Middle of where? Nowhere...

I found this place as I was driving through rural Illinois and had to stop.  Some weird fascination with rundown places that no one lives in anymore.

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Garden of the Gods

I was in Colorado this week and spent my time down in Colorado Springs.  While I was there I went to this place called Garden of the Gods.  It was amazing.  I am always so blown away by the beauty that exists in nature.  And, the natural scenes in CO are incredible and one of the many reasons that I want to one day live in the great state of Colorado.





The pictures do no justice to the things I saw, but I hope that in some way you get an idea of what exists out there.  It is so cool to think about what has been created and what there is to appreciate in the world around us.

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Weekend home...

So I just spent a weekend home with my family.  One of my younger brothers returned home from a church mission to Argentina.  It was fun to see him again, and funny to see him react to the difference and have the "culture shock" that was so evident.  He would be amazed by the smallest things: milk in a carton, carpet, the house being a bearable temperature.  It was quite humorous.  Anyway, as I was home, I took the following pictures.  None of him, sorry.  But I really liked these ones!



This is my niece, Megan.  Where she learned this face I really have no idea, but I laugh every time I see it.

Random side note: this past week I was in Colorado Springs, CO and went to a place called Garden of the Gods.  Expect to be seeing pictures of that amazing place soon!

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Why my bro is so cool...

I recently went on a trip out to Utah.  The trip was fantastic for many reasons, all of which I am so grateful for.  But, I am not going to go into them all right now, I really just wanted everyone to know that I have an awesome brother.

My brother, Danny, came up to The Canyons ski resort to go snowboarding with me a week ago today.  He is pretty good, although he claims he isn't as good as he used to be.  Anyway, we made a run in some powder early in the day and decided that we had to get my camera and do it again.  So, at lunch, we grabbed the camera, took a few lifts up to 9990 and then hiked the rest of the way up.  Had to stop and take a picture at the sign as we left the resort to do some back-country!  The snow out there was amazing!  The best powder run I have ever taken in my entire life!

As we were enjoying ourselves in the powder, we decided to make one more run up there, but to take a different route.  As we were darting in and out of trees, riding ridges, and bombing bowls, Danny noticed a group of people sitting up above a jump.  "I have to go hit that," he tells me.  He rides over to join the group as I go down below the jump and grab my camera.  A few people go, really just straight airing the thing, and a few 180s and 360s here and there.  No one really is doing anything.  Danny decides to jump in line and the following photo is what ensues.

The man did a front flip and landed it.  Everyone went crazy when he hit it, and he showed all of them up.  Happily I was there to get it on camera, and after some work in Photoshop, I got the whole sequence in one picture.

All I have to say is, he's a pretty cool brother!

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"Fitness Orb"

I was in Wal-Mart the other day and as I was walking around looking at not much I came across a "fitness orb"/exercise ball. It was $10 and I always liked playing with them, but thought maybe I should give the exercise side of it a try as well, so I bought it.

After pumping it up and trying a few things I came to see how well it really does work your muscles. Anyway, suddenly, as I was sitting on it I thought of my favorite clip from The Office. So, for your viewing pleasure and sake of the fact that I just bought one, here is the clip:

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What a holiday!

With presents under the tree and snow on the ground, I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I got to spend some wonderful time with my parents and my dog this holiday season.  Last time I was home for both holidays was my last year of high school... wow, it's been a while.  Anyway, being home and being able to not have to actually do anything was fantastic.  But, I did end up doing a good bit.  I shoveled the driveway 2 times and put up some cabinets with my dad in the room where we finished laying the floor over Thanksgiving.  I'm becoming quite the handyman I might add.  I had some wonderful conversation with my parents and quite enjoyed my mother's cooking yet again.  With all the good, there was one not so bright spot to my holidays.  The drive home was again long (about 8 hours this time with the weather), and a trip to the median.  If you've never visited the median of a highway, I wouldn't recommend it in 4 feet of snow.  I was driving along doing great, and as I went to pass a semi he drifted into my lane and ran me off the road.  I would have taken pictures of my car out in the median, but considering I would have had to climb out my window and then trudged through the 4 feet of snow somehow to take 1 picture, I didn't think it was worth it.  But, no damage to me or my car.  An hour and a half and $130 later, my car was pulled out and on the road again.  But, all in all, I loved my break and I hope you did too!

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One good-bye means another hello...

Well, today was the final step of my move to Illinois.  Granted I have only been here now for almost 4 months.  Yesterday I went and got my license making me a resident.  Today I registered and titled my car here.  So, it is official... I live in and am a resident of the most corrupt state in the nation.  I feel so privileged.  I just hope it doesn't rub off on me.

As you can see I was quite excited to get rid of my Utah plates and no longer be classified as a Utah driver.  Oh it feels so good!!  Good-bye plates!

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