Logg Blogg

Apple is the best pie

2011-11-29T17:16:00.000-08:00

During church my sis-in-law Jenny was kind enough to help me brainstorm as to why I'm not married.

Apparently the big deal breaker (evidenced by the number of stars and arrows) is that I preferred the straight-backed hard chairs in Sunday School versus the padded and reclined chairs in Sacrament Meeting.

Mac and Cheese BFF

2011-11-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

Some friends asked me to doodle a picture or two of macaroni and cheese for a project they are doing. Unfortunately for them, noodles and cheese aren't in my wheelhouse. Robots, missiles, and strangely proportioned people are about all I can muster.

So I went a different route. Maybe it wasn't what they were looking for, but I kind of enjoy it.

I love the idea that Mac and Cheese are best friends.

Cause really, together those two are just about the best.

sCRAPbook

2011-11-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

I realize I'm a pretty lame person.
However, I'd like to show you Exhibit A in "Logan v. Haters" that demonstrates I'm actually pretty cool.
Ok, so when it comes down to it, its a scrapbook (shudder) that catalogs all of my concert ticket stubs, photos, set lists, blog posts, etc.

Its gonna be super cool and all y'all are gonna want to thumb through it.

Big 12

2011-11-12T20:12:00.000-08:00

There is almost nothing I'd like to see more than for BYU to join the Big 12 in football.

If that happened then we would see a BYU / WVU showdown. My two favorite teams pitted against each other.

If it came to that I would be cheering for BYU, but only on the inside. On the outside I would be cheering for WVU purely because I want to hold a big sign at the game that says:

"Not all Mormons root for BYU"

I mean c'mon, that sign is awesome and would virtually guarantee a little TV time.

Varieties of this sign would also work if I were Catholic and didn't like Notre Dame. Or if I were a truly terrible terrible person, but I didn't support Utah.

PB#

2011-09-29T20:04:00.000-07:00

Sammy, my niece, and I bought paint by number kits this past summer. She eventually went back to California and I toiled on alone for a time.
However, it didn't take long for paint by numbering (PB# for short) to take hold among my friends Janna, Jill, Cindy, and even Brigham.
Its the new thing everyone, get into it now before it sweeps the nation and then you can say, "I was doing it before it was a nation-wide craze."

BEFORE:

AFTER:

That reminds me of a story that happened 5 years ago...

2011-09-19T16:40:00.001-07:00

During BYU's Education Week I typically walked around with a walkie talkie clipped to my back pocket. This was one of those heavy duty walkies that weighed a ton and had a decent range that reached at least as far from the Wilk to where I took naps at my apartment. (I figure the statute of limitations is over on that little bit of incriminating evidence)
So that is the background:
Anyway I went to use the restroom one afternoon during a class break and ended up standing in a queue to use the urinal. When it came to my turn (at the middle urinal of course) I unbuttoned my trousers and immediately had the weight of the walkie, still clipped to my back pocket, take my pants straight down to the floor....with about ten other bathroom goers standing immediately behind me.
What do you do in that situation?
If you're like me you just lean into the situation, act like you absolutely intended to have your pants on the ground, and then challenge society to rethink its stodgy antiquated urinal rules.

Not true

2011-08-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of attending an intimate dinner party with one of the greatest actors of our generation: Mr. Tom Hanks.

The following is my account of the evening-

Location: Ranch-style home nestled within a small valley on a sprawling estate not too far from Ithaca, NY. Breathtaking.
Host: Arrived twenty-minutes late reeking of gin and with an armful of loose prescription pills.
Other Guests: Odd collection of east coast elite, personal family friends, and Hollow Earth theory adherents.
Home: Well maintained pre-war home with a modernized kitchen. The house tour was unfortunately cut short when host was required to "take care" of unexplained groans emanating from crawlspace.
Decor: A surprising number of antique wood-rimmed bicycles mounted on the walls. Eight by my count.
Hors d'oeurves: So-called "caviar" tasted suspiciously like flour-thickened dish water.
Salad: Contained an alarming number of bones.
Entree: A delicate chicken marsala served atop a bed of garlic and rosemary mashed potatoes. Truly first-rate.
Dessert: One exceptionally large candied apple that was shared communally.
Cocktails: When asked for a virgin margarita, host cracked one guest over the head with a pistol.
After Dinner Activities: An obviously drunk Hanks loudly challenging guests to Indian Leg wrestle.
Party Favors: Sweet, if not a bit unsettling, personalized shadow-box frame filled with guest's trash from previous week.
Conversation: Stimulating.

Thrifty Thief

2011-08-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

I believe there is a special circle of Hell reserved for those that steal the CD out of its case at D.I.

Hey thief, you owe me a $2 copy of Kid A and whether its in this life or the next, I will collect.

A steadily growing list

2011-08-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

I've been ruminating on this topic for some time now.

Happy Bee-day Jenny

2011-07-23T12:04:00.001-07:00

Note: The stunts you are about to see were performed by professionals or while under the supervision of professional. Do not try this at home.

So the electric fly swatter didn't work out in quite the way we anticipated. We eventually had to have the other person force our fingers through the unelectrified outer-mesh to the current carrying and skin-sizzling heart of the swatter.

The old-fashioned manual swatter used execution-style worked wonders though. (Full-volume to hear how brave Josh was.)

Happy Bee-day Jenny!

A fine Amazonian wood endtable

2011-05-30T01:10:00.000-07:00

I think the key of happiness in my life is striking a proper balance balance between what I want to be and what I'm supposed to be.
I love demolition derbies. I'd like nothing more than to whittle away my days at an endless grudge match and eventually expire due to complications resultant from inhaling exhaust fumes and excessive smiling. But "society" has deemed demolition derbies as so called 'white trash' and of little cultural worth. Thus I would be white trash and of little worth.
So I go to the opera and the symphony and enjoy those events. But then I drink a Mtn. Dew on the way home, which necessitates a visit to an art gallery....and so on and so on.

This is all really just prefacing my final statement, I used tape and cardboard to make a broken and discarded end table usable.

I'd say I'm due for a foreign film.
(Also it should be noted I finally own a couch)

Illustrate

2011-03-05T22:30:00.000-08:00

I forget music sometimes. Even really really good music.
(Just rediscovered Harlem Shakes tonight, forgot that they're pretty much the best.)
And "Corazon" by Bishop Allen. Forgot that little song too.
I decided that if I could, I would choose "Corazon" to animate/illustrate.
Its just such a perfect narrative.
But as it turns out...drawing pianos is hard. Especially a piano so full of personality like Corazon.

Never tire of them

2011-02-25T17:19:00.000-08:00

Books this time.
I have one postcard remaining...
Maybe I'll do movies next or plays.

The palace, not the butler.

2011-02-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

I had to wait to post this til the recipient received it. Lest I ruin the surprise of yet another unsolicited rebus.
These are bands. Four of them. No Beatles.

The last collection of rebuses I put up was perhaps my favorite post ever. (Decision made: It is) I still draw them from time to time and until I get rid of the leftover postcards from my trip to Europe, I'll probably still be sending them out.

Tobacco Skin

2011-01-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

Robots, song lyrics. Stagnant. This blog will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
But still, that's a robot with a guitar wearing a scarf.
If it weren't winter, he would actually be saying this:
"What? This? Oh, well when I brought this guitar over here, displayed prominently on my back, I didn't have any intentions of playing it. Weird that you would ask me about it. But sure, let me remove my ironic scarf and I'll play a Dashboard song or two. And then I'll let you feel the calluses on my finger tips."

He sings

2011-01-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

He's been known to throw out some Jim Croce tunes as well.

For Lisa

2011-01-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

I think they really dropped the ball on what could have been some pretty epic Ferngully sequels. Just sayin'

Nope. No Beatles.

2010-11-07T18:28:00.000-08:00

So these are all bands. Some are a stretch, like the Beach Boys for instance, but my intentions were good.
Normally I send Brigham a rebus or two scrawled on a postcard from a recent trip (Temecula for instance) but I realized Brigham has never asked me to do this, so instead of an unsolicited rebus to Brigham I'll give an unsolicited rebus to everyone.

I would love to know if anyone can name all 20. I think it could be a challenge.

Cap and Trade

2010-10-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

Dinner

2010-10-22T20:49:00.001-07:00

I few months back a friend shared who she would have dinner with if she could invite anyone. These three were among her choices. (I was not)
I can't imagine three people that I would not want to invite more.
Not that I don't greatly appreciate some of the things some of these people have done, I just don't think they'd make for good dinner guests.

I would invite Shopping Penguin.....and maybe Dug.

Shopping penguin!

2010-10-18T19:36:00.000-07:00

I didn't know it was possible to fall in love so quickly and so completely. But here this video is, having taken full possession of my heart.

Thank you Kristin Tobler.
My life is sufficiently brightened today.
(I also read what came before this on your post and found it incredibly refreshing, but to say that it was then overshadowed by this video would be an understatement.)

Miracles

2010-10-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

If I had to describe how I'm feeling right now I'd only need one word: Victory. Yes victory. I feel like that plucky little bunch of amateurs that showed the unbelievers of this world that they didn't care what they were saying and that they'd show them, and the whole world for that matter, where they could stick their opinions...and they'd show them on the ice in the lilliputian town of Lake Placid.

I remember siting in front of the old Magnavox, rabbit ears covered in tinfoil, saying to Lydia, who was seated next to me, "Ain't gonna happen. No way these untested youngsters have the heart and gumption to stand against the mighty Soviet juggernaut." Word for word that's what I said. Boy did they show me.

"Do you believe in miracles Lydia....YES!!" I coined that. I said it first. Verbatim.

Sure someone else got credit for saying it, but this was bigger than me and my eloquence. America needed this win. Hell, I needed this win.
To sum it up, I feel victory.

Dinner Out

2010-10-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

True story:
So I'm in one of those fancy sit-down restaurants, you know cloth napkins and what have you. Not our usual fare, but we're classy and down with that kind of crap.
Well the first course comes (I told you this place was classy) and its a salad. Now I love salads but this thing had cheese on it. Cheese! Well this is obviously an outrage. So I tell the waiter that, "This is an outrage! Bring me another and you don't wanna know what'll happen if there is so much as one shred of cheese on it!"
Well of course, that didn't sit well with Lydia, "Dear, you're making a scene."
Oh right Lydia, I'm the one making a scene. There's cheese on my salad and I'm the one making a scene?!
"Dear please," Lydia mutters under her breath, trying to hide her face, "You're acting like an animal. Please just let it go."
I'm an animal now am I? Well an animal wouldn't stand for this and it sure as heck can't handle cheese on its salad, cause certain monkeys are lactose intolerant, I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere or saw it on some TV show.
Lydia keeps talking but I can't understand her, cause I'm a lactose intolerant monkey now (or at least that's what Lydia wants, so I oblige) and monkeys can't understand English.
Well some can understand sign language. (Now I know I read that somewhere!)
So I'm trying to communicate with Lydia using some crude form of monkey sign language but its not working and I can tell Lydia is getting frustrated (even lactose intolerant monkeys can understand human facial cues.)
I'm still pretty hungry at this point (boy I was looking forward to that salad), so I try to sign for a banana, cause that's what monkeys eat, plus bananas are high in potassium. (Potassium is 'K' on the periodic table right? There's not even a 'K' in 'Potassium', I mean, what's that all about?)
I'm signing for a banana using my monkey sign language and I guess a few of the more sensitive patrons thought my 'banana' sign was a tad bit crude and offensive.
So now the whole place is pretty much in an uproar, Lydia grabs my arm and hisses through her teeth, "I am so embarrassed. We're leaving now." Well, being a monkey I still couldn't understand her, but she had bared her teeth, which I interpreted as a sign of aggression and I guess I just lost it.
With all of the other patrons in a state of panic there was no calming me down. I was jumping on tables, throwing things, cursing at the top of my monkey lungs, and roaring like a lion (amidst the chaos of the restaurant I may have forgotten exactly what animal Lydia had told me I was) So you see your honor, I can hardly be blamed for all the damages.

Is that a bunny on his hat?

2010-08-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

I have repeatedly applied to the Wal-Mart across the street from me and have been told repeatedly "no thanks."
I just watched a documentary on Wal-Mart and as it showed a group of new hires starting their shift all I could think to myself was, "Well, its finally happened. Not sustaining a massive brain-damaging blow to the head has come to bite me in the butt."
Maybe I'm just overqualified.

Disclaimer: Although most of the Wal-Mart employees I encounter are kind, helpful, and intelligent, I'll be watching myself if I'm ever in that particular Omaha-area store. Yikes. Dredged the bottom of the pool for those hires.

C'est votre anniversaire

2010-08-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Most of you are aware I keep a journal. Nothing too serious, its been three years since buying it and its only about 3/4 full. I'm a 'once a week' writer if I'm lucky, and unfortunately, that time typically comes during Sacrament Meeting.
And I'm afraid that should someone see me furiously writing in my journal during the special musical number, they'll get the wrong idea.

Happy BBirthday Jenny

2010-07-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

Josh and I set the bar unreachably high last year.
Jenny's birthday song last year stretched mine and Josh's musical abilities pretty much to the limit.
So in lieu of a song that would have just been a disappointment (although during our brainstorming session Josh did suggest we parody 'California Gurls' while wearing daisy dukes)we decided to give each other the traditional 'one-pump BB gun birthday shot'.
Happy BBirthday Jenny.

I hate spinach

2010-07-15T23:14:00.001-07:00

Evidently my fascination of goats originated early in my childhood. Perhaps this is at an early incarnation of the 'Baby Animal Birthday Party' that I would attend as an adult. (I can't being to imagine what parents would have thought about a college student wandering around a petting zoo alone, that's why I brought Janna and Jill, it turned me from 'deranged lunatic' to 'mild eccentric')
You can see Nicholle straining to keep a hold of me. Its a shame really, cause I'm about the perfect size to actually ride that guy.

Heaven must've programmed you

2010-06-25T00:38:00.000-07:00

I've got my record player going pretty much non-stop.
Bad Bad Leroy Brown.
Go Your Own Way.
Homeward Bound.

Eating almonds, reading about war, and wondering what effect Josh Ritter could have on achieving world peace.

The highway is alive tonight

2010-06-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

I've got a ten page paper due in three days. I've done more in less.
I had a coke for the first time in weeks. I feel like I should start listening to Bruce Springsteen.
And I still think about Crazy Bread when I'm not thinking about anything else.

Memo

2010-05-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Wal-Mart to get my oil changed. (I know I know, every man should be able to change their own oil. Whatever.) As I handed the employee my keys he asked what I planned to do for the 30 or so minutes it would take to change the oil. I held up my shopping list and said, "No worries, I need to pick up a few things."
He tilted his head, looked at my list, and said, "Cute."

I forgot I had written my shopping list on my new post-it pad.

So thanks Jill for making me the laughing stock of the automotive section of Wal-Mart.
(Worth it. Although I've wasted more than a few just writing captions for the kitten.)

Midterms

2010-05-08T00:54:00.001-07:00

I'm in the tempest of midterms again.
The tempest seems to be preceded by a flurry of papers.
Things suffer as a result. Blogging (sorry WiAC), eating, and sleeping.
But this lonely buffalo always suffers. It was us, the white man, that ruined this guys life. Remember that one scene from Dances with Wolves? With all the dead and wasted buffalo? That was us. The loneliness of the buffalo is on me now. Great....like my plate isn't full enough.

Self-Portrait

2010-04-29T00:27:00.000-07:00

What is this picture missing? Mr. Rogers? The silk roses my brother met me at the airport with? Nope.
An understanding and mastery of perspective drawing? Yep.

This just happens to be my 100th post on Logg Blogg. So I thought a little glimpse into where the magic of this blog has been happening lately was only appropriate.

Re-Arrange

2010-04-26T02:36:00.000-07:00

At a certain point I just give up on trying to fall asleep. I sit in front of my computer, listen to music, and draw.
I've never been a talented artist. But its relaxing and relatively mindless for me. It allows me to forget about how not tired I am, but not so engrossing that should my eyes get weak and scratchy, I won't notice. (That's why you see the same people and things over and over again.)
I like to add the lyrics of whatever song I happen to be listening to on repeat. The lyrics in my drawings aren't meant to be autobiographical, except to tell you what song was playing as I sat hunched over my desk, unable to sleep. But I suppose if the song is enjoying a heavy rotation when a drawing is taking place, there is a reason behind it. But who knows?

He didn't help

2010-04-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

A while back I chomped into a raw egg for $1.
A comment by my friend Ryan implied that perhaps my reckless and horrible eating habits are the cause of my IBS.
Spot on Ryan. Spot on.
But what was I supposed to do, both my milk and 1lb of beef were set to expire. (ok, one had already expired. Not telling you which.)

Well spent

2010-04-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

These are the last two pages in my journal.
I figured since they have finally filled up and I've been forced to start another page, it was time to share. (First two entries on that new page are the upcoming Ben Folds and Josh Ritter shows.)
These are most of the concerts I've been to in the past 5 years. I think I've forgotten a few.
Go ahead and add everything up, I'm not going to, I'd really rather not. But feel free, I've kept pretty good record of everything for some reason.
Some may look at this and think this is a lot. But a little bit of me is embarrassed that there isn't more. (In my defense the bands from Sasquatch are itemized on another page)

Pros / Cons

2010-04-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

My classes are 4 hours long. Add travel time and its even longer. We are given a break midway through and I usually take that time to eat a pb&j sandwich.
It became a staple, so much so that my classmates and professor noticed when I didn't have one.
For ease, I used to pack an Uncrustable. I debated whether I should buy Uncrustables during my quarterly trip to Costco. I was torn.
I made a pros/cons list in the little book I carry with me to determine whether I should buy them or not.

I didn't end up buying them. For obvious reasons.

(I also did some self-editing. I was ranting about why I hate poly-sci majors.)

Play

2010-04-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of playlist ideas running through my head. There are always about a half dozen I'm working on at any one time. Virtually none see completion. I started one that compares love to drugs. Then I started a playlist called "Synthesizer Chaser."
Don't really know where either of those were going.
I've never been able to make playlists. I just make 'samplers.' A little bit of everything in no particular order. Just so you can have a little taste of everything.
But a true playlist, always beyond my grasp.

Jericho Road and Fudge

2010-03-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

My roommate just found this on his computer and sent it to me.
This was the direct result of dealing with the crowds at the 2007 Women's Conference. I needed a release.

I'm slightly ashamed to say that this was not the first time I snapped my nametag lanyard into my face. I don't think this was even the first time it was recorded.

Good Ol' Mtn. Dew

2010-03-01T00:33:00.000-08:00

I thought about redrawing this with a marker, but decided against it. It looks better all rough.
Bluegrass makes me feel like this picture. A happy deer, bird, and squirrel having a party in some idealized landscape and that landscape is my heart.

Just like Nana Lemon

2010-02-27T22:05:00.000-08:00

I realize now (after drawing this) that no bear is capable of speaking German.
But I'd like to think, that if it could, it would sing this classic German lullaby.

Muscle Beach was....unsettling.

2010-02-24T22:36:00.000-08:00

I went to Venice Beach the other day.
For the record, I wasn't wearing a tie at the time, but the picture demanded a tie.

Giraffe

2010-02-23T23:20:00.000-08:00

Its important to have something in life to strive for.
I should probably own a ladder too.

He'll play for peanuts

2010-02-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

I've decided that my latest 3x5 story was really lame.
It was mostly just pictures of a robot either looking sad, angry, or happy. Fun for me to draw, but not fun to look at.
Except this one, this was my favorite.

Rebus

2010-01-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

I love a good rebus. (something mom and I share) These are all Beatles songs.
I'd ask for guesses and then award prizes for who could get them all, but I think that would reveal how few people still read my blog.

Notecard robot

2009-12-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

So I started drawing another small 3x5 story featuring my little lovelorn robot.
Chris and Kristin told me about the hollowed spot my previous drawings have in their home office and it inspired me.
Who knows if this will ever see the light of day (the light of blog?)
Anyway, here's a taste.

Join the party

2009-12-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

This is what we all received at my final in National Security Policy. We spent a lot of time talking about the Cold War, Deterrence theory, and Mutually Assured Destruction so the instructor thought this was only appropriate.

One of the exclamations that you may not be able to read, "Beware the repressed Communist Party animal who is really a proletarian in denial masquerading as a bourgeois Cold War monger!"

I spent the next morning tracking down a case of this stuff to bring home to Josh. (Two liquor stores and one delightful specialty store later, success.)
And Joe Weston, if you still follow my blog, trust me I've tried to think of a way to send a bottle to you.

It should be noted that one thing I did not need after a pretty tumultuous finals week (and the week before) was more soda.

WiAC

2009-12-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

So Chris and I have posted our Favorite Albums of 2009 list on WiAC. We're both pretty proud of it. Its got everything from our distaste of Christian Rock to how we'd like to be remembered after we die. So that means you should probably check it out. And since we've included songs from each of the albums you can experience what we've been experiencing sonically for the last year.
Let us know what you think, whether you agree or disagree (especially if you feel we've totally missed something great.)

And now back to my finals and papers...because a life without hardships...something something...sigh...

What if they had brought Poison with them too?

2009-11-07T22:31:00.000-08:00

I went through all the past posts from the now defunct Logger Blogger.
There were some gems for sure.
Back in the early days I was more of an impulse blogger, putting up whatever was making me laugh at the time.
In Sunday School the teacher shared the story about seagulls saving the Utah pioneer's crops from crickets. I spent the next five minutes laughing.

What if instead of a flock of seagulls, God had sent a Flock of Seagulls?
That monument on Temple Square would be way more rockin' that's for sure.

Midterms

2009-10-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,

At least you know I'm eating well.

Love,
Your son.

Bearded ID

2009-10-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

I got my Brigham Young ID in 2002. I got my CSUSB ID 7 years later.

Oh 2002 Logan, so young and fresh-faced. Little did you know that in a scant 7 years you would devolve to a man that you resemble in name alone. Not that 2009 Logan is complaining, he thinks he's actually pretty cool, with infinitely better taste in music. (I still can't believe I owned a Matchbox 20 CD)

Really?

2009-09-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

So this has been the story of my life the past few weeks. And its about health care reform...in a roundabout way.

I can't afford grad school on my own, I doubt most people my age can, but fortunately I qualified for financial aid (a wonderful government program, with or without the red tape) to not only pay for school but to also give me a little money to live on until I can find a job.

So on the day that this money is supposed to go into my account (Sept. 14th) I'm sent a notice that there is a hold on my financial aid because according to the school's records.....I'm not currently a student.

Wait, what?

So I give my school's Financial Aid dept. a call.
<30>
Me: You can see in my records that I need to pay tuition correct?
FinAid: Yes sir.
Me: Would I be paying tuition if I weren't enrolled?
FinAid: Ohhhhh...well ya, I guess that doesn't make sense. But you'll need to call Graduate Admissions to confirm your enrollment.

So I call Graduate Admissions and they confirm my enrollment. (A process that took all of three seconds.)
After another 30 minute hold to talk to Financial Aid I discover that it will take 2-3 business days before my enrollment is confirmed in their system (which is entirely different than the Admissions office's system). Asking if there is a way to expedite this process I am told that the form they get from Graduate Admissions only comes every other day and that the ONE man who reads that report only reads it every other day...and the program he uses to read it is broken.
I ask if I can email this man a copy of my now updated student record and am told, "Sorry, it doesn't work that way." But I am assured that everything else is in order and my money will be disbursed to my account (however, dispersal only happens once a week. Monday.)

Four business days later (making this Monday the 21st, because California government offices are closed every other Friday due to budget cuts) my hold disappears, but a new hold on my MPN (Master Promissory Note) shows up that same day.
<30>
I am told I failed to submit my MPN or they just need me to send a new one. (They can't tell me which) I offer to bring in the hard copy of my MPN I printed when I filled it out two months ago but they inform me they wouldn't know what to do with it and ask me to go through the process again. Once they get my new MPN and some guy reads the report (the same guy as before?) it will be another 4 days before it is cleared in their system.

I'm a pretty calm and rational person, but at this point I ask to speak to a supervisor to get some answers. I'm told that due to understaffing the supervisors are unavailable because they are working elsewhere in the office. I tell them I'm fine with waiting, but I would like to speak with a supervisor.
<20>
The supervisor apologizes for the confusion, most everyone in her department is new (budget cuts made by the Cal State system insisted that all full-time benefit receiving positions that can be staffed by two part-time non-benefit receiving students be eliminated) but assures me everything will be taken care of and that I should get my money Sept. 28th, but if not call on the 29th and they'll make sure I get it by the Oct 5th. Seriously?

And the saddest part is I'm not the only one! My roommates are encountering the same and more problems. Compared to them, I'm getting off easy.
Now I can see why college kids are so darn rebellious and always chanting 'Down with the government' they probably all had problems with their financial aid.

And people want the government running our health care system? Really?
I've only entrusted them with the money I need to live at this point, should I expect anything different when my life and health are in their hands?

Deep end

2009-09-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

My nieces claimed that last time I was there in Poway I failed to tell them I had a pool and that maybe now they'd actually like to come visit me. Maybe this will entice others (Ty? Matt? Josh?)

Well, here it is. A ten yard walk from my backdoor. Oh and there are geriatric water aerobics almost every morning around 8. Yikes.

2.8 miles from an In 'n Out

2009-09-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

So this is my new home in Redlands. Its super close to everything. I've been able to walk pretty much everywhere with everything so close, Wal-Mart, Del Taco, and even a friendly nest of black widows has taken up shop on our patio. Talk about convenience.

I'm not a photographer. But before you criticize any of my shots, they all have their reasons.

For instance: We didn't have a fridge for the first week, so what you would see at any other angle is the styrofoam cooler containing soda. There was water if you count the melted ice we purchased everyday in the morning to insure cool soda. We were one porch swing and a half blind dog away from true redneck-ness at this point.

And my quality IKEA desk with pictures of loved ones.

I finally said enough is enough with twin-sized beds. I love it. (And if I have any visitors you get to just shack up right next to me.)

Again, my photography hides the massive pile of cardboard left over from my furniture. That's right, I own furniture.

And my living room...nothing to say about this...pretty self-explanatory really.

Happy Birthday Jenny

2009-07-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Even though she might be too embarrassed to admit it, we all know that the highlight of Jenny's birthday last year was the 'Happy Birthday' sung to her in perfect two-part harmony by my brother Josh and I.

Seeing as neither of us could be in England (or is it Britain? I swear I'll never get that straitened out....) Josh and I decided to send her this very special birthday message from across the pond.

Happy birthday Jenny.

Death of a salesman

2009-06-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

I've always loved infomercials.
My Saturday mornings were filled with Ron Popeil, Anthony Sullivan, and Joe Farago.
I can nearly recite the entire MagicBullet, GT Express , or Popeil Food Dehydrator informercials word for word.

But today is a dark day in the infomercial world.
The titan Billy Mays has passed away.
From Oxi-Clean to the Dual-Saw your near-yelling sales pitches always had me hooked.
I should have called when you told me to....but now I never can.

If only I had realized you were the one available for a limited time only.

Billy Mays 1958 - 2009

Comics = Life = Sad

2009-06-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

Apparently to get janitorial jobs I need to get a degree in physics. High school councilor didn't prepare me for that one.

Everthing must go

2009-06-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure I've reached rock-bottom.

I sit here writing this waiting to hear whether or not I'm being turned down for a custodial job....again. Sadly, it wouldn't be the first time in the last few weeks that I've agreed to clean up vomit and urine and been told, "No thanks."
Doesn't do a lot for a man's self-esteem.

But I'm trying to stay optimistic, I am headed to grad school in a couple of months.
Realizing that few people want to hire someone for two months I've started looking elsewhere for employment options. Channeling my entrepreneurial spirit I've decided to go into business for myself or maybe more accurately I'm going into the business of my self.
So ya, take a gander, if you see anything you like, make me an offer and remember the listed prices are only estimates. I'm open to haggling (although if you get too low I may just break down into tears, which are a nickle a piece)

I've become everything I hate

2009-05-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

I swear I had no idea when I applied.
They never said what department they were in.
They deceived me.
But to heck with it cause I'm still going.

Yup, grad school in the fall I guess.

WiAC hittin' it big

2009-05-13T21:00:00.001-07:00

So if you don't follow the music blog Chris and I run (Whale In a Cubicle) then you probably don't know that we're being featured on Break Thru Radio as their 'bloggers of the week.'
Each day this week they have been featuring one of our posts and then Thursday they'll be streaming a radio show titled 'Anatomy of a Blogger' featuring us and a bunch of bands we picked out.
It was pretty fun. They had a bunch of questions for us to answer like, "Why is it called Whale In a Cubicle? What do we think about the internet and its effect on music?"
Ya, fun stuff like that. So check out 'Anatomy of a Blogger' on Thursday.
Kind of exciting for us.

I'm doing alright for myself

2009-05-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

I made one dollar today. Not bad for someone who is still currently unemployed.
The roommates and I were watching Dirty Jobs and Mike Rowe (the host and my hero/idol) was working in an egg factory. At the end of the segment he took a raw egg and bit into it and chewed.
Brigham had a fit and dared Kyle to do it. Kyle refused but I jumped on the offer.
If I look awful in these photos its just because I generally look awful, the egg really wasn't that bad.

Maybe all of my real skills are just not being appreciated by my potential employers.

Get an education kids!

2009-05-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to shrug off the unemployed stereotype. So yesterday I did the following:

I woke up early
I shaved
I showered
I exercised

Unfortunately that only got me to about 10 AM. I then proceeded to watch 5 episodes of 30 Rock in a row.
Then I rebounded and ran some errands.
Then I watched two episodes of How I Met Your Mother.
And that pretty much took me to bed.
The true job hunt starts tomorrow.

Or that M.U.L.E.?

2009-04-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

My grandma and grandpa gave me some money in celebration of my recent graduation. Mom said I should take it and spend it on something fun and frivolous. Here is where I am most likely to spend that money:

On the wagon? Or off the wagon?

2009-04-21T23:00:00.001-07:00

I'm back on the sauce.

I drank my first coke during Easter dinner. Mostly just to see if I still like it......and I do!

I never realized the strain not buying coke caused on many of my relationships especially with my favorite coke retailer: 7-11 Raj.

Tonight I stopped in 7-11 to purchase some toilet paper (TMI?) and Raj exclaimed, "Hey man! Where have you been? You don't buy coke anymore."
I explained that I had stopped drinking coke for the time being and that since I may be leaving Utah sometime soon, that my coke purchasing may be limited.
His parting words: "Well man, it is always good to see you and anytime you're in Provo, you come and buy a coke."

I will Raj and I'm sure you'll still try to peddle me your day old donuts....just like the old days.

3x5 story (finale)

2009-04-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

So here it is...sorry its not colored.

If you'd like one of the original hand colored cards let me know, I'll send it postcard style....

Optimism

2009-04-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

I spend most of my days now studying about war, its methods and its weapons.
We've been learning about landmines as of late and I'm more convinced than ever that war is horrifying. I truly believe it is necessary at times, but always horrifying.

Sometimes I have to wonder about my chosen profession and my somewhat gentle demeanor (translation: I'm a softy, especially for cute little animals.)
And then I saw this picture:

I think I can strike a balance.

On a totally separate note, I think this is the happiest dog I have ever seen in my life. But who wouldn't be with a pygmy goat friend.

And if anyone cares, I've got the conclusion of my 3x5 story, but I wanted to put a buffer between the latest installment and the conclusion.

3x5 story (cont.)

2009-03-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know if anyone cares to see the continuation of my little 3x5 story....but here it is. (Bonus if you can name the artist of the painting the robot and penguins are admiring)

3x5 story

2009-03-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

I have a habit of drawing random little pictures on 3x5 notecards. Usually a fun pastime.
Not too long ago I started thinking up a narrative in my head to connect a few of the random pictures (most pictures include robots and penguins, so its not too hard to connect them all together)

These are the first ten drawings (they're in order) and its supposed to be about a robot who doesn't like his job or what other robots do (assuming that the primary function of robots is to destroy life....c'mon its in all the movies) so he is exiled......

I'll need all the help I can get

2009-02-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

I'm giving up Coke.

But just for forty day.

Please, I'm not that strong.

During an all-nighter (ok just until 4, but then I woke up at 8, that's worth something) and consuming copious amounts of caffeine infused "fizzy drinks" I realized I'm a total addict.
The next day I was having all sorts of problems....

I've always said if I have a super-power it is my incredible geographic knowledge (Atlas Man! Ask if you want to see my costume designs) but in a close second it would be the ability to feel caffeine move through my body until it finally reached the tips of my fingers.
That is probably closer to a problem than it is a super-power

So yes, for Lent, I'm giving up Coke.

In light of a recent post I want to assure my mother that I still love her and I'm sure she can find other ways to show me she loves me.

Or what is more likely to happen:

Good times good times

2009-02-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

So last night the Geography computer lab looked something like this:

Note the column, this plays a significant role.
It was getting pretty late and people started filing out and I soon found myself alone.

Now I'm not one to ever sing in public, I have a really awful voice, but if I'm alone why not?
I've got my iPod going and headphones on, so me and Portugal. The Man start rocking out together.
We were sounding awesome. I mean we were clicking. The climax came as we were singing their song Colors. It has this awesome chorus that sings:

"I'm not afraid to die, cause all these colors will change."

So I'm harmonizing along with the whole band at this point and when they aren't singing I'm either making the violin sound or improvising my very own percussion track. (If you'd like to hear the song you can listen to it here) Ya, we were in the zone that night.
And since I'm alone, I'm really letting loose.

As I'm sure most of you can guess......I wasn't alone.

Ya.....it got awkward.

Am I?

2009-02-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

I've always felt I had a pretty good sense of humor and because of this I feel that the greatest failings in my life are when I've been incapable of making someone laugh.
If that happens I typically blame it on that they must not have a sense of humor (the greatest fault a human being can have) because otherwise this is what starts to enter my mind:
I can't be 'not funny' cause I'm funny, that is what defines me.
Without funny, what am I? I'm nothing.
Just a hollow shell, another mass of flesh sucking this world dry of valuable resources needed for people who actually contribute and make a difference. I mean I have no other skills or endearing traits ('funny' as a skill is arguable) what am I to do if I'm not funny?!

Oh well, at least I know I got a few laughs in Elders Quorum today.

For no reason: A robot attacking a city.

Offensive

2009-02-02T15:14:00.000-08:00

I probably offend people a lot.

More than I'm sure I realize.
I just don't have much of a filter between my brain and my mouth. (See above illustration) Pretty much just a pipe from my brain to my mouth. Nothing to stop a bad idea or inappropriate comment.
(This diagram is also a pretty good representation of my digestive tract, just a pipe from my mouth to my....nevermind.)

If I was in their shoes, I doubt I'd be offended, I'd probably just not laugh. Cause its really not worth it to be offended. Interestingly enough, that is the surest way to get to me and put me in my place if I'm ever out of line (Me? What?) Just don't laugh and I'll know I went too far.

To sum up:

1. I don't mean it personally, so get over it.

2. That digestive tract comment was out of line. Unfortunately I can't see your scowling faces, so I'll just go on assuming it was kind of funny.

I coke you too

2009-01-22T21:27:00.000-08:00

We've never been one of those families that says "I love you."

We do love each other, at least I think we do, if we don't it just makes the fact that we pick on each other so much really sad and probably unhealthy.

I went and saw my parents tonight and as I left I said, "Why aren't we one of those families that says 'I love you' in situations like this?" (Maybe I secretly wish we were one of those families...I don't know.)

They both replied to this by saying, "I love you Logan." However the sarcasm at that moment was pretty overpowering.
My mother then added, "Why do I need to say 'I love you' when you can look out in the garage and see a fresh twelve-pack of coke waiting for you every week?"

Breathtakingly beautiful

2009-01-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

While still in accordance with her rule to never buy a calendar until after the new year, Kristen picked me up this beauty.
I thought it was pretty sweet of her, I love it, and it makes me laugh every time I look at it.

How they portray West Virginia:

How I remember West Virginia:

When I'm not pointing out where they obviously had to photoshop a trailer out of the scene or the removal of a sewage pipe emptying directly into a pristine and clear creek, I just laugh and enjoy a little nostalgic trip.

West Virginia really gets a pretty bad rap. It is simply gorgeous and easily the most laid back and hospitable state in the union. (Except for one glaring exception. You know who you are and what you did.)

This calender has had two extreme side effects, namely an increase in the telling of funny mission stories and the acute desire to go back now that I will have time to just sightsee.

Gingerly comedic

2008-12-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

Possible captions:

"Dude, I am totally baked."

"Hey babe, have you done something different with your frosting?"

"I wish you weren't a seasonal treat, cause I would like to eat you all year long."

We're a hot blog

2008-12-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this blog is not actually the hot blog I'm talking about.
Chris and I recently posted out 'Top 15 Albums of 2008' on our Whale in a Cubicle blog. (WIAC for short)
...and apparently people looked at it. 694 people that day to be exact. And that was enough to put us as one of the 'Hot Posts' on the music aggregator site ELBO.WS

Unfortunately, we did come in behind the song 'Jizz In My Pants.'
Unfortunate and mostly just awkward.

Our future senators? pt 2

2008-12-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

The latest move in my continued and heated feud with the loud Poly Sci kids in the Teaching Assistant lab.
Blocking their door with a heavy oak bookcase actually muffled them quite well (and don't worry, they have a second exit in the building in case of a fire or a need to feel smugly superior to someone else not currently in that room or something like that.)

Tagged?

2008-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged and I am a man. I hope history notes this important moment.
Typically these things flow from one woman to another.
I am honored to be a tagged man.

That being said I think 'tagging' is stupid.

Anyway, without further ado...

6 quirky things about me:

1. I can't stand to see a milk carton left out on the counter, unused, for even a second. I am careful to prepare everything and then at the last moment, bam, I whip out the milk carton and then promptly put it right back.

2. My journal is illustrated.

3. I actually feel like Iceberg lettuce is unjustly picked on. People can be really snooty about the type of lettuce they serve in a salad and many consider Iceberg lettuce to 'be beneath them.' Wise up people, it has a satisfying crunch, it holds dressing on it like a champ, it doesn't have a weird taste (does it even have a taste?), and its cheap.

4. When I enter a room I typically appraise it quickly and judge where the easiest points of exit are, where I could take cover in case of gunfire or other flying debris, and other potential hazards to myself and others.

5. I've discovered I have windows of opportunity in which to fall asleep, if I miss one of those windows I have to wait until the next one comes by.

6. I dance in the shower.

This is where I would tag people, but I don't really want to. Its not that I'm so against tagging that I just want to see this cycle end with me, I just don't want to tag anyone. Its kind of like me and delegating or assigning things to people, I'd rather just do it myself and not make any trouble for someone else.

Our future senators?

2008-11-06T09:40:00.001-08:00

In the Teaching Assistant offices, all of the disciplines within the social sciences share a large common room where we can meet with students and administer tests and quizzes.

The Poly-Sci kids are loud and intolerable. (Somehow this doesn't surprise me)

I heard the following words used over and over again during one conversation:

Chick
Ugly chick
Fugly chick
Dudemeister (not said in jest)
Hottie chick
Smokin' hot babe

So I left them the following note:

Uncomfortable

2008-11-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

So Chris and I have been doing our joint-music blog whale in a cubicle for nearly a year now and we've been seeing some pretty great success.
We started WIAC with the thought that we talk about music with just about everyone we know, so why not start a blog and try to share it with more than just the people we know........and if people/musicians feel like they want to send us music to listen to, well that would just be great.

We've been receiving music from various record companies and promotional agencies for a while now and apparently they are still unaware that Chris and I are not brothers (or worse!).

Keep them coming

2008-10-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

These aren't my wedding announcements.
Don't freak out.
Furthest thing from my mind really.

Its just about time I shared these.

The outside:
(Yes, those are embossed pictures of the temple and a unicorn)

The inside:
(Apparently they got tired of rhyming after the first few lines and proceeded to finish the announcement in regular ol' prose.)

This next announcement came to Chris' fiance Kristin "on the wings of an angel" as she so eloquently puts it. (No one in her apartment knows either half of the couple.)
Besides the customary awkward engagement photos that are so common amongst the BYU crowd, the announcement also included this 'gem' so lovingly penned by the groom himself.

Wow.
I mean...........wow.

However, I should say to all of you out there planing on including poems, unicorns, teddy bears, and awkward kissing pictures in their wedding announcements: Please don't stop.
You've provided us with countless hours (ya, hours) of entertainment.
If it makes you feel better, just think that maybe we're just jealous that you've found someone so perfect for you. I mean if you've found a woman that allows you to put a sappy poem in your announcement (one that will be sent to every person she knows!) she is one in a million.

Seasons and pretty mountains

2008-10-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

So my sister Nicholle recently lamented the fact that, although it is technically Autumn, she finds it difficult to celebrate the season change in San Diego because, well, there really isn't a season change.

So in my effort to make her feel even worse about her situation and lack of seasons......we carved pumpkins

and ate caramel apples while we did

and in order to take these pictures we had to put on jackets cause it was a bit nippy.

Kristen's pumpkin is the one on the left. I've decided to name it: My New State in 'Delicate' Orange. (Seriously, how great does that thing look?)

And I'm the nerd who carved the world.

Pipe house

2008-09-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

You know that building at the mouth of Provo Canyon with the big pipes coming out of it?
Have you ever wondered what it is?

Apparently its a place you go to feel the fear of being eaten by a mountain lion.
Good to know.

There was a padlock on the door. I had brought a hammer and other tools to break in. Brigham talked me out of it. Cooler heads prevail I suppose.

Contemplating life (and death by mountain lion.)

I appear calm

2008-08-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

I was sifting through my old mission photos and found this gem.

We had a recently baptized member named Shane in Lynchburg and Shane ran a pet store.
After dinner he dared any of us to hold this albino beauty.
I was fearless..........until about second 4.
Second 4 is also where I wet my pants. Coincidence?

We are sooooo good looking

2008-08-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

A recent post has stirred up some fond memories of a classic Holman family portrait:

After some digging I unearthed the 'classic.'
This is comedy. I'm laughing right now.

In my search I also uncovered this beauty.
(I should note that I have still not mastered the posed smile. I always end up looking like a cretin. Can't smile for the life of me. Just can't.)
Seriously though Matt I hope you're getting plenty of sun in Iraq, cause this photo would suggest you hadn't been out in it for years.

But here we are in all our modern-day beauty.
(The parents wanted to actually get a professional portrait taken, but after Josh and I threatened to only be wearing cowboy hats and bandannas, they backed down.)

I study rocks?

2008-07-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a geography major and lets be honest, we don't get a lot of credit.

Doctors get medical questions, psychologists get mental questions, and gas station attendants get asked if these donuts are fresh.
We get questions any idiot can look up in an atlas. (or questions about rocks)

Does anyone care that I can discuss the geopolitical situation threatening Kosovo or that I can identify major land features on a 7.5 minute USGS topographic map?
No, they want to know the capital of Uzbekistan. (Tashkent.....but I used wikipedia.)

I guess the world expects us to have memorized countries and their capitals......and I guess I'm a failure.

I wonder if my professors are aware of this?

My case in point:

Kristen: "How would you pronounce the capital of Kentucky? Lou-e-ville or Lou-ville?"
Logan: "I'd pronounce it Lou-ville."
Kristen: (smugly) "Really, cause I'd pronounce it Frankfort."

Although, I suppose this is all really an attempt to justify my currently abysmal scores in Traveler IQ.

Talk derby to me

2008-06-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

It is comforting to know the answer to some of life's questions.
To not have to debate and struggle for an answer, to be able to answer confidently and immediately is one of the finest feelings in the world.
In this situation, life (actually my friend Alison) asked, "Do you want to go to a demolition derby this Saturday?"
My immediate response was, "Yes. Oh sweet mercy, yes."

So Alison and I wore out finest white trash gear (you can't tell but those are cut-offs I'm wearing.)

and we made sure to sample to local cuisine

action shot (the cars weren't the only thing getting hammered though)

Making best friends at a demolition derby. Behind all that destruction and mayhem.........is love.

Painfully short

2008-06-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not be aware of, about two and a half years ago I had an exclusive girlfriend......for exactly two weeks or four dates (whichever came first.)

She will deny that it meant anything, she'll say it was an assignment for a class, she'll swear up and down that it was purely the means to an end (the 'end' being an A.)

But I know better..........

Happy birthday Jill

(I would put up a picture of Jill and I at this point in the post, but every great picture of Jill and I is already up. She may be the most represented woman on my blog in pictures.)

In lieu of a picture I present some highlights from our Facebook conversations (probably the best FB Wall-to-Wall entertainment out there)(Seriously, we're hilarious)

A physician's guide to concerts

2008-06-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

I case you're curious why I've been absent from posting for such a long time I present my two full weeks of concerts.

I'm a music junkie. No joke, I'm always looking for my next hit.
So this may get tedious, if it does, set this post aside and try to take it in doses. Or if it helps, I've divided up my concert experiences and represent them as various illegal drugs, according to the degree of euphoria caused by that particular event. So the harder the drug, the more I enjoyed the concert. However, seeing as I have very little idea of what is the harder of multiple drugs......choose accordingly.

ECSTASY:
Missy Higgins/Brett Dennen/Mason Jennings

I would describe this concert as a 'triple-threat'. (Or perhaps a 'triple-treat')

Highlight of the show (besides Missy Higgins. Yowza.) was Brett Dennen's dance moves. A tall larger gentleman who may have been a little tipsy on wine. Priceless. We have video of it if anyone is interested.

HERION:
The Sasquatch Music Festival at the famous Gorge amphitheater in Washington State.
I'll give the rundown on who all we saw: Fleet Foxes, Beirut, The New Pornographers, Destroyer, Grand Archives, The National, R.E.M., and many others.

The two bands that just blew me away were Grand Archives and The National . (Check out what Chris said about The National.)

A good group of friends and kind of an amazing experience. (And I'm not grabbing my crotch.)

Yes that is Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute from The Office) introducing The National.

MORPHINE AND A COCKTAIL OF OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
Tegan and Sara/Death Cab for Cutie

Less than an two hours after arriving home from Washington, Chris and I were standing in one of the longest lines I've ever seen for a concert. (HUFFING PAINT FROM A PAPER BAG: Standing in line.) We stood in line for nearly two and a half hours with close to a thousand people in front of us, so our hopes of being close to the stage were dashed.
But somewhere and at sometime, Chris and I must have done something good, cause we ended up with great spots.

METH:
Delta Spirit/Matt Costa

Ya, we were still going to concerts, but we were starting to feel the effects of punishing or bodies with zero sleep and constant grooving. (I actually fell asleep for one of the opening bands, sorry guys. I can't actually remember your names, so sorry again.) I did a little review of the concert here. So if you're interested......go there.

COCAINE:
Sera Cahoon/Grand Archives

I've already expressed my feelings on the Grand Archives' performance on my other blog.
Out of this world. I really can't say how much I loved that show. (Sera Cahoon was a delightful opener and I only wish more people had been there to see her) The perfect finale on a two-week concert binge.

In closing, I have committed myself to never miss an opportunity to see either The National or Grand Archives. If either of these bands come near, see them. They're just that good.

Somewhat disturbing

2008-05-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Two women winked at me while I was passing the sacrament. Their combined age would equal over 130 years.
So girls, you may not like me, but your grandmother would love me.

Life is good

2008-04-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

It's common knowledge that I have a love of animals, small furry ones in particular. So when information crossed my desk that a local petting zoo was hosting a Baby Animal Birthday Party, and well it was obvious that I would be going.

Babies, children, three college-aged students, suspicious parents of those children, and all manner of farm animals came together to celebrate life.

Baby goats = Adorable and as soft as you imagined

I about cried when I found this little guy. Only my fear of a future background check by a potential employer revealing that I once kidnapped a goat, kept me from jumping that fence.

And what would a birthday be without cake? And what would cake be like after having not just spent an hour petting farm animals? Perhaps we'll never know.

And a special birthday kiss.

Chapter 3: Taking the 'N' out of 'NCMO'

2008-04-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

Although I didn't author the book, I'm the subject and the goal.

I tried to find a book titled, "Dating Game Secrets for Marrying an Aloof Man" but it was on back-order (or it didn't exist) either way, I found CarolAnn the next best thing.

Depending on the amount of time we hang out we'll see how well this book works out for her.

We all know it's true

2008-04-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a second and give a shout out to the woman who fills our lives with homoreos and through those lovely little treats, makes me popular (or in the very least, likable.)

Thanks mom.

Kissing bubbles

2008-03-26T03:04:00.000-07:00

So my friend Janna considers it the greatest of honors to have been mentioned on all of my blogs (three!), and rightly so, it is a great honor, the greatest I can personally bestow on an individual at this point in my life. (Watch out Nobel, it'll be the "Holman Peace Prize" in a decade at the most.)

Obviously after attaining such heights Janna believes that there is no higher peak to climb and feels I should start a fourth blog so she can begin campaigning for a mention on that blog too.

Sorry Janna, but no new blog is in the works.

I'll only begin a new blog when I have a female partner to help contribute. (*wink*)
And unless thats a mountain you're willing to climb, well, you'll just have to wait. (Its really not worth it, the view isn't that great from the top. It looks over a scenic landscape of poverty.)

But you can still try to get mentioned as often as you want on any number of my other blogs.
Which may happen, especially if its your birthday.
Happy birthday Janna.

Spring break......I guess

2008-03-23T17:14:00.001-07:00

Very rarely are all the Holmans together. I guess it takes a death in the family for it to happen.
Nicholle came in from San Diego, Matt from St. Louis, Ty from SLC, and Josh and I from Provo. We all converged on the small unsuspecting town of Lovell, WY.
It was just like the Perfect Storm.

Seriously, my family is hilarious.

For the first time in years the whole Holman family actually appears in one photo. This is kind of amazing. We're almost never together at the same time anymore. Mostly, I believe for my benefit, cause when we all get together it typically degrades into making fun of the youngest.
(Notice the can I'm holding? It holds my inheritance money, $45.68 in pennies. Who's laughing now suckers?)

This is actually a once in a lifetime shot. Never before have all of Grad and Gram's grandchildren been together at one time.
I'm fairly certain 95% of unexplained fires in Lovell and Bighorn county can be attributed to this group alone. (As well as 75% of nachos consumed after 11:00 pm.)

My grandparents adorable little farmhouse.
And a picture of what being on a farm is all about.

Milestone

2008-03-17T20:37:00.001-07:00

I've hit a new Facebook milestone:

My friend's mom just added me as a friend.

I am a huge fan of milestones. I love defining moments. My last milestone was eating seven items off the Wendy's Value Menu in one sitting, and before that milestone was my birth. Yup, big fan of milestones.

I just don't know how I feel about this. Granted it is Karole Price and who wouldn't want to be friends. Although every time I'm in her presence I feel like I'm one smart-alec comment away from getting smacked. And rightly so, Karole brings the wit and charm out of all of us and I'm pretty sure she has smacked me before, so the precedence is there . (Probably deserved it.)

So my friend's mom is on Facebook, what's next?

Celestial? For sure.

2008-03-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

Gram-
I have no doubt that Grad was waiting for you.
I can't imagine the joy and celebration when you saw him.
Thank you for the faithful example and the unparalleled strength you showed.
See you again.

And I'm ok with it......most days

2008-03-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

The list of links from my brother Josh's blog.

His girlfriend's sister and husband, my brother Matt and his wife, my sister Nicholle and her husband, my parents, and then..........me.
Well played brother.

And if you didn't know by now, half of my family calls me Toad (which happens to correlate to the half of my family that I don't like.)

Kathari Deftera

2008-03-10T23:57:00.001-07:00

Happy Greek holiday that I don't understand!
My buddy Brigham served his mission in Greece and apparently today was "Fly a kite day" in Greece. (Actually it is some religious holiday with a fancy name. Brigham did explain it but, well, he got to the 'fly a kite' part and I kind of lost focus.)
But I figured I could celebrate a Greek holiday. I practically am Greek. I love Gyros, I'm sculpted like a Greek god, and I don't much care for the Turks. (Note: Actually don't mind the Turks)(Note: Never actually met a Turk.)

The weather report called for 0 mph winds with up to 1 mph gusts.
Conditions were perfect.

This isn't quite as high as the kite would get, but it was close.

Notice the look of wonderment and childlike amusement on my face. There sure is something therapeutic about watching a kite soar majestically in the clouds.
(Soaring 7 feet above your head is also very therapeutic.)

Why I do love Utah

2008-03-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

I love Utah. I have a place in my heart for Provo and Orem, definitely a spot for SLC, but the majority of Utah-Love is centered around southern Utah. Kurt's condo to be specific.

And sometimes you have to get away from those you love and visit other loved ones before you lose it and do something you'll regret. I had to escape Provo. I hadn't left the valley for close to five months and the weekend forecast called for snow, I just don't think I could have handled that.
So in about three and a half hours we were in St. George soaking up the 70 degree weather.

"Be Prepared" a scouting phrase I understand and follow. I knew that we would be hiking and I knew that when hiking expect to be walking a lot and climbing things, so of course I chose to bring flip flops. "Nothing better than flat flip flops on slick sandstone." another tenant of scouting that I adhere to.

You can see my friend Hillary also adheres to the "hike in flip flops" rule. (And she wasn't even a boy scout.)
And the face is a reaction to the frighteningly cold water that I decided to wade into.

I wish this picture captured the absolute awesomeness of this slot canyon.
I was climbing on a two foot ledge with a shear forty foot drop to one side.
Hillary's shot shows a little better the magnitude of what we were jumping around on, but c'mon, we're in our twenties, we'll live forever right?

When nostalgia goes too far

2008-02-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

I had to buy new shoelaces for my old Doc Martins because one of them broke. The new ones cost $1.99 and I got them at Payless Shoes.
I took out the broken shoe lace and then the other, but stopped.
I was sad. I had had these shoe laces for over five years. I tied them up every morning while on my mission and every subsequent affair where sneakers didn't suffice.
I actually took a moment to think about theses laces. They've been caked in West Virginian mud, soaked in Ohioan rain, and one was shorter from being caught by my bike pedal in Virginia.
It was kind of the end of an era. I didn't shed a tear, but when I dropped them into my trash can, maybe I should have.