"We were past the point of debating the wisdom of this move; it was already done and our only hope was to get to the other side."*

Here are the pictures of my March 14 to March 17 trip to Seattle to spend dude time with Nathaniel. I know, finally, right?














The above pictures were taken with Nathaniel's camera, the below with my camera, which is really Lisa's camera. The following pictures are in alphabetical order. For more on this trip, look here or lend your ear here.





























* = Hunter S. Thompson, from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"

Lloyd, Lloyd, null and void

I don't really think you understand what I meant when I said what I said

This is the end of an instant message conversation I had with Lisa (aka me) on Monday night/Tuesday morning. It ended badly.

leland: I thin,
I'm falling aslweep
I better go to bed.
me: yeah, me too
did you read my bwog?
you don't have to if you're tired
it's all stuff you already know
leland: no
I am too tired.
me: ok
goodnight
leland: I keep falig aspee
me: aspee
leland: good night
me: bye
leland: I know, sorry.
bae wor
dab
ad
bad
bad word
me: what?
leland: goog night.
good night.
me: goodnight
leland: I keep spelingi sutff
FFFFFFFFF
me: you are funny
leland: I keep spelling tsuff woring
me: go to bed
leland: RRRRRRRRRRRRR
I can't to thids right
RRRRRRRRRRRr
me: poor tired wittle guy
leland: Good night.
bye
me: bye

(Lisa saved the convo and emailed it to me the next day)

We could do more outdoor things if we weren't so busy getting busy

So, how was my trip to Seattle? Nice, thank you for asking politely. I really wanted to blog about it, and will eventually post at least pictures. See, school's just been really busy lately. And when I am not busy with school, I am getting busy with Lisa.

Anyway, until I post pictures, listen to this here. It tells most of my weekend in Seattle, anyway. (also, feel free to subsribe to that there podcast)

Quit your job and run away

Me vs. Seattle, part three, starts in about an hour. This time, no girls allowed.

My girl is hip-hop

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

I wrote this on 30 March 2005, back when I blogged exclusively on myspace. Some folks have been saying unfair things about Phil Collins lately, including her. It reminded me of this blog I wrote almost three years ago.

I had what I like to call an "Easy Listening Day" on Monday. On these days I don't feel like listening to any of my albums or sports radio, instead I want to listen to the radio. And not those hip stations all your friends are talking about. Those stations that people that work in offices play. FM 100, Kozy 106.5, 97.9 The Breeze, a little bit of the B98.7. I just feel like some easy listening hits. I recognize on Monday how hard it is to listen to these stations without hearing a Phil Collins song. That dude has a lot of hits out. Some good, some bad. Interesting character. He is a short bald guy with a big head and the face of a child molester and the demeanor of a serial killer. Yet, he cranks out the hits. Oh, and he can't dance. Has anyone seen that movie he was in? He may have been in more than one, but the one I am talking about he was a criminal/family man in Ye Olde Country. It was a bit of a dark film. His wife was begging him to stop his thievery, but he felt some kind of obligation. I don't know exactly, I missed the first part and I didn't quite get it. Then one of his hits played at the end as he got arrested or escaped or something. I watched the end of this with my exgirl about a week after we broke up officially and a day before she went away for the semester a few years back. After the movie ended, we madeout for the last time. [You Know How I Do editor's note: this last part isn't supposed to sound as sad as it does. It was written as kind of a braggadocio moment. I thought about rewriting it to make is sound like I should have, but that wouldn't be fair to my 24 year-old self (and I found it hard to phrase it differently).]
Anyhoo, these "Easy Listening Days" are some of my favorites. So peaceful. You can't force a day like this, though. It has to happen.

That blog reminded me how I always like stuff I write about two years after I wrote it. I was given a missionary journal a few weeks before my mission, and I had about three entries in their that were written before the MTC that are bank.

Hurry to Murray. After all, you know this guy.

Blogs these days....you know how they do. Or don't. It seems that just as getting a blog was the bombdotorg a year or so ago, ditching that blog has become the new awesome (not updated since Valentines day, only two posts this year) right now.

But not this blog, no. Don't call it a comeback, not because we've been here for years but because I don't know how great it will become. One blog, though, that has made a comeback is Nathaniel's. Nathaniel is a filthy fellow, of Gentle Tyrants Podcast fame. Which reminds me, if you are looking for a podcast that plays nice music, is funny, talks about Twin Peaks, dagwood sandwiches, movies, hittin' it, and teaches you more about Seattle and features Chris Allman sometimes, then this is the podcast for you. Also, I might be on it in a few weeks. I mean, it has maybe been mentioned in an IM conversation that I might be invited to be on it. It might be a weak podcast that week, but a dream come true for me. For those not good at connecting the dots, yes, I am going to Seattle to dude-out with Nathaniel. The weekend will be a bust if we don't end up at the Lusty Lady.

A blog that isn't so much making a comeback, as it is coming out of the blog closet is my woman Lisa's. Go and see what all my fuss is about. Last May, we decided we needed to answer the question of how long we have been dating, so we selected a date of when we started. We also wanted a day to celebrate every month. We chose March the fifth, which is today. I know I did as much in a text message this morning, but Happy 12 Months, Lisa. You are a total babe all the time.
Oh, and she also has an etsy store. I am a fashion consultant on some of the stuff she makes. It is the stuff that doesn't sell, mostly. Donate to You Know How I Do's treat fund by buying her stuff. The more money she makes, the more cookies I eat.
Oh, part two, send one up to the Lord for Lisa as she is getting plastic surgery this Friday. Not the boob or face-tightening kind (that's not how she do nor how she need to do), but the kind where they take a disgusting (hardly noticable) cyst out from above her right eye.
Lisa's really cool.

Another thing, hopefully my old friend/hair stylist Krista can have a baby soon. I mean, the impregnation has already take place, so has the waiting nine months. It's just the popping out that needs to occur.

One thing that this blog needs to know is that I moved out of my parents house. Last February. If I remember correctly, this was never officially discussed. It was always something I meant to do, but before I knew it, I was back at my folks' home after six months and two houses with two great roommates, one being Jefe, who never updates his blog anymore, but congratulations are in store as he has become engaged.

I digress. So, I finally had the funds to move out again, this time to Murray with Damian (yes, the appendix joke king) and Danny. It's pretty great. It is a bit of a struggle, though, because their jokes are so clearly much better than mine that it puts me to shame. I think I have become the quiet roommate. You know, the one that will snap at any minute, walk out the door in the middle of the night and never come back. Yup. I'll keep you abreast of that.

Again, I digress. Despite my insecurities, the new place has been nice. Me and Damian have taken to watching Band of Brothers at night and Danny and I seem to have a nice conversation every five days or so (he is also celebrating a birthday tomorrow). Oh, and so far the haven't made fun of me for not yet fully unpacking my stuff. Which reminds me, I need to pay rent.

To summarize:
Blogs are back in, haven't you heard?
Lisa: pretty.
Me and Lisa: 12 months of frenching.
Lisa: plastic surgery, not the boob kind.
Jefe, write a blog, quit being so whipped.
Me, Damian, and Danny: roommates4eva.

Literal Movie Titles

Don't look now, but there is a movie coming out called Midnight Meat Train.

One comment is unnacceptable

My woman rear-ended me. What more do you readers want?

The heartbeat of America

From January 7th to the 24th, I was driving this:

Once I got the spacing down, it was a lot of fun. That baby does well on the open road and it was fun to drive in the snow. I would search out snow drifts so that I could plow through them. Remember that huge snowstorm on Human Rights Day? I drove up Parley's in the sumb___h with nary a problem.

Yes, for two weeks, this machine defined me. If you would have looked me up in the dictionary during that 17-day period, you'd find a different explanation than at any other time in my life. Anybody who happened to be around me probably noticed some not-so-subtle differences in my attitude. Like I had bigger muscles or something. People treat you differently when you drive something like that. Lisa said the truck suited me (her words, not mine) and did pretty much whatever I asked her to the entire time. Lucky for her, a man who drives one of those is pretty self-sufficient and doesn't ask much of his woman or anyone else.

People also remember you when you roll in a vehicle like that. One day, I had to park in a pay parking lot at school twice, and the fellow who took my money said, "Hey, weren't you just here?" So, I says to the guy, "Yeah. I didn't get here early enough to park somewhere further away." Which probably didn't surprise him, because someone in a Chevrolet like that comes and goes when he pleases.

Yup, besides the difficulty in parking that em-effer, that was a good 17 days....

"Then why aren't you driving it anymore?" you ask.

"Because it weren't mine."

"Then why were you driving it?" you inquire.

"Good question. Here's why:"

....Tuesday night, 11 December 07, I left Lisa's house to go to Becky's birthday party. Lisa was following me. "My Debutant" by Chixdiggit had just played on my Pod and "The Universal" by blur was currently playing. I pulled up to a stoplight, minding my own business. The car next to me and I both thought that our light was about to turn green, and in the anticipation, we inched forward. Instead, the turn-arrow went green, so we both stop. Next thing I know, I am getting plowed from behind by youknowwho. My back window was now lying in shattered pieces on me and on the seats of my car. My spare tire was now lying on the ground. My world would never be the same.

Here's the damage:

And the perpetrator's damage:

"We can't stop this thing from what it's going to be."

Dear Bacon: I'm serious

A kid discovered some bacon some time ago. He could see it was a delicious slab of bacon, but he held off in chomping on it. For no specific reason really, he just did. The moment soon came where he couldn't wait any longer. That bacon had been making a good case for being eaten for more than a month, and it was time to cook it up in its own grease. But, when he went in for the first bite, the bacon felt cold. It was probably all that time in the refridgerator. Duh, of course it was. The kid thought he had thawed it enough, but found that he needed just a little bit more time. The kid finally got more aggressive in his thaw techniques, and that night he ate the highest quality of bacon that there is.

"Do you want to go for a ride?" he said.

"Where to?" she said.

"To Smith's. I need some school supplies," he said.

"You should get one of those rotisserie chickens," she said.

"Okay," he said.

I am your girl and I will protect you

The best thing about having a woman is the sweaters she buys me; sometimes randomly, other times on a celebrated holiday. The second-best thing about having a woman is making out when people aren't around. Third place is making nachos.

I know my readers, and I know they are reading this blog to see pictures of me in sweaters. And, as per usual, I will not disappoint.

Background: You will probably notice that it doesn't look very much like Christmas day in the first pictures. Good eye, Reader. It was actually 22 December when me and The Lisa exchanged our gifts on account of her going on a Christmas cruise to the Mexico. Don't feel bad for me, I took so many naps while she was gone.

I know, I know....."Bring on the sweaters!" Well, here they are:

(Here we are, showing off my sweater and the book that we both gave to each other ["What Is The What" by Dave Eggers])

(I'm trying to do a model pose in this one, but to no avail)

(look at my acne)

(Lisa, already enjoying the Common cd I got her)

(Last Saturday, Lisa went to Deseret Industries and bought that jacket for her and this sweater [and the shirt underneath] for me. Until we saw this picture, neither Lisa nor I knew that she was dating a giant)

(Look how chubby I've become.)

It isn't pornographic if you are talking about insects

First day of school today.
Yesterday I wrote in the 2008 planner that Lisa gave me, "School starts, fun ends." I can't wait until this crap is over. I can't wait until the day when I sing, "No more homework, no more books. No more teacher's dirty looks," and mean it for more than just a few months. I am pretty certain that I will make a great graduated person.

This morning, when I woke up at the time that I usually go to bed, I was pretty bummed about the prospect of more education, and I half-asleep sent Lisa a text message expressing my displeasure.



Me: School, man.

Lisa: BONER KILLER.

I am a butterfly

People keep asking me, "Who are you?" I don't know what to say besides, "Who am I in abstract? In general? I can't help but ask these questions." (If you get this crack, I will clear a special place in my heart and arteries for you.)

Who are any of us, anyway? We are people with guts and skin and crap (literally and unliterally). And, we are personalities. So, without further adieu (for the time being, at least; 2008 will be full of adieus, I think, okay?), here is your personality. Mine, actually, but yours is just a click away.

You Are An ENTP

The Visionary You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression.You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything.Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off.You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments. In love, you see everything as a grand adventure. You enjoy taking risks for love.And if things don't work out, you're usually not too much worse for the wear! You would make a great entrepreneur, marketing executive, or actor. At work, you need a lot of freedom to pursue your own path and vision. How you see yourself: Analytical, creative, and peaceful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Detached, wishy-washy, and superficial

What's" Your Personality Type?

(giving credit where credit is due: I got this from Lisa)

Buzz words, pt. 1

Ombudsman

om·buds·man /ˈɒmbədzmən, -ˌmæn, -bʊdz-, ˈɔm-, ɒmˈbʊdzmən, -ˌmæn, ɔm-/

1.
a government official who hears and investigates complaints by private citizens against other officials or government agencies.
2.
a person who investigates and attempts to resolve complaints and problems, as between employees and an employer or between students and a university.

It's so misconceived, but it works like a charm

Dear everybody,

Please don't send me text messages. I am working on a third consecutive day without receiving one. It is probably already a person record, but I want to see how long it goes.

Thanks.

Are those Bugle Boy jeans you're wearing?

Why, yes, I did go this entire day without showering myself.

Christmas Card

MERRY CHRISTMAS


God rest ye merry, readers.

Love,
the You Know How I Do staff

Phrase of the year, year 2007

"That's what Lisa said."

Coined by either me or Nathaniel. I can't remember.

Biggest let-down, 2007

Nathaniel never becoming a tour guide for the underground tour in Seattle.

I owe it all to the movies. I was thinking just you and me.

One Thursday at the end of May, Lisa and I both had the day off and nothing planned. We would go to breakfast, as was our wont on shared dayoffs, but our plan to go to Bear Lake was ended by weather that wasn't warm enough for laying on a beach. So, we decided to spend the entire day (after breakfast, mind you) at the movies. We saw three with hardly a break in between. First was Shooter (surprise movie of the year). Next was Waitress. Lastly, was Fay Grimm, which was totally strange. I swear the movie completely changed itself three times. Surprisingly, the time when by quick. Before we knew it, the third movie was over. It turned out to be a great way to spend a day of leisure.

The year of our Lord 2007 turned out to be a pretty good year to spend in a movie theater, and not just in Utah. Both times I went to Seattle this year, I saw great movies in cool old theaters (Grindhouse in April and King of Kong at the end of August) with Nathaniel, who no longer blogs.

I've been compiling a list of the best movies I saw this year for about a month now. I'm hoping to trim it down to ten and then rate them in order. I want to share the candidates with you so that you can either a) add to it, or b) make a case for one of the movies to make the top 10. I don't know if your input carries any weight, but whatever, you know?

Here's the list:

King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters
Live Free or Die Hard
Rocket Science
American Gangster
Grindhouse
Into the Wild
Shooter
The Simpsons Movie
Oceans 13
Eagle vs. Shark
The Darjeeling Limited
Hot Fuzz
Zodiac
Knocked Up
Bourne Ultimatum

As of now, 3:10 To Yuma is not on the list, because I have only seen about 30 minutes of it. From what I saw, though, it would be in consideration for the list.

What I can do without, pt. 1

Seeing Snoop Dog on television all the time.

Say, what's in this drink?

As none of you know, I spent Thanksgiving in my new favorite state in the Union, Oregon, Lisa's entire family. We flew into Portland on Wednesday night, spent the night there, ate at Thanksgiving Dinner at Salty's buffet, then, with full stomachs, drove out to the Oregon coast. Cannon Beach, to be exact. Since you like the pictures in books more than the words, here is our trip in picture form, mostly chronological (the first picture was actually the last taken but it seemed like a good opening statement).

(you might recognize this rock as the rock that the pirate ship comes from behind at the end of Goonies. This rock was right outside of our hotel room the entire time)

(What am I spelling? It is a mystery. Kind of like what Bill Murray whispered to Scarlett J. at the end of "Lost in Translation" used to be a mystery)

(Lisa's nephew Danny and myself. When he wasn't head-butting me while we were wrestling, he was admiring that we had the same shoes.)

(Danny and myself running on the beach. We're running to the sea, and we're not never coming back)

(Lisa's other nephew, Jacob. I met this kid in Walla Walla this April, and he has loved me ever since. Which is great, because he has never liked Lisa.)

(Me, Lisa, and Goonie Rock)

(Group photo with Goonie Rock in the background. Back row, from left to right: Diane [Lisa's brother's wife], BJ [Lisa's brother's wife's husband], Lisa [Lisa's brother's wife's husband's sister], and myself [Lisa's toy]. In front: Scruffy. This will most likely be the only time you see me wearing a scarf, so if you like that sort of thing then go ahead and start liking it.)

(Lisa sleeping while I am trying to watch football)

Been hoping that you'd drop in

I believe it is time for ventriloquism to get huge again this holiday season.

I really can't stay, I've got to go away

Tough crowd.

I went and saw 3:10 To Yuma in the last theater in Salt Lake City showing it, but Lisa got sick and I didn't even see half of it.

My gosh, your lips look delicious

Okay, I was only kidding about this blog thinking you are an ingrate. It holds no ill-will. It understands that you know of its big head, and that it keeps asking you to inflate the aforementioned big head with even more air. This ego is out of control.

Okay, I will stop refering to me as this blog and become a human again. I will also make a loose promise to not start another paragraph in this edition of this blog written by me with the word, "okay".

Did you notice how I said "no" to vember? What fortitude I can have sometimes. Truth be told, I wrote that, decided that I hated blogs, while at the same time cursing you when you did not update yours, stopped hating blogs (all a long, I knew it was a phase, anyway), had school work, decided to not blog until December 1 in order to exhibit my saying "no" moxie, and now here I am.

Unfortunately, I don't know if I will blog for another week or so. This week is the week where school becomes a dominatrix and I have leathers on my person. (Dear Lisa: Hey, what up? Don't worry, this is only a metaphor or a simile or something, okay? I still like you and you non-violent love)

School has dealt me the following cards:
1) A 4-6 page essay for my horror movie class. Seeing how until Saturday, I thought this essay was due a week from tomorrow and not tomorrow, I had to come up with the quickest topic available, and that is comparing and contrasting the move and short story of "Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allen Poe. I read the story yesterday, and it was money, because it isn't anything like the movie. I am going to use the WHOWHATWHEREWHENWHYHOW of what is different as the format of my essay. I hope it is long enough. By the way, the actual story of "Pit and Pendulum" was pretty good. I think Poe liked throwing curve balls. At one time, he wrote about waking up from a potential drugging and that the presence of a light allowed him to finally see what the dungeon he was in looked like, and he described it in detail, and then he says something like, "It was hard for me to see all of this because I am strapped down to a board and lying on my back." Good one, EA Poe. Good one.
2) A radio journalism story that has to be four-minutes 30-seconds long. Think NPRish. Think hours of editing after the compiling is done. Think due on Thursday.
3) A final test for sports writing today. It shouldn't be too tough,
but,
4) A second final in sports writing, this one challenging our 'deadline writing' skills. We don't know the topic until we show up, and we have to write 600 words before the two-hour class is over. I don't know if this will be hard or not, but I could see it going badly.
5) A final test a week from tomorrow in my horror film class. I have realized today that, while I paid the utmost attention in class, I still don't get the subtle nuances of film, like symbolism and crap. It just isn't how I'm wired. Last time I took a final for film (I've used up some of my upper division credits in the film department), I wrote my short essay on the Goldie Hawn movie, "Overboad" because I had seen it a few days earlier. I fear I won't be so lucky this time. "Overboard" isn't a horror movie, if you ask the right people.

So, that is me this week. My mom gave me some Christmas socks last night, but I don't feel right wearing them until my Christmas spirit is around, which is when school is over.

Okay?

I think this blog is thinkin' you're all a bunch of ingrates

It would have shared memories with you on your birthday.

Say "no" to vember

Part 2

365 / 77 = 4.74

Additionally (or should I say, 'divisionally'), 77 / 365 = 0.21

What does all this mean? That it is this blog's birthday, duh. We here - together, all of us, as one, a community brought together by knowing how we do - is one-year old today.

Take a moment to ponder where this blog has taken you. Remember how I talked about Lance Armstrong in the first few posts and was dedicated to mentioning his name in every blog? (It didn't last more than a week, but still....)
What about the time I dressed like a girl? Do you recall when I was so bored I posted pictures of boring? Another time, I went to Seattle, and a week or two later took you there with me. And don't forget the zombie talk (which will probably be added to in the next month).

Where were you before this blog? I have no doubts that it has improved your quality of life. It got me a girlfriend*. It probably got you better mental health, a more physically fit body, or even eliminated temptations and habits you couldn't break otherwise. Maybe that through me getting a girlfriend, it got you a girlfriend (hint: Jefe).

So, let's take this next week to wish You Know How I Do a happy birthday with many more to come. I can think of no better way to do so than by sharing some of your favorite moments in the year of the blog. It would do the same for you.

To explain the math:
I averaged a post every 4.5-5 days.
I averaged one-fith of a post per day.

Here are some pictures, for no reason in particular.























HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU KNOW HOW I DO!



*= it should be clarified that I didn't meet her through this blog, but I am pretty sure it is what impressed her most about me. She was always like, "You have such an attractive blog," and I was like, "Thanks." I would also be remiss if I didn't give her credit for most of the pictures posted.

Out of 4279

I got this idea from Krista.

I put my pod on shuffle and this is what the first ten songs were:

1. Marvin Gaye - Ain't That Peculiar
2. The Hollies - Long Dark Road
3. Jimmy Eat World - A Sunday
4. The Format - Snails
5. Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You
6. The Lovin' Spoonful - Money
7. Fountains of Wayne - Seatbacks and Traytables
8. A Tribe Called Quest - Lyrics To Go
9. Travis - Driftwood
10. Fugazi - Waiting Room

I was kind of embarrassed by this one. It makes it look like I listen to way too much old music. I like all of the stuff on here, though. Not so much that Format song, though.

Music you need to check out. Trust me.

If I knew how to make a music blog, I think I would. Not because I think you'd think I have great taste in music (even though I think my taste in music is the best on earth), but because there are songs that I worry you aren't hearing.
Anyway, I urge you to eat some of the following:



Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass.

Aesop Rock has become, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite MC. His voice is authoritative, his beats beat the crap, and it is well-thought-out hip-hop. The title track is my favorite, as I am always a sucker for an addictive synth line, but all the other songs are great. I'm being real. The first few times I listened to this album, every song would elicit the same response from myself to myself. Something like: wow, this might be my second favorite song. I just kind of gave up, but I think Catacomb Kids and Citronella might be the actual second faves. Seriously, this is such a great album. Aesop's best since Float.


Caribou - Andorra.

So, Hooner and Chris have this music blog. It's no Gentle Tyrants, but it has introduced me to some stuff that I love more than either Hoon or Chris. Especially this one (and Georgie James; see below). Listen to the song "Sandy" and you will be hooked. If not, you have no ears. Or, you are wasting the ears that the Lord/evolution gave you. You can even go to Antarctica Starts Here and listen to it. Still not convinced? Check out Melody Day. Or Eli. Or She's The One. Okay? Trust me.


Common - Finding Forever.

Common is cool because he had a feud with Ice Cube back when Ice Cube could throw it. And because Jeremy Piven threw a playing card in his eye - in one of the biggest cinematic experiences of my life, "Smokin' Aces" - but still had the fortitude to save Alicia Keys. And because of his song "Be" off his last album, also titled "Be". And because he seems to be more content with his life than anyone else in the world. Add this album. Truth be told, I don't know that I like it more than "Be", even though I am supposed to because "Be" was known as such a soft and sappish album, but it is still good. I can't remember it verbatim, but there is one line where he talks about being on a treadmill like OKGO. One of the great lines of all time. It's too bad that he is so down with Kanye West and that Kanye West seems to be such a great producer. Chicago seems to have something to say.



Georgie James.

No album really. You can buy their 3-song EP off of iTunes for just a few bucks. C'mon, you can spare a few dollars. You won't regret it. I also heard that they have yet another 3 or 4-song EP coming out this week or next. The best song, and the song that made me love them is "Need Your Needs" (liste here, scroll down to the bottom). "Caketown" or something is an average song (for the frugal among you: save a buck by not getting this song - though, I'm warning you, you might like it more than I do). The third song is a cover of "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)". That's right, the Simon & Garfunk hit. And it is really good. I guess the dude in Georgie James was in Q But Not U.


Trust me.

Look at his job

Have you ever searched for your name in google images? I did. Look what happpened.

I put people on the map who've never seen a map

This vacation starts in a few minutes.

Tag-team championship

Girlfriends make-out and tag with you. This leaves me with an obligation to respond to her tag. (so she'll keep making out with me)


Jobs I've held...
1. Bagger/stocker/checker at Dan's Foods.
2. Receiving dock at ZCMI. This one dude we called Portly Steve was the assistant magager and he always had it out for us. Luckily, we knew which direction the cameras were pointing and we hung out where the Man couldn't see us. I have never played so much solitaire or ordered so much pizza.
3. Delivery driver for a concrete supply company. One of my bosses thought I didn't like the people I delivered to because I was Mormon and couldn't talk to them. Wrong. I didn't like them because their jokes about p___y weren't funny.
4. golf shoe salesman. It's pretty cool.

Movies I can watch over and over...
1. N
2. o
3. n
4. e
5. maybe

My Guilty Pleasures...
1. Reality TV
2. Internet message boards
3. Scratching my nuts
4. Chinese buffets

TV Shows I enjoy...
1. 24
2. Acceptable TV
3. Simpsons
4. Entourage

Places I have been on vacation...
1. Seattle, Washington (again in two weeks)
2. Washington DC/Baltimore/Detroit/Chicago/St. Louis
3. Island Park
4. South California

Favorite foods...
1. Pizza
2. doughnuts
3. stuff without onions
4. chinese buffet food

Awards I have won
1. Trophies for just playing
2. My competition soccer team won first place and we got a huge trophy for it.
3. A Christmas picture contest that got painted on the window of Jack in the Box back in second grade. They pretty much told me it is because they already had enough pictures of Rudolph painted on the windows. My picture was of Jesus (not really, it was Santa Claus).


Hobbies I enjoy...
1. watching tv
2. discussing sports
3. writing
4. swearing

Secretly, I wish I could....
1. Host a late-night talk show
2. drop 30 lbs
3. win a lottery or some s__t
4. be on Big Brother

A random thing about me...
I just barely started reading books again. In the last two years, I have read, "The Bad Guys Won", "The Outsiders", "Catcher in the Rye", and I am working on another.



Now it's my duty to "tag" people. I will have to tag the four people who actually read my blog. I hereby tag the following people:

1. Nathaniel
2. Jackie
3. Jefe
4. Sarah Jane in the City

Seen it?

My girlfriend is a fashionista. I think.
Lemonade Stand Vintage clothing

Beards are overrated anyway

When I am done shaving my face, the worst part of my day is over with.

I've always thought of music as more than words and sounds, something more like inspiration, it always comes and gets me off the ground

I mentioned in March that I went and saw Say Hi To your Mom (who are now calling themselves Say Hi), but that has hardly been my only live musical venture of the ohseven. Nay, not at all. In fact, I dare say that ohsev will go down as one of my most active live musical years to date. See, I don't absolutely love with hearts live music. I'm fine with it, but I will never marry it.

This year, though (2007, for those keeping score), there have been some good show options. There was Mos Def at the University of Utah in April - see above for proof - which happened a day later than it was supposed to and then an hour later after that, but it was pretty good. You know Mos Def, he's the fellow who is scared of dogs in the Italian Job starring Mark Wahlberg. He's the fellow who messed (unneccessarily, I might add) with his voice and starred with Bruce Willis in 16 Blocks. He's the rapper who the hip hop world as been ready to give the hip-hop crown to a few times, but each time he has shied away from it, leaving Jay-Z to claim the crown through no other means that by verbally claiming it. Don't get me wrong, Jay-Z is really good. Just listen to the Black Album ("Dirt Off Your Shoulders" is on of my favorite tracks of all time). But don't listen to that one set of albums that had three volumes - not that great.



In June, there was Sage Francis. Lisa writes more about it somewhere else and I won't add much, except to say that he completely owned the crowd. I don't know if i have seen it to that extent since I listened to hardcore in the late 1990s.

July the 19 brought a free Yo La Tengo show at the Gallivan Center. What a great thing that figured to be: one of my absolute favorites for free. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the greatness I had expected, and not because of Yo La Tengo. They did a good job of picking my favorite songs to play (Sugarcube, Stockhold Syndrome to name two). It was because of the type of crowd that shows up for a free show at an outdoor venue in the middle of downtown. I wrote this on spockwithabeard:

There is way too many people and only a small percentage seem to even care about the music. Most people are just there to drink and show cleavage.

It's such an astute observation by me. You could hear the wave of casual conversation as much as you could hear the band, even when I was towards the front and in the center.

But there is so much more in store. Labor Day weekend, I will be attending Bumbershoot. Seriously, I have my ticket to the festival and the plane. Three full days of tunes and stuff. Plus, there will some filthy times with Nathaniel.

Anyways, I hope Cindy doesn't can me. Let the record show that if she does, things will be awkward when she moves to Utah.