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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)