Done, done, and done!

Sorry for the slow week of posting. I have been preoccupied with finals, which are finally done. Phew! If I haven't learned anything else in college...it's possible to procrastinate everything, and I meant everything, til the last minute and still get decent grades. Yea for me.

Now that school is out the real fun begins and everyone of you better be praying for snow.

We went out and took some pictures of the kids today. It was a blast and I think they actually had fun for once. We bribed them with ice cream...which is amazing that it worked because it was freezing out. Anyway, a few of my favorites are at the top.

Speaking of photo stuff. I was an intern at a wedding this past weekend. It was amazing and also freezing. Things turned very well even with the challenges we had. My friend Terra was nicest to let me tag along. You can see some of the pics on her website, http://www.magnifiquephotography.com/ Just go to the blog part and it is the last wedding on there. Hopefully I will be able to more with her, I learned a lot. Hopefully, next time I will be able feel my face when we are down.

Until next time...screw school (and pray for snow).

We sure know how to party...try #2

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We sure know how to party!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Long live neon!

I post this blog today with the intentions of it sticking around long enough for my kids to read in, oh, about 10 years.  That should give them long enough to be mad at the way we let them dress when they were younger. Let me explain.

Last night I decide I should do something somewhat productive.  So I work my way, slowly, down the hall to the bedroom to tackle the every growing pile of clean clothes that somehow never make it to their rightful homes.  I embarked on this journey of laundry folding only to realize that my kids are wearing the same clothes we did 15 years ago.  Not kidding.  They are wearing things I swore off before junior high.

So Maelan, yep, she has a complete arsenal of stretch pants.  These things were it back when I was kid.  Until junior high came around then no one wore stretch pants...except maybe my sister (sorry Loni, you know its true.  You loved your stretch pants).  My little girl must have at least one of every color.

Dawson, he's seven and into his muscles...and muscle shirts.  Yea know the ones that you wear when your too chicken to wear a real tank top, but really want to show a little bit more of them pythons.  Yep, he's got several.  No wonder he's always flexing.

The sad thing about all this, besides the fact that our children are destined for the same fashion doom that I was, is that my wife and I have purchased all these clothes for them fully knowing what we are doing.  I am sure there will be some sort of back lash for this in the future and when the time comes I must remember that I am fully deserving of all I get.  No parent in their right mind would allow their child, or two in our case, to make such mistakes.  

So, to the Dawson and Maelan of 10 years from now, I am truly SORRY.  Never again will I allow you to wear such clothing.

On a side note I learned something else about laundry last night...it is much easier with a little bit of rock-n-roll.  

On another side note the pictures at the top have absolutely nothing to do with anything.  I just felt that I should post some pics.  So here are some random pics from the last month or two.  Dawson on his skateboard and Maelan in her coat.  

I must go now and put on my flannel shirt and roll my pants tight around my ankles...for old time sake.  Long live Neon.

I found a small piece of Heaven...in my mouth.

It's Friday night and like most people I'm at work. Oh wait, I think I have that backwards. Normal people don't work all night on the weekend do they? However, I am not here to complain. I am here with an announcement. Like the majority of the people in the world I am on a constant quest to find Heaven, be it spiritually or an earthly retreat. Well, I am happy to announce that today I found a small piece of heaven. In my mouth. The great news is that you to can find this small bit of heaven as well. You just have make the trek to Wendy's (shoes optional). Once there pay your homage to Dave and then order a Frosty Float.

These things are amazing. It's a frothy goodness that can't be beat. You see a frosty is not real ice cream. It is something different and alone it falls into a lesser category than the real dairy product. However, you mix this stuff with a tasty beverage, such as root beer, and BANG, Heaven in your mouth. I'm not saying to sacrifice your only child for this (maybe if you have two you could offer one of them) or walk thousands of miles barefoot (although, this would be a refreshing treat after a long walk) for one of these. I am just saying that I think that this could really be a spiritual experience for you.

By the way if anyone knows the secret chemical combination to make a Frosty let me know.

Until next time...See you at Wendy's

MC Detroit

If you are one of the three people that read my blog then you probably know that I love to take pictures and on occasion will take a little photo adventure. Well, today happened to turn into one those adventures. I left school a little early and headed out to the grand metropolis of Salt Lake City for the always cool down town pictures.

Things started out as normal. Me snapping pictures here and there, wandering around like I'm lost. Getting funny looks from people as I stare at shiny things and broken buildings. The first hour continued this way, then the adventure started. I met MC Detroit (not his real name, I don't remember that, but this name stuck). Mind you, this isn't my first go round with a homeless man. As a matter of fact I am kind of known for taking pictures of the less fortunate. But, nothing like this has ever happened to me before. To the best of my memory it went something like this:

MC: Hey, wanna take a picture of me?
Me: Sure, I would love to.
MC: What are you taking pictures of?
Me: Oh, anything really (as I snap a few pics of him sitting on the edge of a cement flower box)
Me: Where you from?
MC: Detroit.
Me: What brought you to Utah?
MC: I don't know. Hey how fast is that Camera?
Me: Oh, I don't know. Pretty fast.
MC: Sweet, I'm gonna break dance for ya!

So the saga began.

MC Detroit busted out the moves right then and there, no shame.

The amazing thing you might ask? Well, there were two. First, he was actually really good. Second, he did the whole thing without spilling a drip of his V8 drink (another amazing fact is that it was V8 and not something a little more popular in the homeless crowd).

In my photography adventures in the downtown area I have met drug dealers, drunks, super nice people, and even a psychic once.

But, I have to admit I have never met a break dancer. At least not one that was as eager to bust a move for me as MC Detroit was.

So if you are ever in down town Salt Lake and meet a break dancing hobo, tell MC Detroit hi for me.

I was also able to snap a few pics of things you might normally see in a city. I have posted them below (except the crazy tree one at the top, who would have thought you would get a cool tree pic in the middle of down town). Most of all it was fun to get out and push the shutter button a few times.

By the way, I also met this guy, who was super nice. Apparently a little shy though, when I asked him to break dance for me he wouldn't.

Until next time....BUST A MOVE!

Giving Thanks...a little late.

Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorite times of the year. I love food and I'm pretty sure that food loves me to and this holiday is one small way to celebrate our love. It is also a time for me to assert my manhood by starting fires and cooking a giant birds on them. It has kind of become a tradition for me to barbeque the turkey which consists of many super-secret ingredients and about 20 pounds of charcoal and little luck. It works out most years.

This years get together was tons of fun. It is always great to get everyone together.

So Becky beat me to it on her blog, but I am still going to list a few things I am thankful for. So here we go:

-My family, yep all of them, extended and everything. They all do so much for me and my little fam.

-America. There is nothing like being free.

-School. It's a love/hate relationship.

-Soldiers. They do what the rest of us are too chicken to.

-Skis/longboard/bikes. Um, yea I kind of like to go fast down hills.

I just realized that this list could on forever, so I will stop here, but there are so many other people and places that I am thankful for. So, thanks to all those out there that are always helping and entertaining me and my family. Thanks to those keeping us safe. And especially thank you to that wonderful turkey that gave its life...may your spirit rest in peace in poultry heaven.

Quote of the day.

"When you climb a mountain to prove how big you are, you almost never make it. And even if you do it's a hollow victory. In order to sustain your victory you have to prove yourself again and again in some other way, and again and again and again, driven forever to fulfil a false image, haunted by the fear that the image is not true and someone will find out."
Robert M. Pirsig

Sorry for the short post and no pics. I'm at work, not working...reading a book. This book is probably the deepest book I have ever read. I'm not going to lie to you, I've been confused for most the book. There are parts, like this one, that stand out and really make since though.

So until next time, be yourself and enjoy your own little victories.

Fresh Fluff

So there I was, knee deep in the fresh Utah fluff, you know the white cold kind. I look at my watch, 9:33 Nov 11 2008. Shake my head a bit. This must be a dream. Great snow this time of year...has to be a dream. So I make a few more turns reaching the bottom. A lift line jolts me to life. I am awake, this is real. Sweet!

You guessed it, the first day of skiing for the year and it was amazing. Probably one of the best openers I have ever had. I did however realize that I am not a fan of "The Bird". My nose isn't turned high enough to ski there. More importantly I like to have a sit down between runs and with there super fancy cattle car...um, I mean tram, you have to stand. Not to mention the fact that you are crammed face to face, literally, with every joe on the mountain with there mountain breath.

All this aside it was amazing day. You can't ask for anything better than good snow in early November. I love Utah and this year it must love me.

Here are some pics finally. I scanned them from actual prints, not real sure how they will look. If there bad I apologize in advance.

Until Next time...Bring on the SNOW!

Keep your fingers crossed.

November 3rd. Election eve and like every other big decision in my life I have waited until the night before to make my choice. I feel a strong responsibility to vote, yet inadequate at the same time. I am in no way educated enough in politics to make a strong decision. If I make the wrong decision I'll have that on my shoulders, not voting makes me just as responsible. I'm pretty sure my vote here in Utah won't matter much for the big man anyway, however, all the local stuff is the wave of the future. I almost feel guilty not spending more time researching all the candidates and propositions. I dedicated a large portion of my life to serving this country you would think I would be informed about these things, but I'm not. So, I will be spending the night getting as informed as possible to make a half-hearted decision tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

Sorry, no pictures yet. Actually their are pics, but I'm posting from work and they're not here. I know, the dog ate my homework...excuses, excuses. Tomorrow will be the big day for pictures.

Hope to see you all at the voting booths (hopefully your more educated than me).

Wow, I really need to post more often!

First off, an apology for not posting in a VERY long time and for not having a picture for this one. I'm not really sure who I am apologizing to. Surely there is no one still reading this. Just so I feel better I will post anyways.
So, I'm sitting here thinking about all the things that I shoulda-coulda-woulda said in my blog had I actually been posting and I decided it would be impossible to completely catch up so I'm not even going to try. What now? I am going to hop on the "ten things I am loving right now" train. So here you go, 10 Things I'm loving right now:

1. That my wife is creating art...and loving it.

2. That my baby is excited to see me even if I only went to another room for a second.

3. My new long board.

4. Being able to wear sweat shirts in the cool fall weather.

5. That Big D actually likes to read. Hope this one sticks.

6. That the yard work is pretty much done for the winter.

7. That my daughter still likes to play with me even though she is a super girly-girl and I'm...um, not.

8. That I am actually learning stuff in school that pertains to my career goals.

9. Fancy hot choclate. I know I sound like a girl, but dang that stuff is good.

10. Work. Not real work, but work in the photo lab at school. I get paid there, so it is work.

This is quite possibly the cheesiest blog I have ever posted (not that it matters, I'm sure no one is reading anyway). Things have just been good lately. People have been happy, school has been pretty easy, what else could I ask for. I guess good times equal cheesy blogs. Next time I promise a picture or two. I have a few goods that I would like to show off.

Hopefully, next time will be sooner than the last.

Still on track!

Yes it's true. I have posted twice in one week. I know I can't believe it either. Nothing too exciting has happened, but I did want to post a pic. I figured since we started with the bike theme I would keep it going for a little bit. This is another film picture. I have decided that film is a lot of fun. I really feel that I have full control over film. There are definetly times that my digital SLR has complete control of me. I'm fairly certain that I am backwards in that respect. The fun thing about these bike pictures....I have no clue who's bikes they are. I just happened to see them on the street and snap a shot or two. Maybe someday someone will claim there bike.

Summer is here. We had the inagrual barbeque to prove it today. The family all met my sisters and burned a few steaks. It was a ton of fun and it helped me realize that we need a cage for our kids. Not for the reasons you might think, although that cages would be nice to confine them also, but for entertainment. I am pretty sure all three kids, especially the baby, played for hours in the dogs crate. Next time we want to go to dinner I'm just going to have to lock 'em up. Anyway, it was a great time. Hope all is well with everyone.

Quick Update and New Goal!

Man time flies when you are having fun. I have been super busy. I just finished my first semester of nursing school. I was able to work in the photolab while at school....gives me access to all the goodies. I also was working my real job as well. I also just ran the Odgen Half Marathon, my first one and it was a blast. And, on top of all that we have started to finish the basement....on our own.

Everything is going great though. So now that everything is slowing down a little (sort of). I have set a new goal to post a new picture and update at least twice a week. Hopefully that is a realistic. Smack me around a little if I start to slack. Pic of the day: I have had some fun with black and white film over the winter and took full advantage of the lab resources.