Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Cherry Tree


There was one branch of the cherry tree that was the perfect height for me to grab. From there I could swing my legs up and hoist myself into the tree. It took a few years, but when I got the courage I remember the first time that I climbed high enough I could actually see the 7-Eleven on State Street. Not only was it a great climbing tree, but it gave us great cherries.

Unfortunately the tree has died and no longer bears the sweet fruit that we grew up enjoying. Fate would have it that the man living in the house is a good friend of mine that I know from my former place of employment. On Tuesday I was there helping him cut the tree down.




Cutting down such a large tree has been a difficult task, especially since the tree is fighting back. My own blood now stains the tree after it kicked the chainsaw I was using back at me and cut my hand. Good memories.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Blond Moment

Anyone that knows Janelle can agree with me that she is a very intelligent woman. Which means that blond moments do not come often, but when they do they are a doozy!

This is the exchange that took place the day before we left California for our road trip home.

"Mom, how long does it take to drive home?" Asked Janelle innocently.

"About twelve hours." Mom responds.

"What time should we try and leave?"

"Around 8 would be best."

"So if we leave around 8, then we will get home at..." Janelle begins counting on her fingers.

"8. We will get home around 8 at night." Mom pipes in and helps before Janelle can get any higher than ten fingers.

"Oh." Everyone laughs.

At first we weren't sure if she was being serious or not, but when we realized what happened we all had a good laugh.

That Janelle is so funny.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Grades Posted - It is OVER!!

The grades were posted the other day. Here is the breakdown:

A
B+
B+
B+
B+
B+
B

Not too shabby if I say so myself. Those are just the grades from the U. The grades from my online classes are privileged information.

Okay, Okay....I will tell you.
B+ and C

The C only comes because the instructor was not clear at all in giving instructions. He was very ridiculous.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

MVP

The day before a Jazz game I get to put together media packets and take them around to the various hotels where the media are staying. All teams and most media stay at the Grand America hotel so it makes it fairly easy.

As I was dropping off the packets at the hotel I noticed someone in a driver service limo. I dismissed it as being one of the radio personalities for the Lakers and did not pay much attention. When we (I was with Janelle) pulled out onto the street I pulled up next to the Suburban. When I looked over I noticed Kobe Bryant sitting in the passenger seat with his window down.

What an opportunity to totally get in his head. Instead I talked to him about the game before and congratulated him on his MVP. I totally folded under pressure. I should have thought of something witty and rude, but how can you bag on one of the greatest basketball players ever? The guy practices so hard and it shows. He was super nice and very responsive so I can't complain.

Even with a lack of insults I still must have got in his head because we won.

GO JAZZ!!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

My First Movie

I am the proud owner of a mac book pro, and much like my brain I only know how to use about 2% of it. One of my goals after graduation has been to learn more about my computer so I can get the most out of it. The other day I even went to a workshop at the Mac Store to learn about some of the programs. Today I spent a long time putting together a movie of some footage that I got at the BBQ. Did I mention that I got a camcorder for graduation? You can be expecting more video as we go along.

So here is my first movie debut. I hope you all like it.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Graduation Pictures

I know my posts can get a little long. Here are the pictures from graduation, but don't forget that there is a post about graduation beneath this one.











Graduation

So I finally did it. I graduated on Friday, and barring any setbacks, like a teacher not giving me a passing grade, I should get a diploma. At first I was against the whole idea of walking and being a part of the graduation ceremony, but my family and wonderful wife talked me into it. I should have stuck to my guns.

When I went to Janelle's graduation at BYU I remember it dragging on. If hers was dragging on, then mine was an eternity. There also were stark contrasts between the way that both ceremonies were run. Let's go through them:

BYU - Two speakers both good. The faculty speaker did well while the student speaker did fair.
UU - Too many speakers. All terribly long winded.

BYU - Faculty on the stage
UU - 'Hundreds' of faculty on the stage taking an hour to pat themselves on the back and give each other awards.

BYU - One student at a time walks across the stage
UU - Cattle being herded to the floor of the Huntsman Center where two people are reading names and you can't tell Adam from Mary.

I could go on forever, but you get the picture. In the end the fact that I finished is all that matters.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Steak Dinner

Janelle promised me a steak dinner after my last final. Here are pics of my delicious 16 oz medium rare prime rib. I have to admit that I like my steak a little red, well maybe a lot red. I feel bad for Janelle because she has to sit there and watch me. She likes her steak to look like charcoal.

As you can see. I ate everything.




It is Finished!

Walking out of my final today I could not bring myself to do anything crazy. I kind of got a little emotional knowing that I was finished. I know it is silly.

The whole drive home I found myself saying out loud, "I am a graduate! I finished! Look at me I am a graduate!" If anyone else would have been in the car it might have been weird. Fortunately I was alone.

Between work and school I came home and this is what I found:











Above is grad man. He was showing me how to dress.




It was a great surprise.