Ouray Ice Climbing

Over the Christmas break our Brandon & Danina Thatcher came and visited us in Montrose Colorado. So because they are so awesome, we all decided to go to Ouray for a day and watch the ice climbers. Just watching these guys was intense! Here is a slide show of our adventures, Brandon took half of these pictures and I took half... enjoy!


Here is a video of the climbers

STI practice

My buddy Matt sent me this. This is one sweet STI. My corrola drools when it watches this video...
How would you like him to drive you to school?

I Voted, and this is my story

Sam and I went and voted a day early on the Monday before elections. We were in a huge line of people, most so enthusiastic about Obama that any republican would have to wear camouflage to get through it all.
As we were waiting in the line, a obvious Obama supporter was standing behind us. Being by herself, she decided that she needed to have a conversation with her friend via cellphone. Because nobody in the line had anything better to do, we were all entitled to hear her very loud conversation which displayed her unique IQ. This is her conversation:
Hi, what you doin?.... fun... me? oh, I had a job interview downtown, but I couldn't find it, so I decided to come vote... no I didn't go, do you know where it is?... oh well, I will find another job. Yeah, I'm voting... I just turned twenty so it is my first time... I know, I was going to like take pictures and stuff... but I'm not.
TIMEOUT: We now know this, she is a 20 year old African American, who is a first time voter. She obviously doesn't pay attention to details because she doesn't give a care that she just stood up her interviewer, and didn't call to let them know... I know, Sam and I are thinking the same thing...
TIME IN:(we are now up to the sample ballot, showing all the candidates) So, here is the ballot, this is so great! Ok, I want to read you the candidates... Obama... yeah! and Joe Bid-en (the Bi is pronounced like bid)... who is Joe Bid-en...? What? Where is Hillary... I thought Hillary was his vice president?... What, Bi-den?
TIMEOUT: Now I am the public display, I am laughing too hard not to be noticeable, but at this point, I don't think many of the people around us were short of a smile either. Sam is even smiling, but keeping it in...
TIME IN: (I don't know what happened after that, I was laughing too hard)

This has been our joke for the longest time... Bi-den, who's Joe Bi-den? While it is funny, it brought me to thinking... I am worried that too many people were looking at a person and their popularity and not the platform and what they stand for...

This is my opportunity to congratulate Obama on the presidency. My prayers are with him and our government that they will make good choices to represent our country.

What Matters this Election?

I have always taken interest in the presidential elections, but never like this year. I have been asked about my political views frequently and has therefore led to this post.

My motto for this years election is "It is not who you vote for this year, but who you vote against that really matters". Keep that in mind as you read on.

I am traditionally republican in values and principle, but quite often, I consider myself an independent. This year, my core values and beliefs will be the leading factor in who I vote and place my trust. So here is my take on the two candidates and their running mates.

Senator Obama and Joe Biden.

Has there ever been a duo that is so smooth and crafty with words? Obama is making history by just being in this election and is a smooth talker reaching into the hopeful hearts of a depressed nation. Biden has a pearly smile, with strong foreign policy. He is good at smoothing over mistakes by the democratic campaign, and was strong in his debate against Sarah Palin. However, I think that quite often, he speaks over the heads of many Americans. I believe that this parties intents are good and they are a great team, but I do not agree with their health care policies (a huge can of worms I don't want to open right now, just put it this way, the government doesn't need to run this also), pro choice rights for abortion, and same-sex marriage viewpoints. When it comes to the economy, I think that they are strong, but I don't think that either candidate has a strong answer for the trouble. Quite frankly, I don't know that anybody has a good answer yet. This will take bipartisan cooperation to put America back on its feet. The big plus with this campaign... Colin Powell endorsed Obama this weekend. This should turn the heads of many independent voters... quite frankly, he turned mine.

Senator McCain and Governor Palin

I don't believe that his health care policy is the way to go either. The only real part I agree with is that people should be allowed to cross state lines to purchase health care. When it comes to foreign policy, McCain knows his stuff. The party is pro-life, and protects the traditional views of marriage (though I must state that Biden in the vice presidential debate stated that we should not change the traditional definition of marriage... good job Joe). Palin, she seems to be a great person, works hard and I would be okay with her being in the white house, but would she be a good President? Maybe not yet... you would just hope that McCain would live long enough to give her some experience. Here is the major down side of this campaign... I am so tired of the negative attack adds on Obama. McCain, show us what is good about you, no what's bad about your opponent. It would be approriate to do this some of the time, but over and over and over... it gets old. This has been a major turnoff... Obama has ran his campaign better when it comes to advertising himself.

So what does it come down to? This: what matters most in life and eternity. Pro-Life and the protection of the family. The wars and economy are important topics, but not as important as the values I hold dear... pro life and marriage between a man and one woman.

You know you've gone to far when...

Endocrine class was very interesting today. For those who don't know what the endocrine system is, it is the release, regulation and actions of hormones that use blood as its transport system. A major source of hormone release and regulation is in the pituitary gland located almost directly behind the bridge of your nose, between your ears, and up just a tad. When this pituitary gland has tumor growth, then this gland can overproduce hormones, causing many issues throughout the body. The visiting doctor explained to us how these tumors are removed. The surgery which is called a transsphenoidal surgery takes place by going up THROUGH THE NOSE. This procedure is demonstrated in the following picture:

So for all those kids & adults out there who pick their nose, watch out, if you navigate far enough, you might poke your brain.

The Boy Wonder

Wow! 5 comments on the last post! Sweet! One of them was mine, but I still count as a person right?
As a bonus, I add this video of Erik 2 years ago at a BYU game doing something that is causing him to still pick his wedgie.

Here's to you Erik... Cheers

I've been what?

I have observed this whole "tag" thing from a distance... sure, it is cute, it is a good way to find out about others, I like to read them, but never have I participated... I just don't know how I feel myself writing them. I could just be out of my comfort zone, or more importantly, maybe it just isn't manly enough. I don't even know that I have ever even seen a man post a tag on his sweet blog. But, it was Camille who did it (my cousin (and by the way Camille, you commenting so much on my blog and mentioning my name earned you a spot on "The Thunder List" sweet huh!
)), so I will conform for just this once. At least it isn't a "bag tag" to show all items that are in your purse.
Here it goes... (happy face is now on)

Tell about 6 quirks of yours...then tag 6 other people.

1) I really like buses. Not riding in them, but actually driving them. I know that sounds wierd, but I drove them for 3 years. Most guys get excited when they see monster trucks, hot rods, or sweet semis on the freeway. I get excited when I see those too, but just add motorcoaches to the list. Nothing is sweeter than a decked out motorcoach going cross country. This is me, chillin' with my passengers while touring in Alaska last summer.


2) I appreciate good chinglish. You know, chinese that has been translated into english, except for it is just down right wrong translations. Here is an example.


If that isn't enough, here is another (on a scooter I saw in Taiwan).













3) I really don't like it when other people take bites of my food, or eat off my plate, before I get the first bite. It just steals my thunder.

4) Right now, I have extreme rhinorrhea from allergies. I would wear this thing all day if I were given the oppertunity.


5) I am still curious to know why lint gathers in a person's belly button. THey have not taught us that in med school yet.

6) I think feet are cool enough that I am going into podiatric medicine.

There it is... what a rush!

I tag... Sarah Palin (I am sure she has some quirkiness), John Stockton, Marie Osmond, Shawn Johnson, Matt Lauer, and my sibs if they want to.