Holiday Top 5

Alright, so Christmas is behind us, New Years is just around the corner. I figure it's time for a Holiday Top 5 list..

#5 - Going somewhere warm

Living in Salt Lake City is cold. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I actually love the snow, wearing jackets and beanies, and winter-time activities, but coming to San Diego for a few days and wearing shorts in December is wonderful. I'm taking a two week vacation this year.

#4 - Shopping Online

Holiday traffic, both on the roads and in the stores, freaking blows. I'm glad I jumped on the online shopping bandwagon a few years ago. No headaches, just a little planning ahead.

#3 - Drift racing

I love it when I don't have to be somewhere by a certain time and there's snow on the roads. It's the one time that my 9 year old 4Runner becomes a rice rocket. Don't be surprised to see me completely sideways on the road as I drift past Paul Walker and Vin Diesel on my way to glory.

#2 - Trust funds

Okay, so maybe I don't have one, but I kind of feel like it this week. I am doing absolutely nothing, but I'm still getting paid. This is the first time I've had a job that gives me paid time off, and I'm milking it and blowing it all while I sit around my parents house. I feel like a king.

#1 - Cookies

Christmas joy, spirit of giving, love unto your fellow man, yadda yadda yadda. That stuff is great and all, but the real spirit of Christmas is cookies. My mom just made some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that would melt your face with their deliciousness.

Audiophile

I recently made two resolutions.

1. Stop stealing music.
- I'm going to actually buy music rather than download it. I decided this for two reasons. One of the reasons is my 2nd resolution, the other is for honesty's sake.

2. Stop listening to downgraded music.
- Okay, so this is kinda nerdy, but once you start, you can't go back. .Mp3's are compressed versions of CD quality audio files. They basically chop a big chunk of the sound spectrum off each end and just give you the meat of the music. Most people don't notice the difference, but I do.

I've started ripping all my music in Apple Lossless format, and the sound quality really is a whole lot better, especially through a semi-decent pair of headphones. You'll hear things in songs that you've never noticed before if you do it. The music is much fuller.

The downside? File size. A full album in lossless is around 300mb.

The other downside? I didn't realize how many of my favorite albums I've never actually owned, or bands for that matter. I've never bought a single CD by Brand New, who is quite possibly my favorite band... Weird. I've got a lot of music to buy.

I just can't stop...

So I have a little problem...

The other day I was perusing the local Barnes and Noble and there was the most soothing and happy music playing over the sound system. I had never heard it before, but it sounded a whole lot like Mr. Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service. I thought maybe it was a new album spawned from his genius. Seriously, everything that guy touches is gold (including his fiance).

After a little while a nice lady came over the PA and announced that we were listening to Owl City's new album "Ocean Eyes."

I had heard of these guys (or guy, I should say. It's just one dude) on the interweb, but had never listened to them. I went back to the music section to check it out. It was about $15, so being the cheapskate I am, I went over to FYE and picked it up for $9.99 (No, I didn't download it on limewire, I don't do that anymore.)

Anyway. I can't stop listening to it. It's quickly climbing the charts in my iTunes most played list... If you like happy, slightly cheezy, synth based music with vocals by a guy who sounds a lot like Ben Gibbard, you should check it out.

If you're into Metallica and like to rip the heads off of stuffed animals for fun, well, go listen to it anyway. I might calm you down a bit.

Being a kid again.

So the nerd in me totally geeked out the other day when I randomly came across this:

That's right. It's the Collectors Edition LEGO Millennium Falcon. It's only about $630 on Amazon.com.
I'll be honest, I want it. The only problem is, there is no way for me to justify getting something like this. There are a lot of better ways to spend $630. Nobody is going to be impressed with my $630 collectors edition Millennium Falcon. I really just can't pull it off.

I was thinking about how lame it is that I'm not allowed to be into all the stuff I was when I was a kid when I came up with the perfect solution.

I don't have to be a kid to play with kids toys, I just have to have a kid to play with. It's genius. I can "be a good dad" and buy my kid stuff that I secretly just want to play with.

Things like:



And



So get over here baby mama, and let's do this thing.

Oh, and it had better be a boy.

BYU Ride Board

In the Wilkinson Center at BYU there's a big map of the US with little boxes around the edges that you can place little cards advertising open spots in your car to different parts of the country. You can also place cards saying you're looking for a ride.

I've never used the BYU ride board before, but due to a last-minute decision last night to head home for Thanksgiving I decided to give it a shot.

All the cards for people looking for rides turned out to be a bust. Guess its kinda short notice. The only winner was a girl named Johanna looking for someone to split gas with.

Or so I thought.

Turns out we have a packed car here. Johanna's hubby is behind the wheel and I'm smashed in the back with a couple random losers.

Currently, I'm dodging dozing headbuts from Wilbur here next to me. Why the girl isn't sitting in the middle I have no idea, but if Willy puts his foot on top of mine one more time I'm going to lose it.
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Clinical Time

Yesterday I did my clinical hours for my EMT-b certification at the wonderful American Fork Hospital.

I spent 10 hours in the ER. It was a decent time. After 10 hours in a hospital, I've come to some conclusions.

MEDICINE IS RAD



I actually had a lot of fun, and I could see myself working in a hospital type setting. I didn't get to do a whole lot, but I saw a lot of people being helped. I like that.

SCRUBS ARE SEXY



I don't know what it is about a girl in scrubs. It's just incredibly attractive to me. Good thing I'm dating a nurse.

By the way... If you do a Google Images search for nurse, don't add a modifier such as "hot" or "sexy"... The pictures are kinda of naughty. Seriously. Don't click those links.

I LIKE BABIES



There were a couple cases involving small children. One was having trouble breathing. He was gasping and wheezing between sobs. It broke my heart. It was the only thing that affected me. I saw dying people, doctors doing stitches on big cuts, burns and lots of blood. The kid tripped me out though.

So thanks AF ER for taking good care of me and showing me a good time in your hospital.

Hunting the world's most dangerous creature...

I recently found out that I passed my background investigation for the United States Border Patrol. I'm supposed to be getting an EOD (entrance on duty) date within the next 30-60 days. Here's a taste of what I'll be doing for a job.

Shaking hands with various ex-presidents of the US (while on horseback, of course)


Shooting large and expensive weapons. (And free unlimited ammo)


Driving boats and stuff.


Get a 4x4 truck, dunebuggy, or quad and unlimited gas to go drive around.


Snake wrangling (not the most dangerous creature)

I get paid to do this crap. Are you kidding me?

Ma, I got the swine.

I may or may not have swine flu.

I'll spare you the vomitous details, but I got pretty sick last night. I finally was able to fall asleep around 4am, and when I woke up I actually felt pretty great, but by the time church rolled around I was feeling pretty poopy again, so I broke out after sacrament so as not to infect the entire ward.

Too bad I don't have a wife. I would have her rub my belly and make me soup. Where are you wife?

Wrong Drivethru

So one day I was driving around and I decided to stop for something to eat. I pulled into the drive thru with my mind made up already. I didn't even look at the menu, I just pulled up to the crackly voice box thing and confidently ordered.

Me- "I'd like a guacamole bacon burger please."

Drive thru guy - "Well, if you want to, you can drive down the road to Carl's Jr and they can probably get one of those for you. But we actually don't serve those here."

Me- "Huh? Where am I?"

DtG- "Burger King."

Me - "Ah crap..." (Sound of car speeding away)

One of my blondest moments for sure. At least it was the drive thru so they didn't see my face.

I just went to Subway instead.

On a side note, the guacamole bacon 6 dollar burger is absolutely delicious.
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The Bar Scene

Apparently its been 8 months since I updated my blog...

I've been getting in trouble so I'm posting. I'm sitting here in Park City with some good friends.

It's "glamour" night at Harry-O's, so there are girls in bikini's and furry hooker boots dancing on the bar (pictures NOT included). Not my scene. We didn't stay long.

We went down a couple doors to the No Name Saloon where instead of trance rave music they were playing Led Zeppelin. Now we're talking. That's where the picture comes from. I don't do the bar scene very often, and everytime I do I am reminded why I don't. But I'm with friends, so I'm having fun. Besides, someone's gotta drive.

Maybe I'll be a little better about updating this thing. Sorry guys.
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