At Home in Dallas

So I've been home for a few days. My brother Jeffrey got home from his mission to Uruguay - it's been fun to see him. Yesterday I got to ride my Dad's motorcycle - a Honda VTX 1300. Pretty dang big. I think I'm going to get a bike, but something a little smaller, like a 750.
I've also spent a lot of time hanging out with my nephew Caden Thomas Crofts. That's me and him spending quality time together yesterday.

Also, some of you already know, but the Job called me Thursday and told me my Italy trip was cancelled. I'm bummed about this, but figure that everything worked out too specific and too directly for the Lord not to have a part in this. For some reason, it seems I'm meant to stay in Provo for another year. I'm looking forward to it.

United Airlines

After 3 hours of sleep I woke up and went to the airport to visit my family in Dallas. Now, to drive non-stop from Provo to Dallas would take somewhere around 20 hours, so I guess it still worked in my favor, but 13 hours seems like to long.

United Airlines had maintenance problems that delayed me by almost 3 hours, then I missed my original connection from Denver. Anyways, I made it home, but it took far too long. I'm voting United as Ryan's least favorite airline of the day.

It also took far too long for me to make it back home. It's been 7 months since I've been home, and it feels good.

Life is Crazy

Life is pretty crazy right now.
This Thursday I fly home to Dallas for a few days to see my brother Jeff get back from his mission to Uruguay.
Then I get back Monday, go to work for a bit on Tuesday, and leave for Italy on Wed.

Oh, and in the meantime, I need to figure out
A) Am I staying in the same apartment this fall, or moving across the hall?
B) How to tell this girl I've been making eyes at that I would really like to write her while I'm gone, and perhaps court her when I get back?
C) How I'm going to take everything I need for Italy and/or the Middle East, while still having plenty of room for souvenirs.

3 days, 3 changes

So it would seem that I WILL be going overseas - thus eliminating my need to decide make a decision on where to live. Since I leave ~2 weeks from today (Thurs), and I'm going home to Dallas next week, I don't have time to look for a new place. I'm going to be staying here at the Omni with Ken.

Now, I say that, but tomorrow I'll be finalizing the details. I'm actually excited about this - it should be for 3-4 weeks, up to maybe 5 if things get crazy. The pay won't be that great, but when you're being paid normal salary + bonuses to work 40 hrs/week in Europe for 3-4 weeks, you take it and run.

If, come December, I'm really itching for a change, I'll move then. But this will give me a chance to travel, a chance to continue seeing my friends, a chance to spend some time with my Brother Jeff this fall, and a chance to see where things will go with this girl down here.

Provo or Salt Lake

So it was decided today that I'm not going overseas again - at least, not anytime soon. The next major decision for me to make (assuming I don't get into Law School this fall, and at this point it doesn't look like it) is whether or not to move up to Salt Lake, or stay down in Provo.
There's good reasons for both.
Provo: Don't have to move my stuff.
Already have friends here.
Don't have to look for an apartment.
Some family around. Brother Jeff will be back this fall.
Some girls I'm interested in right now live here.
SLC: Much closer to work. Save $ and time.
Fresh start socially.
Women who are older and more focused on dating/marriage?

Basically I'm going to pray about it, and try to feel what's right. It greatly depends on whether or not this girl thing pans out. If not, I might just say Adios to Provo.

Back Over

So I have several big decisions coming up - primarily, should I go back out into the field. They want me, and I told them I was willing, but now I'm not so sure. Here's a few reasons for my indecision.
1) I've only been home 45 days - and now they want me to go out for another 100? I would really like to be home for a while.
2) Shaky game plan. They haven't decided all the details, so this may be premature, but they don't even know where I'd be going, and exactly how everything would workout isn't decided. It sounds like I might not be living on a base, but rather just in a nearby city - not an opportunity I'd desire in any part of Arabia or thereabouts.
3) Money. It all comes down to the money. At the moment, it sounding like I'd earn almost half as much as I earned in Iraq - NOT COOL. Sure, it's a lot of money anyway - I've been blessed. But right now I don't need the money, and if they want me to go they need to make it worth my while.
4) While my love life ain't the greatest, I think it's getting better, and it certainly won't continue if I go back over.

Basically the only reasons I'd go out again this soon is if A) The money is enough to help me get thru grad school without big debt or B) They really really need me.
Things that would make me tell them to take a hike: dangerous, crappy living, relatively low pay, a girl.

Laguna Beach

So my internet has been down for a few days, but it's back, and so am I. It's late, but a few thoughts on my trip to LA to Reno to Provo.

1) Laguna Beach is gorgeous! AND! I've been blessed with some amazing friends. Jared and Becky picked me up and took me to the beach, where dolphins were swimming 20 meters away from us. I got to play with their son, baby Jonah, and stayed with them that night. The next day they took me up to Oxnard via Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Belair. Way sweet. I wish they lived closer.

2) Having a nephew is cool. It was way fun being in the baby blessing, and just holding the little guy. He still sleeps a lot, but I think he's going to be a lot of fun when he's about 6 months older.

3) Yosemite National park must be visited at length sometime in the future.

4) Reno: Nice place to visit, but no real desire to stay.

City of Angels

So, tomorrow I'm taking off for LA. I'm going to assist in the blessing of my sister's son, and help them move, and hang out with Jared and Becky and their son Jonah. Here's a picture from the last time I saw Jared and Becky.

Then I'm travelling with my Ma, Pa, and little sister to Reno to see my Grandfather, and then back here to the Utah.

In other news, I went to the Fullmer's Boxing gym yesteday - they tried to convince me to have an amateur fight on the 15th. I was thinking about it, and was going to spar tonight to see how I'm moving, how I'd do. But I don't feel particularly good right now, and wouldn't have much time to train while in LA, so I decided to pass on that.
I think this vacation will be good for me.