Things I Have Learned

My Niece and Nephew are a crazy pair. If I ever happen to be there as they get out of school, I get to hear everything they learned that day. It keeps me sharp, keeps me informed and its a great way to pass the afternoon when it takes them twenty minutes to tell me how the spelling test went that day, or how the teacher lost her cellphone. An animated duo for sure.

It got me to thinking, and eventually led to this posting. I dont post much anymore, and I think it is due to the fact that I dont have as much going through my head as usual. Regardless, here is my list of what I have learned in life so far.


-No matter how much I care, some people just dont care back
-You cannot make someone love you
-No matter how thin you slice it, there is always two sides
-My sense of humor has never failed me
-Its a lot easier to react than to think
-Either you control your temper or it controls you
-Death is final...there is no time out, no take backs and no do-overs
-My best friend and I can do anything or nothing and still have a great time
-Learning to forgive takes practice, learning to forget is impossible
-Writing can ease emotional pain
-The word Love loses it value when overly used
-A lie that brings a smile is much better than the truth that brings a tear
-Credentials on a wall do not make you a decent human being
-I understand more everyday
-Imagination through a childs eyes is beauty
-Love is a four letter word
-Everyone looks at you differently, its how you look at yourself that matters
-People's opinions are just that...opinions. They change nothing
-World Peace will never exist in our time, or the times of our children
-You can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes, after that you better know something
-The people you least expect to kick you when youre down, are usually the first
-No matter how crushed you become, the world does not stop for your grief
-Nudity is art in its purest form
-Building emotional walls is the best form of self preservation
-I have less than infinite patience for stupidity and crap
-A spoonfull of sugar does NOT make the medicine go down
-Tolerance is personal. Its not a public forum
-If children are our future, our President will someday be showing his underwear to the world
-Being "PC" is not always the best route
-Not everyone will agree with the above statement
-My list will never be complete

This is just a few examples. Everyone has their own list, and i would be curious to see yours. Writing something like this forces us to be honest with ourselves, and lets face it...we arent always honest with ourselves. If you read any of these and nodded your head (yes I was watching), than thats good. If you frowned and said "Not me", than re-read the one about no patience for crap. This list could go on, but I see no reason to drag it out. It is what it is.

Happy reading, thank you for your comments, and best wishes to you all. May the force be with you

We Can't Forget

Today is September 11th. A day that will, as Franklin Roosevelt said of Pearl Harbor, live in infamy. On this day at approximately the time this blog was written, our nation was attacked by Islamic terrorists. It is a day no one who was there, or anyone who witnessed the horror on tv, can or ever will forget. In all, 2993 people lost their lives that fateful day, including the 19 terrorists responsible. Over 90 nations were represented in the death tally. It is not something we can ever forget.

Every year we are asked to "remember". How can we not? The Government has declared today an official holiday, and anyone with a calendar can see what today is. The newspapers, television news, and the radio remind us hourly of what today is, and the importance it holds. Im not saying we should forget. Im not in any way suggesting we should place this in the closet with our other memories and only take it out once in a while and look at it for the sake of remembering. What I am saying however is this..I feel it is time for America to move on. It is time for America to rebuild and grow from this.

I cringe still at the images and video surrounding that day. To awaken to such horror was, and still is, beyond the belief of any free American alive. To be attacked so brutally on our own soil was so incomprehensible and unheard of. To be shown how vulnerable we can be was not acceptable to anyone who truly loves this Country. So many statements, and so many things have been said about today, that in many ways it is reminiscent of Pearl Harbor. We were betrayed. We were caught off guard. We were made to cower and fight back after the fact.

I see all the news reports, both online and on television, and I cant help but think this...How do the families who lost loved ones that day feel about having their pictures and stories paraded about every year? What are they going through by being reminded yearly what it is they truly lost? At least one news channel displays the names of those that perished on this day every year. At least one radio station displays a moment of silence for the fallen and the brave. I dont want us to forget them, but I feel the families involved have earned a little privacy by now.

Unfortunately on this day, all we do hear about is the families who lost, and the stories of bravery and courage immediately afterward. What we do not focus on are the thousands who have given their lives freely, and perished in the war to end terrorism. What we are failing to remember are the brave men and women who are in harms way daily, and who fight without reserve to protect the country we love. The policemen, firemen, soldiers, border guards, and other military and emergency personnel who protect us silently and without fail. To me, this deserves as much attention and recognition as does the unthinkable act of 9/11.

Please take this blog with a grain of salt. I can be, and have proven to be an outspoken person before, and I wont change that to administer to the few. My personal opinion is just that...mine. I dont ask that you agree with me, but I do ask that you state your opinion. Something that is uniquely yours and cannot be taken from you. I know I will never forget today and what happened. This is and always will be the biggest "ripple in the pond" America will ever know. For those personally affected by this tragedy and the outcome thereof, my deepest sympathies. For those that mourn today as a loss of innocence, I mourn at your side. Let us use today to do as we are asked. Volunteer some time, remember EVERYONE who lost their lives that day and the days following. Thank someone you know who serves in emergency services or may have been at the site serving in rescue efforts.

Peace be with you all, and let us hope we never see a repeat of what we have already gone through once.

The Big 2 0

Ok, so this last weekend we had our big 20th reunion, and as far as I was concerned it was great. The food was good, the Madrigals were spot on, and the company was the best a person could ask for. I saw so many people I had not seen in years. Some I did not get the chance to talk to, and others I wasn't really wanting to talk to. I re-connected with old friends from my old neighborhood, and made friends I didn't have in school. All around though, it was a success.

First off there are people to thank. Delaina Cales Tonks, Kami Taylor Latimer, Jennefer Hill Free, Lisa Foster Wilson, Amy DeSpain Butterfield, Troy Muir, Laurie Ramirez, and the others I am most certain to have forgotten to name. A very special thanks goes to Julie Hansen Williams for giving her time to take pictures of us all...gotta love the candids.

The biggest and best hug award goes to Lisa Foster Wilson...by far the best hug I have ever received in my life. The least changed award would have to be a close tie. Between Carol Gervais and Kami Taylor Latimer. It was hard to tell either of them had been out of school for 20 years. So many of you still look wonderful. A small touch of grey here or a slight wrinkle there befitting our age, but wonderful still.

I was slightly dissapointed that the "Sexcaliburs" had been canceled, as I had planned on making a total fool of myself for the sake of entertainment. Oh well, maybe at the 30th. And although I missed the beginning, due to a stopover to celebrate Laurie's farewell, I had fun. It was neat to hear what some had been up to, and not surprising what some had chosen as a carreer. I wish Laurie all the best and all the love in the world. Dr. Ramirez will make a fine Professor.

I am glad it is over, but for some odd unexplained reason, I already begin the countdown to the 30th. I look forward to it and expect it to be a blowout. Congratulations goes to Kerri Phillips who will be heading the committee, and I offer any help I can give to her. I know there are many of you I plan on keeping touch with over the next several years, but there are many I look forward to connecting with even more. So here's to another 10 years, and the anticipation leading up to it.

Best wishes to you all, your friendship will never be forgotten. I thank you as always for reading and for any comments you have to share.

Brandon

Must watch T.V.

Lately I have been bothered by the never ending trend of reality tv. I don't watch it (except for my Hell's Kitchen), and I can't say I support it at all. What does it say about our society when we actually care that Spencer Pratt walked away from a show? Is it newsworthy that Joan Rivers cries like a baby when they boot her daughter from tv? It must be, because every news channel, and every radio station add it to their lineup of "celebrity" news. We have more than 1 billion people in the United States, and there are people going on television to find husbands and wives. Why? To me this says something about their character. It tells me that to them love is a spectacle best served weekly at 8 followed by re-runs of American Idol or Dancing with the Stars.

I know people who are addicted to reality tv, and I don't push my personal opinion on them. That's what great about living where we do...we have 230 channels to watch and the freedom to do so. Watch what makes you happy. I just don't like hearing about Speidi (Spencer and his "wife" Heidi), and I could honestly care less who was voted off the island for not eating the glazed beetle turd. Most of these are celebrities by name only. What have they contributed to entertainment exactly? Has Brody Jenner done anything with his life other than live off his Dad's Olympic name? Has Kim Kardashian actually worked a day in her life, or will she forever be known as the daughter of one of O.J. Simpson's defense attorneys until she runs out of money. So they have a sex tape, so they got caught speeding and driving while drinking. Everyday people do and we don't make the news for it. Because of their status however, the ending result is usually much less than it is for us.

It's even more of an insult to me when they run these shows nightly for a week, taking up programming time that could be used elsewhere. So there is a guy who can armpit fart the Star Spangled Banner...sign him up for a record deal. I like shows that make you think. Shows like House, Bones, CSI, and when these shows are forced on hiatus for weeks so that we can observe Celebrity Rehab, I get irritated. Most reality shows are a joke to me. How much goes on behind the scenes is never revealed until after. Big Brother puts people in a house to see if they can get along. Why wouldn't they be able to? There is no reason they couldn't unless the network purposely stirred things up for ratings.

I say reality tv needs a facelift. Take all the people who have lost, cried, whined, or been voted off and put them in one room. Release a tiger, an alligator, and a squirell and whomever is left standing is declared the winner. Their prize is they get to clean up the mess. Now that I would watch. I mentioned earlier that I am a fan of Hell's Kitchen. This is reality. These people are fighting for a place alongside one of the best chefs in the world, and they are using actual skills to do it. They vote like other shows, they compete like other shows, but there is nothing degrading about it. They aren't recquired to swim to the bottom of a lake, tickle an octopus till he giggles, than run barefoot backwards across wet sand wearing a clothespin on their eyelids to win. Gordon Ramsey is a tough cookie. He takes noting for granted and he turns 15 people into better cooks by shows end. In reality all contestants are winners for having worked with him. That is something worth watching to me.

So if I have offended you, sorry. If I made you look at reality televeison closer, good. Please read my blogs with an open mind and remember...I am funny haha..not funny hoho. If it makes you happy to see people dance like puppets and grin like fools...best to you. Until next time...thanks for reading...now THIS is reality.

Brandon

R.I.P.

As we all know, yesterday Michael Jackson died. Now as shocked as I was at the news, I am even more shocked at the outpour of support to his family at their time of grief. Don't get me wrong, I'm heartsick over his death, but what bothers me is this...these are the same people who turned their noses up at him when he was dragged through court a few years back. These are the same people who sat in their living rooms watching the news saying " I'm sure he's guilty...look at him, what a freak", and so on and so on. Now that he is gone, they come out of the woodwork in droves supporting him and all he accomplished in his life. Whatever. To each their own I suppose.

Michael Jackson became popular when I was in 8th grade. This boy down the street bought a cassette tape called Thriller. We listened to it in his bedroom one Saturday and I must admit...it was weird. I had never heard black music before and I was not sure if I liked it. Later that year my cousin Shane had a birthday party and his Mom had got a copy of the music video Thriller. Back then this was a huge deal. It was hard to find and widely popular. I knew the song from my previous experiences, but I had never seen the video. I was hooked. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. The dancing was breath taking. The gril in the video (Ola Ray) was gorgeous. And the voice of Vincent Price just cinched the deal for me...I was a Jackson fan.

Over the next 25 years I have seen Michael Jackson go from absolute top of the world to the bottom of people's shoes everywhere. He was the undisputed King of Pop. He wore a white glove, was married at one time to Elvis's daughter, and caught his hair on fire doing a Pepsi commercial. He invented the Moonwalk, grabbed himself a lot, and could hit notes higher than some Vienna Boys Choir singers. He was a public spectacle and often times the butt of their jokes. He changed his appearance over the years, and not many could get past that. He had a pet monkey, an oxygen tent, a childrens amusement ranch and wore masks over his face. Did this change who he was? No. He was still Michael Jackson. The man who purchased the entire library of Beattles music. The man who sold over 26 million copies of one album.

I have watched the news and read the reports. Its a suicide...accidental death...he planned it...Does any of that truly matter in the grand scheme of things? Not to me. There will never be another like him, and my heart goes out to his close friends and family. Their grief is now a worldwide media spectacle. There have been many tributes posted to him, and some wonderful things said about him. Lisa Marie Presley posted a MySpace blog that was beautiful and heartfelt. All I can say is this...remember him how you want to. Pay your tribute your way. Grieve and find peace in it. My best to you all, and as always, thank you for reading.

Brandon

Papa, can you read this??

OK, so it's Father's Day today, and like I did on Mother's day, I thought I would blog my Father into fame. Unlike Mother's Day, Father's Day was not always so. It was originally started in 1908 in a church in West Virginia, and observed in 1910 in Spokane. It was not made an official federal holiday until 1966 by President Johnson.

My Dad was born November 3rd, 1946. To those of you knowing your history, that was before paper, fire and electricity were invented. My Dad has had gray hair since I can remember, and like my Mother, blames his children. I'm just glad he has hair and there is no pattern for baldness there.

In his lifetime, he has had many different jobs. For 30 years he was a Deputy Sheriff and a soldier. He has also been a ward organist, pianist, choir member, scholar, amateur mechanic, unpublished author, scoutmaster and gardener. He has raised three children, and is currently helping raise two grandchildren.


I have learned much from my Father, like how to put out a campfire the Boy Scout way (ask your husbands if you are unfamiliar with this method). I have learned to love reading and appreciate music as well. As a youth, I would often times lay in bed listening to my pops play Chopin, or Beethoven on the piano. He still plays today, and I find it remarkable he can play by memory.

Growing up, my dad often worked two or three jobs. We would many times visit him working security at Harmon's, or take him dinner to the National Guard. These were fun times for us kids, and I remember them fondly. I was always proud of seeing him wearing his police officer uniform, and loved to hear the sound of the leather belt as it creaked when he moved.

My Dad likes reading, writing (I think he should blog), texas hold-em poker, camping (on four wheels), trivia, mexican food, diet coke, and burnt cookies. He has degrees in both education and music from more than one University. He knows the movie Men in Tights by heart, and loves to watch it any chance he gets. He has very big hands and loves palming basketballs whenever he can. He loves buffets, BYU football (we dont hold that against him), and hockey ( I think it's me who makes that sport fun). He is a graduate of Granite High School. where he met my Mother. We don't hold that against him either (the school, not meeting my Mom).

Since knowing my Dad is to understand him, let me tell you about two of my most painful, agionizing memories. Shortly after I had foot sugery when I was 17, we went to Washington D.C..We (I dont remember being in on this decision) decided it was best to see the sights by walking. We walked from Washington's Monument to Arlington Cemetary and back to the Smithsonian...IN ONE DAY !To this day I limp and walk in circles from the damage caused to my feet from all the walking (ok, not really). In 1986, my family and I went to British Columbia for the Worlds Fair. It was a blast. Coming home and crossing the Grand Coulee Dam, Dad took the turn a little sharp in the rented motorhome and ripped the stair completely off. We continued to drive completely across the Dam to the other side where I was volunteered to walk back across and retrieve the missing stair. I returned to the motorhome after my 19 mile walk (it was only 400 yards but seemed more at the time), only to discover we had to drive back the way we came anyway...thats right...across the Damn Dam.

My Father is a wonderful man and has worked his whole life to make sure his family wants for nothing. Other than my learned respect for walking, I have picked up a few other things along the way. I love trivia, reading, camping, music and a good laugh. All these can be attributed to my old man. Making him snot diet coke is one my favorite pastimes, and I must admit, I am the current undefeated champ. I share his middle name as does my son. He has done some very unique things in his life. He has played with Engelbert Humperdink (ask your parents), and Liberace. I love my Father very much, and owe him a great deal. I strive daily to make him proud, and there are times when I have failed. He has really taken to jackie and her brood, and for that I am grateful. I think she talks to him more than she talks to me ( I love you honey).

So to all you Fathers out there reading this..Happy Father's Day. To those of you not Fathers but reading anyway, I thank you. Love your families and love each other. Until next time....

Brandon

In Awe

Today I took a trip with my parents and my brother to see the traveling Vietnam Memorial being hosted in Ogden. Awe inspiring. To stand in front of 56,000 names of those who served our Country bravely and without question. My Mom's brother is on that wall. I have seen the actual one in Washington D.C., and although this one is 1/10 the size, it is no less of a reminder.

It got me thinking. I have never been one to be wowed or in awe over someone famous. In my life (so far), I have met Bill Cosby, Stephen King, John Elway, Mrs. Debbie Fields, Jeff Foxworthy, Eric Clapton, Ketih Urban, Steve Young, Toby Keith, and Condoleeza Rice. I have been personal security for Green Day, Gov. Michael Leavitt, and President Thomas S. Monson (before he was the President, but still very important). I have worked with and met members of the Steve Miller band, U2, Rolling Stones ( Keith Richards offered me a bottle of wine...several times), The Offspring, Marie Osmond, Michelle Branch, The Who, Ty Murray, Tuff Hedeman and Carrie underwood ( I babysat her dog for her). I have also met and worked with Governor Herbert, and Miley Cyrus ( a diva..truly). I know the actual identities of both the Jazz Bear and Buzz, the mascot for the Bees. I have met and swapped jokes with many Jazz players, and had the opportunity to meet Shawn Bradley. I have a friend who lives in L.A. and he treated me to lunch on Rodeo Drive one time..on Rodeo Drive. Two tables away from us were Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman. Neat, but not awe inspiring. I guess you could say I've been there and done that.

What truly inspires me and makes me smile are those who put their lives on the line daily for the benefit of others. The Policemen and Women, Firefighters, Soldiers, Teachers, and anyone else who makes a genuine difference in this World. I salute you all. I never served in the military, and to have seen the 56,000 names on that wall made me proud to live in the Country I do. I want to take the time and thank them all, for everything they do and have done. Without the sacrifices made daily by these fine folks, I dare not think where our coutry would be today.

Best wishes to you all, and have a safe and happy Memorial Day. As always, thank you for reading and for being who you are.

Brandon

School's Out !

We have fast approached the hallowed part of any childs life...the last day of school. For you parents it means entertaining them, for the kids it means freedom. Family vacations, trips to National wonders and amusement parks are I'm sure in order. But how can you keep them entertained in the meantime? Well, I love to read, and I'm frequently asked for ideas on books or authors. I went to the local library and stole a handfull of their free brochures, and this blog is for your kids. I thought I would leave you with some ideas on books they may (or may not) enjoy reading.

The most recent popular series of books have been hands down, the Twilight series. I read them, and they are not half bad. I know most of you have read them, salivate at the prospects of being one with Edward, and are dancing in one spot even now waiting the next movie release. Well, these books are along that same genre. These books contain vampires, werewolves, and other paranormal beings. They come highly recommended by the Salt Lake County Library ( I know, whoop-de-doo).

Thirsty by M.T. Anderson...A teen struggling to be normal finds himself turning into a vampire

Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes...A 17 year old girl, descending from a long line of vampire-hunting witches pursues an ancient bloodsucker.

Bloodline by Kate Cary...A 19 year old returning from WWI is haunted by dreams...and not those from the war.

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz... A 15 year old girl finds herself craving raw meat..a death at the school proves vampires may indeed exist.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova... The story of a young woman who finds she may be a direct descendant of Vlad the Imapler.

Werewolf Rising by R.L. LaFever... A 13 year old boy learns he is a werewolf and is being hunted by fanatics bent on his demise.

Vampire High by Douglass Rees... Cody finds his new school is stranger than any he has known..including his new friend, a wolf that shows him around.

Those are just a few of the titles listed. There are in fact many more. I have a complete list, or you may pop into your local library for one. Next though I thought I would throw out some more books. The following list is all teen romance (yuck).

Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott... Three cousins look for romance and hot guys while vacationing in Maine.

24 girls in 7 days by Alex Bradley... Dozens (at least two anyway) respond to an ad for a prom date.

Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging by Louise Rennison...a teenage version of the popular Bridget Jones.

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson...Anna flees England to escape the Russians, hiding her aristocratic background, she falls for her employer.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris...a young man, raised by a troll, meets an unhappy princess and foils the Kings dastardly plot.

Boy Proof by Cecil Castalucci...Victoria hides behind the identities of movie characters until a new boy shows her there is more to life than movies.

Now finally, we come to some serious reading. These books are all historical in nature.

Tiger, Tiger by Lynn Reid Banks... Two tiger cubs are taken to Rome. One fights in the Coliseum while the other becomes a pet for the Emperor's daughter.

Blood Red Horse by K.M. Grant... Will and his horse answer the call of King Richard to go on a Crusade.

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer... A look into the life of Mary Tudor's troubled childhood as daughter of King Henry VIII

Surprising Cecilia by Susan and Denise Gonzales...Set in the Great Depression, Cecilia finds high school in New Mexico much to her liking.

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac... During World War II, Ned joins the army as a Navajo code talker..this book was made into a movie called Wind Talkers.

Well, that gives you some ideas anway. There are a few different genres, and some good reads listed. I have read some of these myself, and I wouldn't put them here if I didn't think them worthy. I hope your kids enjoy their well earned break, and I hope they don't drive you to the madhouse. Mark Twain once said "A man who does not read good books holds no advantage over the man who cannot read". I agree with that, and my wish is to see more young people picking up books and putting down the video controllers and the cell phones. Thank you again for reading, and try and keep your sanity...even if it means cleaning dog hair off a boat. Until next time....

Brandon

Mother

Mother's Day was created by Anna Jarvis and put into law becoming a National holiday by President Woodrow Wilson. It's not as old as you may think. Back in the 16th century however, Mothering Day was celebrated in the U.K., and even that can be traced back to very early pagan or Christian rituals. We know it today as a day to honor our Mothers. For their sacrifices, like the 56 hours of labor (if we are to believe them), or all they have done for us along the way. However you celebrate it, remember to honor your Mother the best way that you can.

This brings me to the heart of my blog today. My Mother. She is a kind, affecionate, caring, demanding, and often times a devious woman who knows more than she lets on. For example, one New Years Eve I went out with some friends. I was told to be home by 11:00 and being New Years Eve, I decided to stay out till after Midnight. The next morning I awoke to find my drivers license on the counter...cut up into 60 very neat little pieces. I learned then the value of keeping curfew.

I have learned much from my Mom. Including but not limited to how to cook, how to hang my clothes properly (if they weren't hung right, they were taken from the hanger and I got to try again), my beyond excellent penmanship ( if it couldn't be read, it was re-written), and the fine art of being domesticated. Yes, thanks to my Mother, I now know how to take out the trash and do dishes. My Mom has always been there, through tough times and good.

In her life she has experienced a lot. She has had a tree dropped on her head resulting in a concussion... she took an aspirin and went back to work. She has made very, and some would consider too close, friends with a jumping cactus. She has suffered through camping trips in trailers that would leak, an epileptic dog, more car accidents than she has fingers (she still has all ten), and three children who she claims gave her gray hair ( I blame my sister for all of it). She lost her Brother in Vietnam, and has had to live with the loss of a Grandchild. She has stood by two of her children through divorce and the heartache it has brought. She has been a cafeteria worker, a night shift supervisor, a day care director and she is currently a teacher with Granite School District. She works with mentally and physically disabled children.

One of my fondest memories of my Mother is making cookies when I was younger. Our favorite ( and mine still to this day) were Snickerdoodles. We would make enough to feed a small army, and spend a great deal of the day rolling little dough balls. She spent many hours making cookies for neighbors (ask me someday about the 12 days of Christmas cookies), and always has a good recipe to share. She likes to eat fresh peas from the garden, and she cheats at cards...how else can you explain never losing?

She can gamble all weekend in Wendover (or anywhere else for that matter) on just $20. We can often find her sitting at the same machine we left her on Thursday when we are ready to leave on Sunday. Every Christmas is an orgy of gifts. She goes out of her way to make it the best for all involved. Wether it's wrapping 300 pounds of books for my Dad (all in one box mind you), or stopping to get a brick from a torn down building to give to someone who worked there, there is always a surprise or two. Most years she goes without. She is not an easy person to shop for. Whenever a Birthday or Chirstmas approaches we all scramble for ideas. Dropping hints to one another at what we think she might like. I think I can honestly say my siblings and I surprised her this year by sending her 200 flowers for Mother's Day. I learned my lesson a few years back though...my Brother and I got the idea of Christmas lists..you know, write down what you would like or need, and we dispersed them among the family. My Mother got hold of one of these and we recieved everything we had jotted down. Last year though, the lists didn't contain much, and she still managed to fill it all.

Now not every Mother is like Carol Brady (thank God for that one), and not every Mother is like Roseanne. They are all different in their own ways, and that is what makes them truly unique. Mine is always telling me "you're not funny". My Mother has seen me through some very difficult times and I know that she will always be there. She is the strength and the glue that keeps our family together. She has done so much in her life to be proud of, and I wouldn't be what I am today without her support and love and her guidance. I thank her for everything she has done, all she has taught me, and for never giving up. I love my Mother more than she knows, and will always look forward to our next Snickerdoodle adventure.

To all you Mommies and wives out there...Happiest of Happy Mother's Day. I appreciate you reading, and hope that you find yourself in bed trying to eat breakfast surrounded by your family jumping on the bed. It is what you deserve and what you are entitled to. My best to you all.

P.S. Mom, if you're reading this...that wasn't really me hiding in the back of Dave Kettles truck when we were supposed to be at school...I swear it wasn't.

Hats !!

At work today I happened to glance at myself in the mirror. Not something I do often, but enough to know I dont have stray hairs or perhaps things on my face that shouldn't otherwise be there. I saw the usual... the graying around the edges, the laugh lines around the haunted eyes, and the baseball hat. I wear a baseball hat to work daily. It not only keeps my very short and cropped hair out of my eyes, but it keeps the welders sparks from making me look like Michael Jackson after a gone-wrong Pepsi commercial. It made me think...hats...we all wear them. In one form or another. Not always baseball hats either.

In my lifetime I have worn baseball hats, cowboy hats, winter hats, and many many others. I have worn the hats of responsibility too. You know, the hats that say "manager" or "supervisor". I have worn other hats as well..Father,caregiver, friend, lover, partner (in crime or otherwise), handyman, advisor, amateur psychologist, artist, and of course...author.

I have worn many personal hats. As mentioned above, I at one time wore the hat labeled "father". I dont wear that hat anymore. I have worn hats labeled son, uncle and brother. The brother one came much later in my life. Not until my brother got married did we really, truly connect. At no fault of his.

In my personal or employed life I have worn hats labeled busboy (Po' Folks), dishwasher, stocker, cook, bartender, and many as flashy as "senior assistant manager" or perhaps "store manager" or my all time favorite "glorified babysitter". Recently I was wearing the hat labeled security...just another babysitter position..but one where you can beat the children when they get out of line. I have worn a lot of hats for sure.

Many of you wear hats daily. Some of you wear the hat labeled husband or wife. Some of you wear the hat labeled scholar (congrats Dr. Ramirez...job well done). Others perhaps wear the hat marked musician, or athlete. Some of you wear a hat that says "owner". And there are a few of us that even have a hat that says grandparent.

I will never be accused of wearing a hat that says politician or even religious fanatic...there are enough people in this world already wearing those hats. I dont know that I will ever wear the hat labeled husband either..that one scares the hell right out of me. But whatever hat I do choose to wear, I always try to wear it right. Even if at times it appears slightly crooked, it is still on my head for a reason.

So, as I end another blog, I tip my hat (the author one) to you all. Thank you so much for reading, and for all your wonderful comments. I am currently wearing the hat of romantic...it is after all almost Mother's Day. It doesnt hurt that she is the light in my dark world. I wish you all well, and remind you to take your hats off once in awhile...its good for you!

Who Did Start The Fire??

Ok, so today I was listenin to my IpoD at work like I do everyday, and one of my favorite songs came on. It is "We Didn't Start The Fire", by Billy Joel. I'm sure most if not all of you know the song. It is a list of events in his life. Starting with the year he was born and working to the year the song was released. There are so many events listed...Disneyland, the Kennedy Assassination, Space Flight, and The Cola Wars among others. Important and interesting. It is his legacy. His claim to History and what it has left us. So here I was singing and dancing and it hit me...why not write down the events of my life? My, or I should say OUR legacy. So for all of you born around the same year I was, this is for us. For those of you reading who are perhaps older (Hi Pops), your legacy stretches further, and entails so much more. So without any more blabber and even less ado, let us begin our walk through History.

1971
I was born August 19th of that year. China joined the UN that year as well. On November 14th, the NASA Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. The Soviets followed a month later with Mars 2 and Mars 3. Cigarettes were no longer advertised on TV that year..they had been banned. And Greenpeace was formed.

1972
HBO was luanched. Nike running shoes are introduced. Governor George Wallace was shot. The EPA banned DDT that year. In June of that year, the Watergate burglary was committed. A 15 year old boy named Bobby Fischer beats Russia to win the world chess championship. In December of that year, Eugene Cernan was the last man to walk on the moon.

1973
UPC Barcodes are first used. The Opera House in Sydney, Australlia opens. Nixon releases the Watergate tapes and the Bahamas gain their Independence from Brittain. Tower number 2 of the World Trade Center opens. The Vietnam war ends and all troops are pulled out by President Nixon. On November 13, the third and final SkyLab was launched. It landed later the next year.

1974
On August 8th, President Richard M. Nixon resigns the Presidency. Patty Hearst was abducted. The Heimlich maneuver was developed. Beverly Johnson becomes the first black model for Vogue magazine. Gerald Ford pardons tricky Dick and grants amnesty to all draft dodgers. Babe Ruth's long standing home run record falls to Hank Aaron. Evil Kneivel attempts to jump the Snake River in Idaho only to fall 600 feet. It is the first of four attempts. India tests its first nuclear bomb.

1975
Lyme disease was first discovered. Saigon falls to Communism. Disposable razors are introduced. Jimmy Hoffa vansihes. New York City is bailed out by the Federal Government. Microsoft is founded. The Alaska pipeline begins. After a 19 month search, Patty Hearst is arrested. The first joint US-USSR space mission, the Apollo-Soyuz is launched.

1976
Apple Computers is launched. Betamax and VHS VCR's are released. Ebola outbreak in Africa (it exists still today). The Viking probe lands on Mars, and West Point admits women. Oh yeah, and it's America's 200th Birthday.

1977
The first MRI is used. Red Dye no.2 is banned. The Son of Sam is arrested in New York. On May 3rd, the Alskan pipeline is completed. On August 16th, Elvis Presley is pronounced dead at Memphis Hospital. The treaty to return the Panama Canal is signed by President Carter, it was returned to the country on December 31, 1999. The first black Miss Universe is crowned. President Carter pardons all Vietnam draft dodgers.

1978
Garfield the cat is syndicated. The first ultrasound was used. Hustler publisher Larry Flynt was shot and paralyzed. 900 people drink a fruit-flavored cyanide drink in the Jonestown Massacre. The first test-tube baby is created, and Atlantic City allows gambling.

1979
Iranian students storm the Us Embassy holding 52 hostages for 444 days. This will be Jimmy Carter's undoing. The first Susan B. Anthony dollar coin is released. Sony Walkmans are marketed. The final SkyLab falls into the Indian Ocean. On February 11th, the Ayatollah Khomeini takes power in Iran. The federal Gov't grants $100 million to the Sioux nation in land reparations. Mother Theresa wins the Nobel Peace Prize. The Soviets invade Afghanistan. On September 7th, ESPN makes its debut.

1980
Post-it notes are marketed by 3-M. Dallas debuts on TV and is an instant hit. Mark David Chapman shoots and kills John Lennon. Mt St. Helens erupts, killing 60 people and coating five states in ash. CNN is launched as the first news network. Small Pox is considered eradicated. The Us boycotts the summer Olympics in Moscow, but the US goes on to beat Russia in Hockey for the Winter Olympic games. Insulin is gentetically engineered.

1981
The Columbia becomes the first launched space shuttle. Luke and Laura get married on General Hospital..it becomes the most watched wedding until Charles and Diana. The first DeLorean rolls off assembly lines. On August 1st, MTv launches...music will never be the same. The American hostages are released in Iran after 14 months. Pac-Man is introduced. On March 30th, Mark Hinkley attempts to assasinate Ronald Reagan.

1982
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" sells 30 million copies. The Tylenol scare. Ozzy bites the head off a live bat. Princess Grace of Monaco dies in a car accident. Liposuction is introduced. On March 5th, John Belushi dies of a heroin overdose. The Vietnam Memorial is erected in Washington D.C.. The first heart transplant takes place, the patient lives 112 days. Italy wins the World Cup in Spain.

1983
Camcorders are marketed. Cabbage patch kids are the craze. On February 4th, Karen Carpenter dies of anorexia. The final episode of M.A.S.H. airs and the advertising costs more than the Super Bowl. Compact Disc's are released. The US Embassy is bombed in Beirut. Australia wins the America's Cup after 132 years. HIV is discovered.

1984
The Cosby Show airs. Stonewashed jeans are introduced. The Soviets boycott the Olympics in Los Angeles. Indira Gandhi is assasinated. AIDS Virus discovered. Thanks to the FCC, the first "infomercials" hit the airwaves. Apple releases the first Macintosh personal computer. Geraldine Ferraro becomes first woman to run for a Presidential office (she ran for VP). Vanessa Williams becomes first African American Miss America...she is later de-throned when nude pictures surface.

1985
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes last President of Russia. Nintendo is introduced. Rock and Roll hall of fame opens. Rock Hudson dies on October 2nd..he is the first major public figure to succumb to the AIDS Virus. Crack cocaine appears. Leaded gass officially banned.

1986
January 28, the space shuttle Challenger explodes after liftoff. Chernobyl suffers the worst nuclear disaster in history. Haley's comet makes a return. The Statue of Liberty celebrates a 100th birthday. Martin Luther King day is celebrated for the first time. The Iran Contra scandal is reported in a Lebonese magazine in November. The Fox network airs. Boston sends all three of their sports teams to the "big games" (Red Sox, Celtics, and the Patriots.), with the Celtics being the only winners.

1987
On October 14th, baby Jessica falls down a well, she is rescued two days later. Margaret Thatcher is re-elected for her third term as Prime Minister. Condom commercials begin to appear on TV. Les Miserables debuts on broadway and wins 8 Tony Awards. On November 21, Demi Moore marries Bruce Willis. The World population reaches 5 billion people. Gary Hart and Jimmy Bakker are both rocked by scandal. The California Condor makes the Endangered Species List, with only 27 remaining.

1988
Prozac is introduced. Flight 103 is blown out of the sky over Scotland, terroism starts. Sony Bono becomes Mayor of Palm Springs. The Soviets finally leave Afghanistan. Human Genome project begins. Yellowstone National Park suffers a horrible fire, 35% of the park is burned. McDonalds opens in the USSR.

1989
On November 9th, the Berlin wall comes down. The Exxon Valdez crashes in Alaska spilling its contents into the water. On April 26th, Lucille Ball dies. June 3rd brought about the protests in Tienanmen Square...3000-7000 are killed. The fourteenth Dalai Lama wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles become an overnight sensation. Milli Vanilli returns their Grammy's after a lip synching scandal. On August 24th, Pete Rose is banned from baseball. Burma changes its name to Myanmar. Pan-Am files chapter 11. Geraldo Rivera gets his nose broken by a Nazi on his talk show.

1990
Smoking on Domestic flights is banned. Margaret Thatcher resigns. NC-17 bcomes a new movie rating. The Hubble telescope is launched into space. Clean Air Act is passed. The Americans with Dissabilities Act is signed (ADA). Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years. On May 10th, Jim Henson dies. The United States enters The Gulf War.

1991
"Magic" Johnson tests positive for the AIDS Virus. President Taylor is exhumed to determine wether he died of arsenic poisoning or not. Jeffrey Dahmer is arrested. Rodney King is beaten in Los Angeles. The World Wide Web is created on August 16th. Prince Charles and Princess Di split and dissolve their marriage.

1992
The "Teflon Don" John Gotti is convicted and sentenced. Johnny Carson retires from the Tonight Show. Hurricane Andrew hits Florida and leaves 250,000 homeless and 14 dead. The "Long Island Lolita" Amy Fisher pleads guilty to attempted murder and is sentenced to prison. Windsor Castle suffers a fire.

1993
Waco tragedy. February 26th, the World Trade Center is bombed. Michael Jordan retires. Lorena Bobbit is arrested for "chopping and lobbing". The Final epsiode of Cheers airs. Prince changes his name to a symbol. Wrestler and actor Andre the Giant dies. August ushers in the era of the Power Rangers.

1994
The Hubble telescope produces proof of Black Holes. Major League Baseball strikes. National Hockey League players locked out over salary disputes. Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed by rival Tonya Harding. The underwater "chunnel" between Brittain and France opens on May 3rd. On June 13th, OJ Simpson runs from the police after being suspected in a double homicide. Susan Smith drowns her two sons and lies on national Tv about the deaths. Kurt Cobain dies from a single gunshot wound to the head..it is ruled a suicide. Tiger Woods becomes the first minority and the youngest person to win the Masters. Richard Nixon dies at 81. Michael Jackson marries Lisa Marie Presley and Friends hits the air..lasting 1o years.

1995
April 19th brings us the bombing of the F Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma. October 4th OJ Simpson is found innocent. Jerry Garcia dies. Selena is murdered by her fan club President. Netscape debuts. Windows 95 is released. President Bill Clinton confirms Area 51 exists.

1996
The unabomber Ted Kaczynski is arrested. Ebonics is declared an official language. Tupac Shakur is shot and killed. The Olympics in Altanta are bombed. Lance Armstrong is diagnosed with cancer. Dolly, the cloned sheep exisits. Jon Bennet Ramsey is found murdered..a tragedy never solved. Madeline Albright becomes first female Secretary of State.

1997
"Heaven's Gate" mass suicide in California. Timothy McVeigh is found guilty of the Oklahoma bombing and sentenced to death. China assumes control of Hong Kong after 156 years under Brittish rule. Princess Diana is killed in a car accident. Gianni Versace is murdered in Florida. Titanic opens in the theaters and Harry Potter is published. Mother Theresa dies. Pokemon are introduced and Camel cigarettes removes Joe Camel as their spokesperson after he is more recognized by american youth than Mickey Mouse.

1998
The Price is Right airs its 5000th epsiode. Newt Gingrich resigns. John Glenn returns to space at age 77. Seinfeld ends. The International Space Station is launched. After 2o years Dale Earnhardt wins the Daytona 500. Disney opens the Wild Animal Kingdom in Florida. El Nino becomes a household name.

1999
April 20th, Columbine High School is attacked by two gunmen. It becomes the worst school tragedy in history, but not the last. Bill Clinton is acquitted. The Womens Soccer Team wins the World's Cup...Brandi Chastain is forever burned into the minds of all men worldwide. Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee divorce. The Elian Gonzalez battle begins...it dampens America's relationship with Cuba. George Harrison dies at 58. John F. Kennedy and his wife die in a tragic small plane crash. The "Great One" Wayne Gretzky retires. The attack of the boy bands begins and the Dream Team gear up for the Olympics. Y2K has everyone stocking up and in a panic...it proves bogus.

2000
Larry Linville (M.A.S.H.) and Tom Landry (Dallas Cowboys) die. Alan Greenspan is nominated for a fourth term. America Online purchases Time-Warner for $162 billion. The final Peanuts cartoon strip is released after the death of Charles Schultz (they are still printed, just not originals). Vicente Fox is elected President of Mexico. Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman in the Senate. Montgomery Ward closes its doors after 127 years in business.

2001
Microsoft releases Windows XP. Tropical Storm Allsion hits Houston briging 36 inches of rain and killing 22. The first self-contained artifical heart is transplanted. Barry Bonds breaks the single season home run record. Anthrax attacks are reported throughout the US. The World Trade Center Towers were brought down by airplanes. Almost 3,000 die in the worst terrosit attack on American soil in history. Enron files chapter 11. Three years after winning the Daytona 500 for the first time, Dale Earnhardt is killed while doing what he loved. Perry Como and Joey Ramone both die.

2002
Daniel Pearl is murdered in Pakistan. Princess Margaret dies after suffering a stroke. Operation Anaconda, the United States invasion of Afghanistan begins March 1st. Andrea Yeates drowns her five children in Houston and is found guilty. The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth dies at 101 years of age. Serena Williams wins her first of several French Opens. United Airlines files for bankruptcy.

2003
The World Health Organization issues the SARS warning. The United States invades Iraq. The "Old Man of the Mountain", a rock formation in New Hampshire crumbles after heavy rain. Pen Hadow becomes the first peron to walk alone from Canada to the North Pole. Dewey, the first cloned deer, is born. Arnold becomes the "Governator" in California. The Concorde makes its last commercial flight. A massive earthquake devastates southern Iran, killing over 40,000. The space shuttle Columbia breaks up uopn re-entry killing all aboard. Bob Hope, Barry White, Buddy Epsen and Katharine Hepburn all leave us.

2004
Facebook is founded in Cambridge, Mass. Athens, Greece sees its first snow storm in over 300 years. The Lord of the Rings ties the record with 11 wins at the Academy Awards. The US lifts a 23 year travel ban against Libya. Vladimir Putin wins his second term in office. Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse is shown on 60 minutes. The World War II memorial is dedicated in Washington D.C.. Hurricane Charley kills 27 in Florida, 4 in Cuba and is the worst hurricane since Andrew. Mount St. Helens becomes active again. Martha Stewart begins her 5 month stay at club fed. Michael Scumacher wins his 7th (5th consecutive) Formula One title..making him the winningnest driver in Formula One history. The Entertainment world loses Janet Leigh, Rodney Dangerfield, Christopher Reeve, and Tony Randall.

2005
Saudi Arabia holds its first ever municipal elections. The National Hockey League cancels the season over labor disputes. The BTK killer, Dennis Rader is apprehended in Wichita , Kansas 31 years after his first murder. Steve Fossett goes around the world non-stop and non-refueled setting a record. Pope John Paul II dies. The first airbus 380 makes its virgin flight. Kuwaiti women are granted the right to vote. The first Disneyland is opened in Hong Kong. Hunter S. Thompson and Sandra Dee (look at me) leave us.

2006
Marks the 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Saddam Hussein is sentenced to death by hanging ( he was executed December 30th). The Playstation 3 and the Wii are both released in the US. Not much else happened.


And as I have researched, not much of note has happened since. I apologise for this being the longest, most drawn out blog to date. I guess I got carried away. I find that so much has happened and so many events have changed the way we remember the past. No one will ever forget 9/11, or Columbine. And we will all remember where we were and what we were doing. It is our legacy, stories to be passed down to our kids and their kids. I hope this little look back was fun for you. There is so much i didn't post, and so much more that happened. I could have gone on forever. I thank you as always for being patient and for reading. I haven't posted in some time, so I had so much in my system to get out.

I promise the next post wont be so long....be good!!

Brandon

Its The Law ( I swear to God it is ! )

Well first and foremost Happy St. Patrick's day to you all ! May your Irish eyes always be smiling and the green be a one day thing for you.

Now to the real reason for todays mind numbing blog. I was thinking today about some of the more "out of date" and rather idiotic laws posted across this fine country and even throughout the world. So seeing as how the Legislature just ended their lawmaking session, I thought I would bring up some of the laws that will never be revised but should cause a chuckle or two anyway.

In Utah it is illegal to hunt whales

In Boise it is illegal to fish from the back of a camel

In Alaska it is illegal to wake a sleeping bear for the sole means of taking pictures

In Hawaii it is illegal to place coins in your ears

In Florida it is illegal to fish off a bridge while driving

In Kentucky throwing eggs at a public speaker could result in up to one year in prison

In Massachusetts all men are required to carry a rifle to church on Sunday, yet it is illegal to hunt on Sundays.

In California, no vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour

In Wyoming, you may not take a picture of a rabbit from January until April without a permit

In Georgia, donkeys may not be kept in bathtubs

Getting married on a dare is grounds for annulment in Delaware

Now that I have your attention, and possibly your eyes rolling, lets look at laws around the world and see how they compare shall we??

In Thailand it is illegal to leave the house without wearing underwear

In South Africa, you must first obtain a permit before purchasing a television

In Canada when you are released from prison it is required that you are given a handgun with bullets and a horse so you can ride out of town.

In Denmark, no one may start a vehicle while someone is still under it

Addressing a pig as Napolean in France is a no no

It is illegal in Switzerland to flush the toilet after 10 p.m.


And finally...In Ireland Any person who shall pretend or exercise to use any type of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment, or pretend knowledge in any occult or or craft or science shall for any such offense suffer imprisonment at the time of one whole year and also shall be obliged to obscursion for his/her good behavior. ( And here I thought magical Leprechauns came from there...aye)


Tip your glasses (whatever it be), dance like no one is watching (although they are), and sing Danny Boy at the top o' your lungs. A Happy and safe St. Paddy's Day to ye me fine lads and lasses. Im off to beat the lil bugger for his Lucky Charms...

I Don't........

A Warning to those easily offended..read no further.!!!

I Don't like change
I Don't sing
I Don't dance
I Don't want to be alone
I Don't want sympathy
I Don't like crowds
I Don't believe in God
I Don't fear death
I Don't like stupid people
I Don't like shaving
I Don't like my job
I Don't believe in Love anymore
I Don't think children should be medicated
I Don't like baggy pants
I Don't believe most people
I Don't take care of myself
I Don't speak my mind as much as I should
I Don't Listen to Reggae
I Don't like poor service
I Don't want to be with anybody
I Don't control my anger easily
I Don't believe in Luck
I Don't celebrate my Birthday
I Don't think most people are funny
I Don't want to fly Frontier airlines ever again
I Don't want to talk about it
I Don't care if anyone reads this or not
I Don't think "The Church" should interfere in politics in Utah
I Don't put much value on my life
I Don't believe in Heaven or Hell
I Don't feel anything
I Don't show emotion
I Don't like cold weather
I Don't enjoy Holidays
I Don't believe in Love at first sight
I Don't think golf is a sport
I Don't feel like making anyone laugh anymore

The Tricks of a Memory

Lately many of us (me included), have been posting notes on our facebook pages asking others to recall memories of us through the years, or perhaps silly things they know about us. We have all answered our fair share of questionaires, and we have all endured the skeletons emerging from our prospective closets. I wont post one of those. I am not sure what people remember about me is what I remember from childhood. Or growing up for that matter. Im sure I would get the obligatory "you made me laughs", and the " You were so funny" comments, and that is all good and well. But I thought in order to really clear the cobwebs I would write what I remember.

I have been feeling old lately. Not in the sense that my bones ache and my memory is shot. Just old. Weary. Tired. For some reason I have been thinking a lot about my youth and the years that bring me to who I am today. In reality what I am writing here is a confession. Knowing that, if you turn back now you will never be the wiser and you can continue to see me as you do now. However, if you are truly ready...let's begin.

I was born August 19, 1971. I have one sister and one brother (he came many years later). I have been told by my parents on numerous occasions I spoke for both my sister and myself always. It was later discovered she was deaf. Not 100% mind you, but deaf enough to not hear a normal conversation. I dont remember our first house, but I do remember the house my parents still live in. Being a new neighborhood, there were many homes being built around us. One day while exploring, my sister and I slid down the just dug foundation of the house behind us (just a big ol' dirt hole ya'all) and became trapped. It was fun sliding down Im sure. However we had to be rescued because we couldnt climb back out. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I also remember the neighbor boy (david sperry, in fact) running around and falling in a hole in the ground. Inside that hole was a broken piece of clay pipe and it cut his leg darn near from ankle to knee cap. Those were the early years. Eventually all the holes were filled and more and more people moved in. Many still live there today.

As I grew older one thing about me never changed. My red hair. At first I saw nothing bad about this (I dont now either), but I later learned to despise it. Throughout Jr and Sr High School I was called "carrott top", "Duracell (copper top...get it??), and I heard all the fun time chants like " I would rather be dead than red in the head". So many clever people...I wonder what most are doing now? My elementary years were just as fun though without the chants and name calling. My second grade teacher introduced me to child abuse. I guess as I look back now I realise that even then I was too smart for my own good. I would finish my assignments in class sooner than the others, and being done and bored would proceed to goof off. This didnt bode well with my teacher. He started by locking me in the classroom closet to prevent me from disrupting class. When that didnt work (even then I was a master at mischief), he began to quiet me in other ways. If I finsihed early I was instructed to lay my head acoss my desk and be quiet...only then that gave him the chance to push my desk forward and slam my fingers between it and the desk in front of me. Thinking it was me causing the problems in class, my parents resorted to having a friend of my dads come in complete police uniform to speak with me about juvenile delinquency. I was even placed in resource. I felt like an instant outcast. I felt like I was bad. When it was discovered what was truly going on...well Mr Tolman doesnt teach school anymore. The next year I found J.R.R. Tolkien, I was removed from resource and I learned to play chess. All thanks to a wonderful librarian who saw more than a disruptive child in me.

The rest of elementary school went as it should. I found and lost friends. I sold cookies for the P.T.A, and I played marbles at recess. In 1983, I started Jr High School at Valley. It was a short walk from my house and the freedom was wonderful. On registration day I knew few people. I had no idea what a locker was. I also met my best friend and brother that day. This skinny little blonde haired boy walked up to me and asked "you got a locker partner yet?" I said "naw...you?"...well the rest is history. I lockered with that skinny little blonde haired kid for six years. our first year in Jr high was rough. New classes, new teachers, and bullies. Being as skinny as he was, he was a constant target both in class and out. I protected him when I could, but I couldnt stop him from getting his leg ripped open by a pair of track cleats. It happened in gym class day. One of our classmates had just finished running track and joined us for soccer. He kicked the ball and missed...taking the right leg of my new best friend right to the bone. He still has the ghostly scar as a reminder. Thanks for everything Veigh.

I soon graduated and went to High School. Im sure you know where too. If not I will tell you. Granger High. Fresh out of Jr High and lookin to be the big dogs. I went from thinking I knew something to quickly realising I knew nothing. The teasing and tormenting of me because of my red hair had started early on in seventh grade, so it was no surprise that it continued into the tenth. I was both physically and mentally happy that some of the jerks from Jr High had chosen to go to Taylorsville instead. I thought it would be different. It wasnt. One person in particular had it in for me. I wont mention names because he knows who he is. Thats all that matters. This boy would shove me, trip me, push me into the girls locker room (sorry ladies...I swear I remember nothing), and because by then I was wearing glasses, he would lick his fingers and wipe them across my glasses. It was both frustrating and aggrivating. I was always taught growing up that fighting was not an option. In reality, I was never taught to fight. I accepted my role in the hierarchy of the High School Dogma. I was noone. To that point I had actually been a rather quiet and reserved person. Sure I had the occasional outburst of humor, but nothing compared to my later years. It was then that I snapped...I changed...I morphed into a acne faced kid with red hair who just no longer gave a damn. I spouted off whenever I could. I mimicked and goofed off. I held nothing back. My humor became my best defense weapon. It was my shield, and later my sword. I called our rotund spanish teacher "NORM !!!". I told my art teacher that painting upside down was like peeing backwards...it made no sense ( I was shortly removed from the painting class). The bullying didnt stop...it just didnt bother me anymore. They would call me "Copper top", and I would respond with something equally as clever and earn a butt kicking or a punch in the arm. I disrupted classes...I made teachers sigh when my name showed up on the class register...I lived to make people laugh.

Now some of you reading this were in some of my classes. I also remember some of you giving me nasty looks when I screwed around. I dont blame you. You were there to learn, and I was there for....I look back now and realise I spent three years screwing around. I did some dumb things. I pulled some crazy stunts. All for a laugh. To those of you I may have offended...I apologize. To those of you that laughed...I thank you. I guess what Im trying to say is this...In all honesty, my High School years sucked. I had few friends. I had dates, but I was not popular. I looked at my yearbook the other day and was saddened by the fact that most of the signatures were from schoolmates younger than me. I took no time to get to know those my own age. I know some of you now better in the last year than I knew you then. Some of you I have never talked to, others I have thought about over the years and wondered about. Even the kids I grew up with in my own neighborhood terrorized me and therefore did not sign my yearbook either. It was like second grade all over again...I felt like an outcast. Im not saying I do now.

Since High School, I fell in love and was burned. I had a son and never saw him again. I have been stabbed and hit by a rapidly moving vehicle. I have scars...both the physical and mental kind. I didnt have a productive childhood. I didnt play sports because I didnt want to ask my parents for the money to do so. I always felt like a third wheel around some of my friends. In hindsight...I can see now why I tend to keep to myself. I dont go out often. I dont talk to many people. Its the biggest reason I find moving to California so comforting. I dont know anyone there so I would not be forced to perform. I can be myself...whoever that is. Dont worry about me...dont feel bad either. Im alive and my heart is filled now. I have a purpose in life and I regret little. My childhood bullies have all grown up and with any luck have children who are being bullied.

Peace Love and Happiness to you all.

Happy Valentine's Day

Its been some time since I last wrote in here, so I thought I would leave a quick message. Nothing special, just wanted to wish my loyal readers a very Happy Valentine's Day.

On the radio today they were talking about the big day when cupid aims and shoots. According to the latest records there were 1.6 million roses bought this year. Not bad in this economy. Of that total 97% of those were red. Of that total 60% were produced in California. Thats good to know for me. I will know where to look next year. Now before you wonder what I meant by that, let me explain. I was set and ready to send my beloved roses..it didn't happen the way I would have liked it to. You see, my dearest went to Puerto Rico and there was to be noone home to recieve them. It's ok really. She had the chance to go somewhere she has not been and I would never deny her that. She deserved the rest. I hope she had a great time.

Now they were also discussing the top ten romantic movies and according to rental and other useless data they are (in no particular order) Titanic, Love Actually, Bridget Jones Diary, Pretty Woman, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Definitely Maybe, and a few others I cannot remember. Doesn't matter really...you watch what you want to watch. You enjoy what you want to enjoy. I don't honestly think what people rent or like should in anyway determine what I do. Im not saying Im not interested...Im always interested in the habits of others.

I was thinking and wondering about a few things. Do you curl up with the one you love and spend the day as a couple? Do you go out of your way one day a year to show them you love them above all else? Have your ideas of romance changed since you were younger? Is there a special song you play for just them? Do you have cute little nicknames for each other. Jackie and I do...She is my everything..my better half, my equal, my one true love and I am her Dork. It makes me smile to hear her call me that. What do you call your significant other?

One other thing I was curious about was this...when you were the age your children are now, did you decorate a shoebox for Valentine's Day? Did you ever go home empty handed? I remember the shoe boxes, but thats about it. I can't honestly remember if I ever went home without a Valentine. I doubt it...Im very lovable and cute as a button. Who wouldn't want to give me one?

Well anyway...I hope this made you stop and think. I hope you turn to your other half and tell them with utmost sincerity " See, you could've been a dork". No seriously, I wish you all the very happiest and most romantic of Valentines Day. I hope you kiss that special someone in your life and count yourself lucky to have them. I waited very long for mine and I'm not letting go.

All my best to you all

Brandon

P.S. I Love You Sweetheart

20 Years Ago

I was burning some music for my sister the other day (yes, I can be nice once in a while), and it got me thinking. You see, the music I was burning for her was Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits. There is one of his songs I happen to like ( ok, there is more than one), and it is titled "Twenty Years Ago". Part of the lyrics say "Life was so much easier, twenty years ago". I dont think it matters what decade you were born in or what happened twnety years ago, but I believe this holds true for most if not all of us. So I thought today we would discuss what happened to us twenty years ago.

Twenty years ago a Flock of Seagulls ran (they ran so far away), Madonna wasnt married and she was doing the Vogue. Johnny hated jazz, Frankie went to Hollywood, and Prince sang under a Purple Rain. Men Without Hats popped the world, Motley Crue took the world by storm with headbanging, thrashin metal, and Bon Jovi set a fashion trend with ankle length trench coats. There was The Cure, The Femmes were violent, Duran Duran was Notorious, and Girls Just Wanted to Have Fun. Boys to Men sang to us without instruments, Marky Mark became funky, and the New Kids on the Block had the Right Stuff.

The 80's brought us the best decade of music and trends. Garbage Pail Kids were the thing, and Thundercats saved the day every Saturday afternoon. He Man was the master of the Universe, Papa was smurftastic, and MTV debuted to millions of kids with nothing to do but sit in front of the tv for hours waiting for Thriller to come on again. We watched in amazement as Dire Straits got their Money for Nothin (and their chicks for free), and we all came together as one on January 28, 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger fell apart just after takeoff. We went through puberty, lost and gained friends, learned to drive, started dating, got our first kiss, fell in love, and for many of us, went on missions.

Now i cant and dont claim the 80's was the best decade for all. I have spoken with some who not only hated, but despised their high school life. We were all different then. Friends I have today I only knew briefly then. Friends I had then, I have fallen out of touch with or have lost. Things change, time changes and so do people. I was a geek in high school. I wore glasses, tried very hard to fit in with a crowd, and kept all my classes laughing with my never ending banter and witty humor. I sometimes look back and wonder... if I could do it all again would I change anything? Yes and no.

The 80's brought us some great movies too. The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Howard the Duck (ok, not ALL the movies were great), License to Drive, Lost Boys, 16 Candles, and many others. We learned how to fit in, how to dress, how to dance and how to love from many of these.

The last twenty years has seen changes in all of us. We grew up, some of us grew out, we got married and started raising familes. We learned that a job isnt just something to make money at, we survive now by what we do and dont do. We learned what our parents said when they cursed us with " I hope someday your child is just like you!", and for some of us we learned the heartbreak of loss and divorce. Twenty years can bring a lot of change.

When you think back twenty years ago, what do you think of? What music do you still enjoy from then? What movies or God forbid, fashion trends? Do you tell your children of the "good ole days"? Do your kids wonder if Dinosaurs were around when we were younger (like we did for our parents)? What song was your first slow dance to? What song was playing when you got your first kiss? Do you remember games like "7 seconds in Heaven"? Did you have poofy, teased out hair (dont forget, I have yearbook photos of you all...I know)? Did you find spandex like tooootally tubular? Did you ever say, like gag me with a spoon? Do tell, do tell. Enquiring minds want to know. Anything you remember would be wonderful to read.

As we start a new year, I look forward to my life more than I have of late. I now have someone wonderful in it. She brings me the joy, love and good times I have been missing out on. I also look forward to my ...cough cough...twenty year reunion. There are so many of you I long to see again. I have grown closer to many of you since high school, and have made better friends of you I did know then. The planning committee is a wonderful one and I know it will be a fantastic time. And if youre reading this Kamie, Im still doing what I can to track down lost Lancers...dont fire me yet.

So spill the beans, tell us what we want to read. Make this your own confession page. I look forward to all of it...and I cant promise it wont be used against you.

Be good to everyone you meet...be better to people you like, and remember...a broken clock is correct twice daily.

Until we speak again................. Brandon