Bike park work

I helped build some jumps at the Eagle Mountain bike park. Here is one of the jumps we made. I can't wait to hit it in May when my shoulder is healed.














This is me showing the kids how to ride a ramp.


And check out my new Fail Blog under Links.

Back to Iraq and stray thoughts

Shawn left to return to Iraq today. He will be done with his deployment in about three months. We were able to visit for about an hour today before he flew out. This was our private conversation about Apache helicopters. More to come on that? It's nice to see that we were able to pick up where we left off. I will be doing a better job of e-mailing him this time. It's time to do a better job on a lot of things. I've been off work since Tuesday, and it's been a nice break. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to relax because I have to go back to work on Monday and start writing 17 reviews in five days, but I've done pretty well. Hopefully some things will work themselves out over the next 4-5 months. In any case, it should be interesting. That's one of the reasons I keep a daily journal, so I can go back and see how things developed. It could be big, or it could be a non-event. Either way, I have what I need with my family and friends, and things seem to be getting clearer.

Did you get your tickets to the gun show?

We went to the Crossroads of the West gun show in Sandy this morning. We got there early to get a good parking spot. The parking lot was fairly empty, so I was shocked to see how long the line was. I went from the north end of the expo center to the middle, then back around. I bet there were over 250 people in front of us. The ammo flew off the shelves. I guess people are worried about January. We were able to get a butane stove, rescue tape and several other things on our list. It was a successful trip.

100 days

It's been 100 days since I've had an energy drink. I've been going to bed earlier and trying to eat healthier. I am master of my own domain, as it were. I win.

Election 2008

The 2008 Election is finally over. I've got to say that I was sick of seeing a two year campaign. It was nice to see an increase in voter participation. I don't understand how you can live in this country and not cast your vote. People in other countries would kill for that privilege. I remember a picture that I put in my journal when voting was opened in South Africa. It was an aerial shot of thousands of people standing in line. Things didn't go the way I had hoped, but we definitely made history as a country by electing a black President. Having missed the Civil Rights movement, I can't fully appreciate what everyone experienced at that time, but it says a lot for our nation. I remember talking to my dad about the Berlin wall. He said he never thought he would see it come down in his lifetime. Times have definitely changed. I wish it meant that racism had been defeated, but that isn't the case yet. I'm afraid that it will take several more decades to make that change. I hope I can see the day when a Jew or a Mormon can get elected, and that their religion won't be held against them. We gave JFK the benefit of the doubt.

I hope Barak Obama can make the changes that we need as a country, but there is a lot of hard work. As I watched the crowds in Chicago last night, I got the impression that many people expected that things will change immediately. Big problems take big solutions, and that takes time. Many things need to be fixed, but not all of those are the responsibility of the government. I refer you to The Proper Role of Government by Ezra Taft Benson:

http://www.zionsbest.com/proper_role.html

I hope things get better under Obama. He is not the man I wanted for President, but I do not wish him ill will. I hope the econmy will turn around and we will be able to protect ourselves from our enemies. I hope our elected leaders will make choices that bring the most good to the most people. I hope we can find other ways to meet our energy demands. And I hope we can remember that it was a belief in God that created this great contry.

I suck

On October 8th we had a wellness screening at work. My blood pressure was good, but my cholesterol was high. I made an appointment to have a physical today. Blood pressure was still good, but my numbers came back high again.
Total cholesterol was 238. This should be below 200.
Bad cholesterol was 169. This should be below 100.
Triglycerides was 173. This should be below 150.
Good cholesterol was 34. This should be above 40.
I have to decrease the fat in my diet and increase my fiber and Omega 3's. I have to go back to the doctor in 3-4 months. If my numbers don't improve I will probably have to go in medication. Screw that. I will be a diet nazi and bring it down myself. But I still suck.

Summary- Boise and 169 days later

We returned from our Boise trip on Monday. Coming home from vacation always sucks. We were able to help Erick and Tami at their new toy store called Sam's Toy Box. It's exciting to see their progress. We went to Big Jud's for dinner for their one pound hamburger. It was huge. One burger fed most of us. I want to take my brothers up there and watch them put that thing away.We went roller blading in Ann Morrison park, visited Williamson's orchard and Givens Hot Springs for a mineral bath. We also took the kids to Boise Zoo to see the penguins, which are the coolest bird in the world.
Work was much calmer than I expected on Tuesday. I only had to work for two days before my four day weekend. It's rough. I start my Monday to Friday shift next week. I haven't worked a normal shift for 6.5 years.

I had my last follow up appointment for my shoulder. The surgery was 169 days ago. I can mountain bike and play volleyball they way I have been doing it for the last two months. I will be back to normal in May, which means I can spar and grapple in Karate again.

Mike Both and I rode Corner Canyon in Draper this afternoon. We rode up Traverse Ridge, then down to Ghost Falls. It was a great Autumn ride with colored leaves covering the trail. I love to ride, and Corner Canyon is a great discovery.

General Conference

General Conference is almost over. I don't know how it's possible, but every six months it seems to get better. The highlight for me was yesterday when President Thomas S. Monson announced there would be five new Temples, and one would be in Rome, Italy. I couldn't believe it. Neither could the audience at the Conference Center. When I served my mission in Italy someone told me that the Italian police could enter any building at any time. I didn't think Italy would ever see a Temple. I can't wait to see what it looks like. Progress.

Meltdown

The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass the bailout plan, giving the Dow it's biggest one day point loss in history.
Dow: 10,365 -778
NASDAQ: 1984 -200
Citigroup bought Wachovia Bank as it collapsed. I've seen reports that 75% of Americans oppose the bailout plan because they don't think Wallstreet should be saved. What they fail to realize is that if we allow Wallstreet to fail, Mainstreet will be right behind it. We don't get to watch big financial firms fail and then go about our business like nothing happened. The credit market has been nearly frozen for two weeks. If these companies are allowed to go bankrupt, the money supply will dry up. Companies like General Motors, Ford, Caterpillar and Boeing won't be able to borrow money to continue to operate their businesses. Companies won't be able to make their payrolls. As this happens these companies will have to lay people off, which will seriously increase the likelihood of more foreclosures. People will no longer be able to borrow money to buy houses, cars, or send their kids to school. The entire US economy will collapse in to a depression. We are beyond talking about a recession at this point. We are back to 1929, when the government stood by and watched it happen. You can call it a bailout of Wallstreet, but it's really a bailout of our economy and way of life. Now is not the time to point fingers and talk about what should have happened. It is time to take action to protect ourselves. We are at a point in time that most of us have never experienced. Hopefully our government can diffuse this nuclear bomb before it's too late.

Ricordi

It amazes me how certain tastes and smells can take me back to specific times and places. Tonight I mixed mozzarella, basil, tomatoes from our garden, olive oil, salt and pepper. It tasted just like it did when I spent the summer in Bologna with some of my closest mission friends in 1991. I made the same dish several times a week during that summer, and it will always hold fond memories for me. It makes me wish even more that I could return to Italy. Chissa'......

CPR certified

Things haven't worked out as I had hoped lately, but today I was able to become CPR and AED certified at work. It was something that I've wanted to do for a long time, so I jumped at the chance. I am part of our emergency response team, which is right up my alley. Some things were different from when I was certified as a kid, but the process is easy and straight forward. I had never used AED, but the machine tells you what to do at every step. This is something that I will try to keep current every two years.

Catching up

I've been a slacker when it comes to my blog, so I need to catch up. I haven't had an energy drink for over three weeks. The Beijing Olympics are over. It was cool to see Michael Phelps tear it up in the pool. Especially when the men beat France in the relay. It was a great performance to get the gold in all eight events in such a short time. Great prediction Ian Thorpe. Men's and Women's Beach Volleyball was exciting, as well as the Men's Indoor Volleyball beating Russia and Brazil to bring it home after a 20 year hiatus. Mountain biking and BMX was exciting, especially since I couldn't ride this Summer. Here is the medal count for the top five countries:
2008 Medals

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
USA	36	38	36	110
CHN	51	21	28	100
RUS	23	21	28	72
GBR	19	13	15	47
AUS	14	15	17	46

Mike Both and I have been riding the new singletrack trails in Eagle Mountain over the last two weeks. It's great to see new trails out here. We are constantly plotting where to build the next one. I'm glad I can do some riding and hope to pull off a St. George bike trip in November.

I've also played volleyball twice in the last two weeks, and I'm better than I expected when it comes to serving with my left hand. Blocking is difficult when I only have one arm above the net, but I don't want to risk a hard shop that would injure my shoulder. I'm just glad I can play.

Chuck Liddell fought Rashad Evans in UFC 88 last night. I fully expected Liddell to win the fight, so I was shocked when Evans knocked Liddell out cold. They exchanged at the same time, but Rashad landed first and hit Chuck on the button. I've seen too many fights where Chuck keeps his hands down, and he's paid for it twice in 18 months. Quinton Jackson knocked out Chuck on Memorial Day weekend in 2007 and took the UFC Light Heavyweight title. Chuck's next fight was against Keith Jardine, and he looked like he was afraid of being knocked out. Jardine took control, pressed the fight and got the decision. Chuck bounced back and manhandled Wanderlei Silva, and it appeared The Iceman was back. Chuck looked focused and ready last night, but he made the fatal error of leaving his hands down again. I would expect a fighter at that level to master the basic skill of protecting your head and face. I really hope he can bounce back from this defeat.

106 days later

I saw Dr. Ritchie again today. I was surprised when he cleared me for easy mountain biking and Karate. He said I can ride on easy trails that are smooth and relatively flat. Nothing that is technical or too steep downhill where I would be leaning heavily on the handlebars. I can go back to Karate and do katas and weapons, but still no grappling or sparring until next year. It's more than I expected, so I'm happy to be able to start those things again.

Success update

It's been one week since I stopped drinking energy drinks and soda. I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms, but I am more tired. Part of it has to do with the fact that my back hurts so much that I don't sleep well. It definitely affects everything I do. It sure didn't help today. Days like this really make me evaluate what I'm doing. Still waiting to find my place in the universe....

No more

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. A few days ago I decided to stop drinking energy drinks and soda, so yesterday I finished the two I had left at work- Rockstar No Carb and Monster Lo-Carb. I have to live differently instead of relying on an energy drink to get through the day. I big part is also the taste, and I will miss that, but I have to live cleaner.

Things you need to know about Chuck Norris

Ben and Susan Byerly just gave me a T-shirt for my birthday- Things you need to know about Chuck Norris:
Chuck Norris can slam revolving doors.
Chuck Norris counted to infinity twice.
Chuck Norris refers to himself in fourth person.
Chuck Norris does not leave messages. He leaves warnings.
When the bogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
Chuck Norris can split the atom with his bare hands.
Chuck Norris doesn't use scuba diving equipment. He just holds his breath.

Cheesecake Factory

We went to Cheesecake Factory for my birthday. We were joined by Agent and Lisa Peck, Pesh and Liz Patel, and Paul and Liz Chavez. Paul Chavez is my Team Lead at work. His wife Liz is in our Training department. Liz Patel is another Team Lead at work. Agent Peck used to live in Eagle Mountain with us before he moved to American Fork like a Nancy Boy. He also used to work with me until he became an Infidel. The food and company were both great. Not a bad way to spend the day after a birthday.

37ish

Today I turned 37ish. It was my first day back to work after our Boise trip so that sucked. And it took most of the day to catch up on my work. Brian Peterson gave me a Lehi Physical Therapy T-shirt after he tortured me. I taught two Karate classes, then rode my Micargi Falcon GT cruiser and drove my Corvette. Mom and Dad called me and Melissa Dearden got me Baja Tacos and Key Lime cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. Shawn Clark called me from Baghdad yesterday, but I missed his call. His excuse was that it was the 29th in Iraq even though it was only the 28th here. I will hold on to that voice mail message. Not a bad birthday. At least DeLana will always be older than me. ;)

Boise

We got home from Boise yesterday. It was the first time I've done more than pass through. We camped at Givens Hot Springs and took a mineral bath. It was about 112' F. I've been looking for a hot tub that temperature my whole life. We bought fruit at an orchard on the way back to Boise. Erick gave me a tour of Meridian, Eagle, and the local Harley-Davidson shop. Someday. Erick and I watched The Dark Knight on the IMAX screen. That was cool. We took our kids to Ann Morrison and Kathryn Albertson parks. It was strange to see two deer in a park in the middle of the city. The kids loved the water fountain and playground in this picture. Utah should have parks like that. We had a great time and enjoyed our time with Erick, Tami and their funny kids. I wouldn't mind living there at all. Chissa'.

Independence Day

I got to take my girls to Stadium of Fire in Provo last night. They were very excited to see Miley Cyrus perform. I was excited to see the Blue Man Group. I've wanted to see them for a long time, so it worked out well for me. Glenn Beck was the MC, and though I haven't seen or heard any of his programs, I was very impressed with him. He gets it. He understands what this country is about. Six stunt sky divers landed on the field, followed by four jets overhead. The fireworks were impressive, and we were close enough to get hit by the debris. It was a great chance to reflect on what the Independence Day means to me. I thought about Shawn and Darin, and how thankful I am for what they are doing. I don't understand what they are going through, but I know it is hard on them, and they still do it. I'm proud of both of them, and I can't wait until they get to come home. This is the greatest country in the world, and I hope we can live up to our destiny.

Micargi Falcon GT

My Micargi Falcon GT cruiser bike arrived today while I was at work. I wanted to make myself throw up so I could come home, but Paul was gone and I had to stick it out. DeLana put it together and left me to tighten the seat and handlebars. I didn't get much of a ride in yet, but enough to know that I like how it feels. I won't be able to mountain bike until late October or November, so I'm glad to have something to ride for the rest of the summer.

Supreme Court affirms individuals' right to own guns

By Associated Press
Published on: 06/26/08

I copied the link to this article. I'm disappointed that the ruling was 5-4 instead of 9-0, but I will take it. I'm glad I live in a state that values the rights of law-abiding citizens over that of criminals.

50 days later

I saw Dr. Ritchie's Physician's Assistant today. My shoulder was sore from physical therapy yesterday. Brian is trying to kill me. I expect more of the same for the next several weeks as we work on the range of motion. The experience has been much better than I anticipated, so I can't complain. I still won't be able to spar or grapple in Karate until spring, but I'm hoping to get back to mountain biking in late October. Hopefully I can pull off another St. George trip.

Celtic Pride

The Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA Championship by dismantling the LA Lakers 131-92 in Game 6 tonight in Boston. It was beautiful. I've never been a Celtics fan, but I hate the Lakers. I wanted the Celtics to close it out on Father's Day in LA, but doing it for their home crowd must have been a dream come true. The Celtics broke the Finals steal record, completely embarrassing the Lakers. Defense was the key as Boston shut down Kobe Bryant. MV what? This series goes to show that basketball is a team sport. Kevin Garnett (center), Paul Pierce (right), Ray Allen (left) and James Posey shared the load to bring home the trophy. Ray Allen hit seven three point shots. Clutch. This was the best series since the Detroit Pistons beat the LA Lakers in five games.

37days later

I had my shoulder surgery 37 days ago. Today was the first day that I didn't wear my sling at all. I also started physical therapy with Brian Peterson at Lehi Physical Therapy. I saw him when we tried therapy before it was obvious that I needed surgery. It hurt, but the pain wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Next week should give me an idea of my timeline for recovery. I will avoid anything that puts my shoulder at risk so I can get back to my life as soon as possible. If nothing else, this gives me time to think.

DEWmocracy

Today Joel Brown brought me the three new Mountain Dew drinks to work. Rachel Midgley brought me one too, so I felt obligated to drink all four while I was at work. The new drinks are Supernova, Revolution and Voltage, all designed by Dew drinkers. You can vote for your favorite one at www.dewmocracy.com. There are 50 days left, and you can vote again every day until the contest is over. The winner will become the new Mountain Dew flavor. My favorite is the Supernova, and a close tie with Revolution and Voltage fighting for second place. Ben Byerly, Erick Hull and I went on a Dew run tonight so they could try them. I tried to get them to drink all three, but they are being Nancy Boys. I don't really like Mountain Dew, but these three are pretty good.

22 days later

I saw Dr. Ritchie again this morning. I wear the sling for two more weeks, then start physical therapy. I get to see Brian Peterson at Lehi Physical Therapy. He helped me when we were trying to do therapy and avoid surgery. Eight dislocations offsets the therapy, so here I am. At least I'm not in constant pain like I anticipated. I haven't taken any painkillers for over two weeks. The stormy Utah weather makes me forget it's summer and that I should be mountain biking. I'm not a patient person, so this will be a good exercise for me. At least it's temporary.

Eight days later

I had my follow up appointment with Dr. Ritchie today. The nurse took out my blue stitches before Dr. Ritchie came in to discuss the extent of the damage to my shoulder. It was bad. It sounds like some things may not return to normal for close to a year. He tightened up one of the muscles to try to prevent further dislocations. I will have to work through that and stretch the muscle, but it's better than the alternative. He doesn't want me to do Karate for the rest of the year, but I think I can return to things that don't put my shoulder at risk. I won't rush that, but I want to get back at the end of the summer if I can. I should be able to return to teaching next week.

I only know what two of the pictures are. The top one with the metal device is Dr. Ritchie removing a piece of calcified cartilage that was floating around. The one with all the red is where they injected my platelets to try and help the area heal. Everything else is damage.

This is forcing me to use my left hand, which I never thought I could do. I shaved today for the second time. It takes much more time, but the end result is the same. I do pretty well with the mouse when I'm on the computer. I stopped taking the Percocet yesterday. The pain isn't as bad as I expected, but I have a knot near my collar bone from hunching my shoulder to protect it. The Percocet was fine for the first five days, but Tuesday and Wednesday I was pretty nauseous, light headed and forgetful. Tuesday was definitely the worst and I ended up leaving work early so I could try to sleep it off. The three biggest things I will miss this summer is Karate, mountain biking and parkour.

Recovery

It's been two days since my shoulder surgery. The damage was much worse than Dr. Ritchie thought, so the surgery took twice as long. They gave me a shot of Versed, so I don't remember what happened with the anesthesia. I was expecting to count backwards or something, but I don't know what happened. I'm taking Percocet for the pain, but the itch under my bandage is almost worst. At least that comes off tomorrow. I can't wait to take a shower tomorrow. This will be a fun few months. Five to six weeks in the sling, followed by physical therapy. Dr. Ritchie said I am done with Karate for the year. We will see. I won't do anything that will jeopardize my shoulder, but I still have my left arm and two legs. I should be able to teach again on Tuesday. I'm sure it will be worth it went it's all over.

Cabana

It is Cinco de Mayo, so Paul Chavez and I went to Taco Bell to celebrate. No one else on our team cares about holidays from other countries. Slackers.

When I got home yesterday I found my room had been converted to a cabana. I wanted to convert the room so it would feel like we were in a scene from a James Bond movie. I was leaning toward the beach in Casino Royale. I'm sick of the Utah weather, so I wanted something to help me escape, if only in my mind. Now we have a tidewater blue wall, sand, seashells, new sheets and pillows, and new drapes. I didn't have the details worked out, but I like the way it was done.

The last hurrah

Kevin and I just got back from St. George today. We stayed at Reed's house for a few days so I could mountain bike before I get shoulder surgery on Wednesday. I will most likely miss riding for the rest of the year, so I wanted to get down to the warm weather and great trails. Kev and I rode the Bearclaw Poppy Trail in reverse on Thursday and loved it.

Video of me on the Three Fingers of Death.


Video of Kev on the Acid Drops.


Agent Peck, Bevan Erickson and Evan Le Fevre joined us Thursday night, so we rode at Bearclaw Poppy again on Friday morning.

Video of Kev and Bevan on the Three Fingers of Death.


The store manager at Desert Bicycles said the Paradise Rim ride was better than Bearclaw, and it was really close to Reed's house. It was nice to ride a different trail, but it wasn't better than Bearclaw.

Video of Kev, me and Agent Peck on Paradise Rim.


On Saturday we rode the JEM trail outside of Hurricane. It was a great trail with a lot of variety. Kev's dog Roxy was a little beat up after the ride, but she was a trooper. The JEM trail had great single track, good technical sections, and beautiful scenery.

The five of us on the JEM Trail: Evan, Steve, Kev, Bevan
and Shawn.














Kev, Evan, Agent Peck and Bevan on JEM.














Me by the river.














On Saturday we stopped at Red Rock Bike Shop to get tubes. Kev and I rode the cruiser bikes. I want one.
















We played Guitar Hero II, Downhill Domination and MX Unleashed on PS2. We ate at Jack In The Box and the greasy tacos were just like I remembered as a kid. We ate at Lupita's in Hurricane and the tacos were great. And the steak was great at Texas Roadhouse. So was the peanut M&M's, Bottlecaps, Nutty Bars, pudding, Monster Lo-Carb and Rockstar Juiced. I tried to get it out of my system so I can clean it up after Wednesday.

It was nice to spend time with Kev, Agent Peck, Bevan and Evan. We did some fun trails and avoided any major injuries. Kev won with the biggest roadrash from crashing on a jump at Bearclaw. Bevan took second place on the same trail, but we avoided helicopters, broken bones, stitches and major surgery. Everyone got along and had a good time. I hate to say it, but I think St. George is my new Moab.

Nuked

Tonight I nuked my iPaq. I lost all my tasks, contacts and calendar items for the last five years. I was trying to sync with my computer, but the device wasn't recognized. That was because we had to overhaul our computer after we got hit with several viruses. I tried to do a soft reset, but apparently I did a hard reset. I used my calendar to summarize what I did everyday, including my exercise. Now it's all gone. I knew the iPaq would eventually die, but I wasn't expecting it today. It might be time to switch to a pocket calendar.

Back in the saddle

My 2nd Dan test is over and the other shoe has dropped. It looks like we will be staying put for a while. I got back on my mountain bike after a six month break, and I feel it now. Agent Peck and I rode the fire road/single track loop by my house and I was able to climb every hill. I passed on a few jumps because I feel a little bit clumsy, but I hit some other jumps and rode through both descents. It felt good to get back on my bike. I'm so excited to get out and play this summer. Winter was brutal and I'm glad to see it go.

2nd Dan Video

This is video of my first fight against Eric Loveless, a professional kick boxer, bounty hunter and mountain of a man.


Another fight. I did seven fights before this one, and three after. I was getting tired!


My bo kata from Friday night.


Chair defense from Friday night. Lance Grover was a great partner.


Kon Kudai. This is my most difficult form. Sensei Spencer was a great help in improving my skill and timing.

2nd Dan

My 2nd Dan Black Belt test started last night and finished this morning. Last night we had to perform Bahsudai, Kon Kudai and my bo kata. Saya Gyi didn't like the way the test was going last night. My shoulder popped out on the first high block less than three minutes in to the test. That really messed with my head. I expected my shoulder to pop during the fighting, but not when it did. During our first break DeLana told me to calm down and have fun with it. I felt like I did well on Kon Kudai, which was my most difficult kata. I was much more relaxed this morning. As it turned out I didn't have any problems with my shoulder today. We went through most of the curriculum we did last night, then added sparring/grappling and bare knuckles fighting. I fought Eric Loveless twice and he owned me. He should have, since he is huge and a professional kick boxer. He outweighs me by over 100 pounds. The fighting emptied my tank, but I felt like I was able to finish strong. I have a nasty blister on my toe, a cut on my foot, a dead leg and several bruises, but it was worth it. This was probably the hardest thing I've done, both physically and mentally. I feel like I accomplished a great thing. After the Black Belt Panel spoke to us they allowed us to make remarks. I took the opportunity because I was overcome with emotion. I don't have a lot of natural ability for the martial arts, but I continue to push forward and I don't quit. That is my talent. After 18 stitches, three broken toes, several dislocated shoulders and a bad hip, I've made it to 2nd Dan. And I have no intention of slowing down. The world is full of quitters. I'm not one of them.

Countdown

We flew to Houston yesterday for my 2nd Dan Black Belt test. The test is tomorrow, but I wanted to have time to relax and adjust to the heat and humidity. We stayed up late visiting with Craig and Tammy. It's nice to have this excuse to visit them. I was last here 2.5 years ago for my Black Belt test, so it's nice to be back. I forgot how green Houston is. I was really nervous Tuesday until I had a private lesson with Sensei Spencer Pierce who helped me improve Kon Kudai. He took the time to fix everything that was wrong with my form and moves, and my confidence increased tremendously. Thanks Spencer.

I've felt like this surfer for the last several weeks. I've been on the verge of major changes, and most are out of my control at this point. It's made me evaluate how I spend my time and what things I choose to accumulate. Regardless of the outcome, we will continue to purge and get rid of things we don't want or need. I want to spend more time outside, more time with family and friends, and more time decompressing. I was really stressed about these changes, but a great friend talked me off the ledge, as it were. I have a different perspective now, and I will make the most out of whatever comes our way. My 2nd Dan test gives me something to focus on, and I'm very excited to be here.

Snowshoeing

Last night I went snowshoeing for the first time. Mike Both, Tim Shaw, Gerard Miller, Kraig Carlson and I started at 9:45 PM in American Fork Canyon at Tibble Fork Reservoir. We headed west up the mountain and blazed our own trail. The sky was clear and it was quite bright even though we couldn't see the quarter moon. We hiked a good portion of the time without our headlamps. We heard a pack of coyotes and later found fresh tracks. We saw Orion, Casseopia and the Big Dipper. It was 43 degrees, and I wished we could have camped for the night. With such a harsh winter, snowshoeing is something that could make the cold Utah months more enjoyable. Mike, Tim and I ended the night at IHOP. The highlight there was Mike knocking over the tray of glasses as we left. The waitress put the tray behind Mike and left it, so it wasn't his fault. But it was still funny.

Court, indexing and the snow cave

I went to court to support Matt in his hearing. It hurt to see him in scrubs and shackles. I hope the court will do the right thing and get him the help he needs. He was diagnosed with PTSD after two tours in Irag, and for whatever reason didn't get the counseling he needs. He ended up in custody after a standoff with SWAT last week. The Matt that was arrested is not the Matt I know. I will continue to pray for him and do all I can to help him and his family, which doesn't feel like much.

Today Mom showed me how to index records from www.familysearchindexing.com. I indexed 42 names in just a few minutes. This is something that I've wanted to do for several months, and I finally took the time to learn. I felt like what I was doing will make an impact on someone's life soon. I want to continue doing this to help the genealogy cause.

We played in the snow cave again before we crushed it. Our yard isn't fenced and Mom gave me a hard time about the access to the cave. We let everyone take a turn and jumping on top to try and crush it. The cave was stronger than I expected. Raven's friend Mikah did the most damage. I'm sure this will become an annual event.

Snow cave

I hate cold weather, and I'm sick of the snow. This is the most snow we've had in the last 10 years. Snow is beautiful, but I hate shoveling it and I hate driving in it. Last night Mason informed me that our neighbor made a snow cave so we needed one too. I created a snow pile against the retaining wall and started carving. Mason, Jaxon and I couldn't all sleep in the cave, but the boys could. This was my first attempt at a snow cave and I think it turned out well. We finished our adventure with hot chocolate. It was a great way to spend the morning on a day off.

New First Presidency

Today the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced the new President of the Church and his counselors. Thomas S. Monson is the new Prophet and President of the Church, with Henry B. Eyring as First Counselor and Dieter F. Uchtdorf as Second Counselor. President Hinckley was a great prophet and leader, and we are excited to follow and support President Monson. He has been my favorite speaker among the Quorum of the Twelve since I was a teenager, and I'm excited to see where he leads the Church. Henry B. Eyring is half a step behind Thomas S. Monson for me, so I'm excited to hear from him and President Uchtdorf. I attended a Regional Conference in California after my mission where Henry B. Eyring spoke as a member of the Quorum of The Seventy. I was so impressed with him, and I remembered him by name when he was called to The Quorum of The Twelve. I think this new calling will give President Eyring and President Uchtdorf valuable experience and exposure. They are junior members of the Quorum of The Twelve, and no doubt will be here for decades. We look forward to watching them mature in the leadership of the Church. We are also anxious to see who will be the next member of the Quorum of The Twelve.

Change

It's been quite a while since I posted anything. Last night as I spoke to some family members I was inspired to blog more frequently. I have kept a daily journal for almost 17 years, so my thoughts and experiences are being recorded. But blogging is a great way to keep in touch with family and friends so I will do better.

Many changes have occured in the last week or so. Most notable was the passing of our prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was a great man that did much good around the world. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor and kindness. I will miss him, but I know he is in a better place and has been reunited with his wife and family. I know the Church is in the Lord's hands and he has prepared the new prophet for what lays ahead. This morning my daughter said she didn't want to die. We tried to explain to her that it's a necessary part of life, and once you are gone you will be free from pain and suffering. I'm not sure she fully understood, but she will some day.

I'm recovering from my man surgery. I spent three days in bed with an ice pack. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected, and it gave me a great excuse to watch movies and play video games. My son is getting really good at his TMNT's game and Downhill Domination. I wish I could really ride a bike like that.

I started Journal #54 about a week ago. I hope to be able to write until the day I die. It is great therapy, and I want my family to know me when I'm gone. I've been wondering lately if I will die young or old, and I don't have a feeling either way. I would not be surprised if I have to battle cancer during my life, but I already know how I will tackle that. My friend Rob had Hodgkinson's lymphoma when I met him. I watched him go through chemo and I decided that I would never do that unless I had a good chance of beating cancer. I won't do it to extend my life by a few months. Rob beat his cancer several years ago like we knew he would. For him it appears to have been a good choice.

Life is full of choices, and everyday we see the evidence of good and bad choices. While I miss seeing new episodes of The Office, NCIS and The Unit, along with the delayed start of 24, it's been nice to find other things to do with myself. I don't believe in New Year's resolutions because most people have given up by now. I believe in making goals for things I want to accomplish, then allow myself to accomplish those goals at any time during the year. I also made a list of things I want to try or revisit this year, like drawing and photography. I went to the funeral of Gene Jacobs and Ted Harward in November and December, and I realized that I need to take the time to develop my talents and try new things before I watch my life slip away. We tend to get bogged down with too many distractions, and I'm working hard to remove the things that just don't matter. I want to be able to look back on my life and be pleased with the things I've experienced and accomplished. I will post my 2K8 List and Self Improvement Ideas shortly. I also created a Before I Die List, which I like to call my BID List, before The Bucket List movie was made with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I was first, but it's still a good idea. I just don't want to wait until I am dying to appreciate what could have been.