Oh Nine Was Divine

I thought it would be cool to take a look back at the year 2009 as lived by me.

2009

• Became more internet savvy by starting two blogs.
• Made the jump from manual toothbrushes to electric. I highly recommend it, but I suggest wearing a bib to protect your shirts from EXCESS drooling while brushing.
• Switched from the Mach 3 Power razor to the Gillette Power Fusion razor. Five blades are SO much better than three. WOW!!! Also, whoever invented the vibrating razor deserves a Nobel Prize.
• I'm not sure if this happened this year or not, but special mention needs to be made regarding switching to Nike moisture wicking socks. No more will I buy cheap Fruit of the Loom socks.
• I took a 7:30 AM class and survived.
• For the most part, I stopped eating frozen pizza. It's not like I ate a lot of them anyway, but finally committed to memory how unsatisfying they are even though they can be good sometimes and are quick and easy to eat.
• Tried Twitter at the urging of a student presenter during one of my classes. I hated it. Thought it was completely pointless. This may be my biggest regret of the year.
• Watched about 2 1/2 to 3 hours of Jane Eyre. Didn't want to stab myself in the face with a soldering iron like I did during the first 20 minutes of Pride & Prejudice that I watched 9 years ago. Couldn't get over how much Jane looks like the gay kid from Glee. It's creepy. See for yourself. The pics might not do justice to the similarities, but trust me.

• Stopped listening to a lot of Rap and R&B. Still listen to some, but let's just say my ears have become a lot more sensitive to the content of the songs.
• I bought my first pair of Jordan shoes. Now I just need to take the opportunities to wear them. They look brand new, because they still are brand new.
• I thought I found my future wife, but it turns out they didn't think they found their future husband. Here's hoping she finds me this year.

So 2009 was a pretty good year. Hopefully 2010 will be equally good if not better. I remember a quote by William H. Johnsen that my father had taped to the dashboard of his Minivan from when I was a wee lad that I thought was stupid, but now find applicable: If it is to be, it is up to me. How true that is. I wish for you a happy, successful, fulfilling, memorable, and accomplished 2010. God bless.

A Weird Christmas Tradition...

I love my mom. I really do! Haha. I can imagine you're wondering where this post is going. I'm not even sure yet.

My parents are spending Christmas in Chicago this year and so they gave me my presents on Thanksgiving. I, of course, opened them as soon as I got home knowing full well they wouldn't be anything I wanted. This year wasn't as bad as some of the recent years.

For some reason my mom thinks I love getting kitchen stuff. I don't know why she thinks this. Every year, without fail, she will buy me something kitchen related. One year she bought me a garlic press. Another year she bought me a can collander. Yes...a can collander. I always figured that was what the lid was for once you opened the can. I've also gotten oven mitts and dish towels from her.

This year she got me a set of tupperware bowls from IKEA. Definitely something I could use, but won't for a while. Cooking as a single guy doesn't generate much leftovers. It's all good, though.

I just don't have the heart to tell her to not waste her money on these items. At least they aren't breaking the bank on them. It's become a joke between my brother Jesse and his wife Shannah. They always get a kitchen gagdet for me now. Last year they bought me an electric meat thermometer. That was pretty clutch. Just kidding. I don't even think it worked. It ended up in the trash pretty quickly. I should start keeping these things and then regift them for Jesse. Done!

Some Things To Think About

My friend read me some humurous thoughts the other night and we had a good time laughing at some of them. Figured I'd post some in hopes they bring a smile to your face.

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
2. I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
3. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.
4. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
5. If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
6. Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.
7. Children: You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 years telling them to sit down and shut-up.
8. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
9. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea... does that mean that one enjoys it?
10. Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.
11. Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
12. Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.
13. Never get into fights with ugly people, they have nothing to lose.
14. You are such a good friend that if we were on a sinking ship together and there was only one life jacket... I'd miss you heaps and think of you often.
15. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

My Day of Birth...Weird

So today, or technically yesterday, was my birthday. I don't know why, but it was very surreal. It didn't really seem like past birthdays. Usually, I think about it a lot, but this year was totally different. I kept forgetting about it. I spoke with my parents a week or two ago and they made plans to have me up for dinner this coming Sunday for my birthday dinner. When they brought it up, my first thought was, "Oh yeah. It's my birthday."

The other day I logged onto facebook and happened to see my upcoming friends' birthday list on the home page. I saw that it said Dean Baker and thought, "Hey! It's my brother's birthday soon." Um...Dean is my twin brother. He's nine minutes older than I am. Yeah, I'm a moron. I had to laugh at myself because it took a second to realize that that means it's my birthday, too. No lie.

So here's to old age and not remembering things like your own birthday. Good thing I have others who help me remember. Although, every year I secretly hope that I can make it through without anyone finding out or remembering. I'm not sure why I think that's a good idea. I guess I don't really want the attention. It definitely felt weird tonight and I would have totally been okay not having today of all days be my birthday, but it could have been worse.

I'm glad that I could share it with just a few close friends. They definitely helped the day turn around into a better day than I had going. So for any of you who were with me tonight, thank you again. I'm extremely humbled by your kindness and friendship.

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