Pictures of You

I saw this video on Youtube today. It's a chorus of kids singing one of my favorite songs. Pretty cool. The song is by The Cure. I love the emotions showing on a lot of the kids' faces.

And the Crowd Goes Wild...

Here's a video tribute to BYU's win over OU last night. First of all, what a great day to open the College football season! I can't tell you how much I love this game. So much that I couldn't sleep on Friday night. True story. After blasting the BYU fight song in my apartment for Cookie, we put together a BYU Wins! CD with some rocking tunes from the BYU fight song to Queen's We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions to the Scorpions Rock You Like a Hurricane. I tied my BYU flag to a broom stick and we left to cruise Provo to see what was going down. Holy cow! Provo was on fire. I've never seen this place so alive. It was sweet. Props to the cops for being cool with us all while we celebrated a huge win.

The Beginning:

We drove to the corner of 7th north and University Ave. The entire block from 7th N to 8th N was packed with people. As soon as the light would change for people to cross the street, hundreds of people would run to the middle of the street and jump up and down, screaming.

We drove around the block for about an hour. People were jumping in and out of Cookie's van, we had people hanging out the doors and sun roof. It was sweet.

Then we heard the party was moving to the Stadium. Here's a video of us in the middle of the crowd jumping around. Cookie went hardcore all night. I'm pretty sure he almost died from exhaustion and dehydration.

Here's another video of people rushing the street to celebrate at the stadium. It was insane how many people were out. I would've never guessed that BYU fans would go this nuts. It was so great to see.

We decided to wait up until 2:30am to go meet the team at the airport. First of all, we had to go to Smith's to replenish our bodies with electrolytes. Our throats were so hoarse. The Powerade burned as we drank it. So worth it. We found out that the team was getting in early so we headed to the airport at 1am and they landed around 1:45. There were probably 300 or so people waiting for them their. Here's a video of the plane pulling up to the flight stairs.

And here we all are singing the fight song as the coaches and players get off the plane.

It was such a fantastic night. It's a good thing I have Monday off, because I definitely need some time for my voice to heal before working again. Oh wait, I'm going to the soccer game tomorrow against Oklahoma State. I wouldn't mind another win against an Oklahoma school. I better take it easy.

Here's to BYU and hopefully another great year of college football and one more year closer to a playoff system and the end of the BCS. Go Cougs!!!

$6.75 to relive one of the greatest nights of my life!!!

OK! I can't even begin to describe how excited I am for Friday, September 18. Here's a little background info for you. Last year, Thursday, August 28, to be exact, I witnessed one of the greatest concerts of all time. OK, that might be a little stretch, but it was without a doubt one of the best nights of my life. Boyz II Men came to little Scera Shell in Orem, UT. Price for a ticket was $10. These guys know how to put on a show. Besides their amazing voices, they do a little choreography, too. So cool.

So I'm watching TV on a lonely Friday night (tonight) and I see a commercial for the Utah State Fair. Didn't think anything of it until the announcer dude mentions a Boyz II Men shirt a guy in the spot is wearing. And then he proceeds to say that they are going to be at the fair. I immediately run to my computer to look at prices and it's only going to be $6.75. I call up my friend Michelle and she doesn't answer. She's a huge fan and also went to the concert last year. I'm mad she doesn't answer. I want to text her, but want to hear her reaction so I wait for her to call me back. She finally does and it's on. We're going! Not that I didn't think we would. I'd go by myself actually.

Now for those of you who read this and know Marge, DO NOT TELL her if by any chance you talk to her. Her birthday is the next day so we're going to get her ticket and take her to the concert as a surprise. Talk about the best birthday ever!

Here is a cover they did of Just My Imagination. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, PLEASE at least watch from when there is about 1:45 left in the video. If that part doesn't give you chills, I don't know what will. So good. Oh man! $6.75? Really? You've got to be jealous.

Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) @ Yahoo! Video

Chicago!

I was able to go to Chicago last weekend!! A friend of mine was moving out there and asked me to drive out with her since my brother Bernell lives there. It was a great trip, but way, way too short. My brother Kent and his family came down from Milwaukee as well on Saturday. I hadn't seen him in four years. It had been too long. My niece, Angeles, is five years so I hadn't seen her since she was one. Pretty sad. She's so cute and so much bigger now.

Deanna and I decided to drive straight through to save money and time. I don't sleep well in cars so I didn't get much sleep and we both were pretty loopy by the end of the trip. I remember standing in my brother's house feeling quite jittery. It was pretty funny. I should have wanted to crash, but I was so excited to finally see my family and especially my nieces and nephews that sleep wasn't even on my mind. Unfortunately, Kent only stayed until Saturday night so we only had about seven hours together.

I went to church with Bernell on Sunday and then crashed hard core that afternoon on their couch. It was awesome, though, because my niece, Caitlin, just lied on top of me for awhile and we just chilled. She's six years old and is a fireball. She's so cute and has the most adorable laugh. She was by my side the whole time I was there. My sister-in-law told me that she isn't normally like that, so I loved hearing that. I ate up all the attention she gave me. I'm a sucker for my nieces and nephews. Oh yeah, one funny thing that happened was she and her cousin gave me a foot massage. I don't know how it happened, but it was so funny. He's not in the picture because he went to get food.

Later Sunday night, Deanna and I went into Chicago to walk around, but instead just ended up driving around. I'd never been to Wrigley Field so we drove there, but it wasn't that exciting. It was dark outside, but it didn't look that cool from outside.

Bernell loves guns and has about 19 or so. He's been wanting to trick out a .22 rifle so Monday morning we went to Cabella's, Dick's, and a gun shop called G.A.T. Guns to look at some rifle stocks. It was cool to see him and my 14 year old nephew Andrew talking about the feel and what they liked about the different stocks. It's still weird to me to have nieces and nephews who are teenagers. I still feel so young. It's pretty trippy, but awesome, having similar interests with them. I think not being able to watch them grow up contributes to that. In my mind, I remember them being much younger.

After looking at guns we went to get some Chicago pizza and then I went to my nephew Matthew's football practice. He's nine and in a flag football league. He was so excited to have me there. He asked me after how I think he did and it was fun talking to him about football. Unfortunately, he's thinking about not playing next year. I hope he continues to play throughout school. It'd be awesome to go see him play in some games.

After practice, Deanna came over and we played games the rest of the night. I had to leave for the airport at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday and wasn't able to say goodbye to Caitlin because she crashed on the couch during games which I'm still sad about. Hopefully it won't be another year until I can see them and another four till I see Kent and his family. Actually, I've made it a goal to see them once a year even if it is a quick trip. I actually forgot how much I missed them and loved being around them. They are great brothers and their wives are awesome, too. I don't want to get used to not seeing them again. Not cool.

I'm bad at taking pictures so I didn't take many while I was there. I shot a couple videos of my niece while she was trying to bite my finger. I kept flicking her in the mouth. Another video is one she took and it's just funny because she would reach her arm out like a cat clawing at us and then would flip the camera around on her and hiss.

My Life According to Incubus

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions.

Are you a male or female:
"Megalomaniac"

Describe yourself:
"Clean"

How do you feel:
"Love Hurts"

Describe where you currently live:
"Here In My Room"

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
"Mexico"

Your favorite form of transportation:
"Drive"

Your best friend:
"Nice to Know You"

You and your best friends are:
"Priceless"

What's the weather like:
"The Warmth"

Favorite time of day:
"11am"

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
"Wish You Were Here"

What is life to you:
"Just a Phase"

Your relationship:
"Stellar"

Your fear:
"Quicksand"

Thought for the Day:
"Beware Criminal"

How I would like to die:
"Pistola"

My soul's present condition:
"Deep Inside"

My motto:
"Make Yourself"

Enjoy Incubus!!!

I'm a Snake!!

Some friends and I went to a little unknown restaurant called Saigon Noodle House. It's located on 440 W 300 S in Provo. It's actually really good. You get tons of food for $4.95. I would suggest going there if you're in the mood for Chinese food. Oh yeah, it's supposedly a Chinese slash Vietnamese restaurant, but it's mainly Chinese. Anyway, they have the funniest waiter, too. He's quietly sarcastic. Throws you off guard, but so funny. Go...eat...laugh.

Anyway, they have place mats that have the Chinese Zodiac on them. I was born in the year of the snake and am quite proud of the description of "snake people". Here's a little info I found on a website to share how cool snake people are! Also, I wanted to correct the grammar, but then I thought that it adds to the credibility of the message.

Sidenote: I'm compatible with Oxen, Roosters, and Dragons, so if you're down...I'm down.

Snake Personality:

The person born in the year of snake is the wisest and most enigmatic of all. He/she can become a philosopher, a theologian, a political lizard or a wily financier. Such person is a thinker who also likes to live well. The snake - person loves books, music, clothes, and fine food; but with all his fondness for the good things of life, his innate elegance gives him a dislike for frivolities and foolish talk. They like communicating and like interesting conversations, although if the conversation becomes repetitive their attention may soon wander. It is almost impossible to fix their attention for long talking about the weather. They prefer to focus on new interesting unusual ides and intelligent discussion in general. These people have a special feeling that enables them to judge situations correctly and so they are alert to new possibilities and when they have an idea of what to and how to do it, they you pursue it persistently and energetically. These people are self-confident and usually don't bother themselves listening to someone else's opinion. But this side of their character has also a negative load. Refusing to listen to constructive advice, they may get into needless trouble. Although it is difficult for such people to take advice, they are patient with others when it comes to give a hand of help, and their ability to look at a problem from a variety of angles is extremely appreciated. When faced with a dilemma snake people as a rule act with speed and conviction, since they believe intensely in what they are doing and rarely waste time or energy on projects lacking in good potential. It is important to remember that life is not all work and competition. Snake person perfectly knows how to wind down and relax when such opportunity arises. This type of people often makes protective and caring friends. However, their anger can be quickly aroused, and they will soon get back if there is a suspicion that someone has taken advantage of their trust or has hurt those close to them.

Snake Love Affairs:

In love, the male snake is romantic and charming. He possesses a sense of humor while the female is usually beautiful and successful. In case person born in the year of the snake chooses a partner, he/she will be jealous and possessive. Even when the relationships are left behind this possessiveness will be clouding the snake's life. Rejection is the worst thing that can ever happen to the snake person. Such people must be received, welcomed, accepted and approved by those with whom they come in contact. Generally they need a lot of security. It often happens that snake people have one set of rules for themselves and one for their partner and this side of their nature can become a basis for misunderstandings in the future. But, when they are really romantically involved these people are also loving and attentive, stimulating and playful, though it takes time for them to get over their fears or discuss their weaknesses. The best partner for a snake type person is someone who would give him freedom, but it is also important for him to feel secure and adored.

Snake Career:

In money matters, people born in the year of snake have good luck; they don't have to worry about money too much, such people will always be able to find couple of banknotes if they need it. The snake person has an ability to read complex situations quickly and then set about resolving them in a quiet, controlled manner. It is much more convenient and useful for this people to work independently, because in this case they have freedom to travel and negotiate on their own terms. The snake people can not stand being limited by others and this is another reason for them to work solo. People born in this year are logical and organized workers and have all the qualities needed to acquire new skills. They also have a very good memory and that enables them to fulfil the projects thoroughly. They are purposeful and getting towards their aim spotting potential troubles and reacting immediately. On the other hand, should they have achieved their goal the snake people usually withdraw to gather their thoughts and rest. But they need not much time to renew their energies and be ready for new challenges.

Michael Jackson

I first heard the news of Michael's death through a coworker's email. I doubted the news so I looked on Yahoo! and didn't see any reports about it. I figured she was given bad information.

A bit later, I received a text with the same news. I got back online and did a more thorough search and found the news to be true. I can't say I was greatly affected by the news at the time. I guess I would just describe it as a surreal feeling. He's been out of the spotlight for a while now so maybe this is why it didn't seem a big deal to me. I have to admit I'm sick of most news broadcasts focusing so much attention on his death. It's sad, but life goes on.

Well, after work today I turned on the television and was flipping through channels when I came across VH1's rebroadcast of Michael's memorial held earlier today. There didn't seem to be much on so I watched it. I wasn't expecting to be touched by it, but I was.

I've been a fan of Michael's for as long as I can remember thanks to some of my brothers. Until last year, I had Michael's Thriller album on cassette tape. I only got rid of it because I don't have a tape player. I listened to that tape for many years. I'd listen to it as a kid shooting hoops at home, driving, mowing the lawn, and even in the shower. I don't think there was much life left in that thing anyway.

Watching the tribute brought back many more memories I have of listening to Michael's music. One of which is watching the debut of his music video Bad in 1987 with my mom and brothers. I remember waiting for whatever TV show that preceeded it to end. I was so excited. It was a big thing back then. You don't see music videos like that anymore. Especially videos that make it on to national TV to air during prime time spots on networks like CBS, NBC, and ABC.

I know Michael wasn't perfect, but I'm grateful for the music, dancing, and charity work he (and his family) shared with the world. Here's a tribute video I found with one of my favorite songs of his, Man in the Mirror.