Noah is in My Family

My nieces and nephews have the coolest Grandpa ever.

See what he built for them in his own back yard (and without instructions--just by looking at some in Amish villages in Iowa).
Instead of couplets of animals, it has a Captain Jack Sparrow hat/wig, pirate hooks, patches, swords, the whole 9 yards. Plus! A twisty slide, a rock climbing wall, and a helm.






What little (or big) kid wouldn't be excited about this?

Boat party at my mom's house, anyone?

Zion's

I was able to sneak in a trip to Zion's while I was in St. George for a conference. We (a few co-workers and I) hiked around, saw stuff from the shuttle bus, and sat by some SUPER stinky young men who had been hiking and climbing for days. Man--they smelled SO BAD!The first couple of photos are in the Zion's most of us think of. The next photos are also in Zion's, but in the North-West section accessible just off I-15 about 7 or so miles south of Cedar City. It's a place called Kolob Canyon. You drive off the freeway and around one corner and Ta-Da! Stunning. Next time you drive past Cedar City, take a few minutes to drive the 5 mile scenic route, and take a walk on some of the hiking trails just off the road. It was a wonderfully refreshing walk (especially after being in the car for hours).

You Know You Are Busy When...

- Dishes (both clean and dirty) are stacked ready to be put washed and/or put away.
- Your bangs have grown out and you didn't want them to.
- You spent more time away from your home than in your home (I spent 21 of the last 27 days at someone else's house or some hotel).
- You haven't read your friends'/family's blogs for weeks and feel really behind.
- People in your ward think you moved.
- You insist it is not already the 27th of October. Ah!

He Said, but He Said...

I've heard more people than myself say they aren't sure who is really telling the truth--Obama or McCain. McCain's campaign ads say one thing, Obama's another. Here's an article that tells "the truth" about what was said in the debate.

(I say "the truth" because who knows if Comcast News is trustworthy...I'm not sure I trust any media anymore...)

Finally!

The way politics play don't appeal to me--the name calling, bashing, etc. (I told someone the other day that when I run for president, haha, I won't name call and bash...and because of that I won't win...) And this election has been even more annoying to me as I've seen too much biased media that don't tell both sides of the story. Three cheers for an article Sam sent to me that does tell the other side of one particular bash on McCain--that he is too much like Pres. Bush. This article compares Obama to Bush.

Click HERE for the article.

Recital Hearing

Today I performed my recital hearing for the Brass faculty at UNC. The hall we perform in here is an old movie theater turned into a rehearsal/concert hall. It's not something they are proud of, but that's what we have to work with. Today it was ice cold in the building which caused my pitch to vary widely between pieces and movements; also my lips were affected by the cold, but I made do.

After all was done I was congratulated by the brass faculty and informed that I passed. This lifted a weight off my shoulders because the hearing basically decided if I graduated this semester or not. I am anxious to graduate and return to Melanie, so I am very pleased.

Around the World in 86 Days

This is me for the next 86 days (Christmas in the 86th Day)

To Logan, to Duchesne, to Orem, to Indianapolis, to Salt Lake, to Greeley, CO, to Salt Lake, to Duchesne, to St. George, to Duchesne, to Orem, to Duchesne, to Provo, to Greeley, to Duchesne, to Garden Grove, CA, to Duchesne, to Salt Lake (all of this before Thanksgiving), to Atlanta, to Logan, to Duchesne, to New York, to Salt Lake.

(Is there time in there for me to breathe?)