The Cart

Parker found this Shopping Cart by a dumpster and brought it over to the Orton's one day.

...RaVoe didn't want it ...My mom didn't want it.

And It started a War.

We passed it back and fourth from my house to the Orton's for a while, but we wanted to make sure it stayed there.

The Rocks didn't work, and the next day Parker found it in his bed room, in draper, in his apartment, 3 stories up (and his apartment doesn't have an elevator).

So we tied it to their tree, and they tied it to Parker's truck. And when we tried to bring it back... we were ambushed.

Gun shots were fired from the roof and the cart was lost in their yard. But with some stealth and some quick movements, we retrieved it so we could try again another day...

But it was stolen.

I haven't seen it since.

We may never know what happened. And the war will never be finished.

WCG

Kings of the Gully.
Rulers of Highland.
Amazing Rap Group.
Best Friends.

We've got 32 songs on 2 albums.
Wherever we go, all eyes are on us.
And now were heading out to conquer the world.

From the West Coast of Washington to the Tundras of Canada.
From the Bell Towers of Notre Dame to the Ruins of The Inca City.

All will know our name.

We are the WCG.

My Love...

...Someday we will be together.

Good Days With You

Today we visited 'Dear Lizzie'. This is Me Kim's and Cory's hang out. I don't feel weird going in there anymore because the food is so good and no one looks at me funny because I'm sure they think I'm gay by now. We all had a good ol'time. It's full of good times and plenty of Dizzy Lizzies.

Yes, Today is truly a 3 post kind of day.

Get Excited

June 23rd. "Far"

Were All Laughing With God

"Laughing With". The first song off of Regina's new album.

I Was Raised on Disney

I love Disney. Always have, always will. Their stories seem deeper to me than what others see them for. Maybe I read into things that aren't there, but I feel that no one has put as much passion into their movies as Disney. I am, of course, talking about the animated classics.

Me and my friend Kimmie have made it a habit to re-visit our childhood through these movies every Monday. This week it was Tarzan.

It ended far too soon.

When I was a kid, I found that I could watch all of these movies over and over without getting sick of them. This same rule applies even years later. If I owned a copy, I would be watching it again, right this minute. They are Masterpieces.

I have also found that I am always sad when the two hours are up.

On the other hand, there are some (rare) Disney movies that I will never see. (Home on the Range... what the heck!?) They have, over the years, lost the passion. Thank goodness that Pixar still has theirs. And 'Up' comes out this week. defiantly gonna love it.

As for Disney? Let's hope this re-kindles something. I have high hopes.

Winnipeg, Take Me Home

I'm leaving for Canada in August. I'll be living there for 2 years...

... And I just might see this. (That is, if I am aloud to stay up late enough)

And maybe one of these!

And if I'm really lucky... This!

I'm trying not to get my hopes up... But their already sky high!

The End

Maybe I was bored. Maybe my mind was being lazy. Maybe I was just to tired after surgery.

For whatever reason, I stopped reading the life of Pi... Big mistake.

This is one of the best presents I have ever received, and it is an instant favorite. thank you again, Riana.

I started it in the gully. I read the first half at Kim's house in St. George. Then it got to the story, and oddly enough, that is when I stopped... until I returned to St. George this last weekend. I started when we got to my cousins house... and I couldn't stop. I fished at the Bhar's when we stopped by to watch some movies (which I didn't watch).

I estimate I read 20% of this book going 80 miles an hour. 20% in my cousins house. 58% at the Bhar's. 1.5% at my house. And 0.5% in the gully. Not bad.

I don't know if it's based on a true story or not. I tell people it is, but I don't know. Frankly, I don't want to know. I choose to believe it for what it is. Please don't tell me otherwise.

Its a bittersweet thing to finish a book. Or should I say "...to finish a 'good' book". And the feeling is amplified when its a good series. This week I will be saying goodbye to and old friend. He has been with me for eight years.

Good luck Bobby.

Unknown Caller

May 10th [a.k.a. Mothers Day, 2009]

6:43
Asleep in my hotel room in St. George. Woken up by my ringing phone. Its an unknown caller. Area code 366. What kind of area code is that? I think to myself. Wrong number. I don't answer.

8:32
Still asleep. My phone rings again. Same number. Curious, but still tired. Must be a wrong number calling again. They still don't realize they have their mistake. I don't answer.

9:04
I wake up for the final time. The phone is ringing. I decide to answer, but not fast enough. dang.

9:13
I realize I have a voice mail. This should be entertaining I think to myself. I Give it a listen. First, confusion. Then my jaw literally dropped. My eyes were opened wide. "Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no!"

Voice Mail
"Hey look, I'm (porting?) in the rain right now, and the most you can do is answer your phone, so just answer. Okay, bye."- Elder Michael Tom

Area Code 366 is for France.

Frantically, I try to redial (knowing very well that it was probably against rules and I could get him in trouble, but if he took the risk...)

"Your call cannot be completed as dialed, please check the number and try again..."

I try again.

"Your call cannot be completed as dialed, please check the number and try again..."

I give up.

9:32
I tell my family about my stupid mistake. I can't stop thinking about my stupidity. I had 3 chances. I took none of them. Half heatedly, I try the number again. Desperation compelled me.

Silence.
My shoulders slump. Why would it work now?

First ring.
My heart misses a beat. ...

Second ring.
My heart beats faster. Its working!

Third ring.
My heart beat me. What if its not him who answers... It could be a crazy french man! It could be someone from the mission office who regulates their calls! I could get in trouble! this could prevent me from going on a mission! I decide, whoever it is, I will politely request for Elder Tom.

Fourth ring.
I stop breathing. I know its coming. I don't know how I know. They will answer now, or they will not answer.


They answer.


"Hello?"

"Michael...?" I forgot what I had planed to say.

Silence. "...How did you get this number...?"

"You called me."

"Oh, yeah. My bad."

"Michael!"

I cannot describe to you how much I miss my best friend. Or how proud I am of him. He is a major motivation for me to go on a mission. I am no longer scared. I am no longer worried. I am no longer nervous. I am just anxious.

Halfway through our conversation, my phone ran out of battery. I made a dash for my car to get my charger and ran up 3 flights of stairs and down a hallway to our room. When I called him back, he told me he was trying to call me at the same moment. We are totally in sync. Even from halfway across the world.

He told me that he couldn't remember any phone numbers but mine (not even his girlfriends) and he was calling from his missionary cell phone. I have that number saved on my phone. It is so hard for me not to call it. I should delete it, but I cant make myself do it. I'm pretty sure I wont use it. Pretty sure...

Later that day I dubbed him 'My Missionary'. My mom was grossed out, but I thinks its funny and it fits. All in all, it was a great day.

P.S. we are not gay for each other.

This Post is For...

The Doer’s, Who's constant activity and correlating smiles have given me a love for all flavors of life.

The Thinker’s, Who always choose there words carefully and only speak when its best. I challenge myself daily because of you.

The Believer's, Who, through their faith, have strengthened me. Your life is an example, and don't make the mistake of thinking your not being watched.


I don't think people realize how much of an effect they have on me. I have a great capacity for emotion, and when I am emotional, I am easily impressionable. because of this, you have all left your prints on me, even through the little things. You all have made me who I today, and I thank God every night that he sent you to be there for me. I know that sounds extremely ego centric, but why else would you be in my life? I have done nothing to deserve you, but hope to do everything I can to make you proud.

How Often do you get to Ride a Segway?

Not often enough...

I Am Ten Years Ago.

Click to Enlarge

1. [The way to] Kholers... May go out of business.

2. Home... Is changing too much.

3. The Busy Road... Is busier than ever.

4. The Gully... Is now a golf course and home to the Californians on Caddie lane... easily our biggest loss.

5. The Dirt Trail... Has houses being built on in.

6. The Hole... Is fenced off and watched.

7. The Canyon... Is more or less the same, thank goodness.

Last Weeks Schedual

Monday - Slept in the Gully; so windy our poor broken tent couldn't last the night.

Tuesday - Late night IHOP; I got the soup.

Wednesday - Sam's Birthday/Mission Call/Sleepover with Jordon and Parker.

Thursday - Trudged through snow storms to get to St. George and Bhar Manor.

Friday - Cut my pointer finger wide open and took a trip to Dixie rock.

Saturday - Road trip home to warm weather. Chased the cute girls in the blue mini-van.

Sunday - Interview with stake president for my mission.

All Aboard the Spirit Tracks!

I am wetting myself as we speak!

The Bikes

I am getting a bike! Finally! Days of groveling on end have paid off! But here is the catch. I have to choose one... And that is where you come in.

I have narrowed it down to a select group of my favorites. (that are reasonably priced) I would like you, the public, to select your favorites. That's plural, meaning you can vote on more than one.

Here are the Contenders

Khaki w/ orange rims: As the identical twin Khaki he has all of the retro vibe but is also taller with 26" wheels and less expensive, but I'm still on the fence with those rims

Khaki: He has a cool old school design, but is the most expensive and with 17" wheels he is the shortest of the bunch. He is also the most expensive, which might be a problem.

Black: He's tall and pretty easygoing but a little plain. Hes not the cheapest but not the most expensive which places him right in the middle. He was an early favorite, but is he too simple?

Metallic Brown: He's unique and fresh, but lacks some of the charm of the others. He is the cheapest of the bunch, which is a good quality, but I don't know if he is cool enough.

Well there you have it. Vote on the poll at the top, but don't vote for all four. That defeats the purpose. Vote for which one you like, or if you know me, which one you think I would like. dont forget to leave your opinions below. And get everyone you know to vote! Tell your friends and family to vote! I might be riding your favorite in a few weeks time.

Spring

Just as I brush the last bits of snow off my shoulder I look up and see... Spring!

"Spring?" I say, "Is it really you?"

"Yes, yes it is." Spring replied, as joy filled the air.

And that was that.

Granted, last week was sunny too, but the weatherman kept scaring me with threats of snow so I couldn't enjoy it; that bitenuker. And now that it's warm that snow will be rain and I love rain! (refer to profile) So I'm in the clear.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love all seasons. But spring is my absolute favorite! It can do no wrong! (Summer gets a bit to hot. Fall starts out great, but gets ugly way to fast. And Winter... I just get sick of snow.)

So you can imagine the euphoria I felt when I woke up yesterday (in the gully!) to a bright, sunny, cloudless day! At home, I opened all the doors in the house and just let spring in. (I swear that is the last time I will personify Spring in this post) I blasted some music and just felt great! Then I thought "Jeffery you small minded fool!" (as I often call myself when I think in the 3rd person) "You need to go outside and spread this joy with others! Get them off there butts and out in the sun!"

So I did. I ran to the Orton's and gently persuaded Sam and Andie away from there electronic devices with witty puns and some light tickling.

Now out in the yard I realized I had a problem... My plan to spread happiness was half-baked. I had no ideas of what to do. So I decided to think of suggestions as we passed the Frisbee around a bit. I came up with human elastic and ride bikes to Kholers for some sodas. Both were great in my eyes. For everyone else... not so much.

Apparently human elastic brought back some painful memories and no one dared do it for more than one measly round... babies. And when did my friends get to grown/stuck up to ride bikes to Kholers? No, they had to drive to KK... Well I was having none of it. Where was there Spring spirit?

Well, we didn't do anything I wanted to do, but the day was salvaged by hanging out with Andie, who makes everything fun. But my "friends" never did returned from the store... or at least not to get me.

I didn't think this post would go so long or that it would digress into issues I am having with friends at the moment, but the bottom line is that Spring is here but no one knows what that means. Its like someone just gave a baby a shot gun. He has endless possibilities, but has no idea what to do with it.