Simple Randomness

It’s Getting Hot - But I’m Glad It’s Dry!

So I’ve been talking to a lot of different people around the country through my job, and I realize that it seems like different sections of the country are in the middle of some type of heat wave.  And of course everyone in one way or another is probably going to complain about it.  Ok, not everyone, but enough people that I feel comfortable saying everyone .

Here in Utah we have already broken 100 degrees, which I think is pretty hot.  But I’m so glad that it is a so-called ‘dry heat.’  I really don’t handle humidity very well.  I remember a few years ago my wife and I went on a cruise out of Galveston, TX and the humidity there really did not treat me well.  So I’ll take the hot desert over that!

Anyway, there’s my random observation for the day.  How’s the weather where you’re at?

Kids Are Great…

One thing my wife and I agreed on this weekend is that my oldest son, who’s really only 2 1/2, is already showing a lot of qualities that he’s very much like me.  My wife even said that our other son is showing signs as well.  Here’s what she means:

• Both of them will randomly just think they’re really funny, but no one else is sure why…
• Our 2 year old could be happy in a locked phone booth with a broken phone, I’ve said the same of myself at times

Well, those are the only two that I can think of right now.  But really, kids are great.  We’re lucky to have two very happy little boys that are so cute with each other.  Our oldest son Brennen will walk up to our other son and say, “Oh hi Marshall!  Marshall’s awake!  Haha, Marshall funny!!!”  Then he’ll give him a kiss on the nose or something.

I have to admit that I’m really not very close to any of my brothers.  I’m sorta close to my younger sister, but all of this really makes me hope that my kids grow up as good friends and true brothers.  I don’t have much experience with that myself, so I’m hoping that we can teach our kids to be that way.

I Finally Feel that Spring is Here

I might be cursing myself by saying this, but I don’t think we’re going to have another snow storm any time soon. So I want to officially declare that Spring is here!

So nows the time to put away all the winter stuff and get outside more. In fact, my wife and I took the kids to a park on Sunday and had a blast paying around outside. I think it was the first time that my two-year-old has been in a park that big. The best thing about it is he would run around making “whoosh” noises as he ran. So cute!

I’m just glad the weather is nicer. But just watch, I’ll be hoping for cooler weather in about 2 months .

Random Little Inspirations

Every now and then I’ll notice some random thing (go figure ) that makes me think about being better or working hard to be the best I can be. This morning I had one of those experiences.

I went to the gym this morning and was getting ready to do some squats when I saw a girl in there working out with a trainer that only had one leg. And she was working just as hard as anyone else with her trainer. It just made me think, “Man, she’s only got one leg and she’s still doing the work. I’ve got no physical problems like that and yet I’ll make excuses left and right.”

That was a physical, working out type example. But sometimes I get other examples as well that might motivate me in other ways. Like when you see someone who might be challenged or handicapped in some way doing well in school or business. I don’t ever think that I’m better than any of these people, but it just makes me think about how they might have so many reasons and good excuses to just sit back and let things happen, or complain, or whatever. But they don’t.

Things like that just motivate me to want to be better. They make me want to do my best and not make excuses or complaints. I admire those people who no matter what their circumstances always push on. Thanks for being a great example!

Verbal Dyslexia

My wife and I both suffer from time to time from what we call verbal dyslexia, and I’m wondering if anyone else suffers from this as well. I try to come up with a few examples, but it’s weird because when I try to think of times that it’s happened I can rarely come up with good examples. It’s just such a random thing.

So here’s the idea. You get talking, and you flip either words around or portions of words around. To you it might make perfect sense until you stop and think about it. But sometimes you don’t even notice it. Here’s an example. My wife and I were talking about movies, and she said something like, “Oh, the one with Jolia Ruberts.” So it was fine, but the “o” and “u” were said in the wrong place.

Sometimes it happens with just the first letters of two words become switched. I’m really trying to think of a good example of this, but it would be something like “sooster beat” instead of “booster seat.” Or, another example of verbal dyslexia is when you put the words in the wrong order, like instead of saying “cool car” you say “car cool.” I blame that one on knowing Spanish because sometimes you do that in Spanish.

Are we the only ones that suffer from this? I certainly hope not. Sometimes it’s pretty funny, but whenever it happens and we catch it we always say, “Wow, where did that come from?!”

Anyone else have this problem???

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Ok, I couldn’t help it. It’s just such a nice day outside that I had to start this post out that way.

I’ve decided lately that I need to get out and enjoy nature more. I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to do it, I just know that I need to. In fact, last week I needed to go to the bank during work. The nice thing is that a branch of my bank is just down the street. So normally I’m in such a hurry that I’ll drive down there anyway, but last week I decided to walk. I’m glad I did!

So here are some other things I’m going to do this year to get outside more:

• If I have a long break, try to step outside and take even a 5 minute walk (unless of course it’s 100 degrees outside…).
• Go on more walks with my wife and kids.
• Go on a good hike this summer.
• Get rollerblades and go rollerblading with my wife.

Any other ideas?

April Showers Bring May Snow?!

I can’t think of the last time that this happened, but this morning, May 1st, I woke up and got ready to go to the gym.  I opened the door and lo and behold, there was snow on the ground.  This was really the last thing I expected on the first of May.

I have to admit that it has been a crazy year as far as weather is concerned.  But does that make me a big believer in global warming or anything like that?  Not really.

The big problem that I have with this whole global warming debate is that so many believe that humans are the sole cause of it.  I just don’t believe that.  There is too much evidence to the contrary.  Are we contributing?  Sure!  But when you hear the numbers that show that if we did everything that is being suggested it wouldn’t even make a dent it leaves me doubting.  There are so many things going on in the environment that I feel it’s kinda prideful of us to think that we can always try to control it.  Man was meant to use what nature gave him, not try to manipulate it and keep it the same all the time.

Anyway, there’s my environment rant for today.  I think I’ll go take a walk.  Maybe I’ll come across some leftover snow and make a little snowman just to celebrate Nature’s defiance of man’s desire to control it!

Still Never Want to be in the Hospital

So the other day my wife had to have an Endoscopy done so we could find out why she’s still having some abdominal pains. An endoscopy is where they put you under, then shove a tiny camera down your throat to take a look at your stomach and small intestines. The good news is that they found out what the problem is and my wife was so excited to find out that she has a ulcer!

I’m serious when I say she was excited. She was excited because now she finally knows what’s going on. It’s now a joke at home that I never thought anyone could be excited to have an ulcer!

So this whole ordeal again confirms that I never want to have to go to the hospital for myself. It also confirms that I don’t think I would be cut out to be a good doctor. We saw the pictures that they took, and honestly it’s not a pretty picture. Not my type of thing…

Birds and Windows - Not a Good Combination

It’s sad, but it seems like birds hit the windows where I work all the time.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Ok, honestly, sometimes I think it’s pretty funny!

So last Friday I was wrapping up my week at work, had my headphones in, and then all of a sudden WHAM!  Scared me pretty good, so I just figured someone was messing with me and banging on the window.  Then I noticed something stuck to the window…looked like feathers.

Then I looked in the bushes right below the window and there was a big dead bird.  That’s probably the biggest that I’ve seen hit a window here.  A couple other guys came over to figure out what it was and most figured it was a small pheasant!  I’m just glad it didn’t break the window or something, but it sure did break its neck or something because it was stone dead!

So yes, it’s official: birds need to learn to distinguish windows from the real thing.  The sad thing is when people do it too.  I was a party once and some girl…well, let’s just say she couldn’t tell the difference between the open glass door and the regular glass door.  So maybe birds aren’t the only ones with this problem.

I Really Need to Work on My Posture

I’ve realized that I slouch a lot.  And I think that it’s starting to take its toll…  So what I’m trying to do right now (right now meaning for the next couple of days or so) is notice when I slouch and try to correct it.

For one, I think I need to raise my monitor or something.  I think that is contributing to the problem at least in a small way.  I could probably use a more comfortable chair, but I don’t know how much that would really help.  And I think I also just need to work on posture when I’m doing other things like driving, walking, etc.  Last thing I want to do when I get older is become a hunch back because I hunched over so much!

Any tips on correcting posture?  I really don’t want to go to a chiropractor cause I’m not a big believer in what they do.  Sure the popping feels good for a minute or two, but does it really do anything long-term?  Try getting in a conversation about that with my dad sometime.  He’s a doctor so he’ll be very convincing that it doesn’t help a lot..  Anyway, I’m open for ideas!