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.

Merry Christmas Max = PC sucks

It's been two weeks since we got a black lab puppy. My son called him Max and it stuck. Max was our main Christmas present to our kids. He is a cute puppy and we are all thrilled to have him.

It's Christmas Eve and snowing outside. I remember the days when we used to be able to say Merry Christmas to each other. Now we have to say Happy Holidays so we don't offend anyone else. Screw that. This is a Christian nation and we should be able to wish each other well with a Christian holiday expression. I don't care if you aren't a Christian. Accept the expression as a sign of good will and stop being a tool. I'm not offended if someone wishes me a happy Kwanza, Hanakuh or Hitler's birthday. Why is everyone so offended by anything someone else has to say? How does the receiver have more right to avoid hearing something than the giver does to say it? I'm not talking about hateful words or expressions, but well-wishes, usually from one stranger to another. The Bill of Rights protects the freedom of speech, not the freedom to avoid hearing. Get over yourselves you pricks. I'm sick of PC. Instead of politically correct we should be concerned with correct. What ever happened to the most good for the most people? Screw the loud, obnoxious sliver of a minority. Most good for the most people. Period.

Stuck in an elevator

I finally realized my adulthood dream by getting stuck in an elevator yesterday. I was glad that it happened as I was going to work and not leaving work. The bad part was that it only lasted for 20 minutes. I was hoping it would be 1-2 hours. For the most part it was a start to a good day. I had a lot of work to do and I was constantly interrupted, so that put me in a stressful situation. When the day was finally over I was able to relax knowing I did it all. It's been a tough month and I was pleased with what I had accomplished. Matt and I fixed my car, saving me $100, and I finished the night off with an excellent steak and lobster tail dinner. I found out Gene Jacobs died, but I will be able to attend his funeral on Saturday. Overall, it was a great day.

Monsters

It's Halloween, so I have to talk about Monsters. I had my first energy drink about 14 months ago. I went on a bender for a while there, but now I don't even drink one a week. I usually only turn to the energy in a pinch, but today is a special occasion. Rockstar is a cool name for an energy drink, because everyone secretly wants to wear leather pants and a tophat like Slash, but Monster is a superior beverage. I started with the original, or green can, then tried Assault and Khaos. Sadly, I'm not too impressed with Assault, but Khaos is excellent. When uttering the word Khaos you must lower your voice and speak in a scary tone. If you live in SLC you might have heard Darby on KBER 101.1 talk about his Chaos show. Think of it like that. If not, beat it. Khaos is a great tasting energy drink, but high in calories, so I've turned to Monster Lo-Carb. Now I like the blue better than the green. Monster also makes an M-80, which is great for July 4th. Monster just rules.

Time Stand Still

I was in high school in California when I first heard Time Stand Still by Rush. I'm not a huge Rush fan, but I really like that song. It held a strong meaning for me as I was getting ready to graduate and move on. I knew everything was going to change, and I wished I could have slowed time down to enjoy it a little longer. I still have that feeling sometimes. I heard this song on the radio over Memorial Day weekend and it brought back the memories. I should have blogged this sooner, since the weather can't decide between rain or snow. We rode Diamond Fork yesterday and it was a beautiful fall day. Now it's winter. My favorite part of the song is highlighted in red below. "Summer's going fast, nights growing colder, children growing up, old friend's growing older." After my crash and resulting injuries yesterday, I've decided growing older sucks.

Time Stand Still- Rush
I turn my back to the wind
To catch my breath
Before I start off again
Driven on without a moment to spend
To pass an evening with a drink and a friend
I let my skin get too thin
I'd like to pause
No matter what I pretend
Like some pilgrim
Who learns to transcend
Learns to live as if each step was the end
(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away
I turn my face to the sun
Close my eyes
Let my defences down
All those wounds that I can't get unwound
I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain, whose ship runs aground
I can wait until the tide comes around
(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each impression a little bit stronger
Freeze this motion a little bit longer
The innocence slips away
The innocence slips away...
Summer's going fast, nights growing colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each impression a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away...
The innocence slips away

Soccer star

I got to see my son's soccer game last week. He has scored a goal in every game. Last week he scored four goals. Today he scored four goals in the first half, and ended up with five goals. He was not impressed when he had to sit out the third quarter so other kids could play. He seems to have a natural understanding of the sport. While other kids will continue to go the wrong direction or kick the ball 30 feet out of bounds, he will align himself against the goal. He continues to run the entire game and is very driven. I told him he could play profesional soccer and help support me when I'm old. I don't mind moving to Europe. I can take one for the team.

Jello and school experiments

My oldest daughter did an egg dropping experiment in school yesterday which involved all fourth graders. They had to protect an egg that was to be dropped from the school roof. The container had to be smaller than a shoe box and could not include incendiary devices. I came up with the idea to suspend the egg in Jello after watching the pilot to The Office last week. Jim suspends Dwight's stapler in Jello as a practical joke. We filled a Lysol wipes container with Jello, let it set up, placed the egg and added a top layer of Jello. Her egg was the first to be dropped, and stuff shot out of the container, so she thought the egg broke. It was actually part of the top layer of Jello and her egg survived. Who says you can't learn from TV?

Aloha

Mr. Clark had a statue in front of the Provo house. For some reason he tore it down. Maybe she was too beautiful for the neighborhood. She found her way to Kiowa Valley and has made the rounds on birthdays. Today she ended up on my doorstep with an Aloha sign. I immediately knew Susan had a hand in it. She knows how I feel about Aloha. It's Hawaiian for "Hello, and I demand you say it back to me." I will not be compelled. I remain silent whenever I hear that foul word. Things might change if I ever make it to Hawaii, but that won't happen any time soon.

Fear killer

Today was a rough day at work. I couldn't get rid of my headache and I was dragging all day. The Monster Lo-Carb energy drink took the edge off the headache more than the pills. I jumped on my bike hoping to cause myself to throw up, thus feeling better. I never threw up, but I felt better. I rode the south single track by my house, hitting some good jumps. I came to the section that Mike Both rolled a few days ago. After about eight approaches I finally rolled it. And I lived, so I did it again. I have a policy that originated in mountain biking- if you can do it once you are lucky. If you can do it twice you can do it. I rolled it twice so I can do it. The problem with that section is that it doesn't look like you should be able to roll over it because it is so steep. It looks like a guaranteed endo, but it's stupid easy. It made me think about how many times we hold ourselves back because of how we perceive the situation. We are only born with two fears- being dropped and loud noises. Every other fear is learned, and then it's so hard to unlearn. Time to hit the books. **Picture was taken after this posting, by Agent Peck on 7/19/07**

Mike Both is glorious

Mike Both and I rode our dividing valley, then dropped in on the Eagle Mountain single track #3. We hit the jumps more consistently today. Mike saw someone ride through a difficult section last week and decided to try it. It's 2-3 feet of steep rock, and it looks like you couldn't possibly ride over it. It would be great as a jump, but it goes straight into a hard right turn. You could probably wheelie drop it and control your speed to make the turn. Riding over would be my last option, but Mike lowered his seat and did it. Twice. There is a diverging road just passed being a man. To the left is stupidity, and to the right is glory. Mike took the fork to the right. He is glorious. **This picture was taken after the posting, by Agent Peck on 7/19/07**

Never give up

When I was about 20 I was engaged in a difficult task with no sign of success. I was becoming discouraged and questioned how long I should continue without achieving any amount of success. I never answered my question. Fifteen years later I now have the answer. I probably had it before now, but recent events have brought it back in to view. You don't give up. Like all things in life I will add my disclaimer. I worked for a financial services company years ago that resembled MLM. I worked very hard to make money there, but after two years I had nothing to show for it while all around me other people rolled in the cash. I made cold calls to 100 people a day for over a week. I exhausted my contact list. After two years my licenses expired. That was my exit sign. I was discouraged because I felt like I had been kicking against the pricks. I quit that, but I didn't quit trying to build a better life for my family. Sometimes you just have to steer a new course. That is my only disclaimer. I've crashed on my bike over 30 times. I won't quit. Three broken toes and 18 stitches from Karate and I won't quit. This all came to bear when my son asked me to help him learn to ride his bike yesterday. We tried a few weeks ago and he didn't quit get it. After a few crashes he wanted to quit. I told him he would learn to ride his bike or spend the day crashing. He crashed about 10 times before he took me seriously. After every crash I pointed out that he was giving up when he tried to turn and got scared. I emphasized the importance of persistence and we tried again. Then he got it. I couldn't get him off the bike. He is still nervous about turning to the right and he needs help to start, but he can ride his bike. I explained to him that we don't quit just because something is difficult or painful. Too many people in this world give up because things aren't easy. The saddest part is when someone gives up on their dreams. I gave up on one dream. I didn't think I would have a Corvette by the time I was 35, and it came out of nowhere because it became important to someone else. I was called out several times by that person and we made it happen. I don't want to be like that again. I look forward to the time that I get a Corvette Z07. I will continue to work hard and push forward. Life will do its best to knock you down, so you get back up and hit back. Again and again until the fight is over. We don't give up just because it's the easy way out.

Fountain pen

It's been over a month, and being back at work after a vacation sucks. I took the week off after Memorial Day weekend, so being back after two good vacations really sucks. I had a conversation with Mr. Clark while in Las Vegas before we got our shave at the Art of Shaving in the Mandalay Bay shops. Fountain pens entered the conversation, and I remembered back to a time in Lucca when I used a friend's fountain pen. I thought they were cool then, and I still think so now. I have written a daily journal for over 16 years, making 52 journals so far. I thought I might like to use a fountain pen to write in my journal, but I was concerned about the quality of the ink. Mr. Clark and I recently bought ourselves fountain pens. He opted for an Acme rollerball that converts to a fountain pen. I went for the Cross ATX in blue and silver. Buyer's remorse set in because of the price, and I began to search Ebay for a better alternative. I found the same pen in red and gold, but saved $55 after shipping. I love the blue pen, but not an additional $55 worth. I returned the original pen and anxiously awaited the arrival of the red pen. It came with two ink cartridges and a converter for use with ink wells. The ink ran when I got it wet, but I knew this would probably happen, so I had anticipated using it for trivial writing. I found Noodlers ink, which is acid-free and permanent. I found a lot of black, red, green and blue ink on Ebay, then tested it. Waterproof. All four colors belong to the Bulletproof line of inks from Noodlers. I'm excited to continue writing in my journal with my new fountain pen, as well as having a nice pen to go with a nice suit and tie.

The Art of Shaving

I just returned from a nice vacation in Las Vegas. Shawn, Ben and I went to The Art of Shaving at the Mandalay Bay for a royal treatment shave. It was everything I had hoped it would be. It felt ironic to have a woman show me how to shave my face. It's good to know I have been doing in incorrectly for 20 years. I bought a shave kit with a brush, oil, shaving cream and shaving balm. Monday night was the first time I have enjoyed shaving in a long time. I remember watching my uncle mix his cream and use a brush when he shaved. I love the idea of going back to that. I plan on using it as my time to relax and be alone, blocking out the noisy world while I enjoy my masculine activity.

Hard work

I've spent the last two days painting a house in Saratoga Springs. I'm pretty much a ninja with a sprayer now. After a hard day of work it's nice to take my son for a ride in the Corvette. I don't even have to drive fast. Just a leisurely drive, knowing I can light it up at any time. My car rules.

My quote

I thought of this quote today on the way to work:

If you make a habit of taking shortcuts you will eventually get cut short.

Corvette Summer

Last Wednesday I obtained a two-tone gray 1978 25th anniversary Corvette T-top. When I was about 17 I had a goal to get a Corvette by the time I was 35. Someone close to me insisted that I work it out since I am 35. With their help I did. I have to have the exhaust system overhauled, but it is so much fun to drive. I took the top off on Thursday and Friday. T-tops rule. This will be my Summer car since rearwheel drive Corvettes don't do well in the snow. Some people have motorcycles or snowmobiles. I now have a Corvette. My kids love to ride in it. They love it when I pick them up from school.

The Corvette actually goes along with my BID list, or Before I Die list. I started making a list of things I want to do before I die. I don't want to get to the end of my life, look back and regret not doing certain things. I don't want to see a life of working too much, enjoying life too little or not spending enough time with my family. I think that is the reason I'm looking forward to spring and summer so much this year. I want to do a lot of mountain bike riding, martial arts training, and spending time with my family and "core" friends. You know who you are.

Gooseberry Mesa. And God wins.

Friday night I drove down to St. George with Mike Both and Time Shaw. We met up with Bruce, Mike, Chad, Dom, and Matt of www.utahmountainbiking.com fame. We stayed at Bruce's condo that night, then tackled Gooseberry Mesa Saturday morning. The first part of the ride was fun, until Mike Both lost his back brakes and had to return to the car for repairs. That was the only mechanical problem, and it happened early on and we recovered. I went down a few times, but I had several more near-misses. My hip was out, and Secret Train really put a strain on me. I had to walk a large section at the end of the train because the pain was sapping my strength and ability to negotiate several sections. There were a lot of sandy spots and pedaling through that only put more strain on my hip and back. Overall, Secret Trail sucked. The first part was average, so it wasn't worth the pain I endured at the end of the section. I also got cramps in both legs at the same time for the first time in my life. That wasn't fun, but Power Gel and a little stretching made the cramps go away. We then moved to Hidden Canyon, and the terrain was different and took the strain off of me. I was able to start doing wheelie drops and riding up tough sections again. Mike, Tim and I split from the group and took the North Rim trail back to the car. That section was really cool too. I felt good at the end of the ride. Secret Trail was the definite low spot of the ride. Pain aside, it still wouldn't have been fun to me if I had been in perfect health. I was worried about my fitness level on the ride, but that wasn't a factor. I rode the valley at Unity Pass with Agent Peck last week, and I had no stamina. He kicked my butt up those trails. My hip and back pain held me back, but not my heart or lungs. It was nice to get away for a short trip. It was a new trail and a change of scenery. I'm so excited for mountain bike season to be here.

I think Man has made some amazing things. I really like looking at buildings to examine the architecture. I love arches and pillars. Lincoln Memorial, David, the US Capitol, Eiffel Tower, castles, the Salt Lake Temple, and many other buildings. Then I see the things God has made, and He wins. We came to a lookout on the Gooseberry Mesa trail that was unlike anything I have every scene. I didn't have a camera, and I can't describe it, but it was so beautiful. I've had similar experiences at Moab and other parts of southern Utah. I love moutain biking because it puts me in the heart of nature. I'm surrounded by the things God created for my enjoyment. There are times when moutain biking is a spiritual experience for me. He takes my breath away.

Failed Moab trip

Agent Peck, Jeff S. and I had great aspirations for going to Moab on Friday for a mountain bike road trip, but we were defeated by the weather. I was hoping to perform drops like this picture, soaking up the sun in one of my favorite places, but the snow held us back. Agent Peck and I drank Von Dutch and played Guitar Hero 2 on my PS2. I admit that I was skeptical. It sounded like a lame karaoke video game, and I hate karaoke. I would have to be severely drunk to do that, and that will only happen if I make it to Cabo Wabo and hang out with Sammy Hagar. But the game was pretty fun. I wish Moab had worked out, but there will be plenty of time for riding this summer.

Double fortnight

It's been just over a double fortnight since I last posted anything. This picture is Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. I've been busy at work writing and delivering reviews. I took the family to Midway to the new Trendwest resort. That was a nice break. I discovered that I don't mind cold weather if I'm in a place that feels like it should be cold. Midway has a strong Swiss influence and it felt like a scene from the Jason Bourne trilogy. My sister had her baby two days ago. I'm hoping to see him today. I got up at 4am yesterday and today because our Charlotte office was hit with a bad storm. The drive in was nice. I started watching The Office regularly. It is hilarious. I hope the Colts win the Super Bowl. I want to see Peyton Manning get a championship. Our ward split last week so I was released as the Sunday School President. I can't wait for spring. I've got the mountain bike bug. I've done a few snow rides in the last two weeks. I took a pretty bad hit three weeks ago. My shoulder hurt the worst but healed the fastest. I had a sweet goose egg where the pedal hit my shin and I cut my knee. Worth it. We have a Moab road trip planned in a few weeks. Can't wait for that.

Ten days off

These are the things I did with my 10 days off:
Collected scrap wood 3x
Shot airsoft pistols w/ my son
Ran 1x
Played w/ my router table
Made a ruler organizer for mother-in-law
Made oven handle for Karen
Went to Cabela's 3x
Bought a jump rope and used it once
Got a new derailluer cable on my Gemini
Mountain bike snow ride 1x
Went to Big 5
Changed front brakes on the van
Visited with Lori & Briana
Helped teach Karate classes
Saddam Hussein was executed
Organized my garage shelves w/ my daughter
Shooting w/ Ben, Shawn, Brian & Brandon
Saw Rocky Balboa
Watched UFC 66- Chuck Liddell knocked out Tito Ortiz- again
Played Redsteel on the Wii
Party at Reed's house
Party at Shawn's house
Watched BSU beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl
Went to the chiropractor
Ate at Red Lobster
Took several naps
Exercised a lot
Wrestled w/ my kids
Watched Airwolf
Watched parts of several Bowl games
Watched parts of seven James Bond movies