25 Best

I've been thinking about it lately, and I decided to go through my music collection and try to choose my top 25 favorite albums. Let me tell you, it was hard! I chose the albums I thought were best, albums that flow nicely, the ones you never get tired of listening to. I decided not to count greatest hit cd's to make it a little easier, only actual albums. So here they are, my top 25 (in no particular order).

American Beauty - Grateful Dead

Closing Time - Tom Waits

Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

Dire Straits - Dire Straits

First Demo Tape - Minor Threat

Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

L.A. Woman - The Doors

Electric - The Cult

Let It Be - The Beatles

Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

All Good Things: Studio Sessions, Run For The Roses - Jerry Garcia Band 

MTV Unplugged - Alice In Chains

Wildflowers - Tom Petty

Reckoning - Grateful Dead

The London Years - The Rolling Stones

Days Of The New 1 - Days Of The New 

The Wall - Pink Floyd

Alice - Tom Waits

Aqualung - Jethro Tull

Cheating At Solitaire - Mike Ness

Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan

Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine 

Blood Stained Hitz - Agent Orange

August And Everything After - Counting Crows

American Woman - The Guess Who

Death of a Romantic and Other Happenings

It appears that I may need to clear up a few myths. I have been waiting to write about this for a while, just to make sure. In my typical fashion, I write or say that I'm not in love anymore...and the next day or so I fall in love again. But that is not the case now. It's been three whole months since I've been in love. I don't know when or how it happened, but one day I realized I wasn't romantically interested in anyone. Don't get me wrong, I find many women very attractive and really fun to be around, but I'm just not interested in romantic relations with any. I don't feel like I can flirt anymore either (and maybe I can't). To be honest, the whole thing is really quite freaky. Doesn't make any sense to me. Oh well, it's not like I'm going to get married any time soon, so it probably doesn't matter all that much. I just want friends right now.

Other Happenings. Life has been whack lately. The last month or so, I feel like I've been living in a dream or something. Most things don't seem to affect me. Also I don't really know what to say anymore about anything. I've been more depressed than I generally am, but life has been really hard for me the last seven or so months, for various reasons that I won't mention. And my memory, something terrible has happened to my memory. I forget so much more than I used to. I've had the strangest of moods ever! Like in Seattle this past week. Also, when did I learn so much about baseball? I have become so much more serious in the last couple of months. Maybe more mature and boring too. Certainly less funny. Geez, I feel like I've been alienating myself from the world. But I haven't been doing anything different than I always used to do. I can't figure out whats happened. I still read my scriptures and pray every day. I don't do any drugs, so that certainly isn't it. Hmm, maybe I'm going through puberty again (Sure hope not!). Or my midlife crisis. Guess I'll only live to be 34. Whatever is happening though, I wish it would STOP!

The Way Life Goes

Things have been strange lately. I have zero desires to be wild. I also don't care about having attention either, which is a big part of why I blog a lot less now. I used to have to brag and tell everyone about everything I was doing, a real attention whore. Ha ha yeah, that's what I was. But these days, I'm happy to roll on the more unnoticed side. I mean heck, I just went to Mexico for a week, and only like 20 people total even knew I went. Think I may be starting to slip back into one of my little anti-social phases. Which I kind of enjoy, I usually just do a lot of art. My creativity levels seem to spike during these anti-social sessions. Another thing is somewhere in the last month or so I've gained great amounts of self discipline. For the past few weeks, I've written in a journal every day (among other self disciplinary things). That's something I've always had problems with being able to do. And homework, I've been cranking it out like crazy. Which leads to another thing. Timing. Timing has been wild for me lately, all my plans have been working out (knocks on wood). First there was the School play. That ended just in time so that I could make my poster for the Senior Luncheon and then run off to Mexico. I got back from Mexico the night before the Senior Luncheon. I then had a day to finish all of my Finals for classes. This Saturday I'm going to the Provo Temple ground breaking, and that night seeing Social Distortion. The 18th is Graduation, the 20th is Seminary Graduation, and the 21st I leave for Seattle on a school trip. So I've been able to do everything without having to choose priorities. Another thing is, I've been super relaxed. Haven't really been stressed out in the last few months. I'm just kind of doing my own thing these days. Not worrying about what others think, and not getting involved in too much drama. The only thing is: I just need to figure out what I'm going to do all summer.

Adventures In VW Land

Life has been crazy lately. Filled with madness and loads of work. I've been all over the place, doing all kinds of things. But for the moment, I'm only going to tell you about my new ride. A few months ago, my dad and I drove out to the middle of nowhere, near Vernal Utah. We were picking up a V.W. Vanagon Bus. My dad has a V.W. Syncro (the 4 wheel drive version of the Vanagon). So we went to buy this one for parts. After hauling it back, we decided "why not see what it would take to get it running?". So a few months later we took it to the mechanic, got it checked out. And guess what? It turns out, it does run. Actually, it runs better than my dad's bus. So we put a little work into it, new windshield, seat belts, a new exhaust system, all that good stuff to get it street legal. But while we were slowly getting that done, one day we were off driving in the mountains and long story short...got into a cop chase! Now I'm not going into any detail, cause you never know when Big Brother might be listening, but we narrowly escaped. It was wild! Anyways, This car is super sweet! I love driving it. It's a 1984, and it has the giant sunroof. And when I say giant, I mean giant! it takes up at least half of the roof space. It's not the prettiest car at the moment, still needs a bit of work. But it sure as heck is fun to drive. Also, it's really weird driving our other cars now, because they're automatic and it isn't, plus the bus has a much larger steering wheel than any of our other cars. Here's a picture of it.

My mom decided I needed to have one of those cheesy graduation postcard things to send to everyone. So I said "Fine! but only if I get to wear my kilt". So we took this picture amongst others. But that's what it looks like.

Luckily I should have some free time in about two weeks, so I'll get around to telling a few more tales of my recent adventures. Until then

Wish Me Luck

Wish Me Luck

My soul weepeth and cringe

in love’s pure true delight.

For today it is realized that I,

I have been dug a shallow grave

By the hands of mine own accordance!

Foul wretch am I!

As to betray this heart.

To drown it in the cold, of deceits own sorrowing mansions.

Tis grievance that I should hide such passionate concern!

For she be the maiden most fair Mine eyes hath ever falled upon.

Aye, She be the one my heart doth truly know.

I fear it too late.

I’ve gone astray, misplaced her care.

prithee, how canst I win it back?

Tis lost I dread, Tis lost I dread.

No. Nay.

There is but a fool’s hope left!

nom nom yom yom?

Guys! life has been super crazy lately, but I have all kinds of stuff to write about...just not the time. But I'll get around to it soon. Hopefully! so don't give up on me

General Conference

Earlier this past week, like Monday or Tuesday, I was told that my grandpa had three tickets to conference. So Mckinley, my Mom and myself went to the Saturday evening session. We got there a bit early, so we could get seats and all that. Parked the car, and started walking. There were so many people going to it! It was like a huge mob. Thousands of people walking up and down the streets in their sunday finest. It was really a super cool thing to see. I personally like big crowds of people, they don't freak me out at all. But this crowd was particularly nice. There was a general excitement in the air. And I mean, there should be! We were all going to hear the Prophets, Apostles, and other Authorities of the church. Kind of a big deal. So we got to the door we were supposed to wait at, stood there for a minute and then they started letting us in. The process was super easy, and all of the volunteers were really nice. The moment I walked in the actual Conference room doors, I was blown away! That place is freaking huge! There were so many people there. And the Choir! oh my gosh. The choir for that session was from the MTC. They sounded amazing, and the acoustics in there are marvelous. I've never really cared much for choirs, to be honest. But that changed my whole perspective. One of the coolest things about the experience though was when the First Presidency came in, everyone stood up, and the whole place went silent. Then the session began and we got to do the sustainings, which was also pretty neat. I'm going to have to say though, that my favorite part was when the choir and congregation all stood up and sang "Called To Serve" together. That was definitely a highlight of my life. Eventually, the session was winding down, and I was sitting there thinking "I hope they sing "Praise To The Man" and what do ya know? that was the closing hymn! I was so excited about that! Cause it's one of my very favorites. After The session was over, we headed over to the City Creek mall, along with 10 bijillion other people for dinner. We ended up going to Kneaders. Man, all the restaurants there had to have made so much money during conference! Every restaurant had a line of at least 40-50 people. We had to eat super quick, I actually ate walking back over to the Conference center, since I was going to the Priesthood session with my Grandpa Lyon, and Uncle Greg there. 

      So many men in suits! It looked like a giant mob. If you were a foreigner, and happened to be visiting Salt lake during that time, you'd probably be freaked out, and terribly confused. I kept looking around, trying to find other guys wearing bow ties. But I only ever found three other people wearing one. Apparently bow ties aren't that popular at conference. I never did see anyone else wearing a Tux either. So I kind of stuck out a little. Got a few comments about it too. Anyways, The Priesthood session was pretty neat too. Heard lot's of good stuff I need to work on. 

     Over all, It was a really cool experience. I'm glad I got to go. It was my first time ever attending Conference in person too. And hopefully not my last!