I'm Alive!

Just in case everyone was wondering, I am still in existence. I'd love to make excuses as to why I haven't been consistent in blogging, but it really comes down to me falling out of the habit. I will do my best to make the habit again.

So I'm at school now! It's pretty unfathomable to me to be honest. All my life I've said that I would be going to BYU. It's now strange to know I'm here. I'm nervous; I can't lie about that one. I think everyone reminding me that I need to study as definitely urged that nervousness along, as well as the sheer enormity of the incoming freshman class. I do hope that I can do my very best. My course load isn't necessarily rigorous, but I am taking 17 credit hours. It does help that several are music classes, which really shouldn't be an issue.

One of the oddest things about being here at college is just living on my own. The lack of authority is just strange! A lot of kids at college say it's very liberating. I say it's strange. I'm not used to having no one tell me what to do or where to go. But I think I'm doing fine with it. And as it turns out, my whole apartment is doing fine with it. As one of my roommates came home from work last night at 1:30 he said that the area around our residence halls was still packed with students. I'm glad I wasn't one of those students. I like sleep. And I like not sleeping in until noon. Consequently I choose a more conservative bedtime. 

I think my favorite places on BYU campus so far are the library and the music building practice rooms. It sounds completely ridiculous, but I love the quiet. I'm not necessarily being quiet in the practice rooms, but I still love just being alone in there. It's nice. I'm also grateful I came down to Provo as early as I did. It was very fortunate of me to be able to get things all set up before any of my roommates got there. 

Well, that's about it for now. I will probably post some pictures of my dorm as soon as I take them. But until then, keep hoping I get in the blogging habit again!

SoCal Day 7 Continued

Here are the photos as I promised. Enjoy!

SoCal Day 7

So I've vowed to myself that this is going to be a short post. Although I think I'll probably break my own promise. I'm just not very good at being concise in this type of writing, especially when I just pour out whatever's going on in my head. But anyway, about my day.

Today our family visited the Huntington Gardens, Art Gallery, and Library. It wasn't all too far away from our hotel, just located in San Marino. The place was gorgeous. It's one of the top ten things to see for a very good reason. One of the most amazing things about it is the sheer immensity of the estate. Combined with excellent quality, it makes the place almost unbelievable. The "Gardens" of the Huntington Gardens are immaculate; divided into categories, it makes it seem as if you are touring the world on foot. There are different gardens in areas like desert gardens, jungle gardens, Japanese gardens, palm gardens, and so forth. To imagine that one person owned all of this is honestly unfathomable. 

The art gallery was really pretty impressive too. I've been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and it's quite something to say that Huntington's European art collection was about on par with that of the Met. One of the most impressive portraits in his galleries was that of George Washington that's used on the dollar bill. It was just unreal knowing that famous painting was the original. I've seen many originals of famous paintings before, but this one seemed to have a more dramatic effect on me. I would have pictures of some of them, but I didn't get any that were good enough to publish. I did get plenty of nice snapshots of the gardens though; I'll post them in a separate post above.

As soon as we got done at Huntington, we headed straight for Angel Stadium. I can say I was definitely excited. Our seats for this game were much better than I've been in before. We were just two rows back in right field, just about where Manny hit his home run. Too bad it wasn't enough... I was extremely disappointed in the Red Sox's showing tonight. It would have been awesome to see them win. I honestly wouldn't have minded seeing them lose a close one, but seeing them get taken to the woodshed like this was kinda awful. I wish they would have played well enough that I could have more easily held my head up high as we walked out of the stadium. It would have been nice; maybe some of the jeers would have lessened. I must say the highlight of the evening at the park was batting practice when Ben scored Manny's home run ball. I was pretty stinkin' psyched. But anyway, that's about it. Those of you who saw the game can probably guess why this post's tone is a bit more somber than normal. Tomorrow we head home... I'm not exactly looking forward to being off vacation. I can't wait to be home, but the prospect of lifeguarding again isn't exactly cheery. But anyway, I think I'm going to try and sleep off these post game blues.

SoCal Day 6

I've just decided it was pretty lame of me to title all of these posts with just "SoCal" and then the day it is. I'm actually disappointed in me. I'm sick of it. But I'm definitely not going to break format just to please myself. I'm a little (really a lot) obsessive about things like that. If I could have picked one for today, it would have been something way cool, like "Wipeout" or something. It would give a better lead in to what the post is actually about. So on behalf of myself, I'd like to apologize for the lackluster titles. I will do my very best to spice them up after my trip ends.

Today, we hit the beach. We hit the beach earlier in the week, but that was like a warmup to this hitting of the beach. It would be like our first trip was Steve Urkel socking you in the jaw, and today was like Chuck Norris. There's quite a significant difference. 

We went to a part of Newport Beach called Balboa. I really couldn't tell you if that was the name of the beach. Whatever. It was a pretty cool beach. I must say it wasn't quite as busy as I had expected, and there were less of the tourist-types too. Stupid tourists (that is very sarcastic, seeing as how we are definitely tourists. I wouldn't want all of you thinking I was moody or something). We rented some boogie boards, and the fun began.

Honestly, there isn't much to say about boogie boarding. It's a blast! What more is there? I guess there's that magical feeling the first time you really get caught by a wave. 

It sounds ridiculous to call it magical, but after many failed attempts of catching a wave, you're kind of surprised when the wave actually starts to do something for you. 

This picture here is one of the first times I felt that magic. I do look quite excited about it too. I don't know if that's because I knew my mom was taking the picture or true excitement... I guess there's also the rash you get on your belly (ooh and on your inner thighs... Ouch!). And the absolutely disgusting taste of ocean water. I must say I've been in the ocean before, but never where I was actually swimming in it. So this was my first experience with the biting nastiness of water that has seemingly made very good friends with a salt shaker. A couple times as I crashed, and oh did I crash, the ocean water was pretty forcefully shot up my mouth and nose. I don't suggest it. I've kinda got this funny heartburn/acid reflux thing going on I would assume is from swallowing saltwater. It isn't pleasant. Oh and on a completely different note, we saw some porpoises today by the beach. I'm not gonna lie, it was incredibly eerie seeing a fin poking out of the water. 

I told myself they weren't sharks. But, I don't think they were. There were a few traveling together, and they came out of the water once to the point that I could determine they were gentle mammals instead of sinister fishes. This other picture is all of us with our boards just heading out. I think I'm just figuring out in this picture that the tether isn't actually supposed to go on your ankle. That was awkward... Boogie boarding seriously wears you out however, I'm surprised I'm even awake to write this post! I'm pretty sure I'll be sleeping well tonight. I think tomorrow we're planning on marking off another one of the "10 U.S. Places to See Before You Die" when we visit the Huntington Gardens in San Marino. 

SoCal Day 5

I think tonight may be an entry lacking in photos. My mom's camera is in the other room, and I don't think we got many amazing pictures. Not saying that any I ever have are too amazing. Ooh I do have one from Disneyland the other day I'd better post. It's from this awfully cheesy Toy Story ride that's actually a bunch of fun. You ride in those little horse-less chariots there and shoot some signs on the wall. It's surprisingly entertaining. But anyway, here's me and Ben in action. Needless to say, we had absolutely no idea that our picture was being taken. I do remember seeing flashes on the wall, and wondering why they were attempting to blind us with them. I thought Disney was more wise than to attempt to cause seizures in its paying customers. Happiest Place on Earth... Geeze...

But on to today. This morning we went to Camelot. To Camelot! We loved saying this as we reminisced about the scene with the dancing knights from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Camelot, as the knights in the movie warn, is a silly place. It's your average arcade/pizza joint/mini golf wonderland. I've decided that the Nelson family needs to make sure not to gamble. 

We blow plenty of money on games at places where prizes are involved, like this one. I can't imagine how much that would be magnified if we were playing for money! Afterward we got some lunch at this pretty cool bakery and cafe. However, with the chill menu, free wifi access, softly playing cool jazz, and modern decor, the place seemed like it would probably be more fitting for the place to be in Seattle as opposed to Southern California. It was just too chill for Orange County! But the food was pretty darn good, so I didn't complain. We snagged some bagels for tomorrow's breakfast. I can't wait to wake up to those delicious things.

The next thing on our itinerary for the day was, well, to eat dinner. We had an appointment at five with a family from one of the wards we served down here. It was a pretty cool experience (sorry for sounding so cliché...) to see a family Steven actually taught. The elders from the ward were there too. I do love spending time with the missionaries. It makes me quite excited to get out there for myself. After dinner, Ben, Steven, and I went out and got some food to take to the missionaries' apartment. Upon delivering it we got to spend even more time with the missionaries. Steven was kinda in this zone that made it easy to see what he must have been like in the field. And that was today! Not really as flashy as Disneyland, but probably more eternally valuable. Tomorrow we're headed to the beach! I can't wait...

SoCal Day 4

Writing two posts in a day feels like doing work you don't really have to do, but not in a "I'm going the extra mile" type way. It's in the "this is completely worthless" way. Like writing a ten page paper when a five pager is due. It just doesn't make much sense! However I guess I'd better be diligent in my writings. I am quite afraid of hitting a huge writer's block when I get home. What am I supposed to write about? I already wrote about work, and that's pretty much all I do. Oh well. I'll figure it out later. No use worrying about it now!

So this morning started really slow. I delayed getting out of bed, as should happen on all vacations, and woke up really gradually. I enjoyed it. The family then decided we needed to get Steven a pair of shoes and my mom some fingernail clippers. I took the opportunity to find myself some new shoes, and came away with a pretty good pair. Although I noticed Ben smirking in the background as we checked out with our shoes, his hands empty. I think he had two words on his mind: "save up". Good thing I really liked my shoes. 

Afterward, we took our second jaunt to In-N-Out. It was delicious even the second time. Again my family seemed quite astonished about how quickly I wolfed down my double-double animal style. I attribute it to always eating in a hurry at work. I usually get a very brief break in which I can eat while on duty. I do realize the long list of health benefits to eating slowly, but I have a hard time doing it. However, I don't plan on competing in any eating contests...

We then set our coordinates for Disneyland a second time. Here we have a very, very interesting story to tell. Everyone knows about the felt Mickey Mouse hats, right?

 Well, Ben decided that he would like one, and would like if we put his nickname, Beans, on it. He tried yesterday, and a grumpy old seamstress quickly shot down his request. 

Evidently nicknames are banned from gracing the felt fuzziness of Mickey's dome. Ben was pretty crestfallen. We then quickly began devising a plan to get "Beans" on the back of a hat for him. We began doing this mostly in jest, just thinking if we could make a believable and workable plan. As the plans progressed, we resolved more and more to executing the plan. Benjamin Nelson quickly became Beanschløgen Nelson. Ben crafted his story, that his parents were a "bit strange" or even "tipsy" when they named him. He wove the tale that he went by a shortened version, Beans, pronounced bainsh, nothing like the legume. The name was an old Norse family name, and he didn't want to use it on his hat. He even had me as backup to come in and call him by his name if needed. I even recalled Nathan's Norwegian lesson, when he taught us how to say "Wishing a quick release without pain." We prayed the sewing attendant wasn't from anywhere near Norway. As we entered the park, we set the wheels in motion. Ben wheeled. Ben dealed.

 And Ben was ultimately shut down. Despite a near perfect delivery, the seamstress was too suspicious and called her manager for approval, who then pulled the plug. They required ID for such a strange name, and Beans had none. Even more crestfallen, Ben returned the hat and gave up. The funny part about returning it though is that Ben had to sign his name. He wouldn't go down as a liar, so he signed the receipt "Beanschløgen". What a man. The photo with Ben and the two women show Ben trying his best to get the hat of his dreams.

My dad, the tender-hearted man that he was, would not give up quite so easily. Not being asked to do so, my dad came up with his own plan. The following is the actual dialogue (or close to it) that took place with an attendant (at a different store, mind you). The scene is set, my dad with two pairs of Mickey Mouse ears in his hand.

"Good afternoon sir, how may I help you?"

"Well, I have kind of a funny favor to ask of you. My wife is a bit eccentric. This Christmas for our Christmas cards, she has requested that we all wear matching Mickey Mouse ears, and she wants our names embroidered on the back."

"Oh well that's not a problem at all."

"Well, she wants a set for the family dog too."

"Oh..."

"You know how this goes, your wife sending you to do things you don't really think is necessary, something you don't really want to do." (The attendant nodded understandingly.) 

"So what is the dog's name?"

"Well, you see, the dog's name is Beans."

"Oh... (at this point, this guy is very, very sold) What kind of dog is it?"

"It's a Saint Bernard." (My dad's wisdom shows through tons in this. Had he chosen a smaller breed, the attendant may have forced a smaller set of ears on him. Good job Dad, kudos to you.)

"Oh well sir, that really shouldn't be a problem. I think we can do this for you. It shouldn't be an issue." (Another attendant came over, and my dad replayed the story for her. She was less sold.)

"Sir, I really don't think we can do this for you. I just don't feel comfortable doing it. I'll have to call my manager and ask him if we can do it."

"Well then, m'am, forget about it. We won't do either pair, and I will just have to tell my wife you couldn't do it." (The male attendant jumped in.)

"Oh sir you don't need to do that. We can do this just fine. (He waves off the second attendant and she leaves.) I totally understand how wives just ask for crazy things. We here at the Disneyland resort feel we should treat every customer special. We can do this for you without a problem. You'll just have to promise me the ears with 'Beans' on them won't leave the bag until you're out of the park." 

My dad grinned ear to ear as he agreed to the deal. His smile didn't wear off until he had returned and recounted the story to the rest of us. Ben was as overjoyed as he was surprised. We all shared in a good belly full of laughter at the thought of "our Saint Bernard, Beans" wearing his Mickey hat.

That occurrence was one of the highlights of my day. Another was being able to ride a Segway. A five minute excursion on a Segway was one of the highlighting attractions at Innoventions, a huge rotating building dedicated to the "house of tomorrow". It was filled with a bunch of Microsoft junk. It seemed like a bunch of product placement, without much substance. After waiting in line for half an hour or so, Steven and I had the opportunity to ride one of those mind-boggling suckers. Since I saw their debut on the Today show a few years back, I've aspired to riding one. Today my dream was fulfilled.

This is an incredibly intense video filled with thrills, spills, and five-mile-per-hour fun! Actually, it's probably deathly boring. I don't blame you if you stop watching after a few seconds. And sorry about it being sideways and all. I'm sure as I gain more Blogger experience points I'll be able to flip it over if I so please. But there you have it! My voyage on a Segway. Quite exciting. Especially considering the flaming attendant guy was always like two feet away.

Afterward, we headed over to ride California Screamin', Disneyland's most intense roller coaster (if you don't count "It's a Small World After All"). However, Ben, Steven, and I have all ridden it before, so the intensity level was kicked down several notches. Which explains why we

had the mental fortitude to pull faces like the ones in the picture instead of being photographed either looking stupid or scared out of our wits. I prefer being more aware of the photo as we were. Either way, we had a bunch of fun on the ride. However, Ben looks like he's crying and I look as if I am trying to lick my nose. Steven looks like he's younger than Ben. We finished off the day with a tour of one of Steven's areas, complete with a tour of a neighborhood he tracted. It was pretty stinking interesting thinking he had knocked on the doors of those complete strangers to share something so personal and sacred as the Gospel message. I'm proud of him. The family followed that up with a trip to a local eatery where we were also able to take in the "breathtaking drama" that is always saved for baseball's meaningless All-Star Game. Luckily for the employees of the restaurant, we jetted when the score was tied after the ninth. We made it home in plenty of time to catch the very end of the game. Since the AL won again, the game has a bit more meaning. Had the NL won, I would staunchly denounce it as completely meaningless. J.D. Drew's MVP award helped boost it into being only sort of meaningless. Go Boston! It made me pretty excited to see the Sox play the Angels here in Anaheim (or L.A., no one in the world seems too sure which city they're from) on Friday. I made sure to pack my BoSox cap. I'm just hoping there aren't any diehard gang-banging Angels fans sitting too near us. I love the Red Sox, but I just don't know if I'm willing to give my life for them at this point. Do I need to try harder in my love for them? Who knows. All I know is it's bedtime for me.

SoCal Day 3 Continued

I decided against trying to fit all of the pictures from yesterday (the real day 3) and today (day 4). So I counseled with my staff of editors, writers, and directors, and we collectively decided it would be appropriate for me to make an addition post to yesterday's post. So this post will really just be pictures and explanations of said pitches. Although i wouldn't be surprised if I distract myself a bit and write uncontrollably. Ask my family; it happens.

This first picture is of all the children reprising our not-so-famous picture of wearing crazy hats. Of course without purchasing them. Sadly enough my mom remembers that we did this some time ago and just had to do it again. I will admit my pick in hats isn't just a random choice, as I would assume was the case with my dear siblings.

 My particular hat pays homage to Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, two movies I've recently re-fallen in love with. I'll blame those movies as a significant reason I've become involved in music. Something about watching little paper airplanes dancing to Beethoven's Fifth just makes me smile. It's pretty inexplicable!

This next picture is of Steven and Ben making their own lightsabers after the Star Tours ride. Although they seemed really pretty cool, I decided against it. I really did this mostly so that I could "save up" the purchase for something I really wanted. So I got myself some shirts a bit later. I can't say I was wishing I had a plastic light up sword. Even if they were just like the ones in the movies. Lucky for me I resisted the allure enough to by myself I was really going to use.

This last picture is of us at our dinner. We went to the Blue Bayou inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It's hailed as the best restaurant available to the public at Disneyland. reservations are often taken up shortly after the park opens in the morning. I've been before, but was just too young to remember the experience. I was pretty psyched for some good food. I went a little daring (for me) and got Mahi Mahi. It was, frankly, pretty awful. There's something a little sad when my dad's beef was more tender than my fish. It was dry and nasty. So for all of the rest of you planning on going to the Blue Bayou sometime in the near future, steer very clear of the Mahi Mahi. So honestly, that's about it. Now I had better get working on today's post before Steven gives me "the look" again.

SoCal Day 3

This entry may be brief... Well, at least photo-less. We didn't get back to the hotel until about 2. In the morning. Needless to say, I'm not too psyched about importing photos at this hour. I'll just give a quick rundown of our day.

Ooh breakfast this morning was quite a highlight. I really didn't want to go through any effort to get breakfast, so I played scavenger. Ben was eating a cookie with ice cream on top (don't you wish that was your breakfast!) and didn't finish it, so I was eager to help with his predicament. He also got a bagel from the hotel's continental offerings, and wasn't going to eat it either. There you have it, a meal. Ice cream, cookie, and a bagel. That's the way to start the day our right.

Today's schedule was Disneyland. And only Disneyland. So we hopped into our car and drove to the parks. We decided this time around it would be best for my mom's arthritis (and temperament) if we pushed her around in a wheelchair all day. My mom was willing to swallow her pride and take the plunge. I will have to ask her when we finish going to the parks if she felt she was treated differently while riding in the wheelchair. I would hope it would be a positive change! Although we did have a somewhat unpleasant experience when Steven bumped a lady's leg while walking. The profanities sailed toward a very apologetic Steven. The lady seemed much more content being perturbed than forgiving. I felt like socking her in the jaw. Fortunately, I held back my urge.

As I came into the parks I remarked that Disneyland must be much more fun as a small child. Today held pretty true to that. The familiar and nostalgic rides were frankly just that. Familiar and nostalgic. I couldn't entirely shake the Disney magic though. There's something about the supreme attention Disney pays to every detail that just commanded my attention. And imagination. I was like a child (well, a smaller child) again as I tried to imagine what dreams must have been dreamed in designing the attractions.

Our scariest moment came as we returned to our car. We received a note under the windshield wiper blade that told us someone else with the same vehicle was able (mistakenly, I might add) to get into our locked car. Whether with their keys, using our keypad, or with their remote control, our car was not really so locked to them. They warned us to be careful in what we left in the car. We avoided leaving our valuables at the hotel, so our car was a jackpot for any potential thieves. Had they been successful, I couldn't have written this post. I assured everyone in the car the probability of such an event happening two days in a row were quite unlikely. They weren't all too assured. I'm just glad my Statistics class could give me comfort when I worry about my belongings. Mr. Best would be proud.

As for tomorrow, I think our journey again heads to Disneyland. I'll probably include some pictures tomorrow, although I can't guarantee much. We may have another writing only edition.

SoCal Day 2

As I've come to find out... The church is true everywhere. Manhattan. Seattle. Island Park. Portland. Anaheim. Every crazy place I've been to church, the Spirit was still present. We visited the Yorba Linda 5th Ward today, Steven's favorite ward on his mission. After only a few minutes there, it was easy to see why it was a favorite. I guess the best evaluation of a missionary can be by those who he served and served with. Based on this assessment, Steven did a phenomenal job on his mission. Not a person passed without expressing their love and appreciation for the work he did. I'm quite proud of him.

After church we needed replenishment, and against my input, we went directly to In-N-Out without changing. I was quite afraid I'd see my seminary teacher or something, so I tried to "disguise" myself as a non-Mormon as much as I could. I took off my tie, 

became grateful I hadn't shaved, and even considered sagging my church slacks beneath my rear. I decided against that last part. I must say I definitely enjoyed the In-N-Out. It was sinfully

(haha I make myself chuckle) good.

Later in the day, Steven decided to take us on a mystery trip through his mission. Our first stop on this tour was the Newport Beach temple. It's quite gorgeous. I really love being near the temples. They're special buildings with an amazing purpose. I got 

some nice pictures of the grounds. The one at the top is of a sego lilly on the grounds. Yes, that is Utah's state flower! I knew it was on the tip of your tongue. And there's a pretty funny one of Becca. Since she's not the biggest fan of having her picture taken, she often has uncooperative expressions. This is the pinnacle of 

 those expressions. 

Seeing as how the Newport Beach is so close to the, umm, Newport Beach, we couldn't get away without a quick visit. There's something special about watching the sunset by the ocean that just isn't duplicated much anywhere else. I must thank my mom for some of the pictures she took of it. I decided to leave my camera in the car. Good call by me, eh?

We then went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. It's a restaurant based on Forrest Gump. Whoever thought of the whole movie/restaurant tie in is a genius. Pure genius. Without the restaurant, DVD and VHS sales have got to be low, making the studio little money. With the restaurant? Not only did we spend quite a chunk of change on dinner, we also bought a copy of Forrest Gump. This has to be at least our third copy. Genius I tell you. I'd love to see a real Star Wars Cantina, complete with live band. Or instead of Medieval Times from last night, something out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. That would be much more entertaining. Steven just kinda gave me a look as he put down his head on his pillow, which look I'm assuming means, "Quit typing so stinking loud Daniel, and go to sleep." I think I'll oblige.

SoCal Day 1

So here on my first night at the hotel on our trip to California, I had two options. I could use the exercise room and get myself in better shape, or write a blog post. I chose the latter. And also because I have so entitled this post with a number, I guess I'm going to have to write a new post every day. Or it will bother me. Which also means I probably won't exercise any of the days. Oh well. This is probably going to be a very picture filled blog. But I'm okay with that. Pictures say a thousand words, they say. And they say it much nicer than I would.

We began our day much too early, if you ask me. I have been accustomed to waking up at oh, 10ish if I wanted. I was up at 5:30 this morning. Those of you who are hardened by many sleepless days would call this a piece of cake. I would not. I did manage to grab a bit of shuteye on the plane, often at the expense of falling over onto Ben. I doubt he enjoyed that too much.

Once in Salt Lake for our connecting flight, we were able to enjoy a bit of a layover.

 Ben and I decided to hunt out some breakfast, choosing to dine on the Breakfast of Champions--no, not Wheaties--Sbarro's pizza. It was delish! Shortly afterward I snapped this picture of a happy Ben. I definitely enjoy it.

Our flight continued onto John Wayne's airport over here in Orange County. The snacks they gave on our plane tasted like health food, but without the redeeming qualities of it. 

I wasn't too pleased. I came to appreciate how dry Boise is as soon as I stepped off the airplane. The air was all of a sudden quite thick to breathe. I began scurrying for the air conditioning of the terminal. I quickly gained a new appreciation for Steven's diligence in tracting out Cali in such weather. 

To honor my main man (well, my dad's main man) John Wayne, I'm including this picture of his statue. 

It's fitting he's in front of an American flag. Nothing says America quite like the statue of a man who was never a cowboy, but dressed up and acted like one. That's the real American Dream. Acting like a cowboy.

We later sat in our hotel and discussed what we were going to do on our trip. I definitely advise going on trips without any set plan beforehand. It's just wise. Steven listed the things he wanted to show. They were all restaurants. And speaking of them, our first sampling of California was of Wahoo's Fish Tacos. I was pretty impressed. And I'm still burping up the delicious leftover acid from them. The evening's next plans were to... Go to dinner. At Medieval Times. To burn up the time and the calories we had just consumed, we went shopping. Toward the end, Steven and Mom were frighteningly close to dropping. Medieval Times is an interesting place. 

They "treat" you to dinner and a show, the dinner being something that would be best enjoyed by someone without taste buds, and the show being something that would be best enjoyed either by fantasy novel buffs or inebriates. Either way, it was a lot of fun. I've been there before, and I was suspiciously familiar with the plot of the show. I guess they don't change much in four years! And to be honest, why would they? You can tell from the picture just how excited we were. Our bellies full and our appetites for Middle Age action satiated, we returned to our hotel. The day is done.

It's Fun to Work at the...

For a summer job, I am a lifeguard at our local YMCA. It's a good job; miles and miles better than the plumbing job I had a few summers ago. Sitting in a chair? Tons better than crawling underneath houses. But there are things not so fun about the Y. Which is why I'm compiling a list of things I like about the Y and things I well, do not like (read hate). We'll start on a positive note with the things I like. I will admit compiling the list of things I don't like will be much easier.

1. It's flexible! I can get whatever time off I need.
   
2. 15 minute breaks every hour. I love "relaxing" from the "stresses" of being on stand.
3. It's flexible! I can get whatever time off I need.
4. New lifeguards not on the schedule. they have to take your shifts if they want any money! I guess that goes along with the job being flexible...
5. It's flexible! I can get whatever time off I need.
6. The good lifeguards. They're few and far between, but it is much better working there with people you can stand.
7. It's flexible! I can get whatever time off I need.
8. Slow days. It's just much more fun when no one is swimming. 
9. It's flexible! I can get whatever time off I need.
10. Code Browns! I know it isn't fun for the patrons, but an hour long break for me because a toddler relieved himself in the pool? How can I dislike that?!

And then for the things I don't like so much...

1. The rules we enforce. No stopping or going against the current in the lazy river? Ridiculous! I hate trying to explain rules to patrons when they make no sense to me.
2. The kids who refuse to follow our ridiculous rules.
3. The lifeguards who refuse to follow our ridiculous rules.
4. The fact I work most evenings... 3:15 to 9 are not my favorite working hours.
5. Deaf children who do not hear me telling them the rules. Funny story... One day at work I was getting particularly frustrated while telling a kid to move with the river's current and had to get down from my stand to whistle and yell at him. Well... He finally turned around to face me only to be informed by him and his friend that he was deaf. I felt awful... and awfully embarrassed.
6. The temperature of the pool. In order to prevent hypothermia, we keep the pool area practically broiling. I often break a sweat simply sitting down.
7. Lifeguards who are quite irresponsible. Like the one who had to use "going to jail" as a reason for needing sub shifts. 
8. The boss who criticizes me for how I rotate off stands when other guards get away with using cell phones or iPods on stand. Agh!!!
9. Being afraid some kid is dead or dying somewhere and it's gonna be your fault. It's definitely the scariest thing about the job.
10. Whitecaps. They're fake drowning victims that we have to go and rescue to test our skill. This is the second scariest thing about the job. I'm glad it's inflicted by our boss.

And so there you go. My lovely summer job at the YMCA. Its upsides definitely outweigh the downsides. Especially that flexibility...

The Slippery Slope

So, I've broken down. I guaranteed I would never find myself spending time online with any blogs, myspace or facebook accounts, or whatever else is the "in" thing. It didn't last for long. 

My extended family came into town for the Fourth of July and set us all up with Twitter accounts. Plus my family's myfamily (sorry for being redundant) made me feel the need to keep better in touch. This is the way.

I must admit my aunt Bridget inspired me to get this blog. I'm not sure if she should take pride in that or not. I guess the quality of my blog will make that decision. And so there you go, my first blog post. I get the feeling I may post more today. Who knows!