One Jazzy evening

I had several options for a rockin night, including a music party with prizes, and perhaps several pretty ladies milling about.  However, I am supposed to have a date tomorrow and was thus planning on not being able to go see the temple lights tomorrow night, so figured that I should go with another group going tonight.  Having just finished an exam review, I hustled over to the via point and met up with my group, who were antsy to make like a cow pie and hit the trail.  A few of us hopped in my car and got in with another guy to head up to Sandy to catch the trax line to SLC  Little did I know that I was not destined to see Christmas lights...

It turned out that traffic was horrific and by the time we reached the station, three of six of us were left behind, wondering what would happen next.  Luckily, however, another train followed only 10 minutes behind, ready to carry us to the big city.  During the interim is when the magic happened.

A man on the other side of the billboard that separated our two benches mentioned that his sister had found two jazz tickets left behind by a hurried passenger on the ground and he was considering scalping them after relieving her of them. 

I told him I thought it presumptuous of him to believe he could take tickets that were not his in the first place to make money for himself, and his face fell.  His heart was softened and he asked if I might like to redeem them at the game.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, as I reached for the tickets.  The next 30 minutes on the trax line consisted of me reveling in my victory and frantic phone calls to find the lucky one that would accompany me.  Finally I struck gold: my cousin Andrea was willing to come enjoy the game!  \

Upon arrival (right at the front steps of Energy solutions arena a.k.a. Radium Stadium, I might add) I met up with her and we walked in triumphantly.  Upon finding our seats, we found they were not satisfactorily close enough (they were in the nose-bleed section), so we walked down the stairs, picked two seats about 20 rows from the court, and planted ourselves with a firm determination that we would not be moved.  We were not bothered at all, but enjoyed the walloping of the Toronto Raptors that ensued in the final half of the game.  Upon completion, we were able to beat the small sizable crowd that had gathered so that I might reunite with the group I had forsaken, ready to tell my triumphant tale to all within ear shot.  And that is how I came to find myself at a Utah Jazz game that only cost me a ticket to Salt Lake City.

                                                               THE END

I HAD THE MOST AMAZING SUMMER OF MY LIFE!  It was spent rockin Provo, and it was definitely rockin.  I worked during the day, partied like a rockstar at night, and on the weekend took backpacking/hiking trips.  i got to live the college life without having to worry about homework...the best! It seemed like every night there was something happening.  Probably because there was! movies...dates...parties...I thoroughly enjoyed myself.One of the highlights was definitely hiking timp.  It took 13 1/2 hours and we started at 3:30 am, but it was amazing! I was super sore by the end, but I can now cross that off my bucket list.   And I'm in awesome shape now! I hiked Y mount last weekend and almost ran up it..it was a piece of cake!  I decided to stay because I wanted to improve physically by working with my personal trainer, and I have made much improvement.  For instance, I am now able to open my hand and grab things! I am also able to walk much better.  My mom was VERY against me staying, but like I said: it was super worth it.  If my kids and wife () and current family) are reading this, I want you to know that I did it for you.  I did have an awesome time, but I did it to improve myself for you.  Here is a rap I wrote last week that explains how my summer has been.  It's to the tune of "Party like a rock star":

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Totally dude!
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party like a rock Party in the basement
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement Totally dude!
we've all been on  missions But we party like a rock star Ron is doin 23 finly an American
You know JD is at the  park withLong board looks like Tony Stark He's tryin' to push and  stride But these girls  like his bark
We do it like we do it 'Cuz you know them girls be lovin' that Oh don't you know I date wit fine flowers  look like gentlemen
They fine and they hot brah When I'm in the spot brah… I party like a rock star
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party like a rock Party in the basement
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement Totally dude!
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party like a rock Party in the basement
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement Totally dude!
….Party like a rock star Do it wit da blue and da white Like a cougar star, cougar star, yeah
Whoop, whoop Me and my band, man On the boat with bishop Davis Gettin' a tan man
Cool! You know me Wit parted hair and modest clothes mormon Boyz, rock stars Yeah, we 'bout to change the game
Change the game? Uh oh They know I'm a star, I'm a star I make it rain from center court it's supa far when we
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party like a rock Party in the basement
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement Totally dude!
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party like a rock,  Party in the basement
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement Totally dude!
As soon as I came out the womb My momma knew a star was born Now playin harmonica Trippin' wit angelica
I seen da show with Thomas Monson star mentality I put myself out there Just to see if they would marry me
TheyDO! wanna marry me They see me, they just might panic My smile make 'em go down quick Like the Titanic
Yeah, I'm wit da Mormon Boyz You know what we do I be  home teachin', servin' 'cowabunga' Totally dude!
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party like a rock Party in the basement
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement Totally dude!
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement
Party like a rock Party like a rock star Party in the basement Totally dude!
Totally dude!

Happy 4th of July in Blanding!

I spent an awesome few days in B-town for the 4th of July holiday!H ere are some highlights:

• Driving down with one of my best buds, Josh Sillitoe.
• Watching some Midnight Madness Softball
• Commentating the parade with my dad!
• Playing in the Horseshoe tournament
• Going for a swim in recapture dam
• Eating crab, steak, and salmon at my Uncle Craig's house, along with other assorted salads and Desserts
• Watching the fireworks from my best friend Dane Hurst's house, while his mom, Shauna, kept us laughing
• SPENDING TIME WITH THE FAM!

Home Again

Well, I'm officially a Returned Missionary... 2 years went so fast! It's been a whirlwind of emotions and events the past 2 weeks, but I'm still alive to tell the tale. I now have a good job as a server, a life, and a singles ward to attend!

Last night I went on a sweet river rafting trip with the singles Branch here in Blanding combined with the Moab Branch. We hit some awesome rapids and had a blast pushing each other in during the calmer parts. I also met some new people, which was really cool.

Today I was able to report to the High Council(which was pretty cool, though a bit intimidating), and give my report(which, I am told, was really good). In short, life is fantastic!
Not too much else to report, but I'm sure more hilarity is in the future, so check back later!

A missionary... at last!

I was set apart as a missionary tonight. It was pretty amazing. The stake presidency came over and the stake president himself did it for me. It was a very spiritual event. He told me to work hard and it would be fun for me, even though it is called missionary work for a reason. He said there would be difficult times, but to remember my loved one's prayers for me. I felt so special and loved.

Another big event was my farewell. It was awesome for several reasons: 1) I made a pretty good talk that went for over ten minutes. 2) My dad spoke, and he did awesome! 3) My dad wrote a song, and it was great (he must have taken a leaf from my book, or I from his).

I also got to go on a final date on Friday, which was definitely a must. Herer's a picture:

chronicle of my first date- March 2006

My first date was actually in the works from February, which may sound strange, but the mystery will soon be revealed.

I must partially accredit my first date to a Mexican man named Charles Abejo. He basically set it up for me in a Mexican restaurant called Fiesta Mexicana in Cortez. You see, I was there with my spanish class for a fiel trip my sophomore year, right after my sixteenth birthday. When I went to pay for my meal, I strategically placed myself behind a beautiful young lady named Mandy Bradford to enjoy the view. Charles was standing in front of us and apparantly noticed my interest. He said something like, "Oh, are you two dating?" After I assured him that we were not, he made Mandy promise that she would go on a date with me. After she swore her life away to him, he allowed us to pay for our food and leave, followed by a date almost a month later to Ice Age, The Meltdown. And so, this post is to you Charles... Thanks for setting up my first date.

This date was followed by about 50 more in my high school career, including my marathon of 30 dates in 30 days, with 23 different girls the summer of my 16th year. So thanks to all the girls who participated in that as well.

Timberline '09

I got to spend a week on the mountain (Probably my favorite place in the world) this week, staffing Timberline. so this week went by really fast.

One of the funniest and greatest of the week's experiences was on Wednesday, when Brother Larson, decided to pull out the ducks in the bahtub joke ( Two ducks were in a bathtub, when one duck looks at the other and says, "pass me the soap. So the other duck replies, "what do I look like, a radio?" which made him burst out immediately into fits of laughter. The rest of the night was filled with kids trying to figure out the meaning of the joke, and another adult staffer making jokes reffering to ducks, such as: Why did the duck buy glasses for his feet? A- to improve his website! Also, some youth staff tried to make jokes- emphasis on the try. It was probably the funniest night I have had at Timberline (It was very late by the time the kids were through with moolage- a form of make-up that makes you look injured- and asking their questions).

Another excellent experience was when a couple of adult staffers (the cooks) and I did the "Edjumacated" skit. I hadn't seen it in forever, and Joel Palmer was hilarious, I couldn't stop laughing at him ( the reason for this must have come from his reputation) Basically, Joe Hurst sent me to get edjumacated, whereupon I ended up in school with Joel. He asked me questions like "where was the battle of Bull Run?" and "How many cups are in a gallon?" I answered with "Oh, that was in the pasture. It got so bad that my dad had to shoot one" and " Well, my grandma puts two cups in her kettle, so it must be two!" Then he would look confused ( which was hilarous, at least to me), and reply, "o.k." or "That's close enough". When I got home and told "pa"( in a southern accent, I might add) that I learned that pie are squared, which I argued profusely about with "oldie". Joe told me that if I couldn't get those "gal dern ideas out of my head, he'd have to beat them out of me, which he did.