Christie is my girlfriend

Yup, this has been an eventful week for me. So here's the story, but its pretty typical I think:

Christie was in my ward when I lived at Roman Gardens last Fall and Winter. I noticed a lovely girl sitting in front of me at church one Sunday and I plotted to get to know her better. We had a mutual friend in Jackie, so I told Jackie that I wanted to learn to play piano (which I've been wanting to learn anyway) and Jackie told Christie that I need a teacher. I think I we had five lessons or so. Then I invited her to be in my band, The Groovitational Pull, for the talent show. Summer came and we decided that we should stay in touch. Our first date was going to the Timpanogos Caves. I think that was on June 12th or so. We went on another 4 or 5 dates I think and then decided to date exclusively. That's about it!

This last Thursday we went to see the free Modest Mouse concert in Salt Lake City along with about 40,000 other peopleThis picture was taken almost halfway through the line. The line continued behind us another block. I look really goofy in that first picture at the top of the page. Anyway, this week I was with Christie everyday except Wednesday I think. We also saw Date Night which was very funny, but also very gross and sexual so be warned.

I have also been finalizing some stuff on the house that I plan on purchasing. I did a full inspection with my friend Steve and we found several issues that will need to be fixed on the house. The house is small and its a fixer-upper, but I still feel ok about it. I found out that there is a $20,000 grant available from the city that I can put towards repairs and upgrades! If I get approved for this grant, I will for sure get the house, but if I don't I will have to walk away. If all goes well I will be signing papers at the end of the week and it will be ready for me to move in on August 1st.

The good, the bad, and the king

I feel like I need to settle into a better routine. It seems that one day I am on top of the world and the next I dont know which way is up. I am getting old and I am learning about my changing body once again. I'm pretty sure that my hair is thinning (even though no one else agrees), I don't feel as fit now, and I don't sleep as much. I haven't slept through the night once since I moved into my new apartment. I always wake up at 6:30 in a panic that I am late for work. My chest, arms and face have been getting these soars on them. I think that I am just stressing out my mind! I usually work about 9 hours a day and it seems like the entire time I am working at a frantic pace.

At the same time I am trying to close on a house (its just pending a roof inspection now) and I am trying to improve my dating life (and I feel more confused than ever about it).

The "bad" things in my life are also "good" because I enjoy all of it. I like my job, I am excited about getting a house, and I generally have a lot of fun with the girls I date (but who knows what they think about it). I got some really good news this week, besides the home owners accepting my offer, several of my favorite bands will be releasing new albums soon. We can expect new stuff from Sufjan Stevens, The Toadies, and Radiohead, also Arcade Fire has been recording for a while now.

I just ran my hand through my hair and 3 hairs came out :(

New Music Revival

I used to spend lots of time reading reviews and downloading music and I found really great bands back when ruckus.com was around. That website has been long gone for a while now and so has my interest and passion for finding new sounds. Fortunately, an old friend of mine recently got a really great job as an editor at inyourspeakers.com. I now check this website frequently and find new and interesting music all the time. Thanks to inyourspeakers.com I have recently come across the following albums that I probably wouldn't have known about otherwise.

Sea of Cowards by The Dead Weather -- I think that their first album was better, but this is a really good album.

Brother by the Black Keys -- sometimes this is exactly what I'm in the mood for. I've known about this band for a while now, but this was the first time that I really gave them an honest chance and I'm glad I did.

Mean Everything to Nothing by Manchester Orchestra -- This is probably the best new band that I've found. I knew that I would like this band after listening to the first 5 seconds of their first song that came up on youtube.

Maniac Meat by Tobacco -- This is another band that I hadn't heard of before, and it is very different than what I normally listen to, but sometimes I really like listening to electronic stuff. They said that Beck was involved with this album.

Aside from the albums listed, I've been listening to the Band of Skulls, the XX (still I know, I can't get enough, I was watching their music videos today and they are fantastic!), Silversun Pickups, and some Old Death Cab for Cutie, and the Polyphonic Spree. Right now I'm listening to Manchester Orchestra and it makes me smile like how sunshine all around makes me smile. I feel like starting a revolution! I wish I had a full band right now!

Alcohol ruins toilets

Last summer I worked with a guy that had too much to drink one night (along with all other nights) and he started started to walk home with his buddies. Then an enormous woman asked them if they needed a ride home. The refused, but she insisted, and they allowed her to take them home. They get to his place and the woman invites herself in for a drink. Well, she ends up getting a bit tipsy herself and decides that she needs to visit the bathroom. It appeared that she had tried to sit down and lost her balance so that she crashed onto the toilet and busted the tank! When my co-worker ran in she was passed out on the floor with the smashed toilet behind her. From that point on she was known as "the tank busta."

As I heard this story I thought to myself that the best part is that I doubt that she really passed out! I mean, think about it. Say you are an obese person and you smashed a toilet. What do you do next? The only option you have is to pretend that you are unconscious and just wait for someone to come and drag you away from the scene. At this point you simply stay in the spot that they leave you in until the coast is clear and then you make a break for the door. I think getting caught with you pants down would be much less humiliating than having to tell someone what happened.

Free Stylin'

I created a new play list which is kind of a bid deal because I have only made 4 others ever. The new one is called "Tree Sap" which consist of some of the sappiest songs that I know of. Among some of the songs are:


Good Time by Counting Crows
Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups
Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens
Basic Space by The XX
All I need by Radiohead
Days Like this Keep me Warm by the Polyphonic Spree


If you heard one or any of these songs I highly recommend that you stop reading and find them now, and then read the rest of my blog as you listen to the songs.


This week has been really good. Friday night was rough because some plans fell through and then my backup plans fell through, so I was stuck at home thinking about how much fun everyone else might be having. I was so upset that I just laid in bed until about 2 am because I couldn't sleep.


Saturday was much better though. I went to the temple first thing. Then, I watched Beauty and the Beast with my roommate. I went swimming for a few minutes. I bought a new basketball. Had a BBQ with Jordy and Derrick and their families. Played a few games of volleyball with strangers. And then a bunch of people came over to my apartment and we just joked around for a couple of hours. Overall, not a bad day.


Today I wanted to write lots of pleasant notes on people's facebook page, but I couldn't bring myself to do as much as I wanted. I wanted to tell my friends something like, "I think you hair looks really nice" or "I think you are a lot of fun to hang out with" or "I really enjoy your sense of humor" etc. It seems like a good idea, but the problem is that I am a single male and if I complement my friends that are girls, and girls read way too much into stuff like that sometimes.


Until next time my friends...

poetry corner

I normally don't share my poems with people, but I wrote over 200 poems between 2004 and 2007. I found one of my books tonight and I thought that it might be fun to put them out there. Most of them are kind of funny I think, but I was surprised how sad a lot of them were. I thought this one was kind of funny and sad, it doesn't have a title:

Women come off as being too chaste
and cover up feelings they feel
I know they want to flock to me
or pull me in with a seductive reel

They want me bad, for how could they not
but they are too dang good with their cover-up
Bat your eyes and look away
touch my arm and hear what I say

But you girls are to moral for that
and afraid to lust and sin and turn to gray
I promise to forgive you, and God will too
please just glance my way


My Hair is not Computer Enhanced- June 22, 2004

A common boy once asked
while admiring a photo of me
"Has the hair been computer enhanced?
Is it actually that big and free?"

I pridefully reply to the wee one
"No my son, the hair stands alone
A computer enhancement program has not been run
to enlarge my hair as big as is shown

"It naturally raises
and expands through the air
larger than all sizes
I'm so blessed its not fair"

The boy lowers his head
and he kicks a rock
"I want hair like yours" he said,
"but I don't got them curly locks"

"All is well my dear child
there is hope for you still
you must start with hair mild
and slowly it will fill

"But this I will advise
It is for your own good
Please kid, be wise
and do what you should

"Keep your hair under control
or it'll grow wild and all
Then you will look like a troll
and the puff will surely fall

"There is no reason for computer enhance
for it will not be shown everywhere
But for chicks, fun and romance
one must grow big hair

"A nice car helps too."

I can rant with the best of them

First off, I would like to welcome my new follower, Ashlie, thank you for joining us and subjecting yourself to my mindless babble.

I am usually an understanding and cool headed person, but I don't like it when people take advantage of others or do stupid things. I would like to take a minute to vent. This is the list of topics for today: Brent Brown Ford Car Dealership, Carriage Cove Parking Permit, Utah Drivers, and BYU Honor Code.

Rant #1. Brent Brown Raped Me (or at least robbed me of my innocence)
I have a sliver of justice with brent brown in that I am able to write a piercing review about them on google. This is sort of long, but here it is:

Lies and thieves‎ - ‎ - 2010-05-09

Brent Brown bends over backwards, but I felt like they bent me over forwards (much much worse). I bought a car on the condition that they would fix my window. I later found that the back door wouldn't open from the inside to get out (who checks for that). When I brought my car in to get it fixed they said it would cost $750 to fix the door because they had to take apart both the rear and front doors to fix a cable (this didn't make any sense, but thats what they told me). They said that they would fix the window when the part came in. They never ordered the part.

I watched a youtube video and fixed the door myself for $20. I only had to take off the panel for one door not both. As a know nothing about cars person, it took me 2 hours to fix (i expect they could have done it in less than half that time). SCAM!! how could that have cost $750!!!

They flat out lied about my window repair.

Never buy a car here. Never repair you car here.

Oh yeah FYI, the finance guy tried to set me up with an 8% loan, then I went to my bank on got one at 3.5%.


Rant #2: Carriage Cove Parking Permit
My apartment complex wants to charge me $25 to let me park in their parking lot for 4 months! this is ridicules. 1, they wouldn't even be allowed to build this complex without a parking lot, so if everyone refused to pay, and parked on the street instead, the city would force them to remove the parking fee. 2, and this is the main reason, there is no service provided here. They were forced to build it, now they are making fist-fulls of money on it! it doesn't cost hardly anything to maintain a parking lot over the summer. RIDICULOUS! This above picture is the fake parking permit I tried to make, but I don't think I will use it because I don't want to be dishonest and I'm not sure it would work anyway.

Rant #3: Utah Drivers
This is getting long so I will be brief. People stop their cars in the middle of the road for people to cross the street. If there is no cross walk, DON'T STOP! this is a good way to get people killed. I realize that you are just trying to be nice, but don't. trust me, they can wait another 15 seconds and cross the street after we pass. And don't speed up when I try to get in front of you on a merging street, thats another good way to kill people!

Rant #4: BYU Honor Code
Many BYU faithfuls think that it is blasphemy to disagree with anything about BYU, well maybe i'm a blasphemer then. The one requirement that they should ask their students is: Are you doing the best you can to live the commandments of God? That's it. There doesn't need to be a measure for sideburns and mustaches, for a living proximity radius, and forced Mormon religion classes. I think that all of these things severely overstep our rights as citizens of the United States of America. BYU should trust their students to do their best, and not bully them into living a certain way. Last I checked, I can still enter the temple with a beard. I can still live in any apartment that I want and enter the temple. Why does BYU have a higher standard?

My right of free speech and religion are two of the most important rights that I have. I should be able to express myself however I wish (in dress and speech), as long as I am doing my best to live the commandments as I do so. I also don't think that BYU should force non LDS students to study the Book of Mormon. I think that it would greatly benefit their lives to understand the principles and apply them to their life, but I think that their freedom of religion is more important than that and that religion should not be forced upon anyone under any circumstance.

The single housing around BYU is a disaster. Prices have inflated and living conditions have worsened. There is no motive for apartment complexes to provide a better service when students will be forced to rent from them because there simply are not enough rooms available in the 2 mile radius around the school. As the school interferes with the free market, the students will suffer.

I understand that these rules of BYU have good intentions, and many good things have come from them, but I think that there are some aspects of my life that should be off limits. I am very grateful for the experience that I've had at BYU and the spiritual, mental, and social benefits of coming here, but I also think that the system can use some improvement.
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Sorry about the rant and pessimism, sort of. But the good news is that everything else is just peachy in my life!

Balanced Life

above is a picture of a saab that looks like the saab that I drive. it is a perfect car for escaping from terrorists and fighting crime. It also has some really cool cup holders inside.

Lately, I have been learning more about the benefits of balance in life. I am finding that sleep, exercise, and eating right goes a long way to reducing stress and improving life. I also feel more proactive and interested in doing things. This past week I actually scheduled things to do with people on different days and I feel like I accomplished so much more by doing it. Another big step for me this week was when I went to 2 clothing stores and spent money! My wardrobe was literally falling apart at the seams.

In other news this past week, My friend Bob Harper and I have been evaluating some different scenarios for a new business that we might be starting in the next month or so. I think there is some potential there, but we have a lot to learn first. More to come on that for sure.

Feb-Apr 2010 update

I haven't written in a while so I'll sum up the happenings of my days as quickly as I can.

Movies: Disney's Oceans, The Royal Tenenbaums, Best in Show, Marley and Me
Music: Counting Crows, Gorillaz "Laika Come Home"
TV Shows: Deadliest Catch, Axe Men, NBA playoffs
Vacation: Guam and Japan

I starred in a movie about a lonely ghost. I moved to a new apartment. I got a new car. I've started reading Harry Potter, I'm on book 3 now. and that's it!

Good News

I got a job offer from the company that I have been an intern with for the past year and a half. I am now the full time estimator for their large commercial projects of countertop, tile, and exterior cladding installations. I was also told that I will be leading up our efforts to find work internationally. They also said that I would be moving into a project management position as we get more contracts. This all very good.

I am very happy that I have a job right now. The construction market has been hit worse than anything else, so this means that I am very fortunate to be employed. This week Global Stone is flying me and a couple of other people to Dallas to meet with some general contractors there. Hopefully I will be able to see my family while I am there.


It is that time of year when everyone in BYU housing starts to think about their summer plans and living arrangements. I have mixed feelings, but I am sure that I will be moving out of Roman Gardens at the end of April. I was thinking about taking advantage of the new home owners tax credit, but I am a little bit nervous about making a commitment like that because I don't know how long I will have a job here. If my company doesn't get new contracts soon, I might not be around in 3 or 4 months. I am also conflicted because my roommates will not be around in the summer so I need to figure out who I can live with. I really like Provo, so I think that I will stay around here, but I am open to a lot of different options right now.

My numbers are swelling, JOIN ME!!

I am up to 4 followers as of today! (welcome Brandon) There could be as many as 2 or 3 readers that just haven't subscribed yet. This is very exciting to me.

Last week I wrote something in my journal that I have been thinking a lot about lately. I feel that I need to explain myself so that others might know why I do and believe the way that I do. I have had a very special experience happen to me when I was about 15 years old. This experience involved an overwhelming and undeniable feeling come over me and teach me that God is real and that Joseph Smith was His prophet. This message was made so clear to me that I cannot deny it, and if I were to do so, I know that I would have to answer to the wrath of God for my actions.

There are basically two reasons why I do my very best to live by the teachings of Christ.
1. I know that there is a God and that He wants me to do my best.
2. I have never been happier in my life than when I live by the teachings of Jesus Christ. I have had too many experiences with both good and bad to not recognize the difference. Simply put, I go to church each week because it makes me happy. I pray because it makes me happy. I read scriptures because it makes me happy. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a month or so of righteous or wicked living to note the difference, but it is there.

I sometimes get frustrated or question why I have been given the knowledge that I have. I did not have to ask for it, I did not have to pray about it. I feel that what I have been given is purely a gift that I am now in charge of taking care of. I wonder why others do not come to the same knowledge as me, even for those who have apparently put forth greater effort than I did. Perhaps they are meant to grow in different ways, but it still makes me sad to see people struggle through their life.

I am so grateful for my testimony of Christ and the restoration of His church. It is by far the greatest source of joy in my life. Hopefully by reading this some of you might know me a little better now than you did previously. Also, I am always willing to discuss my faith with anyone so give me a call and I'd love to chat about it.

Allocating Free Time

I am finding that I have more free time at this point in my life than any other time over the past 7 years. I come home from work around 5:30 or so and I don't have anything that I have to do until about 11 when I go to bed. This is a wonderful problem to have. I have already begun allocating my free time to worthy causes.

I joined some byu intramural sports teams. I am now the active goalie for a inter-tube water polo team and I play my first basketball game tomorrow. I have also started a new band called The Adventures of Robot and Squirrel. My band is a duo with my friend David Thorpe. I am a little bit nervous about the life of the band already because I think that we have our first show this Friday and we have never had a practice before. This should be a lot of fun.

Other things that I am doing to use up all of my free time include going to church activities and I have been very close to acquiring a keyboard a couple of times because I want to learn how to play. I'll give more details as the quest for a keyboard unfolds. I am also planning on reading more books than I ever have in a year. So far I think that I will read the Old Testament for the first time, Frankenstein, the Prince and the Pauper, and some other classics. I am open to suggestions if you have any.

On a side note, I am curious to know who reads my blog. I anticipated Tyler and maybe another relative to read every once in a while, but I have learned that there are at least a few other subscribers. I would very much appreciate any feedback or thoughts from people that read. This is especially exciting to me because at times I feel a drought of new topics to discuss in passing, and this way I might be able to hold a conversation for an additional 2 to 3 minutes with someone. The possibilities are endless... never mind, unfortunately the possibilities have already been predetermined to last only a short while, but it is still exciting for some reason!

Thanks for the love

I received several wonderful gifts for Christmas/birthday this past year and I just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate them.

• Jill- I framed the picture you gave me and the drawing of the monster is in the living room. I plan to use the scarf this week.
• Teah, Josh, Dallin, Carter, and Miley- I love the calendar and I have it hanging in my room. Me and my roommates enjoyed the box of chocolates as well.
• Aaron- Thanks for the card and the gift cards to Walmart. I have decided to use them to help me get some new glasses soon.
• Dad- Thanks for the digital picture key chain. I have already shown off my family pictures to a few different people. I also used the gift card to buy a blazer that makes me look dashingly handsome.
• Mom- Thanks for the 30 Rock dvds. I love that show. Also thanks for the new suit, laptop bag, and book.
  
• TY- Thanks for the movie. I had a lot of fun seeing Sherlock with you guys. I think that I only watched 4 movies in the theater last year and I watched 2 of them with you while I was in town.
• Grandpa- I really enjoyed the get together at your place and I am going to use the money you gave me to help me buy my new glasses.

I probably left out someone or something along the way, but I am very appreciative of all that my family has done for me. Leading up to Christmas I always feel bad knowing that people are spending money on me. I want you all to know how much I appreciate all of you and for the closeness that we share.


As for this week, I have realized that I have way to much free time on my hands. I work 8 hours a day and then I come home with no responsibilities or activities. This past week was full of college bowl games and other sporting events, but I feel that I need to do more. I have decided that one thing that I can do is more service. I think that I will go up to the MTC or something and give that a go. If anyone has any service ideas, let me know because I've got time to burn.

I just finished watching Breakfast at Tiffany's. I am a little bit confused because they never had breakfast at Tiffany's. I didn't like the racial stereo type of asians either. I thought that the movie was facinating to watch. It makes me a little bit sad to think that times have changed so much that people like those in the movie don't exist anymore, or at least I don't know any, and they don't even make movies like that anymore. It got me in the mood to watch Casablanca, so I'll probably use some of my extra free-time to do that this week.

On a final note, I am trying this thing where I will answer any question that someone asks me. No holds bar. Brutal honesty. This is only good for 24 hours and then my secrets are my own. I thought that this would be exciting to do, but then I realized that I don't really have any secrets or try to keep things from people. But if you think of something, let me know and I'll tell you how it is.

Bring On 2010

2010 is going to be the best year ever. No school and a better job is a good recipe for more fun. I will actually have time now to enjoy some movies, do some reading, and start a new band. My new band is very exciting to me. I have a lot of ideas that I want try.

I want to write a story and then have the songs tell the story, our shows might even have a narrator between songs. I would also like to have special musical guests (our musical friends) to help with vocals or other instruments. I think that it would be a fun show to watch. Mr. Riff, the keyboard expert, has already agreed to add his genius to our recordings. Expect great things in the near future.