Who ever said nothing in life was free... Was Wrong

Ok... so I must've helped some old lady cross the street in the Premortal life because I certainly don't think that I deserve any of what I'm about to show you, but somehow or another I've been exceptionally blessed with some goods, that while temporal, are very much appreciated.

The story runs as follows...

In the space of Thursday morning to Saturday evening I have somehow managed to have item after item given to me from friends, coworkers, and some guy who was helping me move stuff.

1. Snowshoes... Retail Value $50-$100 Donated by: Scott's Ski and Sports

2. 661 Carbon Full Face Helmet. Retail Value $100-$150 Donated by: Fellow Mechanic Alan Worley

Rossignol Pro1 Race Boot Retail Value $700 Donated by: Scott's Ski and Sports

And last but certainly not least: MY NEW 42" Plasma Flatscreen... Donated by: Some guy named Kenny.

Ok... so the TV isn't really mine... yet... The way that worked out is on Thursday I was helping a friend of mine move out of her apartment. Whilst standing in the midst of mobile chaos in walks a guy to help another one of the girls living in the apartment. We get to talking and turns out he has so many Flatscreen TV's (some people are just cursed) that he really doesn't want to pack them all up. We get to talking.. I (being male) mention how I wished I had one.. and he.. being kind (or stupid) says that I can take it for the summer and if by summers end I want to keep it he'll sell it for $350... Still debating on the purchasing thing... but I must say that it's very tempting.

Anyway... I know it's no where near as cool as your children, but hey.. they're like babies to me so read it and wheep... Gotta love being in the right place at the right time.

Once a Nerd always a Nerd

I'm not too sure how many of you remember the "laboratory" that I constructed in the basement of the Chiloquin house. I didn't look like much. Kinda was just a collection of cut up soda bottles to the untrained eye, but you didn't know I was building my own airtanks :P....

I digress, but the reason I bring it up now is that I have realized that you can take the boy out of the Lab, but you can't take the lab out of the boy. And thanks to a Mother who can dream with her children, I have finally finished building the COOLEST THING since Dexter's Laboratory. Behold... My 8'x3' White Board.

I know the photos aren't the best... Reflective surfaces in a dimly lit room aren't the best, but as you can somewhat see... with a few upholstery tacks and twenty dollars I was able to acquire and hang two 4'x3' sheets of whiteboard acquired from Lowes for only 9.69 a piece. The idea was so ingenious even my engineer minded roommate Myka got in on the action. With his own giant white-board. Now he's got a place to sketch out the designs for his motorcycle. :D









Why all this work do you ask? Well... It came as a desire to write out my thoughts for an extensive study I'm currently doing on the Allegory of the Olive Tree. I've also discovered that I am what's known as a "Structuralist" amongst literary scholars. In short whenever I read something I construct patterns, boxes, and categories into my mind. This board is going to be my best friend in Scripture Study, English Class, and for whenever I want to outline my thoughts concerning any literature I get my pudgy little paws on. :D Maybe I sound nuts.. Maybe I am.. who knows, but in the end I know that you're all jealous of my SUPER SWEET WHITE-BOARD.

JEALOUSY!!!

Ok... So as I mentioned in a previous post my good buddy John had gotten his hands on a pretty sweet Downhill Bike known as the GLORY from Giant. I'll spare you all the techy details on why it is so cool, but yesterday when it came in the mail we were both like two kids on Christmas Morning!! John called sick to work, and I(having no work, or homework for that matter) dedicated an entire afternoon to building it up. (NOTE: Here is where I would normally list off all the cool stuff like CODE DISC BRAKES, BOXXER FORK, AND POLISHED ALUMINUM FRAME... but if you notice I have refrained :P ) A few tightened, loosened, and retightened bolts later, also a quick run to the LBS(Local Bike Shop) for a new chain, and we were pulling wheelies up and down the street just like when we 14. At this point I think I caught Kaylee, John's Wife, shaking her head and muttering, "what have I done?". But she was cool enough to escort us on our next mandatory endeavor. JUMPS!

Now I don't know how it goes for girls, but I am certain that there is some eternal law decreed that any boy who gets a new bike, must immediately search out some way of becoming airborne despite any condition of Weather, of Law. Armed with John's new toy, and a loaned BMX bike we set off for a local park where we could find a potential jump. It was buried under about 4 inches of snow, and even though you had to roll over a crumbled pile of concrete in order to get any speed the jump proved to be quite successful, so long as you didn't brake as this would cause the bike to lose all traction whatsoever. I unfortunately didn't have my camera on me so no pictures can be provided at this time, but after a little digging in the snow we had a decent little kicker on our hands. We even returned later that night and with the use of our strategically placed headlights were able to continue the fun in the dark. John was even kind enough to let me ride his new bike, and I must agree that it lives up to the name because it was GLORIOUS!! I've never felt a Downhill bike that was so nimble. The agility and handling was superb, but at the same time the bike was rock solid taking larger bumps. I must say that I am completely jealous now...

Doubting Thomas

As we sojourn through this life we are often caught up in the daily struggle for survival. The steady grind of heartbeats that take us from one breath to the next. We begin to see the world through a filter, a filter that shows us what we want to see rather than what we really see. It zooms in onto the minutest parts of our lives, pulling the surroundings of the larger picture out of focus. It is often what makes life bearable. It is what keeps us sane, and if that filter is removed with tainted hands our very sense of self can collapse. Sometimes, however. Sometimes a hand that is pure of spirit, and free of taint will come and will remove that filter. It may come in instance as we stand in the grocery line, or it may sneak by so slowly through are friends and family that we never notice that it was there. It may come in a sight, a sound, or a smell. It may come through a few soft spoken words echoing through the power of a microphone. But when it does come, and for each of us it will, and when that filter is removed, we are granted a brief look into the awesome majesty of what this life really is. IT IS AMAZING. And it has recently made me feel quite smile. A speck in the vastness of infinity. And even though I cannot emphasis with Moses words, I truly can believe it when he said "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed."

Today as I was driving in my car I heard a song that I often listened to on my Mission, and it seemed to reflect my own feelings unto me as it had so often done during my service to the Germans. It's called Doubting Thomas.

"Doubting Thomas"

What will be left when I've drawn my last breath
Besides the folks I've met and the folks who've known me
Will I discover a soul-saving love
Or just the dirt above and below me

I'm a doubting Thomas
I took a promise
But I do not feel safe
Oh me of little faith

Sometimes I pray for a slap in the face
Then I beg to be spared cause I'm a coward
If there's a master of death
I bet he's holding his breath
As I show the blind and tell the deaf about his power

I'm a doubting Thomas
I can't keep my promises
Cause I don't know what's safe
Oh me of little faith

Can I be used to help others find truth
When I'm scared I'll find proof that it's a lie
Can I be led down a trail dropping bread crumbs
That prove I'm not ready to die

Please give me time to decipher the signs
Please forgive me for time that I've wasted

I'm a doubting Thomas
I'll take your promise
Though I know nothin's safe
Oh me of little faith

As always... when reading the scriptures it's important to always read to the end. For even after Moses sees all of the Lords Creations, and is left unto himself to understand the reality of his weaknesses. He is then shown an even greater picture. One that trancends all other creations.

FOR BEHOLD, THIS IS MY WORK AND MY GLORY- TO BRING TO PASS THE IMMORTALITY AND ETERNAL LIFE OF MAN.

Just some food for thought.

HELP I"M OUT OF OPIATES!!!

Ever since I last pulled my bike from the dusty confines of the storage shed I have been suffering from some serious summer day withdrawals. Now I know some of you(*cough cough* Daniel) think that there is nothing better than a good long winter, and I would be inclined to agree if but for one thing: WHERE THE HECK IS THE SNOW!!! Sheesh the weather here is about as decisive as a girl trying to decide between fuchsia or periwinkle toenail polish. That and given the current variables of $$$$, knee, and time are at an all time low this winter has seriously begun to blow.

So in order to keep myself sane I have prescribed myself the following doses of BIKING GOODNESS.

STEP ONE: GO TO PINKBIKE.COM

THEN CHECK OUT THE POD:(PICTURE OF THE DAY)

AFTER THAT I THEN GO BEGIN UPLOADING THE VOD(VIDEO OF THE DAY)

AND AS THAT LOADS I GO TO THE BUY/SELL PAGE AND LOOK AT THE WORLDS BEST ONLINE GARAGE SALE!!!

OOH... THIS LOOKS NICE, AND IT'S ONLY $650... (contemplate completely unjustified road to Sandy Oregon for a test ride..... still contemplating)

PHONE RINGS: TEXT MESSAGE FROM JOHN: DUDE KAYLEE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO GET THAT BIKE I TOLD YOU ABOUT!!!!

LOOK UP GIANT GLORY THAT JOHN IS BUYING AND DROOL FOR ABOUT 15 MIN.

STILL DROOLING,(NOTICE THE CUSTOM SILVER PAINT JOB, AND THE 2010 ROCKSHOX BOXXER... THIS THING IS MINT!!!!)(AND DON'T FORGET THE MAESTRO REAR SUSPENSION) AND CONTEMPLATING A SNATCH AND GRAB MOVE NEXT TIME I SEE A UPS TRUCK AT JOHN'S HOUSE.

I MUST HIDE MY FACE AT THIS POINT IN ORDER TO HIDE THE TEARS, AND THEN SEDATE MYSELF BY WATCHING THE FINALLY LOADED VOD.

REPEAT EVERY FIVE MINUTES OR AS NEEDED UNTIL SUNNY DAYS FREQUENT THE SKY

PHOTOS

Ok....So It's time for me to come out of the closet and admit to everyone that I'm a photo packrat. I've got drawers here in my desk filled with rolls of developed film, a shelf in the closet with just the mission, and a box buried somewhere in the annals of time with everything pre-mission. Well I've gotten into a nasty habit of cruising the web, and everytime I see a photo I like I just have to copy it to my harddrive. I don't know if this is stealing or not, but hey... I got 'em and I felt like showing a couple.

Cool Engagement Photo

Lunch Break DayDreams

A Fresh Perspective

On the way home from tracting...I even managed to give him a Book of Mormon

Why I Ride!

Ok....So It's time for me to come out of the closet and admit to everyone that I'm a photo packrat. I've got drawers here in my desk filled with rolls of developed film, a shelf in the closet with just the mission, and a box buried somewhere in the annals of time with everything pre-mission. Well I've gotten into a nasty habit of cruising the web, and everytime I see a photo I like I just have to copy it to my harddrive. I don't know if this is stealing or not, but hey... I got 'em and I felt like showing a couple.

DI RAID!!!!!

So last weekend my good buddy Heather was volunteering at DI. She knew was looking for an armchair for my apartment and so I was awoken at the crack of noon with a text message telling me to come check out the good ol' Deseret Industries. Well I didn't find any furniture that wasn't stained, or older than Fred Flintstone(just about as soft too), but I did find some sweet deals....

A reprinted copy of the 1841 edition of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist"- $2

A 70's blue TRIPOD $5

A second camera body - The exact same as my Canon EOS 750...it's old, but a trustworthy model. Now I can run both my lens without having to switch bodies. A great thing when you're on the side of a mountain. $10

And the greatest thing for any college student techie. A Projector. Just a few days earlier Myka(roommate) and I were scanning the internet for projectors to turn our sweet bachelor pad into an awesome Home Video Center. The bulb is broken, but Myka is currently fixing that. $35

I love DI...Half my furniture came from there, and I doubt that I've even topped $100 in this whole year. GO ECONOMIC RECESSION!!!!