Almost Christmas

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We are down to less than a week before Christmas. Is your shopping done? I hope so. The stores currently have inventory that is picked over and full price. At this point you may want to convince yourself and the ones you love that the true meaning of Christmas isn't found in beautifully wrapped packages... it's found in plastic gift cards.

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Still Alive

I am currently between adventures, but still alive. Backpacking, marathoning, & Disneylanding is all in the past, with nothing planned for the immediate future. Christmas is coming, but there are no big surprises in store. There will be a few toys, but nothing exciting. There is no extended family in town this year.

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When life is hectic I look forward to boredom. However, as soon as things slow down, I go into adrenaline withdrawals. Tithing settlement is pleasant, but not blog worthy. Work is nothing new. The kids are only a month older than when you heard about them last. My abdomen has gotten a little softer, but I'm addressing the issue.

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The one bit of good news is I made my last car payment this month. The bad news is I could buy my car 8 times over with the money I still owe on my student loans. So I'm still going to work this year. So much for retiring at age 35.

Disney Frown

It was the happiest place on earth until we told the three-year-old, who was two hours past his bedtime, that we had to go home. Good times.

A Tale of Two Sealy's

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Kristen and I have had the same bed for over twelve years. We have inserted plywood between the box springs and the mattress and have placed egg crate on top of the mattress. We have done all we can to make the bed last, but it is time for a new bed.
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This past week, our local furniture store was having a sale. We purchased a very nice mattress and, because there was a sale, we also purchased a beautiful headboard and bed frame. It was delivered yesterday and the whole ensemble looks fit for a king.
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I awoke this morning well-rested and refreshed. My dreams had been rich and optimistic. My body was relaxed. I couldn't figure out why I hadn't got the bed sooner. Then I turned over and noticed something was missing... my wife!
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In the middle of the night, while I was having the best sleep of my life, Kristen's body had gone numb. She tossed and turned until the spasms in her lower back caused her to sleep in the guest bed.
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So it turns out Kristen and I have different "sleep numbers." Any suggestions?
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Merry Thanksgiving

I like decorating for Christmas. Better said, I like it decorated for Christmas. I can't say I actually like hauling all the dusty boxes out of the garage and hanging the lights. If it would just snow on cue, I wouldn't really need to decorate at all. What I appreciate is the mood of the holiday season. The air is cool, family time is protected, and treats and parties abound.

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I normally decorate the day after Thanksgiving. That is how I was raised. (I was also raised to play Christmas music in October, but that doesn't always happen). This year, because of work and travel, I may have to decorate as early as November 10th. I have mixed feelings about this, but as I drove to work yesterday morning I passed Christmas lights at the strip mall and in the hospital parking lot. Mid-November may actually be a little late. It's already too late to get out my Thanksgiving decorations. The turkey stuffed animal will have to stay in his garbage bag this year.

Disneyland Family Reunion

Well, we hadn't been to California yet this year, so we were missing the cousins. We met up with them last week at Disneyland.

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This group looks good even in the parking lot.
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Spencer loved catching up with everyone.

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The cousins were practicing poses that would be deleted by Disney officials if spotted on Space Mountain.
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. That's one large piece of candy corn.
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. So girls, was this better than a day at school?
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. These boys are all smiles.
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.Riley and Clark help to make the perfect end to the perfect day.

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Quail Creek Campout

The kids didn't have soccer games today, so we decided to go camping last night. We chose Quail Creek State Park. It's close enough to our home that Kristen and Bryce had the option to go home if they chose.

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The kids like hanging out in the tent as much as anything. The last time our whole family went camping together in the month of October to a state park, all of San Diego County caught fire the next day. Let's hope that doesn't happen again or we might look suspicious.

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The water level of the lake has dropped quite a bit in recent months. The kids would normally be five feet under water where they are standing.

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We've gotten a lot of use out of this sweatshirt. Thank you Stevensons!

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Carter has no idea I don't know the first thing about fishing.

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The Happiest Place on Earth!

You just finished the marathon, what are you going to do now? I'm going to Grandmary's! Also, we might stop by Disneyland. Anyone interested?

26.2 Miles of Pride

On Saturday October 6, 2007, Mike, Michelle, Lauren, Brooke, and Riley Stevenson joined me on a 26.2 mile journey. We overcame aches and pains, valleys and volcanoes, bitter cold and noonday sun. At the end of it all we got a ribbon around our necks and all the ice cream we could eat. But best of all we created a memory that will last a lifetime.

Mike and Michelle sure look cheery at the finish.

Brooke let me run with her until the 22nd mile. She then turned on the afterburners and cruised to a 4th place finish in her division. Here she is showing off the hardware.

Kent looks pretty good following his 20th St. George Marathon. Can you believe he gets senior citizen discounts at movie theaters?

Riley, Brooke, Spencer, and I all now have a better understanding as to why Pheidippides collapsed dead from exhaustion when he arrived in Athens.

By the way, the Persians were defeated in Central, Utah. Well... at least we didn't see any of them.

Carbo Loading

It's three days until the marathon. Runners, it's time to start carbo loading.

Anesthesia Song

Check out the video link to the right called the Anaesthetists Hymn. It's funny because it's true. These guys are British so some phrases they use are also. Anesthesiologists are basically the same worldwide.

Franchise Me

I have a pretty good job. The one problem is, I have to come into work everyday. I would prefer to make money without working. I hear stories of entrepreneurs who generate generous incomes while sleeping. That sounds great to me.

I have begun formulating businesses ideas. I am looking for something that might thrive in this community. We have no ice skating rink, no water park, and no amusement park. The problem is, these ideas are very expensive and risky ventures.

I have thought that perhaps a franchise of some sort might be less risky. So I began looking at franchises which are lacking here. We already have the mundane (McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Del Taco). I thought, what do I wish this town had which it doesn't already have? Then it came to me... Tommy's Hamburgers, See's Candy, In 'N' Out, Cheesecake Factory, or Trader Joe's. Unfortunately each and every one of them is corporate or family owned and operated. That is probably why they are so successful.

The one franchise we don't have is El Pollo Loco. All you need is a net worth of 1.5 million, $750,000 in liquid funds, and the desire to open three stores in the next four years. All I am missing is another 1.45 million dollars and I'm in business. Of course if I had that, I wouldn't feel such a need to start a business.

So anyone got any good ideas?

El Rodeo

No, this isn't the USC yearbook. This is bulls and blood, dust and mud, and the roar of the crowd. It's the white in the knuckles and the gold in the buckle. It's boots and chaps and cowboy hats. It's spurs, latigo, the ropes, the reins, the joy, and the pain. And they call the thing rodeo.

A rodeo clown waiting for the bull.

Spencer finds the crowd more interesting than the livestock.

Carter has been learning how to rope cows at school. His teacher is a genuine cowboy. Kids often don cowboy hats in class.

Here I am on a bronco in the amateur division. Just kidding... it was the professional division. Actually, this photo shows I haven't figured out how to take action shots in the dark yet. Andrew, any suggestions?

Another Tag

I wasn't specifically mentioned in Jennifer's tag, but I guess anyone who read the words at the end is "it."

Four places I'd love to visit:

1. New York
2. New Zealand
3. London
4. The can

Four things I covet:

1. The toys of those in debt
2. The free time of those underemployed
3. The physical fitness of those who have sacrificed family time
4. Angelina Jolie

Four goals I have:

1. Sleep 8 hours a day
2. Be prepared for retirement at 55
3. Keep BMI <25
4. Reach "Pro" skill level on all Wii Sports

Four fads I wish would pass:

1. Tattoos
2. txt mssgs
3. All things Iraq
4. Tight/revealing clothing as a right rather than privilege

Four delights:

1. All things Spencer
2. My music collection
3. Being outside
4. Revenge

Four regrets:

1. Going to Hard Rock Cafe rather than summit of El Popo Volcano
2. Not buying Apple stock in the early 80's
3. Not taking auto shop
4. Wasting all the wishes that genie granted me on pogs

Four things I wish I could do more often:

1. Sleep
2. Eat a hot meal with my family
3. Play sports
4. Poop gold

Four things I never would have imagined would happen to me:

1. I would be living in Utah
2. I would be driving a truck
3. I would be going to a rodeo tonight
4. I would like onions (you were right Dad)

Wind Rivers Day 1

This is our crew eager to begin the 35 mile adventure.

Big Sandy Lake was a relatively flat 6 miles from the trailhead.

Some surrounding peaks.

This is Ike and me at Big Sandy Lake.

Wind Rivers Day 2

This was a peaceful resting place at the beginning of the pass.

This view was looking toward Lizard Head Meadows from Lonesome Lake in the Cirque of the Towers. This is where we had lunch.

This was all just Day 2. Here we are looking back toward the Cirque of the Towers near campsite #2 in Lizard Head Meadows.

Wind Rivers Day 3

Does it look like hail is on its way in this picture?

We are just a few hundred feet up above Lizard Head Meadows looking back on the Cirque and some of Day 2's journey. We have over 1500 feet more of elevation to gain today.

This is Valentine Lake and Campsite #3 just minutes after we were pelted with 3/4 inch hail and lightning. It was all worth it.

Wind Rivers Day 4

Day 4 started out foggy. This is Buffalo Head next to Payson Peak.

This picture is in Ranger Park on our way to Grave Lake.

Anyone want naming rites to this lake on Bears Ears Trail?

Wind Rivers Day 5

No, I don't know how Mount Hooker got its name, but this is what it looks like.

Day 5 was a 14 mile push to the car.

Friends and Family at the Winds

Pulling into camp just after the hail.

This was lunch at Marm's Lake. We were just halfway on our 14.7 mile push to the car.

Clint was the navigator for this trip (training courtesy of the U.S. government). He was also the resident chef.

Resting at Big Sandy.

Ike and I at the top of Jackass Pass looking down onto Lonesome Lake in the Cirque of the Towers.

Just testing the timer on the camera in Lizard Head Meadows.


Can anyone find David in this picture? This was dunch just after the hailstorm.


This waterfall was on the way to Grave Lake.