Merry Christmas from the base of the Grand Tetons

Well I was finally able to get onto the internet out here. It's not the most stable thing, but here I am. I figure I'd take this opportunity to put up a small post. Sorry, no pictures. I don't want to push my luck.

It's nice just sitting here, looking out the window in front of me as I type, and seeing the beautiful mountains, covered in pine and snow. Sometimes you just need to take a break from the regularities of everyday life. Christmas should be a time that fosters that. It should also be a time that fosters family relationships.

That being said, I should probobly mention that I am not spending this Christmas with my family. As things would turn out, I didn't make it all the way up north this year. I know my family misses me, but there were a number of things that just made sense to me at the time as to why I might not go. So, here I am...sitting in a cabin in Jackson, Wyoming with my best friend and his family (one of my several second families), typing away at a blog entry and looking out a set of several massive windows at a range of several Massive mountains.

I love Christmas. Mostly because it facilitates families coming together, building relationships, traditions, and memories. For those of you (both family, and friends) whom I'm not able to physically share this day and time of year with...know that miss and love you. Merry Christmas.

it's been awhile

since my last post...and it might be awhile longer seeing as how I'm not sure if I'll have internet in a couple days. :(
I spent last night and today kickin it in Rexburg, Idaho. Yes, glorious Rexburg. It is butt cold here.

Tyler and I will head up to Jackson to meet up with his family tomorrow when he gets off work. I'm looking forward to enjoying Christmas vacation. I'm actually hoping that I'll get some "quiet time" to myself to just sit and enjoy "being" and breath.

But before that happens, I need to finish grading papers and submit grades and all that business. Why don't I stay on top of things during the semester!? Arhg...I'm going to do better this winter. Yes, I am going to be so on top of things my final semester at BYU. Just you wait! :)

How could you be so careless

So, Thursday night I went with a friend to an Amos Lee concert in Salt Lake for her birthday. I had never heard of the band before she introduced them to me, but I enjoyed the prep cd she gave me the day before the concert and was looking forward to the music and spending time with her.

In Summary, my overall thoughts regarding the concert: lets just say that the concert was amazing for a number of reason.

Amos has an amazing singing voice, and the members of the band are great musicians. (Mom, I think you and Peter would have really enjoyed the concert. This is me telling you to check them out.)

My friend (her name is Emily) and I ran into some old friends of hers which was fun. And then we were invited back to the "After Party" in the VIP lounge area (translation...the security guard figured if he invited people back they would spend money at the bar and word of mouth for the venue would be good.) The security guard informed us that he was going to try to get the band to come back so we figured...why not. Well, he did, and they did. And it was cool, cause Emily and I were able to talk to the band members and she got a picture with Amos. Happy Birthday Emily!

Here's a pic of us at the concert. We had some random crazy girl take it. I think the conversation went something like this:
"Hey, could you take a picture for us?"
"Yeah, I'm great at taking pictures. Are you on myspace?"

Let it snow...let it snow....

It's snowing outside as I type this. It's absolutely gorgeous. It's been coming down pretty heavy and the world outside is covered in white. The window next to my desk looks out onto the front of the house and the street we live on. I decided I'd open up the blinds so that I can look outside and just enjoy what it looks like.

LOL! So, I'm sitting here chatting with a friend as well as typing up this post and talking with a roommate that just popped in to say goodnight...He and I looked outside and just saw a car drive past pulling someone as they lay on top of an inner tube. How funny is that?

Oh Provo...you're just lovely sometimes.

Thanks Sis!

I arrived home today after a long visit to the BYU library (actually my longest uninterrupted stay in the library for some time) to several things.:

• Sean in spandex after a ride on his trainer
• A package on my bed
  

The first of my two finds is not too uncommon, although it's definately something that hasn't occurred for awhile; it's been awhile since Sean's last ride. The second find however was more interesting. "Hmmm.....a package," I thought to myself. "I wonder what's in it."

Well, I decided to satisfy my curiosity and open the darn thing...I mean, it was addressed to me. It was a shirt, and a cool one at that. I wondered, as did my half naked roommate, who was responsible for sending me such a cool shirt. It had been sent directly from the company from wence it had been purchased so the address label did no good...aha, but inside there was a packing slip of sorts with my sister's name on it. Ah...sweet!

So, I just want to say: "Thanks for the shirt Sis! I freakin love it! In fact, I put it on as soon as I took it out of the package and I'm wearing it now as I type this."

that's interesting

So, my Gregorian chant (The Opening) has gotten over 100 plays since we posted it Friday afternoon. That's just crazy.

Band of Annuals: Thought I'd Learn by Now

Christina and Adrienne, thank you for introducing me to this beautiful song. I thought I would post it on my blog as well in the hopes of sharing it with more people. -check out their myspace page-

Sushi anyone?

My friend Christina flew into P-town from NY for the weekend. She flew in late late LATE Friday night...(I should just say early Saturday morning cause that's pretty much what it was...hurray for delayed flights.) Bless Adrienne for going to pick her up from the airport so that we could all enjoy her company.

It's sad when friends move away (or you move away) and you don't see them very often. This is how I feel about several friends from high school who are spread throughout the country now, as well as friends now graduated and being grown-up-sorts-of-people in NY.

A pretty small group of us met up and had dinner at The Happy Sumo which I had never eaten at before. It wasn't what I expected, but was super enjoyable nontheless. For some reason I just thought the atmosphere would be more like Panda Express or something like that (which it totally isn't). Anyways, it was nice. We had some deep friend Calamari and then each ordered a sushi roll.

I have had sushi before...I think. I mean, I've had a California roll and things like that. I liked those, so I wasn't too worried about having a raw version. Turned out, I liked it just fine. If you click here you can see the menu of Sushi avaiable there. I had the Venus Roll, Christina ordered the Vegas Roll, Brandon ordered the Cosmopolitan Roll, and Adrienne ordered the Surf and Turf.

I liked them all, but I think I liked the Cosmopolitan the best. The lemon and lime was a nice touch of flavor.

Overall, it was an enjoyable evening. Very enjoyable.

who hath ears to hear...

New bands I was introduced to today and I think I might just really fall in love with:


The Bad Plus (check out their cover of the Chariots of Fire theme.)
Band of Annuals

Little Drummer Boy

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements!

FYI: The Plan had someone audition this morning and let's just say that we know have a drummer. Jacob is an amazing drummer. He's got a heavy jazz background and we are all really excited for him to join us.

Gregorian Chant (with slight modifications)

Ok, so for my History of Creativity class final project I decided to write and record a Gregorian chant...only this Gregorian chant would be slightly different. It needed to include some sort of lateral creativity in order for it to fulfill the requirements of the project and recieve a good grade.

I started out with the idea of having electric guitar accompaniment....hmmmm...yes, that might be considered lateral thinking considering the electric guitar wasn't a contemporary instrument and Gregorian chant did not typically have accompaniment. Then I decided that instead of Latin text from the Bible I'd use Arabic from the Holy Qur'an....ah yes, now we're getting somewhere.

Sean helped me with the Arabic text and pronunciation (the text for the chant is the first chapter or sura of the Qur'an, also known as Al-Fatiha or The Opening).

Taylor helped me out with a little guitar work and recording. It sounds pretty crazy, weird, ethereal, buzy, dissonant, um...reverbatorial, etc...you pick your adjective.

If you're at all interested in what this sounds like you can see...err, hear for yourself by going here.

Happy Birthday to ME

Well, it's my birthday...officially.

I'm not exactly sure what time I was born on the 25th...Mom? I know you'll be reading this eventually; any light on the subject? All I remember was... haha, well I don't "remember" per se, :) That would be pretty weird. Actually, it would probobly be kind of scary. What I mean is that from what older siblings have told me (namely my bro...he was kind of pissed and you'll see why in a second) I was actually born on Thanksgiving. Mom was in the hospital of course so what did the fam do for Thanksgiving dinner you ask??? Well, Dad took them to McDonalds. :)

It's fun to hear my older brother tell that story. lol. He was a little bitter.

Back to the discussion at hand: yes, it's my birthday. I am now 25 and semi-happily unmarried. Not that I'm semi-unmarried. No, last time I checked I was 100% UNmarried. And not that I'm UNhappy either. For the most part I'm a pretty happy camper. I like being single. It's refreshing and fun and...well, all I've known thus far in life. Now I'm sure my older single friends are laughing a little inside as they read this thinking something to the affect of, "What does that youngin' think he's talking about. He doesn't know what it's like to be old and single."

My intent in writing this post isn't to express my feelings of growing into an old single "menace to society."

I'm also sure some of my married friends are reading this thinking, "Dude! Get married already!" (pace, I'm thinking of you my friend.)

Well, it will come in due time and I want the world to know not to worry about me. Yes, I'm now 25 and yes, I'm still single, living in Provo. I do like girls, so you don't have to worry there. And I do want to get married, I'm just not in any sort of rush to get there. There is a time and place for everything.

I think I just might graduate from BYU a single male. Isn't there some sort of honors sash or something I get to wear at graduation for the accomplishment.

Thanksgiving

Whilst it's still technically Thanksgiving....or as Dean Duncan, one of my film professors, would say: "American Thanksgiving" (He's Canadian) I want to just let the small portion of the blogosphere that I interact with to know a few of the things I'm thankful for.

This is by no means a comprehensive list...just a few scattered thoughts before I retire for the evening.

I am so thankful for a loving family. I mean sure, it's pretty jacked up to say the least, but it's not bad. I'm thankful for the gospel. I can't imagine what my life would be like without it. I'm thankful for the opportunity to live where I do in the surroundings that I do. I'm thankful for the opportunity I have to study at a University and to be surrounded by good roommates. I'm thankful for good friends. Life sure would suck without friends, and I've been blessed with some pretty dang good one's.

Anyways, like I said...it's not a comprehensive list...I just wanted to say a few things. Thanks everyone. You mean a lot to me. I love you all, and hope that this message finds you well.

Thank you.

Ew...sick! That's just wrong.

My roomate Sean (yes, the one that fit in our dryer) and I were cleaning the house yesterday since it was cleaning checks and as I was tidying up my room I noticed that the heating vent in my room was getting a little dirty. I thought, "...interesting, I wonder how long it's been since the filter's been changed?"

Being the manly man that I am I decided I'd go check. So, I walked downstairs into our creepy basement and looked around. I couldn't seem to find where the filter was suppose to go, but I did find an old used filter leaning up against the concrete wall next to the heater...hmmm....

Well, I looked some more and after not being able to pinpoint a filter or the place where a filter might go I called for Sean's help (he's pretty much amazing at all kinds of manly things.)

Sean came down and we both looked, and as we were looking I saw something that was truly disgusting....there was a dead bird laying there in our heater and bird crap everywhere. So Nasty! (scroll down to see picture I took with my phone)

Well, to make a long story short...we removed said dead bird (I say "we," but really Sean just did it) and bleached the spot where it had been laying...solidified to the freakin shelf in the heater. We then opened doors and windows to let the smell of bleach that permeated the house through the heating system disapate...then we had some choice words with the people from our management company when they came to do cleaning checks.

You'd think they would check and change the air filter every month when they came for cleaning checks. In fact, I think that might be in the contract...I need to check. We're kind of pissed at them right now because they still haven't done a thing about any of the maintenance requests we made when we first moved in. I think someone in their communications chain has really dropped the ball. I mean, when we first moved in there wasn't a single battery in ANY of the smoke detectors in the house. We made mention of this when we moved in and to this day there is still not a single smoke detector with a battery in it in our house.

When we pointed that out to the cleaning inspector people they kind of freaked out a little. I wanted to say, "Yeah, get on the Freaking ball folks! You're lucky we've been nice and haven't put up a huge stink about some of this stuff that you said you'd get to but haven't yet."

Anyways, we'll see what happens now. I'm guessing not much. We'll probobly have someone come by to put in a filter and put in batteries in our smoke detectors, but for some reason....I'm doubting it. I'm kind of hoping it doesn't happen in a timely manner, so that I can call up someone at the management office and/or write a letter and just let them have it.

For those of you that know me I'm pretty laid back and easy going, but right now...It sure would feel good to rip someone a new one.

Kitchen Stories

So...I watched a Swedish film in my beginning screenwriting class today called Kitchen Stories (also known as "Psalmer från köket"...literally translated into English as "Psalms from the Kitchen").

I really enjoyed it, and think that it might possibly become one of my top ten. It's a beautifully film and I suggest it to you all.

Birthday Party

So, I know that my birthday isn't actually until next weekend (Nov the 25th) but some friends of mine and I decided we'd get together and have a "little" combined birthday party since we all have November birthdays. This weekend seemed the most condusive seeing as how last weekend is past, next weekend everyone will be elsewhere with Thanksgiving plans and the weekend after that is actually December.

The party is going down this Saturday and you are all welcome to come. For those of you in the Provo area who are not married, it should be an ideal opportunity for you to meet that special someone. I mean, seeing as how there should be a number of people you will likely know (friends of mine) and a great deal of new faces to meet (friends of the other 4 people also celebrating their birthdays with me), the chances of you being able to meet new people in a not-so-awkward environment should be good.

For those of you who are married...you're welcome to attend as well. For those of you out of town who have moved on to better things (Boston, NY, LA, Seattle, etc etc etc...) your presence (and presents...hehe, aren't we punny) will be greatly missed. However, you are still MORE than welcome to hop on a plane and join us. Heck, i'd even figure out a way to go pick you up at the airport.

So come join us. Oh, also...The Plan is going to be doing a short acoustic set towards the end of the evening which should be fun.

A Script

So...I really need to be working on the second draft of my script for my screenwriting class, but...it's just not coming to me. Maybe I should change my concept. I don't know. I seem to get decent enough ideas for creative things when I go on walks. I just took a walk. I got some good ideas, but nothing that screams out to me "Write Me! Write Me!"

Part of me just wants to start fresh. I don't know. Can I even do that?

Well...back to the grindstone. Something will come. It allways does.

You may tell 12 people whatever you want...

(thanks for the idea Jared)
No names, just how you feel:

1. Sometimes I'm just a flirt...I really hope I didn't give you the wrong impression.
2. Why do you have to be so negative all the time. I want you to help me get my hopes up for after I graduate, but lately you really haven't come close.
   
3. For now I think it best not to tell you this in person, but I love you.
   
4. I know I've said this to you before, but I just feel like I should say it again: I'm really sorry that I was such a jerk when we were both younger and I hope you can forgive me.
   
5. I'm not sure what to do with you...I mean, I like you; I like you a lot; but I'm not sure what you think about me or what you want out of this relationship...heck, I'm not exactly sure what I want out of this relationship.
   
6. Why didn't we hang out more before this year? I mean...let's be honest, you're pretty cool.
   
7. Dang but I miss you!
8. I just love how things happen in our lives that lead us to meet people that we know will be a part of our lives for a long time...you're one of those people, and I'm really glad for the things that lead us to meet each other.
9. Maybe you've noticed that I've been avoiding you lateley...well, it's true. I'm sorry I've been such a slacker and haven't gotten on the ball with getting you those things, but...pretty much I realized that I don't have to get them to you till next semester, and I kind of tend to put things off for as long as I can...it's kind of in my nature, so let's not talk about it and I'll just get those papers to you later.
10. I'm not sure what happened to you, but I've been thinking about you lately. I even had a dream with you in it. Where are you? What are you doing with your life?
11. I recently learned some suprising things about you...I wasn't suprised per se, because I had put the pieces together awhile ago, but the puzzle I had put together awhile ago was recently confirmed. I want you to know that knowing what I know doesn't change the fact that we're good friends, and we'll always be good friends.
    
12. You're gorgeous.
    

My Friday Night

Well, as you can probobly tell by the picture, I went to a Haunted House tonight. It was fun. I must say there's something about walking through one of those things with a girl clutched to your arm. It's just so rewarding, especially when said girl is cute...which, I must say....she was and is. Thank you haunted house for fostering an environment that leads itself so well to unawkward arm clutching, and hand holding.

The Plan: latest update

Ok folks. So...my goal was to have some vocals recorded for one of our songs Thursday night. Well...it's now technically Friday morning, and as I'm typing this Taylor is in the other room on his computer uploading the newest version of "In the Foreground" onto our myspace page.

I hope you all take a moment to go to the site and listen. Let me know what you think. If you've got a myspace profile, feel free to add us and make comments there as well. :) I'm sure the rest of the band would love to hear what you guys think about our music.

Peace out. I got to get some sleep so I can wake up early, read 50 trillion pages and take a quiz. :)

Lately

So...lately life has been pretty good...except for the fact that I'm getting more and more behind in my schoolwork and in my grading of papers. Oh, and I've been getting headaches almost every other day. But like I said...other than that life is going pretty good.

The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics

A friend of mine told me about this video today and I just finished watching it. Just thought I'd share it with you all. It's about 9 minutes so give yourselves some time to watch it. Really cute.

Sean, in a dryer

Crazy things happen when you're a college student, it's so late it's early...and you are attempting to avoid doing your homework...Behold, the before unknownst supernatural talents of my roomate Sean!

The Plan

So, I just recently became the lead singer of a band called The Plan. I'm kind of excited. Right now the band consists of the following:

Me: Lead Vocals
Sean: Guitar, Vocals
Taylor: Guitar, Vocals
Christian: Keyboards

As you can tell, we are in need of bass and drums. If you know of any awesome people in the Provo area that play either of these two instruments and are looking for a band...let me know. We've got a couple guys auditioning this week so I'll keep you posted.

As of right now, The Plan is in its infant stage. Sean and Taylor have put together some rough recordings of two of our songs. (When I have time between work and school, I'm working on lyrics and vocals.) Hopefully we'll get some vocal tracks down soon on some songs and post them on myspace so you can hear them.

To be honest, I don't think I can ever say I've been in a rock band before. I mean...when I was in high school I was lead vocals for my friends band for one gig so...I don't think that really counts; and I was a featured artist in a Scream Phoenix song. :) So pretty much this is new territory. Most everyone that knows me knows that I can sing, and they know that I have written a couple things on the guitar that lack concrete lyrics. We'll see how this turns out. Hopefully what I write won't be crap. Who knows...maybe you'll see/hear us soon around the local scene.

General Conference

I just wanted to say how amazing General Conference was. I hope everyone was able to watch at least some of it. Over the past couple days, I've had the opportunity to talk with a number of people about some of the things that jumped out to them, or that they found interesting, etc.

I would love it if you took a moment to post a comment about an insight that you recieved during general conference.

Squaw Peak

Now, now...I know what some of you are thinking reading the title of this blog post, but don't jump to conclusions.

This Saturday, between General Conference sessions, my roomate Sean and I road our bikes up University, into Provo Canyon, and up Squaw Peak. Holy crap was that difficult! Four and a half miles of constant incline. I had to tell myself several times to just keep pedaling. The last half mile gets a little steeper and thinking that the peak was right around the corner, I pedaled through the first steep section giving it all I could...I rounded the switchback only to find that there was another quarter mile of the same before I would be in the parking area...let's just say that last 1/4 mile killed me. When I reached the top and hopped off my bike, my legs were like jello. It was amazing.

Well, I did it. And I'll do it again.

PS - you'd be amazed how well you can corner going downhill on a roadbike. It was fun getting to pass a car on the way down. :)

This is just awesome

Behold, the shred of Dragonforce: Through the Fire and Flames

When i saw this I couldn't help but make a post.

My New Bike

Isn't she pretty? :)

My Poor Phone

So...my poor little phone, bless it's little heart, has finally decided to go the way of the ghost. Ever since I dropped it near Harvard Yard in Boston it's never been the same. It started out as a small crack at the hinge....that small crack become a medium and then a large crack. Eventually the crack became...well, it became a freakin crevice that allowed the entire upper half of my phone to dangle by some wires.

Miraculously, the phone still functioned...well, until sometime last week. Then it decided to cut my voice in and out of calls I'd be on. I'd be able to hear the other people on the line just fine...but apparently they would hear my voice at times in fragments...and other times, not at all. It was really frustrating to be able hear people on the other end, "hello? are you there? ah shoot...I think I lost you..." and the whole time their voice is ringing crystal clear.

Basically what I'm saying is it's time to get my phone replaced. It's in dire need. I mean...let's be honest here. Look at it:

Ode to a Procrastinator

Ok, so this really isn't an ode. For one, I've never really written an ode so I'm not exactly sure how I would do it...but maybe someone out there will feel inspired and write one as a comment to this post.

Basically I just wanted to say that I have reminded myself once again of the fact that I'm such a procrastinator. It's amazing how school will clue you in to a deeper understanding of self.

Oh, and I've also come to grips with the fact that I am the worst at remembering people's names. I HAVE GOT TO GET BETTER AT REMEMBERING PEOPLE'S NAMES. I should make it a personal goal to not have to ask anyone their name again after meeting them or something.

Today after Doc History I was walking to my Media Literacy class and saw 3 people whom I recognized, but for the life of me couldn't put a name with the face. Each of these 3 people waved, smiled, said hi, and called my BY NAME. Now, granted...I do realize that my name is...well, I'll say it's the perfect balance of unique (let me expound upon that thought.) What I mean by the perfect balance of unique isn't that it's just amazing and the most perfect name ever, what I mean is that it is unique (true), but not so unique that it's completely foreign to most people and therefore extremely difficult to remember. In fact, I've found that it's extremely easy for people to remember my name. In some ways, this is great. In other ways...well, it's not so great. Why? Well because it makes me feel even worse when I can't remember the person's name, but they remember mine. Aghhh!

Please forgive me if I forget your name. :(

Back to School

Well, I know what some of you are thinking..."finally." Where has he been?

Have no fear, I'm back and ready to blog. Right now I'm kickin' it up on campus, but as we speak...wireless should be getting set up in my house. :) Hurray! I really can't stand not having home access to the net. I can't count how many times I've thought to myself..."oh, no problem, I'll just hop online and take care of that right quick...oh wait, NOPE, I can't."

Anyways, you should be seeing much more of me now. In fact, there's a couple things I need to report since last I blogged so I'm sure the next couple posts you see from me might very well be concerning some of that. For now, let me just give you a quick little update or synopsis of my life of late:

School started on the 5th. So far it's looking like it's going to be a good semester. I'm definately going to be busy (I've got some time consuming classes, but they should all be really good. I'm also working two jobs...but only for a total of 20 hours a week, oh and...I'll most likely be doing some work in the advertising lab.)

Here's what classes I'm taking:

Screenwriting
Technical writing
History of Creativity
History of Documentary
Media Literacy

(they're all 3 credit classes. Hurray!)

As far as where I'm working...I'm still a TA for Intro to Film, but I've taken over as the "Head TA" so they schedule me for 15 hours a week. Basically I'm in charge of blackboard--making sure everything is posted that should be posted and that quizes are going like they should. Also, making sure all the TA's know what's going on. I'm the primary contact between the Professor and the other 12 TA's. I also run all the multimedia/film clips/etc during large lecture on Tuesdays and then of course I have my own lab that I teach on Wednesdays.

I'm also working in The Center for Service and Learning again (but only for 5 hours a week.) Perhaps some of you don't know, but as a student you can only work a total of 20 hours a week at a campus job. (It has something to do with allowing other students to work and not making BYU liable to give you benifits, etc since you're only part-time.) Anyways, the Center wanted me back (I've worked there forever it seems) even though I told them I could only work for 5 hours a week. Dang, they must love me or something.

Well, let's see...what else can I fill you in on before I publish this??? Ah yes, over the summer I bought a new fork for my Trek (my mountain bike), and I also bought a road bike. I'll be sure to post some pictures soon. I was also able to go on a mountain bike trip to Moab right before school started. Most of you probobly saw the pics (he has a pretty sweet pic posted of my rad hair) and read a little bit about it on Jason's blog. If you haven't allready, check it out. I'll try to post some pics of my own here soon once I get them all organized.

I figure that's enough for now. Stay tuned for more goodness from the life of me.

It's not my fault

I haven't had a good connection to the internet, so I've been less than faithfull on updating the ol' blog. Anyways, the net is working today so I've published some posts that I wasn't able to before.

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days

So I went on a sweet bikeride today after work with Ike and Jesse (two guys I work with) on this trail here in Wenatchee called Devils Gulch.
For Ike and I, this was our second time being on this trail. For Jesse...it was his second time mountain biking. :)
Let's just say...it was a good baptism of fire for Jesse. haha. He saw his fair share of the ground on this ride.
Ike had one good crash at the very end of the trail.
And me....well, I didn't crash on the trail at all. But let's just say that on the gravel road after the trail Ike's foot found his way into my front tire. Yeah...long story.

Anyways, for pictures scroll down. But I must warn you...it's kind of nasty.













WARNING....by scrolling down....you are risking the chance that you might be grossed out.

The Cutest Kids Ever

My awesome nephews! I got to hang with them this last weekend.

Jason, Me, and the hottest girls in Sandpoint

I got to hang out with some friends from High School this weekend while I was home (some I hadn't seen since I graduated in 2000...that's 6 years!)
It was awesome to catch up a little (even if it was only for a couple hours at Starbucks). And aren't my friends hott. ;)

Not quite my idea of a weekend

So...this weekend was spent working with Tyler on my parent's house. You see, my parents build an addition to our house a while ago and when they did, we got a new roof, but for whatever reason they only had half the roof done. I don't think they had money for the material and stuff to do the whole thing, so they just put a roof on the addition and then replaced the old existing roof on that side of the house as well.
Anyways, the important part of this story is that Tyler and I are finishing what was started. Here are some pics of how we spent our Saturday.

Here's a pic that shows the old roof Tyler and I were taking off and the newer roof that was put on a couple years ago.
We tore off the old roof
and tore off the old felt at this junction in the roof so that we could install ice and water shield
Here's that same junction in the roof after we put the ice and water shield on
Ah, I love the look of a freshly felted roof. Ooh look, there's Tyler in the background. You can see where we tore up the old felt so that we could put ice and water shield on (that junction where Tyler is standing, the rake, and the bottom edges of the roof).Isn't that roof justu beautiful.
Oh look, It's Tyler!

I love Sandpoint

Some pics I took from Schweitzer (ski resort in Sandpoint).
Here's a pic looking up one of the runs of the mountain. The view looking the other direction. That's Lake Pend Oreille down there.

I'm a dork

I'm a dork, it's true. I thought I'd take some pictures after I got my hair cut last week. You like?

Still Alive?

Still alive? Hmmm...good question. Over 100 degrees on the roof today and a 12 hour day...let me check....yep, still alive.
But...let's just say that I'm not that excited about work tomorrow...and this is why:

Belle & Sebastian 4th of July

Here's a video that Megan put together of the Belle and Sebastian concert.

Cliff Notes

Seeing as how I've been particularly lacking in the blogging department (what else is new: I'll post every day for a week and then I'll go on a week or two "fast" from blogging...) I figured I'd give you the "Cliff Notes" of what's gone down since last I blogged. (hopefully I won't forget anything, but if I do...please feel free to leave a comment regarding anything I missed that might be blog-worthy.

OK, here goes:

4th of July Weekend:
Went to Boston with Jared. It was awesome! Read about it here, here, and here.

• Left Sunday morning on a bus from China Town.
• Slept most of the way.
  
• Went to Church with my bags and in shorts and a t-shirt (I'm such a sinner. Jared had his pillow with him. haha.)
• Walked around Harvard
• Bought a Harvard t-shirt.
• Stayed at a house of girls I've never met (they were out of town for the weekend and told my friend Scott who's staying in Boston that we could stay there.)
• Took care of said girl's dog Cleo.
• Walked the Freedom Trail
• Checked out the Berkley College of Music
• Ate Pizza at Supreme's
• Ate a Cannoli from Mike's
  
• Met and Hung out with some of the COOLEST PEOPLE EVER!!! (Scott, Kylee, Kristi Marie)
• Ate Thai food.
  
• Saw/Listened to the Boston Pops perform with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith for a camera/dress rehearsal of their 4th of July shindig. (it was awesome!)
• Never saw Stephanie :(
  
• Rode the China Town bus back to New York early July 4th
• Slept almost all of the way.
  

(best part of this trip by far was hanging out with Jared and the "COOLEST PEOPLE EVER" mentioned above)

4th of July
Read about it here.

• Arrived back in New York
• Rode back to the apt and crashed for a little bit
• Met up with friend Seth in Battery Park for a "Belle and Sebastian" concert (ah...free music, I love New York.)
• Met MORE COOL PEOPLE (and got to realize how cool some people that I had already met are.)
• I'll post a video of said "MORE COOL PEOPLE" in a later post.
  
• Walked around, hung around, ate food...
• Watched fireworks
  

5th of July
Jared and I ate some good eats at this little German biergarten in the village called Lederhosen Muchen. Here's a pic of Jared's plate (we bot basically the same thing). My pic didn't turn out.
6th of July

• Had a going away of sorts pizza party at my internship during lunch.
  
• Saw "Mates of State" in Battery Park. (I've said it before and I'll say it again...ah...free music, I love New York.)
• Participated in a photo shoot-frenzy of sorts
  
• Played in a fountain (yes, we got soaked)
  
• Ate chinese food.
• Watch an indie film that hasn't been picked up
  

7th of July

• Last day at my internship
• Saw yet another free concert. This time at Pier 17...but i can't remember the ladies name. She was good though. Just her, a guitar, and a loop machine thing (I'm sure Jared can help me out with the technical crap.)
• Ate at a place that I think was called "Around the Clock." (they had the best hummus ever!)
  
• Checked out New York at night from the roof of a friend's apt building.
• Rode in a subway car with some friends late at night. (Let's just say that things get a little crazy when you have a subway car all to yourselves.)
  

8th of July

• Packed up all my crap
• Returned a CD I had borrowed from someone I met once quite randomly (that's another story entirely.) I really should have returned the CD a long time ago.
  
• Carried luggage through the subway to Madison Square Park
• Ate a burger and shake from the Shake Shack (it was good Becca...hecka good.)
• Carried luggage through the subway to JFK.
• Missed my flight.
• Made a lot of phone calls.
  
• Carried luggage through the subway back to my apt (this is getting old.)
  
• Went to a birthday party at the apt of person I borrowed the CD from for someone I had never met (Happy Birthday Appolonia! This is an addition to the earlier story mentioned. Perhaps I'll post about it sometime later.)
• Hung out with Seth at said Birthday party full of theater performance people. It was an amazing experience to say the least.
  

July 9th

• Went to church
• Repacked my stuff
• Said "to heck" with the Subway and took a shuttle to the airport
• Made my flight with plenty of time to spare

July 10th

• Landed in Salt Lake City
• Slept for a couple hours at Jason's house (thanks J-Lo.)
• Got back on a plane
• Landed in Seattle
• Got back on a plane
• Landed in Spokane
• Went to Ike's house
• Ate, Showered, and then crashed on Tyler's bed for like 2 hours.
• Rode to Wenatchee, Washington with Tyler
• Crashed at the hotel
  

July 11th
First day of work. :)
Ah yes, roofing...

Boston Here We Come

So...it's my last full weekend out on the east coast before I head for home; Jared and I decided we'd take advantage of the 4th of July weekend and head to Boston. We leave on the Chinatown bus at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning...well, I guess it's really today seeing as how it's pretty much a quarter past 3. Yes, I'm typing this that late at night. Jared and I decided that after staying up to this point it's almost pointless to go to sleep. I think we're just going to stay up and then try to sleep during the 4 hour bus ride. (not really looking forward to the bus ride, but I AM excited for Boston and for the company that I will share once I get there.)

National Fruit Week

Yes, you heard it right. This week was "National Fruit Week," (phrase coined by Mooney) i.e. Gay Pride Week. Needless to say, we got to see all kinds of... "interesting" folks in the Village this week.

my brief brush with moderate fame

So, Friday I took an extended long lunch to meet a friend at 5th Ave and 59th street where we would supposedly have some lunch and listen to some Phil Collins. Yes, Phil Collins. He was playing outside the CBS building (next to the new apple store) for the Early Show or something like that and my friend had tickets from her work for us to get in front of the stage or something....long story short:

She couldn't make it so me and another friend (also meeting us there) just told one of the people running the show who we were suppose to be with (dropped her name and the name of her boss) and we got wristbands and were ushered through the "cattle guards" as I like to call them into the crowd forming in front of the stage. Cool.

It was an interesting experience. "Oh the facade of television." I don't say that because I didn't know it before and this experience acted as some sort of awakening for me. Oh no. It was just fun having some guy tell us when to scream and cheer, and upbraid us for not clapping loud enough.

Phil played 3 songs, all of which are from the Broadway Musical (is "musical" capitalized in this instance?) Tarzan. Between the first and second song he was interviewed by some lady (I'm sure she has a name...maybe I'll stop being lazy in a second and google it). OK, so this "some lady" is named Hannah Storm. There, you happy? Anyways, where was I??? Oh yeah, so he got interviewed on stage and one of the questions was like, "any possibility of there being a solo album from you in the future?" and during the silent pause after the question (or maybe at the end of the question) I yelled really loudly. Haha. :)

Anyways, the show airs Tuesday the 27th of this month so watch the Early Show that day and see if you can see me in the crowd or hear me during the interview. I think I'm wearing a light green t-shirt and I'm standing stage right kind of at the back of the crowd (I don't really think I'll be on camera seeing as how my friend and I weren't all that interesting...especially compared to the screaming little girls who were in love with themselves, the camera, and Tarzan). Yes, Tarzan...have I not mentioned that part yet? The guy (Josh Strickland) who plays Tarzan in the musical was also there and sang with Phil Collins during the second song.

Now for the best part of my story: While my friend and I were standing around waiting for Mr. Manager to tell us to cheer and clap louder or something and for Phil Collins to play another song, I was looking around and happened to look back at where Tarzan was standing with some of the people from CBS. Well, he looked over at me...we made eye contact...and he winks. Yes, Tarzan winked at me! I didn't know whether or not to think "cool, a semi-famous person just winked at me," or "um...woah, some DUDE just winked at me!" I mentioned this to the guy I was with and he laughed and said, "What if he comes over to us and gives you his number or the address to his apt...haha."

Anyways, that was my brief brush with moderate fame on Friday. Pictures below.

Phil Collins. He's getting old, but he's still got it.
Here he is being interviewed by Hannah Storm
Hannah and Josh posing for a picture.
Josh and Phil give us a little taste of the musical.

Brief Apology

Sorry so many long posts in so little time. So many blogworthy things have been going on, and it's hard to find time to write/publish them in an orderly fashion. Please scroll down and enjoy the newest posts.

Praise the Elements

Praise the elements!, originally uploaded by icopythat.

Pic that someone at the MP3 Experiment took and posted on flickr. Just so happens that Darien, Taylor, Jared, and I are all in it.

At this moment of the experiment we are cheering on our different elements as they battle to become the next Element of the Year. Notice Darien's pensive/meditative stance.

So Long...Fair Well...

For many BYU interns in NY, Tuesday was their last full day out here. Granted, there are still a number that will be staying all the way through the summer (I've only got like another 2 weeks). It's sad to see them go.

Tangent:
Every year for the past...I don't know...three years now, I've gone on this trip to Southern Utah's Goblin Valley with my brother's school. A huge group of kids get to travel down to Southern Utah and camp out for 4 days. The trip is full of hiking and learning about Utah History and Wildlife...how the different landscapes were formed...the ecosystem of the Southern Utah dessert compared to Provo area, etc. etc.

All and all it's an amazing trip. But what's even more amazing is the bond that's created with all these kids and the other leaders over such a short period of time. You get accostomed to having this wonderful group of people around you all the time and (allthough after 4 days you would like to ring some of the kids' necks) when suddenly they are no longer around...the potential remains that this strange void or emptyness will be left in their place.

*Returning from tangent:
Every year when we come back, my brother and I feel a sense of emptiness not having all the people whose company we've really grown to enjoy around us. I'm sure this experience will not be far different.

During my time here in New York I have been able to really get to know and get close to a number of people: some whom I had known before, others I'd seen around the Brimhall during school or met briefly, and others whom I had never met before coming out here. All and all it's been a marvelous experience. It's really sad when I think that some of these people have already graduated and therefore won't be returning to BYU this fall. But then again, it's also really sad to think that I will be returning to BYU this fall. (only a year left...such bitter sweetness, but then...I digress, that's a whole other post).

There are those that were, or are still out here that, like me, still have a semester or two before they graduate. For those of you who have returned to the bubble or your respected places of residence away from New York...you will be missed. For those of you who are still here with me...I'm glad for your company; lets do something cool this weekend.

Focus Groups

So...this past Tuesday and Wednesday were spent mostly in Secaucus, New Jersey working with focus groups. I know it may not sound that exciting, but it was. I got to work with Laurie, one of the Senior Planners here where I'm interning. It was a fun learning experience to see her moderate the groups we had.

We left the agency around 2:00 (we had a car service pick us up), and headed over/under the Hudson to New Jersey and to the facility. At the facility we made sure everything was set up and good to go. Focus Groups started at 4:00 pm and went like clockwork till 9:00 pm. We had 4 groups a day and each group (ranging from 4th, 5th, and 6th grade) consisted of 4 kids and lasted an hour. There were 15 minute breaks between each group, with a half-hour long dinner break between groups 2 and 3. During the 15 minutes between groups I would go out into the waiting room and meet with each pair of kids (we had 6 kids show up for each time slot). I would ask them question, etc to determine which 4 kids would be the best for Laurie to interview/work with in the focus group.

It was a lot of fun; I'm really greatful for all the experience I've had these past few years working with kids (volunteering and working in the Provo School District in several different capacities, working with TOPS at BYU, and working with Amy Jensen at BYU with the younger kids in the Hands on a Camera project), they've really molded me and helped put me in a position where working with these kids came fairly naturally.

As natural as it may have felt at times during my re-screenings of these kids, I still felt SUPER nervous working with the first group. I guess that's only natural. On the way back to New York, Laurie said to me that I didn't seem green at all, and that I did a great job. It made me feel really good. I think it would have been awesome to moderate, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that train-wreck just yet. It's just such a great experience to learn from watching people like Laurie do what she does and seeing how she does it.

PS - can I just say how cute some of those kids were. haha...and how funny. I wish I would have taken a picture of this one kid. He was seriously like this old man trapped in a 5th grader's body. His hair looked like he was wearing a football helmet and he had this great Jersey accent. All of us in the backroom got a kick out of him. Oh, what greatness comes out of the mouth of these kids at times.

New York Mets vs Cincinatti Reds

Monday evening I went to my first Major League Baseball game. It was a lot of fun. For lack of time...that's all I'll say for now.

Oh, the final score was Mets 2, Reds 4
Yeah, the home team lost....sad business.

Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voices

Yes, my Saturday didn't stop with the mp3 experiment in Central Park. It just kept on going.

Directly after "The Experiment!" we hopped on the subway and headed to the Lincoln Center chapel (where the temple is). Gladys Knight was in New York for the weekend with her choir and Saturday and Sunday was putting on a sort of concert/fireside. It was amazing! How often do you get to clap and shout out "Amen!" in an LDS Chapel?

The choir was great, as was Gladys. They sang a couple songs unique to our church (although with a little more soul than what we may be used to): "I am a Child of God" and "Love One Another," as well as some good ol' gospel songs that I had never heard of before. But judging by some of the other people in the congregation...they were fairly well known outside the Mormon Community.

It was so great to see so many members of other faiths together in the chapel seeing, hearing, and feeling first-hand what we are about...well, kind of anyways. Haha, the introduction to the fireside was great. I don't know his name, but he stood up at the pulpet and said something to the affect of, "for those not of our faith, we welcome you...and for those who are not visitors, please know that it is oppropriate to clap this evening...we don't normally clap in our church services/chapel...."

What a GREAT missionary opportunity!!! I sat by these two great African American ladies. Before the fireside started the one leaned over to the other and said, "Now, are these the same as the Mormons?" To which the other responded by simply shaking her head in ignorance. I leaned in a few moments later and asked if I had heard her question correctly, and then upon confirmation affirmed that yes, this is the Mormons. :)

I was able to tell her friend beside me a little bit about the Church before the choir came out and got started only to find that through the course of the fireside, most of what I had said to her was brought forward and discussed from the pulpit. It was great because when they talked about Joseph Smith and other things I'd already mentioned to her, the woman next to me turned and smiled knowlingly as if to say, "oohhh look, we already talked about this, I'm excited." It was cute.

Again I proclaim: "What a GREAT missionary tool!" The spirit was amazing. Gladys and her husband bore their testimonies and talked about their conversions. The were so bold from the pulpit. Straight forward and yet not brash at all. Then again, some of the things she said just can't be said by a little white boy from northern Idaho like me. It just doesn't really come across the same you know?

When it was over, the lady that had been sitting next to me thanked me. It was so humbling to hear her tell me that it wasn't a coincidence that I sat next to her. I was her Godsend she said. I made her stay all the more comfortable and understanding. It's been awhile I think since I've been that for someone. It felt amazing. I love this gospel. Let's live what we believe.

Improv Everywhere: The MP3 Experiment III

This Saturday I took part in The MP3 Experiment III, and discounting the mild sacrilege*, it was a blast. Pictures and possibly video to come (as soon as they post some updates to their site.)

*for further understanding as to how it was mildly sacrilegious please refer to the first link above. Don't worry, you won't lose your testimony by going.

What is/was the MP3 Experiment III you might ask??? Well, imagine this: A group called Improv Everywhere posts 4 different mp3's online. Anyone and Everyone are invited to participate and download 1 of the 4 mp3's depending upon what season they were born. You are then instructed to meet at a given place on a given day with some means of listening to said mp3 (via mp3 player such as ipod, discman with burned CD, oldschool walkman, etc). Having never listened to this mp3 before, you meet at the given place at the given date and time with many other people like and not so like you, and shortly after arrival all of you press play at the same time. (the other 3 groups who have met someplace else just so happen to press play at the same time as your group as well.) You then follow the instructions on the mp3 and participate in all sorts of randomness with your new group of friends.

Hhhmmmm.....reading over that paragraph again I think it about sums things up fairly well.

All 4 groups met at different locations in Central Park and then eventually met up with each other part way into the mp3 instruction. It was seriously so much fun. I think I'll bring this event back with me to Provo.

Jared found out about it from a high school friend of his living in Boston. She was actually coming to New York this weekend to participate in "The Experiment!" (Darien, that was for you). After visiting the improv everywhere site and reading about past mp3 experiments that they had done, Jared and I decided we were definately attending.

I told many of my friends in the area, but sadly (due to schedules and sheer loserness on their part...j/k) only 2 others came (way to go Taylor and Darien)! Like I said before, it was way fun, and I'll probobly post some pics of the activity after improv everywhere posts some stuff on their site.

The Museum Mile Festival

So I guess every second Tuesday of June the museums along this mile of 5th avenue open there doors for free and there's basically a big block party out on the street with musicians and sidewalk chalk and stuff. They block off traffic from 82nd to 105th. Jared and I went. We went into the Metropolitan Museum of Art saw some amazing stuff. I took some pics of a few things and will post them below.

There was one exhibit that was just amazing.
"AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion"

We weren't allowed to take pictures of it so I'm kind of bummed that I can't show you what it looked like, but it was seriously amazing. There's an article about it here. It has a couple pictures, but...

It was just really cool how all these manikins were dressed up in all of these period clothing and yet their hair and the way they wore them and were composed were very contemporary and punk...and yet they were surrounded by a period environment (furniture, memorabilia, activities, etc). It was a really interesting thing to see juxtaposed.

Here's a pic of the outside steps of the museum.

You can see how the roads were closed and people had been making use of that sidewalk chalk.

I really liked how this pic turned out. I saw this kid and thought...that would make a great picture, and so I took it (after asking his parents if it was alright.)

Jared and I did a little sidewalk chalk art of our own. :)

Ugolino and his sons
JEAN-BAPTISTE CARPEAUX (1827-1875)
The story of the Pisan traitor Ugolina della Gherardesca, imprisoned with his sons and condemned to starvation, was told by Dante in The Inferno (canto 23). Carpeaux shows the anguished father resisting his sons' offer of their own bodies for his sustenance.

Close up of one of Ugolina's sons

You all remember "Clash of the Titans"??? Yeah, that's right. This is Perseus holding Medusa's head.

Andromeda and the Sea Monster (another "Clash of the Titans" moment)
Amazing stained glass windows

I mean...amazing. The detail was phenomenal.

This room was cool. I forget the artist and stuff, but it's one of those things that are in grade-school textbooks. I guess that's why I thought it was so cool. I saw it in the museum and I was like, "I've totally seen that in school!"


After the museum thing, we went downtown by ground zero. We were suppose to meet up with some people out there at Pier 17. There was a little miscommunication and indecision, but eventually it happened. Here's a picture I took of Brooklyn Bridge from the pier while Jared and I were just sitting there. It was really nice. I think if I lived in this City the pier would become one of my spots to visit regularly.

Well, there you have it. That was my Tuesday night activity.