Home alone

So my roommates deserted me this week. Something about a wedding in California involving Kirk's brother. So I'm Home alone, and looking for things to do. Right now, that means cleaning up and throwing away lots of stuff. I did fit in time for a trip to the Mormon temple this morning.
However, at Elisabeth's suggestion, I did make it country dancing this week, and it was a wonderful time. Way too hot, but still way fun.
Other than that, not much going on. Oh, and Wal*Mart doesn't carry Mentos! What is wrong with this world?!? That's what I get for trying to buy a product from an EVIL corporation.

To the girl who almost rear-ended me today:

I pray when you slam into someone other than me, that your phone arm gets maimed and that some sense gets knocked into you.

Ready to make nice

Well, I didn't make it country dancing this week. I went to the Fullmer Boxing Gym instead. I walked in and the Fullmer Bros all asked me where I had been, to which I responded 'Iraq.' Maybe next week I'll dance. Maybe.

In other news, I'm ending my boycott of the Dixie Chicks. I still don't agree with their politics, but if I refused to be entertained by anyone whose politics or morals aren't in synch with mine I'd be 1) Very closed minded and thus ignorant or 2) Stuck reading material relating to the Glorious Revolution of 1776. Not that that doesn't make for an exciting night, but...

So with that in mind, here are some links to some music I recommend...
http://www.myspace.com/dixiechicks
http://www.myspace.com/johnnycash

Eco-Challenge

So today I completed my first triathlon, but not just any tri, today I did the BYU Football Triathlon, aka the Eco-Challenge. Basically it went like this (for me - some people are a lot faster).
4 AM - wake up
5:05 - swim 1 mile in a lane with 4 other guys. big football player guys.
6 - bike over to LaVell Edwards Stadium, run every stair
7 - start biking up to Squaw Peak overlook. mountain bikes only - no road bikes.
8:30 - rest for a minute at the top of Squaw Peak, then ride to the top of South Fork canyon (up past Bridal Veil, Vivian, and South Fork parks)
10 - turn around at South Fork, now it's on to Aspen Grove
11:30 - Aspen Grove. Now run/hike to Stewart Falls, then on to Arrowhead Peak (in Sundance Ski Resort). And jump across some streams and stuff.
12:45 - take an extended break 'cause I'm about to pass out
1:26 - shake Bronco Mendenhall's hand as I cross the finish line.

So basically I'm dead tired now. I'm about to collapse as I write this. Since I was wearing spandex-like stuff, I had to be a little picky on which picture I could post and maintain my 'Family friendly' rating. But here ya go. This is me after 8hrs and 21 minutes of racing. If you look closely, you can see those dead sexy sweat lines across my chest.

This weeks Aspirations

So I've determined that next Wednesday I'm going country dancing. Once upon a time I went often - it's been a long time though. Hopefully I'll get a date - but if not I'll just go stag. Good clean fun.
Also, this Saturday I'm going to participate in the BYU football team's ECO-challenge. I'm not sure of everything that will be involved just yet, but it's going to be intense. They had a short 'screening' before they would let me sign up. There's a meeting about it on Friday that I'm going to - should learn more then.
I had been hoping this weekend to visit with my Grandmother while she's in Colorado, but I'd have to drive all the way to Colorado Springs, only to turn right back around. So ECO-challenge it is.
Hopefully afterword I can find some young las to heal my wounds...

Adventure of the Day: Big Springs

Today's adventure was mountain biking up Provo Canyon, to a place called Big Springs. I've decided I'm way out of shape for mountain biking in the mountains. I seemed to do fine last week in Moab, but I felt like I couldn't breath up on the trail. Plus, I've been slacking off on my endurance cardio stuff. Boxing drills and stuff are intense, but just not the same.
Also, in exciting news, I signed up to take 'Motorcycle Education' in July. Should be way fun. And my sister did have a little boy - his name is Caden, and apparently he's doing very well.

Uncle Ry

So apparently they induced my sister Kristi into labor a few hours ago. If everything goes right, I should be an uncle here in a few hours.
While I'm not sure what exactly my duties as an uncle will entail, I have some ideas.
1) Buy him an outfit - a camoflauge outfit.
2) Tickle him.
3) Play video games with him.
4) Teach him at least 1 word mommy and daddy won't like.
5) Be in California in July for his blessing.
6) Hold him.

Now, I know that the video games might have to wait a few years - that's OK. I'm patient. In the meantime I'll just hope that everything runs nice and smooth.
PUSH! HARDER! BREATH!
I HATE THIS!
YOU did this to ME!
EPIDURAL!
Oh! He's beautiful!

Moab and stuff

So this weekend was crazy. We (Ken, Kirk, Britney, and myself) went to Moab, UT, on Friday night. It was good times - I had this massive foil dinner, the stars were beautiful, nice campfire. A little warm, but really a very nice night.
The next morning we rode a trail called 'Fins and things'. It was tough, took us about 3 1/2 hours. Some slick rock, some sand, and some dirt. Not nearly as technical as the 'Slickrock' trail, but a good trail.
I got back and immediately headed off to the Rodeo up near Grantsville. Worst Cowboys I've ever seen, but it was still fun.

So today I read an interesting article on USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-06-04-iraq-doctors-cover_x.htm
It's all about the hospital at Balad Air Base. The Dr. Bishoff quoted in the article was my Mormon group leader while I was there.

Tomorrow's activity will be searching for a 21 year old that is missing in a canyon near here (Rock Canyon). I, along with T-Rav and perhaps Ken, are going to try and lend a hand to the search and rescue efforts. But, since he's been missing since Thursday morning, the chances aren't very good.

Time to think

So I've now been back a week and had a little time to reflect on the experience over in Iraq. It's been a nice week, but kinda hard too.
I feel like going to Iraq has helped me become a better man. Helped me to understand the war not from the politician's view or the media's view, but simply from the point of view of a civilian embedded with U.S. troops. Going certainly gave me some much needed technical experience, a chance to learn how the military works, and learn what life is like at a forward military base. Plus, I got paid well for it.
The toughest part wasn't the mortar fire, but rather the loneliness. Being confined to 12 square miles wasn't really all that hard - it's not like there was anywhere else in Iraq I wanted to go. It was just not having my friends and family around that was tough.
Being back has been a little rough, but certainly not bad. I mean, for the past 3 months I've had a very defined existence, to make sure my equipment ran correctly. And because I was able to maintain that existence a lot of people all over the world were able to sleep in peace. It's nice knowing I helped, in a small way, protect them.
Back here, I have no such direct purpose. I suppose in the long term, my job here in Utah does the same thing, but much less directly.
Anyway, this has been far too somber a post. I'm going to Moab tomorrow to go mountain biking. It's gonna be sweet.
This will in all likelyhood be my last post about Iraq, unless something else is just knawing at me. I'd love to talk to anyone about my experience over there, what I learned and saw, but it will probably be on an individual basis.