Halloween Fun

In case you didn't visit Terri's blog - here is our picture from last night.

It was a fun time being around all the costumed people. I only stayed for about an hour then went home - a little too much excitement for me.

Here is a picture of me today at work. I thought that I would bring out the ol'Roman solider guy as that is a favorite of my many fans at the Bank! lol

It's definitely going to be a long day dressed like this! What do you think Hayden? I know it's not the hulk, but not too bad.

Hope you all have a wonderful Halloween and that you stay away from too much of the sweets anyway (see, I didn't say stay away completely!)

Silly Laws

In this must see spoof on a “politically correct” marriage in California, one can see clearly just how ridiculous, uh, silly, the laws can become on this critical issue. Watch this two minute, ten second clip and then pass it on to all your friends in California. (Gotta luv it!)

Morning Run

Had a really good morning run - I believe you can click on the image to get a larger (and readable) view of the run details. It was nice to be off the treadmill - after 2 weeks of it! I just wanted to get into shape enough where I didn't die (too much) on the road. It actually went much better than I expected and it was great to be out there again, in the dark morning all by myself -- just something about running early morning and owning the roads all to yourself.

If you see my weight tracker - I've gone down another 1.4lbs -- like a nice moving turtle or snail I'll get there.

Our Family Tree

I've added a link to our family tree. It is a permanent link and will not be removed (I say that because as this post moves down the list, you will still see the link on top). You will have to register and then I will have to approve you - that's right - I get to approve you...so if you are on my bad list - REJECT!! Anyway...it's a new site, called MyHeritage.com and I've put almost all the information I had at the old one. Once you are registered and approved you will be able to post and add items and update my errors, etc as you so choose. Hope you all enjoy!

Zermatt Spa Resort

I got to attend a Bank conference up in Midway, UT at this wonderful european (more bavarian) resort. It was really great and reminded me so much of my time in Germany. Below is a slide show of some of the photos that I took of the place:



I even actually learned a few new things in this conference! But my most enjoyable part about going up north is that on my way home I get to stop by the cemetary and visit with my boys, Mitchell and Michael. I always put a red rose and a yellow rose on the grave for each boy. It just means a lot to me to be able to do this - for me the red rose symbolizes my pure love for them and the yellow rose symbolizes that I shall never forget them and our time together. I just thought I'd add this picture for all to see just how beautiful their grave looks after I do this.

Pool Splash

Ok - no pictures - sorry -- but probably a good thing I didn't have my camera. For scouts we took the boys to the Sand Hollow pool - we have CJ and Caleb who needed to do the swimming merit badge and rank requirements. The other boys just went to swim. I wore my swim shorts anyway because I normally go in with the boys -- so I had my shirt, shorts, shoes and socks on and was right on the edge of the pool helping them out - well...too much of an opportunity for one of the boys (Kyle Arp) and in I went - had I had my camera it probably would had been in my hand at the time and in the water with me. Luckily my phone & walet were in my bag far away from me. I didn't mind so much really, I mean I was going in eventually anyway - but I didn't have another shirt, or shoes, or socks - and would have to go home now in just my wet shorts and towell wrapped around me -- oh well - I had the heater on full blast all the way home! Poor Kyle, since I really didn't react to his pushing me in - he was expecting something all night from me and just couldn't really enjoy himself -- see...quiet vengence is sometimes better.

My running is still coming along. I got it up to 2 miles yesterday and even through in an 8:00 min pace for a couple of minutes. I just have to keep it real and not push too hard too soon. I will also be starting a 3 day a week split weight lifting routine. My weight (if you see the little tickler above) have gone from 245 to 237 now and a ways to go - but I am eating right also, which is helping immensely.

Wyatt's Eagle Project

Wyatt McEvoy (seated on right) had his eagle project today and we all helped out. He was collecting cell phones for soliders. That is were you donate your old cell phones and they are then sent to a place that removes all the recycleable parts and sellable parts - once they are sold, the money is used to purchase pre-paid calling cards and then sent to our troops oversea so they can call their families for free. Check out their website http://www.cellphoneforsoliders.com/ for more details and you can print out pre-paid mailing labels to send your old cell phones.

After this group picture we split up with two scouts going with an adult and to different locations. We had a good spot in front of a grocery store. We collected $95.56 and 56 phones - so it was great. We had our setup from 8:00am to 12:00pm - the time actually went quicker than I expected. Overall we got about 200 phones and $150 - each phone collected amounts to about 1 hour of air time to talk - so we did good and it's so worth it to know that our troops will be able to call home without any expense to them.

Great Card!

Terri received a Birthday card yesterday from Mom and Dad - It was one of them with sound - so I recorded it and put it here for all to see.

Columbus Day - I'm OFF!

In fourteen hundred ninety-two

Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain;

He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.

He sailed by night; he sailed by day;

He used the stars to find his way.

A compass also helped him know

How to find the way to go.

Ninety sailors were on board;

Some men worked while others snored.

Then the workers went to sleep;

And others watched the ocean deep.

Day after day they looked for land;

They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.

October 12 their dream came true,

You never saw a happier crew!

"Indians! Indians!" Columbus cried;

His heart was filled with joyful pride.

But "India" the land was not;

It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.

The Arakawa natives were very nice;

They gave the sailors food and spice.

Columbus sailed on to find some gold

To bring back home, as he'd been told.

He made the trip again and again,

Trading gold to bring to Spain.

The first American? No, not quite.

But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.

Wonderful Sabbath

Had a wonderful Fast & Testimony meeting today. It was really touching and spiritual. Joey Herman blessed his baby girl today and asked me to be in his circle (meaning: be part of the blessing) and that was sweet. I knew Joey when he was 12 when we first lived in this ward. He is now 26 and this was his second child.

I had to teach the boys today as Darrin was out of town. It wasn't going to be too bad because we only had two, Nathan and Braden - but then the 14-16 yr old boys come in saying that they didn't have a teacher - so I had to teach them as well -- it was okay, as I know and like all these boys really well. I just refreshed them on Conference weekend and tried to help them realize that they need to develope their own conviction and testimony of the Gospel, the Church, the Savior and how prayer needs to be a major part of their lives. It went alright, you know boys 13-16 - they listen, but they don't always hear!

I'm so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life - how it has changed my life for the better and allowed me to have a wonderful family. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and that He (God) is our eternal Father. I am grateful for parents who allowed me to seek out these truths for myself and loved me despite not always understanding me - but always knowing that I would be an honorable son and a joy to them.

Finally - Cooler Temps!

It's a really great day - we are at 54 degrees right now and that is really cool for us - that's actually our winter high - but I love it. I was out this morning doing some yard work and getting it ready for the cooler temps.

Nathan went around and put the pumpkins on the trees and light post - here is a pic of that. He also put them up on other trees, but I just did the one picture to show you all. We've been doing this "pumpkin tree" for a few years now and really enjoy it.

I then went into my gym and rearranged some equipment for my running. I put my medals and pictures back up to help motivate me. Also, moved the treadmill in front of the mirror and the squat rack to the side. It actually looks better this way - but it's only temporary for now.

Terri's Birthday is today. We all went out to Applebee's last night to celebrate. I asked if she just wanted Me and Her or the boys too - she wanted us all, so we all had a good dinner. We sang Happy Birthday to her in the restaurant and that was fun. Today Terri is going to the "Crop-till-you drop" event - she wanted that for her birthday and so she has it. She'll be gone all day and home maybe around midnight - but she'll be having fun and that's what a birthday is all about.

Return to fun!

I laugh at that title some - return to fun! - It means that I have returned to running for awhile and it is "hopefully" going to be fun. I started again yesterday and did 1.5m (m=miles) on my treadmill. I put the speed at a 10:00mmp (mmp=minute mile pace) and got on and then it just seemed to be getting faster and faster - I swore I was running a 6:00mmp! But it went well as my heart rate didn't go above 150 so I wasn't killing myself too much. I just got into my mind and relaxed my body into the pace as I learned how to do last year - and it worked great. I will be running only about 3 days a week for awhile until I get more into running shape.

My weight was at 238.0 after the run -- however, this morning without a run I was at 244.8 - so I have some too lose before I can make a serious running bid here. I will drop it down to 220 and possibly 215. I only need to keep it above 200 to stay in the Clydesdale division so that's not going to be an issue. I've packed on enough muscle to not have me ever go that low again.

We are enjoying the cooler temperatures here now -- the 80's is a very welcomed sight. Shouldn't be long before the two giant trees in our backyard dump their massive amount of leaves -- and that's going to be something cleaning all of them up!

Stay strong everyone!

St George Marathon

No - I didn't run - Me and the boys volunteered and did the mile 9 aide station that our ward does every year. We got up at 5:00am and headed up at 5:30 to get it all ready. I must admitt I was quite jealous for the runners as they it was a rainy morning and looked like it would be all day. For those who know me well - when I did run I loved running in the rain -- I was getting very sad that I wasn't out there. I also decided that while running in the rain is fun...volunteering in the rain and standing out there for 4 hours and getting soaked..wasn't fun! After awhile the wind came, and with it made our wetness very cold -- but we had fun none-the-less and it has sparked a little light in me to want to get back into running again!!

Watch Conference this weekend!

Come listen to a prophet's voice - watch conference!

Awesome Article

Afternoon Legs

I have to close the bank on Wednesday's this month, so when I do that my leg workout is done during lunch - which isn't all that bad really, just hard to sit and go up and down the stairs at work.

Kept it semi-hard, but challenging. Kept squats about average instead of all out. Did 230x10, 250x8, 270x6 and 300x4 - just enough to keep them going then push it during leg supplemental workout. All the other exercises (seated calf raises, leg extensions, leg curls, calf raises, close stance squat and stiff legged deadlifts) I pushed hard on and increased all weights by 10 or 20, so yeah, it was hard to walk afterwards -- but I didn't need any bucket!

Well...pretty short today - have a good one everyone!