Monthly update...

I still don't have internet at home and its hard to be able to blog at work. I'm hoping to get internet soon but we'll see. I am really enjoying my new job. I get to go to Canada to train next week and I am stoked about that. My wife and my son are going to visit my family while I'm away. I'm really sad that my family lives so far away and we don't get to see them that often. More than me not being able to see them I feel bad that my son doesn't get to know his grandparents that much. I worried about that before we had kids. I'm closer to my mom's parents than I am to my dad's. I really want my kids to know and love to visit my parents too, so I'm glad that they get to go spend time with my family even though I won't be there. I'm still here, still alive, still kicking - for anyone that might be following this... don't know who but you never know.

Yeah, I'm a slacker...

I still don't have internet at home and I haven't been able to blog at work because I've been so busy. I started a new job, well position at work, so I'm a salary man now! Its a nice change and I'm excited to be here. The day goes by faster and I'm enjoying it more. I just wanted to post and say that I've added the Google calendar button to the right, Something I'm trying out. Google has some amazing products and I've been pleased with the calendar so far, I just hope I keep up to date on it. Well until I can post again, peace!

update: ok, so I didn't know you have to have a google account to view other people's calendars, sorry but if you decide to sign up for a calendar... never hurts to try it!

Ahoy Matey!

ok cheezy title but what else do you quotes pirates but RRRRRR? COOL new site for those of us that are stuck in cubies all day. Office Pirates will help you stay sane! AVAST!

I love it when you call me big PAPA!

I'm sorry I haven't posted this sooner but its been a crazy 2 weeks. This is him! This is my oldest son. This picture was taken a few days ago so he was about a week and a half old at this point. He was born Feb 13th at 7:45pm. Came via c-section cause he was 9 lbs 15 oz and didn't want to come the "normal" way. He is the most perfect, adorably baby ever. I'll try and post more pictures later.

Gas prices creeping back up.

I have enjoyed (weird to say that about $1.90 a gallon) the cheaper gas prices. I have been bummed that they have been creeping back up. I found an article about changing cars over to using ethanol as a gasoline substituted. The problem is in order for the country to switch would be for us (the consumers) to demand it, as we all know money talks.
I think it would be great to move to a power source that would be less harmful on the environment, be cheaper to buy, etc... I think one of the best reasons to move towards this is that it would help make our country more self reliant. We would be an independently strong nation. If anyone has any good ideas on how to make this a stronger possibility, or on how to make it known to the "powers that be" that we want this let me know and help me spread the news.

There has to be a better way.

I have been a NM resident for the passed 10 years, I have relished in the fact that I am not a UT resident. As of next week my NM driver's license expires and since I don't make it to NM that often anymore and since my son is going to be born in UT it made sense to get a UT one. Well today was the long dreaded day. Went to the DMV as early as possible to avoid a long wait. We got there and there were only 4 people ahead of me so I was excited.
"In and out" we thought but no. Today of all days the computer system there had to go down and they had to do everything manually. I realized that if the DMV was a retail business and not a goverment sanctioned and even required process no one would ever shop there. It has to be the worst and most ineffective place in the world (not counting government work).
It took almost an hour to get thru 4 people, get me up there and give me the written test (yes, you have to take the written test again in UT if you are getting your license for the first time), less than ten minutes to take the test and then another 20 or so for them to grade it, take my picture and tell me they will mail me my license in 2 weeks and give me a temporary one for the mean time.
I don't get it, you think with as many people that they have to process daily they would have a much better system of getting people thru the process. Every one has DMV horror stories... why do we put up with it? Why don't we demand a better way? Probably cause it takes so long to get thru it noone wants to spend their life trying to get something changed in a government process.
On another note, why is it always old grumpy people that work there? Like how many licks it takes to get to the tootsie roll center of a lollipop... no one will ever know.

One Mizzle Stiznep Along tha Wiz-ay...

I just had this passed on to me and I've been getting a real kicker out of it. Snoop Dog has is own language and it can be rather entertaining. My friend sent me this link where it changes any website you go to into S-N-double-O-P D-doube O-G language. I just put my blog address in and got a really good kick out of reading the "Dancing Queen" post. Try it out and enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Sitting here thinking, wondering. Where does time really go? Some days it seems to fly by and other times it drags on so slow you wonder how you're going to survive. The last couple of days I've just sat here wondering, how can it be 2006 already? I feel like I accomplished a lot in 2005 but theres always more to do.
With all that 2005 brought it makes you wonder what else is out there. What is in store for me? What opportunities will I have this year that I didn't have last year?
I know that 2006 will be a very interesting year for me because my first son will be born shortly. Its hard to believe that I will be a dad. I will be responsible for another life. I will be responsible to raise my son and teach him all that he will need to survive in the world. I'll have to teach him right from wrong. How to make good decisions, how to deal with heartache, and how to learn from mistakes...
I am really glad that I found a woman for my wife and mother of my children, that I know will be a good example for them. I am glad for parents that taught me well and have shown me a good example. I am grateful for my religion and my faith in Jesus Christ. I have so much that I have been blessed with, even to the point that I don't feel worthy of it.
I look forward to the New Year and the new challenges cause I know I want them and I will grow from them. Bring on 2006!!

Product review...

I never thought that I would do a product review because I never really thought that it was necessary. But recently I started using a product that I think needs no push from me but I want to give it still. I used to make fun of my roommate for using his "sonicare" toothbrush. I used to think that it was just a cheezy tool that was overpriced and over-hyped.
For a christmas present (on recommendation from my dentist) I bought one for my wife and myself. Its only been one week since we started using them but we are sold. My wife said to me yesterday "i think we may be sonicare people for life" and continually raves about how she feels "just home from the dentist clean."
It doesn't take much pressure, none actually, and it keeps your teeth nice and clean. They are a little bit expensive but they are definately worth it for the cleanliness it provides. Try and enjoy!

My Flickr badge!

So I was reading my friend Brian's blog and I decided to check FLICKR out. I uploaded a few photos and was just having fun with the settings and what not. I came upon a what they call the "flickr badge". I don't know coding that well but I am learning how to manipulate some code a little bit. I had my friend Tristan help me so I wouldn't totally screw it up but I was able to create my own Flickr badge. You can go to flickr and look at my pictures. I am just on the free account so I don't have a lot up there yet but its fun to do new things.


I have since removed the flickr badge.

My Dancing Queen...

I couldn't resist posting this. This is my sister-in-law in her halloween costumer. Yes those are her real lips and her real hair. Her mom made this for her and she hated to take it off. She always did her little disco dancing moves and it was HILARIOUS. I had to share the love. Cutie aint she!?!

The BIG announcement...

Update: ITS A BOY!!!!!! According to the ultrasound everything is going well and the baby looks great! It is a boy and we are very excited. Takeing votes and name suggestions. We are thinking about a few but are still open to suggestions. If we don't choose your name don't be offended, we just didn't like it that much. ;-)
Either that or we liked another one better.

Standing up for what you believe in...

There are many times and places to stand up for what you believe. I got this "Paul Harvey quote" forwarded to me in an email and I wanted to put it up here for all to read. (I later found on snopes.com that its not Paul Harvey but Nick Gholson but its still a great piece).

Our nation is great and was founded on special principles, Christian principles, and that is what has made our nation great. God Bless America!


Nick Gholson, a writer for Times Record News in Wichita Falls, TX writes:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to
sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.
I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and
hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his
theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be
endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer
before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up
there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just
talking to a God they believe in and asking him to
grant safety to the players on the field and the fans
going home from the game.

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a
country founded on Christian principles. According to
our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber
all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you
expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem,
I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad,
I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome...

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument.

What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going
to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30
seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or
a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the
concession stand.
Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or
two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.
I don't think a short prayer at a football game is
going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the
other cheek while our courts strip us of all our
rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray
before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a
handful of people and their lawyers are telling us
to cease praying.

God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you,
well .. just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's
time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to
be heard .... that the vast majority don't care what they want.
It is time the majority rules!
It's time we tell them,
you don't have to pray;
you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance;
you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.
That is your right, and we will honor your right.
But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights
away. We are fighting back ...
and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all especially those who denounce
Him. God bless America, despite all her faults. She is
still the greatest nation of all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect
our right to pray and worship God.

May 2005 be the year the silent majority is heard
and we put God back as the foundation of our
families and institutions.

Keep looking up.

If you agree with this, please pass it on.
If not ... delete and God bless you .

BLOGS I read...

I have some really good friends who's blogs are great. They are really the only ones that I stay up on and so I wanted to give them props. If you stay tuned to their blogs you'll learn a lot and also get a good laugh every now and then. So stick with Brian and Richard and you'll never go wrong.

Simply Amazing...

There are few things in life that will actually take your breath away. One of those was seeing my beautiful wife on our wedding day. Another happened just last week. I have known for over 10 weeks that we are going to have a baby but nothing prepares you for the first time you see your future child. I stood there holding my wife's hand as the ultrastonagrapher waved a wand over her, not so big yet, belly and low and behold this. I still get chills now just thinking about it. It is still very surreal to think that there is a small child developing inside my wonderful wife but I got my first glimpse, my first peak, into my future. The whole process is just a miracle. Thank you God for this!

Truck explodes damaging HWY

I don't know if anyone has gone thru Spanish Fork canyon, Utah hwy 6, but i use it everytime I go home to New Mexico. Or if anyone has gone to Lake Powell from nothern Utah its the same road. Well this semi had some issues and ended up blowing a crater in the road. They say it'll only close the road for 6-8 hrs but come on, this is a 35 ft deep crater possible 60-80 ft wide. No fatalities, maybe minor injuries. Bet that driver will be more careful on mountain curves from now on.
UPDATE: (8/17/05) I never would have believed that a hole this big could be fixed so fast, but less than 2 days after this explosion the highway was fixed and open for use.

BIG NEWS!!!

I have been waiting and waiting to post this blog for quite some time. I have been able to reach most the people that I wanted/needed to tell in person. For those that I haven't been able to reach I am sorry, thats what ya get for not answering your phone. A little over a month and a half ago, June 3rd to be precise I was woken up by my beautiful wife to tell me something wonderful. The test was positive! Yes, that is exactly what you think it is. My wife is pregnant with our first. Since she is only 12 weeks along we don't know what the sex of the baby will be yet but should be able to find out around the time of our anniversary in September. So as scary as it is I will be a daddy in February. This will definately be a topic for many times to come but I wanted to announce it for all the world to know. I'M GONNA BE A DADDY!!!!

Fat Man Walking...

Well, for those that can tell we got internet again and so I'll have time to blog again. Here was one of the interesting stories that I could not help but blog. There are many ways to lose weight and here's another. Some people can only talk but this man can walk the walk. I wish him the best on his way to finding himself, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I have to warn him not to lose too much weight, because (as me and my boss like to quote) "Fat people are hard to kidnap!"
(we got that from a buffet commercial, i'll post more on that later)

Differential Treatment...

I have often felt that people treat me different when I have a goatee as opposed to when I don't. I have often felt that this was just because my self confidence was higher with the goatee. My favorite is when i grew facial hair like a redneck, I'll have to post that picture later. My friend Brian decided to put this to a test. Check out his findings here. I'll have more to say on this one later.

Falling off the face of the earth...

Ok, so it isn't as dramatic as it seems, I forgot that I hadn't blogged in a while. Since I lost internet at home I don't have time to sit and write out my daily ponderings. That and its been too busy at work to try and do that. So sit back and prepare for a few updates... in the next few days.