Dad made it into town at about 10:30 Friday night. With him was his buddy Eli. Another guy, Mike, started out with them, but only made it as far as Cheyenne. Anyway, we grabbed some food at Denny's and then hit the sack.
Saturday morning, we had breakfast, and then I took Dad and Eli to the Hill Aerospace Museum, which is totally up Dad's alley. We walked around for several hours and saw tons of planes, including an F-4, which is the kind of plane my Dad primarily worked on when he was in the Air Force back in the 60s.
After that, we went down to Salt Lake because they wanted to visit the BMW Motorcycle dealership. I also gave them a drive-by tour of Temple Square.
After that, we went back up to Ogden for a late lunch, and then hiked Waterfall Canyon. It was a beautiful hike and we had a great time. By the way, one of the most embarrasing things ever is when you're Dad's friend asks you about your sex life...in front of your Dad. Thanks, Eli!
After all that, we were pretty tired, so we headed back to the hotel and waited for Don and his son, Mark, to show up. They did the same ride as Dad and Eli, but they had to start a day later because of work.
This morning, we got up and had breakfast and then they all packed up their bikes. Dad and Eli are headed back to Kentucky, but Don and Mark are on their way to Oregon for business.
The added bonus is that my Mom made some cookies for me and sent them with Dad. Now, I know I'm probably going to get a lot of debate by saying this, but my Mom bakes the best cookies EVER. Don't argue with me. I know it's true, so just SHUT IT!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Easy Rider
My Dad is coming into town tonight. He and four of his buddies are riding their motorcycles all the way from Kentucky to Utah IN ONE DAY! They're all members of this club called the Iron Butt Association. For this particular run, they're riding 1500 miles in a 24-hour period. They've also done a ride from coast to coast (Jacksonville, FL to San Diego, CA) in 50 hours (Dad did it in 47h 11m!). Needless to say, Dad sure likes riding his bike. They left at midnight last night, and they should be here around 10 PM tonight. I'm excited to see him, but I'm sure he's gonna want to sleep for a while. Oh, and they're leaving Sunday night to do the same thing on the way back home. Crazy old men.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Right In Time
Lucinda Williams plays country music, but not that cheesy Shania-Garthy country. More like rootsy alt-country. Her music is rare, bare, and real. Her lyrics are raw and intimate, sometimes painful, and always authentic. She's such a perfectionist that she sometimes spends six years working on an album, but regardless, each one sounds effortless.
Lucinda played Kingsbury Hall last night, and the show was sensational. She played for nearly three hours and included plenty of ballads and new material. She was tender and emotional without being sappy, and her voice was perfectly imperfect, if that's possible. The crowd was older and included almost as many lesbians as the Tori Amos show, but you could tell how much everyone appreciated her set. Plus, I like to think she sang the song "Over Time" just for me.
So, even if you aren't a fan of country music (I'm not, either), go out and pick up one of her albums. You'll be glad you did.
Lucinda played Kingsbury Hall last night, and the show was sensational. She played for nearly three hours and included plenty of ballads and new material. She was tender and emotional without being sappy, and her voice was perfectly imperfect, if that's possible. The crowd was older and included almost as many lesbians as the Tori Amos show, but you could tell how much everyone appreciated her set. Plus, I like to think she sang the song "Over Time" just for me.
So, even if you aren't a fan of country music (I'm not, either), go out and pick up one of her albums. You'll be glad you did.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Flatmate Farewell
Before Ryan came to Utah, he was already contacting people to ask if he could deploy as soon as possible. After his arrival, he was told that he wouldn't be going on this rotation, so he decided to take some leave. He drove separately to Vegas last weekend, and while Caleb and I came back to Utah, Ryan headed east. His intention was to drive from Arizona to Texas to Colorado to visit various friends and family. Well, no such luck. One of the guys scheduled to deploy was injured, so they called Ryan back off leave. He got back Sunday night, and he leaves tomorrow to spend four months in our old stomping grounds of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. If you have to go to the desert, then Qatar is the place to go. It's really been built up since we were there over two years ago. It's practically a resort (dorms, Olympic size swimming pool, stadium seating movie theatre, Subway, Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, etc.). Plus, it's about the safest place to be over there. Regardless, please keep him in your prayers.
As for me, I guess it's back to riding to work by myself and walking around the place naked.
As for me, I guess it's back to riding to work by myself and walking around the place naked.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Words to Sell
Interpol has been one of my favourite bands for a couple years now, and last night was their show at Kingsbury Hall on the Universtity of Utah campus down in SLC. I've been anticipating this show for a while now, and it was definitely one of the highlights of all the shows I've seen since I've lived in Utah. Interpol's post-punk tunes are dark, yet somehow uplifting. Paul, the lead vocalist, has a range similar to mine, so I have no problem singing along in my truck. Plus, they all wear suits, and it definitely helps to be well dressed.
The opening band was called The Double. They were kind of experimental new rock, and they used lots of distortion, a moog synthesizer, and even an autoharp. Different, but good.
As for Interpol's set, I just stood there in awe for 90 minutes. It was that good. It was basically like putting both of their albums in the CD player and hitting 'shuffle,' though the first half concentrated on their second album. The crowd was full of little urban-hipster college students, and they were all as dazed as I was. The band presented such a dark, wonderful realm to present their music, and I was happy to be in attendance.
The opening band was called The Double. They were kind of experimental new rock, and they used lots of distortion, a moog synthesizer, and even an autoharp. Different, but good.
As for Interpol's set, I just stood there in awe for 90 minutes. It was that good. It was basically like putting both of their albums in the CD player and hitting 'shuffle,' though the first half concentrated on their second album. The crowd was full of little urban-hipster college students, and they were all as dazed as I was. The band presented such a dark, wonderful realm to present their music, and I was happy to be in attendance.
Monday, September 12, 2005
At Last
It's been mostly overcast all weekend, and it rained all morning. But a few minutes ago, the clouds parted to reveal...
SNOW
on the mountains!
Ah, this is such a good sign.
SNOW
on the mountains!
Ah, this is such a good sign.
Knotty
Saturday night, there wasn't too much going on, so people came over here and we had pizza and beer and chatted for a while. Then we decided to play Twister, which was more fun than I remember it usually being.
Yes, this is actually a picture of Caleb biting my ass.
After Twister, we sat around and chatted for a while. Whenever the Wendt brother drink together, they usually start telling stories from their adventurous childhood. They started to demonstrate some kind of secret handshake, which ended up becoming a three way thumb wrestling match.
Sometimes, just having friends over and chilling out can be more fun than going out bar-hopping.
Yes, this is actually a picture of Caleb biting my ass.
After Twister, we sat around and chatted for a while. Whenever the Wendt brother drink together, they usually start telling stories from their adventurous childhood. They started to demonstrate some kind of secret handshake, which ended up becoming a three way thumb wrestling match.
Sometimes, just having friends over and chilling out can be more fun than going out bar-hopping.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Sanguine
Sometimes I wonder how long it will be before the whole September 11th thing loses its sting. I don't live in New York, nor did I know anyone who died in the attacks, but I still think about those nightmarish visions from that day. I can't imagine what it must feel like to have lost a mother or brother or best friend.
Though the circumstances surrounding the two are totally different, I wonder if the next generation will feel about 9/11 the way my generation feels about Pearl Harbour. It was a horrible loss of life, and even though I've seen footage and pictures from that day, it still doesn't have the same impact as a picture of the Pentagon with a big hole in the side. I'm curious what my grandparents, who have lived through both tragedies, think about it. Several people compare the two, but I've talked with Japanese people who are offended by that comparison. I guess I can see why.
Anyway, I guess my whole position is just to keep looking hopefully at the future, while not forgetting the past. History doesn't repeat itself, but we can learn from our mistakes. There's just too much suffering going on to not have any hope. Things may get worse before they get better. But they will get better.
Though the circumstances surrounding the two are totally different, I wonder if the next generation will feel about 9/11 the way my generation feels about Pearl Harbour. It was a horrible loss of life, and even though I've seen footage and pictures from that day, it still doesn't have the same impact as a picture of the Pentagon with a big hole in the side. I'm curious what my grandparents, who have lived through both tragedies, think about it. Several people compare the two, but I've talked with Japanese people who are offended by that comparison. I guess I can see why.
Anyway, I guess my whole position is just to keep looking hopefully at the future, while not forgetting the past. History doesn't repeat itself, but we can learn from our mistakes. There's just too much suffering going on to not have any hope. Things may get worse before they get better. But they will get better.
When it rains, it pours.
I had another good first date today. Well, it wasn't really a date. Just afternoon coffee. Very casual, but the conversation was great. I love that feeling of just getting to know someone. So new and different and exciting. If you've ever heard the song "New" by No Doubt, that's how I'm feeling right now. I'm probably getting all excited over nothing, but it's just nice to have such nice conversation with someone on the same level. There will definitely be a second date.
In other news, it turned cold today. Not bitter cold, but it dropped several degrees. We had some rain last night, and I think that's what did it. It's about 58 degrees now, and tonights lows are supposed to drop into the 30s. I like it. I mean, I love the summer and all, but I think anytime a new season is starting to arrive, it's always a welcome change. There really isn't a season I don't like. They're all special in their own way, and they all have the tendency to spark up great memories.
In other news, it turned cold today. Not bitter cold, but it dropped several degrees. We had some rain last night, and I think that's what did it. It's about 58 degrees now, and tonights lows are supposed to drop into the 30s. I like it. I mean, I love the summer and all, but I think anytime a new season is starting to arrive, it's always a welcome change. There really isn't a season I don't like. They're all special in their own way, and they all have the tendency to spark up great memories.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
So you want to be entertained?
"The Woods"
by
Sleater-Kinney
I've been a pretty big Sleater-Kinney fan since 1997. I had read a lot about their album "Dig Me Out," and decided to buy it. I listened to it on repeat for pretty much my entire first drive from Kentucky to Vegas. Since then, I've purchased all seven of their albums and loved every one.
Their latest was released in May, and it represents a big departure for the trio. Previously, they rocked out riot-grrrl style with politically charged punk anthems. With this record, they're on a new label with a new producer, and it seems like they've been listening to a lot of old Zeppelin. You'd think going from punk to classic rock would be awkward, but Carrie, Corin, and Janet handle it with ease. So well, in fact, that it makes their previous albums sound dated. Every track is spectacular, though highlights include the rambunctious "What's Mine Is Yours" and "Rollercoaster." "The Woods" isn't an easy listen, but it's a rewarding one.
by
Sleater-Kinney
I've been a pretty big Sleater-Kinney fan since 1997. I had read a lot about their album "Dig Me Out," and decided to buy it. I listened to it on repeat for pretty much my entire first drive from Kentucky to Vegas. Since then, I've purchased all seven of their albums and loved every one.
Their latest was released in May, and it represents a big departure for the trio. Previously, they rocked out riot-grrrl style with politically charged punk anthems. With this record, they're on a new label with a new producer, and it seems like they've been listening to a lot of old Zeppelin. You'd think going from punk to classic rock would be awkward, but Carrie, Corin, and Janet handle it with ease. So well, in fact, that it makes their previous albums sound dated. Every track is spectacular, though highlights include the rambunctious "What's Mine Is Yours" and "Rollercoaster." "The Woods" isn't an easy listen, but it's a rewarding one.
The Camera Story
A couple weeks ago, I went to my first party with co-workers at the home of Brian, a guy in my shop, and, as usual, I took along my camera. I drank a little too much, and when I woke up the next morning (Don't worry. I didn't drive.), I realised I left my camera at the party. Brian has searched his entire house and can't find it anywhere. This is frustrating for two reasons: 1) I took some great pictures that night, and 2) this is the second camera I've lost this year.
I was hoping it would turn up before the Vegas trip, but unforunately, it didn't. There was no way I was going to spend a long weekend in Vegas without visual proof of all the fun we had, so, on the way down there, we stopped so I could buy a new one. I went with the Canon SD400, and I'm pretty happy with it. My original camera was a Canon. The second was a Nikon, and I have to say, I liked the Canon much better. Just personal preference. Ryan and Caleb kept making fun of me and wondering how long it will be before this one is gone. We'll see, fellas. We'll see.
I was hoping it would turn up before the Vegas trip, but unforunately, it didn't. There was no way I was going to spend a long weekend in Vegas without visual proof of all the fun we had, so, on the way down there, we stopped so I could buy a new one. I went with the Canon SD400, and I'm pretty happy with it. My original camera was a Canon. The second was a Nikon, and I have to say, I liked the Canon much better. Just personal preference. Ryan and Caleb kept making fun of me and wondering how long it will be before this one is gone. We'll see, fellas. We'll see.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Stretch Armstrong
After months and months of putting it off, I finally started going to yoga again a couple weeks ago. I think the main reason I hadn't gone is because I didn't know anybody there. Luckily, Stephanie, a girl in my squadron who happens to be on RST with me, mentioned she goes, so I asked if I could join her. I guess every yoga instructor has his or her own teaching style, so it took me a while to get used to the instructor here, but I still really enjoy it. I was a little sore after the first couple of sessions, but now I'm getting back to my old flexible self.
Old Ink / New Ink
This is WAY overdue, but here's a picture of my new tat. (You can read the original post here.) The heart with my fraternity letters was the first tattoo I ever got back in May of '93. I didn't realise how much it had faded until I got the new one. When Ryan goes to get his finished, I'm gonna get mine touched up so it won't look so weird.
Strange Little Girl
Tuesday night was the Tori Amos show. I've always heard she put on a good show, but what I saw was so much more than just "good." It was brilliant.
The Ditty Bops opened up, and they were pretty cool, too. I'd seen them before when they opened for Tegan and Sara (seen here). They seem to be having so much fun when they perform.
So Tori came out, and the only thing on the stage, besides her, was her piano and three organs. No band at all. She launched into her set, and I was absolutely awestruck. She moved back and forth between the piano and the organs, sometimes playing two at the same time. She caressed those keys so effortlessly and belted out those tunes with such power. In the middle of her set, she had a feature she called "Tori's Piano Bar." This consisted of playing a few covers suggested on her website, which changed with each performance. For us, she played a wonderful version of Bjork's "Hyperballad," which is one of my favourite Bjork songs. The second was a Tom Waits tune called "Time" which was gorgeous. I'd never seen a show that was so raw and so resonant at the same time. Her stage presence was undeniable, and she even had a funny story about how her daughter told her she should quit touring and get a job at the Safeway. She came back out for two encores, and seemed so grateful to be performing the whole time. If you ever get a chance to see Tori, go.
The Ditty Bops opened up, and they were pretty cool, too. I'd seen them before when they opened for Tegan and Sara (seen here). They seem to be having so much fun when they perform.
So Tori came out, and the only thing on the stage, besides her, was her piano and three organs. No band at all. She launched into her set, and I was absolutely awestruck. She moved back and forth between the piano and the organs, sometimes playing two at the same time. She caressed those keys so effortlessly and belted out those tunes with such power. In the middle of her set, she had a feature she called "Tori's Piano Bar." This consisted of playing a few covers suggested on her website, which changed with each performance. For us, she played a wonderful version of Bjork's "Hyperballad," which is one of my favourite Bjork songs. The second was a Tom Waits tune called "Time" which was gorgeous. I'd never seen a show that was so raw and so resonant at the same time. Her stage presence was undeniable, and she even had a funny story about how her daughter told her she should quit touring and get a job at the Safeway. She came back out for two encores, and seemed so grateful to be performing the whole time. If you ever get a chance to see Tori, go.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
No more tips on getting wrinkles out of your hot pants.
I know this is a pain in the butt, but I'm going to have to turn on the little comment verification thingy to keep all the comment spam from showing up and annoying everyone. Some of them are pretty humorous, but I think if it goes on long enough, it's going to get way out of control. Don't worry, though. You can still post anonymously, because I believe in free speech for people with actual heartbeats, but be warned: I don't look too kindly upon them.
This isn't exactly going to stay in Vegas.
At long last, here's the whole Vegas adventure. After a longer-than-usual drive, we arrived at our hotel around 8-ish. We didn't want to waste any time, so we cleaned up a little bit and headed down to the Crown & Anchor (which I'm sure you've heard me mention before) to toss back a few pints.
The next day, we slept in, then picked up Melissa and her new baby, Damien. We all had a late lunch at this great Mexican restaurant, then shopped the rest of the afternoon.
You know the shopping in Vegas is great when the malls look like this:
After shopping for several hours, we decided to hit up the Cheesecake Factory. We didn't really want dinner. Just cheesecake. I opted for the lemon raspberry cream cheesecake. Yeah, it's every bit as good as it sounds.
The original intention was to go back to the hotel for a little nap and then hit up some clubs Saturday night. I don't think Ryan and Caleb realised just how tired shopping can make you, and we ended up sleeping all night. This is a shot out the window of our hotel room on the 30th floor.
We woke up Sunday morning and went down to the pool for a few hours. So nice and relaxing.
After swimming all morning, we got pretty hungry, so we decided to walk down the Strip in search of food. Here are a few exterior shots of our hotel and Caesar's Palace.
While shopping in the mall, we went into a children's store. Ryan and Caleb fit right in.
Sunday night, we went to the Blue Man Group performance. I'd seen it back when I lived in Vegas, but it was still every bit as amazing as I remember. This is a shot of some random hot chicks with one of the Blue Men. Those guys are SO COOL!
After Blue Man Group, we went to eat at this place called the Rum Jungle, which is a really exclusive restaurant at Mandalay Bay. After that, we met my friend Jason and Caleb's friend Will and headed to the new club at the Wynn Casino called La Bete, which is even more exclusive than the Rum Jungle. It was one of the coolest clubs I've ever been to. Ryan, Caleb, and Will left around 1, but Jason and I stayed until 2. Jason had to work the next day, so he left, and I went up to the casino to gamble for a bit. It was the first time I'd gambled in a really long time, and, thanks to the numbers Paul and Trish told me to bet on, I won $225 on roulette. I figured I'd quit while I was ahead, and went back to our hotel, but I still wasn't tired, so, at 3 AM, I walked down the Strip to another club called Krave, which was still kickin'. I danced for a couple hours, and then headed back to the room. While walking through the hotel, I decided to throw a few bucks in a slot machine, and ended up winning another $90. It was definitely a lucky weekend.
Sunday, we checked out, and then had a late lunch with Melissa, Andy, Nicole, and Jim, then headed back to Utah. It was another longer-than-usual drive, so it was pretty late when we got back. I think next weekend, I'm going to lay low and recuperate.
The next day, we slept in, then picked up Melissa and her new baby, Damien. We all had a late lunch at this great Mexican restaurant, then shopped the rest of the afternoon.
You know the shopping in Vegas is great when the malls look like this:
After shopping for several hours, we decided to hit up the Cheesecake Factory. We didn't really want dinner. Just cheesecake. I opted for the lemon raspberry cream cheesecake. Yeah, it's every bit as good as it sounds.
The original intention was to go back to the hotel for a little nap and then hit up some clubs Saturday night. I don't think Ryan and Caleb realised just how tired shopping can make you, and we ended up sleeping all night. This is a shot out the window of our hotel room on the 30th floor.
We woke up Sunday morning and went down to the pool for a few hours. So nice and relaxing.
After swimming all morning, we got pretty hungry, so we decided to walk down the Strip in search of food. Here are a few exterior shots of our hotel and Caesar's Palace.
While shopping in the mall, we went into a children's store. Ryan and Caleb fit right in.
Sunday night, we went to the Blue Man Group performance. I'd seen it back when I lived in Vegas, but it was still every bit as amazing as I remember. This is a shot of some random hot chicks with one of the Blue Men. Those guys are SO COOL!
After Blue Man Group, we went to eat at this place called the Rum Jungle, which is a really exclusive restaurant at Mandalay Bay. After that, we met my friend Jason and Caleb's friend Will and headed to the new club at the Wynn Casino called La Bete, which is even more exclusive than the Rum Jungle. It was one of the coolest clubs I've ever been to. Ryan, Caleb, and Will left around 1, but Jason and I stayed until 2. Jason had to work the next day, so he left, and I went up to the casino to gamble for a bit. It was the first time I'd gambled in a really long time, and, thanks to the numbers Paul and Trish told me to bet on, I won $225 on roulette. I figured I'd quit while I was ahead, and went back to our hotel, but I still wasn't tired, so, at 3 AM, I walked down the Strip to another club called Krave, which was still kickin'. I danced for a couple hours, and then headed back to the room. While walking through the hotel, I decided to throw a few bucks in a slot machine, and ended up winning another $90. It was definitely a lucky weekend.
Sunday, we checked out, and then had a late lunch with Melissa, Andy, Nicole, and Jim, then headed back to Utah. It was another longer-than-usual drive, so it was pretty late when we got back. I think next weekend, I'm going to lay low and recuperate.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Further
I know I promised a post last night; however, we had a late lunch in Vegas with Jim and Nicole, and traffic on I-15 was less than swift in several areas. Therefore, I didn't get home until way after 10, and I was pretty desperate to hit the sack. Tonight is the Tori Amos show, so it's doubtful I'll be able to post the Vegas trip details/pictures any earlier than tomorrow evening. I'm sorry. I know how much every aspect of your lives hinges upon each word I type.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Time Delay
Since The Paris Hotel & Casino charges a ridiculous amount of money for internet use, I'm going to delay posting on here until I return home Monday evening. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Vegas, Day 1 -or- What's Your Flavor?
Yesterday, Caleb, Ryan, and I made the six-hour trek down to Vegas. Actually, it took a little longer because I had to stop and buy a new camera (long story) and we were held up by TWO traffic jams in the Salt Lake area. Regardless, we got here around 9 PM last night, checked into our hotel, and then went to the Crown & Anchor to toss back a few ales. After working and driving and stuff, we were pretty tired and only stayed out until 1. Today is going to be lots of shopping and eating and seeing friends and gambling and dancing and whatever else that peaks our interest! I LOVE this town!
Friday, September 02, 2005
After Hours
It's after 7 PM, and I'm still at work. I'm pulling RST duty again this week, and, until today, it's been pretty slow. There are five of us stuck here in the readiness office just waiting for exercise players to return from the processing line. There's nothing to do except watch any of the various news channels available here, all of which are showing continuous coverage of Hurricane Katrina. I feel really bad for the people down there, but staring at it for hours on end is kind of causing it to lose its impact.
Anyway, I'm basically just killing time, so I thought I'd post. Tomorrow will consist of coming in to take a hazardous materials test at 9 AM, and then I'm done. After some quick packing, Caleb, Ryan, Andrew, and I will be on our way to VEGAS!
Anyway, I'm basically just killing time, so I thought I'd post. Tomorrow will consist of coming in to take a hazardous materials test at 9 AM, and then I'm done. After some quick packing, Caleb, Ryan, Andrew, and I will be on our way to VEGAS!
Thursday, September 01, 2005
One is the Loneliest Number
As evidenced by yesterday's post, I've been thinking a lot recently about why I haven't been in a serious relationship in over seven years. In 1998, when the last one ended, I think I was going through a weird phase, and since then, I've kinda realised how incapable I was of maintaining a solid relationship. I was difficult and selfish and stubborn and not easy to live with. I know I've grown a lot since then, but I still see all those qualities in myself. I've never been one to stress about being alone because I know, when the time is right, the Lord will bring the right person into my life. I just wonder if there's something I need to change about myself before He's willing to act.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Reasons I Broke Up With Former Girlfriends:
Carolynn (1991 - 1992): I don't remember, but I'm sure it was something stupid. It also ended up being right before my senior prom, prompting me to ask Renee (a former crush), which ended up being a bigger mistake than if I'd stayed home, but that's a different story.
Julie (1992 - 1993): We didn't exactly date exclusively, but we might as well have. She was a senior. I was a freshman. She graduated. Last I heard, she changed her name to Veronica.
Anna (1993 - 1994): She broke up with me on a Wednesday. I came back from class Thursday to find her having sex with my roommate / best friend. They're now married and have two children. There was bitterness for a while, but we're on good terms now.
Jenny C. (1994 - 1995): I wanted to go out with Jennifer B. I was still angry over the whole Anna thing, and I treated Jenny like shit. It was a bad thing to do, and I'm sorry. If I ever see her again, I'll apologise.
Jennifer B. (1995): We never formally broke up. The whole thing just kinda faded away. I found out later the whole time she was dating me, she was having sex with one of my fraternity brothers. Man, what a dick.
Meredith (1996 - 1998): Probably one of the bigger mistakes I've made was breaking up with Meredith. We had talked of getting married, but I think I was just restless. I was in Vegas and she was in Kentucky / Illinois / Ohio. I think my only beef with her was that she referred to Sleater-Kinney as "Slater-Shmater."
Julie (1992 - 1993): We didn't exactly date exclusively, but we might as well have. She was a senior. I was a freshman. She graduated. Last I heard, she changed her name to Veronica.
Anna (1993 - 1994): She broke up with me on a Wednesday. I came back from class Thursday to find her having sex with my roommate / best friend. They're now married and have two children. There was bitterness for a while, but we're on good terms now.
Jenny C. (1994 - 1995): I wanted to go out with Jennifer B. I was still angry over the whole Anna thing, and I treated Jenny like shit. It was a bad thing to do, and I'm sorry. If I ever see her again, I'll apologise.
Jennifer B. (1995): We never formally broke up. The whole thing just kinda faded away. I found out later the whole time she was dating me, she was having sex with one of my fraternity brothers. Man, what a dick.
Meredith (1996 - 1998): Probably one of the bigger mistakes I've made was breaking up with Meredith. We had talked of getting married, but I think I was just restless. I was in Vegas and she was in Kentucky / Illinois / Ohio. I think my only beef with her was that she referred to Sleater-Kinney as "Slater-Shmater."
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Strained Musicians
Last night was the VMAs. Ryan and I watched the first half, but were so sick of Diddy (One of these days he's going to sample a song in its entirety and release it as his own.) and the tons of trashy outfits (What was Jessica Simpson thinking?), we decided to go to bed. I really hate the way MTV spoon feeds artists it deems worthy to its legions of conformist teenage followers. I mean, how else could Kid Rock have had a number one album? But somehow, I get mesmerised by it all and end up watching anyway.
Here are a few things I liked/disliked about the show:
Green Day's performance was great, and I'm glad they won so many awards. The "American Idiot" album is really good, and, to be honest, I was starting to lose faith in them after so many mediocre albums. I can't wait to see them live next month.
MC Hammer's performance was nothing short of pathetically desperate. It's over, man. It's been over for a long, long time. I'm sorry, but it's true.
Kelly Clarkson. I want to not like her. Really. But I just can't help but sing along to that damn "Since U Been Gone" song. And she seems so sweet. I have to admit, I let loose a little cheer inside when she won those awards. Unfortunately, I didn't stay awake long enough to see her performance, but I'm sure I'll catch it when MTV re-airs the VMAs about 6 billion times in the next month.
I was glad to see Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys win. I've always loved Missy and Alicia has a true gift.
I liked Shakira when she used to just shake her hips a lot, but that thing she does with her boobs is just freakish.
I saw The Killers back in May (seen here) and they sounded great, so I was rather disappointed when they sounded like crap at the VMAs. Fall Out Boy sounded pretty bad, too. Maybe it was the heat in Miami or maybe they were just really nervous.
Mariah Carey. Does anyone really take her seriously anymore?
I wish Gwen would have won a few more awards. And I really would liked to have seen her perform. But wait, I guess I'll get to see that first hand in October. Yay, me!
Anyway, I guess that's about all the commentary I have for now. I know it's sad that I pay so much attention to this silly pop culture, but I just laugh it off as another one of my many guilty pleasures. So sue me.
Here are a few things I liked/disliked about the show:
Green Day's performance was great, and I'm glad they won so many awards. The "American Idiot" album is really good, and, to be honest, I was starting to lose faith in them after so many mediocre albums. I can't wait to see them live next month.
MC Hammer's performance was nothing short of pathetically desperate. It's over, man. It's been over for a long, long time. I'm sorry, but it's true.
Kelly Clarkson. I want to not like her. Really. But I just can't help but sing along to that damn "Since U Been Gone" song. And she seems so sweet. I have to admit, I let loose a little cheer inside when she won those awards. Unfortunately, I didn't stay awake long enough to see her performance, but I'm sure I'll catch it when MTV re-airs the VMAs about 6 billion times in the next month.
I was glad to see Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys win. I've always loved Missy and Alicia has a true gift.
I liked Shakira when she used to just shake her hips a lot, but that thing she does with her boobs is just freakish.
I saw The Killers back in May (seen here) and they sounded great, so I was rather disappointed when they sounded like crap at the VMAs. Fall Out Boy sounded pretty bad, too. Maybe it was the heat in Miami or maybe they were just really nervous.
Mariah Carey. Does anyone really take her seriously anymore?
I wish Gwen would have won a few more awards. And I really would liked to have seen her perform. But wait, I guess I'll get to see that first hand in October. Yay, me!
Anyway, I guess that's about all the commentary I have for now. I know it's sad that I pay so much attention to this silly pop culture, but I just laugh it off as another one of my many guilty pleasures. So sue me.
Load Off My Shoulders
I found out today I will not be going to Silver Flag next month, which makes me a very, VERY happy boy.
Speaking of happy boys, I want to shout a big "Congratulations!" to Nate and Natsuko, who gave birth to their second son, Tatsui, yesterday afternoon! The whole family is doing great.
Speaking of happy boys, I want to shout a big "Congratulations!" to Nate and Natsuko, who gave birth to their second son, Tatsui, yesterday afternoon! The whole family is doing great.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Hurried Haze
I don't know why I haven't posted in three days. The weekend has been kind of a blur, really. Friday night, I went a party with work people. It was the first time I'd ever drank with co-workers since I've been in Utah. It was pretty fun, and I took pictures, but I think I left my camera there, so I'll post them when I get it back. Saturday was pretty uneventful, except that I talked to Paul and Trish for, like, and hour and a half, which was great. I also had the best run I've had in a long time. Then Sarah, Josh, Amy, Ryan Sherman, Ryan Halligan, and I went to see The Brothers Grimm, which wasn't too bad. Today, I went to the Washington Heights "Velocity" service, then went to socialise with Josh and Sarah, who are babysitting Jake because Nate and Natsuko are currently in the delivery room, giving birth to Tatsui. Now, I'm gonna go wash my truck and pray that it doesn't rain for at least a week.
Why is it that weekends seem to go by so quick, even though we're not really doing anything?
Anyway, this coming week should fly by. I'm pulling RST duty yet again. The work is busy without being hectic, and we usually get done early. Plus, I'll find out for sure whether or not I'm going to Silver Flag from the 10th to the 17th. The big thing is that this weekend is Labour Day Weekend signaling the big Vegas trip with Ryan, Caleb, and Jimmy. I'm so very excited!
Why is it that weekends seem to go by so quick, even though we're not really doing anything?
Anyway, this coming week should fly by. I'm pulling RST duty yet again. The work is busy without being hectic, and we usually get done early. Plus, I'll find out for sure whether or not I'm going to Silver Flag from the 10th to the 17th. The big thing is that this weekend is Labour Day Weekend signaling the big Vegas trip with Ryan, Caleb, and Jimmy. I'm so very excited!
Friday, August 26, 2005
False Step
Okay, I just want everyone to know that the "faux hawk" is OVER! Also, it's not 1987, so all you guys out there who flip up the collars on your little polo shirts - STOP IT! That fad was over before it started.
If you have any other fashion questions, feel free to e-mail me. I promise to be brutally honest.
If you have any other fashion questions, feel free to e-mail me. I promise to be brutally honest.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
All Understood
Last night, Caleb, Tanya, and I went to see Jack Johnson at an amphitheatre in West Valley (the same place we saw the Steve Miller Band, shown here). I originally bought four tickets for Heidi, Sam, Caleb, and I, but Heidi and Sam had to drop out, so Caleb asked Tanya. We asked everyone we knew, but nobody was able to take the fourth ticket. As luck would have it, we were driving up to the venue, and traffic was bumper to bumper; however, there was a girl on the side of the road looking for a ride, so I told her to hop in. Her name was Katie and she was also in need of a ticket, so I told her she could have our spare. She was so grateful, and I was glad I could help her out.
We found a spot on the lawn and spread out our blanket. It was a beautiful, breezy summer night with a slight chill in the air. The show was sold out and I can see why. Jack Johnson's music is cool and mellow, and he put on a great show. Jack Johnson is a former pro-surfer from Hawaii, and there's no difficulty in hearing his laid-back attitude in his tunes. Definitely great stuff for laying on the beach (or on the lawn).
We found a spot on the lawn and spread out our blanket. It was a beautiful, breezy summer night with a slight chill in the air. The show was sold out and I can see why. Jack Johnson's music is cool and mellow, and he put on a great show. Jack Johnson is a former pro-surfer from Hawaii, and there's no difficulty in hearing his laid-back attitude in his tunes. Definitely great stuff for laying on the beach (or on the lawn).
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Franks n' Beans
Our squadron picnic was today, and it was pretty much a waste of time. It was nice not to have to be in uniform, but honestly, I think I would rather have been at work. My squadron is full of a bunch of macho idiots who try to prove their manhood by bragging about girls they've bagged and how much beer they can drink. Big deal. Normally, I can handle such people, but when there's a massive herd of them, then it's just too much for me. I won't even get in to the eight giant barbecue grills covered in more kinds of meat than I knew existed. Of course, I really shouldn't complain about that. I don't expect them to cater to my dietary needs, as long as they don't expect me to devour all that seared, rotting animal flesh, but I digress. I left early, went for a run, then came home and watched The Simpsons.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Festivities
After we left the tattoo parlor last night, we went to a birthday party for Tanya, Caleb's girlfriend. They used to date a long time ago, and then lost touch, but now they're dating again, and I think she's way cool. I mean, she's a big Radiohead fan, and that's reason enough to date anybody. Anyway, she had gotten a hotel suite and there were lots of people there I didn't know, but everyone was dancing and having fun so it really didn't matter. Happy Birthday, Tanya!
Ink-omplete
Yesterday, Ryan and I spent several hours at Lost Art Tattoo in Ogden getting more work done by Troy, the guy who did my last one. My appointment was at 12:30, and it only took an hour. As always, it's kinda red and puffy right now, so I'll post pics as soon as it heals. Ryan appointment wasn't until 6 PM, so we came home and napped and then headed back up to Ogden. Ryan is getting a huge tribal half sleeve on his left shoulder. Troy started drawing on Ryan at 6, but didn't actually start inking until 7:30. This may sound like a hassle, but with tattoos that big, there's really no way you can draw it out before hand. It has to actually be drawn on the body, and when you're dealing with something permanent, I'd prefer to make sure it's going to be exactly like you want it before the needle pierces the skin. Anyway, we ended up staying until 10, and only the outline is done, but it looks really good. After that heals, Ryan will go back to take care of all the shading and stuff.
Ah, tattoos.
Ah, tattoos.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Snap. Crackle. Pop.
I went on a first date tonight, and although it wasn't the greatest first date ever, it was still pretty darn good. I should also keep in mind the best first date I ever had was at the beginning of a major relationship that ended very, very bad. Very bad. I wonder if that means if I ever have a really bad first date, then I should continue dating them because it will eventually evolve into a great relationship. Um, probably not.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Celine Kabobs
McSweeney's just might outperform The Onion to become my favourite humour site. I think the funniest feature is the Lists. I stayed up really late last night just reading and laughing and reading and laughing some more.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Munch-o-rama
I seriously need to avoid this late evening snacking habit I've recently started. And once I start, I can't stop until I've eaten a virtual meal consisting of mixed nuts, jelly beans, tortilla chips, granola bars, cheese, and cookie dough.
Prunes
You know what bothers me? When guys walk around the locker room all naked and stuff. "Hey, buddy! You got a towel draped over your shoulders, there. Why not wrap it around your waist and spare us all the sight of your hairy, white, wrinkled ass?!?!"
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Silly Celluloid
As anyone who's ever seen my DVD collection knows, I prefer films of the more serious, dramatic variety. However, if a comedy makes it into my collection, it's definitely there for a good reason. Here is a list of movies that will never fail to make me laugh:
Airplane!
"Oh, stewardess. I speak jive."
The Big Lebowski
"That rug really tied the room together."
Bowfinger
"We're trying to make a movie here, not a film!"
Clueless
"Do you prefer 'fashion victim' or 'ensembly challenged'?"
Dr. Strangelove-or-How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"
Drop Dead Gorgeous
"Alabama. A-L-A-B-A-M-A."
Election
"I also like bananas."
Groundhog Day
"This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."
The Opposite of Sex
"This is how we do things on the Planet Maturia. We have much to teach you."
Reality Bites
"Evian is naive spelled backwards."
Sideways
"Are you chewing gum?"
Spaceballs
"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
State and Main
"It's not a lie. It's a gift for fiction."
Swingers
"Our little baby's all grows up!"
Waiting for Guffman
"We consider ourselves bi-coastal if you consider the Mississippi River one of the coasts."
Zoolander
"Hansel. He's so hot right now. Hansel."
There are other films I own that could be considered comedies (i.e. Citizen Ruth, Three Kings, anything by Woody Allen, etc.), but they usually have other characteristics outweighing those that tickle my funny bone. Regardless, if any of you have ever shared a laughing-so-hard-you're-out-of-breath moment with me, you'll most likely appreciate these, as well.
Airplane!
"Oh, stewardess. I speak jive."
The Big Lebowski
"That rug really tied the room together."
Bowfinger
"We're trying to make a movie here, not a film!"
Clueless
"Do you prefer 'fashion victim' or 'ensembly challenged'?"
Dr. Strangelove-or-How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"
Drop Dead Gorgeous
"Alabama. A-L-A-B-A-M-A."
Election
"I also like bananas."
Groundhog Day
"This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."
The Opposite of Sex
"This is how we do things on the Planet Maturia. We have much to teach you."
Reality Bites
"Evian is naive spelled backwards."
Sideways
"Are you chewing gum?"
Spaceballs
"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
State and Main
"It's not a lie. It's a gift for fiction."
Swingers
"Our little baby's all grows up!"
Waiting for Guffman
"We consider ourselves bi-coastal if you consider the Mississippi River one of the coasts."
Zoolander
"Hansel. He's so hot right now. Hansel."
There are other films I own that could be considered comedies (i.e. Citizen Ruth, Three Kings, anything by Woody Allen, etc.), but they usually have other characteristics outweighing those that tickle my funny bone. Regardless, if any of you have ever shared a laughing-so-hard-you're-out-of-breath moment with me, you'll most likely appreciate these, as well.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Skipping and Clipping
When I checked my e-mail at work today, there was one concerning Silver Flag, which is basically a big, week-long training exercise that all CE career fields have to attend. This particular time happens to be in September, the same week my Dad is coming for a visit, AND Interpol is coming to town. My heart about skipped a beat when I saw my name on the list. I asked my boss why my name was on there, and he said it was a mistake, which made me feel much better. However, the people who decide Silver Flag attendees have a lot more pull than my boss, so there's still a chance I'll have to go. Yeah, I'm kinda nervous about that.
Other work-related story: I got called to pull RST duty through Wednesday of this week. I've come to find that basically any time Readiness has a lot of work to do, they just recall all the RST people. Today consisted of cleaning a bunch of pallets, which wasn't really that bad. It was leisurely work, and we took our time doing it. Plus, it's nice to interact with a different set of people from time to time.
Completely different story: I got home this afternoon, and was getting ready to hop in the shower, when I decided that my chest is just a little too hairy. So, I pulled out my clippers and went to town. I now see that this was a total mistake. It turned out all patchy and trying to remedy that just made it worse. Also, dark body hair makes you look more tan than you actually are, so now I'm gonna have to do some major poolside lounging to counteract my whiteness. It's tragic. It really is.
Other work-related story: I got called to pull RST duty through Wednesday of this week. I've come to find that basically any time Readiness has a lot of work to do, they just recall all the RST people. Today consisted of cleaning a bunch of pallets, which wasn't really that bad. It was leisurely work, and we took our time doing it. Plus, it's nice to interact with a different set of people from time to time.
Completely different story: I got home this afternoon, and was getting ready to hop in the shower, when I decided that my chest is just a little too hairy. So, I pulled out my clippers and went to town. I now see that this was a total mistake. It turned out all patchy and trying to remedy that just made it worse. Also, dark body hair makes you look more tan than you actually are, so now I'm gonna have to do some major poolside lounging to counteract my whiteness. It's tragic. It really is.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Saturday in the Park
There wasn't much going on this afternoon, so Ryan and I went down to Salt Lake to shop for a bit, where I bought these way cool khakis at Banana Republic. Since we're going down to Vegas over Labour Day weekend and the shopping there puts shopping in SLC to shame, we decided to cut the shopping trip short and head up to Mt. Ogden Park (also seen here) to toss the frisbee around. By the way, these pictures were totally candid and spur-of-the-moment. We didn't pose for them in any way whatsoever.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Fun in Mormon Land
Here are the overdue pictures from last weekend with Abby and Charis. (If you've already seen Abby's blog, then some of these may seem redundant.) As I said, we had such a great weekend full of reminiscing, laughter, stories, and the best tasting, albeit totally unhealthy, scones ever. Enjoy the visuals!
This is Abs and Charis posing inside the LDS Convention Center. I thought the picture would look really cool with the waterfall in the background, and at first, I was kinda disappointed their figures turned out so dark, but now I think it looks really cool.
This is the outdoor shot of the waterfall from the last photo.
I think they look a little mischevious in this one...like they're up to something. Corrupting poor, young Mormons, maybe?
I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out. The big gold statue at the top is Moroni, the angel who first visited Joseph Smith. I'm sure if you ever ask a Mormon, they'll be happy to tell you all about him.
Here's Abs doing her best Charlie's Angels impression. Judo CHOP!
Abby has a similar picture on her blog where we're both looking ahead and smiling, but I really like this one. It's like she's glaring at me because of some off-colour remark I made or something, which she probably was.
Saturday night, we went up to Ogden and ate at The Pie, which has, by far, the best pizza around.
After dinner, we all went back to my pad, where Charis and Caleb discovered they have the exact same feet.
We made such a big deal out of it, that we all had to take pictures. I guess Abby prefers close-ups.
Then we tried this trick where you attempt to jump over a dollar bill while keeping hold of your toes. It's impossible to do, but just in case Caleb succeeded, Charis was going to be right there with the camera to prove it.
These last three are just pictures we took at the end of the night. They're all funny, mostly because of the facial expressions of Caleb and Abby.
So, yeah, it was a great weekend, and I can't wait for the Young sisters to come visit again, hopefully during the winter so we can do some mad boarding!
This is Abs and Charis posing inside the LDS Convention Center. I thought the picture would look really cool with the waterfall in the background, and at first, I was kinda disappointed their figures turned out so dark, but now I think it looks really cool.
This is the outdoor shot of the waterfall from the last photo.
I think they look a little mischevious in this one...like they're up to something. Corrupting poor, young Mormons, maybe?
I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out. The big gold statue at the top is Moroni, the angel who first visited Joseph Smith. I'm sure if you ever ask a Mormon, they'll be happy to tell you all about him.
Here's Abs doing her best Charlie's Angels impression. Judo CHOP!
Abby has a similar picture on her blog where we're both looking ahead and smiling, but I really like this one. It's like she's glaring at me because of some off-colour remark I made or something, which she probably was.
Saturday night, we went up to Ogden and ate at The Pie, which has, by far, the best pizza around.
After dinner, we all went back to my pad, where Charis and Caleb discovered they have the exact same feet.
We made such a big deal out of it, that we all had to take pictures. I guess Abby prefers close-ups.
Then we tried this trick where you attempt to jump over a dollar bill while keeping hold of your toes. It's impossible to do, but just in case Caleb succeeded, Charis was going to be right there with the camera to prove it.
These last three are just pictures we took at the end of the night. They're all funny, mostly because of the facial expressions of Caleb and Abby.
So, yeah, it was a great weekend, and I can't wait for the Young sisters to come visit again, hopefully during the winter so we can do some mad boarding!
The Curtis Sutra
Sex baffles me. Sometimes I think about it, but I just don't understand it. I'm not really talking about why people are attracted or natural selection or other strange desires. More like the mechanics of everything. It seems like such an odd procedure. Why did God make it like that? And what led early man to experiment with his body and the body of his partner to lead to such a ridiculous looking position (or positions)? And why are certain parts located where they are? Why isn't my penis growing out the side of my head or like a sixth finger? Why are vaginas shaped the way they are?
Of course, the whole attraction thing baffles me, too, but that's a whole different can of worms I'm not even thinking about opening right now.
Of course, the whole attraction thing baffles me, too, but that's a whole different can of worms I'm not even thinking about opening right now.
Lots of Boxes
Moving is expensive. Even though I had everything I needed in my old place, when I got to my new place, I had to pick up some essential stuff. The new place is much larger than the old place, but since I'm splitting it with someone, I have to find new, creative ways to store stuff. That means new shelves and hanging bars and I'm even thinking about placing another IKEA order.
I guess gone are the days when I used to come home, peel off my uniform, walk around my pad naked, and watch whatever I wanted on TV while eating an entire pizza. Or leaving my laundry in the dryer until I'm damn good and ready to fold it. Or dancing around to N*SYNC's "Bye Bye Bye" at 1:00 AM on a Tuesday. That's okay, though. It will be nice to have someone with whom to chat from time to time.
I guess gone are the days when I used to come home, peel off my uniform, walk around my pad naked, and watch whatever I wanted on TV while eating an entire pizza. Or leaving my laundry in the dryer until I'm damn good and ready to fold it. Or dancing around to N*SYNC's "Bye Bye Bye" at 1:00 AM on a Tuesday. That's okay, though. It will be nice to have someone with whom to chat from time to time.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Welcome to Alaska
After spending the past two days moving and getting everything situated (which will still probably take a couple more days), I didn't really feel like doing too much last night. The original plan was to go bar-hopping in Salt Lake, but that kinda fell through. So, Caleb, Ryan, and I ended up going to see Stealth, which was amazing......ly horrible. I mean, I never really expect too much from action movies in the first place, but this one was just bad. Maybe since I'm in the military, any movies having to do with the military just ring false. Maybe if I were a nine year old boy who'd never seen an airplane before, I would have thought it was the greatest movie ever. Maybe if there were more nudity. Yeah, that's the ticket.
XXXI
Instead of looking upon this date as my 31st birthday, I prefer to see it as the 10th anniversary of the day I became legal.
Time seems to go by quicker as you get older. My friend Dan once explained it me like this: when you're five years old, a year is one-fifth of your life. When you're ten, a year is a tenth of your life. And so on. I guess that's why summers seemed to last forever when I was a kid, and now they fly by in the blink of an eye.
I think I mentioned something on my birthday last year about how great I feel, despite being older than I've ever been. I still feel the same way, even though I look in the mirror and see so many flaws. Bent nose. Crooked lips. Uneven ears. One eye that's always a little more closed than the other. Extra flab around the mid-section. Hair where there should be no hair. Noodle arms. Blemishes. Gray hair. I could go on and on and on. I refuse to stress over it, though. As we used to say in elementary school, "God made me and God don't make no crap!"
Time seems to go by quicker as you get older. My friend Dan once explained it me like this: when you're five years old, a year is one-fifth of your life. When you're ten, a year is a tenth of your life. And so on. I guess that's why summers seemed to last forever when I was a kid, and now they fly by in the blink of an eye.
I think I mentioned something on my birthday last year about how great I feel, despite being older than I've ever been. I still feel the same way, even though I look in the mirror and see so many flaws. Bent nose. Crooked lips. Uneven ears. One eye that's always a little more closed than the other. Extra flab around the mid-section. Hair where there should be no hair. Noodle arms. Blemishes. Gray hair. I could go on and on and on. I refuse to stress over it, though. As we used to say in elementary school, "God made me and God don't make no crap!"
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Tweekend
The lady formerly known as Airman Young and her sister crashed at my pad Friday and Saturday night. We had a great time and took tons of pictures, but unfortunately, they had to leave this morning in order to make it to Texas by Monday night. I'll give a more comprehensive narrative and post pics later this week. Now, however, I'm in the process of moving into my new pad, which is a pain in the butt now, but will be worthwhile once we get settled and start saving some money.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Speed Demon
I just finished ATV training, and it was SO MUCH FUN! There were only four of us in the class, and we basically just rode four-wheelers around through a bunch of hills and trees and stuff for a few hours. So, needless to say, I was pretty dirty afterward. I came home to eat and shower because we're having a commander's call this afternoon, and apparently, I'm getting some kind of medal or award or something.
After shooting another gun yesterday and riding the ATV today, I'm starting to think the Air Force has an agenda to turn me into a redneck. The next classes will probably involve hunting squirrels, watching NASCAR, and/or building shrines to George Bush.
After shooting another gun yesterday and riding the ATV today, I'm starting to think the Air Force has an agenda to turn me into a redneck. The next classes will probably involve hunting squirrels, watching NASCAR, and/or building shrines to George Bush.
Two to the Chest, One to the Head
I somehow got volunteered to be on the Readiness Support Team (RST). Basically, that means that I'm going to be the bitch-boy for readiness people during the exercises. It's not as bad as it sounds, though. I'm sure most of it will consist of guarding weapons during the Phase II part of the ORI, and that consists mostly of sitting in the armory and playing PS2. Whatever it means, it sure beats running around the BORTA in MOPP 4.
As a new member of RST, I have to get qualified on a bunch of different things. Today, I got to shoot the 9mm. Now, I don't really like guns. In fact, I wish they'd never been invented. And I'm not much of a marksman, either. However, when it comes to disassembling and reassembing them, I'm right up there with Forrest Gump.
Tomorrow, I get qualified on ATVs. That's right...I get to drive a four-wheeler up in the mountains for three hours. I just hope I don't break my neck.
As a new member of RST, I have to get qualified on a bunch of different things. Today, I got to shoot the 9mm. Now, I don't really like guns. In fact, I wish they'd never been invented. And I'm not much of a marksman, either. However, when it comes to disassembling and reassembing them, I'm right up there with Forrest Gump.
Tomorrow, I get qualified on ATVs. That's right...I get to drive a four-wheeler up in the mountains for three hours. I just hope I don't break my neck.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Mantra, Chakra, Etc...
Saturday night, Sarah, Josh, Caleb, and I went to a party at Eric and Kristen's place. They were the cool people I met at Josh's birthday party a couple weeks ago. While there, Caleb and I started talking to Belinda, this really cool girl who lives down in SLC. She invited us to go to this meditation session with her last night, so we did. We were both curious to see what it was all about, and were anticipating some kind of mystical, new-age-y type thing with lots of crystals and chanting. Boy, were we wrong. Well, except for the chanting part.
It all took place in a room in a psychiatrist's/massage therapist's office building. It was dimly lit and there was incense burning. There were about 20 people there and everyone was very friendly. The session started with 30 minutes of meditation. I really liked this part. I'm pretty familiar with prayer and meditation, and the 30 minutes went by really quick. After that, a few people talked about what they meditated on. I was expecting people to talk about Buddha or Oprah or something about ruffling away the bad spirits, but of the six people that talked, four mentioned Jesus. One lady talked about how much meditation has put her in touch with the Lord. Caleb talked about how God fills his heart up with love. It was pretty cool.
Then the chanting started. It lasted for about 30 minutes, and it included beating on a drum. I tried to participate at first, thinking it might open me up to something new, but I just ended up feeling silly. What I did realise is that it was much easier to meditate and concentrate on the Lord when I have background noise.
The whole thing was over by 8:00 PM, so then, Belinda, Caleb, and I went to this restaurant called the One World Cafe, which was the coolest place I've been to eat in Utah. It was all organic food and run by volunteers. There was no menu and no prices. Only a box at the door, and when you leave, you just put in what you thought your meal was worth. Apparently, that works pretty well, because the place has been there for years and it's pretty popular. I'll definitely be going back again.
So, yeah, overall, it was a pretty good evening. I wouldn't mind going back to the whole meditation thing again, but I wonder if I could leave before the chanting.
It all took place in a room in a psychiatrist's/massage therapist's office building. It was dimly lit and there was incense burning. There were about 20 people there and everyone was very friendly. The session started with 30 minutes of meditation. I really liked this part. I'm pretty familiar with prayer and meditation, and the 30 minutes went by really quick. After that, a few people talked about what they meditated on. I was expecting people to talk about Buddha or Oprah or something about ruffling away the bad spirits, but of the six people that talked, four mentioned Jesus. One lady talked about how much meditation has put her in touch with the Lord. Caleb talked about how God fills his heart up with love. It was pretty cool.
Then the chanting started. It lasted for about 30 minutes, and it included beating on a drum. I tried to participate at first, thinking it might open me up to something new, but I just ended up feeling silly. What I did realise is that it was much easier to meditate and concentrate on the Lord when I have background noise.
The whole thing was over by 8:00 PM, so then, Belinda, Caleb, and I went to this restaurant called the One World Cafe, which was the coolest place I've been to eat in Utah. It was all organic food and run by volunteers. There was no menu and no prices. Only a box at the door, and when you leave, you just put in what you thought your meal was worth. Apparently, that works pretty well, because the place has been there for years and it's pretty popular. I'll definitely be going back again.
So, yeah, overall, it was a pretty good evening. I wouldn't mind going back to the whole meditation thing again, but I wonder if I could leave before the chanting.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Around the World
Back when I was living in Vegas, one of the guys who hung out in our crew was a guy named Josh. Josh is originally from Tooele, about 30 miles south of here. Not too long after I left for Japan, Josh left for Korea, then spent some time in Germany. Now he's on his way to Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, but first he's spending some time back here in good ol' Utah. We had dinner tonight, and it was great to see him again. Good luck in Nebraska, Josh!
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
In the Stream
Caleb, Ryan, and I went and saw The Island tonight. The movie was, as Ewan McGregor would say, "shite." However, Scarlett Johansson was HHHHHAAAAAWWWWWTTTTT!
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