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!