Mario Kart Wii = Crack

Hi Ya'll. I picked up Mario Kart Wii today from Costco ($43.99 for brand new games, you can't beat it!) As many of you know I have a little addiction to video games, but there are a few that can eat up my time like nothing else.

It's on like Donkey Kong!

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Mario Kart. It is the equivalent of crack cocaine for me! I get this feeling I'm going to get very addicted. So if you see me walking around all unkemp, smelly and a dozen pounds heavier you'll know why. I just thought I would give you a heads up. Oh, and for anyone out there that has the game that reads this, I issue a challenge to step up and compete. Send me your friend code and we'll battle online. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go smoke someone online!

Consistency is Key

Hello all! I'm updating my blog twice in the same week, I don't know what's gotten into me. Anyway, enough with the chit chat. The title of my blog really has nothing to do with what I'm about to delve into. You may want to sit down. This is some serious stuff. I want to talk about getting old.

Now I am by no means old. I'm only 26 yrs of age and I'm sure many of you would kill to be that age again. I guess to more accurately describe what I'm talking about let's rephrase it to age progression. Yeah, that's better. Here's my story. I played basketball the other night for the first time in forever and I get home and I'm thinking, "yeah, that wasn't too bad. I'm not that sore and no one had to perform CPR on me." Then day 2 hit and I've realized that I pulled some muscle I never even knew I had. The location is a little embarrassing but what the heck. It feels like it's on the inside of my butt crack! Every time I take a step I kid you not it makes me walk like some dude in a rap video - all swaying side to side and dragging one leg a little.

I think this little story illustrates my point. The digression of my overall physical capacity from 19 years old to 26 years old has been quite dramatic. I used to be the guy running around, grabbing rebounds, harassing people on defense and having the energy to actually jump when I shoot the ball. Now I've been reduced to an out of shape guy who can't play good defense, can't shoot with any sort of consistency (hey there's that word), and overall has no energy to bring to the table. Basically I've become Greg Ostertag! My muscle tone - if you can even still call it that - has steadily made the migration from my arms, chest and shoulders, and set up camp (transforming on the way) on my waist and belly as fat. People try to blame it on marriage, kids, a career and lots of other things, but I blame it on getting older. Sure I could work out and get back into shape, but it would still take twice as long as when I was in my "prime."

Is this genius or what? No really, it does work. Google it.

So does this mean I just give up? Probably not. Sometime hopefully soon I'll get back on track so that I can at least run up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath. Maybe when Wii Fit comes out It will be able to get me on the right path to being active. I think Nintendo may be brilliant in disguising an actual workout with a fun interactive game that makes getting into shape not seem boring but entertaining instead. Feel free to share your pathetic stories with me or better yet, a story about your triumphant return to the elite class of FIT.

Going Green is Stupid

Yeah, that's right I said it! Let me preface what I am about to say with this. I am all for being conservative in the way we consume natural products and I in no way support anything like strip mining or total deforestation. I think recycling is a good thing for those who want to do it. That is not the point of this post.

What I think IS stupid is when I turn on my TV and "Going Green" is crammed down my throat. CBS even dedicates a whole week to this where all of their shows have a "green" theme... cue the vomit now. I mean seriously, they (the media) make it seem like if we don't all start using 4 squares of toilet paper or less every time we use the crap pot our world is going to somehow roll over and die. Like if you take longer than a 3... sorry, if you'll excuse me a moment. A commercial just came on the TV promoting "Change the World" by HGTV telling us we throw away too much garbage each week (if you could see me right now I have a look of disgust on my face.) Maybe we do, but I don't need Carter to tell me in such a condescending way.

Oh and one more thing, Global Warming is a joke people. Think about what you're saying when you plead your case that it's a real concern. Scientists talk about what happened the last time our planet got warm. Yeah, then it got really cold. It's called the Ice Age, ever heard of it. Oh and guess what... it happened all by itself without our help. Is this sinking in? Am I making any sense here? I hope so, because this logic is simple and historically proven. Listen, our world may be getting warmer, that I acknowledge, but to freak out about it and think that we as humans can change that. I'm pretty sure that's like pissing into the wind and thinking you won't get wet. Mt. St. Helen's eruption a few decades back polluted our environment more in 15 minutes than the city of Seattle has probably done since. It's natures cycle.

Is that plastic I see on your uniform?

So if you want to give up paper, and live in biodegradable homes (which they all are eventually anyways), and take cold showers, and buy only organic food products (another topic for another time), and drive your Prius hybrid then that's fine. If you want to give Al Gore the Nobel Peace Prize for his "outstanding work in global warming awareness and saving the environment on the weekend after he gets done inventing things like the internet and the letter J" then go ahead. I don't mind. But please, for the love of all that is good and holy, STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME FEEL GUILTY FOR NOT RECYCLING EVERYTHING I USE AND ENJOYING DRIVING MY GAS GUZZLING TRUCK. After all, nobody likes the government telling them whats best for them, No? Feel free to disagree in the comment box below. If you'll now excuse me, I need to go spray "harmful chemicals" on my back yard for weeds. Thank you that is all.

Television Woes

Is it just me or has TV finally started to get good again. I'm not a huge American Idol fan so there was nothing really compelling to watch as far as I was concerned (barring sweet Discovery Channel Features. "The Human Body" anyone?) However, now all of my favorite shows are getting ready to kick off their new seasons. The likes of The Office, Chuck, Beauty and the Geek, and Scrubs will all be filling up my DVR just in time.

Best. Show. Ever. (well... maybe not ever, but it's pretty awesome)

I guess I can't complain too much. After all the NBA got interesting again this year. The Western Conference is insanely deep. Somebody is going to make history by becoming the first team in the history of the NBA to win 50 games and still miss the playoffs! Seriously people, this could happen!

But for all the drama the Jazz have provided I am still stoked that comedy will soon rein supreme once again. Did anybody else really suffer during the writers strike besides me?

I'm a Scout Master now. Please shoot me!

Well, I guess it isn't quite as bad as the title suggests, but it's not far off. Let me give you a brief history of my experience with scouting.

I was an active scout (as far as camping trips were concerned) but didn't really care to advance or get my Eagle award. I always thought it was a fun diversion from sports, my friends, girls and everything else I was REALLY into. My family didn't place a whole lot of emphasis on the program. That's pretty much the attitude I've always had concerning it. Fast forward to the present. I get the calling extended to me by the Bishop and I swear on my life this is the only church calling I have ever received where I had serious doubts... so much so that it took me a week to accept it. Not so much that god was wrong for choosing me (sort of a scouting program scrooge), but that I would even be able to do a decent job and not screw it up too much.

Look at the dude in this picture. He's like "Captain ScoutMaster Dujour." I want to feel like him. Don't get me wrong, I love the kids that are in my troop. They are great kids. I also love the outdoors and camping. That's not it at all. If that's all scouting amounted to, I would be as happy as a 12 year old girl with front row tickets to a Hannah Montana concert. I'm just struggling to feel that what I am doing is truly important in these kids lives; that it's more important than other activities they are involved with. I'm sure there is a reason that the church keeps it's sponsorship with the BSA and that it is important, so I am trying everyday to have a greater appreciation for it. Maybe some of you can help. If you have good suggestions of how scouting is a great program, I ask of you please post them so that I can become converted.

I've always said this is one calling - on a very short list - that I never wanted to have. Now my bad dream has become reality. So I guess all I can do is continue to press forward on my quest to find the love within me for the scouting program (wish me luck.)

Good people all around us

I know, I know, it's late and I shouldn't be up posting to my blog. This entry is a little wordy, but I think if you read it all, it may make you feel good inside.

I had an experience last night that I want to share with you all. It was my 4th year anniversary being married to my lovely wife (topic for another post.) We don't get to do a nice peaceful dinner very often these days with the kids and all, but for a night, we pampered ourselves just a little. We went to Samurai 21, which is a local Japanese Habachi (I guess that's how it's spelled?) steakhouse, where we were seated next to an older couple originally from Brooklyn, NY... I'd estimate them to be in their 80's.

Now to the point of my story. I figured it would be nice to at least have some small talk with them (after all we were eating like 2 feet away from them.) What followed was a pleasant conversation full of witty banter and genuine interest in one another. I don't know what religion they are-- it doesn't matter. After the meal we said our goodbyes and as the couple got up to leave, the sweet old lady gave my wife and I each a kiss on the cheek and wished us the best with our life... they consequently had been married for over 54 years. How amazing!

This experience has reinforced something that I have always felt... that there are far more "good" people around us everyday than what is portrayed in popular mainstream media or even the news. People who, while oblivious to it, make a substantial difference in the lives of others. How do you find and meet these people? Just open your mouth. You'll be amazed at what a few kind words, if spoken regularly, to a stranger can mean for not only their life but yours. I was touched by the aforementioned couple and my wife and I both left with a smile on our face and inside our hearts, knowing that we had met a couple who (in our minds) make up "the salt of the earth."

I Love My Job

I have a confession to make. I know this may seem strange to some, but others will understand exactly what I'm talking about. OK, you ready, here it is... I love my job. That's right, I love what it is that I do for a living. Believe me when I say that this has seldom been the case.
Growing up on a farm didn't allow for as much free time as other kids during the summer. While they were swimming and enjoying movies, I was hard at work. Working essentially 6 1/2 days out of the week is just not my cup o' tea. I guess that's why I decided to go to college and pursue what I really love - Computers. I've always been a sort of a geek. I remember wanting to hog the old Apple Mark II computer in grade school just to play Oregon Trail. Yeah that game ruled, except my character never seemed to make the whole trip without dying. (Stupid Cholera!) But I digress.
As soon as I took a few classes at Dixie State College such as Illustrator and Photoshop I was hooked. I've always wanted to express myself in some way that was very visual. Now I get to do that nearly every day. As part owner of Flitch Creative I get to be excited to go into work every day and create something unique and memorable.
I have too many friends and family members that drag themselves to work as if they were compelled by minions of tiny invisible creatures with long whips. I was determined NOT to be one of them.

do you really want to end up like this

What's the secret to loving your job you ask? It's so simple it almost seems stupid. Here it is... DO WHATEVER YOUR PASSIONATE ABOUT AND DO IT WELL. I realize that some of your passions may be harder to make cold hard cash with than others, but if you work at it, I believe you can be successful in any capacity. Heck, some people play video games for a living, or sample fine cheeses. Find a way to market what it is YOU do.

So what do you think. Do you hate your job? Does it feel like you are a robot programmed to do the same thing day in and day out with no passion?