mmmmmmmm . . . BURGERS!

I like ghetto food.  I like "man" food.  I like Ma 'n Pop restaurants with the Blue Plate Special food.  I like sandwich food.  I like spicy, flavorful, hearty food.

Wanna know what I don't like?  Fancy food.  Okay, well I don't HATE it, but I don't crave it like some people.  Who wants to go to a "fancy" restaurant and pay RIDICULUS prices to only get a fluffy piece of ARTISTIC CRAP on their plate?  COME ON!  I came to eat because I am HUNGRY and you serve me this mess?

Megan likes "fancy" food, but I have also helped to introduce her a wider range of GHETTO food and she is slowly embracing it,  embracing it so much that, not too long ago, SHE took me HERE!

WELCOME TO FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES!  I first heard about this through our wedding photographer (and family we blog stalk . . .) the Sansoms.  This is the MAN'S place to eat.  You walk in and immediately to your right is a garbage with peanuts on top.  I wish I had this in my apartment.  It tells me, "WELCOME."

The menu is simple, burgers and fries.  And they ain't no fluffy burgers either; you need to come hungry.  Also, nothing is said by the employees in anything less than a minor shout.  Your food is served in paper bags and wrapped in foil.  All the makings of a great food experience.

Even Megs loved it! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That same week (in fact the day PREVIOUS) I was bacheloring it up came across this great Provovian diner.

It was AWESOME!  Sammy's Cafe is just a little hole in the wall diner that just may replace the hole in my heart left by the ORIGINAL Carmacks

(For those of you who know Carmacks KNOW my longing.)  It had the bar stools, small family-run environment, and great food that I needed.  The steak fries and fry sauce were AMAZING!

 

AND because they are in Provo, they even make their own, hand-designed SCRIPTURE CASES as a side business. 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a great night out with good company, come on down to Provo and we will hit up Sammy's.  Trust me, we know how to have a good time.

Canine Compromise

Megs and I have always loved dogs.  In fact, a little known secret about my wife is that she actually enjoys puppies and puppy BREATH ALMOST MORE than she loves babies.  Weird, I know.  We even had a little "incident" this past summer when Megs saw some puppies being walked down the street and, with NO regard for her, my, or ANY ones life around us, demanded that we turn around and hunt those dogs down so she could get another look . . .

Anywho, because of our fondness for dogs, Megs and I began discussing our future dog breed preferences early on in dating, and painstakingly, we did NOT agree.  Possibly one of the reasons it took us TWO AND A HALF YEARS to tie the knot!

Meet NED!

Ned is a Dachshund (aka WEENER DOG!)  He is lively, playful, and overall full of life!  And just like my old 1972 VW Beetle, NO ONE can pass him up without a smile. Who WOULDN'T love Ned? . . . Answer: MEGAN!

This came as a pretty big surprise and kick in the gut.  I tried and tried and tried to no avail.  I pictured Ned playing with my children and growing old with us.  I saw Ned coming on family camping trips with us and biting at fish as they swam by.  I envisioned Ned rolling around in the backyard, playing with his favorite plastic, newspaper-shaped chew toy, and galloping his awkward body toward me as I called his name.  Dreams . . . thrashed!

After a few years of stubbornness and avoidance of the topic, compromise led us to this beauty of a canine:

She has yet to be named, but this will be our family dog.  Beagles are family oriented, loving dogs that play well with children. Sadly, their bodies are only a LITTLE awkward, but I guess that will do.

So there you have it, CANINE COMPROMISE.  Now we just need to work on the degree, the career, the house, and children, and the backyard.  Minor things, really.

P.S. For good measure and to always stay on my wife's good side, I have attached the following puppy pictures:

A Fond Farewell

Today I got some sad news.  My mom informed me that Rocky, one of my long-time family dogs, had to be put down today.  This comes only months after Abbey had to be taken in.  They were the perfect dogs and I loved them.  It really is amazing just how much of a part of the family that they become.  They have personality, and I am convinced that Abbey understood Human.  They were so much fun and today, I'm pretty bummed. 

HOWEVER, they had great lives.  We would love to take them up to the mountains and let them go wild.  They would run so fast that they wouldn't be able to keep up with themselves and would tumble down the hill.  Abbey knew she was the princess.  When we would make them go outside, she would pause, give us a look that said, "You KNOW you're not going make me go." . . . and we wouldn't.  This probably stemmed from her sleeping in our beds from when were we young.  She would wake us in the morning with a friendly lick.  AND I LOVED IT!  Rocky was the goofiest dog in the world and loved nothing more than to just lay around and clean Abbey.  They were inseparable.  

When Abbey was taken in, Rocky pretty much just gave up.  He really didn't know what to do without her.  It has been quite sad.  As hard as it is to see them, it was time.

SO, without dwelling on sadness, here's to ABBEY AND ROCKY.  Here's to great memories and two of the greatest dogs.  Here's to being able to love your pets like a member of the family.  Everyone deserve these kind of memories.  Everyone deserves a great family dog.

Christian? . . . PROVE IT!

Last night, after Fetal Fotos, we drove into downtown for the Church's annual Mo-Tab Christmas Concert!  This year was with Brian Stokes Mitchell.  Megs is in love with him, and as the concert started (which we enjoyed from THE SECOND ROW!  Hearing the Mo-Tab+Orchestra from that close is BREATHTAKING), I looked over and saw her blush and let out an almost silent giggle.  "MEGS AND BRIAN SITTIN' IN A TREE, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

. . .Well, to validate her crush, I will say that he is pretty darn good.  Just one of the people you could listen to all day and be happy to do not much else.  It was an outstanding night full of amazing talent, beauty, and the Christmas spirit.  It feels good to filled with near perfect, wholesome, holiday bliss that signals to your mind "CHRISTMAS."  A great evening.

HOWEVER, to get the evening in motion first comes, what I consider, "THE CHRISTIAN TEST."  What is this test, you ask? . . .PARKING, parking AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER FOR AN EVENT.  AND not just ANY event; the CHRISTMAS, MO-TAB, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL event.  Now one would think that a bunch of Christians headed off to a wonderful Christian event would make this a pleasant experience . . . WRONG.  It's either eat or be eaten out there!  Past experience and performance has taught me to drop off the wife and kids before this test.  Last night, thankfully, I did just that.

From the moment I dropped Megs and her mom off I began to chant "CHRISTIAN TEST, CHRISTIAN TEST" and within 30 SECONDS, I lost that test!  The person in front of me STOPPED in the middle of RIDICULOUS TRAFFIC to turn around and look at the lights . . .

I was pretty bummed about failing the test so quickly, but, thankfully, "PLAN PERSPECTIVE" kicked in almost as fast.  This plan points me to thoughts and ideas such as, "Well, maybe it's their first time in SLC and they are overcome with the beauty Temple Square at Christmas" or "I am sure it's a grandpa stopping to show his sweet little granddaughter the beauty of the temple and sharing a brief testimony."

After overcoming such failure, I pressed on the drive about 300 feet in about 15 minutes and made it with basically not additional failures.  I found Megs and my new primo, secluded, not-well-known parking spot(which I REFUSE to give the exact coordinates to.  It is prime! and only a block away.  I would hesitate to even disclose it to my own mother, but would if pushed hard enough.  FIND YOUR OWN!)

I got parked, walked to deposit my money, realized I forgot my money, went back to get my money, walked back to pay, paid, walked half way to the Conference Center, realized I forgot my ticket, walked BACK to the car, FAILED the Christian Test again, got my ticket, took a silent moment to repent and collect myself, reviewed the car for any additional items that I MAY need, and then walked to the Conference Center.

OVERALL, it was a great night: family, Christmas, music, beauty, lights, crisp air, the Conference Center, and peace.  Many times I think my life is so rushed and focused on point A and point B that I forget to stop and really take it all in; take a mental snapshot, if you will, of the many memorable opportunities that surround me.  Life is full of so much good and joy and here's to recognizing that goodness and joy, those small, peaceful moments, and the Christmas spirit . . .  Oh yeah, and NOT losing the "Christian Test" for a long, long time to come.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

No words...

There isn't a way to properly describe how I feel right now! I am in awe, completely in love, and a tiny bit nervous. Let me explain: Greg's parents gave us a special treat for Greg's birthday and surprised us with a gift certificate to Fetal Fotos to see our baby girl in 4-D! Our appointment was earlier this evening and I have been so excited all week... I could hardly sleep last night! I can already feel that she has a distinct personality and how special she is... I do spend all day with her you know! There are times when I feel like I take advantage of the fact that she goes EVERYWHERE with me... eating, sleeping, crying, laughing, driving, singing... she is there for it ALL. Greg asks me everyday if she is has moved today, and my reply is always"yeah, she moves all the time." I forget just how lucky I am to have the constant reminder that the most amazing miracle is going on inside of me... How stupid do I feel?
Back to my story... So, we got to see her today.. And I have absolutely no words of how to describe it! I am so in love with her already, I want to kiss those already chubby cheeks, smell her brand-newness, and just cuddle her close to me. There is however a tiny ounce of fear in me... just exactly how am I going to get that baby with the already chubby cheeks out... after she has grown a few more months? I suppose the love I so inadequately described before is the only answer to that question... So now the waiting continues.



A little sneak peak! Isn't she adorable?!... (that is rhetorical)

HEY MAN, YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT

This is my Christmas gift to you! ENJOY!

(It would be THAT much better of a gift if you could see the dance that I have made up for it! But you will just have to save that for another day and another time.)

Payin' me due diligence

For a living, I do this:

but I WANT to do THIS!:

 

That's not asking too much. . . . is it?

The death of censorship

Tonight, Megs, Bethany, and I were enjoying ourselves a little Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  It looks as if the Grinch has more to worry about than the destruction of Christmas.

 

Are those . . . breasts?

 

Where has censorship gone?

 

Shame.

My little life lesson

Sometimes I make decisions that I like to call "life lessons."  A couple years ago I made such a decision and this past weekend it all came to a sad end.

Introducing Joseph Manuel

Joseph was my rebound.  I just finished a good run with my Jeep (and 14 mpg) and was jonesen for a car with great gas mileage.  After a quick go on KSL.com I came up with this beauty, my 1996 VW Golf.  It came equipped with tinted windows, 20inch wheels (not shown), a MagnaFlow muffler, high-end sound system, and suspension kit and mariachi music . . . (okay, so not kit or music, but it really would have finished off the whole theme . . .)  I really didn't tell anyone and just went ahead and did it.  If only I had a camera with me when I introduced other to Joseph Manuel.  Oh the joy that came across their faces.

The fun didn't stop there.  Joseph Manuel came with a few additional features that weren't listed on the title:

• As a safety feature, the A/C wouldn't work after the temp reached 70 degrees
• In an attempt to keep me driving within the speed limit, the car would thoughtfully shake when I reached 60 mph
• The passenger door would randomly swing open on the freeway to keep me on my toes.  However, I sneakingly side stepped this feature by tying the door shut with Meg's headband.  The father-in-law really appreciated me escorting his daughter into the driver side back seat on our dates . . .

And LAST, but definitely NOT LEAST

• When the temp would rise above 80 degrees MARIJUANA would leach from the seats as to keep me light-hearted and youthful.

After a good run together, a mechanic stole my joy by informing me that Joseph Manuel was not going to "pass the state SAFETY'S TEST."  I think he was jealous and Joey Man was parked and stayed parked for 14 months.  This past weekend, Craigslist finished him off and now he is gone.

SO, Joey Man was one of many "life lessons."  Specifically, life lessons that Megs won't even let me forget.

I be thankful

Today I am thankful for my return to blogging.  You are welcome!

Anywho, with the past few weeks of school and work and life I have suffered from writers block.  NOTHIN!  However, I am going to be victorious and push through it.  Just within the past week alone I have drafted some great posts in my mind, but we will see if they make it.  I find that blogging is like journal writing in the fact that a motivating sequence gets put into place (e.g., priesthood lesson) and you go home with all sorts of motivation to complete the task.  THEN you sit down and try to make up for lost time, become overwhelmed, and set the journal down until next quarters "motivational sequence."  SO I apologize if you don't get to hear about my thoughts on 8, or the "laughing post" and how my professor referred to Dr. Smith's b . . .  (Megan would kill me if I put it) and how much he loves them, and my comparison between the dentist and the I.T. man.  MAYBE if you show me extra love they will come to fruition.

AND being THANKSGIVING I would like to say how thankful I am for family, friends, spontaneous life situations, laughter, freedom, 5 day weekends, learning, a job, safety, conviction, and mostly my beautiful wife and her pregnant belly.  I really am overwhelmed with goodness, love, charity, and opportunity.  I hope all of you have a great day!

OH and not to forget my thankfulness for my little families new Thanksgiving night tradition (compromise is a beautiful thing):

This so happens to be the BEST Christmas movie EVER!  Let me indulge you in a few more screen shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now THIS is what JOY IS!

 

 

 

 

And lastly, I am thankful for finding my yearbook picture from 1970.  It's just the shot that keeps on giving!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

. . .

AWOL, yes. I know a few of you are wondering where we have been. Let me explain.

Last week our laptop was hit with a nasty spyware virus and has YET to return . . .

I started a new job.

School is a little ALL-consuming.

AND the stomach flu has just decided to rear its ugly head on my dear wife and me.

We're coming back. Just allow us a little recovery time. BUT, be excited. I got LOTS to say!

Bachelor BLOWUP!

Last night I decided that I should attempt to embrace my temporary bachelorhood.  I asked myself, "Greg, what do bachelors DO?"  I came up with frozen pizza, a movie, and watching Japanese game show clips online . . .

A LIST OF LOSERS!

First off, FROZEN PIZZA.  Now, I'm not talkin' that fancy stuff.  This was legit, $2 frozen pizza.  HORRIBLE.  Why did this used to be good?  If ANYONE knows any way to restore my faith in frozen pizza, PLEASE HELP.  I am going through emotional shock.  It tasted like a perfect marriage between cardboard and sawdust finished off with "toppings" (aka freeze-dried "meat product")  I ate the entire thing . . .

Second, the movie.  This was supposed to be GOOD.  I have been looking forward to seeing I Am Legend for a LONG TIME.  Yeah, it was alright.  It was unique with  the occasional jump, but clearly I am a victim empty anticipation.  Word to the wise: If you want to see a movie, GO SEE IT!  Don't wait a year and then be saddened with the inability of your expectations to meet the demand.  I think I am going to give it another chance in a couple months.  I did this with The Truman Show and came out a winner.  I wanna like this movie.  It's my kind of movie.

Last, and DEFINITELY not least, the online Japanese game show.  Now, I love me a little Japanese craziness.  Those people will do just about ANYTHING when it comes to pranks and game shows.  The things they will have people do is HILARIOUS.  I thought would I end my night with a good laugh . . . AND WHAM!  That's when it hit.  A FREAKING JAPANESE (I am assuming) VIRUS/SPYWARE!  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  Spyware is a big deal.  Basically, someone sneaks a virus onto your computer (via Trojan horse) through a downloaded file (i.e., the FREAKING GAME SHOW) and can then watch EVERYTHING you do, including inputting PASSWORDS and SCREENAMES to banking accounts, purchasing accounts, and email.  They can do some MAJOR damage, not to mention FLOODING your screen with so many pop-ups that you cannot do ANYTHING.  This is a big deal that walked RIGHT PAST NORTON ANTIVIRUS!  Long/stressful story made short:  I stayed up until 3 a.m. attempting to download removal software.  I was success to some degree in deleting 20 MAJOR spyware threats.  Today I took my computer into the computer doctor to remove the rest.  DAMN ALL JAPANESE GAME SHOWS!  Okay, so maybe not ALL of them, but I am bitter and want to throw a fit.

SO, in review, when you are trying to relive those "bachelor days" follow after me: Raise your right hand in the air . . . AND SLAP YOURSELF!  Nuf said.  

And sometimes when we touch, the honesty's too much.

Megan left me today . . . to go tend her sisters five kids for FOUR DAYS!  Brooke goes on an annual girlfriend trip and Dan had the unfortunate experience of placing his legs under the burning shrapnel of an airplane a couple months back so they need Megs help for a little bit. 

Now, I have always been a pretty independent person.  I have been able to take care of myself and I enjoy alone time.  In fact, I think EVERYONE needs a little alone time every now and then.  It is good for the soul.  ANYWHO, Alabama and Nauvoo only enhanced my independence and I figured that I would be fine for a few days . . . I am already bored! . . .  She has been gone for not even an entire day.

My wife is FUN!  I love hanging out with her.  She laughs at my jokes and throws the occasional one herself that usually floors me.  She listens to my endless philosophies about life and makes me feel validated.  She talks to me about what our daughter is doing and keeps me organized.  She is one of my favorite people and she is gone.    

SO, to fill my time be prepared for some random posts.  Just a heads up.

Santa, is that YOU?

Halloween is OVER and we are onto bigger and better things: CHRISTMAS! I know you say "NO NO, THANKSGIVING (and Greg's birthday every 7 years) is next." BUT let's be honest, Thanksgiving is merely an appetizer to the Christmas main course. Speaking of, have you ever wondered what Christmas tastes like? I have, and I KNOW! . . . Peppermint Ice Cream and I GOT SOME!

So my motherly mother sent Megs and I a coupon for free Dreyer's Ice Cream! I am not a big ice cream eater and figured it would go unused, UNTIL I made eye contact with Christmas in the freezer isle. Now I have a handful of foods that tell me its Christmas (not to mention movies . . . to be posted later), but this is high on the list. It seems to taste even better when you read the "LIMITED EDITION" or "LIMITED TIME ONLY" on the container.

Just look at the swirled pepperminty goodness. This ice cream only comes out during Christmas and for those of you who have not yet partaken of this joy, GET ON IT!

Even our kitchen gnome loves him some peppermint ice cream. (the kitchen gnome has YET to be named. Submit your suggestions TODAY! We are looking to knight him with his name by Christmas)

So today I say "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

OH YEAH, and VOTE!

Just can't get enough

This is an ACTUAL picture I took of the BYU Police Force.  NO criminal is safe!

Public disturbance

June 30
Police followed up on a report of people being loud at 11:30 p.m. at Wymount Terrace. The loud people were asked to be quiet.

Criminal Mischief

May 27
Someone broke into a Heritage Halls building and plugged the toilet and the sinks with paper. It flooded the apartment. Police said it was probably EFY related. Maintenance was called . . . and they took care of it.

Welfare Check

April 8: A 6-year-old boy called the police when his 9-year-old brother would not let him watch television. BYU police checked the situation to make sure the boys were supervised. Both boys were fine.

Criminal Mischief

April 1: BYU police responded to a call reporting a tampering with the BYU sign on University and Canyon Rd. Students had placed paper letters over the sign "Enter to learn, go forth to serve" to make it read "Enter to date and to mate."  (What's wrong with this?)

theoretically speaking

You know, I have theories.  I have ALL KINDS of theories.  And I like to think.  I like to think and I talk to myself about what I think.  In fact, I talk myself through most blog posts. I like to try to make sense of life.  I like to answer questions that I ask myself about... MYSELF.  Some of these theories and ideas and perceptions are long.  And some of them are quite short.  All this helps me understand that NO ONE can be bottled into one single idea.  People are amazingly diverse and that is awesome.  People are made up of millions of memories, experiences, ideas, and perceptions.  This helps me to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Today, I have a theory about NORMAL.

Apparently, I am not normal.  I am a man.  I like to cook.  I like to be social.  I would prefer to talk to someone about how their day went rather than to "watch the game."  I laugh at socially unacceptable things.  Sometimes, I swear.  I care (most days) about what my hair looks like.  I don't understand most of what they are saying on ESPN.  I love to listen to and make people feel great about their life situations.  I enjoy watching most sports, but could never speak "stats".  I have a pink shirt that I look good in.  I can't think of anything greater than holding my daughter.  I have better handwriting than quite a few other women.  Competition can sometimes make me uncomfortable.  I would rather attend yoga or jogging on the treadmill than go lifting weights at the gym with the other muscle-heads trying to find any reflective surface to gaze in to.  I blog.  Apparently, I am not normal.

For a good chunk of my life, this supposed deviation made me hide.  BUT, today I have a new theory about NORMAL.  It is best given by a young man named Angus (or at least a young man who plays a person named Angus in a movie)

And so what to be normal? We all have to be like you? There are 400 people in this room that are nothing like you. Some of them are fat, some of them are skinny, some of them are tall, some of them are short, some of them have braces, some of them have birthmarks, or scars, or frizzie hair, or ears that stick out. But most of them probably walk these halls everday never telling anybody the truth about what they really want or need or believe. Because people like you, normal people like you have them terrified of being who they are. I mean if your normal what does that make them? So which is it Rick, are you normal or are you just one of us?

So there you have it.  I am not normal . . . thank goodness.

Halloween...PROVO STYLE

First off, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  What a great holiday.  Pictures to come.

SO, as I have so quickly found out, EVERYONE has their own opinion on Provo, regardless of whether or not they have actually been here, let alone LIVED here.  HOWEVER, I am here to tell you that you don't know Provo until you have seen its DARK SIDE!

Let me introduce you to the POLICE BEAT of the daily BYU newspaper, THE DAILY UNIVERSE.  This will introduce you to PROVO's DARK SIDE!  No better to meet it than on HALLOWEEN!

The POLICE BEAT is a listing of the police reports from campus.  Read at your OWN DISCRETION! (This in ONLY a taste of what is out there EVERYDAY!)

Disorderly Conduct

Oct. 11: A 27-year-old former BYU student was causing a disturbance at the football game by spitting on people. He was arrested and escorted from the stadium after refusing to comply with police orders, detained and released, but banned from the university for 72 hours. No charges were found.

Oct. 11: A University of New Mexico football player, unhappy with the outcome of the game, had to be restrained by his coach and fellow players and helped onto the bus after kicking a door.

Trespassing

Oct. 8: Police discovered a woman on the third floor of the Jesse Knight Building at 4 a.m. She had fallen asleep on the couch and was asked to leave.

Suspicious Activity

Oct. 8: Police received a call reporting a masked female near the Harris Fine Arts Center who was scaring individuals.

Sept. 30: Female students in Helaman Halls complained about a man in a gorilla suit attempting to scare students near the Cannon Center. When police arrived, there was no sign of either the complainant or the gorilla. Students complained again early Oct. 3 about a man in a gorilla mask. The gorilla has not yet been identified.

Missing Person

Sept. 30: A male student was reported missing by his wife after he did not return from checking his mail. He returned roughly an hour and a half later and said that he had decided to go for a walk while he was out. (The part they are NOT posting is the FIGHT that ensued BEFORE "checking the mail")

AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE!  I don't know who would EVER have the audacity...

Welfare Check

Oct. 12: Police received a call reporting a woman walking near the Bell Tower in shorts and no shoes at 9:45 p.m. The woman was gone when police arrived.

SHE IS STILL OUT THERE!  Keep your children INDOORS!

Now you know JUST A SAMPLE of what we deal with EVERYDAY . . . BE YE WARNED!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

OH Unisom, your' re the ONE. You make bedtime lots of FUN!

Okay, so here's the skinny.  For the past five days I have had some kind of WICKED flu.  It started Saturday and has been in full swing ever since. (OH with the exception of Monday and Tuesday night when it thought it would play this CRUEL trick by saying, "Oh, you feel better.  Go and do and be excited that you feel better."  THEN WHAM!, those nights I was humbled,  humbled HARD.  BUT I did take advantage of a great Monday night with our cousins, Drew and Mary Martha (isn't that a fantastic Southern Belle name?  She is from Louisiana and is the perfect Southern Belle and I love it!). Thanks Drew and Mary Martha!)

ANYWHO, I have been in some intense pain.  Most of the time my brains feels as if gnomes (picturing high pitched evil cackle laughs) are attempting to DRILL OUT from the inside.  To my amazing benefit I have had an outstanding pregnant nurse.  Megs has been great!: making my Theraflu (which I LOVE), lifting up my head to eat/drink, nabbing anything I need, telling me she is going to wash EVERYTHING I have touched, washing her hands and popping Vitamin C on a regular schedule, and cheering me on.  Once again, I LOVE YOU MEGS!

The worst part of the ordeal has been how this flu has invaded my most precious commodity: my ability to sleep through ANYTHING!  I have really never had problems with my sleep and, being said, I am quite selfish about it (I know, I know, When the baby comes.....) I like my sleep and it has been interrupted and I am ornery. 

Last night was the final straw, I was going to fight back.  AND I DID!  UNISOM! When Megs and I laid in bed we talked, laughed, philosophized like we normally do for about ten minutes....then I was OUT!  The next memory I had was at NINE O'CLOCK this morning.  I didn't want to get up.  If there was an award for marathon sleeping, I would have attempted it. I feel FANTASTIC this morning, SO I sing:

"OH, UNISOM you're the ONE!  You make bedtime lots of FUN!  OH UNISOM I'm awfully fond of YOU!

Woo woo be doo

OH UNISOM, joys of JOYS. When I take you, I don't make NOISE.  OH UNISOM, you're my best friend, it's true!

Doo doo doo doo, doo doo

P.S. BOTH Megs and I got JOBS!  Megs starts TODAY as a substitute teacher!  She is going to do an amazing job!  I got the job in accounts receivable for a great company in Provo.  HOLLA!

Whistle while you work

Welcome to the Apollo Apartments

No, no, turn around. Those are the nice apartments that we live ACROSS THE STREET from.

When we first pulled up to the apartments, Megs said, "it looks just like West Side Story." Book....cover....NO! Once we got inside and took a look around, it was love at first sight.

We live on the far end, bottom unit. If we had lived on the other two floors, we would have sold half of our furniture. We love it!

Meet Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis is our landlord.

Mr. Davis served as a Mission President in New Jersey and Temple President in San Diego. He pretty much lives for his family and fixing apartments. He is such a good man.

Thanks to CameraPhoneSpyCam, I got these great pictures of Mr. Davis at work fixing our kitchen sink. The best part of Mr. Davis is his CONTINUAL whistling. When I say CONTINUAL, I mean CONTINUAL. He could be a professional whistler. The decibel level at which he whistles is truly outstanding. We can hear him coming from LITERALLY 30 feet away WITH OUR DOOR CLOSED. That's not all. What does he whistle? CHURCH HYMNS! WE LOVE IT! How much more "Happy Valley" can you get? His hymn of choice while fixing the sink was ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. What a man, what a man. He motivates me to be a more positive and happy worker. Life is too crazy to do things ornery. (You read it here first, Megs. I am setting another personal goal.)

Now....(drum roll.....) our newest addition!

OUR NEW DESK!

We happen to live only three blocks away from the R.C. Willey Outlet store in Provo. We have had our eye on this little beauty for a while now and have been staking the price out for weeks. In my few years I have learned a few things about salesPEOPLE and how to get the best price.

• DON'T settle for the regular price. They can ALWAYS bring it down. If they couldn't, they would not have salesPEOPLE.
• Walk out at least once on a salesperson. It shows them that you are HARDCORE!
• Shop at the END of the month. Even if they say they don't, they have quotas they have to meet. They will bend over backward to move merchandise at the end of the month.
• Ask to buy the floor model. You can always get a reduced price and won't have to assemble it yourself if it requires that.

Knowing this will make you HARDCORE like us.

My newest goal

FIRST THINGS FIRST: SHE MOVES! Our little lady finally decided to let herself be know by kickin' her mamma the other day. THEN she kicked me (or my hand) last night! WOW! That is AMAZING!

Now onto the post

I really do enjoy setting goals. They make me feel like I am making the life progression that I aspire to. Although, my FOLLOW THROUGH leaves much to be desired. Maybe I need to make THAT my next goal...

This weeks goal is to begin the process of EFFECTIVELY and digitally cataloging all of our pictures. I have always been overwhelmed by this activity. Megs and I both have laptops and I have wanted to wait until we get a PC before I move forward, BUT I am waiting NO LONGER! (if any of you have come up with a great, fool-proof way of doing this, PLEASE SHARE)

Anywho, here are a few pictures of Megs and my happenings over the past few weeks. Enjoy.

Four and half months! HALFWAY! OHHHH!

Brooke and her kids came to visit up last week. We introduced them to our new "partment", walked down memory lane with Brooke and her BYU years, and met up with Grandma Shelley and Krista for the Barnyard Boo at Thanksgiving Point.

With pictures of Megs and her family, I like to sing the song "One of these things is not like the other. One of these things is not the same." Where did she get her beautiful "black" (as Nate calls it) hair?

This past weekend we celebrated Shelley's birthday, as well as Joshua's 2nd birthday. Shelley loves french rolling pins and Joshua loves balls. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Now for my FINALE. Our REFRIGERATOR!

I believe that a refrigerator says a lot about a person....if it is not in our favor. I now tag those brave enough to do the same. Disobey to your own humiliation.

I like randomness on the exterior. We have our ultra-sound pictures, family/friend pictures (if you send it, they will be posted), Verse-a-tiles (our Book of Mormon based fridge sentence magnets) and calendar.

First, APPLES. Remember? We got apples.

Yogurt. We LOVE yogurt.

Our water filter! AHHH! All hail the filter!

Staples: ham, cheese (preferably block and shredded), APPLESAUCE, Gatorade, cottage cheese, leftovers, and milk (this gallon is old. For some reason it tastes like the cow got into the onion patch. Yuck) OH, and our BULK SOY SAUCE (this was purchased during our early marriage Costco craze. What were we thinking?)

The regulars: condiments, homemade jam, salsa, RANCH (that ones for you sweetie), aloe vera, and LIME JUICE. I be lovin' the lime juice!

Freezer: strawberry fruit bars, tater tots (Megs LOVES the tater tots), Mickey Mouse ice cubes, frozen chicken and beef and vegetables, PIZZA ROLLS (give me a break), and bread.

So there you have it. I have laid it ALL out. Judge me, dear reader.... I dare you!