Gerbie

So I thought that I would share my pet story after Toni mentioned pets.

Mr Funk's kindergarten class got gerbels during the school year. THe whole class was mesmerized by the funny antics of the animals. They would run on their wheel and the whole class would flock to see the action. SOme of the students even built tubes for them to crawl through. We rotated who would feed them and I always loved to give them their food.

The school year was drawing to a close. Mr Funk announced that twhoever wanted a gerbel could have one. I was so excited. I convinced Mom to let me have one. I promised that I would take care of it. I assured her that she would never have to do ANYTHING. I would do all the work.

So I took by Bass shoebox to school and brought my little friend home. I was so careful not the "rock the boat" too much on the way home so the little guy (or girl--I relaly don't know what gender it was) was comfortable.

I got home and showed Mom the newest member of our family. I named him Gerbie (pronounced "Jerby".) I went with the straightforward, uncreative name with an unconventional spelling. Anyway, I went into my room and shut the door. There was a full length mirror on the back of my door and I just decided to have some personal time with my new friend. I took him out of his box and held him in my little palm as I stood in front of my mirror. It was a picture perfect moment. Then...he jumped of my hand and fled behind my dresser.

I shut the door the rest of the way and started the man...er...gerbel hunt. There was about a 1.5 inch space between my dresser and the wall. I knew that this dark crevice concealed my little gerbel. But between the dust and the power cords running behind there I could not see him.

I had learned the hard way that if you let all the drawers slide out of the dresser that it will tip forward. I decided to use that technique to get a better look at the sitchiation. I carefully slid the drawers out and looked behind the dresser. No Gerbie.

I let the drawers begin to slide back into the dresser. The dresser slowly began to return to its original position. As it got closer to the imprints in the carpet it picked up speed. I then noticed a little furry mass bumbling along the baseboard. "Gerbie!! There you are little guy!"

SPLAT!

Gerbie's spine (and the rest of him for that matter) was utterly crushed by the immense weight of my dresser. Gerbie was not only crushed but his eyeballs bulged out of his head and one of them ruptured. GERBIE!!! (uncontrollable sobbing)

We buried Gerbie that day in the back yard of our Kearns home. It was a black day. I day of regret and remorse. A day of wondering how I managed to kill the animal that had come into my care that same day. A day of proving that I was absolutely incapable of caring for another organism. Mom rocked me in her squeaky rocking chair as I cried and repeated the word "Gerbie" until I fell asleep.

I now have a daughter. I do not let her get near the dresser.

Any Thoughts?

As a person, the more you dont need other people the happier you are.

Quotes

What are some of your favorite quotes.
Here are some of mine:

This too shall pass.

I never said it'd be easy, I only said it'd be worth it.

Make your spouse happy and you will be happy.

Dont let a little dispute ruin a great friendship.

You pile up enough tomorrows and you will find you've collected a lot of empty yesterdays.

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

Failure is the only oppurtunity to begin again, this time more wisely.

Love is blind, friendship closes its eyes.

Man's mind, once streched with a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.

Are you fit company for the person you wish to become?

Luck is what happens when preparation meets oppurtunity.

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

Your children will become what you are, so be what you want them to be.

View on parenthood

I saw this article and couldn't help reading it. I am interested to hear your opinions on this dilemma. It brings up some interesting points. I'm still thinking through it....

http://lifestyle.msn.com/FamilyandParenting/RaisingKids/ArticleAB.aspx?cp-documentid=454101&GT1=8174

Lyrical miracle!

I know we all are aware of the lyrical powerhouse that is Rise Against. While Aaron, Lindsay, and I were rocking out to a lyrical power more "base" than Rise Against (the Aquabats), we were talking about the frustration of daily life today. Working so hard, just to get a job, then work so hard for something else - family and living life happily is just an afterthought. She reminded me of some lyrics that fit EXACTLY how I feel at this junction in my life. I'll highlight a few of the lyrics from different songs:

Our futures burn in red horizons
Ashes scattered in winds of change
Casualty numbers are rising
Now it's time to raise the stakes
We're meant for something more than
Living just to put food on our plates
I can't help but wonder 'why should we participate?'


We've been alright up until now
But the air that we breathe is about to run out
We've rehearsed our lines clear and loud
But the cue never came and the lights
They never went down
So we're passing the time
While time passes us
The fast lane's a term never applied to us
Not a dime to my name
Or a prayer in the world
I walk out the door

Destination: anywhere but here...

So I dropped out of my own race
A race with no finish line
No first or last place
These faces all rush right past me
I turn and walk away
Cause we finally know now what our
Time here's about we were not meant to be
Another face in the crowd
We're a forest of lives
We grow tall and wide
We'll never be cut down


Rock bottoms where we live, and still we dig these trenches,
to bury ourselves in them, backs breaking under tension
For far too long these voices, muffled by distances,
it's time to come to our senses, up from the dirt
We give it all, now there's a the reason why I sing,
So give it all, and it's these reasons that belong to me


Is this the life that you lead?
Or the life that's lead for you?
Will you take the road thats been laid out before you...

These songs weren't necessarily talking about graduation or getting a job, but they apply to me cuz I say they do. I really can relate to the fruitless frustration I feel about life sometimes. Life is not about a race to a paycheck, but yet society asks us to spend 2/3 of our days slaving just to make ends meet. Life wasn't suppposed to be this way. Anyway...

If you could choose... part deux

If you could choose one famous person to go steady with, who would it be and why? ANYONE living, and famous. No rules, so no getting offended spouses!!!

If you could choose...

OK, this'll get everyone going... hehehe.

If you could choose your own occupation, and it became so instantly, what would it be and why? We're talking fantasy job, or things that may be impossible now in your life. Or things that you would never do because of your beliefs, or place of residence. All the rules go out the window.

Now, if you could choose your spouse's occupation, what would it be and why?

I'll have to think about it...

Quote of the Day

"We have to find imaginative ways to use truth as a lever to pry open closed minds."

-Ray McGovern, former CIA member who challenged Rumsfeld at a recent appearance.

Pets

When I was younger we always had pets. They are such a big part of my childhood memories. I had a cat her name was Purd. I got her when I was 5 as a kitten. She was my best friend in the whole world. She was my sidekick. I know cats are kinda dumb and worthless but not this one. She would sleep on top of my pillow every night. She would wait at the end of the driveway for me to come home late at night. She would follow me wherever I was in the house. If I was in the bathroom I had to let her in too if I went outside I had to let her out. She was so sweet and man did I love that cat. She got sick when I was in college and we had to put her to sleep. My dad came and got her from me and that was the first and only time I have ever seen him cry is when he had to take that cat from me.
I didnt have a picture of Sparta cause I am at work but I thought this one reminded me of her, always wanting to play and always wanting attention, so sweet and unselfish. I bring all this up because I am trying to decide if I think we should get another dog for Sparta. And for me. Of course I havent quite convinced Jake yet... and I think no matter how much convincing I wont get my weener dog. But I love animals and I want more. I thought having a baby would make me not want them but it doesnt. Sorry this blog is kind of stupid but I just thought it'd be fun to share pet memories. If you have them. And the blog is kinda boring lately.

I Love My Wife

I don't know who has heard the radio ads that bring all the above images together...but they are pretty pathetic and quite disrespectful to women. My wife wrote a letter to Carl's Jr. She said she didn't like being made to feel like she is a piece of meat. I appreciate her opinions and I like that she stands up for what she believes in.

Yard Sale this Saturday

Despite lukewarm interest from the masses...."Conformity" and I will be hosting our first Yard Sale this Saturday. Weather is supposed to be nice and we have gobs of stuff to sell. We will make million$ of dollar$. I have never done one of these and would love more company...so...you know...

If you want to join in to pick up some cash and sit in the hot sun...let us know. We would be starting in the morning and ending early afternoon--still plenty of time to enjoy the day. We are doing the signage and have picked a spot to host it at...right in the middle of Midvale in the commercial area...where there will be tons of people shopping.

Here's to hoping...

I Love Moab

Moab was great. The cruiser was awesome. We need to plan another trip there this year with everyone. The second picture was taken on an obstacle called Hell's Gate. This is what happens when you dont do Hell's Gate right. click here for video

Paintballs Anyone?

Hey...I have 1500 unopened paintballs here. I don't even have a freaking gun. They are ZAP brand. They are blue Rec Series balls. $6 cost for whoever is interested. If not...they go to the garage sale...where they probably won't sell. My paintballing is over...mostly. I don't have any profound observations like Sam did though. Graduation must be somewhat more important that paintball. I don't know...

It is done.

Sorry about the lack of blog on my paert lately. As I was trying to "Git er done" I have been a little busy.

So as I sit here typing on this computer early Saturday morning I do so as an official graduate of Utah State University with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts, and an emphasis in Graphic Design. I guess as official as it can be without a piece of paper, which comes in the mail in six weeks after they verify I didn't flunk out my last semester. Who do they think I am, Screech?

Rather than recap all of yesterday, I'll just give some impressions and suggestions about college.

1) When you graduate, go walk. If you can go to four-five years of school, the least you can do to close it off is sit through 2-3 hours of names read, and some pompous people. It really was a good experience and I'm really glad I did it. I got a little sentimental a few times, and it made me grateful for all the sacrifice. Go walk, if not for you, for your family.

2) College has made me a better person, not just for "learning a vocation," but for making Sam a better Sam. These years in Logan away from South Jordan, away from friends and family, have helped me to grow as much as the mission did, although in a different way. College taught me about the world much more than high school ever could have.

3) College has made me feel confident confronting real life as an "adult." I will never act by what the world's definition is of "mature" all the time, but "mature" is misunderstood by many, many people. College has taught me that if I really try to "be myself," and NEVER blindly accept anything as fact, I will be able to sort out everything in life. Complete autonomy, loving life, being a kid forever, and having a healthy self-confidence (not arrogance) in making your future is what being an adult is all about.

4) Going to college to better your life is an opportunity that few people get. I'll try not to make up a random number, but I'd seriously guess that less than 20% of people on this planet ever even get the chance to go. It seems like half of those that can go, dont. Half of those that go to college seem to waste their time and get a job at walmart instead. Take the opportunity seriously if you can.

5) Back to graduation. No one really cares who else is there. I was there for myself, Amber, my family, and the other guys in my major. I really feel like those guys are my friends and "colleauges." Everyone else is there for themselves too. Pretending you feel some sense of otherworldly chemistry with other people because you spent time in the same town going to school is fake, to me. Unless you really feel that way, then... that's wierd.

6) "We are called to be architects of (our own) future, not victims of it." - R. Buckminster Fuller.

I'm done.