Monday, September 15, 2008
I Survived the Sonic Boom!
Logan, Utah has one of the sickest rides ever. And to think I almost didn't go on the ride. My manhood wouldn't have allowed that though. The ride looks like a cheap barrel mounted on a 300 odd foot pole. The rider sits in the barrel with another rider for a thrill to remember. Once at the top the riders have 10 seconds to admire the scenery at 300-400 feet in the air. Anxiously they wait to plummet to their death. A straight free fall from 300-plus feet in a barrel with no brakes. Yeah, you read that right, no brakes. So what stops the barrel from crashing into the ground and crushing the passengers inside? Air pressure. This weekend I was saved by chemistry.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Low Down
I’m taking a break from my “love for Utah” series to give anybody who is interested a little update as to what is going on in my life. The simple truth is that I have a hard time, for whatever reason, keeping in touch with friends, family, and everyone else if I’m not in close contact with them on a regular basis. I mention this as a sort of an apology. I can’t say it will change, it’s my own neurosis (not to mention the many delusions of grandeur), but if you feel like I have alienated you I am sincerely sorry. This new blog is an attempt to make amends and let you into the deepest darkest corners of my life…
Alright, alright, so I lied. Everything here will basically be superficial. My deepest darkest thoughts are too intense, too personal, and too R-rated to share in an open blog. But if you happened to have read on I must admit I will be locking my doors and windows in fear of stalkers like you. Really, inside and out, nothing really too exciting. Regardless, as I promised, with no further ado, the most superficial layers of my life:
I recently started a new job after a summer of being funemployed. I waited all summer for a job in retail. Let me just say this, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I have spent six months of my life in retail. That’s it. I’m not a salesman. People make me anxious and nervous. Apparently I like to torture myself. Fortunately I love what REI is and stands for. For a long time I have wanted to get more involved in outdoor activities and people who share similar interests. I am far from pro in anything outdoors (I could hardly be called a novice in most of these things). Along with a dozen other positives of joining the REI team I saw a potential for getting more involved with what could be an opportunity for a lifetime of adventure and activity. Another quite mentionable item is the sweet deals I’ll be getting…or would be getting, if I had money. Regardless, I will be taking advantage of deals and perks. Unfortunately, I must take the time to say: Please don’t ask me to give you deal or hook you up. I cannot and will not. I really wish it were like high school but I kind of want to see where this job takes me so please don’t tempt me. As a lighter note, if you’d like sweet deals on gear sign up to be a member of the co-op and find out about the sweet garage sales and sales. (That’s my plug for REI. I’ll expect the check in the mail!). All in all, REI, thus far, seems like a decent place to work. Maybe I’ll stick around for a while…
In other news, I am once again attending school. In case you didn’t hear, I have once again changed my major. This time I think it’ll actually stick. That’s the idea anyway. I have officially declared Parks, Recreation, and Tourism as my major. It was something I should have done a long time ago; I was simply mistaking my true desires out of life. With an emphasis in Adventure and Outdoor Programming it should make for a life of fun and adventure. As part of the degree I am required to take classes such as rock climbing, kayaking, and classes from NOLS. Yeah, this is something I should have started at the beginning of my college career.
Apparently it is too hard for me to resist a good Utah plug. So I spent the weekend down in southern Utah as I have the last several Labor Day weekends. Before I even made it down to Cedar City the party started at the Lowder residence featuring the Grey Dogs. Shaun and I headed down south early Saturday morning to meet up with Perkins and “The Fat Tire Posse”, as they like to be called, to enjoy the beautiful weather up in Brianhead. At first the scene up at Brianhead looked crowded and overwhelming with hardcore bikers. Throughout the day, however, the trails were clear and we only had a few obstacles to clear. It was a fantastic day of riding. I must admit, though, I really need to find a way to let go of fear when I do these things. But that’s a discussion for another day. Once off the mountain we hit up the local Chili’s and watched Utah football almost give away the game in the ‘Big House”. They pulled through and then I turned my attention to the BYU game. The day was like a day in heaven. The next day was another glorious day. It started with a photo shoot and lunch with the gang at Winger’s; which normally wouldn’t be anything more than lunch but these guys are hilarious and I was laughing through the whole lunch. Basically the whole weekend was full of laughter. Anyway, after lunch we hit the dirt road to Toquerville Falls for a little “cliff” jumping and swimming. (The cliff is only 10-15 feet high and the water is only 6 feet deep, if that, but is still a sweet secluded spot). The night continued on with laughter and fun, thanks in large part to our gracious host Amber. Without her allowing us to crash on her couches we would have been stinky and cold! Finally, the Labor Day tradition lives on! Despite several flash flood warnings we hiked Kanaraville like we have for the last four years and lived to tell about it. Despite all the rain northern Utah received Labor Day weekend we only saw a few drops on our way down from Brianhead. All in all, it was another successful Labor Day weekend. Thanks to everyone that made it possible!
**Pictures will be added to this post later. I promise!
Alright, alright, so I lied. Everything here will basically be superficial. My deepest darkest thoughts are too intense, too personal, and too R-rated to share in an open blog. But if you happened to have read on I must admit I will be locking my doors and windows in fear of stalkers like you. Really, inside and out, nothing really too exciting. Regardless, as I promised, with no further ado, the most superficial layers of my life:
I recently started a new job after a summer of being funemployed. I waited all summer for a job in retail. Let me just say this, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I have spent six months of my life in retail. That’s it. I’m not a salesman. People make me anxious and nervous. Apparently I like to torture myself. Fortunately I love what REI is and stands for. For a long time I have wanted to get more involved in outdoor activities and people who share similar interests. I am far from pro in anything outdoors (I could hardly be called a novice in most of these things). Along with a dozen other positives of joining the REI team I saw a potential for getting more involved with what could be an opportunity for a lifetime of adventure and activity. Another quite mentionable item is the sweet deals I’ll be getting…or would be getting, if I had money. Regardless, I will be taking advantage of deals and perks. Unfortunately, I must take the time to say: Please don’t ask me to give you deal or hook you up. I cannot and will not. I really wish it were like high school but I kind of want to see where this job takes me so please don’t tempt me. As a lighter note, if you’d like sweet deals on gear sign up to be a member of the co-op and find out about the sweet garage sales and sales. (That’s my plug for REI. I’ll expect the check in the mail!). All in all, REI, thus far, seems like a decent place to work. Maybe I’ll stick around for a while…
In other news, I am once again attending school. In case you didn’t hear, I have once again changed my major. This time I think it’ll actually stick. That’s the idea anyway. I have officially declared Parks, Recreation, and Tourism as my major. It was something I should have done a long time ago; I was simply mistaking my true desires out of life. With an emphasis in Adventure and Outdoor Programming it should make for a life of fun and adventure. As part of the degree I am required to take classes such as rock climbing, kayaking, and classes from NOLS. Yeah, this is something I should have started at the beginning of my college career.
Apparently it is too hard for me to resist a good Utah plug. So I spent the weekend down in southern Utah as I have the last several Labor Day weekends. Before I even made it down to Cedar City the party started at the Lowder residence featuring the Grey Dogs. Shaun and I headed down south early Saturday morning to meet up with Perkins and “The Fat Tire Posse”, as they like to be called, to enjoy the beautiful weather up in Brianhead. At first the scene up at Brianhead looked crowded and overwhelming with hardcore bikers. Throughout the day, however, the trails were clear and we only had a few obstacles to clear. It was a fantastic day of riding. I must admit, though, I really need to find a way to let go of fear when I do these things. But that’s a discussion for another day. Once off the mountain we hit up the local Chili’s and watched Utah football almost give away the game in the ‘Big House”. They pulled through and then I turned my attention to the BYU game. The day was like a day in heaven. The next day was another glorious day. It started with a photo shoot and lunch with the gang at Winger’s; which normally wouldn’t be anything more than lunch but these guys are hilarious and I was laughing through the whole lunch. Basically the whole weekend was full of laughter. Anyway, after lunch we hit the dirt road to Toquerville Falls for a little “cliff” jumping and swimming. (The cliff is only 10-15 feet high and the water is only 6 feet deep, if that, but is still a sweet secluded spot). The night continued on with laughter and fun, thanks in large part to our gracious host Amber. Without her allowing us to crash on her couches we would have been stinky and cold! Finally, the Labor Day tradition lives on! Despite several flash flood warnings we hiked Kanaraville like we have for the last four years and lived to tell about it. Despite all the rain northern Utah received Labor Day weekend we only saw a few drops on our way down from Brianhead. All in all, it was another successful Labor Day weekend. Thanks to everyone that made it possible!
**Pictures will be added to this post later. I promise!
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