False, black bear

Ok, so for whatever reason, I can't use italics, bold, any of that, so I'll just do my best to make sure that you can identify questions/answers.


What gave you the idea for Trepidation?

Well, I just kinda thought, "what's the most intense thing I can imagine happening to me?" and I figured that finding a knife in an empty grave would have to be right up there, so I wrote about that.


When you wrote it, did you have the plot laid out in your mind, or did you just go where it took you?

I completely followed, I was never in the drivers seat. I got that first idea that I already talked about and then made it up as I went.


What is your favorite class in school?

I really like English. I have to admit that I really like seminary too.


Have you ever gone skiing/snowboarding? Did you like it?

Yes, I have gone skiing a few times and I did like it, but it really just doesn't measure up when compared to water-skiing.


Who's your favorite cousin who lives in California that's a boy?

I don't know what you're talking about, I have a TWIN that lives in California, but not a boy cousin. (Inside joke.)


Best thing about High School?

GIRLS! Jk, umm...probably the "A day" "B day" schedule, it gives me so much more time to procrastinate, I mean uh, do my homework.


Hardest thing about being 15?

Waiting to date/drive.


Who is the one person you want to most emulate?

Not including our perfect example, I would have to say my dad and my grandfather (I know I'm a cheater, I chose two). I deeply admire their love for people, work ethic, standards, love for the gospel, trust in the lord, the list goes on and on.


Which bear is best?

That's a ridiculous question.


If you could be someone else for one day, who would you be?

Wow, that's a hard question...probably Ronaldinho. Then when I saw him do incredible things with the ball, I'd be like, "Psh, I've done that, it's not that hard...for him."


If you could be any age, how old would you be?

24, not old, not stupid (by that I mean in the young, immature way), possibly married, that's gotta be the best time in life.


Can you describe yourself in one word?

Yes...oh, do you want me to do it? Hmm, probably...striving, I don't know what the adjective form would be, I can't think right now.


What do you look forward to most, dating or driving?

Man, I don't know, probably driving. I've been looking forward to driving since I was two, but I've only been looking forward to dating since I was...three. :-)


If you had to choose one city to spend the rest of your life in, where would you go?

Either Farmington, Utah or Oakley, Idaho.


What do you think of Toby on The Office?

Some episodes I feel bad for him (i.e. Michael: "This is an environment of welcoming and you should just get the h*** out of here") But then some episodes I think he's kind of a creep (i.e. Spending the whole time at the bar to win a stuffed animal for Pam.) But mostly I just think that he's a left-out, not-fully-happy, guy who people need to be nicer to.


If you had to choose between the U.S. winning a World Cup and BYU winning another national championship in football, which would it be?

Oh my goodness, I think this is the unanswerable question. I really don't know, I mean, BYU has already won a national championship, so maybe I'd like the US to win the WC, but then again, BYU football is pretty much my life, but then again, the WC is a way bigger deal, but then again I couldn't rub a WC win in Utah Fan's faces, but that doesn't seem like a very righteous desire. I really don't know, you stumped me.


Pirates vs. Vikings. Even numbers and weapons. Who wins in a battle?

Oh come on, VIKINGS! Vikings had ships that were the size of flippin' football fields! Be Mighty. Be Viking. VHS!


Is your school really segregated into groups like jocks, cheerleaders, choir kids, trench coats an magic cards, etc.? If so, which "click" do you think most people would group you with?

Well, my first instinct is to say no, but then when I think about it...if I had to describe someone that my friends didn't know to them, but I knew that they had seen the person before, I would probably say, "You know, those emo kids who sit over by the clock," or, "They stand over by that hall that leads to the seminary building." But as far as jocks, cheerleaders, etc. not really. If people had to put me in a group, they would probably say the soccer players, but I really don't know.


What has been your most creative Halloween costume?

Well, I didn't come up with it, but one year I was an M&M. Another year I was a "bum on the street." Neither are super creative, but not too bad.


What has been your most clever comeback when someone was talking smack?

EFY advisor: "I don't hate BYU, it's just not for everyone."
Me: "Neither is the celestial kindom."

Various people: "Ya, well we beat you in '02, '03, '04, and '05."
Me: "How many national championships again? How many Heisman Trophy winners again? How many conference championships again? What did you recently win a national championship in? Dancing? Ooo, look out for those dancers, they'll kick your butt."


Are you getting tired of these questions?

A little, but not too much...yet.


Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?

Home from a mission, attractive wife, 1 kid, good job, possibly a career lined up in writing.


What's the best thing about being a teenager?

The chance to start forming the life that you want to have.


Worst?

The fact that we're forming the lives that we're going to have.


What is your earliest memory?

Hanging out at Tom Durrant's house. Riding big wheels around the cul-de-sac. Forming "clubs."


If you could be a character on the Office, who would you be (and Jim doesn't count)?

Jim doesn't count? Ah, come on. Michael, so that I'd never puke my heart out. Toby, so that people would feel bad for me. Ryan, so that I could boss Michael around. Pam, so that...hmm, I don't know, she's normal. Phyllis so that I could kick butt at "Flonkerton."


If you were a girl would you be a dumb blonde, a brunette, a redhead, or multi-colored?

Well, in case you haven't noticed Matt, I do have brown hair...


If you could go to any college in the U.S. where would you go?

BYU


What is your biggest fear?

Losing a family member.


What would you consider your perfect moment (i.e. Place, time, people your with, food your eating, drink your drinking, etc.)?

On a houseboat, just finished skiing, eating iced oatmeal cookies, with my whole extended family, everyone's happy, everyone is on the boat, playing a game.


If you could choose where you got called on your mission where would you want to go?

Probably Brazil, or Hawaii, or Jamaica, I don't know, wherever they need me I guess.


If you had three wishes what would they be?

1) Most good-looking individual on the planet. 2) 1976 white, untouchable, forever-lasting Corvette. 3) Cure for diabetes.


Who is the girl that you would most like to take on a date?

Pam Beesley :)


What's the funniest dream you ever had?

This probably isn't the funniest, but I can't think right now. The other night I dreamt that I was in this homeschool group and we felt like we had recieved revelation that we needed to build the next temple, but it wasn't church approved. Yeah, that was a weird dream.


What's the scariest?

One time I dreamt that my sister died. That really freaked me out.


Thanks everyone. I hope you learned something. I really answered them honestly.

Suggestions, Anyone?

Dear Reader,

I desperately need suggestions on a name for my story. The time to name this thrilling tale has long since past, and my canty ability to creatively name stories seems to be running dry at the moment (or maybe it's just cause I don't know where it's going). If I don't choose to use your idea, it's probably because it sucks. But don't feel bad, skills that I have are not given out like candy. After all, if we were all as creative as I, then no one would be creative at all.

Sincerely,
Josh "shua" Crowley

Ok, I really want to continue my story, but I have a couple of things on my mind that I would like to share. The two ideas are completely unrelated, but that's okay, right?

Something my teachers quorum advisor said during quorum meeting on Sunday has really stuck with me. He said,

"There is always someone around to benefit from your courage to do what's right." That has got to be one of the coolest things I've ever heard, and I assume it's almost always correct. Whether or not it seems like someone has benefited from your courage to stand up for what you believe in and do what's right, I'm sure there is someone.

In a kind of backward, it's-only-going-to-make-sense-to-me sort of way, this concept reminds me of something Elder Ballard once said (this is not a direct quote),

"Sin will always result in suffering, it may come sooner, or it may come later, but it will always come." I shared this concept (the one my advisor shared) in my home-teaching lesson yesterday, and I gave one of my favorite examples from the book of mormon and if you don't have anything to study tonight, may I suggest Alma chapter 48.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now on a completely seperate note, I'm feeling a little guilty and yet defensive. To show why, I'll tell you a story.

There once were 3 boys, Josh Crowley, Tyler Wolfley, and Kory Carlson. Josh was a BYU fan and Kory was a Utah fan, they enjoyed good-spiritedly trash-talking during math class which they had with Tyler.

Neither Kory nor Josh really knew Tyler and rarely talked to him, and never about anything besides math. One day, after a particularly gratifying BYU win over Utah, Kory jokingly told Josh that he didn't want to talk to him today. Josh laughed and half-said, half-sang,

"Go Mighty Cougars!"

"SHUT UP" said Tyler, unexpectedly. Josh chuckled and figured that Tyler must be a Ute fan as well.

"Tell me to shut up again, come on" Josh jokingly taunted. Turning in his chair to face Josh, Tyler said,

"You know what, I'm a cougar fan too, but you're the most flippin' annoying kid I know!"

Completely befuddled, Josh blew off the comment and figured that he didn't really care what Tyler thought about him, he didn't even know him for crying out loud.

The End

As I'm sure you all noticed, this wasn't a pretend story. :) It was real and it happened to me in math today. Now while I still don't really care what Tyler thinks, because he hasn't gotten a chance to know me, I have since remembered something I said on Thursday that I regret.

I said that my motto was "Kill the Utes." I really didn't mean it, I'm just a really big fan of BYU as I hope you all know, but I definitely need to watch it, some people may not be very thick-skinned, and could easily take offense to things I say.

So why am I telling you this? I don't really know, I guess it's kind-of an apology and an explanation of the fact that I really don't lose respect for anyone who is a utah fan. I really don't hate ute fans or players, I'm just very strongly-oppinionated and I think I sometimes need to turn it down a notch.



I'm not the most annoying person any of you guys know, right?

(Yay! 17-10, What a great game!)

Need Ideas

HOLY CRAP!!!

The BYU game is tomorrow! I'm on the 40 yard line, 20 rows up! I can't concentrate on anything! I really need ideas of how to pass the time. Please help a desperate soul.

Sincerely,

Josh Crowley

In This Week of Needed Inspiration

As you all know, Saturday is a special day, but this Saturday is far past special. BYU vs U***. 'Nuff said. So, in this week of ultimate anticipation and holiness, I will now share with you my three favorite poems of all time, which all happen to be inspiring, a much needed emotion this Saturday.

1. The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost (1874–1963)

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
 
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
     
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
        
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
      
As cool as this poem is, I have a really hard time interpreting exactly what he is saying, so if you have an idea I'd love to hear it.

INVICTUS

By William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

I love this poem, so inspiring. But, this next one is cooler.

The Soul's Captain
by Orson F. Whitney

Art thou in truth?
Then what of Him who bought thee with His blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood,

Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but Him could bear--
The God who died that man might live
And endless glory share.

Of what avail thy vaunted strength
Apart from His vast might?
Pray that His light may pierce the gloom
That thou mayest see aright.

Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree,
Thou, captain of thy soul! Forsooth,
Who gave that place to thee?

Free will is thine--free agency,
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto Him
To whom all souls belong.

Bend to the dust that "head unbowed,"
Small part of life's great whole,
And see in Him and Him alone,
The captain of thy soul.

As you can probably see, Orson wrote this poem in response of William Henley's poem. What an awesome poem!



Conference Championships over the last 30 years:

BYU: 23
U***: 2
 

Plan of Happiness

My uncle died last night. I don't really know what emotions I'm having if any. I loved him, and still love him, with the greatest love possible for someone who I never really knew. It's hard and I know that most of you who will be reading this will understand the situation. But through all of this, I'm just glad that I know that I can see him again, that he is happy, and that he didn't die at some random moment, Heavenly Father took him back at the right time. I know that, and I'm so glad that through this hard situation, I have the knowledge that our savior loves us and died for us and someday, I'll see my uncle John and get to know him and see what a great guy he was.

Who indeed can harm you if you are committed deeply to doing what is right?
- I Peter

Stealing Ideas From My Aunts Blog

For one of her posts, my aunt gave 30 blog posting ideas. One was to describe what it's like to argue with you, and another was to list your obsessions. I am going to combine these and post my first real BYU post, because today we have a HUGE game that I'm psyched about.

First of all, I don't recall ever losing a BYU vs. U*** argument, it doesn't happen. Now I'm going to list stats, my opinions, and anything else I can think of explaining why BYU is the better school. Please don't let this offend anyone, I just love BYU, and if it offends you, grow up.

1) Heisman trophy winners: BYU 1; Utah 0

2) Ty Detmer All-Time Passing Yards: 15,031; Utah All-Time Passing Leader: Not even close to 15,031

3) National Championships: BYU 1; Utah 0

4) Steve Young went to BYU

5) Record between BYU and U*** from 1972-1992: 19-2

6) Current Coaches: BYU: Stud, Bronco Mendenhall; Utah: Traitor, Kyle Whittingham

Don't Read this Kate:

7) Doesn't the church run BYU?

8) U*** fans make the arguement that President Hinckley went to Utah, who named BYU's Stadium?

9) U*** fans make the arguement that Brigham Young founded U***, DUH! BYU is named AFTER him!

10) U*** fans always make the arguement that U*** holds the all-time record. Ya, but you know what, the biggest reason is because back before anyone who is currently living was born, BYU was horrible! CONGRADULATIONS UTAH! BACK WHEN FOOTBALL DIDN'T MATTER, YOU WERE GOOD AT FOOTBALL! WHOOPDEE FRICKIN' DOO!

My last current, off the top of my head, listable reason:
11) 89 words:

Snap to John, John backpedals, plenty of time, plenty of time, plenty of time, he's moving to his left, shuffling, shuffling, shuffling, all kinds of time, now the heat comes, he's gotta run to the right, John Beck is on the run, he throws behind him it is...CAUGHT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! CAUGHT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! CAUGHT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! JOHNNY HARLINE GOT IT FOR THE SCORE! HARLINE, BY HIMSELF IN THE ENDZONE! THE COUGARS WIN IT! ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME!
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!

Go Cougars.

List of 15 great books I've read in no particular order.

(I would put authors, but I'm not sure on all of them, if you want to know who one of the books is by, say so in your comment [because I know ALL of you are going to comment] and I'll see if I can find it for you)

1. Princess Bride

2. The Alchemist

3. Bleachers

4. The Harry Potter Series

5. The Firm

6. The Giver

7. My Brother Made Me Do It

8. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

9. The Alex Rider Series (I haven't read all of them..yet)

10. The Outsiders

11. Number the Stars

12. Hatchet

13. Petey

14. My Side of the Mountain

15. Guts

We are like tea bags - we don't know our own strength until we're in hot water.
       - Sister Busche

Percussion!

Last Wednesday was Elizabeths first concert, since then I have been thinking a lot about Mr. Wolf, my old band teacher. He was so cool, he was the perfect teacher. He understands exactly how students will react to his criticism and compliments, plus he knows what he is teaching. I'm going to share some of my favorite Mr. Wolf memories.

In one of our last concerts of my 9th grade year, Mr. Wolf did an improv vibraphone solo for jazz band. It was so cool! He is amazing, his tie was flippin', hands flying, and veins bulging. He is always really modest in class, and that was the first time I ever got to see him really go at it. AWESOME!

Iron Cross. This was one of Mr. Wolf's favorite punishments. It involves: bending the knees until your thighs burn, extending your arms out, wrists up at a 90 degree angle, thumb and index finger in an "L" shape, back and neck straight, and pain.

One time we were practicing out in the hall, and got really bored, so (without thinking) we started playing flies up with our practice pads. Mr. Wolf came out...Iron Cross.

In 9th grade, our band had the chance to play in St. George in a big competition that was a really big deal. We worked REALLY hard. We had at least 2-3 two and a half hour rehearsals a week. We played really well in the festival, and we sent the recording in to a national competitions of Jr. Highs and High Schools. We finished in the top ten.

Mr. Wolf's favorite saying is "Good is the enemy of great." What a great life lesson.


"Good is the enemy of great"
Heath Wolf, "Wolfman"

Music is Great

In case anyone hasn't been able to tell, I think a lot. And I love things like quotes or songs that me think and get inspired/excited. Today I'm going to write some of my favorite lines from some of my favorite songs and you guys see how many you can name the song or artist.

If I had money to burn, I would offer some kind of prize, like a gift certificate or something, but unfortunately I don't have money to burn so your motivation is how happy you'll make me by commenting.

1. This is 10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 50% pain, and 100% reason to remember the name. (for those of you who know this one, don't worry, I listen to the clean version)

2. Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet, just a man and his will to survive.

3. Join in the fight, that will give you the right to be free.

4. Lift me up so high that I cannot fall.

5. You've got me stealin' your love away, 'cause you never give it.

6. I don't know what it is, but I have to laugh when she reveals me.

7. Did you think that I would cry on the phone?

8. It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.

9. We should get jerseys, 'cause we make a good team.

10. I think sometimes you forget where the heart is.

(I am really enjoying this, so I'm going to do 5 more)

11. Reaching ever upward to the light, no growth for them has come with ease.

12. I'm your only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am.

13. Move like a jellyfish, rhythm is nothing, you go with the flow, you don't stop.

14. What will it take till you believe in me, the way that I believe in you?

15. Have you ever heard the sounds in the shadows of a song?

After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
-Aldous Huxley

P.S. Sorry, I didn't think about how you will all be able to see what other people guessed, so just write the ones you know (i.e. I know 3 for sure, and I'm pretty sure about 12, 4, and 8) and tomorrow I will reveal the answers.

My 100 things

I am going to attempt to think of 100 things about myself.

1. I love the rain

2. I catch myself thinking about thinking, which I then realize is really thinking about thinking about thinking, which I then realize in thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking, then I realize tha-oh you get the point.

3. I love to write poems, but they usually aren't that great.

4. Today in computer tech, I hit 78 words per minute! I think thats a high for me. (Of course, it was just typing a pretty simple sentence over and over, but hey, I'll count it.)

5. Along with eternity, my mind cannot comprehend how people can't see that BYU is the best school ever (ok that sounds a little over the top, but I'm serious, it doesn't make sense to me)

6. One of the best feelings in the world to me is right after you've thrown up when you're sick, it feels so relieving.

7. I'm maintaining a B+ in AP Euro!

8. I really hated 7th grade, every aspect of it

9. I believe in this quote from a book I just read called "The Alchemist", "When someone is striving to reach their personal destiny, the whole universe combines to help them achieve it"

10. I think a lot.

11. I really love my Crowley Family

12. I really love my Nilsen Family

13. My jr. high band teacher is one of my heroes.

14. I always plan celebrations that I'm going to do when I score a goal, but when I score, I think about it and I always think it would make me look way braggy, so I just get this dumb little smile on my face.

15. If I could go back in time, I think I would first go to my grandfathers shop when my dad worked there

16. Then I would see what my mom was like

17. Just recently, several people have told me that I am the most easy-going person they know

18. I don't think I am easy-going

19. I LOVE my new 30 gig white video ipod

20. Last night I decided that my new favorite song is Bubbly Toes by Jack Johnson

21. I think my dad is really cool.

22. I don't know if it's really called Bubbly Toes, on our itunes, we have it listed as bubble toes, but he says bubbly toes in the song, but I don't really care, it's just a cool song.

23. I don't really view myself as a disobedient teenager even though I think I sometimes am.

24. I keep going back and forth between putting periods at the end of each of these and then leaving them off

25. Am I really only 1/4 of the way done?

26. One of my favorite feeings is being in a tent or a car while it's raining really hard.

27. I think that a soccer or BYU football highlight video with a good song and good clips is worth my time, anytime.

28. I hate it when I put in extra information in parentheses and then continue on with my sentence afterwards like you're supposed to but it doesn't make sense unless you go back and read it without the parentheses.

29. My soccer juggling record is 515 (if you don't know what soccer juggling is, you should get on YouTube and look up Mr. Woo's halftime show, he is mostly doing juggling tricks, but juggling is simply keeping the ball in the air without your hands, which you can tell by watching that clip).

30. Whew, those parentheses were really long

31. I can get really nervous around cute girls.

32. I sit by a really cute girl in ceramics.

33. Maybe that's why my projects don't look good.

34. I got away with working a whole summer at a car shop without knowing anything about cars.

35. My Grandfather is one of my heroes.

36. My Grandma cracks me up, I think I crack her up too.

37. I don't know much about my Grandma Nilsen, who I never met, but I can't wait to meet her.

38. Occasionally, I get choked up thinking about my Grandpa Nilsen's funeral.

39. My cousin Gary is one of my heroes.

40. I have lots of heroes.

41. Jim and Dwight are also among my list of heroes.

42. I love the scriptures.

43. "The Contender" is one of the best books I've ever read.

44. Even though I don't wrestle, I hate it when people say that they think wrestling is creepy, and it really lowers my respect for them. (I know, that's horrible)

45. As much as I love my extended family, I think I will have a really hard time getting into geneology (sp?) when I get older.

46. I love listening to music, plus, music is one of the ultimate conversation starters.

47. Of all the people I really got to know at all in jr. high, probably the 3 I like the most went to Davis.

48. When people try to explain to me why they like Utah more than BYU all I can do is laugh.

49. Both of my little brothers are heroes of mine.

50. Halfway there

51. My mom is one of my biggest heroes.

52. I couple years ago, the Christensens (as in Jim, sorry if I spelled the last name wrong) gave us a DVD of my dads ward growing up, I think I could watch that dvd all day long.

53. I have a lot of respect for those guys who run the 100 meters in like 10 seconds, that's freakin' amazing.

54. I love to drive.

55. A couple weeks ago I drove all the way down to provo!

56. I LOVE HOT CHOCOLATE!

57. When I waterski, I feel like I'm on top of the world.

58. I think that for me, spirit paradise might be Lake Powell.

59. Addition to list of heroes: My uncles James and Jesse. They amaze me.

60. My mom is really funny.

61. I can probably fall asleep faster than anyone reading this.

62. I fell asleep in AP Euro today, falling asleep in an ap class, is that like double sin?

63. My 9th grade seminary teacher brother west is one of my heroes.

64. You are my hero for reading my blog!

65. Some of the kids in my new percussion class make me want to cry with their technique.

66. Why didn't Ronaldinho play well in the world cup? That makes me very sad.

67. Sometimes I convince myself that my fan status changes how BYU plays.

68. Pretty much the only people that I have no patience for are those that do things because they know it will get them negative attention.

69. When I make omelettes, I think about what I'm putting in and how I think it's going to taste...it never tastes that way.

70. I know I've said it once, but Nate is one of my biggest heroes. He's so cool.

71. Mr. Wolf my jr high band teacher had a way of making me feel good differently that anyone else.

72. I can kick a soccer ball up, catch it on my neck, take my shirt off, and put my shirt back on while the ball is still on my neck. (Sorry if that sounds really braggy)

73. I need to figure out a way to get more people to read my blog without making it sound like the world revolves around me. Because it doesn't.

74. I've gotten stitches twice in pretty much the exact same place.

75. I can give myself shots pretty easily.

76. I cannot watch other people get shots, I hate it.

77. Sometimes when I try to think of 100 things about me, it's really hard.

78. Once when I was at Lagoon, I lost my moms cell phone (actually I asked my cousin thomas to keep it with him while I went on cliffhanger and he lost it on wildmouse)

79. We got it back.

80. As much as I hate to admit it, I love to pop zits like my mom. Not because she likes to, just because I think it's weird =, and yet, it's so fun and rewarding and addicting.

81. I love to hear other people's stories, that is, if they're interesting of course.

82. Sometimes I am suprised that I get along with some of my friends.

83. My friend sterling was really fast when we were little. He was on my soccer team and he could probably outrun (is that one word) anyone in our league. Since then, most of us have caught up to him, he's still fast, but he's not leaps and bounds (no pun intended) ahead of everyone else. I think thats how I am with brains, I used to be really smart, way ahead of most kids my age. But now, I'm just a pretty average, maybe a little above average student.

84. I finished my eagle project last saturday!

85. I like my name.

86. If I had to change my name, I would change it to rick.

87. I used to say that if I could do 1 thing to change the world I would cure diabetes. I don't know if that's what I do now.

88. i right alot pf tYPos.

89. I hate high school musical

90. I hate pretty much every disney channel show or movie.

91. AP Euro is really hard for me.

92. I love Christmas music, like my dad.

93. Probably my favorite book series is Harry Potter.

94. I think I'm breaking the 2nd Commandment. I worship the Office.

95. I know the whole dance to "My Little Buttercup"

96. An ancestor of mine founded Farmington.

97. I lost my first tooth in an dunking for apples booth at a ward party. I didn't know I had lost it, but I found it in the bottom of the bucket later that night.

98. I want to be just like my dad when I grow up, that includes occupation-wise.

99. Soarin' Over California is one of the coolest rides ever! Probably the coolest ride I've ever been on.

100. I'm pretty freakin' cool!

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."
Denis Waitley

That took me 2 hours and 8 minutes.

Thanks for reading!

D&C 58:26-27

Ok, this is a follow up of my last post.

I only worked with Shawn for 2 days before he left on his mission (he's in Jamaica). So, after he left, obviously I was working, but Abe also came to work. (Ok his name isn't really abe, but I feel cool holding information from you). So me and Abe were left to do the same type of jobs Shawn had been doing. Now I'm sure most of you have met a one-upper, but you may not be familiar with the term. Allow me to familiarize you, a one-upper does not lose...EVER!!!...however, this basically relates to stories, meaning, if I tell a cool story, he has a cooler one, which probably (probably is an understatement) isn't true, but he presents it as true (wow that was a huge run-on sentence, oh well, it's my blog).

Abe, however, was not just a one-upper, he also didn't work.

At all.

Ask Grandfather and he will tell you of countless times of inviting Abe into his office and telling him that if he wasn't related, he would fire him, and begging him to start working harder. Now, Abe to me became comical, some of his stories are...hmm...how to put it...incredible...UNBELIEVABLE...amazing...RIDICULOUS...oh did I mention, NOT BELIEVABLE. So, I'm going tell you some of his stories and also some of the strange things that he would do at the shop.

At the shop we had one of those cool water dispensers, that has paper cups on the side, a big jug of water on top that you switch out, and it dispenses hot and cold water, you know what I'm talking about (I hope). One of the weird things that Abe would do was he would get the paper cups and cut the tops off, draw all over them with magic marker, and not clean up the mess. Paul (Who was basically our boss, he basically does the same jobs that we did, he doesn't rebuild the trannies.) anyway, Paul would often ask him first to pick up, and second why he cut the tops off. Abe said that he did that so that he could remember which cup was his; however, I know for a fact that he cut off the tops of several cups a day.

Then, at the end of the day, he would often get a cup of hot water from the dispenser, now this wasn't like lukewarm water, this was so hot that it melted the wax off of the sides of the cup and you could see it on top of the water!, AND HE WOULD DRINK IT!! I always asked him why and he said because it woke him up. AT THE END OF THE DAY! We've been moving big, heavy trannies in 90+ degree heat, all day long, and you're drinking scalding-hot water at the end of the day, to WAKE YOU UP?

Ok so now for some of the stories.

One time he was up in wyoming with some of his friends lighting fireworks for the 24th or something. They apparently had bought a complete firework store, because after they had lit fireworks to their hearts content, they still had a huge box of fireworks left. So they decided to light them all at the same time. But they weren't going to just light the box on fire, that just isn't enough fun, they cut a hole in the bottom of the box, made a gasoline fountain (???), lit the gasoline fountain (I swear this is exactly what he told me), and ran. He says that bottle rockets were flying past his ears, he is diving like he is in a James Bond movie barely dodging these fireworks that are shooting every which way. WOW!

One kid that went to his high school apparently found a way to make money grow on trees. He drives a dodge viper to school during the week, and his weekend car is a lamborghini murcielago. According to Abe, there are 3 Lamborghini Mucielago's in Utah and they own 2 of them. Ya, that right there is ridiculous, but it gets better.

So this kid that went to Abe's high school, he must be a really bad kid. So Abe told me that he got a ticket for going, BRACE YOURSELF, 145 mph in a BRACE YOURSELF, 25mph zone. He told this while, Abe, Nephi (one of the rebuilders) and I were eating lunch. I didn't even to try to stop myself from laughing. I just busted up and I told him that I had a really hard time believing that.

"I've seen the ticket!" he said.

I said, "I highly doubt that he would just get a ticket, I'm pretty sure he would get his license revoked and get arrested for reckless driving"

No response. "Besides," I said, "where is there a straight piece of road that is a 25 mph zone?"

"Oh, it's just over on the east side of sandy"

"Hmm..Wow...That's pretty crazy"

We went on talking for the rest of lunch, and as our lunch break ended I said, "We should probably get goin Abe" I let him go first and after we walked out I stuck my head back in the breakroom and said, "145 miles per hour-" "In a 25 mile per hour zone?" Nephi finished for me.

You'll probably hear a lot more stories about Abe in days to come.

A life lived in fear is half lived.
       - Anonymous

Have a great day!

Alma 5:16

This past summer after school got out, my parents started hinting that I really needed to get a job.

I said, "Ok"

I thought, "Oh no"

So after probably about 2 weeks of doing pretty much nothing to try to find a job, my dad said to me, if you haven't found a job by the end of this week, I'll find a job for you.

I said, "Ok"

I thought, "Oh no"

So I put in an application to Bowmans, ignoring my cousin, Alex's warning that they were not hiring. "Maybe they'll change their mind when they see my incredible application!" I thought. Well, about 2 weeks went by and one night my mom and dad wanted to talk to me. "Josh, come here," they said

I said, "Ok"

I thought, "Oh no"

We had a nice long discussion about what I had done to find a job and how it usually takes several applications before one gets accepted. My parents said that I needed to learn how to work. I argued that I had lots of chores, I worked hard in soccer, and I almost always work hard when given something to do. Yet, alas, the parents won again, my dad said that he had already talked to my grandfather about having me work for him in his transmission shop and that he was ready for me on monday.

I thought, "Oh no"

I said, "Oh goodie"

So Monday came and I went in and was introduced to Shawn. Shawn showed me around for about .27 seconds before we went outside and I started bringing over pallets while he fired up the forklift. As I lifted the first pallet off of the pile I thought, this isn't going to be so bad, all we had to do was move some transmissions (which I will now refer to as a trannies because thats what cool guys who have worked in transmission shops call them) off of their shelves, load them onto pallets, and break down the shelves.

I watched as Shawn showed me how to load the transmission onto the cart, transport it with the cart over the the pallet (which was already on the forklift), and load the transmission onto the pallet. Why couldn't we just move the forklift over to the shelves and load the trannies directly onto the pallet? Because that would be just too darn simple of course! So I stepped up to my very first transmission, stared it down, and kissed my biceps goodbye. I grabbed the tranny (which is difficult, they aren't made for handling) and attempted to budge the stupid thing. "I think its stuck," I said. "Naw, they don' get stuck" said Shawn. So he stepped up, basically threw it onto the cart and told me to get the next one. "Hmm" I thought, "that's weird, one minute it wouldn't move, the next minute, it jumped for Shawn! thats really strange."

Already long story, which could easily get longer, made shorter, I realized how ridiculously heavy for their size trannies really are. It took me a long time until I could easily move them and even now I'm no expert.

I started working there around June 24 if I remember right and worked for pretty much the rest of the summer. Obviously with summer camps, efy, boating trips, etc, I missed a lot, plus I only worked Monday, Wednesday, Friday, but I really truly know that I learned how to work hard more because of that job than any grocery store job, or chores at home could have ever taught me.

Now am I going to work there next summer? I don't know, I haven't really thought a lot about it yet. I have to admit there were some REALLY long days, that I thought would never end, and most days I didn't really want to go in to work. But whether or not I end up working there next summer, I have found myself missing that shop. I often wonder what paul is doing right now. How many trannies Jason has rebuilt today? How many "shippers" do they have today? I really did like it, I really did learn some great lessons and I'm grateful to my dad for talking to my grandfather that fateful day.

On a completely seperate note, I, like my dad, really love inspiring quotes, and I think it would be totally sweet to add one at the end of every post, so I'm going to.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." --Thomas A. Edison

Have a great day!