Once Again It's 3 in the Morning

A relatively easy night at work. So, I'd thought I'd throw down a posting.

My favorite soccer player of all time is Dennis Bergkamp. His goal in the final minutes against Argentina in the 98 World Cup, addicted me to soccer. I remember watching the match early on a Saturday, and being caught up in World Cup-ness. There were yellow cards, and a general bad feeling on the field as both teams became a bit frustrated with being tied, and not wanting to goal into overtime (Holland, Bergkamp's national team, is notoriously cursed in penalty kicks).

But then it happened.

A long ball from one of the DeBoer brothers found Bergkamp in the corner of the penalty box and expertly finished off Argentina. I was hooked.

Since then, I've come to obssess a little about soccer, and especially over Arsenal (Bergkamp's club). One day I will see a game live. Oh yes, I will see a game live.

I have no idea what made me want to rant about my favorite soccer player (he retired last season), but I really don't have to give a reason do I? After all, this is my blog.

(BTW, Holland lost to Brazil in the semi-finals of the '98 World Cup, and Brazil lost to France in the final at Stade de France in Paris.)

Here's a tribute to him

Appalachian Spring and Sunday Mornings

Working nights is starting to wear on me, especially on Sunday mornings. I wish I didn't sleep through church, but my body fights with my will during sacrament meeting. There's usually a point where my mind gives in and then a second later we're singing the closing hymn. Also, there's the dreaded temptation to take an hour nap when I get home from work.

That is a mistake.

I love sleep, and if there's something worse than not being able to sleep, it's being forced to wake up after only an hour of rest. Going this route usually makes me much more groggy for church.

At the moment, I'm using Kix cereal and Copland's Appalachian Spring to aid me in staying awake. Kix reminds me of growing up. It's been a very long time since I've eaten it.

As for Appalachian Spring, I fills me with happiness. Along with Rodeo, which is also on this CD, it gets me in the right mindset for church, adding in a bit of an energy only good music can give. I love Copland's american sound, and despite the vast commercialization of his music (probably because it touches that part in us that is very proudly American), his music still inspires and lifts our spirits to a slightly higher plane.

3 in the Morning

Well, I said I'd do a lot of post from early in the morning, but this is the first since I did my first entry. We finally have gotten a bit of real snow here in the city. Not ice, but beautiful powdery snow. And it should be cold enough for us to keep a hold of it for a couple of days.

Despite my dislike of weathermen, I love unpredictable, crazy weather. Las Vegas wasn't much of a puzzle. Hot in the summer, cold and windy in the winter, not too bad in spring or fall. It rains in July. See, I'm a weatherman too. But I don't stand in front of nothing and point at it.

I just finished Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, and it was beautiful. He writes with a beautiful sadness, and you can't help but think of or society and where we're headed. I hope he was an optimist, but his writting suggests otherwise.

Next is the second to last book of Asmiov's Foundation, and I'm quite excited. I'm finally drawn to his characters, and I'm ready to really lose myself in the book.

School has started again. I like the people I go to school with, and I feel good about balancing work and school. I'm hoping I can do weel this semester, not just get by, but really learn and get a good grade.

I need to motivate myself. That's my resolution for the year, self-motivation. Answer the nagging angels in me and get up and do it. In church we'll be learning the teaching of Spencer Kimball, and on his desk was a plaque that said "Do It." I'm hoping to channel that fire into myself and do what I know what needs to be done: at home, school and work.

The Weather Man Conspiracy

So, this weekend we were supposed to have another huge ice storm. We had one at the beginning of December, and it was awesome. Having grown up in the desert, any type of weather beyond windy is rather new to me, so I was rather excited for this new wave of icy cold mayhem.

But not the weather man.

Maybe he's become jaded with all the years of standing in front of a screen with nothing on it. It's possible for anyone to become tired with their job. He may even be concerned about the power outages that were bound to happen because the power company here isn't exactly run by rocket surgeons. But he seemed genuinely happy that it was going to be above 32 degrees at certain points, and that got me thinking.

Weather men must be hoping for global warming.

It would shake up the mundaneness of their jobs. All of the sudden they'd have new stuff to report, things that they could really point to as to why they're wrong all the time.

Sure, I could just be paranoid and a little bitter because we really didn't get any real ice storm. But I just know that somewhere, weather men are leaving their cars running at night and not recycling.

Someone call Al Gore, I've solved the problem.

La Joie de la Vie Francaise

So today we watched a great movie called Joyeux Noel, it's about WWI and how during Christmas of 1914 enemy soldiers fraternized and celebrated the holidays together. The specific story in the movie isn't neccesarily true, but similar events did happen.

It got me thinking. Would that happen now? Do we have enough in common with arabic/muslim people that we would be friends with them if it wasn't for the current conflict? It's something that I would desperately love to say "yes" to, but I feel that I would just be kidding myself.

Who's fault is it that Christians/Muslims, West/East (Let's include Asian allies as the "West"), Democracy/Communism, and even Right/Left wing can't get along and just seem to be natural enemies? Is our philosophy right? Do we live our philosophy? Are we as a people destined to only be identified with our political leaders? Do Muslims love their children too?

These are just a couple of things that I've been thinking about. I hope that I'm not as ethno-centric that I think I am.

People's Choice Awards

Nobody I know watches 2 and 1/2 Men. Nobody. Why is it that the People's Choice awards, Teens Choice awards and Nickelodeon's Fun Time Happy Slime Kids Vote Online for Crappy Stuff Awards, always end up with the same winners? Is it because people with their own opinions never vote for this stuff? I have no problems with Johnny Depp what-so-ever. He doesn't like U.S. politics, so he moved to France and married a super skinny Frog chick. Eat that Tim Robbins and Susan Saranden. The new "Pirates" movie was good but it wasn't great. Kids love Orlando Bloom, but not enough to beat Captain Jack. And why do they fixate on one movie? By the way, Entertainment Weekly doesn't even mention these awards.

That's it for me venting.

This picture is from our honeymoon, standing in line for the buffet at the Stratsphere. It has nothing to do with the People's Choice Awards.

Half-Way There

School starts on Tuesday. I can't say I look forward to it too much. The next few months I will be submitting myself to no sleep and fried brain cells. Why is nursing so dang hard? Is it because people can die if you don't do your job? People are so paranoid.

Speaking of paranoid, every once-in-a-while something flashes under the typing box. Big Brother? It's probably Barnes watching to make sure I don't break HIPPA. Don't worry, I won't talk about that one patient, in that one room.

Back to school.

Where Elvis Walked

I've never been a huge fan of Elvis. This despite of, or because of, the fact that I grew up in Vegas. I can't really say that I'm any more a fan now that I've been to his home. However, it was very cool. The guy loved stuff, and there was plenty of it. It was like a time capsule from the 60's-70's. Shag carpet (even on the walls), old TV's, bright colors, vintage christmas decorations, you get the drift.

The occasion for which we went was my brother Dave's (and Elvis's) birthday. We thought that it was going to be huge and crazy with people crying and stuff. But I guess that's saved for his death day. Instead we were able to see everything we wanted without feeling rushed and got to see lots of cool stuff.

And yes, he's dead.

Mawwiage is what bwings us togeva today......

So the wife and I have been married for about 2 1/2 years, and it's been great. In that time, she's started teaching, I've started nursing school, we've been to Europe, my parents have moved to South Korea, my brother has left on a mission (and will return soon), I've been a bartender, and on, and on...

I have to say, being married is all it's cracked up to be and more. People who avoid it, or roll their eyes at the thought of it don't know what they're missing. Sure, things can be tough, but they can be when you're single too, so why not have some one there.

Plenty of people have made lots of money telling all of us how we should run our marriages/relationships, but lets be honest, we'd rather read something else (in my case sci-fi). The Beatles said, "All you need is love." And in the end that's all. That and patience. And a bit of compromise. And maybe plenty of other things.

I think what I'm trying to say is that I love my wife, and I thought you should all know that.

P.S. The picture is an accidental double exposure that my sister took.

Death and Eternal Life

We just finished watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and earlier today we watched Children of Men, and further still, work does have those unfortunate moments where people pass away. So, I've been thinking a little about death.

The great thing about being mormon, is the belief in continuity of family after death. Eventhough, the passing of a loved one is always difficult, knowing that it's just a temporary vacation from them can make things somewhat easier. And besides, sometimes we need the break from them. Sure, that's a bit harsh, but look deep down and you know it's true.

Anyways, didn't mean to depress or enrage, that's just how I feel at the moment. Call it gallows humor.

Jury Duty and Little Brothers

Well, After two days of just sitting and reading during jury duty, I was actually able to see my brother who's in town for Christmas break. We went to California Pizza Kitchen (forever known as CPK from now on) and then went to For Your Consideration, which was ok, but not up to par with Christopher Guests other movies.

Em is in Columbia today doing stuff with her fam and talking with some teachers from her old high school. Now I'm at home watching The Simpsons. Well that's it for now, I'm sure I'll become deep and profond as this blog becomes more established.
That's it for now.

By the way, that's me and Dave in the Arch from last Thanksgiving. I'm the one with the double chin. I really don't have one.

New Year's

Hello, I imagine a large portion of my entries will be done around 3 in the morning, so please don't mind the random miss firings of my brain.

How fitting that my first entry is on New Year's Day. We didn't really do much tonight (because we didn't pick up any food or snacks Saturday night after we got home from Chicago) ...watched the ball drop, Emily worked on our Euro book, channel surfed, just your normal loafing.

I intend to set some goals and stuff for the new year, but I'm trying to think of plans to make the goals work, seeing how I'll be making many of the same one's I normally do. Don't worry, you'll all be filled in sooner or later as to what they are.

Happy New Years!!!!!