Moab Fun

A few weeks ago Jay was nice enough to take us down to Moab to go jeepin'. I have never been before but it was a blast. We all got there late Thursday night and went straight to bed to be well rested for the day ahead.

Friday morning came early, for me anyway. We ate some breakfast and then unloaded some jeeps from the trailer while others went to the rental place to get theirs.

I was driving a jeep owned by a man named Ryan. It is a sweet jeep, not as nice as Jay's, but I wasn't about to complain. I was a bit nervous to drive it though because I was an inexperienced driver and didn't want to break anything. Once I got a handle on the gear shifter and a feel for how the jeep would move it was like I had become one with the machine- a beautiful melding of man and machine, one that can't be stopped. Unfortunately we were stopped, a couple times.

The first day we went on a trail called Cliffhanger. It was a lot of fun and challenging at times. Day two was spent on Hell's Revenge. There were some very challenging places on this trail, the Escalator, the Elevator, and the Hot Tubs. I went on the first two. I didn't really want to go on the Escalator after seeing Jay almost tip and scratch his jeep but he talked me into it and I am glad he did. It was one of my favorite obstacle we went on.
I went through one of three Hot Tubs and rode with Jay in one as well. We didn't make it out when I was with him but Brett went after we made some changes to his jeep. After that adventure and getting some lunch we headed to the river bottom and the Pickle. The river bottom was a lot of fun. After going really slow all day we got to open it up and race through some sand. The only way to get to the Pickle is to race. Once in the Pickle it's about a half mile of obstacle after obstacle. That is my favorite trail.

After conquering those rocks we raced back to the main road and I got second. Jay sneaked in and beat me by seconds. After some pictures we headed back to the hotel. I'm glad I was able to go on this amazing trip. It was like nothing I every expected- it was better in every way. I can't wait for the next trip.

Needles and Office Chairs

Any one who knows me knows that I do not get to excited about needles and sharp metal things going in my arms, or any part of my body really. One night while on an adventure to the hospital to see Danica the Phlebotomist we decided to check to see what our blood type was since I didn't know. The problem with this is fairly obvious. If you don't know then just think for a minute...

After some blood, chatting, office furniture olympics (which I cleaned house) we found out that I am type A+. It's a good strong blood type. I can only save my kind and visa versa but at least it's not of the rare variety.

Since I won so many olympic events I got to take home the gold, the office chair of my choice. It's fantastic and I love it. It makes working so much more enjoyable. I get to kick back and relax knowing that I didn't spend a dime on this chair.

It turned out to be an A+ adventure.

If only this were Lap Tag, I would be all over it!

8 things I am passionate about:
1- My family
2- Order
3- Laughing
4- Church
5- Friends
6- Food
7- Learning
8- Music

8 words or phrases I use often:
1- What!?
2- C'mon
3- Are you serious!
4- Perfect
5- Whoopsies
6- Pansie
7- You're TERRIBLE! (Rowdy, you know what I'm talking about)
8- Remember when...

8 things I have learned from the past:
1- Parents know what they are talking about
2- I can't change it
3- Tennis isn't for pansies
4- Don't lie, it never stays
5- The man with the bigger gun does not always win
6- People change
7- Sleep is always worth it
8- People really do care about you

8 places I want to go to or see:
1- Greece
2- Egypt
3- New Zealand
4- Rome
5- China
6- Vermont
7- England
8- Jerusalem

8 things I currently need or want:
1- A new computer
2- Snow
3- A Giant Trance X bike
4- Someone and some place to play games
5- To be done with school
6- Tickets to Hawaii
7- A new song to love
8- A trail to ride my bike on before it gets wicked raw outside

Rowdy, McKay, Mom, Jodi, Leah, Monica, Sherie, Olsens. You're it. Get to it.

Acting school

I just went to my very first soccer game at the new Real Salt Lake stadium. It is a really nice place and I look forward to going to another one. I have never watched soccer or really played it, to much running for me. I had an idea of some of the rules but I was clearly wrong. For example, I thought, since it is illegal to hold someones arms in American football it would also be the same in soccer. Turns out you can if the ref is not watching the same game. What I decided is that most things are not fouls but it all depends on how good of an actor you are. If you act like you are hurt really bad then the referee will pull his cards out and penalize the other team. All you have to do, from what I gathered, was roll around on the ground and wait for the trainer to come and pat you and the back and say "Get up, they already gave them a yellow card. You don't have to fake it any more." I am sure that some of the hits and kicks really do hurt. I do not want to take one of those to the thigh. But if you are acting like your leg is broken and rolling on the ground I have no sympathy for you if you can still run around on it for the next 59 minutes. What I am trying to say is that if you are hurt then stay hurt. If you are not, stop being such a sally and be a man and play like one.

(This coming from the one that can't run for longer then 15 minutes, so take it as you may. As I watch more and learn more of the rules I am sure my thoughts will change. Until then this is what I think.)

Growing up

Rowdy and I bought some giant brandy glasses from the DI. He had the brilliant idea to fill them up and see how long it would take us to drink them (this is not a blog about that adventure, for more info please see Rowdy's blog). Through some unfortunate events and some very ungrateful neighbors I moved out of my house in Logan and back to Salt Lake. It came pretty sudden and the best way for me to handle it was to move as soon as possible, like a band-aid. Well we started our Gallon Juice Challenge while I was in Logan packing. Since I was busy doing things I was not able to finish my one gallon as fast as Rowdy. I decided to pack it and finish it in Salt Lake, but while packing I discovered the reason why most people that go to school at Utah State hate to leave Logan. The reason we all love Logan is because it is just like Neverland. We all know that there is a real world out there. When you are in the beautiful wonderland that is Cache Valley time stops and all the cares of life mean nothing.The only thing that matters is what you are doing right now. There are the occasional glimpses of 'the world' due to homework and working for the elusive dollar, but for the most part it is just a land full of fun...fun to be had by all who wish it.

As I realized this I shed a tear. Knowing that the opportunities of seeing how long it would take me to drink a whole gallon of white grape peach juice were limited I owned up to the facts, as sad as they may be. As now my eyes have seen the reality that is life and that we all must at some point grow up, take our place in society and contribute to it I became a man and accepted my fate. I will miss the times we had in Logan. I will look back on them in times of sadness, when the world of work has me thinking that there is no fun to be had, and laugh in it's face and say "Yes, there is, and I have tasted of it's goodness."

Summer Time Fun

We didn't go on as many swimming trips this summer as we have in the past. But we did find time to go bridge jumping a few times. Here are just a few pictures of us having a good time in the water.

Vinager and Honey

I have heard a saying before and I have always liked it, but never really thought it applied to my life. I have always thought it applied to great blessings or great tragedies. It goes as such:

Many Years ago in Cornwall there was a preacher named Billy Bray. He was a man of powerful spiritual gifts who came out of a hard life in the tin works of England. When he heard someone telling a long story about troubles and sorrows, his remark was: "I've had my trials and troubles. The Lord has given me both vinegar and honey, but He has given me the vinegar with a teaspoon and the honey with a ladle."

I have been having some hard times the past few weeks and sometimes I feel really down. But then the Lord sees fit to lift me up and show me how blessed I am. I have loving friends and family all around me, and opportunities to excel in work and to learn new trades. I have been humbled and shown the blessings in my life. No matter how hard it may seem the Lord is always standing by just waiting for me to turn to him and see the blessings He has given.