Um.... You have to watch this all the way through!

Mitt Romney's Speech

I really though this was a great speech. If you have a second to find it online and watch it I recommend it.

"It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt. Thank you, Mr. President.

"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.

"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.

"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.

"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams’ words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.

"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.

"Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for president, not a Catholic running for president. Like him, I am an American running for president. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.

"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

"As governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.

"As a young man, Lincoln described what he called America's 'political religion' – the commitment to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.

"There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.

"Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience.

Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.

"There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.

"I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life's blessings.

"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it's usually a sound rule to focus on the latter – on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people.

"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust.

"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our constitution rests. I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from 'the God who gave us liberty.'

"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?

"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.

"We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'

"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality.

"Americans acknowledge that liberty is a gift of God, not an indulgence of government. No people in the history of the world have sacrificed as much for liberty. The lives of hundreds of thousands of America's sons and daughters were laid down during the last century to preserve freedom, for us and for freedom loving people throughout the world. America took nothing from that Century's terrible wars – no land from Germany or Japan or Korea; no treasure; no oath of fealty. America's resolve in the defense of liberty has been tested time and again. It has not been found wanting, nor must it ever be. America must never falter in holding high the banner of freedom.

"These American values, this great moral heritage, is shared and lived in my religion as it is in yours. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. I saw my father march with Martin Luther King. I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby, and in just as consequential ways in leading national volunteer movements. I am moved by the Lord's words: 'For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me...'

"My faith is grounded on these truths. You can witness them in Ann and my marriage and in our family. We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the self-same as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation. And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.

"Today's generations of Americans have always known religious liberty. Perhaps we forget the long and arduous path our nation's forbearers took to achieve it. They came here from England to seek freedom of religion. But upon finding it for themselves, they at first denied it to others. Because of their diverse beliefs, Ann Hutchinson was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, a banished Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, and two centuries later, Brigham Young set out for the West. Americans were unable to accommodate their commitment to their own faith with an appreciation for the convictions of others to different faiths. In this, they were very much like those of the European nations they had left.

"It was in Philadelphia that our founding fathers defined a revolutionary vision of liberty, grounded on self evident truths about the equality of all, and the inalienable rights with which each is endowed by his Creator.

"We cherish these sacred rights, and secure them in our Constitutional order. Foremost do we protect religious liberty, not as a matter of policy but as a matter of right. There will be no established church, and we are guaranteed the free exercise of our religion.

"I'm not sure that we fully appreciate the profound implications of our tradition of religious liberty. I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired … so grand … so empty. Raised up over generations, long ago, so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer. The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe's churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.

"Infinitely worse is the other extreme, the creed of conversion by conquest: violent Jihad, murder as martyrdom... killing Christians, Jews, and Muslims with equal indifference. These radical Islamists do their preaching not by reason or example, but in the coercion of minds and the shedding of blood. We face no greater danger today than theocratic tyranny, and the boundless suffering these states and groups could inflict if given the chance.

"The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed.

"In such a world, we can be deeply thankful that we live in a land where reason and religion are friends and allies in the cause of liberty, joined against the evils and dangers of the day. And you can be certain of this: Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me. And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion – rather, we welcome our nation's symphony of faith.

"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.

"In that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine 'author of liberty.' And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, 'with freedom's holy light.'

"God bless the United States of America."

Christmas Story

I love to hear these types of Christmas stories. I think they help us focus on being kind to others.

Christmas 1960 (Gratitude)
In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket.

Their father was gone.

The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two.

Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared.

Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds.

He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries.

Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either.

If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it.

I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job.

The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town.

No luck.

The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job.

Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in t hat had been converted to a truck stop.

It was called the Big Wheel.

An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids.

She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning.

She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night..

I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people.

I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night.

She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep

This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal

That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel.

When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- full y half of what I averaged every night.

As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage.

The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.

One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires!

There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires.

Had angels taken up residence in Indiana ? I wondered.

I made a deal with the local service station.

In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office.

I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires.

I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough.

Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids.

I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning.

Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.

On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe

A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine.

The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.

When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes.

I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat.

Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box.

Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10!

I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans.

Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes.. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes.
There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items.

And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.

As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude.

And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning.

Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop....

A cause I don't want to get behind... or downwind from!

I was driving to work this morning and pulled up behind a truck that had one of those magnetic ribbon support things. No offense to any of you who put these on your cars. I personally chose not to. In fact you will never see a bumper sticker or dealership license plate holder on any of my vehicles. I guess I am just not into car graffiti. Anyway this magnet I saw this morning was probably the strangest one I have ever seen. It said, "Support Farting"! Really????? Is that a cause that needs to be supported?????? Are global warming alarmists causing people to put aside their own personal CO2 emissions? Maybe this REALLY is a serious problem! Have we been blinded by good manners this whole time??? I say maybe we should all take a stand here! Just make sure I'm not around when you do!

Yeah Seminary!

This is an article that was in the Orange County Register about early morning seminary. My old bishop is quoted in it.


Thursday, November 8, 2007

Mission Viejo students take religious classes before school Mormon high school students take early morning religious classes before school.

By AMANDA GLOWISH
STAFF WRITER

Julia Knecht sets several alarm clocks before she goes to bed.

The 17-year-old wants to make sure she gets up in time for seminary class at 5:30 in the morning.

Knecht is among 200 high school students in south Orange County who attend religious classes every morning before school at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The program is run by the Church Educational System. Mormon students are enrolled from their freshman through senior year.

"I get a good feeling starting out my day here," said Knecht, a senior at Capistrano Valley High School. "If I ever miss a class I feel different; a little emptier."

The students are taught four, one-year courses on the Old and New Testament, Book of Mormon and church history. The teens are commended on their dedication to the program and their time management skills, said Kip Sheppard, seminary supervisor for the Mission Viejo LDS church.

"I admire them for getting out of bed so early every morning," Sheppard said. "I was 15 once. I remember those days."

It seems as though more students want to be a part of the early-morning ritual. Sheppard has seen enrollment for the Mission Viejo classes increase by about 40 percent over the past four years. There are almost 4,000 students across Orange County who are now enrolled in the religious program.

Seminary classes are held in Mission Viejo at an LDS church on Marguerite Parkway and one on Los Alisos Boulevard. The 12 teachers who instruct the classes are asked by the church to volunteer their time.

"Teaching these classes is one of the most difficult assignments in the church," said Greg Briggs, former seminary supervisor. "It's a tremendous amount of work and sacrifice. We love those that can connect with the youth."

Some students plan on taking what they're learning to teach others. Dallin Chambers, a senior in the program, wants to go on a mission when he graduates.

"It's (seminary) another thing you can say that you accomplished for four years of your life," Chambers said. "At 19 years old we can go and teach the gospel. Seminary is preparing me for that."

Camel Time

This is what Curry and I actually do with the camels this time of year. Camel Jumping!

Red Neck Pics!

I thought everyone would enjoy a few redneck pictures.

I thought about doing this to the 4Runner... What do you think?

Hmmmm...... interesting.

Campers can be very luxurious.... I don't see a problem here.

No comment needed!

Please take another look... this is not the back of a truck... its the back of a car!

I am not sure if this one is real or not but if its not this is too risky guys.

Notice the lawn mower being pulled buy a 3 wheeler! Who invents these things.

I wish I would have thought of this before... it probably works better then our ghetto grill.

No comment.

This is beautiful! Notice the office chair.

This is the wheelchair for any Robo Cop fan... if there are any left.

Idiot Experiences Of Others

IDIOT SIGHTING: Hubby and I had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a large enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time, a 1/2
horsepower. He shook his head and said, "Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower." I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said, "NO, it's not. Four is larger than two."

We haven't used Sears repair since.
____________________________________________________________

IDIOT SIGHTING: I live in a semi rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road. The reason: "Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! I don't think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore."

From Kingman, KS
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IDIOTS IN FOOD SERVICE: My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for "minimal lettuce." He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg.

From Kansas City !
______________________________________________________

IDIOT SIGHTING: I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked, "Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?" To which I replied, "If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?" He smiled knowingly and nodded, "That's
why we ask."

Happened in Birmingham , Ala.
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IDIOT SIGHTING: The stoplight on the corner buzzes when its safe to cross the street. I was crossing with a co-worker of mine. She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, "What on earthare blind people doing driving?!"

She was a probation officer in Wichita, KS

_______________________________________________________


IDIOT SIGHTING: At a good-bye luncheon for a dear coworker: She was leaving the company due to "downsizing." Our manager commented cheerfully, "This is fun. We should do this more often." Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.

This was at Texas Instruments.
________________________________________________________


IDIOT SIGHTING: I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself, and for the sake of her o wn life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.

A deputy with the Dallas County Sheriffs office.
________________________________________________________


IDIOT SIGHTING: When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver9s side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. "Hey," I announced to the technician, "Its open!"

His reply, "I know - I already got that side."

This was at the Ford dealership in Canton, Mississippi!
______________________________________________________________________

STAY ALERT!
They walk among us, they REPRODUCE and they VOTE!!!

Berries and Creme!

Halloween

Halloween is a great time to dress up and look ridiculous. The imagination that comes out this day is mind numbing!

55 USELESS BUT INTERESTING FACTS

I love stuff like this!!!

1) The soda 7-UP was created in 1929; "7" was selected because the original containers were 7 ounces. "UP" indicated the direction of the bubbles.

2) Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.

3) Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles from the flush.

4) The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma.

5) American car horns beep in the tone of F.

6) No piece of paper can be folded into half more than 7 times.

7) Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

8) 1 in every 4 Americans has appeared on television.

9) You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

10) Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age or older.

11) The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

12) The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

13) A Boeing 747s wingspan is longer than the Wright brothers' first flight.

14) American Airlines saved 40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first-class.

15) Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

16) The first CD pressed in the US was Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA."

17) Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

18) The 57 on the Heinz ketchup bottle represents the number of varieties of pickles the company once had.

19) The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

20) Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

21) The first owner of the Marlboro company died of lung cancer.

22) Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

23) Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined.

24) Adolf Hitler's mother seriously considered having an abortion but was talked out of it by her doctor.

25) Marilyn Monroe had six toes.

26) All US Presidents have worn glasses. Some just didn't like being seen wearing them in public.

27) The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in jelly.

28) Debra Winger was the voice of E.T.

29) Pearls melt in vinegar.

30) It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year's supply of footballs.

31) Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

32) The 3 most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.

33) It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.

34) Humans are the only primates that don't have pigment in the palms of their hands.

35) Ten percent of the Russian government's income comes from the sale of vodka.

36) The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," uses every letter in the alphabet. (Developed by Western Union to Test telex/two communications)

37) Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.

38) A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

39) The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie."(Thus the name of the Don McLean song.)

40) Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts - Charlemagne; Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

41) Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down-hence the expression "to get fired."

42) Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.

43) Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

44) Snails can sleep for 3 years without eating.

45) Actor Tommy Lee Jones and US vice-president Al Gore were freshman roommates at Harvard.

46) The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they could be confused at a crime scene.

47) Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a "Friday the 13th."

48) The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

49) There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

50) All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20

51) A pregnant gold fish is called a twit

52) Rocks explode in microwaves

53) Steam rollers don't actually roll steam

54) 1,111,111 x 1,111,111 = 1234567654321

55) Coca-Cola is better at cleaning your drain pipes than
products like Draino

I LOVE FALL

I love this time of year. I can actually say that it is probably my favorite time of the year. Not too hot... not too cold, but just right. I think my pictures do all the talking.

Sunday in the mountains

Yesterday Andrea and I went up into the mountains with Curry and Melissa and the kids. It was a lot of fun and the weather and lighting couldn't have been better.

Aspen Groves

I went on a drive up the canyon today... just me and the camera in the front seat. Andrea didnt want to venture out with me but I really enjoyed the time to get out and see a little nature. Here are some of the shots I took.

"I love technology... always and forever.."

Ok... so Google Earth has been around for a few years now. But, just recently they have updated there clarity on Maracaibo Venezuela. I just thought I would take a look to see if they had and did they ever! I took this screen shot of my area in Maracaibo. I am zoomed up far enough so you can see most of my area and some other details but it is so clear. I marked out my apartment at the time too.. just so you could get an idea. It is really amazing all the memories that come flooding back by seeing all those streets that I walked day after day. I can point out which houses I taught discussions in and where the members of the church lived. I can't believe that all this was made possible through technology. It is almost like taking a free trip back to my mission. Anyway I know this may not mean much to anyone else but there you have it.

Redneck Woman

So I know this lady... and in order to protect her innocence or lack of... I wont tell you in my post how or where I know her from but I think I have met a real red neck woman. Here are some things I have jotted down that I think could qualify her as a redneck woman. You decide!

1. If you are seen looking at the county prison records online and when asked about it you reply... I am looking up family members... its like a family album... you might be a redneck woman!

2. If you have been charged with assault for beating up your husband and now you have a warrant out for your arrest... you might be a redneck woman!

3. If you use the word ain't more than once in a sentence and most english speaking people have a hard time figuring out what you're saying... you might be a redneck woman!

4. If you advertise the you are going to the trashiest bar in the county and you are super excited about it... you might be a redneck woman!

5. If you bleach your hair more than 3 times in 1 week and it still looks orange... you might be a redneck woman!

6. If you know more than one girl that has been killed by her boyfriend... you might be a redneck woman!

7. If you live in a trailer more than 50 miles from civilization... you might be a redneck woman!

8. If you keep tampons in a cup on your desk at work... you might be a redneck woman!

9. If you are mad your daughter is sick because you will be missing opening day of the bow hunting season... you might be a redneck woman!

10. If you can name all the hunting seasons and when they begin... you might be a redneck woman!

11. If your husband has gotten an 18 year old girl pregnant and thats ok by you... you might be a redneck woman!

Andrea and I sat down at dinner the other night and went over all the outrageous things that I have heard from this girl. I thought I would have to share with y'all!

"It's a Small... Small... World..."

Just like the ride at Disneyland teaches us... it really is a small world after all. Andrea has been on this Nissan Murano kick lately. She absolutely loves these things. I have never driven one and so my opinion of them is "they look cool". After hitting a Saturday afternoon showing of Harry Potter Andrea and I decided to run by Nissan so I could have this experience of driving this car (SUV). The sales guy that came out to help us has a really thick accent that I couldnt figure out where it was from. During the test drive I asked him he was from and he said Colombia. I had visited Colombia for a week on my mission and my last area was right on the Colombian border... needless to say we immediately moved into speaking spanish and completely forgot we were on a test drive. I told him I served my mission in Venezuela and he asked med what city I served in, when I told him Maracaibo he freaked out even more because he had totally lived there, in fact he ran his business in Maracaibo. I told him where I lived in the city and he totally knew where I was talking about. It was so cool. He told me that he moved from Colombia to California.. I told him I was from California and he said on really what part and when I told him you should have seen the look on his face... he was shocked.. thats exactly where he lived in CA. I dont think I have ever had such a random connection to a car sales man. This didnt work out in his favor but it was nice to meet him. What are odds really...

My Beautiful Wife

Here is Andrea my beautiful sweet wife. Andrea is not just beautiful on the outside she is also beautiful on the inside. Andrea is a good wife. The best wife in the entire world. Andrea is always fun to be around. Andrea can always make you laugh. She also loves to laugh until she cries. Andrea although very compassionate, loves to laugh when others fall or get hurt. She says she can't help it. Andrea loves her family so much. Andrea loves making sure I don't embarrass myself. Andrea loves a good snuggle and a good back scratch. Andrea cannot have enough earrings, purses, and of course shoes. She loves to sleep in on Saturdays and she loves to sit in front at church on Sunday. She gets really sad when the other team loses. She loves trips and sunflower seeds too. I think everyone would be better off by having Andrea in their lives. The very best part about Andrea is that she loves me right back.

In case you were wondering...

I have been asked a lot lately about my new job. So far so good... I really enjoy working somewhere where I know we are providing a great product that people really enjoy. The last couple of weeks have been mostly training... so nothing too exciting but it is a lot to remember and I have to test on all the info on Wednesday. I am not a great test taker so cross your fingers for me. I am actually sitting in the living room with the lights off typing right now so I feel a little like Doogie Howser.... at the end of the show he always sat at the computer and typed a recap of what was happening... Andrea thinks I am weird... I think I am a boy genius! Anyway... so if I have been hard to get a hold of... its because I can't talk at work... what a shame... but its the price I pay for working with a good company. Peace out.

Oh I need some feedback on my birthday card to Andrea... There are two couples on the front with horse heads... the one couple says, "Why yes we are horse people too... our boots must have given us away!" I stood at Target and just laughed at the card... I died when I gave it to Andrea too... she didnt think it as funny as I did... but come on... the boots? As if they couldnt see that they also had horse heads! I need to scan the card and post it on here... I love it! Maybe I am lame... ok... now really.... peace out.

Happy Birthday Andrea

Andrea and I had a really fun birthday weekend. On Friday night we went to a play called "Kiss me Kate" at an outdoor theater. A friend of ours Jake Bryant had a part in the play so it made it more interesting for us. We also went out on Saturday night for her birthday because her birthday fell on a Sunday this year. We went to the Texas Road House Grill. We love that place! Sunday we went to Curry and Melissa's to have dinner and dessert for the birthday girl. We had a fun weekend together!

Provo Fire

Here are some shots of the fire that we could see from our place. It progressed a lot more but by dark it was contained.

Glam shots by Brad

Bart came over for a quick photo shoot. I think this one will work out nice...

Are you even kidding me?

This is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Does anyone else think it sounds like it all about the money?

Starburst Fruit Chews are exactly as their name would indicate: chewy. But one Michigan woman says the candies are so chewy, they should come with a warning label.

Victoria McArthur, of Romero, Mich., is suing Starbursts' parent company, Mars Inc., for more than $25,000 for "permanent personal injuries" she claims she sustained after biting into one of their yellow candy in 2005.

"I don't know, maybe about 3 chews and it literally locked my jaw … and it just literally pulled my jaw out of joint," she told MyFoxDetroit.com.

McArthur's lawyer, Brian Muawad, says the candies caused her to develop a condition known as temporal mandibular joint dysfunction. McArthur says she has had trouble chewing, talking and sleeping since the incident.

Muawad says McArthur offered to negotiate a settlement with Starburst's insurer to pay for her rehabilitation, but the company said no way. A spokesman for Mars refused to comment.

McArthur says she just wants to make sure nobody else meets the same end she did when she decided to indulge her sweetooth.

"I don't want to see anybody else have to go through what I have gone through from eating a piece of candy that was supposed to be soft chew," she said.

Me as PC

I just figured out how I can email my pictures from my camera phone to myself so I can post them. This is a picture of me in my Halloween costume dressed as PC from the Apple computers commercial. My friend Jeff was Mac and we were a hit. We won second place to a guy who dressed up as a hooker nun... any guy who is willing to do that deserves to win.

Silly Putty Face

Here is one of my Silly Putty creations! I wasn't trying to model after anyone in particular... but hey... when you don't have anything else to do at a job you have already quit... what do you do? Our AC is broken here... thus the shine on his face.

Facial Hair

So I am not a huge fan of growing facial hair... I sometimes let it grow out a little farther than I should just because shaving is such a hassle. Andrea didn't think that I would actually leave a little on my face in the form of a goatee. She wouldn't even look at me before I shaved it completely off... but good thing I have a camera phone! Its not much I know... but its not really my thing either.

Deep thoughts by Brad

I was thinking on my way to the bathroom at work... man I sure wont miss this building. Then I thought... why do we call it a building when it has already been built... we should call it a built. I work in a built... I live in a built...

I am tired of saying 'flip flops'... when did we switch to that anyway. I wasn't done calling them 'thongs'. Its so much easier to say thongs... there should be no confusion with the other word 'thong' because typically you only wear those one at a time thus the singular usage. So the added 's' means they are thong sandals. Starting now... they are 'thongs' again!

Does anyone know why the word cool has stayed cool? Other words like tubular or radical have not stood the test of time. Cool is like the ultimate word to use to express how 'cool' something is. Cool really, if you think about it has bridged together generations of people who use this word. Anyway have a cool summer.

I was watching the news this morning and the guy they have as their "funny reporter" (who is not normally funny) was actually funny this morning. He was reporting live from some western days carnival or something and he was sitting on one of those pig slides that have where you all race down at the same time. He said "they actually named this ride after my college nickname" and they panned out to show the name of it. It read "Flying Fanny". I was dying! Who names a slide that.

Join me later for more thoughts by Brad

New job!!!!

So beginning on July 2nd I will be working for CirclePix. I interviewed yesterday and everything went really well. They called me back right away and brought me on board. I think its funny that people say get on board or we are on board with that... I guess its like from the pirate days... rrrrrr ya on board? Anyway... I am super excited to move up and on with my work. I am confident that this new company will be great for me.

Bad Utah Drivers

Driving in Utah can be a very stressful thing. You have to always be on alert for people who aren't paying attention or who think they can make a u-turn anywhere. I would say that Utah is a great place but, I could do without their lack of "rill" (real) driving skills. I have wanted to blog so many times about different near misses I have had with people who have for example stopped on the freeway on ramp for no apparent reason... the usual lane drifter... and my favorite the u-turning big rigs. Apparently the Vatican released a list of commandments for drivers (very interesting) and someone in Utah apparently took it upon themselves to create the 10 commandments of driving in Utah. Here they are in order according to ksl.com

1. THOU SHALT BE MINDFUL OF FARM EQUIPMENT.

Are you kidding me? Farm equipment? Ok... you can have that one.

2. THOU SHALT SIGNAL BEFORE YOU TURN, EVEN IF YOU’RE THE POLICE.

I agree with this one but let me add, just because you throw on your blinker for 2 seconds doesnt mean you can come plowing over.. wait your turn.

3. THOU SHALT BE COURTEOUS ON THE ROADS, EVEN IF YOU’RE FROM CALIFORNIA.

This one really ticks me off... I know I am from California but, come on Californians are the best thing that has happened to Utah's roads. Take note on how we drive... CORRECTLY!

4. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

Ohhhhhhhh.... ok!!!!!

5. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ROAD RAGE.

Road rage wouldn't be such an issue if everyone followed the same rules... if someone has "raged" against you... ask yourself "did I deserve the lesson?" Chances are you did!

6. THOU SHALT ALLOW KIDS TO CROSS IN THE CROSSWALK.

No comment on cross walks... I agree... kids are super important. In fact they are so important that they need to be buckled in their seat belts. If you see parents allowing their kids to ride without seat belts you can call 800 887-5437 and this non profit organization will mail those people information about how important it is to have their kids buckled up... I don't care if you don't wear a seat belt... you are old enough to understand but, come parents buckle your kids in!

7. THOU SHALT BE RESPONSIBLE.

Yes this is the right idea... if you aren't following the rules of driving... yes there are certain rules to we can all drive at the same time... you are not being responsible.

8. THOU SHALT ALLOW PEOPLE TO MERGE.

You will be allowed to merge if you speed up to get on the freeway... 35 mph is not fast enough... you will be run over.

9. THOU SHALT STAY OFF THE TELEPHONE.

If you cannot handle operating a little cell phone and a big machine at the same time... and people are "road raging" against you... hang up the phone. If you know you can do both... who cares... I will talk on the phone when I drive... it still requires a little thing called paying attention and I have mastered how to do both.

10. THOU SHALT NOT TAILGATE.

This is how I got my very first ticket when I was 17. If someone is on your tail.. that means you are going too slow and you need to immediately GET OVER. This isnt rocket science people... recognize the signs and do us all a favor.

Meriel my sister in law has contributed a few more commandments. Here they are
I would like to add to the list:

11. Thou shalt not rubber neck when there is a cop on the other side of the freeway pulling someone over.

12. Thou shalt not rubber neck altogether.

13. Thou shalt not slow down at slight curves. (the centrifugal force isn't going to throw you off the road, it's okay you can still go at least 65)

14. Thou shalt not block people out when they turn their blinkers on. (It's like you're telling them your next move and they refuse to let you in.)

15. Thou shalt not drive slow in the left lane, btw that is the fast lane.

16. Thou shalt not even get on the freeway if you are carrying an uncovered load of dirt or rocks.
Thanks Meriel... great contribution!

In conclusion... take responsibility for your driving... if you are a terrible driver and you know it... recognition is half the battle get some help bad Utah drivers! Click here for help!

The little things in life

So for my birthday I splurged and bought myself a converter for my lamp to make it a touch lamp. I was in Home Depot with Andrea... I was waiting for her while she used the ladies room and I bumped a lamp and it turned on. It was like a light bulb went off in my head! I need my lamp on my nightstand to be TOUCH! I found what I needed (only $8) and I could'nt wait to get home and install it. Andrea teases me about it, but I love it. It actually gave me a really really dim option which is great in case Andrea heads to the sack early. No more maneuvering around to my side of the bed with the light from my cell phone screen. See its not that I am lazy, my lamp was just very stiff to turn the switch on and off.. I needed to get at it from just the right angle. BUT...... now I can just touch any part of it... its just as good as the clapper but quieter.. Needless to say I love my new lamp! I guess you can say that it doesn't take much to make me happy!

Summer time!

I love living in Utah to see the seasons change. As I get older I really like each season for what they contribute to my life. I am really into the things that remind me of each season. As most of you know I am into smells... if you take me to a store that has candles, chances are that I wont leave until I have have smelled each one and stated my opinion about each. Anyway, I compiled a bunch of pictures of what summer is to me, some I like simply because of the smells. I didn't take any of these pictures but I hope that I will have a run in with each of these things this year!

As a Man Thinketh By James Allen

Bart got me this awesome book for my birthday. I was trying to find information online about the book and its author and came across the free ebook. Its a short read but its full of great thought... on thoughts. Take the time to read it... you will be glad you did.

CLICK HERE FOR THE EBOOK (PDF FORMAT)