a matter of doing it.

I want to go on a service "mission" thing or something…an opportunity to serve people again. My aunt recently gave me the number to a girl she wanted to set me up with. I made a date with her, but then had to cancel it because I was deathly…ok not really…but I was sick. Now, she's in Honduras doing medical stuff….I WANT TO DO THAT!!! Man I wish I were smart, like my brother Brent. 15 years old, and got a freaking 32…THIRTY TWO on the ACT, withOUT studying!! GEEEEEEEEEZE!!! But in all honesty, I'm quite proud of the fellow. Good job Brent.

I need to get better at going to school. Enough said.

How can I get the guts up to actually just walk up to a girl, or anyone for that matter, and just talk to them? This has always been an extreme mystery to me. I have never met a person that can actually walk up to someone, and just blatantly start talking to them. I mean it doesn't even have to be about meeting someone of the opposite sex, just being able to make friends I guess? My roommate and I were discussing this today, that it seems hard to make friends sometimes…especially of the same gender. You'd think it wouldn't be since that's all a youngin would do, or even kids in highschool. I dunno. It just baffles me.

I like my Lucky Jeans. I decided that tonight. That's all I wear now…I have 4 pair. But only wear two of them really. They are sweet.

I want a new guitar. Preferably a Martin, or an ovation. I just want a partner for Samantha Jordan. Yes that's my guitars name. She is my one true love, who always makes me happy and never angers me, or plays games, or gets frustrated at me. She knows me and I know her. She's great.

I love my family. I realized this when we went to Dinner for my Dad's Bday. He turned 50. Holy crap…I'll be half his age this year….that's nuts…what's more, I'll be a quarter century old. Yikes. Happy Birthday Father Dearest! We just have fun together…Camille is dating Brandon, he's a good kid, and I really think and actually hope it works out. They just are a good couple, and would be happy together. Austin will be going on a mission soon. His papers are in, so he should have his call here pretty soon…which is absolutely insane, and I've already mentioned the genius Brent Above. And Tiki is as loveable as ever. I love my Mom and the talk we had a few nights ago in the car. She is such a good Mother and I Loveth her.

I like Rockband 2. It's pretty much amazing. Especially playing with our new roommate Reagan, who is better than I am, but still it rocks. Actually, he bought an xBox 360 tonight. So now we have all 3 of the next gen systems…PS3, Xbox360, and the WII. I also just finished playing Zelda, Ocarina of Time tonight. I love that game, one of the best ever made.

I loveth my friends. Friends are great. I like having them, and talking to them, and hate losing them. I can really only think of 2 people I've ever really lost as friends. Actually 3 now. It's a sad thing to lose a friend. I don't like letting go, even when I need to or should have let them go ages ago. Girlfriends are nice too J

I need to get back on track. I'm lost in a lot of ways and there are things I need to be doing to do better at life. So I will start doing them. This very night. I want to go to the DogParkInn, so a friend of mine and I have made a deal to do things better and then we're going to go. I wanna go!!! I WILL go.

School is good. I'm actually enjoying learning math, something I never thought possible. I just like being able to understand it and see why it matters…(actually sometimes I really don't think it matters at all, but I'm sure it will one day) I mean, I actually ENJOY going to math Lecture...even though I've missed a couple times already, it's just relaxing. I do my math homework when I get bored…yeah, its bad. All my other classes are ok too. ASL is fun, but sometimes just long and tedious. My online class is…..Easy. Speech Anatomy is so interesting, but hard. It's almost discouraging….but I'll get through it.

I like adding Eth to the end of words. It's a new thing I Doeth. See, like that. And like my Blog title.

Life is good right now. Today I decided life is good. I really have absolutely no complaints. My job is secure (although I wonder how I'm still sane), School is going well actually…better than I thinketh sometimes…and I'm just not worried about the small things. Meaning…dating J

I misseth my Grandma Mabey. I just miss hearing how she is doing. I know she is watching over me and is with me when I need someone. She is Special Special.

I loveth Music. I want to write music and be amazing at it. I Love OPEN C. It's so epic and incredible!!

I love my Savior. Even in the times when I am down and hurting, which has been for quite some time it seems, he is always there to comfort me. I want to be more like him. I like the primary song "I'm trying to be like Jesus." I wish I could be a little kid again and sing that song and feel the spirit.

I love kids. I can't wait to have my own some day. Michelle and LJ recently had their first kid, in fact this past Saturday. I can't wait to see him. Lj was a good roommate, and is still a good friend. I misseth him, and Michelle being around too.

I love life. Life is good.

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou, therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

I Spent way too much time on this Entry

As i explained in my last entry, I came upon some of my Freshmen English class papers that i thought would be pretty awesome to put on here. The first of which, caused me all kinds of grief today. I wanted to just copy and paste the entire original file onto my blog, but this turned out to be much more of a chore than i expected, AND, it didn't really even work. Here is Why: Technology. The computer i had written ALL of these papers on, happens to be a ghetto old school desktop. Ok, not THAT ghetto...i mean it still runs, barely....i wonder if the hamster inside is dead? That could do with it running so slow...

So today, Saturday, I went through this huge ordeal to pull the computer out of my closet, actually the massive monitor and massive box containing the computer, JUST to find this document. I connect everything, even find the tiny speakers that came with it. (This computer actually happens to be the one my sister used when she first went off to college...so probably purchased back in 2000, or maybe 2001 at the very best..yeah, dinosaur.) I turn it on, and it's going so incredibly slow...i wait 10 minutes for it to finally finish loading. My roommate is a Computer person, so i ask him a couple questions. 1. Can i put more RAM in it to make it faster. I know we tried once before, but Best Buy told us it wouldn't work. He said i Can...but it's probably honestly not even worth it. Next, Wireless Internet: It just has a jack for a cable...and we only have one place in our house where the Internet actually connects to. He has a Wireless card thing, but after attempting to make it work. It does not. Right now, i am typing from said piece of ju....Computer....connected to the Internet through a cable running from my room to his. Great huh?

Since this computer is an antique, it has like Microsoft Word .97839 on it. It's pretty ghetto. So when i try to copy and past my paper thing over, the pictures don't copy. Of course i realized after, this had nothing to with the Hud i'm working on, just the fact i have to add the pictures in myself. So i searched for some pictures closely resembling the ones on my paper, and came as close as i could.

Lastly, The final picture on this entry has words written on it. I don't know how i did it for my report, but somehow i did. I couldn't save the picture from my original document, so i had to search a new one, use a photo editing thing from work (picknik...ever heard of it?) then re save it, and add it. So in all reality, the making of this Blog entry probably took...from start to finish, with many failed update attempts (it doesn't even have service pack 2 for Window XP on it....and then while trying to do the updates, to at least bring my windows up to speed, it told us/me my windows wasn't a registered product key....no idea how thats possible...unless my sister had someone install an illegal version...), and after some restarts, and downloading Firefox, new iTunes, etc. I got to finally writing the entry. SOOOOOOOOO You'd better enjoy this...actually, it wouldn't suprise me if no one makes it past all this mumbo jumbo about how i wasted my Saturday trying to setup a stupid Computer (Good thing this girl bailed on me....so i could end up having no life, AGAIN, on a Saturday night.)

The writing assignment we had, was to think of a "Grown Up Rule" that our parents always tried to enforce on us when we were young. I remember racking my brain trying to think of the best thing i could, and from any experiences i'd had in the past. Of course there were such rules as "don't swim until at least a half hour after eating" or "if you keep making that face, it'll freeze in that position." All Wives tales. I thought of one that actually happened to me, and my cousins on a trip to California

My entire Dad's side, meaning all of his siblings and all of their families, plus Grandma, Aunt Leora, etc. took a trip to California. We rented out a house that was basically sitting on the beach. There was a sand volleyball court in the "backyard" and the ocean was literally 100 yards away. It was pretty amazing...i think i took it for granted now that i look back on it. I remember staying up late and watching Comedy Central, mainly South Park was airing at this point in time. Sleeping on the hide-a-bed couch, waking up with a sore back from the center bar in the bed (why can't they make those more comfortable? I've never really quite understood this), going to Disneyland, going with Great Aunt Leora on the Jurrasic Park ride at Universal, and just having fun. I also remember listening to Third Eye Blind repeatedly throughout the entire trip. I still love that CD. One of the funniest experiences from this trip was going to Hard Rock Cafe. (which is where this entire post is coming from) There was the kids table, and there was the Adults table. If anyone hasn't ever been to a Hard Rock Cafe, it is exactly as it sounds. Hard Rock. It's pretty dang awesome. Actually, i really don't know how we even pulled off even going to the Hard Rock, now that i think about it, it's actually kind of shocking. During our meal, we noticed the volume of the music was turned down drastically. We asked the waiter what was up, and they said someone had asked for it to be turned down. We said "yeah right, this is Hard Rock, crank it" so they did. AND....it was turned down again probably 10 minutes later. This went back and forth throughout the whole time we were there. We later found out, it was our own adult table asking them to turn the music down. "The Decibals are too high for your ears" That was the reasoning.

Most of the rules Adults/Grown Ups use, are basically made up anyway, and even if they do have validity, aren't official Laws as some parents would make you think. Part of the assignment was to disprove the said "rule" and come up with some way to figure it out. Anyway, it'll probably just make more sense by reading it. Again, the pictures aren't as cool as the ones i had in the original, and due to the Blogging format, not really in the same spots either. But it'll do. Enjoy!

Grown up rule #136: Don’t listen to music to loudly!

Location: Warner Bros. Records Inc. Burbank, California

Date & time: January 2, 1998 11:56 p.m.

Log:
Break into studios in back of
Equipment truck, disguised as a large speaker.
Break into large file cabinet during rehearsal.
Find grown-up rule #136!! Escape in garbage truck,
Claiming to be broken speaker.

Grown up rule #136: Don’t listen to music to loudly!

Official grown up reason: You’ll blow your ear drums out!

Real reason grown ups are hiding: The louder you listen to your music, the more nearly invisible notes float into the public air, causing mass love for rock and roll music, which means more rock bands formed!

And who wouldn’t want that, why parents of course! We all know that as a young person growing up in a world so full of turmoil, we all need something to turn to get our minds off of all the bad. For centuries classical music was used as a way to calm the mind, and to help a person think well. As good as this works, for some people it just wasn’t enough. Early artists such as Beethoven, actually tried something different similar to rock, but the people disapproved. The electric guitar was invented, and caused a mass forming of rock groups. People flocked to these concerts, where it appeared this calming need was finally found, as well as more rock bands forming thus after.

Over the past 50 or so years, many many great rock groups have been formed, much to the parent’s disapproval. A group of parents hired a scientist named George F. Rockahater to find the reason for so many rock groups being formed. Rockahater found that in a high powered electric guitar song, many nearly invisible “Rock Notes” were sent into the listeners ears,



This giving them the ability, if so chosen, to form a rock band. As we all know, to ban rock bands is a crime against music, and must be stopped! Don’t ever let an adult tell you to “TURN IT DOWN!” Better yet,