Lunch on the Pier

Okay, so it really wasn't on the pier...it was more of a deck / patio, but it was pretty and this is a picture I shot. I ate lunch with Shannon and had a prety good conversation about moving home or staying where we are at. Most of you know that I am debating a move back to VA and she is in the same fix but is having to choose between VA, CA, and AK. After that we went to this really cool candy shop. They offered tons of free samples... a couple of pounds later I walked out with a bag of taffy and a sugar high to kill an elephant!!! Old Town Sacramento was really cool, wish I had more than a few ours to tour around.

Late but lookin' good!!!

Missed my flight to SMF, so I am jumping on a later flight. Sad day because it was the last flight I needed to cash in on a free ticket to Virginia. :(

Second Time in SAC Town

Headed tomorrow out to Sacramento for the second time this month. I will be there for a shorter amount of time than I was earlier this month, but with more free time. Right now looks like I am going to head over to Old Town and possibly the Capitol Building. Not sure what transportation I will have available to me so I might end up 'running around,' literally!!! Also hoping that I can run into Shannon Majors. She is moving out to VA to live with my friend (and her brother) Rory, along with his wife Shayla, and their cute baby, Seth. We'll see what happens, but as always it will be fun, exciting, and a good excuse to come back to my site!!!

A Mini sure is small...

So small in fact that I saw this driver open his back passenger side window from the driver's seat, and he didn't even look to be streaching!!!

Gag... Diet Pepsi

I asked for DR PEPPER, she brought me Diet Pepsi. After a few sips I was sure that it wasn't me. I asked her if she could get me a Dr Pepper she said she did, so I told her it tasted like Diet Pepsi. She waited a few mins but when she brought me my refill she got it right!!! Silly waitress, she must think I'm fat!!!

The GD Bar...

Get your minds out of the gutter...it's just where I ate dinner. It just so happens to be in the hotel. I ordered the Buffalo Burger in honor of what I would have got at Tommyknockers.

Cab 416

Deboarded, Loaded into the Taxi, and headed to the Hotel. Tonite's MTG will draw a big crowd which will be good for sales. To bad that I can't make it to Tommyknockers. It is my favorite restaurant you know and not just because it mentions my name!!!

Jumping the Rockies

Boarding the Plane to Denver. As George Strait said of where I'm headed, "There's a place where Mother Nature has it all together."

In the Office

Just sitting here in the Office trying to get my new Moto Q to work. So far I am unsuccessful!!!

Snakes can Jump!!!

Went running up Rock Canyon to the Campgrounds and then down several of the camp site loops. Probably a round trip of 16 or so miles. It was a beautiful day, lots of bugs, but plenty of sunshine. The one thing that I could have done with out was the Snakes. I normally don't mind seeing them slither across the pass or sunning on rocks by the trail. What does trip me out (and not in the pschydelic way) is the ones that just happen to slither mid road only to realize that I am about to run over them. I usually try to jump, but some times it looks like they are too and that is what scares me. More than anything I think that my brother Chris will appreciate this entry after his encounter with some snakes this week down at Seashore State Park.

Cheating

Okay...let me explain. I am pretty new to this whole blog thing, but I am trying to catch up. In the process I want to add some photos that are dated. Some are Post-mission VA, some are of the early college years, and others are more recent. So they are easy to find click on the links below as they are created. It will be in chronological order, but you won't have to sift through a sea of previously read blogs. So here it goes:
Summer's Navy Photos
Orange Gatorade
Rory...
Women's Cougar Rugby Shirt
Thanksgiving Day at TGIF

Manti Madness

Just got back about an hour ago from the Mormon Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti, UT. It is one of those things that I have been saying that I wanted to do every summer but when it comes around I am always working or out of town. This year I finally made it, especially because I have no idea how many more summers I will have left in Utah. Also, I could not have been in better company. We went as a ward, but four of us turned it into a double date and drove down in my car. Robert, CJ, CC, and myself drove, sat, and returned together. It was enjoyable, but as Robert put it, "I don't know that I would come back alone." One thing about going down there is that it always reminds me of my old roommates; Rusty, Bryan, Brad, and Preston. For those of you who do not know the story, Rusty was suffering from cancer. He had been harboring it for a long time but everytime he went to the Doctor's they kept treating the symptoms. The cancer became very agressive and spread to most parts of his body. During all of this he met a choice young lady, Amanda, whom he grew to love. She stuck through his treatment and after the first serious week they decided to get married. In the begining it all seemed rather sudden, but steeping back it made perfect sense. They loved each other and they were unsure of where he would be in a few months so they decided while he is sick now and even if he is going to get better his treatments were going to seriously inhibit his life for some time, so why not go for it. So they got married in the Manti Temple. It was a small affair and he had to take naps in between the events. But he made it and they are still together!!! They live just outside of Tulsa and are now both able to work. I have not heard from them in a while, but always let us assume; no news is good news.

So below are some of the pictures that we took on Bryan's Camera the day of the wedding. In both pics it is Preston, Me, Brad, then Bryan.

Zupas & Good Bye...

A big group of us went to Zupas in one last reunion to say good bye. Some of us are headed away for the summer, so for good, and others because we just don't know when we will see them again.

Looking Back

Sifting through the Pics. Actually this is a collage of pics that I have on my desk it is actually a collection of 40 pics, some dating back to High School. Some are from the mission, some from the last few months, all from very important people, places, and times. I took a picture of it though because I am going through my stuff, getting rid of everything that I do not want to lug on my next move.

Flight 1599

Just before the door closed.

Terminal 7

What I think of John Wayne Airport.

Dessert a la Serengeti...

Hotel food isn't so bad!!!

The Lion's Share

Disney makes everything fun. I have stayed at many a hotels in my day and there is often much spectacle in the center courtyard area, but Embassy Suites Anahiem takes the cake. They have a neat jungle scene, with a sleeping, moving, roaring lion. It's rather fun!!!

In Garden Grove...

I Can't Make this Stuff Up!!!

I mean really. Some of the stuff that happens to me on these trips is just so bizarre. At times I feel I am in some SNL Skit and don't know it. Today for example. A Nun. Yes, a Catholic Nun. Robes, Rosary, and all...walked out of the Men's Bathroom in the Airport. At first I thought it was a joke but after the second, third, and fourth take I am positive that she was not joking.

Non-Stop Flight

I am not just talking about my flights, but my entire life has been a constant stream of activities. I am running here and running there. This is the first down time I have had to get some blogging done, compliments to PHX Sky Harbor Airport. I was rather suprised to turn on my laptop and find out that the wireless connection was FREE!!!
Second time that I will be down in Scottsdale within in two weeks of each other. Only one word to describe the experience...HOT!!!

Your Superman is Here

Had a 'Red Carpet' Party with my ward, don't know if you can see my custome, but had a lot of fun with it!!!

Late Nite Runs, Thanks to Petzl

Bus Stop Blues

As I mentioned before I got an estimate on my car yesterday and dropped it off in Lehi for the afternoon. From the shop I walked to Porter's Place; ordered a Buffalo Burger, a Silver Quenn, and some Baked Beans. All very delicious. Then I sat in the shade waiting for the bus back to Provo. The shade did not seem very dark, but evidently the bus driver thought it was because he drove right past me! I whistled, screamed, and ran after him but to no avail. He left me to wait for another half hour. I headed down the main drag towards another stop. Made sure when the next one came I was leaning out past the curb. The driver stopped and we headed on down the road. I felt kind of left out every one who boarded the bus knew each others name. The bus made it less than five miles till it started this hidious shrill. The bus driver pulled over and it just cut off. The driver kept trying to start it but as soon as it turned over it would commence the obnoxious whine. After a few moments she asked all to get off the bus and that the next one would be there in half an hour. Once again I headed toward the next stop. About 15 minutes later the same bus strolls up and says that we could get on but the AC would be off. As I boarded the bus a bank sign was flashing 95 degrees!!! Once we opened the windows and got rolling it was not too bad. No you might think that I am comlaining but inspite of all that I could not be any happier. The bus could have blown up, but I would have been great. I was walking on cloud nine!!! Why you ask??? Well, I had just gotten my braces off. After 4 1/2 years I could not remember what it felt like without them. Let me just say that I will be the most faithful retainer wearer of which anyone had ever heard. They are still in need of some bleaching, but WOW what an improvment.

The Runoff Has Run

I do not know what happened when I originally posted this post, but it did not take. I forgot what I wrote other than the run off is all gone. The creeks ditches are drying up and the trails are getting dusty. Funny thing is that there is still a ton of snow blocking some of the paths, so the longest loop I have done so far is behind the Y. I am still waiting for enough snow to melt that I can run from Bigs Springs over Cascade Peak and down into Rock Canyon.

Sunday in SAC Town

Had a pretty good weekend here in Sacramento sold a fair amount of tools and enjoyed some great company. Found out that Liz & Emi had there baby, which means that I'm an uncle. He weighed in at 7lbs 10ozs, 19in with a mop of thick black hair and he's a junior. Now just waiting for my flight here in SMF.

On the Road Again

...going places that I've never been. Actually that itsn't completly true. I have not been to Sacramento before, but for the most part my recent trips have been to familiar cities. Also the upcoming trips like the one next week to Phoenix are very familiar. My time at home is equally as busy and once again familiar, seeing as I moved back to my old ward. It's smaller quaters than I am used to but I think my roommates are great and it is nice to be in a house, however small it is.

Lots of Luggage

Just off the plane in Sacramento, going to pick-up my bags and there are these really cool pillars. It was cool. Some were old chests, and others were classy handbags, it was all really interesting!!! Wish I had a digital camera, but I guess my phone did a decent job.