Michael's Shower

There is a next week

Maybe not after taking off like I did. I almost left ten minutes after I showed up. I was certain the end had come until I heard someone say “…have to get it done next week.”

So the dream/nightmare continues? I could use a rest though. My hands kill me after a while some days.

The Car Crash

When I was 2 years old, my Mom had to run inside really quick. She left the keys in the yellow Monte Carlo.

I remember jumping in the front seat and pretending like I was driving. I literally kicked it into reverse.

The next thing I remember was sitting under the tree looking up at the police officer. Apparently I had backed the tail end of the car through the neighbors basement window.

Noone was hurt, but it is my favorite story I tell people when the ask when I was in a car accident.

Cool, Melia is here.

Right on time!
I heard Melia's voice over the phone as I was told the info on which to post.

Chapter 3?

One summer I rekindled an interest in books. Unlike my Mom, who seemingly can read over 1,000 pages in a couple hours, I am a slow reader so I had to live another day to finish the book.

I learned to play a new Nintendo adventure game. It was kind of like Zelda. I found it preoccupied my thoughts. I had just left the stale, cold junior high school for good. It was a prison yet l did not feel liberated at all.

One day as I was playing this game, I thought about the hours I had wasted learning to play... I threw the game aside and never powered up the NES box again. I walked into my room, picked up a book and read almost all night.

2 Days!

Almost there, stay on target.

I'll have to make a movie staring Melia.

Geospatial Intelligence

I met a lady once who said she worked for the NGA. She told me this after I noticed the security parking sticker. I at first thought it was the Marine Corps emblem yet when I saw Bourne Supremacy today, I wonder if it wasn’t the CIA seal.

Either way, it never ceases to amaze me how little I know. It bothers me that some resource weak terrorist scours the Internet for weakness in our government. Why we can’t just get along is a silly question. They won’t rest…

Well, I need to get some sleep. I still wonder what Geospatial Intelligence is all about.

Corryn Manning at 9 Months

Corryn's debut

The video comes from Jeremy's post. I just thought to be fancy. Right mouse click above and select Play from the context menu.

Iron Review

I finally saw Evolution. My Dad said it was funny so I gave it a try. It was alright - which is more than what I can say for Iron Eagle IV.

The first one was pretty cool. I remember I got upset when Doug Muster's, the main character, got shot down within the first 10 minutes of the second show. I didn't know there was a third or forth one.

Some people will watch anything?

7 days

Corryn liked to stand and walk before she could do all that on her own. She is an amazing kid. I love to show her new things because she picks up stuff so easily. I wonder if Melia will be any different.

LA Dodgers of Orem

I was never good at baseball. I'm not sure why I joined the little league. Or how, but I guess anyone with money can join. We were the LA Dodgers of Orem.

I could catch and throw from a long distance so I was always in out field. I don't ever recall being the first or last guy picked on a scrimmage game, so I guess I wasn't that bad.

The coach and was always yelling at me. I think the only time I ever hit the ball was when I got very angry at him while at bat. The ball almost took off his head.

Brotherly love?

It was common for my brother and I to be at odds with each other. He has a tendency to complain and I despise people that complain and yet do nothing to improve a situation; burdening everyone else with constant murmuring.

Anyway, this particular trip to Disneyland was no exception. Of course I do not remember what it was all about I just recall we wanted to sit as far away from each other as possible. That was fine until more people started to climb onto the train.

It was my brother who said what I was thinking. ''I'd rather sit next to my brother than some stranger."

And so he did. We sat together in silence for the duration of the ride.

Grandpa's hammer

One night, long after the sun had gone down my Dad had everyone down in the new addition. I think he wanted to secure the supporting wall before he was going to call it a day.

Grandpa relayed the order for a hammer. All the kids scrambled around in the dark. As l tried to recall where I had seen the hammer last, I pointed my flashlight towards Grandpa.

''Um." I started to speak ''The hammer is in your hand."

Somewhat embarrassed, Grandpa handed up the hammer to my Dad.

Lady in Red

A couple years ago I suffered through some Stake dance. I can barely hear anyway. I don’t need a loud stereo and a crowd to inhibit my hearing ability.

Someone approached me as a slow song started, the Lady in Red song. I at first thought it was a different song. Anyway, she kept going on as if she knew me. When it became apparent I had no clue who she was, she laughed and told me her name.

Last time I ever remember seeing Effie Newel, my childhood neighbor, was abort 8 or 10 years prior. She is my little brother’s age so how was I supposed to know who she was?

Home is where the heart is

I got about 10 minutes in to this movie before I totally blew it off. Hey, there is another movie with the same name.

It sounded like a chick flick, but I figured I would try it. And the unknown sounded better than what I knew I didn’t want to see.

The only chick flicks, which I can think of, that I like are: Ever After and Sabrina.

Ten year reunion.

Some time at the end of this summer, my high school 10 year reunion will take place. I will not be able to attend.

It is hard to believe it has been so long since I left Orem High School. It’s gone through a lot of changes since my own mother has been there.

It would be funny to see what Brandon Wood plans on doing with his speech. I told him that he should joke about making a longer, more pointless speech than the one he made at graduation.

Great/poor motivation

One of the only motives is that there are probably hundreds behind me. Hundreds more than willing to take over where I left off.

That and the fact I do enjoy filthy lucre or rather money. Easy come? not hardly. Too easy go!

Finally, as l said before, it is a lot better than doing nothing.

Mount Weather

Well, the Flynn books were quite disappointing but I guess I was kind of expecting that.

I do like books like these because I learn of new places like this Mount Weather.

Now, like always, I wish I could drive out to see the place. Yet, l am rather glad to be relieved of outrageous car payments and gas prices.

More Power

With the new reader, I find my old toy really struggles to scroll through a paragraph of two.

I tried the same experiment or my new toy. It zipped through a page of text with little trace that the window was constantly being repainted.

Just wish the wireless thing worked better. Hopefully my dang console will show up soon. I have a bunch of files to copy over.

11 days

I was pleased to see the rain. This weekend has been really good as far as weekends go anymore.

I watched a funny movie from the trial channels I just signed up for. Prior we just had local channels... really boring on a Sunday Morning or when I had no Netflix show to watch.

The more I read from that MCSD book, the more I feel the need to do the hands on stuff. Agh, one more thing to do!

Easy street

The easiest commandments for me to follow are paying tithing and obeying the Word of Wisdom.

I guess not killing is easy to keep too.

If all others where this easy keep, I would be on easy street. We'll find out how I fare?

New Mattress

Ah, that fits much better. It feels nice too. Yeup, I bought the mattress with out a test run. I’m not like my brother who will research a product to death in Consumer reports or what not.

I’m an impulsive shopper so I try to stay away from stores. Separating me from my money is good too or I just get to desirous to burn it! Credit cards are bad, too easy to use it on impulse buys.

Anyway, now I need to get someone to transport the old mattress down. My roommate said he could help, but I want action now!!! Besides it is such a nice day, I’d like to be on a fun walk with Corryn!!!

Maybe I can borrow her for my work summer party. Better yet, when is Advantage Home Appraisal’s summer party?

Groundhog Day

Listening to the director’s commentary was probably better than just the movie itself, although the director seemed full of himself. I especially liked learning of the location.

I remember someone saying “imagine what you could learn..." the first time I saw the movie. It was fairly profound. I kind of made that my motto.

If you had all the time in the world... How much can one person retain? Better yet, how much can one recall?

Except for Spanish, I find myself devouring information all the time.

I feel stupid when I watch people like Ken Jennings from Salt Lake City. His 30+ day winnings on Jeopardy total over a million. Should he step aside gracefully or will he eventually irritate me like Michael Jordan did/does when he kept/keeps coming back?

Vince Flynn

I thought I would like to read this book, but didn’t want to waste time trying to read it if I didn’t like it… So, I thought I would listen to the abridged version. So far it has been quite annoying.

It’s a typical Tom Clancy tough guy genre, but I like the modern day back drop.

I also bought another book. Maybe this one will be better. Some how, I doubt it though. Oh well.

Tennis Shoes among the Nephites

This book was the first LDS book I think I ever read. It came at an important time I suppose. It was a rather decent story. I read book 2 and heard book 3 on my mission. Book four was a bit over the top and I didn’t finish chapter one.

I found this link and thought I would use it in a post. I never had a deire to read the rest of his books.

SR-71

The new Air and Space Smithsonian near Dulles airport, hosts a SR-71 Blackbird. It was pretty neat to be so close to it. Although dwarfed in size compared to the Concord, it was still a spectacular scene.

The Enterprise space shuttle was there too but under some type of construction. The news said it will be complete in October of this year.

Who be the President?

I met someone recently who is assigned to Air Force One. I found out he has flown with former President Clinton and current President Bush. I proceeded to ask him which president he liked best. I assumed he had more of an opportunity to meet them than most Americans could ever dream of.

He avoided the question by explaining that people like the presidents for different reasons. Most of which information about the president, the public receives is tainted or filtered through the press.

I was about to interject and explain that he was talking to someone who doesn't really give a hoot who the president is.

I admit, I adored President Reagan because in grade school I thought being prescient made you the coolest man alive. As l got older I accepted the fact I would never come close to being that cool.

West Wing probably glamorizes the job. Even so, it seems like the White House staff is up 20 hours a day - working! I definitely don't want that job. Besides the Supreme Court is where the power really seems to ultimately be (for domestic policy anyway?).

Anyway, I respect the President's office. I support the chosen - sorry elected - official. I just don't see why I should care who he or she is.

He never comes to my house on Christmas. He never sends me a birthday cord. I can't exactly call him up or go golfing with him.

I have a lot of respect for Harrison Ford too. I don't directly pay his salary either; I'll never know him personally...

I have got a better chance to meet Santa Clause then Harrison or the president of the United States.

15 days

I bought Melia a gift already. Actually it was for Jeremy. I think he would like the Disney Halloween CD. Corryn would like it too. It's got Pooh and Mickey, Goofy and Donald...

I loved the Patriotic CD - which was also Disney. The springtime favorites sealed the deal. See, it was 3 for $10.

Disney is a family obsession. My Dad is hooked although I honestly don't see him joining Club 33. Well, not with his own money.

Long day (short)

I got home about a half hour ago. After work, I went to a Young Single Adult (YSA) fireside where Elder Richard G. Scott talked about Makeing the Right Choices.

It was good. No time to type it all down.

Oh, I had Orange Chicken for dinner!

A sun beam: isn’t she the cutest?

A few weeks ago Corryn was singing the sun beam song. She paused to ask me if sle was a sun beam. I told her she was not. Then she asked why.

"You are a person." I explained. "A sun beam is just a ray of light."

"Oh," she said. Then with a smile she asked if she was a child of God.

How could l say no to that? Besides, her parents would have killed me if I joked about that. "Yes," I finally said. ''of course you are."

Wikipedia

Sweet, this is what I wanted on King Arthur. I love this site, but didn't bother to look for it last night. I have linked to it several times, but now I see I should have come here first!

What a day?

After a second day of movie previews, I still think Bourne Supremacy is the best one. It looks like a sequel to Bourne Identity – which I learned was a TV show in the 1980’s as well.

I caught part of Spider-Man 2 yesterday. With out the tall NYC buildings, Spider-Man is almost worthless. How would he get around? Besides, Superman never got tired except when he was close to kryptonite.

I saw King Arthur today. Overall, I liked it. I’m not sure how much of it was true. The idea that Arthur was a Roman, I guess part Roman, didn’t sit with me well. The brave nights weren’t British either! According to the movie they were from Sarmatia.

I was under the impression the wall was only three feet high. (Stupid high school teacher.) Who the heck is Quiniver anyway? Guess I need to look all this up one day. Just add it to my list.

19 days!!!

I can hardly wait! I'll be an uncle (again).

What a lousy morning!

I woke up to cigarette smoke residue that seaped up from the Jerks below. I wont miss that when I move. If I move.

It is very roomy here and I do have lots of stuff. There is a qenerator on the building. The next place might have lots of bugs. I hate bugs!

I pretty much live here alone; it would be good to interact with others more. There are times when I do like to have the place to myself.

The Family Man

It was kind of like a modern day version of It's a Wonderful Life. The end of the movie has always bothered me.

Frankly I rather enjoyed the New York City backdrop or location. It carried some happy memories.

My nephew was named after Nicholas Cage. I fancy the blonde. I've only seen her in three movies, but I like them all.

Best Saga

That has to be Harry Potter. I just finished all the books again and despite all the nit picky things I can say about it, I am looking forward to the rest of the books.

Back to the Future was excellent, but short lived. Indiana Jones was excellent too. These are classics. Less is more?

Star Wars is petty lame. Well, it started out great. Now I am just so disappointed. I’m glad my Mother didn’t allow me to buy all the crappy merchandise.

Superman got to IV, but I don't quite remember it. I loved it when I was a kid, but when I saw some of it rather recently it looked archaic.

Star Trek has some good movies. I liked all the even numbered movies.

Rocky had his moments. Home Alone?

What saga did I miss?

Sears, where else?

I just ordered me a Full size mattress. I felt guilty that I was mashing up the FREE Queen I have been borrowing in this FREE bed thing that I recently got

I got it really cheep -- which is the next best thing to FREE. Crappy Hecht’s wanted to sell me the box spring too. So, I checked out Sears before I left the mall.

It should come next weekend. That is just one more reason I can't see my favorite niece. I can still say that until Melia is born.

Ravioli sauce

My first experience with Ravioli was very good. I suppose the sauce must have just been regular pizza-like sauce.

Every can or microwavable Ravioli meal has just been disgusting. I supposed it to be the preservatives or something.

At Olive Garden, the Ravioli sauce was just as disgusting. I guess I liked the way it was prepared when I was a kid or I "grew out" of those taste buds so to speak.

So much data

There is so much reading material out there. I find if there is something I really want to read it has to be in print or I might just blow it off.

Take this MCSD book someone emailed to me. I don't see myself vigorously reading it on my Computer screen. Everyday I print a chapter and I read every page!

I saw a book I thought I would be interested in reading. Turns out Microsoft Reader is not installed on my new toy! It’s probably on the CD, but without the cradle – which never showed up – it seems pretty dang impossible to install.

27 days!

Change is constant. Half of the time I guess I don’t like it. Other times, I dream of it. I guess I just need to live with it.

This day marks about one year from my first entry. Pretty cool. I have a partial record (typed) of the many changes over the last year.

Wish I could say it was smoothing sailing from here. My opinion is that “Happily ever after” is for fairy tales. Or the next life?

Merrill shoes

I find it hard to understand those people who spend a lot for a shoe.

My older brother introduced me to these slip on shoes. He said they were Merrill’s, whatever that meant. I got the look-a-like at Payless. One day I compared the two. His shoes were not as heavy as my Rugged Outbacks.

I went to REI and learned Merrill was not a type of shoe, but a brand name.