Kentucky Summer '05

The House
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

As promised, here's the photo presentation of my big, fat, Kentucky vacation. It took me a very, VERY long time to upload all these photos onto flickr, and even longer to cut, paste, and edit it all onto "the wax," so I hope you appreciate it. I guess the logical place to start would be the home base. This is my parents' house. They moved here in December of 2000. It was an easy sell for my Dad because of the three-car garage. Plus, there's an additional garage in the back. My Mom likes it because it's very spacious and has a nice kitchen. Rudy likes it because it has a huge back yard with lots of trees.

Back of the House
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

This is the back of my parents' house.

The Gazebo
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

This is our gazebo, complete with porch swing.

The Corn Field
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

This is the corn field across from the house. I told you we live out in the country.

Living Room
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Here's our living room.

Rednecks R Us
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

I know there are tons of stereotypes about Kentucky, one of them being the large amount of country-folk. And you know why that stereotype is in place? Because it's TRUE! This is a sign down the road from my parents' house that reads "Coon Hunters Club." The fact that it's on an RC Cola sign accentuated by dents from a shot gun just seals the deal. And rest assured, the members of this club hunt actual racoons. Not black people.

Rudolph "Rudy" von Sutton
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

This is our miniature dachsund, Rudy. He's been a member of the family since Christmas '99. He's spoiled rotten, but well-behaved.

Skiing on the Green
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

One of my favourite childhood memories is riding in the boat and skiing. The nicest place to go is called Kentucky Lake, but it's a couple hours south. Luckily, we live pretty close to the Ohio and Green rivers, which provide a nice alternative.

Jean-Marie
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

When I was in St. Louis, Jean-Marie and I got to see the Yankees-Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. While there, we tossed back a couple Budweisers (aka King of Beers - that's for you, Trish).

Me & Don at the Tivoli
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

I also got to visit Don while he was working his post at the Tivoli, an independent movie theatre in an area of St. Louis known as The Loop.

Jack, Charlie, Emma, & Lucy
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

And it was great to see the little Weber children again. I couldn't believe how big Charlie has gotten. They were all energetic as always, and we had a wonderful time climbing trees and playing in the yard.

eiraM-naeJ
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Charlie
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Jack, Emma, Lucy, & Charlie
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Nina & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

On my way back to Kentucky, I stopped in Illinois and had lunch with my friend Nina. I hadn't seen Nina in nearly three years, and we had lots of catching up to do.

John, Chris, Angie, & Andrew
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

The main reason I went home was for my brother's wedding. I could go on and on about how much fun the whole thing was, but I'll just post a few pictures so you can see for yourself.

Pre-Wedding Gazebo
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Pre-Wedding Deck
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

The whole wedding had a tropical Hawaiian theme, so there were tiki torches and leis all over the place.

Reception
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Wedding Cake
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Bouncy Jumpy Thing
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

One of Chris and Angie's goals for this wedding was for everyone to have fun, including all the little kids. They got beach balls, hula hoops, and this cool jumpy thing.

More Reception
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Isabelle, Pat, & Levi
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Jon & Garah
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Chris Working the Tiki Bar
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Me, Angie, & Chris
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Mom, Dad, & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

This is me and my parents after a few beers. They were both so stressed out before the wedding, and after everything was said and done, they were finally able to relax a little bit. It was great.

Grandma & Grandpa's House
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

I also spent some time at my grandparents' house. They live out in the woods, and I have some great memories at this house, as well.

The Pond
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

The Gazebo
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Humming Birds
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Mama Cat
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

My grandmother likes to feed random animals, and now she has several wild cats that always seem to show up after dinner time. She doesn't name them because she doesn't want to get too attached. This one caught my eye because I noticed she had one blue eye and one green eye. Cool, huh?

So, overall, my time at home was nothing short of fabulous. Previous trips have lasted a little too long, if you know what I mean. This one, however, went by way too quick.

Patience is a Virtue

I know I said I'd post all the pictures from home as soon as I got back to Utah, but today, I'm going to Josh and Sarah's wedding and tomorrow, I'm helping Caleb move, so everyone's just going to have to wait a little longer. Sorry!

Coward of the County

I'm such a wuss. I had an opportunity to take care of something last night. It's something I've wanted to take care of for a long time, but I chickened out, and the window has passed, and now I'm going to have this hanging over my head for a long time.

Anyway, I'm all packed up. Usually, when I come home, I stay for a couple weeks, and then I'm ready to go back. I think this is the first time I think I could easily handle hanging out for another week or so. Garah is taking me to the airport. I have a FIVE HOUR layover in Detroit. I'll be back home by 8 PM.

Winding Down

It's hard to believe my time in Kentucky is almost over. Today is my last full day at home. It's strange how time flies by so quickly, even though I haven't been really busy. Even though I don't go back to work until the 5th of July, I still feel like my "fun time" is pretty much through. Once I get back to Utah, I'm going to concentrate on getting my pad organised in preparation for a possible roommate. Plus, I seriously need to get back into my running routine. I've totally slacked off since I've been home. Oh, well. I'm kinda ready for things to get back to normal anyway.

Mama's Boy

I went out on a date with my Mom tonight. She took me to my favourite Mexican restaurant, and I took her to a movie. Great fun!
I just want to say that my Mom is totally the coolest. Of course, I've never met all the moms in the world, but out of all the moms I've ever had, I'd definitely pick the Mom I have now. She can be kinda crazy at times, but it's not, like, bat-shit crazy. It's more like the kind of crazy that makes you giggle-snort. I could go into all the reasons why I love her so much, but I don't really think it would mean anything to anyone else. We've just always had that bond and it's super and it's special and it's just a wonderful gift from God.

Morals vs. Ethics

Everyone knows I've taken a vow never to shop at Wal-Mart ever again. Well, yesterday, I had to reconsider this stance for a moment, and I think I made the wrong decision.
I've never been one to procrastinate, but with the wedding chaos of the past week, I totally forgot to get my Grandfather a Father's Day card. My parents were in the same dilema. So, on the way up to his house yesterday, we stopped to pick up Father's Day cards. However, this being Kentucky and right in the middle of the Bible Belt, the only thing open was Wal-Mart. We walked in and Mom and Dad picked out a card, but I refused and started quoting all these statistics about importing Chinese goods and sexual discrimination and unfair treatment of employees. We got to Grandpa's house and I felt like such a loser. I let my self-righteous, anti-capitalist judgements get in the way of showing my Grandfather how much I love him. Ridiculous. Sure, it's a good thing to have standards, but I guess sometimes you have to compromise to opt for the greater good.

Let's get together and feel all right.

The wedding was practically perfect. The ceremony was short, but very romantic and charming. The whole Hawaiian theme was a great decision. Everyone was wearing Hawaiian shirts and shorts and flip-flops and leis, and more importantly, everyone had a great time. Instead of the traditional wedding march, they played "One Love" by Bob Marley. We had a tiki bar set up. The weather was spectacular. Even the kids were having a blast. I'd love to go into more detail, but we're getting ready to go to my Grandpa's house for Father's Day. I'll write more about it when I post pictures.
By the way, Chris's ball team did win on Friday night, sending him into the championship game Saturday. He and Angie seriously considered postponing the wedding, mostly because he didn't want to disappoint his team. However, they decided to let the assistant coach take care of it. Unfortunately, they lost 8 to 4. Better luck next year.
Also, I just want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the big daddies out there, especially new daddy Paul Dinkins!

Seventh Inning Stretch

One thing I forgot to mention. The regular season of little league ball ended last week. We're now in tournament play. The tournament is double-elimination, and Chris's team lost their first game. Their second game was Wednesday, which they won, causing them to have a third game last night, which they also won. They play again tonight, which is forcing Chris to be late for the rehearsal. If they win tonight, then he'll have a game tomorrow at 5 PM...the same time the wedding is supposed to start. To complicate things even further, my brother's assistant coach is a groomsman.
I don't really know what's going to happen, but I just think it's funny how baseball is what brought Chris and Angie together, and it could possibly be the same thing that delays their wedding.

The Ballad of Chris & Angie

My brother has coached little league baseball for the past seven years. He usually coaches the 8-9 year olds, but about three years ago, he was coaching the 10-11 year olds and had a boy on his team named Andrew. Chris is a very good coach and likes to interact with the parents almost as much as he does the players. So, it's really no surprise that he met Andrew's mother, Angie. Angie had been divorced for a couple years and she and Chris totally hit it off. Chris often tries to put up a macho facade, and he kept the Angie thing under wraps for close to a year. This could also be attributed to the fact my Mom is totally desperate for her boys to get married and takes pleasure in nagging my brother because he lives closer. Anyway, once the Chris/Angie thing became public knowledge and my parents met her and stuff, things have been great. I think Angie is one of the sweetest girls I've ever met. She gets along great with my parents and Chris gets along great with Andrew and John, Angie's younger son. And obviously, there's something to be said for putting up with all my brother's shit. For me, it feels kinda weird when I think about having a sister-in-law. You see, Chris and I are kind of opposites. He's not very social and he likes sports and spends less than 20 bucks on his wardrobe per annum. I just never really thought of him as the marrying type. Regardless, he and Angie seem like a good fit, and I'm very happy for them both.

The Home Stretch

I've probably mentioned this, but my brother's wedding is going to be at my parents' house. Chris and Angie are both really laid back people, and the main reason they decided to have the wedding here is because they didn't want a big lavish ceremony. They wanted something simple and comfortable without a lot of fuss. They even decided to have a Hawaiian theme so everyone could wear shorts and flip-flops. Well, when it comes to having any kind of soiree at my mother's house, there's no such things as "no fuss." Mom and Dad have spent several weeks and thousands of dollars doing little home improvement projects (i.e. painting a few rooms, staining the deck, landscaping, etc.). Granted, it's stuff they had wanted to get done anyway, but having a deadline just prompted them to get it done sooner. I guess my Mom's craziness and my brother's mellowness just kinda even out.
Tomorrow is going to consist of lots of detailed yard work and putting up the tents. Friday will entail setting up chairs and tables and any other various last minute stuff, plus, the rehearsal that night. The weather for Saturday is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous. A high of 77 and low humidity. We really couldn't have asked for a better day.

Buds & Birds

I just got back this afternoon from a couple days in St. Louis with the Webers, and it was SO MUCH FUN! As soon as I arrived Saturday night, Don and I went out to dinner and bar hopping with some guys he knows from work. Sunday, Jean-Marie and I went to the Cardinals-Yankees game at Busch stadium. After that, we went and saw Don working his post at the Tivoli Theatre in a section of St. Louis known as "The Loop" which was way cool and quirky. This morning, I hung out with the kids for a while, then met Nina Ledford for lunch before heading back home. I took tons of pictures that I can't wait to share with everyone.
Today is also my parents' 36th wedding anniversary, so a big "Congratulations" to them.
Since the big wedding is Saturday, this week is going to be rather chaotic with last-minute preparations. Mom and Dad aren't taking very much time off work, so I told them I'd be available for anything they needed to get done. I'm really excited about everything. We have lots of family coming in from out of town. Plus, there's just something I love about weddings. I guess it's a combination of the love in the air, socialising with everyone, cake, champagne, etc. Sometimes I wonder if getting married is worth it just for the party.

Meet Me In St. Louis

I'm driving to St. Louis tonight to hang out with the Webers for a few days. While there, I'm also going to see my old running buddy Nina Ledford. Oh, how this trip is totally rockin'!

Wednesday Night Live

My parents have a circle of friends with whom they go out to dinner with every Wednesday night. They've been doing this for the past three years or so. Last night, I went with them. Also, Chris, Angie, and her boys, Andrew (13) and John (11) came along. I'd never met Andrew and John before, so it was cool to meet my future nephews.
The dinner was a total blast. Everyone was talking and laughing. It's cool to see my parents interacting with their peers. They definitely earned cool points.

Destination: Recreation

I really can't convey how great it is being home. Yesterday morning, I went for a run. I was hoping that the lower altitude and higher humidity would cancel each other out, but no such luck. I was gasping for breath like I had emphysema after the first mile.
After that, Garah, Cale, Isabelle, and I went to the park down by the river. The city of Henderson has put a lot of money into renovating the riverfront lately, and they put in this new fountain that a lot of kids like to play in, so we went over there to cool off. Garah's kids are really well-behaved. Cale is easy to bribe, and Isabelle seems to be quite the thrill-seeker.
Around 4 PM, my Dad got home from work, so he and Bill (Garah's Dad), and I took the boat to the river. Henderson is located pretty close to where the Ohio and Green rivers merge. The Ohio is bigger, but the Green is usually smoother and has less traffic. We opted for the Green and it was a beautiful afternoon. I haven't skied in probably eight years, but I decided to give it a shot again. It only took me a couple tries to get up, but once I did, I found it was like riding a bike. I didn't look as good as Dad or Bill, but I still had a blast.
Of course, I forgot to bring my camera with me to the park and the river, but I'm sure I'll be going to both again before I leave. Plus, I'm using my parents' computer, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to upload any photos until I get back to Utah. Regardless, I'll be sure and post as many as I can so everyone can see the wonderful Kentucky scenery.

Parental Advisory

Due to the horrible drivers in Utah, I've developed a habit of cursing at them in a faux-gangsta accent. I don't really curse outside of the sound-proof confines of my truck, but I can totally see the scenario now: My Mom and I are driving to the mall and someone pulls out in front of us and I yell, "Yo, Muthafucka!" or "Move, bitch, get out the way!"

Roller Skating, Whooping Cranes, and Exposed Brassieres

This is the story of Garah and I:
When I was five, my family moved into the house in Morganfield, where we stayed for 21 years. We moved next door to the Gamblins: Bill, Pat, and their daughter, Garah, who was the same age as I. Garah and I developed quite a friendship. We sold lemonade on the roadside. We rode our bikes to the soda fountain downtown. We went to piano lessons together. We hung out so much, strangers often thought we were siblings, since we were so comfortable around each other. Her parents and my parents have also developed a great friendship, so it's almost like we're one big family. (Even now, my parents, my brother, Garah, and Garah's parents all live within 10 minutes of each other in Henderson.)
After graduation, Garah left for the University of Louisville, and I went to Kentucky Wesleyan. After four years at KWC, I joined the Air Force. Garah graduated summa cum laude with a major in chemistry (pre-med) and a music minor, then went on to U of L Medical School. While in medical school, she married Jon Wright, whom we both knew in high school. She took residency at St. Mary's in Evansville, Indiana. While there, she gave birth to a son, Cale, in March of 2001. After that, she joined a family practice clinic in Henderson, Kentucky, then gave birth to a daughter, Isabelle, in November of 2003. Then, on May 20th, 2005, Garah had their third child, Levi.
Yesterday afternoon, I went over to Garah's house to visit. There are few things more precious in this world than holding a newborn baby. They're so light and fragile and it's hard to believe they have little bones and muscles moving around beneath their soft, pink skin. Levi has been diagnosed with Down's Syndrome, but Jon and Garah feel so lucky to have him. About 50% of babies born with Down's have congenital heart failure and tons of other physical problems. Levi has none. His condition just means there was a fluke in his chromosomes and his development may be a little slower. Garah said, "I can't imagine how a family of non-Christians would handle this." It seems like it would be so easy to be angry and bitter and wonder how God could do this to a little baby in a good family, but Garah said she's kinda glad because at least Levi now has a chance.
Congratulations, Jon and Garah! Much love.

My Old Kentucky Home

Being home is so great, but so strange at the same time. Almost surreal. This isn't even the house I grew up in (my parents moved in December of 2000), but just because it's the place where my parents live (and Rudy, our dachsund, too), it totally feels like home. I got in bed last night, and I couldn't even fall asleep because I kept grinning about how wonderful it is to be here.

Goodbye, Utah. Hello, Kentucky!

I'm taking care of all the final packing, then I'm going to Caleb's house because he's going to drive me to the airport. I'm flying into Evansville (about 20 minutes from my parents' house) by way of Detroit. I know I'm making a big deal about this, but it's just been so long since I've been home. I can't wait!

Midnight Run

Summer, Caleb, Ryan, Josh, & Sarah
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Last night, I was hanging out at the Wendt house, and there wasn't really anything going on. Then, at, like, 11 PM, we all decided we had a craving for s'mores. And of course, you can't just make s'mores anywhere. You need a campfire. So we decided to hike up to the mountains and build a campfire all for the purposes of that sweet choco-grahamy-mushy goodness.
The hike was a little longer than expected and it was a little chilly up in the mountains, but it was totally worth it. I didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning, but the s'mores never tasted so good.

Campfire
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Liberation Celebration

I am free!
I am now on leave and I don't go back to work until the 5th of July. That's 32 days off!
I fly home to Kentucky on Sunday and hang out there for about three weeks, to include my brother's wedding and a trip over to St. Louis to visit the Webers. The rest of my vacation will consist of visiting family and laying around and reading and getting a tan in the warm Kentucky sun. I haven't been home in nearly two years, so I'm sure the time will totally fly by.

Wishy Washy

Appliance Man
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

In Utah, it's not very common to have a washer and dryer included with regular rent in one's apartment. Therefore, unless I wanted to haul my oodles and oodles of laundry to the laundromat every week (Who am I kidding? Every day!), it was imperative I pay an extra $30 per month to have a rented washer and dryer installed in my pad.
To remedy this, about a month ago, I purchased my own brand new Maytag Atlantis washer and dryer. They were delivered about two weeks ago, but the rented machines weren't removed until yesterday. So I spent all last night installing my new appliances...by myself. I found out the hard way this is definitely at least a two-person job. But it was totally worth it. The new machines are bigger and prettier and easier to use. Plus, they're so quiet I can't even hear them in my living room. And the coolest thing: the dryer has a light inside (you know, like the refrigerator)! How cool is that? I just might have to buy more clothes so I can use my new appliances more.

For What It's Worth

I'm sure many people think of Memorial Day as just an extra day off work, and, even after spending over eight years in the Air Force, I probably fall into that category most of the time. But at the same time, my tenure in the military, and especially deployments to Pakistan, Qatar, and Iraq, has brought a lot of things to light. We've lost thousands of troops since we invaded Iraq. Civilian deaths are in the tens of thousands. I'm not going to get into a bunch of politics and ethics about pointless pre-emptive invasion, but I will say this: no matter who you are, whether you support this war or not, if you have a single American bone in your body, you have to admit your desire to end this conflict as soon as possible and bring our troops home. It IS possible to support the troops without supporting the war. How?

1) Go to Any Soldier or other similar website and send a care package to a troop in harm's way.
2) Write a letter to your congressman or representative telling them not to vote for any legislation that lowers the pay and benefits of our military, especially in war zones.
3) Volunteer at your local USO.
4) Whatever you do, DON'T get one of those ridiculous yellow ribbons on the back of your car. The money made from those doesn't support troops in any way, and plus, they're just annoying. Everytime I see one, I just want to stop the person and bow down in front of them and say, "Oh, WOW! YOU ARE SO PATRIOTIC!!!" If you want to support the troops, do so in words and deeds. Not in magnets.
5) Pray. This probably sounds the most cliche, but it's also the most effective.

Victory Over Justification

I just watched a documentary on The Sundance Channel called Control Room about media coverage of the war in Iraq, with an emphasis on Al Jazeera, the Arab news channel. Most of the footage was gathered between the time the invasion began and our occupation of Baghdad. All US military-media relations took place at CENTCOM, located in Doha, Qatar, about 35 miles from Al Udeid Air Base, where I was the whole time the war was going down. Seeing all this really took me back to my time there, and it also educated me on different perspectives and a lot of the stuff I missed. Definitely a good watch.

Summer Lovin'

Well, it's Memorial Day weekend, and you know what that means - Summer Is Here! And what better way to improve those long, hot days and super-fun nights than by complimenting it with the proper soundtrack, right? So, I've taken it upon myself to go through my entire music collection (which is a lot) and pick out the best albums and songs for you, the reader, to which to listen. Though I can't say for sure each of you will appreciate each tune as much as I have, I can attest to the fact each song has had its place in enhancing my own summer pleasure.

Albums:

"Natural Ingredients" by Luscious Jackson
This album is what I imagine it would sound like in New York City in July. It's full of dance funk and great for cruising around town with the windows down.

"Weezer (The Green Album)" by Weezer
This album reminds me of my first summer in Japan. In particular, a certain camping trip to Kazakienchi that Evan Burd would probably prefer everyone forget, but I sure had a blast. Most die hard Weezer fans aren't big on this album, but it's undeniably some of their best light-hearted pop music. The melodies are simple and memorable and you just can't keep from singing along.

"Dig Me Out" by Sleater-Kinney
I fell in love with this album during my first summer in Vegas. I had just bought it after reading tons of great reviews. I love girlie-punk and now S-K is one of my favourite bands ever. "Dig Me Out' is such a masterpiece and even now, when I hear it, I still get nostalgic for driving my Camry down the Strip in 115 degree heat.

"Celebrity Skin" by Hole
This was the album Courtney made after she left Seattle behind and became a big movie star, and the whole thing just sounds like California. You can't hear "Malibu" or "Boys On The Radio" and not feel as though your walking along the beach in Santa Monica.

"World Clique" by Deee-Lite
People think of these guys as one-hit-wonders, but this album was way ahead of its time. Another great dance album perfect for a beach party.

"Who Is Jill Scott?" by Jill Scott
Just a great, mellow, smooth R&B album that's all about love. Great for watching a sunset with your baby.

"Simpatico" by Velocity Girl
Quite possibly the most perfect alt-pop album ever created.

"Parklife" by Blur
I wonderful Brit-pop album. It was released in the summer of '94, but I didn't really get into Blur until the summer of '99. This record is full of great tunes and makes me imagine how cool it would be to spend a few months trekking around London.

"...And Out Come The Wolves" by Rancid
The first true punk band I ever really appreciated. I was totally addicted to this album during the summer of '95.

"Californication" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Nothing says "summer" like California, where it's summer all year long. This album was the Peppers' ode to their home state.

"Melody A.M." by Royksopp
A smooth electronic album that's ideal for mellowing out after a crazy night.

"Good Humour" by Saint Etienne
A simple, yet addictive, happy Euro-pop album. Sarah Cracknell's voice is so light and it just floats over these wonderful pop tunes.


Songs:

"Vacation" by the Go-Gos
"Pure Shores" by All Saints
Anything by Al Green (you gotta love the Reverend's smooth grooves)
Anything by the B-52s (super fun retro surf dance rock)
"Do Something" by Macy Gray
"Raspberry Beret" by Prince
Anything by Sublime
"California Love" by 2-Pac & Dr. Dre
Anything by the Beach Boys (the original surf rockers)
"Mickey" by Toni Basil (arguably the best 80s song ever, I used to hear this at the skating rink when I was in elementary school)
"Holiday" by Madonna (you didn't think I was going to make a music list and leave off Madonna, did you?)

I'm sure there's tons I've left out, but for those who are looking for something new and different to listen to during picnics, road trips, hikes, trips to the pool, etc., especially something to make this a summer to remember, this should get you started.

Feelin' the Vibe

Open Mike at Mojo's
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Last night, Caleb, Summer, Phil, Ryan, and I went to this coffee house in Ogden called Mojo's for a little open mike thing. It was a pretty cool place, despite the large populace of high school kids. Caleb and Ryan got up and played for a little while, which was great, until this random guy went up and started playing his drum with them. Weird.

Barefoot in the Park

Cold Feet
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Despite being off work today, I went to bed rather early last night, and slept awfully late today. I think sleep was the one thing I was lacking that was keeping me from getting better. And sleep I did. I woke up late this morning feeling much better than I've felt in a while. I laid around my pad the rest of the morning and decided I felt good enough to go for a run, and as I was getting ready to walk out the door, I got a call from Caleb asking if I would like to go to the park with him and Summer. That sounded just as active as running, and much more fun. So I stopped by Toys R Us and picked up a frisbee and went to Caleb's.

Mountains
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

We went to this park in Ogden that's right along the side of the mountain. Caleb used to play there with his brothers when he was younger. It was a gorgeous day and the park was wonderful. We tossed around the frisbee for a while, and then decided to hike on a few trails up in the woods. Caleb hadn't been there in years, but he knew exactly where to take us.

Caleb in the Drain
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

We hiked quite a ways and came upon a stream coming out of a big concrete storm drain. Caleb said he used to climb up in it when he was little, so, of course, he had to try it again. I didn't have the desire to try it, though.

Caleb in the Jalopy
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Then, as we hiked around a big hill, Caleb took us up to where this old car had been left. I can't even begin to imagine how this car had gotten to where it was, but it had obviously been there for a while. Caleb got inside and pretended to drive it, but I didn't want to touch it for fear of causing it to roll back down the hill.

Hangin' Tough
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

After we got back to the main area, we decided to swing for a while, which I hadn't done in years and it was ever so fun. Then we tossed around the frisbee some more and climbed a few trees.

Summer
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

It was a wonderful day. I'd forgotten how fun and relaxing it is to just spend a day at the park. I think next time we'll pack a lunch and stay a little longer.

'Til Tuesday

Tomorrow is a down day, making this a four-day weekend. I don't really have any big plans except to just relax because a) I spent way too much money in Vegas last weekend, and b) though I'm feeling a little better, I'm still a little sick, and I'm confident some rest will get me up to 100%. My only reservation is that the more I hang around my house, the more I eat, so I may gain a few pounds. But, hey, as long as I'm healthy by the time I have to go back to work, it will all be worth it, right?

Running on Bravado

Bloc Party
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

The show last night was pretty spectacular. My friend Phil went with me, and we arrived just as the first opening band was starting. They were called She Wants Revenge and played angry, mellow dance-rock. Kiss Me Deadly was the second opener and they were a little happier. Plus, they had a female singer who liked to punctuate her choruses with high pitched screams of glee.
It was 10 by the time Bloc Party came out, but it was totally worth the wait. As soon as they hit their first beat, the entire crown was jumping and screaming. Phil and I were toward the back, but somehow made our way toward the front in all the chaos. We had a super time jumping and dancing and shouting and stuff. It was probably a bad idea for my throat, and I'll probably have to endure my cold a little longer, but I don't care. The band sounded great as they made their way through the entire album and included a few B-sides to keep us on our toes.
Also, I decided to try something new at this show. I wore ear plugs. I've been going to lots of shows lately, and the last thing I want to do is end up deaf by the time I'm 40. So I swiped a pack of foamies from work. Since they have everything up so loud, the plugs didn't detract from the quality of the show at all. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep enjoying good live music long into my golden years.

Wheezy

I'm still sick. Yuck. Now, on top of coughing and snotting, I have this horrible wheezing in my chest. Colds are the worst because you feel so horrible, yet you're not sick enough to be put on quarters and stay home from work. Regardless, all the snot in the world couldn't keep me from the Bloc Party show tonight in SLC. They're a British band that plays great pop-y dance rock, plus they get political, which is cool. Anyway, I'll be sure to post the skinny on the show tomorrow, including, as always, pics from my cell phone.

Vega$, Baby!

Jimmy & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

I went down to Vegas this weekend and had a pretty kick-ass time. My brother, his fiancee, and all their friends had flown in for the weekend, plus, Jimmy drove up from Phoenix. Jimmy & I crashed with my friends Jim & Nicole in their very nice brand new house.
I'm not going to go into all the details, but let me just say there was lots of shopping and eating and drinking and general merriment. Highlights included touring the brand new Wynn casino, meeting Pete Rose, and, of course, tossing back a pint at the Crown & Anchor. The only bummer was that I'm in the middle of the worst cold of my life, so I've been coughing and sneezing and snotting all over the place. I'd probably be over it by now if I would have rested all weekend, but COME ON! I was in VEGAS!

Mel & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Atrium at the Wynn
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Parasol Down
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Me, Jimmy, & Pete Rose
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

A New American

Carlos
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Carlos Sandoval is a guy in my shop who was born in Nicaragua. He's lived in the States for 11 years, but it wasn't until today that he became a US Citizen. The ceremony was in Salt Lake City today, and I stopped in on my way to Vegas to catch it. There was 198 people from 53 different countries taking the oath. The whole thing only took about an hour. After they all took the oath, they passed around a microphone to a few people so they could say why they were so glad to be a US citizen. It was so touching and awe-inspiring to hear what some of these people went through. All I had to do was get born in Indiana. It makes me feel so humble and fortunate.

O Brother, At What Casino Art Thou?

My brother, his fiancee, and several of their friends are flying into Vegas for a pre-wedding bash this weekend. I'm driving down tomorrow and staying through Monday. I'm gonna crash with Jim and Nicole, which will be super fun. I also plan to hang out with some good friends from my Vegas days at The Crown and Anchor, my favourite bar in all the world, although Paddy's is a close second. I love Vegas! This weekend is gonna be a blast!

Finally Woken

I was kinda slacking off on Tripping Lucid for a while. I'm not sure why, but I think it was a combination of chronic oversleeping, bad morning routines, and just plain laziness. I started posting again a few days ago, so it seems the trend is back on again.
In related news, I was going through some of my Misawa boxes and found my old dream journal that I kept in Iraq last year. This journal was actually the inspiration for "Tripping Lucid" (you can read about the origin here). I'm going to start posting the entries, but since all those dreams were dreamt about a year ago, I'm going to just back date them. To view them, you'll have to check in the archives. There are about 25 entries spanning April and May of 2004, so it might take me a while to put everything on there. Please, be patient with my subconscious.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

When I was little, I used to watch "The Flintstones" after school sometimes. One specific episode I found particularly funny involved Fred and Barney winning some kind of drawing. The prize was a house boat. A problem arose when they couldn't decide on a name. Fred wanted to call it "The Nautical," and Barney wanted to call it "The Lady of the Sea." They decided to compromise with the first three letters of Fred's choice and the last three letters of Barney's choice. Yep, that's right. "NAU-SEA."
Now, I understand nausea isn't really something at which to laugh, especially when it's invoked by something as horrible as staff meetings. Staff meetings have to be the worst thing on the face of the planet. Few things make my stomach churn more than sitting in a too small conference room listening to a bunch of old men dawdle on and on about someone's work schedule or the availability of a certain computer. Gag!
Luckily, I found out today that my supervisor should be back next week, releasing me from this burden. It's been a wild and crazy ride, and I'm sure I'll look back on it with a slight grin. Very slight.

Sofa Slug

Sunday Afternoon
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Yeah, Sunday afternoons are great, aren't they?

Purged

Today, I got rid of a bunch of crap on my computer that, while I wouldn't exactly consider it pornography, did have the tendency to lead me to not-too-nice thoughts from time to time. When the pastor was talking about "Chocolat" last night, he kept mentioning the word "freedom." It's great to have the freedom to enjoy the finer things of this world, but it's even better to be free from the things that bind us.

High on Life

At Church last night, they were continuing their series on finding God in the movies. Last night's movie was Chocolat. I've seen the movie a few times and I really appreciate its criticism of oppressive orgainsed religion and denying ourselves the pleasures God gave us to enjoy in this life.
After Church, I drove to the Gateway Mall, which is a big open air mall in downtown SLC. It's the best mall around, but it still doesn't compare to anything in Vegas. I ended up spending a couple hours in Barnes & Noble and bought a few books.
Then came the barhopping, which was really just one bar. The whole "membership" thing wasn't as big a deal as I thought. It was basically just like paying a $5 cover charge. Regardless, I kinda wish I would have just come home instead. Nothing hurts a guy's ego more than snide looks from anyone you make eye contact with. I still managed to make it out to the dance floor for a while, which kinda made up for it. The floor was so packed that it didn't matter if you were there by yourself or with a group, so that was cool. I think the highlight of my evening was when one really hot girl offered me coke. When I told her I couldn't, she kinda left me alone. Damn the random drug testing!

Tying the Knot

Nate, Josh, Thaddeus, Sam, & Caleb
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

I went to Thaddeus and Ashley's wedding today. It was a little longer than most weddings I've been to, but it was a really beautiful ceremony. One of the coolest parts was when all five Wendt brothers got up and played guitar and sang. At the reception, I met tons of new people, and spent a good while playing with Nate's boy Jake.
Tonight, I'm planning on going back to The Rock Church down in Salt Lake. Afterward, I'm thinking about taking in a movie and maybe doing some barhopping. Part of Utah's drinking laws are that you have to be a "member" to go into any kind of drinking establishment. Needless to say, this is a big pain in the butt, so it's not like you can just go around from bar to bar. You have to make plans in advance. Ridiculous? Yes, but it's apparently doing its job.

Something's NOT fishy, here.

I stopped eating meat over two years ago, but I kept eating fish...until now. I've wanted to quit for a while, but the only thing preventing me was some tuna I had bought a long time ago that was staring at me every time I went into my pantry. I haven't ingested any fish for a few months, but I haven't really rid myself of it until this morning.
In my mailbox yesterday, the postman left some bags for donations for the local food bank. I figured that would a much better place to put my fish than in my belly.

Mama, don't take my kodachrome away

I've given up hope of finding my camera, so I decided to go ahead and buy this. Sure, I had to dip into my savings a little bit, but I just can't do without. Plus, Thaddeus's wedding is tomorrow, and my brother's wedding is next month, and who wants to go to a wedding camera-less?

New slang when you notice the stripes...

When I was at the Shins show Wednesday night, I couldn't help but feel old. It was at the U of U campus, and nearly everyone there was in their early 20s. They were all attractive and had on cool clothes. They were all having interesting conversations full of depth and inside jokes. They all seemed so self-aware.
When I was 20, I was so freaked out by life. I'd already spent two years in college, but I had no clue who I was or what I wanted to do with myself. I knew what I liked about other people, but I didn't have any real identity of my own. It seemed everything about me was something I'd heard from an acquaintance or a movie. I was made up of stolen bits and pieces.
It took years before I developed any real sense of self. Over time, I could see the creature God was and is molding me into. My sense of humour. My disposition. My loyalties. My depth, or lack thereof. My personality. My hurts. My loves.
Sometimes it's so easy to focus on what others possess and we don't. It's been said that youth is wasted on the young, but I don't think I'd ever want to go back 10 years and live through all that again. God has me right here and right now for a reason. Perhaps one day He'll make me into a distinguished 60-something aristocrat driving a convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway with my trophy wife to our beach house in Malibu. Then again, perhaps not.

I think I can...

Work continues to fatigue me. I've heard the resident physicians on the Today Show, ABC Nightly News, Oprah, etc. talk about good stress and bad stress. My stress right now is keeping me pretty motivated, so I guess that would fall into the "good" category. But it's bordering on the bad kind. You know, the kind where I'm about to get medieval on someone's ass if they don't shut up about an overdue work order while I'm simultaneously trying to write a BTZ package, track down a missing civilian, and compose slides for a staff meeting.
As I mentioned, I stayed at work until 7 PM yesterday. There was an emergency job regarding a water leak at the child development center (why don't they just call it day care?), and everyone was really freaking out over it. Normally, jobs like that don't bother me too bad, but it just seemed like everything was piling up yesterday. I'm seriously considering downing a fifth of Jack Daniels and driving through the south gate in order to get demoted to senior airman so I can enjoy the carefree days of fixing sinks and digging trenches once again.
Luckily, my bosses all sympathise with me. They understand my shop is drastically overworked and undermanned. They understand we'd be a lot closer to completing overdue jobs if we didn't have a stupid readiness day every Friday (and soon to be every Thursday, as well). They understand I have a couple "special" troops in my shop that don't quite have the work ethic required of them. They understand the entire shop was in total disarray and it just happened to be dropped in my lap.
Despite all this, I still find myself getting up in the morning and looking forward to each day. I guess I like the challenge or something. I'm not really happy with the military overall, but apparently something keeps me going. I pray it keeps me going until someone else can take over this mess.

Dios es bueno.

Abby is currently in Honduras for a couple weeks on a mission trip. Please keep her in your prayers.

Kissing the Lipless

The Shins
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Last night, I went to see The Shins by myself. Why did I go by myself? Because when I asked anyone else to go, they replied with either a) "I have to work," or b) "Who are The Shins?" And I'm sorry, but if you don't know who the Shins are, then I'm going to have to choose to be a music snob and un-invite you.
The venue was a ballroom at the U of U campus. And when I say "ballroom," I mean a big wooden dance floor and big curtains and big chandeliers. I've never seen a non-big-band concert in such a location, but it was pretty cool. The opening act was a New Zealand multi-gender sextet called The Brunettes. They all sang and played multiple instruments (including the clarinet, the harmonica, and the triangle). They played 60s-influenced alt-pop that was delightfully fun, especially the song they sang about Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, where they all donned masks resembling the famous twins.
The Shins came out and played a very impressive set spanning both of their equally impressive albums. For those of you not familiar with The Shins, remember in Garden State when Natalie Portman is listening to the headphones in the waiting room and she puts them on Zach Braff's head and says "It'll change your life, I swear"? THAT'S The Shins. For those of you who still haven't seen Garden State, The Shins play quaint, mellow, 60s-infused pop derivative of The Byrds or Donovan. Their chord progressions are always interesting and the singer can do some amazing stuff with his voice. Anyway, the concert was great and I had a super time, even by myself. I'd love to write more, but I didn't get off work until 7 tonight, and that's an entirely different post in itself. I'll write more this weekend. Late.

Freezes Over

I was getting ready to go to bed last night when my Dad called. He told me he and Mom were watching the national news and they saw that it was snowing in SLC and some of the ski resorts were going to open back up. I knew it was raining where I was, and just figured it was snowing up in the mountains. No big deal, right?
Well, I wake up this morning to find a blizzard going on outside. Everyone probably thinks I'm over-exagerrating, but I'm not. When I was driving home from PT, I couldn't see ten feet in front of my truck.
Come on, Utah! It's the middle of May! Live in the now!

TRULY Fair and Balanced

This is a great article by a pastor named Bill Barnwell. It's kinda long, but definitely worth the read.

"So, THIS is why some animals eat their young."

It's Mother's Day (did everyone remember to call their hot mommas?), and the Oxygen Network (my guiltiest of guilty pleasures) is having a Roseanne marathon. I'm working on putting links on my sidebar, but I keep getting distracted by that annoying yet catchy laugh of hers. The earlier ones are better than the later ones, but they're all pretty funny. I have my mac sitting on my lap, and it keeps jiggling around when I laugh. Yeah, I know that by admitting this, I have given up my right to a penis. Just put me out of my misery.

Chutes and Ladders

After the Killers show Monday night, Lana and I went to this cool coffee house downtown to get ourselves a little caffiene for the drive home. Next to the door, there was a big shelf full of independent newspapers and flyers. I picked up a little postcard for a Church in SLC called The Rock Church. So, I decided to go last night. I walked in and the first room had couches, a pool table, a coffee bar, and even a big rock wall to climb. I was by myself, so I just kinda walked around purposefully looking like I didn't know anyone in the hopes someone would introduce themselves to me and show me around. This guy named Paul came up to me, gave me the basics, and showed me to the sanctuary. When the service started, a band came out and played some praise and worship tunes REALLY LOUD. I really love P&W, so I was glad it went on for a long time. The message was part of a series about finding God in the movies. Last night's movie was "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." I'm not a big LOTR fan, but I really appreciated the spiritual truths brought out by the speaker. In the program, there was a big list of all kinds of ministry opportunities, including volunteer events and small group Bible studies. I'm hoping to find an intimate core group to really help me in my spiritual growth, which sounds like a cliche, but I'm kind of in a social drought right now, and I'm getting desperate for some good Christian companionship. I really miss the Hospitality House crew, and I think going to this Church is a step in the right direction to filling that void. Keep me in your prayers.

Clickety-Click

Since I've found out how to include links on this thing, I've gone a little link crazy. I've started with links to my friends' journals, then added other fun sites I frequent. I'm sure the list will get longer and longer. Gee, the internet sure is fun!

Nonsense

This morning, Lisa, Heidi, Sam, and I were down in Salt Lake City picking up tickets for a Steve Miller Band concert. Afterward, we were driving around looking for a place to eat, when we saw a guy pulled over to the side of the road with a flat tire. He was looking around kind of clueless, so we stopped to ask if he needed any help. He was in need of a jack and a tire iron, so Sam and I hunted through Heidi's trunk and found what we needed and started helping him change his tire. I should mention that the guy's pants were really, REALLY loose, and when he bent over to help, they went down below his butt and his underwear was all showing and stuff. I looked back at Heidi and Lisa, who were still sitting in the car, and they were laughing hysterically and making crude gestures, which made me start giggling. Just then the guy looked back and saw Heidi and Lisa. He looked at me, and I tried to muffle my laughter. There was this really long, awkward pause. Then, he started laughing, which put me at ease. When we got back in the car, we started talking about how lucky we were that the guy wasn't some kind of deranged serial killer. Otherwise, we'd all be in a dumpster right now. I guess that will teach us to make fun of others' fashion sense.

And there are Christians who wonder why they get labeled as "judgemental"

I'm sorry, but this is both hysterical and pathetic:
Dems Booted from N.C. Church

(Yes! I finally discovered how to post links! Go me!)

Lazy Bones

I had my Air Force PT test on Wednesday, and not only did I pass, but I scored two whole points better than last year. This is doubly impressive considering the elevation here is 4800 feet versus 120 feet in Misawa. So, anyway, as a reward, I decided to skip my afternoon run on Wednesday. And Thursday. I was counting on making up for it with squadron PT this morning, but due to a base recall, it didn't happen. I'm spending most of tomorrow down in SLC with Lana, Heidi, and Sam. Sunday is usually my off day, but I know the longer I slack off, the harder it's going to be to start back up. I'll tell you what, though. Sometimes it's nice to do nothing but lay on my couch and watch movies, especially when it's gloomy and rainy outside.

Missing Megapixels

Yeah, I'm a little upset. I've lost my camera. The last time I remember seeing it was the day I went snowboarding. After I got home, I uploaded all my pictures onto flickr, and I haven't seen it since. I've searched my entire house, my truck, the pockets of all my outerwear, Caleb's house, even at work. And due to a few recent major purchases (i.e. a new washer and dryer, new mac software, and impending plane tickets), I can't just go out and buy a new one. I've kinda started the custom of taking pictures at concerts with my phone, which is pretty fun. Regardless, I miss my wonderful, little, black, 4 megapixel digital camera. Oh, where, oh, where can it be?

...pushing down on me, pressing down on you

As I've mentioned probably a few too many times, I'm currently in charge of my shop, and it's not easy. I have to track job orders, record labour, input the weekly schedule, write up awards packages, and take care of any emergencies that come along. Plus, it's so high profile, I always have people breathing down my neck. And as stressful as all that is, the hardest part is keeping track of where everyone is. You'd be amazed at the ways some of these guys try to skip out of work. Believe me. I'm the king of skipping out of work, and I thought I'd tried everything. Thankfully, my supervisor will be back in only three more weeks, taking back all the responsibilities I've taken care of in his absence. I just hope I can last that long.

A Shimmy and a Shake

The Killers
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Lana & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Last night, Lana and I went to see The Killers. The venue was a concert hall on the University of Utah campus, which was kind of odd. It was all reserved seating, so we couldn't really stand by the stage. Regardless, our seats were on the floor so we really couldn't complain. The opening act was Tegan and Sara (See entries dated Sunday, January 16, 2005, and Sunday, March 13, 2005) so it was great to see them again. The Killers came out and performed a great sounding set, but the band didn't seem too energetic. Of course, after watching Scott Weiland strut around the stage last week, it would have been difficult for anyone to follow that up. Brandon Flowers spent most of his time behind his rhinestone studded keyboard. I think the most animated member was the drummer. Still, they sounded phenomenal and renewed my interest in their music, which had, as of late, become a little stale. I guess my only complaint, which seems to be a recurring problem in Utah, was the crowd. Did Joseph Smith declare dancing a sin or something? By the way, did I mention how gorgeous Lana is? Yeah, I'd just like mention that again.

Far more than rubies.

My Mom called today and told me Joyce Thompson died. Joyce was the wife of Dr. Steve Thompson, the pastor of the church I grew up in from 1980 to 1996. 16 years is a long time for a preacher to stay at a church, and they were both so beneficial to my spiritual growth. Joyce was the very picture of a perfect wife and mother. Sensitive. Kind. Funny. Compassionate. Humble. Hopeful. Faithful. Loving. A model Christian. Until we meet again in heaven, we celebrate your wonderful life, Joyce.

BodyRock

Moby
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

After working until 6 PM yesterday (that's 3 hours extra!), I decided to go ahead and make the trek down to Salt Lake City to catch Moby in concert. I kept putting off buying a ticket, but luckily there were still some available at the door. I saw Moby once in Vegas in April of 2000, and he put on a spectacular show, so I didn't want to miss it this time.
The opening act was a one-man-band called Buck 65, who was quite interesting (in a good way). He sang a song about what life would be like as a centaur, which made me laugh.
When Moby came out, he was accompanied by a drummer, a guitarist, a bassist, and a keyboardist. He played songs spanning all his albums, which was good because he put out some great stuff back in the early/mid 90s. Some of it was mellow, some uptempo, and some of it was downright rockin'. I was very impressed with the entire performance. My only complaint was the audience. When I see a show, especially one as dance oriented as Moby, I like to dance around a bit. I'm not saying everyone had to be all wavin' their hands up in the air and jumping and stuff, but at least feel the groove. Know what I'm sayin'? I didn't care, though. I just bobbed my head and bounced to the beat and made my own fun.
After the show, as I was walking out, there were several booths set up with tons of information about animal cruelty and being a vegan, so I picked up a few flyers. I also had a nice conversation with a very attractive girl named Autumn. I think I may attend some veggie cooking classes next month in the hopes of seeing her again.

Blurry

I had an appointment with the eye doctor last week, and asked if I was a good candidate for laser surgery. The doctor said it shouldn't be any problem, and handed me a couple forms to fill out. One had to be signed by my commander; however, my commander was deployed so our acting commander, Captain Lehn, signed it because she has what is called "g-series orders" authorizing her to do so. I asked the secretary if I needed a copy of the g-series orders attached, and she said it shouldn't be a problem. When I took the forms back to the eye doctor yesterday, they told me the Captain should have attached a copy of her g-series orders, proving her authorization to sign my form. So, I go back to the secretary asking for a copy of the orders, but she tells me my actual Commander, Lt Col Kramer, is back and the g-series orders have expired, and I'll have to fill out a new form and get the real Commander to sign it. Back to square one. Isn't red tape the best thing in the world?

Spectacle

Velvet Revolver
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Yesterday morning, I was in my shop when I got an e-mail from our First Sergeant regarding free tickets to the Velvet Revolver concert last night. I wouldn't consider myself a big VR fan, but I love live music and you can't really argue with free tickets. So, I went and picked up a couple, figuring I could surely find someone to go with me. And boy, did I! There's this girl named Lana, who is the roommate of Heidi, that I've been kind of infatuated with for a while. She's tall and thin and absolutely gorgeous, and even though we haven't really hung out too much, I decided going to this show together would be a great way to get acquainted. I asked. She accepted. Woo-hoo!
So, I drove up to Ogden and picked up Lana, and we drove down to SLC for the show. The ride down was fun and filled with good conversation. We got to the show and Hoobastank, the opening band, had just started. I really don't like Hoobastank too much, most because of that damn "The Reason" song, but they didn't sound too bad. The set change seemed to take forever, so the conversation between acts wasn't as great as the ride down. Then, Velvet Revolver came out. For those of you who don't know, VR is made up of Guns N' Roses minus Axl Rose plus Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots. Their set was amazing. Scott Weiland is a brilliant showman. They also played a couple STP and GNR songs, which sounded great, and the light show was stunning. I was very impressed by their performance.
The show ended at 11:30, and by the time the parking lot cleared out, I had Lana back home at 12:30. We were both so tired that conversation was at a minimum. After that, I was driving home and saw Sam and we decided to go to Denny's for a very early breakfast. So, by the time I got home, it was 2 AM. I only got a couple hours of sleep last night, but it was totally worth it. I could barely keep my eyes open at work today, and now that I'm home, it probably won't be too long before I'm unconscious.

Be sure your seats and tray tables are in their full upright and locked position.

I found out in February that my brother is getting married on June 18th, so I started looking for plane tickets right away. I normally check prices at Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, and occassionally the airline sites, too. Back in February, I found flights from Salt Lake City to Evansville, Indiana (about 20 minutes from my parents' house) for $210. Why didn't I buy tickets then? Because I'm an idiot. That's why. Prices began a steady rise until they peaked at $452 about a month ago, and that's where they stayed. Until Thursday morning. Thursday morning, I was going about my normal pre-work routine of eating oatmeal and checking my e-mail when, on a whim, I decided to check plane ticket prices. I punched in my destination and desired dates into Orbitz and the price came up $250. That's two hundred fifty dollars. $202 less than the day before. The problem this time was that I was running a little late for work, so I figured I'd just wait until I got home and purchase them then. All day Thursday I was in a jovial mood because I knew I was going to be spending $202 less than I previously thought on my plane tickets home. However, when I got home and logged on to Orbitz, I was devestated to find the price once again went up to $452. Why, oh, why? I don't understand. Now, I will continue to obsessively check all the sites on a daily basis until a) the price goes below $300, or b) it's the day before the wedding and I'm forced to pay a small fortune. Damn airlines.

Any-hoo...

So much has been going on with exercises and snowboarding and whatnot, that I haven't really had a chance to sit down and write about other miscellaneous goings on in the life of Currt-Dawg. I apologise if this post seems spasmodic, but that's how I'm feeling today.
The deal with Mikey:
He's back in Michigan and he was home for a while, but I called earlier tonight and spoke to his mother who told me he's back in the hospital for a few minor surgeries. They just want to make sure everything is going well and nip a few things in the bud. In the future, he'll be going in periodically for skin grafts and stuff, so he's got a long recovery ahead of him. His mother says he's in pretty good spirits considering everything he's been through. She thanks everyone for their prayers.
Work:
My supervisor is TDY for six weeks, which makes me the boss. And not just the boss of all the plumbers in my shop, but all the electricians and carpenters, too. I've been learning a bunch of new administrative stuff this week. They do things really strange here at Hill, but I'm doing my best to just go with the flow. I'm just hoping my stress level doesn't get too out of hand.
Family:
My parents are the coolest. My brother's wedding is in June, and I'm so looking forward to spending time at home. It will be the first time I've been home in two years. When I talk to my Mom, she tells me all the stuff going on in preparation for the wedding, which will be in my parents' back yard. My brother is a no-frills kind of guy, so the wedding is going to have a very informal tropical theme and everyone is supposed to wear Hawaiian shirts and shorts. It's gonna be great.
Life in Utah:
The weather here is more erratic than I've ever seen anywhere, but I kinda like it. It never gets boring. I really like the city of Ogden. They have a wonderful downtown area with tons of neat shops and restaurants. My friend Heidi works at this little delicatessen called Zenger's with the best sandwiches I've ever had. I enjoy hanging out with Caleb and his brothers a lot, but sometimes I don't really feel like I'm totally in there. I guess it will just come with time. I've been having really great work outs lately. I've been running faster and longer than I have in a long time. It took me a while to get over the high altitude here, but now I'm feeling really good.
God:
It seems I'm finding new stuff out about God nearly every day. I think everyone goes through a phase where they think they know how things work, which is where I was for the past few months. It wasn't really pride. I think I was just getting to comfortable in my faith. Now I'm seeing how God likes to put surprises in our lives, not really to throw us off or to keep us on our toes, but just to show us how great life really is and to show Himself to us.
Conclusion:
Life is good. I love you all.

Intercession

I found out last night my friend Mikey was in Cairo, Egypt a couple weeks ago when a bomb went off, injuring him and two of his friends, and killing another friend. After staying in various hospitals in Egypt and Germany, Mikey made it safely home to Michigan Sunday night. I'm so thankful he's still alive, and I ask everyone to keep him, his two friends, and especially the family of the young man who died in your prayers.

Vertigo

When I was boarding yesterday, I was going pretty fast over one particular ridge. I couldn't see the other side, so I knew it was going to be steep, but I had no idea just how steep. The ground went out from beneath me, and I was basically in a free fall for a few seconds. I got that funny, tickly feeling in my stomach. I stopped breathing. And for a moment, it was almost as if I wasn't moving at all.
This morning, during worship, we were singing a song called "The Wonderful Cross" which includes a line that goes, "The wonderful Cross bids me come and die and find that I may truly live." As we were singing, I closed my eyes and just concentrated on the Cross and its place in my life. Have I died? Am I truly living? I literally felt the Spirit of God come down and embrace me. And for a moment, it was almost as if I wasn't moving at all.

I'll be carving down the mountain when I carve.

Snowbasin 1
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

After weeks and weeks of snowboarding intentions, I finally went today, and it was spectacular. I went to a place called Snowbasin, which is where part of the Olympics were held in 2002. It was so warm, I had to make a trip back to my truck to shed a couple layers of clothing, and a bluer sky I have never seen. Yeah, it was a little slushy in places and icy in others, but that's to be expected in the middle of April. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get there, so I left at 8 AM this morning, an hour before the lifts opened. I arrived at the lodge at 8:35. (Gone are the days of driving two hours and paying $60 in tolls to go boarding!) Also, I was a little worried about going by myself. Being unfamiliar with the terrain, I could have ended up miles from civilization; but everything was clearly marked, so I didn't have to worry about that. The lifts here seemed to run much quicker than in Japan, and everyone I met while riding the gondola was very nice. I wish I could have stayed longer, but since I haven't been in a couple months, I was out of practice and completely exhausted by 2:30. Most of the resorts around here are already closed, and the remainder close tomorrow. There is, however, one place south of here that stays open until May. I might have to trek down there next weekend. So anyway, here are a few photographs of the breathtaking scenery I saw today. I took several more, but I used up all my space on flickr. If you'd like to see more, let me know, and I'll e-mail them to you. Regardless, these should give you a general impression of the beauty of Utah.

Snowbasin 2
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Snowbasin 3
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Snowbasin 4
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Snowbasin 5
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Snowbasin 6
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Stick Figure

Maybe exercises aren't so bad after all. I lost six pounds since Monday. I guess I'm on my way to that Calvin Klein modeling career I've always dreamed of.

Battle Rattle

Whew! Am I glad that's over! I just spent the past three nights (plus a few hours tonight) at the Base Operations Readiness Training Area, or BORTA, for a base exercise. I guess it was pretty typical as far as exercises go, which is basically saying it's RETARDO! The whole point is to get us ready for real world deployments, but I've never been through an exercise that even comes close to mimicking what goes on in the desert. In the magical exercise world, we get these wonderful warnings before we get mortared. If only we could be so lucky in the desert.
I was working 12 hour nights, which, after signing in and signing out, somehow became a 15 hour shift. We went in tonight for a couple hours before the exercise ENDEXed, then stuck around for a couple more hours to start tearing down the camp. Unfortunately, we have to go in to work tomorrow, as well. A lot of people were really upset about it, but it doesn't bother me too bad. I figure it will just help me get back on a normal sleeping schedule. Regardless, I know I'm going to be up most of the night. I'm getting ready to go to the gym and try to run off some energy. Then I might have myself a beer or something, in the hopes it will mellow me out. If I'm lucky, I'll be asleep by 3 or 4. I'm just going to try to keep myself occupied all day tomorrow, so I'll be way tired tomorrow night. I'm also going to make another attempt to go boarding on Saturday, which will definitely keep me awake all day and put me to sleep that night.
Anyway, I'm gonna go run now. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

Intentional Insomnia

For the second phase of the exercise, which takes place this week, I will be working from 6 PM to 6 AM. I don't like working nights, and I'm not very good at switching sleep schedules. I've spent all weekend trying to stay up all night, and sleep during the day. I made it until 4 AM Saturday morning, and until 6:30 AM this morning. Last night, I drank a Red Bull to keep myself awake. I'd never had one before, and it tasted nasty, but it definitely did the job. Right now, it's a little after 9 PM, and I'm totally struggling to keep my eyes open. Maybe I'll go see a late movie or something. I guess the key is staying busy.

I'm not bitter, but the beer is.

Utah's Worst
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

I went over to the Wendt home tonight, and I usually take a six pack as kind of a hospitality gift. I've always believed variety is the spice of life, so I try to take something different each time. This time, as I was browsing at the shoppette, I came across something called "Polygamy Porter" which is actually brewed right here in Utah. It made me laugh pretty hard, you know, with the whole stereotypical Mormon trait being worked into something that is very anti-Mormon. So I bought a sixer. I'm going to pass on some advice to everyone: if you ever come across this beer, avoid it. Sure, it was humorous and worth trying, but definitely not worth a second shot. I wonder what else is out there. Inherited Planet Pale Ale? Temple Tequila? Cult Cognac? Or maybe Sacred Underwear Sambuca?

A Little Deeper, P.S. -or- We don't need no hateration.

You know, I was going to leave well enough alone, but apparently that wasn't good enough for a few people. In particular, people who like to write hate mail. And I mean, A LOT OF HATE MAIL. Here are a few things I heard:
"You're a shallow, weak coward."
"I can't believe you really think you love Jesus."
"You can't be liberal AND Christian."
"Why do you feel the need to express these ridiculous views?"
"Your opinions are in danger of leading true Christians astray."
Golly gee! I sure never meant any harm to all the true Christians out there in Internet-Land. However, I'm sure I've made it clear that everything expressed here at "the wax" is all my opinion. There are thousands of ways to interpret the Word of God. Never once did I say my interpretation was the right one or the best one or the only one.
But to answer the questions of all my little fans, I'll tell you why I felt the need to express my views. The main verse I'll reference is 2 Timothy 1:7. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline." I don't feel the need to validate or explain my faith, but I don't hesitate to share it. I think God appreciates it when we have the balls to express all the facets of who we are, especially when it's an aspect of our faith. I think God wants us to delve into why we believe what we do. I think God wants us to question authority and not just blindly accept what's laid before us.
By the way, I would like to thank all the supporting comments and e-mails I got. Actually, there were a lot more positive ones than negative ones, but like all things, the negative ones always seem hit the hardest. I also want to thank those that opted to "agree to disagree." There are as many opinions in this world as there are people. A couple great passages to look up are Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. There's enough bitching in the world already, and I'm not trying to cause any dissent. But as Christians, we need to be more concerned with spreading Christ's love and less concerned with arguing about stupid crap like who can marry whom. If you're just going to read "the wax" with the intention of getting all excited and trying to upset me, then I ask that you please refrain. I author this weblog to let my friends and family read about what's going on in my life and how I'm growing as a person and as a Christian. I can say one thing for sure: it's been one helluva ride. Much love to all.

Stiff Upper Lip

I found out this morning that my TDY to Texas has been cancelled. So disappointed. No road trip. No vacation from my squadron. No seeing my friend Jay and celebrating his birthday by skydiving.
The good news is that I got over it pretty quickly. I think it's because the weather was so nice today. There are few things that 68 degrees with sun and a nice warm breeze can't cure.

40 Winks

I was working with Randy, the civilian plumber, today, and one of our jobs was to change out a faucet. While we were working, I was laying beneath the sink hooking up the supply lines, and Randy was up top, working on the handles. Randy asked if I could hold on to the assembly underneath while he screwed on the escutcheons. Well, this kinda took a while, and it was right after lunch, and I was a little fatigued, and...um...yeah, I kinda fell asleep...for TWENTY MINUTES! I didn't realise anything had happened until I woke up and came out from beneath the sink and Randy was gone. I went outside to find the truck was gone, too. A few minutes later, Randy came back and acted like nothing was wrong, so I just played along. My guess is that Randy told me he was running back to the shop to get another tool and just assumed I heard him and was still working on the supply lines. All I know is I'm not going to say anything unless he says something first.

Shibboleth

"Bat-shit crazy."

Yeah, that's my new favourite phrase. Cracks me up every time.

Open House

Zach, Heidi, Sam, Summer, & Caleb
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Last night, I had my official house warming party. Nothing spectacular, but we all had a pretty good time just socialising and drinking a few beers and playing the Bop-It. Man, I'd forgotten how addictive that little thing is.

Sarah, Josh, & Kevin
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Phil & the Bop-It
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Simple Pleasures

A list of a few little things I enjoy:

* Listening to an album I used to be addicted to, but haven't heard in a long time.
* Using a new toothbrush for the first time.
* Oatmeal Raisin Crisp cereal with vanilla soy milk.
* "What I Like About You" by the Romantics. This is the best song to play really loud and sing along with and dance around to while driving down the road with the windows down. I don't care who stares at me.
* The perfume worn by the girl who works in CE customer service. I don't know what it is, but it totally reminds me of my senior year of college, for some reason.
* The Oxygen Network. Please, don't laugh. They show this hysterical British comedy called "Absolutely Fabulous," and it is.
* Mozart's Clarinet Concerto.
* Sharing daily PT routines with Abby via e-mail.
* The feature on my iPod that allows me to shuffle all the songs in any given genre.
* This way soft, extremely warm green hoodie I borrowed from Caleb. I already gave it back, but I just might have to "borrow" it again.
* The crackly sound the vacuum cleaner makes when you run over a pebble.
* Making mix CDs for my pals.
* The term "feel" as a euphemism for "understand" (i.e. "I feel ya!").
* When it's been bitter cold and rainy for two weeks, and you go outside one morning and it's sunny and warm and you can smell Spring in the air.

I give you my permission to use this as part of your April Fool's Day shtick.

Did you hear about that poor kid who was born without eyelids? Apparently, what they did was when they circumsised him, they used his foreskin to make new eyelids. The doctors said he'll be fine, but he may be a little cockeyed.

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.

Almost Newlyweds

Mel & Andy
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

My friend Melissa and her fiance' Andy drove through today on their way from Vegas to Montana. The reason they're headed to Montana is to get married, and Mel is from Missoula. They wanted to get there tonight, so we only got to have lunch, but it was a super time. I'd never met Andy before, so it was great to finally meet him. They're coming back through town on Tuesday, but I'll be in the middle of an exercise next week, so the chances of me getting to see them are slim. Anyway, I just want to wish them all the best. Congratulations you two!