Brandon's Random Thoughts

Things I Have Learned ( part Deux)

2011-08-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

Quite some time ago, I wrote a blog on things I have learned. I think now is a good time to follow up with another list. So here we go !

- Books are the ambrosia of Life.
-Freedom is worth the responsibility.
-No one is an expert on you, except YOU !
-Without friends, Life would be boring.
-You should always leave loved ones with kind words. It could be the last time you
see them.
-You CAN keep going long after you think you can't.
-Never mix a common mistake with a rare blood type.
-Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
-Children are the best mirrors.
-Money is a lousy way of keeping score.
-Quiet reflection feeds the soul.
-Everyone has the same amount of Faith, they just invest it differently.
-It's not worth the calories unless it's chocolate !
-Heroes are those that do what must be done when it needs to be done, regardless
of the consequences.
-New adventures help you feel young.
-Peace is a choice.
-No matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.
-The truth that brings a tear is better than a lie that brings a smile.
-Tight shoes don't make your feet look smaller.
-Dogs understand love better than people do.
-Never be too eager to find out a secret, it could change your life forever.
-Open minds are healthy minds.

Yep. That's about it. I'm sure there is more I have learned, but I am getting older and the first thing to go is your...I just had it. I know what it is.. Oh well.

Enjoy your own lifes lessons and learn daily. Knowledge is never ending, and it's a great conversation starter. Hey, remember Cliffy from CHEERS !?

Be good to yourselves and remember, EVERYONE likes ice cream.

As Always,
Brandon

Publicity !

2011-08-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, so recently I posted a comment on my Facebook page that drew some ire and inadvertently caused some controversy. When I saw that Amy Winehouse was found dead at 27, I said " This is what happens when you say ' NO NO NO ' to rehab". It's a free country right? I was criticized and tongue lashed for my " non-understanding of addiction and its pitfalls". PFFFTTTT!!!!!!! It had nothing to do with that. I later admitted her death was in fact a tragedy, it was her LIFE that was a joke.

In my honest, humble ( sometimes) and no punches pulled opinion, IM SICK OF SEEING STORIES ABOUT SOCIALITES !. If you go to rehab, good for you. Stick with it. Do the program until you're once again well enough to be a productive member of society. If you go to rehab, that's great. If you go four times, something is wrong. They don't just let anyone work at those places. The training is intensive for a reason. THEY KNOW WHAT THEYRE DOING !!!!

My latest complaint is Kim " I even faked it on my porn tape" Kardashian. Who is she? What does she do? She can't act. She is news worthy why? Because her Mom married Bruce Jenner? Ok, he was famous 40 years ago. But now? And why is her wedding plastered all over every news blog, or info page on the net? So she spent millions. Why? She decided on her Groomsmen. Whoope Di Doooo. I mean who honestly cares? If she is dumb enough to make a sex tape and let it be " stolen" and then released on the internet, she is as dumb as I think she is. If she isn't happy spending a decent amount on a wedding but has to go in the millions, I am not impressed. Why should I be?

Now don't get me wrong, I like money. I wish I had more of it. But I left a relationship because of it. For those of you that read my blogs, you know the story. If you are new to this ( I can't actually believe people still read let alone I might have new fans), a quick summary. I once dated a girl who made a considerable amount of dough. She tried to use that to change me. Homey didn't play that game. So that being said, what difference is a million dollar wedding compared to a simple, elegant, romantic one? Other than the cost. Who really needs doves being released from the trunk of a submarine off the coast of Bora Bora while dolphins do back flips over trained sea monkeys?? I mean hey, that would be cool, but you seen it once...well, you get the idea.

Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, and all the other socialites out there who have the urge to see your name on the news daily, I have but this to say to you. GET A FREAKIN LIFE !! You have the money, go buy a clue. Diana Agron of Glee fame ( she plays Quinn) said it best last week in an article. She simply said " My life is my own business, and what I do with it should not matter to anyone else". Good for her, I applaud her. I like people who have the 'celebrity status', who know they do, and don't feel they need to cash in on it.

Someday I hope to write a book. I hope to be famous for it and makes enough money to buy the above said back flipping dolphins, but I will always be me. Humble, extremely funny, entertaining, and did I mention humble? I won't be releasing any 'stolen' tapes, and my mugshot won't appear weekly on the local celeb rags.

As always, thank you for allowing me to vent. If you're reading this, you are among the few. My personal thanks to you. And i want all to know that yes, I realize addiction is not a laughing matter, I never meant to make it seem like it was.

In ending I would like to leave you with an appropriate quote.

"It is hard for kids these days to learn good manners without seeing any"

Maybe these celebs should stop and think about who pays them.

As Always, Brandon

What Would You Do?

2011-07-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

Recently, a verdict was handed down in the Casey Anthony trial, and to be honest, it didn't go over very well. When even her own defense attorney was surprised, you know something is wrong. Now admittedly, I don't know all the details surrounding the case, but from what I have read, and from the info gathered, she was by all rights guilty as hell. Of course, certain circumstances could not be proved, thus allowing her to walk free. It made me think of another case closer to home that truly turns my stomach. It is the case surrounding 4 year old Ethan Stacy.

Just over a year ago, this defenseless, helpless child was brutally tortured, beaten and eventually murdered by his own stepfather. The Mother was not innocent either, she was more or less a willing participant. Knowing what was happening and doing nothing makes her just as guilty by association. The court trial has officially started and my question for you this time is " What would you do"?

If your name was chosen as a juror, how would you react? What thoughts would be going through your head? If you're a parent, how would you respond? Would you be able to sit on that jury, hearing the testimony and be able to serve justice fairly? Would your passion and emotions rule your thought?

Now myself, in all honesty, could not rule as partial. I have read the affidavits and I know exactly what was done to that poor child. My anger, passion and fury would be far too much to overcome and allow my mind to work clearly. I don't have children, but I also don't see any need whatsoever to put a child through that. Annoying, sure, they all can be sometimes. Even the most patient parent is tested. That's what makes you a good parent in the long run. It was a senseless act of violence afflicted on an innocent soul.

Now for those of you willing to put yourselves through it, at the end of this blog I will post some links to the actual probable cause affidavits. I will now however warn you, they are graphic and should only be read if you feel you can emotionally and mentally handle such things. I don't post them to upset or hurt anyone, it is after all public record. I post them so that people will know the kind of monsters that are out there. These are the people our parents warned us about.

What chills me is the absolute indifference that both the Mother, and the stepfather had towards the death of this little boy. Like it was nothing more than a nuisance for them to have to answer questions. Like caring for him and seeing he was raised healthy and happy was an option not fitting their schedules. I honestly hope life in prison for both of them fits their schedules. I hope everyday they are haunted by their decisions. I pray they never find peace.

As I said, I could not serve justly on that jury, and my heart goes out to those that are currently doing so. May the Good Spirits rest and bless the soul of young Ethan Stacy and hold him forever in their sweet embrace. Love your children, hug them and tell them daily what they bring to your life. Let them know why you love them. Let them love you without remorse. My wish to all of you.

Thanks again for reading, peace be kind to you all, and mercy be your guiding hand.

http://www.heraldextra.com/pdf_81e27cde-5ee7-11df-9a0a-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.heraldextra.com/pdf_caaa67c4-5f0f-11df-b3ae-001cc4c002e0.html
( to view these affidavits, click on the smaller Pdf version to enlarge)

http://ethan-stacy.memory-of.com/About.aspx

That last link is a little good in all the bad. Please visit it and share your thoughts.

As Always,
Brandon

Ordinary

2011-03-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

I recently asked two women to describe me. Each responded with "I'm thinking". It made me laugh really. I never once thought myself to be an ordinary, un extraordinary average man. I dont hold any thoughts of being super human or incredible in any way. I guess I only thought I was more forgetful than that. I dont harbor thoughts of myself being anything than what I am.

Of course, after some thought, a person gets the answer they expect. Intriguing, Intelligent, Sexy, Thoughtful, Charming, Funny, Handsome. BLAH ! If asked, I could respond with much better adjectives than that. And I dont need " time to think". When I get to know someone, I dont fool around.

I guess in a way, this bothers me. I dont see any of those qualities in me, and I have never thought myself to be above average. Ok, the funny part maybe. Since high school I have denied myself the thoughts of being handsome or charming. I have never agreed with being intelligent just for the fact I pissed away my grades in school and never made anything of myself. Thoughtful? That can describe anyone who takes a few seconds to put in words what their overcooked brain dares to think. Sexy...please!

When I sit and reflect on my life, I see two things, or facets if you will. What I am now, and what I could have become. What I am now is simple. I am a misogynistic, closed off recluse. I am lazy and prone to bouts of anger. HA ! they say the truth will set you free. Whatevah !!!

What could I have become? Not anything I wanted to, that's for damn sure. I am not political, religious, or active in any society. I cannot see myself in a position of power or responsibility. I am more apt to sit back and watch society crumble than step up and want to fix it. I didn't make their mistakes, I don't feel it's my job to dig them out of it. Callous? Probably. Cynical? Most assuredly.

What I am now represents me honestly. I don't lie to women to get them in bed. I don't tell them what I think they want to hear, and I don't fill their heads with thoughts or images of sugarplums or fantasy. The truth that brings a tear far outweighs a lie that brings a smile. I am who I am, and I apologize to no one.

Of course there is so much out there that I wholeheartedly disagree with, yet I remain silent. To those I see no good and no change coming from me speaking up. I don't offer unsolicited advice for this very reason. If you want my opinion, ask me for it, but don't ever presume I will offer it of no accord.

Now back to me. After all I have said, i don't see myself as ordinary. I know there is good in me, I have seen it escape once or twice. I know I am capable of anything I put my heart mind or soul ( what is left of it) to, but I prefer to sit back and watch as an outsider first. I am vain, self loathing and funny. A great combination in the right world. I am single and see myself forever being so. I feel I am above ordinary, even if by a small step. Nothing wrong with that.

Again, i am uncertain why I wrote this. It is entirely possible I needed to get this off my chest so to speak in order to move onto the next adventure. And to answer your unasked question, what would I be if I could be anything? A professional hitman. I feel I would be perfect. My soul is dark, my mind at ease. There is nothing here keeping me from wandering the world. And I like lots of money :)

Peace be with you all, and happiness be your daily mantra. This was not written to scare you, and there is no need to look for me in the shadows. There is still a 7 day wait for a gun.

Until next time, keep your chins up, and you cell phones away when driving.

Brandon

2011-02-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

" I dreamed a dream in times gone by, when hope was high and life worth living. I dreamed that love would never die, I dreamed your God would be forgiving. Then I was young and unafraid, and dreams were made and used and wasted. There was no ransom to be paid. No song unsung, no wine untasted. But the tigers come at night, with a voice as soft as thunder. As they tear your hope apart, as they turn your dream to shame. And still I dream she'll come to me, that we will live the years together. But there are dreams that cannot be, and there are storms we cannot weather. I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living, so different now from what it seems. Now life has killed the dream I dream".

These are words from a song. A song that comes from a musical. One of my favorites as a matter of fact. They are also the lyrics to the song that made Susan Boyle an International sensation. They come from Les Miserables, and it is one of the most profound, and beautiful songs ever. The lyrics say something in themselves I feel.

We all dream. Not all of us remember our dreams, but I do. Most anyway. There are times I experience a sense of Deja Vu, and after some recollection, I realize it is something I have dreamed before. Prophetic? No. This is a phenomenon many experience at one time or another. Freud believed our dreams explained our psyche in some way. Pfffffttttttt. Not everything in our lives can be blamed on our parents. No mater badly he wanted us to believe it.

There are cases of people inventing something useful that came to them as a dream. Could this be blamed on people in their life suppressing the creative nature? I doubt it. Who knows.

I do know this, dreams are an integral part of life. Without them, we carry frustrations ( both mentally and sexually) around like baggage. I know I have awoken refreshed and mentally alert after particular "odd" dreams. Something that has perplexed me before becomes suddenly clear and understandable. I don't dream I'm rich or famous. I don't dream I'm Don Juan. I don't even dream I'm a superhero. But I can tell you some of the dreams I have had in the past have been strange, and I have one that repeats itself from time to time. Usually when I'm tired and have too much on my mind. I dream I am in a corner of a room, and no matter what happens, the room keeps stretching away from me. It never gets smaller no matter where I go or what I do. I think were I hooked to a machine, you would see some serious REM.

Anyway, I'm not sure why I even wrote this blog. I was sitting here writing ( yes, I am attempting to turn my twisted warped mind into a book), and listening to some music. The song mentioned above came on, and I felt compelled to write it down. So there you go. No lesson learned today. No intellectual leakage. Nothing to go " Hmmm" over. Just me filling a screen with some words. I hope all your dreams are spectacular in nature. I wish you all super powers, sexual prowess and riches. That makes sleeping worth it when your dreams are looked forward to rather than dreaded.

I know this sounds odd, but believe me it helps. Keep a dream diary. Something for you that you can write down those that you remember. Even the ones that cause you to wake sweating and screaming. It gives you an idea of what you see as you sleep, and will pinpoint stress and tension in your life. I have one, and I pity the person who reads it after I'm gone. Many of the entries will make anyone go " what the hell"?

As always, best wishes to you all. Thanks for taking time out of your life to read my ramblings. Love those closest to you, and throw rocks at those too far way. HAHA

Peace be amongst you all, and happiness in your hearts.

Brandon

LOVE ! HUH..WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR ?

2011-02-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Singles Awareness Day, S.A.D. for short. In my recent opinion, that is my outlook on love as well. It just isn't worth the emotional or mental trauma anymore. I know some of you cynics out there are shaking your heads and saying to yourselves, " Awww, sure it is". To each their own.

It has been over a year since I have visited this page and re-read the things left here for others to see. It has been some time since I have felt the need to express myself through words and thought. The time has come again to pick up the mighty pen, or in this case of technological advancement, the keyboard and write once again. I have kept myself busy this past year plus. I became a DJ for an online social lounge. Something I found to my astonishment I was very good at. I also found someone who I was crazy about. Im talking the hands sweating, butterflies in my stomach, goofy look on my face, stars in my eyes crazy about. It turns out that it wasnt meant to be.

She was and still is a wonderful, amazing person. I just could not make her happy enough to see I was the one for her. Egotistical for sure, but in my humble opinion the truth. She just wasnt willing enough to let herself fall in LOVE (ick) and let herself be happy.

Now those of you who have read my past blogs may wonder what happened to Jackie. Well, that also did not work out. Its amazing what money can do. She had it, I didnt, and it snowballed from there. Now dont get me wrong, I like having money, but I couldnt compete. I am nobody's boy toy.

This latest endeavor into the field of Cupid was also a long distance one. We met online, quite by accident really, and things seemed to have blossomed. Only one wrinkle, she was with someone when I met her. She remained with that person over the course of our cyber dating even though she was mistreated and publicly humiliated on many occasions. I tried to make her see the error of her ways, but to no avail. Maybe I just didnt try hard enough.

I wont mention her name so she may keep her anonymity, which oddly enough was what I turned out to be. One great big secret. Anyone who had spoken to me in the last year learned with pride all about her through me. Those that knew her, had no idea I existed. I know she didnt want word of her having a part time man on the side to get out, but wow. She would say she was crazy about me, and then push me away. We used to talk on the phone nightly, that stopped suddenly and without warning. I had invited her to come out here and spend some time, only to be rebuffed and told some reason she could not. None of the reasons were good ones either. I used to tease her about her reasons to gauge her reactions, and they would be just as i feared.

This isnt a blog to trash her or make her sound horrible. Not at all. She was a wonderful, amazing, beautiful, strong, intelligent woman. I really saw so much in her. My dreams were flooded with her. My every waking thought was of her. She penetrated the cloudiest of days with her smile. She was my equal, my match, my one soul mate. We shared so many things in common.

People do what they must to survive. Mine was to walk away. I hate myself for doing it, and I regret my decision right now. But I felt I deserved better treatment, and I dont want to be a dirty little secret anymore. It all could have been avoided sadly enough. With a word, or a promise, I would have believed her, and trusted her to do the right thing. I know...do the right thing. Here she is "with" someone else and Im asking her to dump him and pick me. Like a damn kids game of kickball. PICK ME !!! HA ! But seriously, I saw from the start he was horrible to her. He didnt even remember her birthday this year. not the kind of man she deserves.

So anyway, here we are once again constant readers ( assuming there are any out there bored enough to still hang on my every word). I have decided to re-build my emotional wall. Brick by dirty dusty brick. I must be doing something wrong, or maybe I am not doing enough. It could be I am far too much of a hopeless romantic. I just dont know, and at this point Im not sure I care anymore. I have my anger issues, my rants about stupidity and my thoughts to keep me company. Maybe its for the best and I should spend my years alone.

Thank you as always for reading. Your comments are always welcome, and always read. Wishing you all the best of everything and a wonderful V-Day to those of you lucky enough ( if you consider yourself lucky) to have someone to spend it with. Those of my single friends reading this..let us form a community. We shall call it Singletopia and we will run it together. Cupid will not be allowed and should be shot on site. Hallmark will be banned by law, and those little candy shaped hearts will say things that are true, like " whatevah" " love stinks" and my personal favorite " dumbass". Let us rise against the commercial holiday and unite.

Happiness, friendship and sunshine be with you all. Thanks always for who you are and what you mean to me.

Brandon the town idiot of Singletopia

Things I Have Learned

2009-10-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-04T11:49:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-06-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-06-26T16:16:00.000-07:00

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??

2009-06-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

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 !

2009-05-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

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 !!

2009-05-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

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??

2009-05-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

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 ! )

2009-03-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

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........

2009-03-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-02-25T17:09:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

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

Christmas Wish

2008-12-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

I'm back. I'm sitting here with mixed emotions...there are a couple routes I could take here. I decided on this one. Today I would like to talk about Christmas. Not far out of the ordinary, especially after the last post, but bear with me folks. You see its like this. Everyday my day begins the same. I get up, I get dressed ( I shower at night for those of you holding your noses), I go to work. Once I get to work I put my steel toed butt kickers on (work boots), I dress all warm and fuzzy and I turn on the Mp3 player. I start off everyday the same way. At first I tune to 98.7 and listen to the entertainment news and the daily celebrity challenge ( I have won several times). After all of this has ended I turn to KBER 101 for my daily dose of Bob and Tom. Lately though, I find my routine taking a different course. For the last few weeks B98.7 has been doing what they call the Christmas Wish. I find it both remarkable and incredible what they do and have done with this program. They recieve hundreds of letters and emails about people in need. These are often written by family members, but have been known to be written by neighbors or even people they work with. The letters themselves are very warm and heartening. After the letters have been read, they choose a family to visit every day until the day the jolly fat man visits. This is where i really pay attention. Im not a softie, so you can stop now with the awwws and the ooohhhss. I truly believe though that they have hit it on the head with this program. There is a group of people that show up in the early morning hours fighting the cold and often the elements to make a wish come true for a different family each day. The gifts are always different and the letters are never alike, but the meaning is there. The Christmas Wish is sponsored by Kurt Benson Motors. This man has done a wonderful thing. Shawn Stevens is the radio personality responsible for entering the houses and wishing the families a Merry Christmas. He really gets into it. His emotions are true and his message is the same ..."Pass it on". There have been families who have disabled children. Parents out of work and worried about Christmas for their children. A single father with several children who had recently lost his wife to cancer. These are all people deserving of this program. I applaud this radio station for taking the time and the energy needed to see this through each year.

They of course are not the only ones. Today I heard a story about two girls in West Jordan. These girls are 8 and 9, and have for the past couple of years set up cardboard boxes in different locations to collect clothing, toys, food and cash to help the homeless and those living in shelters. Well done little angels.

One of our own ( I wont name a name) along with her brood of elves has done a wonderful job making blankets. Kitty blankets to be exact. These will be used for new kitty's adopted at the animal shelter. She has not only done a service for the community but shown her children the art of unselfishness. Wonderful!!

Rupert, the old guy that never could win survivor, has started a charity called Rupert's Kids. He takes donations, items that can be used or auctioned off, and clothing and uses it to support a camp for children. These kids are getting a summer experience they wouldnt otherwise get. I know this isnt exactly Christmas, but he does a wonderful service and he deserves a little recogniton.

Finally, but only barely, The Angel Tree. This is a program sponsored by KUTV and has been going for many years. Its simple, you pick a child from the Angel Tree and grant their wish. Most times these are small items..a pair of gloves, shoes, maybe a coat. Toys are not uncommon, and books are always wanted as well. Its a simple thing, and it rarely costs much. I know in todays economy times are tough. I understand all to well being strapped for cash. I have done the Angel Tree for five years now, and couldnt see breaking tradition this year. I picked a little girl who needed a new backpack. I hope she likes Dora the Explorer. You can find the Angel Tree at any Macy's location or any branch of Cypres Credit Union. This program is also sponsored by The Salvation Army.

I dont know how many of you recieved a letter in your inbox about a coat drive for the Granger High School Alumni Association, but I would like to take these last few sentences to ask you to please consider helping. There are teenagers and other kids out there with no means of staying warm in the winter. We all know (those of us that went to Granger) that some of those classrooms are always cold. There were others that were always hot too. But thats neither here nor there....this is a valid attempt at clothing those who need it. Please look through your old coats and mittens. Got any old BYU stocking hats laying around that even the dog wont wear?? How about an old 49'ers coat that you cant wear out of embarassment? Anything will help and everything is appreciated.

The coat/clothing drive info is..Contact: Brent Newton, 801 957-1779; Brent1966@aol.com

I hope I didnt come off as preaching there folks. I know you all have families and I know you all work hard to stay ahead. I only ask that at this time of year we all remember the true meaning and the true spirit of the holiday by helping our fellow man in any way possible. I would like to end with a heartfelt thank you and and warmest holiday wish to all the men and women serving in todays armed forces. Overseas or at home...doesnt matter. They have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and liberties. Its a debt of gratitude that can never be repayed.

I wish you all the best life can bring you. Be good to yourselves and others. Throw snowballs at those you dont like, and remember....please dont eat the yellow snow.

Until next time...Brandon

Holidays

2008-12-14T10:57:00.000-08:00

Ok, so its been awhile and I havent written anything in here. I thought today we would discuss the Holidays. What they mean to us (other than the obvious "family" reason), and what some of our traditions are. The Holidays mean extra time off for me. They also mean a chance to spend time with or see people you havent seen in like forver. I know to some the idea of time off from work and the daily routine sounds rather selfish. Youre right, it is. I wouldnt say I have the hardest job in the world, but it is definitely a physical demand daily, and the idea of sitting on my butt typing a blog is much more appealing than getting up at 430 in the morning for work.

There is also the seeing people part. When I say this I typically mean relatives. Im not especially close to my father's side of the family. I have some wonderful cousins and some very nice aunts and uncles, its just not a "lets get together every chance we get" type of family. Recently my Grandfather died, and I had the opportunity to see many if not all of this side of the family. Uncles who live in Vegas and Texas came up and it was a brief time for re-connection. I saw two cousins I hadnt seen since they were 3 and 5...they are both now in college and one is taller than I am. It was a sad time for the family, but a joyous one as well.

So now, as far as seeing people, I guess you could say Ive done my one turn for the year. Im sure there are Christmas parties and other gatherings, I just usually choose not to attend. I have noone to blame but myself, and Im ok with that. What Im really loking forward to this year is the seeing that someone special in my life. For the last many many years, there has been noone to spend the Holiday with. That all changes this year. Im looking very forward to spending some time and much needed rest and relaxation with Jackie. This will be my first year away from home on the Holiday, but again, Im ok with that. Jackie and I are planning on spending Christmas and the few days following in Las Vegas. I love Las Vegas and everything about it. The up all night atmosphere, the never closes vibe. I could live there. Its warm and the people arent so uptight about smoking in public.

I cant wait to see Jackie again. It seems like forever ago since we last saw each other, but in reality its been mere weeks. I wont howver have the chance to spend time with the kids. They are all going back to Chicago to be with their Dad or Grandparents. Michael (the second oldest) is going to China with his school roommate. Its just her and I. I hate not being able to see the kids though. The little buggers have grown on me like a fungus or mold. I look forward to spending even the smallest of minutes with them. Bonding, having fun, you know...being like a parent. The whole idea scares the royal hell out of me. I dont consider myself a good role model, nor do I look at myself as a postive parental figure. I dont treat the children as my own as Jackie and I agreed its better for them to get used to our realtionship and grow accustomed to it first. Right now the relationship between me and the kids is more of a friendly nature. Give it time.

So now that I have wandered, I will actually go into the whole question behind this particular blog. The Holidays. Now I have already told you what they mean to me, and now I would like to discuss the traditons. My mom has a tradition of giving one present every year on Christmas Eve. It is usually a new pair of pajamas. As I have grown older, the gift has changed. It started when I was younger as footed (or is it feeted) pj's to more along the adult line...pants and a t shirt. As the gift has progressed, so have I. I have gone from wearing the cute adorable pj's with the Hulk or the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to more along the lines of just the bottoms. Most times not even that. I now have a rather wonderful collection of pj bottoms that come in very handy after working all day. There is nothing better in my mind than lounging around the house on a cold Saturday afternoon in a pair of flannel bottoms, my Motley Crue tshirt and a nice hot cup of coffee.

That is really the only tradition we have. We get up, make a mess of the family room, clean up the mess, comment on gifts given and eat a nice homemade breakfast. I have been volunteered as I have grown older to cook part of that breakfast, and I gladly do so. Its not much, but it brings everyone closer together for one day.

So now I would like to know what your traditons are. What do the holidays mean to you. Is it stress, worry, financial ruin? Could it be knowing you have your loved ones around? Is it just a nice relaxing day off work? You tell us gentle reader.

I will continue to write my blogs now that I have a new computer. I downloaded something and ended up with a nasty hacker virus that destroyed my old one. Jackie gave me my Christmas early and sent me my new wonderful puter. You all have her to thank for my new batch of ramblings and posts. I know I do. Thank you so much honey, I truly do love you.

I wish you all the best of the best and the happiest of happy. I pray your Holidays are without incident and add to your fondest memories. I have missed you all, and look forward to reconnecting to you once again.

Until the next post.....Feliz Navidad, Vesele Vanoce (Bohemian), Mele Kalikimaka, Shub Naya Baras (Hindi), Sung Tan Chuk Ha (Korean), Saint Dan Fai Lok (Cantonese), and of course Merry Christmas.

Brandon Claus

Update

2008-10-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have received requests for an update on my current status of non singleness. Well, here it is. I'm still not single. Simple and to the point right??

Jackie and I are doing wonderfully. We have spent three weekends together so far, and I have had the opportunity to meet all the kids. I can't say that I blame them, but the kids love me. What's not to love? We have spent the last month plus getting to know one another, and finding out all we can about each other. At this point in time, she knows that I am awesome, funny (funnier than her according to the above mentioned children), romantic, sweet, handsome (her word, not mine), and an all around good guy. I now know that she is not only intelligent (as I stated in a previous blog), but she is also kind, warm, funny (not as funny as me though remember?), attentive, giving, beautiful, spontaneous, accepting, patient, and the most important part of my life. I can honestly say without a doubt that I have fallen in love. Fallen so hard that is stuck to me. Jackie has become the person I sought. She has taught me so much and left me yearning to learn more.
I know that when I first mentioned I had met someone, there were many posted congrats. I thank you all. I can now say that when I see how happy you all are with your husbands/wives, I honestly understand what it is you see. I have been far too long in the dark, searching without a light, and then suddenly the clouds parted. Jackie and I have so very much in common. We have our bad times as every relationship does. I ensure her it only strengthens us. I now know what it is to truly miss someone's company.
We have talked at length of me moving to California to be closer to her and the kids. She has no desire to move to Utah, and I don't blame her. Besides, she has a pool. But don't worry, the move will not be immediate. I have some loose ends to tie up here first. And I'm positive they get facebook in California too. Don't worry folks, I'm yours for a bit longer.
Well there it is...the update asked for. It is unusual for me, but I smile more lately. My stress has diminished and my anger doesn't surface as easily. I cannot wait for her to meet you all, and have already mentioned the reunion to her. I will still fulfill my duties to the reunion committee and will still peek in on your blogs every so often. I share your happiness for me, and thank you all again for your encouraging words and your pats on the back. I hope life is finding you all well, happy and full of fire. Remember to please be kind and rewind.

Brandon

Holy $*&% !

2008-10-19T08:09:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know the title of this blog is a little off putting, but bear with me folks. This blog also falls into the Halloween theme. In this one, I want to know what scares you the most. Now everyone has their fears. If anyone tells you " I ain't a skeered of anything", they are lying. Everyone has a fear. Inate or not. For some it's spiders, for others clowns. Yes, clowns. I have a cousin who is frigthened of clowns. Sad, happy, evil...doesn't matter. I made the mistake once of wearing my Motley Crue Carnival of Sins t-shirt around her...I wasn't aware she hated clowns till that day. She avoided me like the plague.

Now I'm not looking for you to admit your fears so we can all have a good laugh. I wouldn't do that. I have fears of my own. For instance, I am deathly afraid of sharks. I have the utmost respect for a killing machine that has survived millions of years of evolution, and I have no desire whatsoever of swimming with one or even being close enough to touch one. Oh I went into the ocean when I was in Hawaii...far enough to jump out again if anything brushed past my leg that wasn't to my liking. I don't really care for spiders either. Nothing says good morning worse than waking to a hairy wolf spider on your ceiling as a teenager. Now THAT got me out of bed and actually looking forward to school. The movie Arachnophobia still creeps me out to this day. I know there are others out there that share my sentiment to these eight legged demons.

Now that I have sufficietly freaked myself out, I would be highly interested in what freaks you out. For some it is the fear of death. For others nothing more complicating than the fear of public speaking. Whatever it may be, fear has the power to render you motionless. The power to dry your tongue, palpitate your heart and make you sweat. There are literally hundreds of fears out there. Some we may find silly or ridiculous, but fears none the less. For example, Ablutophobia is the fear of bathing or washing. Alliumphobia is the fear of garlic (I suppose most Vampires would have this fear). Bibliophobia is the fear of books. Cacophobia is the fear of ugliness. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. There are fears out there for everything...and I mean everything. From books to razors, toads to snakes. Fear of the number 13 to the fear of beautiful women. So what is your fear? Psychologists believe that admitting our fears help us in realising them and facing them more openly and evenly. Whatever helps you sleep at night, right?

I have included at the bottom of this blog a webpage. It is the "official" list of fears. It is alphabetized for those with the fear of disorder. It is a very interesting list and you may surprise yourself with what you find on it. Take a look, relax, and let us know what haunts your dreams. What is it that freezes you in your steps? I have avoided my blog posters responsibilities as of late, I have been lurking in the shadows reading your blogs but sending none of my own. I hope for this to change. I appreciate your kindness, and your willingness to read. I also love your comments and concerns. Please keep on keeping on, and I shall in turn keep on writing things for you to read.

http://www.phobialist.com/

Until next time...I think I saw a spider in the shower...

BOOOO !!!!!!

2008-10-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

I found myself wondering at work the other day about Halloween. The why's and hows, the who's and what's. We all know Halloween as the holiday from our youth which we anxiously looked forward to almost, if not as long as, Christmas. For months beforehand, we would let EVERYone know what we were going to be, and how much candy we wanted to net. To a child, Halloween is the second most important holiday there is. Even more so than their own Birthday, but never as important than the day the jolly fat man visits.

Halloween is known throughout the world in hundreds of countires differently. In Latin American countries it is known as Noche de las Brujas (Night of the Witches). In others, it is still known as a Pagan holiday called All Hallows Eve, or even All Saints' Eve. In the early 19th century, a form of Samhain (Gaelic for Halloween) was brought to the North American Continent by Irish immigrants. Samhain was a festival marking the end of the summer and the end of the harvest. The term "Halloween" was in fact a shortened version of All Hallows Even. No matter the spelling or the actual name, Halloween has always been a celebration signifying the harvest and religious festivals. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think people went door to door begging for candy in the early 19th century.

There are even traditions to have survived the years. The tradition of carving a pumpkin, or Jack-O-Lantern dates back to early Celtic legends. In the early days, a turnip or rutabaga was used instead of the pumpkin, but the meaning was always the same. Believing that the head was the most powerful part of the body containing the spirit and the knowledge, the Celts used the "head" of the vegetable to frighten off any superstitions. Today, we try each year to out do ourselves in carving the scariest, funniest, or cutest Jack-O-Lantern we can.

The symbolsim of Halloween is not in fact a legend, tale or even a tradition to have survived the years. Witches, Mummies, Ghosts, Ghouls, Devils and Monsters is all Hollywood. They do make for some cute and often gory costumes, but that is the extent of it.

Now that I have lectured you on the how's and why's. I'm looking for the what's and where's. I would like you constant reader to tell me why you enjoy Halloween so much. Do you feel you're still a kid at heart? Do you enjoy scaring the neighbor children to the point of cardiac arrest? What (if anything) makes this an entertaining and enjoyable holiday to you? Are there any traditions you and yours hold to? Do you enjoy the Haunted Houses? Is a good scare in your repertoire of tricks?

Last weekend, Jackie and three of her four kids came and spent the weekend with me. It was wonderful. We had a great time. After having gone down to Mt. Pleasant to pick up child number four, we went to the Castle of Chaos. The youngest of her brood was rather uncertain. Sweaty palms and constant pleadings of "Mommy, can we sit in the car and wait?" were met with "You're a big boy now Zachy, if you don't want to go, we won't". Once arriving at the sullen, downtrodden cashier, we found we could purchase "Monster Be Gone" passes for the young or faint of heart. This pass assured those who weren't fond of monsters that they would be protected. It worked like a charm. A flashing red light on the necklace Zach wore caused the actors inside to cower in fear. This gave him not only a boost of pride, but some resolve as well. Two minutes into the castle, and he was flashing anything that moved. Nothing touched him and he bravely protected his Mother and I. He came out of there happy, giggling, smiling and forever known as "Super Zach".

That is just one example of what one can do to celebrate this Holiday. Another one is in the decorating. There are many houses my parents and I would go to each year to see what new items had been added. Not all of these people continue the tradition of decorating anymore. As a matter of fact, the houses from my youth are all but gone now. There are still people who go all out on Halloween though. Coffins, spider webs, scary sounds and lights adorn every inch of their homes. Some inside and out. Some to the extent their homes can be seen on Google Earth. There is nothing wrong with it. It just has to come down before you decorate for Christmas is all. Unlike Christmas lights, Halloween lights get a funny look from people when left up all year long.

So here we come to the part I want to know about. What is it you do to make this holiday special for your little ghosts and goblins? What traditons do you have in your family or from your childhood that you have passed onto your witches and warlocks? Please do share constant reader. I as always look forward to your input and your responses.

I apologize for the delay in my blogging...a gentle rest for you all I'm sure. But trust me, there is more to come.

As always, Brandon

Aloha!

2008-09-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm back. It has been a short two weeks that seemed to go forever. I have seen much and done more, but alas, I'm happy to be home.

We started our trip with a 7 day cruise through the Mexican Riviera. This is not my first cruise, nor is it my first time through the Riviera portion of Mexico. The weather was warm here when we left, it was hot and humid there when we arrived. The way I like it...minus the humid part. I was happy to find out there were people aboard this cruise closer to my age. My last cruise was a 14 day cruise through the Panama Canal, and the average age aboard that one was 79. Stop laughing...it wasn't funny then and it still isn't. Ok, maybe a little. Anyway, there were perhaps 150 people aboard this ship in my age range, and a lot of very beautiful women. The crew was fantastic, the drinks were strong, and the views were magnificent. I have posted many pics on my facebook page for you to look at. I however was not impressed by the ship itself. This was my first sail with Royal Carribean as my last two times were aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. The ship (never call one those hulks a "boat") was smaller than I expected, and the activities were limited. They had a rock wall, and it was only open certain times of the day...usually while I was ashore or at dinner. They did however have many trivia contests which I am proud to say my team "the Braintrust" took a gold medal and several other prizes in. By the third day aboard, other teams were trying to join ours. That is where I met Jackie.

Jackie was sailing with her 18 year old daughter Nikki. They were behind us at the first trivia game, and I was smitten at once. Now Nikki is a very vibrant, beautiful, girl full of life and energy. She could be found dancing with people she didn't know or rooting our team on (they joined us by day 4) or trash talking other teams on our behalf. Jackie is much like her daughter. Outgoing, intelligent and amazingly beautiful. I knew I had to know her. The second time I saw the two of them they were playing trivia as we were headed to Bingo. I asked them if they were "getting their trivia on", and I recieved a look from Jackie that could freeze ice. A challenge...YES! Game on! I befriended Nikki to get to her Mother. I'm not ashamed of this..I used someone else to meet another. And I'm glad I did. Jackie is truly amazing. Once I got past the wall, I met someone very much like me.

Now I mentioned her intelligence. It rivals mine and I consider myself to be a very smart person. She can talk politics, religion or anything at hand. Another facet I enjoy. Did I mention her beauty? She is very beautiful...and tall. Another good sign. She enjoys fine wine and fine dining. She is adventurous and giving, sweet and gentle. She keeps me in check. She is the yin to my yang. She surprised me by showing up to the airport in Long Beach to see me off on my way home. Oh yeah, she lives in California. The one hurdle in an otherwise perfect so far relationship. But a good hurdle, it will force us to take things slowly. She has four kids, her oldest being Nikki. her next youngest is in school in Utah. Michael goes to Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant. This being a good thing as we will now get to spend time together when she visits him. I look forward to our first visit this next weekend.

Jackie and I spent a lot of time together on the ship, walking and talking till the wee hours. We asked each other everything we could, and told each other everything we should. She was wonderful to be around. It was a good and a bad thing to have finally met her. Good because I was suprised by the wholeness of it, the excitement, the thrill of the chase if you will. Bad because it made the time go so much faster and the days whizzed by. We parted with the agreement to meet again, and a longing for each other.

The week after was spent in Hawaii. We landed in Honolulu around 10 pm with some minor jet lag and a need to find a place to sleep. Upon arriving at the hotel, we recieved two surprises. First, there was only rooms booked for four of us...there were eight in our traveling party...almost our own Fellowship of the Ring. Secondly, we had reserved rooms on the 14th floor but recieved rooms on the second floor. The front desk staff was not very friendly or helpful. My sister in law requested extra pillows, and we got them...three hours later. The next morning it was rise and shine...time to explore.

Waikiki is the most beautiful place I have visited to date. The streets were clean and free of debris, and the women wore bikinis everywhere. Hey! I met someone but I wasn't dead. It was a culture shock but we were still in the United States. I loved it, until I saw the prices for simple staples. Milk was almost $7 a gallon. I drink a lot of milk, but not at those prices...I could drink gasoline for cheaper. Ironic huh? We went to the beach and I was amazed at the splendor of the waves crashing onto shore. Water as clear and blue as a blown glass dolphin. There are swap meets everywhere, and I wandered and gazed in excitement. The people will bargain, but not always nicely. I found a rare Elvis zippo that one lady was asking $79 for...I balked and said I could find it cheaper at home..she not so kindly asked me to "find it at home". For the most part, I loved every minute in Hawaii and cannot wait to return.

While visitng Hawaii, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Pearl Harbor. Toursit sites for sure, but ones that should be visited at least once. The PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center) was both fascinating and intriguing. We learned native dances, greetings and customs. We saw all the uses for a coconut...including dental floss, and learned how to start a fire with tree branches. A lot of the people working at the PCC are students at the nearby campus of BYU, and are working towards degrees by volunteering their time. The PCC is return helps pay for their tuition. The finale of the day is a ceremony with dancing, fire, singing and excitement. It was a long day (almost 12 hours) but fun.

We also visited Pearl Harbor as a group. I have visited battlegrounds before, but this one holds a sense of hallowed wonder. It's in the air when you arrive, and it stays with you as you leave. The one simple act of betrayal launched The United States into a war they had no desire to fight. There are only two battleships and one submarine still visible today. The other battleships involved were repaired and sent back into waters to protect and serve. The USS Missouri is the only wounded battleship from that day still above water. It now stands as a tourist site, and a reminder. The USS Arizona sits below water under a monument erected to its demise. Its amazing to stand above its rusted remains and peer into the water knowing that there are still over 500 people buried in its twisted hull. To this day, oil still bubbles from somewhere inside the ship, rising to the surface to be seen by all. There are pictures of this on my facebook page as well.

As I said earlier, I am glad to be home. I would love to take another extended vacation someday, but I'm not sure I would do it in such a large group. There were times of bitter resentment, times of stupidity, and times of frustration and anger. Typical family vacation for sure. This will not be my last cruise, and will surely not be my last visit to Hawaii. I look forward to seeing the other islands.

I have enjoyed regaling you all with my adventures, and will now take some time to read your blog pages. I have missed writing to you, but missed reading yours more. Feel free to look at the pictures taken and feel free to comment on anything you like. Until our next reading time...Aloha

HA HA HAAA...HEE HEE HEE

2008-08-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on the radio they were talking about the new Entertainment Weekly magazine list of the 25 best comedies of the last 25 years. The top honors went to Ghostbusters. I'm as surprised as you are. Don't get me wrong, I thought Ghosbusters was funny, just not No. 1 funny. My tastes in movies run off color of those of many I'm sure, and that is part of what makes me unique. So in this blog, I thought I'd poll you, my constant readers, on what YOU thought should be named the No. 1 comedy of the last 25 years.

Now like I said, my tastes run different and often even afoul of most and many. To me, Monty Python desereved top billing over Ghostbusters. Among the list in the top ten were...There's Something About Mary (one of my favorites), The Big Lebowski, Nat'l Lampoon's Vacation, Office Space ( excuse me...you've got my stapler), South Park, and Beverly Hills Cop. All great comedies. All worth watching more than once if that is your taste in comedies.

I grew up on funny movies. As a youth in the ghetto of West Valley I was raised on movies like M.A.S.H., Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein (puttin on the Riiitzzz), and of course The Cannonball Run series. All wonderful movies with extremely wonderful comedians. Nowadays, anyone can make a movie and call it a comedy. I've seen some movies listed in the comedy section of Blockbuster that should have filed under crap. I have never found movies about drug use/abuse funny. Dazed and Confused was also on the top ten list...I never thought it to be rremotely funny. This is Spinal Tap..also on the top ten list...again, NOT funny. But that is only my critique. I'm not you, and you may have found them to be hilarious.

I am quite fond of quoting a funny line from a movie. It's amazing how easily some of the best lines in some of the best movies will fit into everyday normal conversation. If I am ever on a boat being attacked by a 30 foot Great White, I can't wait to say "You're gonna need a bigger boat". My boss at work is always testing me on my movie knowledge..asking me to "name the actor" or even "name the movie". Please!!! I managed a Blockbuster for several years, and I own over 2,000 movies. I'm a movie buff. An officionado. A geek of cinema. The one category I excel at in trivial pursuit? You guessed it...Movies. When I worked for Blockbuster, other store managers would call me when a customer came in asking for "That one movie with that girl who does that thing and then falls for that guy"...you know the one. I speak a form of cinemaese and can often answer their query and find them the movie they seek.

I've rambled and I apologize. I've named a few comedies and expressed my thoughts on them. What would I consider the best comedy of the last 25 years....that's a tough one. I don't think I could name a favorite...not just one anyway. I like to laugh. I like to make other people laugh. I am not against raunchy comedy to gain a laugh. It all boils down to what you like doesn't it? So here is your chance. Tell me what makes you laugh. What movie jumps out at you as the funniest? What movie do you think will make the list 25 years from now?

This will be my last post for a few weeks. I leave Sunday for a two week vacation in Mexico and Hawaii. I will miss reading your blogs as well as reading your comments to this one. Maybe I will use the "bigger boat" line on the Captain of the cruise ship....think he'll buy it?

Take care of yourselves and take care of each other. Laughter truly IS the best medicine and I don't ever doubt its potency. Remember...it takes 23 muscles to frown and only 2 to smile....or something like that. But if a frown is an upside down smile...great, now I'm confused.

Missing you all already....be back before you know it. Gracias and Mahalo Brandon

Rated "R"

2008-08-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

For some reason on the way home tonight, I started thinking about violence and the impact it has on society as a whole. It's in movies, on TV, commercials include some, and music today has violence in it. Noone can be entirely shielded from it, it is virtually everywhere. I started to wonder if maybe as a society we had become desensitized to it. We see, hear and know about it daily, so it stands to reason this could be in fact true.

Voltaire was quoted as saying "Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent". Sounds like he knew his stuff. But where does it begin? Where does it end? Can we do anything to control it? Psychologists have studied this for years....long before Columbine or Oklahoma City. Decades before John Kennedy or Charles Manson. Some believe violence is inherant...to some extent I agree. If a child grows up knowing violence, his tendency towards it are far greater. But not always 100% mind you. Nothing is certain. A child growing up in a loving home surrounded by siblings who leads an ernest, honest life can turn bad. Look at Ted Bundy. He was an Eagle Scout. He was an honor student. He was a notorious serial killer.

Movies today promote violence for ticket sales. The almighty dollar has become a leading factor in what and how much violence to include in movies. I hate to burst your bubble folks, but Harry Potter and even your beloved Twilight deal on a violence premise. The more violent, the more gory, the more improbable a movie is, the higher the box office. Why do you think horror movies fare so well at the box office? They could release Halloween XVI in July and it would break 100 million.

I mentioned music as well. I could list 3,500 artists (no exageration) who have included violence in one form or another in their lyrics. Carrie Underwood sings of revenge by "Carving my name into his leather seats". Not all violence must include another person. Violence is defined as "Physical force exercised to damage, injure or destroy". Violence can be viewed as psychological, physical, mental, or even spiritual. The burning of a cross by Nazi supremists connotates spiritual persecution and the promise of physical violence.

Now what about simple TV commercials desigend to make us think or possibly laugh? The wife hitting her husband upside the head and stating "You couldda had a V-8". The drunk driving commercials aired by the numerous lawyers and ambulance chasers. Are these images we want todays youth to see and think are "just natural"? I personally am not offended by anything. I don't watch a lot of TV. I honestly could care less. Do I play violent video games? Absolutely. Would I allow a 7 or 8 year old to play the games I play? Not a freakin chance.

There has been and always will be talk of gun control. Nothing will ever come of it. We can write every congressman and we can storm every Capitol Hill, but guns will always be a part of this nation and it's survival. I don't own a gun, but my house is finely decorated in knives. I have dragon handle knives, bone handle knives, knives as long as my arm, some smaller than my pinky. There are knives only I know where to find. I honestly pity the poor dumb person who breaks into my house. You may own a gun, but you'll get one shot...than it's game on. This doesn't mean I condone violence, only protection of what's mine. Survival of the fittest if you will.

I think I have expressed myself as well as I am going to get. I truly would love to hear what your thoughts are on this subject. Again, and as always, there is no right or wrong. If you feel my opinion is biased, tell me, I only get angered at hidden agendas. I hope I have not upset anyone, and as always I honor and trust your feelings.

On a lighter note, for those of you who may not know yet, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has been pushed back by the studios to next July 17th. Now THAT angers me. And also for those of you not aware, movie ratings are now defined by the amount of smoking involved in it. That's right, if more than 3 cigarettes are lit, it's an auotmatic "R" rating. Were I an actor, all my movies would be rated "R".

Peace, love and ticklish feelings.............Brandon

Do You ???

2008-08-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't added any blogs of late...I guess I have been hiding, keeping to myself if you will. But as I was attempting to pay attention at work a few days back, I thought of another questionaire to add here. Nothing fancy or embarassing. Something that will help us all get to know each other a little better. Shall we begin ?

1. Do you lick the top of the yogurt lid? (either the pastic or the foil one)

2. Do you Discipline other people's children (family doesn't count here)

3. Do you drink out of the milk carton when noone is around or noone can see you?

4. Do you always eat what's on your plate, even if you do not like it?

5. Do you often wonder how different your life could be?

6. Do you offer advice freely or abstain and bite your tongue?

7. Do you corect the gramer/spelling mestakes of others?

8. Do you wonder about the futute of our country when looking at today's youth?

9. Do you find your life lacking in any way?

10. Do you possess a talent noone knows about or you are to shy to exhibit?

There you have it. Nothing bad, nothing too exploratory. And as I have in the past, I will answer my own questions. So here it goes.

1. Oh yeah! Free sample taste...nothing wrong with it

2. I wouldn't say I discipline them exactly...but I will correct them or tell them to "knock it off"
if they are to become annoying or bothersome.

3. Sure enough. I have since I was old enough to hold the milk carton. If they didn't want you
drinking out of it, they wouldn't have made it fit your mouth so well.

4. Nope...never...why would I eat something I know I don't like...enough with the brocolli already
Mom!

5. All the time. I wish I was filthy rich and well known the world round. I would be a paparazzi
dream come true. I have always wanted the celebrity lifestyle. The red carpets, the public
relationships in all the magazines. The embarassing pictures of standing on your driveway
naked reading the paper in front of a tour bus. Who wouldn't?

6. I have always been giving in the advice department. I feel if they didn't want it, they wouldn't
ask. I feel I give good advice, but I never take my own however.

7. Oh yeah...constantly. Whether it's in my head or physically on paper, I find I correct spelling
mistakes all the time. I can spot them easily and it's probably a form of OCD, but oh well.
How many mistakes did you spot in the question asking you this??

8. Are you kidding?? If todays' youth is the example of our country's future...we are screwed!
We are going to have a President in 20 years with his pants around his knees and a sideways
baseball cap and alot of "bling". Instead of addressing the nation's problems he will text them
to us. I find myself constantly disappointed in the youth of today. They are lazy, rude,
have no sense of urgency and I'm sorry to say, most are ignorant. It makes me wonder if we
were like that 20 years ago.

9. Sometimes I do. Of course there is the whole alone thing, but I don't really find myself lacking
in that area. I have many friends and they all RAWK! so no, I'm not lacking there. I would
love to travel the world, see new things, spend time on every continent. I'm still younger then
I will be tomorrow, so there is time.

10. I have many talents I don't show on a regular basis. Some are idiotic for sure, others are just
plain useless. I can unwrap a starburst or tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue. I can
do other things that are just not worth sharing too. :)

So ok. There you have it. Now it's your turn of course. Reach down, take hold of those answers and let them fly from your fingers to the screen. I look forward to reading your answers. I thank you again for taking the time to read my drudgery. I will attempt one more post before my two week sabatical. Be good to small animals, be nice to large ones, and always smile at your kids....they will wonder what they did wrong.

Until next time..........Brandon

The Ex

2008-08-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, and I don't know if I should apologize or be happy for you. I guess lately I have had alot on my mind. Back in December of last year I began dating a girl I found to be both interesting and absolutely beautiful. She works at one of my steel supply companies, and I had dealt with her daily on the phone for several months. She was at that time going through a nasty divorce to a man who had after 17 years of marriage decided that the 19 year old he met through a friend was more exciting than she was.

Anyway, we dated for several months and it had progressed to the point of her spending many nights a week at my place when she didn't have her kids. Now normally this type of behaviour (the nesting type) scares the hell out of me. As you all know by now, I have a commitment phobia. I have been hurt/screwed over/played far too often to be openly trusting. Stop going "awww"...it happens. I cannot honestly in good conscience say I haven't been the one playing the games at one or more points in my life, but she was different. The first time I saw her (knowing only her voice to this point) I was speechless. Tall, beautiful, crystal blue eyes, a smile that could stop traffic, and a body that wouldn't quit.

As it turned out, we had much in common, and we enjoyed each other's company. She spoke Spanish (limited, and not always "fluently"), she was a fantastic cook, she tried to play a mean game of pool, and she was very into 80's music. After the first date we realized that in high school we both frequented the same dance club every friday night ( The Ritz ). So in fact, we knew each other 20 years ago, and I clearly remember her hating me then. Anyway, we got along perfectly. Almost too perfectly...you know...when you get along so well you get the feeling something is wrong. That was us.

I never got to meet her boys (she had three of them), but I did get to meet her sister. We got along famously. I even introduced her sister to a single friend of mine. We spent every minute we could together. I even introduced her to my parents...I never do that...EVER!! A stupid mistake I won't soon make again. I bought her gifts for no reason, I let her beat me at chess, I drew her a picture she wanted ( again, something I never do). It seemed like it was "the one".

I am not what you would expect when it comes to relationships. Most if not all of my exes have been pleasantly surprised. I may be emotionally crippled, but in the romance department I could write a book. I would get to work at least an hour before she would each day, and I would call and leave a voice message on her phone everyday. It would be anything from the sappy sugary sweet to the off-the-wall goofy. Whenever she awoke at my place, there was always a hot cup of coffee with a note ( if you have read my blog posted "dear", you know what one of the notes actually read). When she got "home" after work, her favorite singer (Alicia Keys) was on the stereo and a drink was waiting for her. I treated her as she wished her husband would have when she was married. Her marriage was one of convenience, as she got pregnant early and felt it was the best/only way.

In March of this year, she sent me an email letting me know she had fallen for me. I apologized. She then went on to say that she thought she could never again trust a man to not hurt her. That she thought sex was all men wanted. She went as far as to say she loved me. Now after almost five months together, it seemd natural. However, those three words are poison. Whenever anyone has uttered those words...the crap usually hits the proverbial fan. In this case, it seemed to go over rather well. Now mind you, I did not return the sentiment right away. I'm emotionally crippled remember. Plus the fact I don't just throw those words around. It took a few weeks of hearing her say it and seeing her attempt to prove it before I gave in.

The last weekend in March, we had planned to go away together. Her husband had the boys for Easter, so she would be alone that weekend. She called me late that Friday night, two hours after I had expected her to tell me she wasn't feeling well. I said ok...get yourself better and we will talk tomorrow. The next morning I got a text message from her sister asking if "you two are having a good weekend together"? I text her back telling her we weren't together because her sister was sick. The response I got was not what I thought I would. She told me "Oh, well that's weird cuz she didn't come home last night".

Well as it turns out she had been dating someone who worked with for a few weeks up to this point, and rather than telling me she just stopped calling and returning my texts. The damndest thing is I still have to talk to her at least once a week when I order steel. She still acts like nothing happened. She asks me all the time how I am doing. She calls me "sweety" all the time after repeated requests that she didn't. Today she got re-married to the man she cheated on me with. I found out through someone she worked with when I called yesterday to order some stuff and was told she wasn't in.

I don't know why I shared this, and I certainly don't know what I expect to gain from posting it. I guess maybe I feel it therapeutic to address it so. Either way, I still get bummed every now and then when I think about what we had. I have been asked out since then, but have found convenient excuses to not go. It's not that I'm not ready, and it's not that I can't handle it, I am just not interested anymore. I know , I know, there are plenty more fish in the sea...don't worry about me. I haven't changed in the humor department, and I haven't given up entirely.

Thanks for allowing me to vent. Thank you for your diligence. I hope you enjoy the new editions to the blog page. My next blog won't be so maudlin I promise. Be good to one another and remember to be kind and rewind.

P.S. 27 years ago today, 8-16, Elvis Presley died at Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Getting to Know You

2008-07-31T18:51:00.000-07:00

As I have been posting these relentless, boring soliloquies, I have read every comment in hopes of understanding those who read these a little better. For the most part, my eyes have been opened and I have seen into those souls who willingly allowed me to do so. But now is the time to really put yourself out there...tell us who you are...let us all know you better. C'mon...you know you want to. I have designed a little quiz. Now stop biting your nails and fretting, it's not multiple choice and there are no wrong answers. It's a simple questionaire designed to open yourself up and allow us a peek inside. Nothing embarassing (well almost nothing), and nothing you can be blackmailed for later. Shall we begin?

1. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

2. What is your favorite color and why?

3. Do you have any current ambitions?

4. Leftover pizza--hot or cold?

5. What one regret do you have in life?

6. To date, what is your proudest moment?

7. To date, what is your most embarassing moment?

8. What is your worst habit?

9. What offends you the most?

10. What is one thing you want to do but don't have the guts to?

Simple enough. Nothing racy or drastic. Of course I couldn't in good spirit ask you to do something I am not willing to, so here are my answers...

1. My greatest accomplishment is my friends. They have been by my side through thick and thin, good and bad. I have not always been the best person to know, but they have never faltered.

2. My favorite color is black. It is both slimming and goes with anything.

3. I have many ambitions, but two stand out in my mind. I always wanted to be an actor, and I have always wanted to be on Jeopardy!

4. Leftover pizza--definitely cold..re-heated is nasty!!

5. I have many regrets in life. Some I will never speak of, and some are just silly. One regret I think of now is never telling the girl in high school I had a crush on her ( I still talk to her and she still doesn't know).

6. My proudest moment was cutting my son's umbilical cord. Yes, you read that correctly, and we will leave it at that.

7. Most embarassing moment? When Veigh and I were 16 or 17 we were summer clerks for Food 4 Less and while stocking shelves one day I was called for a price check. I picked up the private phone all gorcery stores have and thought I had heard the item correctly. I ran down the aisle, looked and ran back to the overhead phone system. I picked up the phone and asked over the speakers for all to hear "The kind you push in with your thumb or hammer in?" Well...what I thought I heard as thumbtacks turned out to be a price check on Tampax. Oops...

8. My worst habit by far is biting my nails. I have since I was a child

9. People who don't have all the facts about something before they speak openly about it offends me. There is nothing worse than blatant ignorance. "Tis better to appear foolish than to open your mouth and remove all doubt".

10. I have a great respect for sharks, but I would never have the guts to swim with them. I find them fascinating but deadly. I have a very real fear of sharks and can not go into an ocean because of it.

Wow! That wasn't too bad. I have opened my soul to you. Nothing bad. Nothing too painful. I understand if there are questions you choose to skip, but please try not to. I appreciate your time, your patience and your openess. As Wayne Newton has said many many times...Danke Schoen.

Brandon

Other People's Kids

2008-07-24T06:22:00.001-07:00

I had the chance to visit my parents house yesterday, and was not surprised to find my 5 year old niece Kayla there. She is by far the most interesting child I know. She is a free thinker and often times can be found off in her own little world oblivious to all around her. She has this routine where she wakes from her nap, creeps to the top of the stairs and asks "Gramma..can I wake up now"? My parents do alot of babysitting for my sister, so like I said, it was no surprise to find her there. Immediately upon seeing me, she breaks into a huge grin and comes bounding down the stairs at break-neck speed, and launches herself into my arms from about 40 feet away. Kayla is a shy girl at first, but once you get her talking....I pity you. She can ramble with the best of them, and can tell you what all her "dollies" have been up to since you last saw her. She has at last count around 10 million "dollies". She knows all their names, and she can remember exactly who gave them to her. She can tell you their back stories, their work history, and even their birthdays, but she cannot remember to flush the toilet. Like I said...an interesting child.

Kayla has a 7 year old brother named Jonathan. The child was born at about 30 lbs and has since grown into most of it. When he was a baby, he was a large head with stubby little legs. I still to this day call him "head". He takes this ribbing good naturedly and has even learned to kid himself about his abnormally large head, going so far as to inform Grandma that "I hope the t-shirt will fit over my head". He is a very intelligent, well spoken, and even keeled young man. For some of what he has been through, he is well adjusted. And he is an entrepeneur in the making. If you promise him a nickel for pulling weeds, you had better have the cash. He doesn't forget! And he does nothing for free. What ever happened to the free child labour of our youth? If you offer him a quarter for picking up apples, he will mull it over and respond with "Hmmm...how about 3 quarters"? I see alot of myself in him...the intelligence, the zest for life, the adventurous side, and the ability to talk to anyone. My heart aches for the little guy sometimes. His mother and father are divorced, and although his father is an idiot, he still wants a father figure in his life but has none.

Kayla and Jon are your typical rowdy, never listen, wild, loving kids. They can get into trouble with the best of them. I am proud to say that some of the trouble they get into is of my doing ( I put them up to alot of "deeds"). I want to test their loyalty is all...I swear. They fight like other kids. They loooove to be tickled by Uncle Brandon. They are avid Harry Potter fans, and can recite the movies verbatim. Jonathan is always spelling words for me, and Kayla is learning to read. Yesterday she informed she could read a whole book by herself. I thought that to be wonderful and challenged her to read to me. Grabbing a book, she climbed onto my lap and proceeded to read to me . " Can..you..find..the..duck.."? "Can..you..find..the..dog"? Etc, Etc. At this point I realised that the book she was reading was one she had memorized. So I decided to mix things up with her, and turned to the back cover and asked her to read it to me. She looked at me with big brown eyes, and said " I can't, it's in Spanish". I smiled at her, kissed the top of her head and said "Good...Uncle Brandon knows Spanish too". She looked to Gramma for help, and got none. For the next thrity minutes we worked over the phrase in the back of the book. It turns out it was in English, and Kayla has now memorized the back cover as well as the entire inside of that book. She won't be fooled next time.

Being typical children, there is a rivalry going on there as well. They are always vying for affection, attention, and favor from anyone they can. They haven't yet realised they are both equally loved. Now being only 5, and weighing roughly the same as a bag of carrots, Kayla is a feisty one. She takes no guff, and never backs down. She has been a growler since she was a baby. Always growling when she doesn't get her way. She has problem smacking the snot out of Jon if he crosses her (which he does with great frequency).

Jonathan is learning grown-up things. He loves helping his Mother cook, and has recently discovered showering versus bathing. He thinks he is the king now that he can shower at Grammas and Grampas house. My parents house has two bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs. As with most if not all households the water pressure is never right. If you are taking a shower and someone flushes...well you know. Jon has learned this. He has learned by example. He has been scalded more than once, and always by Kayla. Here is the conversation that took place recently....

Jon: (storming up the stairs in a towel) " Danggit Kayla, I told you not to the flush the toilet when I'm in the shower".

Kayla: "Why? Does it get on you when I do"?

Jon: "No"

Kayla ( rather sadly) "Oh"

Devious she is. And did I mention free-spirited? My Dad's favorite time of the week is Fridays. He picks Kayla up from daycare. As he sits in the truck waiting for her to return from school, he watches the line of kids trudging along, looking as if it is their last day on earth. And then there's Kayla....bopping and bouncing and skipping along. Upon seeing Grampa's truck she waves excitedly and yells "Hi, Grampa", to which all the children trundling along yell in unison "Hi, Grampa". Kids....gotta love em.

I want to get serious for a minute. This last week another person was arrested in what I consider utter stupidity. Who in their right mind would take a two year child to a midnight showing of a movie and leave them un-attended in the car? What kind of brain dead moron allowed this person to be a parent? How and why are these people still re-populating? I'm not a parent and even I know that what he did is inexcusable and wrong. If you have plans, leave your child where they can be watched over. If a movie is more important than your child, don't have children.

There has been a great uprising and public outcry for the woman in Centreville who "forgot" her child in a car for a few hours resulting in the childs death. I honestly feel she was not treated fairly. Her negligent actions resulted in the death of her child. She recieves a slap on the hand and a stern talking to????? Please!! Had the child been taken and ended in the same fate, the person responsible would have been sent to prison. Why is it that you can be responsible enough to pro-create, but not be held responsible when you KNOWINGLY put your child in harms way? I am both disgusted and saddened whenever I read a story like this in the paper or hear it on the news. I understand that people get busy and often times forgetful. I also understand that life can be hectic. But to forget your child for three hours AFTER you bring in groceries?? To visit a friend and not have them ask you "Where's the new baby"? Something is wrong in todays society when children are dying due to neglect and stupidity. The most wonderful thing about the country we live in is this...free speech. On that note, I want to express my opinion. I hope the parents of these children are haunted to the end of their days. I hope everyday is a hell to them. I hope they look at happy kids playing and think "that could've been me".

I apologize if my venting at the end offended or hurt anyone. I merely wanted to express my opinions and beliefs. I am done ranting now. I am calm. I am on my way to a family BBQ where I plan on teasing my niece and nephew until they are exhausted and go to bed knowing how much they are loved. I wish you all the very best 24th. I wish you safety and happiness. If after reading this, you gather your children and hug/kiss them...very well indeed. Peace be with you all, and thank you for who you are.

Brandon

Dear......

2008-07-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

Dear....

You are sleeping now, but I wanted to write you a note to brighten your day. I'm sorry I won't be here when you wake. The highlight of my day is seeing you first thing in the morning. I covered you before I left, you were shivering my darling. If you find yourself smiling today for no apparent reason, it is because I am thinking of you and smiling too.

I long to hold you, but know I must wait. I ache to see you, but need only close my eyes. My life with you has been wonderful. I desire you with every fiber of my being, and admire you in ways words cannot express. You bring joy and happiness to an otherwise lonely soul. I regret not meeting you sooner, but wouldn't trade a second. You are my everything.

You call me your hero, but it is you that has saved me. You suprise me daily with your depth of understanding and your bottomless well of patience. I cannot fathom to think where I would be without you.

I will have dinner for you tonight when you get home. Please allow me to make tonight yours. It is the least I can do to show my love.

I love seeing your face every morning, and knowing that you are still here, but it is night I look forward to most. It is in my dreams I find you, and in my heart daily I keep you.

I can see you now, twirling your hair between two fingers and smiling. Dry your eyes lover, this is a happy letter. Thank you for making me what I am. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for loving me. Your strength inspires me, your passion drives me.

All my everything. Now, forever and always.

.............

I have no idea where that came from.....weird!

Singleness

2008-07-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

O.K., when I joined Facebook, I listed myself as single. Little did I know what I would be getting into. Since then, my email inbox has become inundated with offers to join singles sites. Even on facebook, there are offers that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Now I may not be the only one who receives these little offers, and if I am in fact not the only one, than I sympathize. They don't bother me, I actually find them amusing if anything. What amuses me the most is the strikingly beautiful girl who appears in the ad stating that she too is single. Yeah! Right! I understand that it's a money ploy. Preying on the weak minded. Offering salvation from the lonely nights of microwavable mac & cheese and Will & Grace re-runs. What ever flips your skirt up I say. But thanks to those ads on facebook, I now know I am NOT the only professional, over 30, Christian, Jewish, single Muslim in my area. WHEW! That is always a good thing to know. Useful information right there.

That basically led me to this entry. I thought since I have no desire to meet someone through a singles network who not only lies about their occupation but standard appearance, I would post my singles page here. Where noone can see it and all can view it. Where there is no hope for acceptance or chance of rejection. I would post the picture of my face on Brad Pitts body, but I lost it...my apologies. Now mind you, rejection is part of the game...and I have been told I'm a playa. So....GAME ON !!!!!!

Single, 36 year old male. I am a professional steel fabricator and amateur comedian. I enjoy long walks in the cool night air ( moonlight optional ), trivia, reading, poetry, crossword puzzles in bed, crime scene t.v., cooking, outdoor activities ( summertime preferably ), and beautiful women. I am an adamant reader, and consider myself well read and intelligent. I can form complete sentences without using the word "like", and do not discuss politics. I have been told I have the heart of a child ( it's in a jar on my desk). I enjoy many forms of music, and always appreciate a good version of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. Ave Maria is one of my most favorite songs, and lately have enjoyed the version performed by Il Divo. I enjoy opera and have seen Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Madame Butterfly, and Don Giovanni several times each. Movies and movie trivia is a passion of mine, and I prefer sitting on the couch versus fighting a crowd. I smoke and partake of the occasional "spirit". I am DDF (NO! not a Divorced Dad of Five...Drug/Disease Free ). I am adventurous, outgoing, slightly over-weight, funny, witty, charming, quiet, talkative, artistic, and curious. I am full of useless information, and like taking the "Asimov" quiz in the paper everyday. I can multi-task, but I cannot juggle efficiently. I am an honest to goodness, tried and true smartass. I am a snoring, bed hog....it IS my bed.

I seek a beautiful, passionate, sensitive, outgoing, adventurous, spontaneous, caring woman to share those talked about walks. I look for someone I can trust and share with. Someone who has a smile to rival the stars in the night sky. When she walks into a room, I want to be able to forget my own name. The envy of every woman, and the desire of every man. A face I look forward to seeing every morning. Lips I long to kiss every passing minute. She must be able to hold her own end in an arguement, and learn that the past belongs in the past. She must know that absolutely no good can come from living in the past. Strong, passionate, desirable, and mind numbingly beautiful are wonderful traits to possess. She should be over 5'6'' as I am 5'15''. She must fit perfectly in my arms, and understand there is a time and a place for PDA (public displays of affection ). A good sense of humor is a bonus, understanding mine a plus. Drug/Disease Free an absolute must! Knowing every word to every song in Grease appreciated. Willingness to experience new things even if not fully interested always a great thing. The ability to see into my soul not necessary, but proceed with caution. She must be strong yet in need of support. Employment is desired. A down to earth, grounded dreamer sought. Acceptance of all my friends no matter how odd they may be a must. I seek one who sees the world through child-like eyes, and admires the simple beauty life can offer. Someone who will break out in song or dance even if they can't sing or dance. Tattoos, piercings and children all ok...as long as kept to a minimal degree.

Well, there you have it. My expectations are high, I know. But I don't feel I should settle. I know I'm no prize, but I know what I want. I guess the reason I don't post this on the internet dating sites is mainly because I don't need them. I still date occasionally. I went on a date this last weekend. It was horrible, a disaster. I now know everything about my dates ex-boyfriend. More than I feel I wanted or needed to know. It's dates like those that make me feel like I am wasting my time and effort. I know all the pick-up lines ( most would make you blush), and I've never been accused of being "shy" or "introverted". I'm not as young as I was yesterday, and I'm not afraid to be alone. But there are some things in life that are far more enjoyable with someone on your arm.

So...now that I know I'm not alone ( the internet told me so...and it never lies ), the search continues. I know that many of my friends wish I would settle down...get married and re-produce. I know my mother wishes I would. One step at a time for now. So anyway...there is my singles site dating application. Not worth $30 a month to post is it???

As always, thank you for reading. Feel free to comment, shake your head or roll your eyes. Ave Maria just came on...I think I'll relax and close my eyes and listen. Goodnight folks

Brandon

Reading Pt.2

2008-07-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

As you will notice, on the right I have added a few things. One of which is a links list to many authors and their websites. This list is far from complete, and I welcome any input in the additions. Also, you will notice some links to my favorite blogs. I love reading what is going on in the wacky world of the Tonks family (crunchy bottoms still kills me), or the fascinating life of the Wilson family (the battery episode could have turned out one of two ways..."positive" or "negative"). As I am not allowed to have children left alone in my care, I live my life vicariously through yours. Please let me know if there are other blog pages I need to add. I will read them all and laugh/cry/strangle the children right along side you.

Today I want to discuss my reading habits. I often have people ask me "what do you like to read"? Easy...anything but romance (yuuuck), or autobiographies. I know I have said this before, but today I thought I would go over some of my favorites with you, and let you decide if you in fact might enjoy them as well.

First off, my all time favorite author. Stephen King. Now before you grunt in dismay, know that not all of his books are horror in nature. His Gunslinger series is a wonderfully written period piece about well...gunslingers. There is also The Eyes of the Dragon, a book he wrote for his son that is more of a fairy tale than anything. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a beautiful, tear jerker of a book about a lost girl and what she does to survive on her own. Bag of Bones and Lisey's Story are about a love lost, and the ones left behind to prevail. Both beautiful books. His latest, Duma Key, is a good book for all the die-hard Vampire readers out there. Eyes of the Dragon, and the Gunslinger books (7 in all) good for younger folk. Most of the other a little advanced in nature.

Next I think we will discuss Dean Koontz. Now like the above mentioned author, he has dwelt alot in the supernatural. But not all of his works are the same. His Odd Thomas series (4 in all) is well read, and well written. My favorite book of his would be One Door Away from Heaven. If you can read this one and NOT fall in love with the little girl Leilani Klonk...you're stronger than I am. I would ok Dean for reading by anyone above 12 years of age.

Anne Rice of course did the Vampire Chronicles ( Lestat, Interview With a Vampire, Queen of the Damned, Etc.), but she has also written books about witches, and her latest delves into the spiritual side of things. Her writing style is fascinating, her stories seem to tell themselves. She is definitely not for everyone. Not reccomended for teens under age 15, unless they truly enjoy scaring the crap out themselves.

Jeffery Deaver is responsible for giving us The Bone Collector. His series about Lincoln Rymes and Det. Amelia Sachs are wonderful to read. They include The Coffin Dancer, The Stone Monkey, and The Twelvth Card among many others. Good detective who-dunnits. I have yet to solve one before the end. Not suitable for children/adolescents due to language, murder and other thematic elements.

James Patterson is one of those authors who appears to be able to write about anything. His serial thrillers The Womens Murder Club are good, easy fun reads. He has written lovey dovey books as well, like Bleachers. He also writes detective novels like Mary Mary, Violets are Blue, Roses are Red, and Kiss the Girls (also a movie). I enjoy his works, and find I can usually read one of his books in a few days.

Terry Goodkind is a fantastic fantasy author. I read his first book and was hooked. His stories are the "adult" version of Harry Potter. There is dragons, magic and creatures. There are 9 or 10 books in the series, and I wouldn't suggest these books for kids under 13 due to some rape (nothing descriptive), and there is war/death. But I would suggest them for anyone fascinated by these types of stories.

John Grisham is the man to read if you enjoy a good courtroom drama. I like his books, and the good guy always wins. What more can I say?? Nothing wrong with letting the kiddies read these.

Now we come to some female authors. I, unlike my boss, am not adverse to reading a book by a woman. Patricia Cornwell is a great read if you enjoy books about forensics and the steps used to solve violent crimes. She is a noted Forensic Specialist, and she is also Chief Medical Examiner for the state of West Virginia ( I think). She was at one time a lawyer, and speaks well on legal matters too. Please visit her website for the list of her books in order. I made the mistake of reading book 5 first. Makes more sense to start at the beginning.

Another fascinating female author is Kathy Reichs. She too writes books on forensics, and solving violent crimes. I would not compare her to Patricia Cornwell, as their writing styles are very different. Kathy uses alot of French (she is the Anthroplogy Specialist in both the United States and Quebec, Canada), but aside from that her books are addicting. I have started reading her only recently, and have enjoyed the three I have read so far. Her main character Temperrance Brennan is the same one the T.V. series "Bones" is based on.

I would read one of these first before allowing your kids take a gander. Both contain harsh language, scenes of brutal violence, and some sexual themes. There are also some lovely morgue/autopsy descriptions.

Janet Evanovich writes some humorous books about Stephanie Plum, a female bounty hunter who can toss it up and kick butt with the best of them. I enjoy her books for a good laugh, and where NOT to hide if there is ever a female bounty hunter after me.

Now although this list isn't complete, it should give some idea into what I read, and what I would allow my children (if I was allowed to have any) to read. If I had to suggest books for the younger group, you can't go wrong with The Spiderwick Chronicles, Lemony Snickets, The Hobbitt, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Eragon series, or even Harry Potter. There is also my all time favorite young adult author...Roald Dahle. He brought us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and James and the Giant Peach. Anything written by Judy Blume is great for young or pre-teen girls. And let us not forget Superfudge.

So there you have it. What I like to read. And I do read alot. I usually have three or four books going at one time, and I tend to finish around 50-65 books a year. If the book truly grabs me, I will re-read it over and over. My copies of The Hobbitt and the subsequent trilogy are old, worn out and dog-eared, but still among my all time favorites.

Now please stop by the other blogs I have listed and lose yourself in the life/lives of others. If you know of anything I have left out, or if you would like to add something, please do. As always, I value your opinions and your comments. If you have any questions on the authors I have listed, I'm here for you friend. Be good, be wise, and never be without a good book.

P.S. The reason I'm not allowed around children is I tend to mess with their little heads. I'm a bad influence on young, unfetered minds. Just a warning if you're ever looking for a babysitter.

Until next time............................ Brandon

Expectations

2008-07-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

I recently had an experience with a sales clerk that led me to this post. What I would like to discuss is our expectations in this world. What do we feel we deserve when we dine out, or buy our groceries, or even just stop for a cup of coffee in the morning? What exactly do we feel we are owed??

First off, let me tell you where I come from. My resume can honestly boast over 16 years in the customer service industry. 11 of those years were in restaurant management (Ponderosa, The Pie, Mulboon's, Rocky Mtn. Pizza), and the remainder in service industries such as Target or even 7-11. Right out of high school I was wating tables and worked my way into management. I have since chosen a different occupation, but the lessons taught to me are still there. I know what I offered then...and I know what I expect now.

The other day, like every work morning, the man I carpool with and I stopped at the 7-11 for our morning ritual. We have stopped every morning for the past 16 months or so. The same lady is there every morning. By now, after being asked over 300 times for my I.D. when buying cigarettes, I tend to get a little irate. Anyway, this particular morning something had definitely planted itself firmly in this womans' rear end. She went on and on about how the Budweiser delivery guy had actually dared "tell her what to do." As I appraoched the counter she was ranting to Hispanic man about it. The ONE person in the store who didn't speak a lick of English, and she just wouldn't let it go. He politely nodded and smiled, not knowing what in the world this crazy person was going on about. My turn comes and I lay down my juice, my croissant ( ain't I dainty?), and my daily newspaper. She scans the newspaper twice, and the guy I work with informs her of this. She looks at him and says "Oh, you're one of those". I politely asked her what she meant by it and she responded with "One of those that likes to tell others how to do their jobs." I simply stated that in fact he was informing her of a mistake that could cost her company money. She decided to go on the offensive.....WRONG move to choose around someone like me. I lit into her saying "First of all, he wasn't telling you how to do your job, and secondly, this isn't your first mistake". She huffed and huffed (if I had a house, woulda been blown down I tell ya). She informed me I could take my business elsewhere if I didn't like the way she did things. Hmmmmm...now what would Brandon do???

Now over the years, I have had many people tell me this exact thing. After a poorly cooked meal, or absolutely inadequate service. Most of the time, I let it go. But on those rare occasions when I speak up, and I am told I can take my business elsewhere, I like to inform them of the 10-10-10 rule. Simply put, I tell 10 people about my experience, they tell 10 people, etc. etc. It snowballs into the possibility of over 600 people being told about one establishment and their inefffective ways. That usually makes them think twice or even recant their decision. A butt kissing is usually in order when I'm through. I guess I'm the customer service nazi to some.

It's what I was taught, trained, and groomed for. I learned from the start that every dollar counts. I understood the customer/server relationship and I followed it. I never spoke out of turn to a customer (unless it was a comment that I knew would get a laugh). I would have never treated someone poorly without a good excuse.

So now that I have ranted myself, I leave it in your hands. I ask you this...what do you expect from your experience? Do you think that the customer/consumer relationship has gone downhill? Do you demand more for your dollar? Do you think certain people demand a little more than others? I know that working on the east side of Salt Lake, and managing a restaurant there, they sure do. Do you feel that society today is lacking in quality? Do you feel that your opinion is taken seriously when you "complain"? Do you want to reach behind the counter and choke the person telling you " Uh, yeah, like I got to get my manager and stuff k"? Have we gotten too used to just taking it on the chin? I will honestly admit that I can be overbearing when I am the recipient of some high school dropout and his/her attempt at what they call "service". I have embarassed both my family and potential Mrs. Brandons...so be it. I know what I expect, and I know how it should be. I leave it up to you now...tell me what irks you. Let me know where you stand.

Thank you again for your candor, and your honesty. Happy reading..........

Brandon

Friends

2008-07-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

Today was the mini reunion, and I will admit, at first I was apprehensive. I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to go and rehash old memories, or even see how happy everyone is. I'm glad I went. As far as I could tell, a great time was had by all. Some faces had changed, some people had changed. Some of us have gone gray, others didn't appear to have changed at all. But the most surprising thing to me was how well received I was when I walked in. People were both surprised and happy that lil ol me was there. I thank you for that. It made an old man happy to think he has not offended anyone with senseless blogging or even ran anyone off with useless application invites. I received many good appraisals on the blog page, so here I continue. I thank you all.

Driving home it was "remember when we did that" or "remember that one time.." All great memories. There was even a discussion of those who aren't with us anymore, and those that should have been there. I know many had "valid" excuses like camping in Montana, or hiking in the mountains with the kids, or even, get this...a root canal. Sheesh. I've heard some whoppers in my time, but those? Come on. I jest. It was unfortunate some could not attend.

I value my friends for not what they are, but for WHO they are. Every one of you is unique in your own sense. Some of you challenge me spiritually, others mentally. I take from you all something valuable and precious, and I try to return my greed with something just as needed or wanted. I always hope it's an even trade.

I will close this blog by saying thank you again. Thank you for who you are, and what you add to my life. Thank you for reading the ramblings of a slightly warped, and often times, disturbed mind.

There has been talk of another get together, a BBQ perhaps, where the chillins can run free and roam wild. I look forward to this with no trepidation. Until then, you keep reading, and I'll keep writing.

Brandon

What will you be remembered for?

2008-07-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking about what we do and how we are remembered when we are gone. So, I thought I would pose the question to you all.. What would you like to be remembered for?

Were you an outstanding athlete that set some new records? Do you have a genius I.Q.? Are you proud of your parenting skills and feel that is your legacy? The world's best cook? Can you hold your breath for 10 minutes without going crosseyed? Can you move objects with your mind? Can you sing like an angel? Lift a car one-handed? All of these are not only noble, but worthy of being remembered for.

Me, I don't honestly know. I always imagined people would say years after I'm gone " He sure could make ya laugh". Not exactly noble, but hey..we all got our thang. There is one talent I possess not many people know about (actually noone til now). I can read a person's eyes. I see things in them most people would rather hide. I know, sounds implausible, but I really can. It has served me well over the years. I can tell if a girl is interested from across the room, or I can tell if I'm being lied to. I promise I don't use it for evil, only good. I can't save the world with it, and it's not really a talent. A simple act of observation into ones soul is all. But enough about me.

What do my readers want to remembered for? What would you like a statue erected in your honor for? Have you saved someone's life( and I know of one of us who has done just that)? Did you avoid a disaster by intuition alone? Can you make your children clean their rooms (and the neighbor's house as well) with just a look? Do you have the ability to control a situation with your mere presence?

I am most curious about this one. I love getting to know you all on a deeper and more personal level. I understand if you read and decide not to comment, but I do love reading your comments. I hope you do not find these a waste of time. I hope you gain some insight into your lives and the lives of those around you. I hope above all, that you walk away after reading these and say " He sure can make me laugh". Be good to one another, be generous in your thoughts, and do right by each other. I look forward to seeing you all this coming Saturday.

Brandon

Tired

2008-07-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today, I just want to vent. There will be no pop quiz, and no answers to questions. I simply want to vent.

I'm tired...tired of war, destruction, poverty, and death.

As you all know by now, we have lost another of our classmates. He died too young. They all did. It is both sad and unfortunate. I feel for his loved ones, and I grieve silently. I did not know James but from auto mechanics class. He was gifted with tools and always had a good joke to tell. I wouldn't go as far as to say we were close, but we were familiar.

The tragedy is unbearable to some, unthinkable to others. He gave his life in the service of saving others. It haunts me to think of those we went to school with in harms way everyday. Several are police officers, I know of one that is a firefighter.

I have dealt with death many times in my life. We have all lost loved ones, I'm sure. I have lost friends, cousins, grandparents, great-grandparents, and people I never knew. I have seen death first hand, and I know its capability.

I have lost people to the war, and people to disease. I have seen death take those who seemed healthy and those who were far too young to leave. I have watched helplessly as a 10 year old boy died in my arms from a traffic accident. It all haunts me.

I know this is macabre. I understand it can be considered in poor taste. I apologize to any I have offended. I simply needed to vent.

Many feel it is all part of a "plan", some say "It was just his time". There are many avenues to use when dealing with grief. My way...I think of the person and toast them one last time.

So...raise your glass..a toast to those passed on, and a toast to those left behind. May some day soon we meet and remember old times once again.

What DO Women Want??

2008-07-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

I'm fully aware as I type this that I have opened a can of worms. I'm also aware that I perhaps may NOT be the right person to ask this question or even be allowed to comment on it. But alas, here it is and there I went. So simply put dilligent reader/s,....What do women want?

We have all heard the book "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus", and we have all heard the numerous comedians that have alluded to the female species being possibly difficult, or even confusing. Furthermore, we all know that men don't have a clue. Now I know most of you are married, and of that majority that are, you all seem happily married. Great! Fantastic! But...does he really, truly, without a doubt know you and what you want?????

We have all done the romance aspect; the flowers, and the notes, and the dinners. A given. We all have also done the acceptance aspect; the slight flaws, the ticks, the bad qualitites. A must. These are what it takes to make a relationship work. This is what's needed for true, open, honest love. But those come with the territory. That is all part of the ancient ritual of courting. Named after the way Romans would "court" or trap the women in a fenced off square, and having blindfolded themselves, fire arrows randomly. Upon hitting one, she was his for life. Ok, Ok...I'm full of it...but it WAS funny on my end.

SO, now we have the "musts" out of the way. Let's move on to the "wants". What do women want? Do they want someone who will never argue? Perhaps someone who let's themselves be molded or shaped into the perfect specimen of manliness. I have actually asked this question to some of the many women/girls I have dated and these were some of the responses. (names withheld for fear of retribution)

"I want a man who loves me for who I am. A man who does not care about my past, but only what I can offer him for the future."

"I want someone who will work hard to provide the life I never had as a child and who will give in to my every whim or desire."

"I want a guy who reminds me of my Dad."

"I want a guy who will remind me everyday why and how I fell in love with him to begin with."

Just a random few, and trust me when I say, there were more. I never said I dated rocket scientists or even MENSA candidates. After asking over 20 (yes, you read correctly) women, I have come to the conclusion that we men are clueless. In a way, they all had a quality that when thrown together with the others, would create the "perfect" man. But is that what women want? Someone perfect? Someone flawless? Someone that others would envy? I know one person who has already stated that she felt her husband was the perfect person to play the role of Edward in the upcoming movie "Twilight". I also know of one who says her husband couldn't be any better than he already is. I applaud both of them, but I'm left asking...is there anymore you could want in your partner?

Do women seek perfection, honesty, values, fortitude, strength, trust, beliefs, similar qualities, intelligence, spontaneity, humor, looks, passion, or romance? They are all fine qualities, but do they make the person you love better? Would a man who can read their mind be that much more appealing to them? Would you be happy with "perfection"? Is there anymore you could possibly want? Is there something they lack, that although it does not affect your love for them, you wish they had? Is there something they do that you promised you wouldn't fix that truly annoys/bothers you? Do you feel that many of these qualities are ingrained into a person? That they are natural qualities? If so, what would you add?

So come on, spill it. Tell me what you feel women really want. As before, there is no wrong answer, only sage advice. Enlighten me wise women of the net. Make me believe once again that there is hope, even for a phobic like me.

Dinner (and a movie??)

2008-06-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

There is one question that Psychologists often ask people to tender a response and to gauge a reaction. There is no right or wrong answer and it can and often does give insight into a persons inner-workings and mental status. That question is this: If you could have dinner with three people, famous or not, alive or dead, who would they be and why?

The most popular answer among 100 people asked is simply one person. Can you guess who it is? No, it's not me. Although I am a great cook (awesome actually). The most popular person amongst most lists is Jesus. Now whether that says the person asked wants to be closer to their Saviour, or perhaps to prove the validity, I know not. But as it stands, He is the most populr answer. He is in fact the first answer to come from most people asked. Not their realtives long past, not Angelina Jolie ( I wouldn't mind that one), not even The Pope, (and this goes for Catholics as well as other religions...surprising isn't it?).

So today's quandry diligent readers and posters is this...If you could choose three people, living or dead, famous or not to dine with for one evening, who would they be and why? I have actually pondererd this question for a few days before posting it, because my answers changed. I have finally come up with my three.

1) John F. Kennedy-Not only was he the youngest President ever elected to office, but he was the most charismatic as well. I love reading over his old speeches and policies, learning more about the man each time. There are several theories as to why they related his term in office to that of Camelot. I think it is because he carried himself like a King. Leaders around the world looked up to him and sought his advice. If I could ask him one question, I would ask him if he was aware of his impending death. I think he very well may have been.

2) Elvis Presley-If you have read my profile page and looked at any of the music loaded there, you will realize I idolize this man. He had the world at his fingertips and wanted for nothing. His love for his Mother was iconic in nature. I have yet to visit Graceland, but will I'm sure someday. My question for Elvis would be " If you could go back and do anything differently, would you, and what would you do"?

3) Adolf Hitler- Now before you drop your jaw in shock or even anger...read on. Hitler was a military genius. A monster for sure, but in his mind he was doing what he thought was right. If he hadn't been greedy and spread his troops far and wide, we could be speaking German today. His mind wasn't as fragile as some believe. He loved art and beauty. To pick his brain for one evening would be both challenging and interesting I'm sure. My question for him would be " What next?"

Now you know my three. Nothing religious or pretentious. I don't know what my three say about me. Maybe I plan on world domination while singing and riding in a convertible in Texas...I don't know. One thing I know for sure is that all three are tied together. Hitler of course we know as a German ( I think he was actually Austrian), Elvis served his military years in Germany and France, and John Kennedy's most famous speech next to "Ask not what your country...." was "Ich Von Berliner". Intriguing...sure. Odd...definitely. Scary...nah!

So there you are. Me in a nutshell. Now it's your turn. As with all other blogs, there is no criticsm, no laughing (unless you're funny and mean to be), no finger-pointing, and definitely no right or wrong answer. I am simply interested in all of you and what makes you unique. Check back often for comments posted by others about the blog or perhaps your comment itself. If for some reason I offend, I apologize in advance. If I make you laugh, your life is better for it. If I make you cry, I will blame someone else. I look forward as always to your take on the world around you, and the advice/comments/friendship you all offer so freely.

Blog ya later, Brandon

Love

2008-06-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

Love is a four letter word...and as four letter words go, not one of my most favorites. Yes, you read correctly. I'm a commitment phobic who hasn't used that word in a long while. So my question today is to those of you who use it daily ( my deepest sympathies). What is love? How do you know or how did you know that who you're with now was the "right one"?
I have heard of love at first sight. It has never happened with me ( I usually have to walk by twice). I have heard love is eternal...hmmm, so is Death. I have even heard love is a many wonderful thing. Yeah, chicken wings, beer and a game on Sunday feel the same to me. So what I truly want to know is this...what made you fall madly, passionately, hopelessly in love with the one you share your thoughts, laughter, tears and dreams with?
Webster's defines love as: A strong tender affection; deep devotion. Ok. Cool. I have seen all your profile pages, and I have seen the smiling happy pictures of all of you with your loved ones. I am truly happy for you all. How did the person in your life make you fall for them? Was it never-ending, relentless hounding until you agreed to date them? Did they use chloroform? Was it the words they spoke, or the manner in which they carried themselves? Upon first meeting them, did you say to yourself " now them are some child-bearing hips"? Were you swept off your feet?
More importantly, do you still see the same qualities in them now? Does their smile still light up your darkest day? Does their touch still make you shiver? Does their voice in your ear still make you smile? Does your heart ache when you are away from them? Do you see any of the qualities you fell in love with being passed to your children?
Has the one you love ever told you "thank you for loving me"? Have they ever dedicated a song on the radio to you? Do they look at you across a crowded room and still act shy? Is it still considered romantic to open the door or pull out a chair? After being married or even together for many years, will the "spark" still be there?
I know this is a VERY personal blog, and i understand if noone responds. In turn however, I will reveal personal information. I have done all of the above. The little notes, the flowers, the gifts "just cuz", the everything. I can honestly say I am a hopeless romantic. I don't have anyone in my life now and I'm ok with that. I'm happy...all that matters.
When you found the one you are with now, what were you looking for? Did they pass the full inspection or did you settle on a few flaws that you knew you could change? I have always had a list...a mental checklist if you will of what I would find ideal in a woman. 1) Does she name her stuffed animals? 2) Does she find abnormality cute or annoying? 3) Is she genuinely interested in me? 4) How political/religious is she? 5) Could I see myself with this person five or even ten years from now? 6) Is she smarter than a doorknob (stop rolling your eyes, you know what I mean)?
So anyway, that is the blog...sorry so long winded. I actually went back and re-wrote it several times before being satisfied. I do hope that noone takes anything I say as personal. I have an arena to vent, so vent I must. I look forward to any comments positive or negative that you may have. I take nothing personal and I am impossible to offend.

Till next time, Brandon

D'Oh..What Annoys You?

2008-06-25T04:06:00.000-07:00

This morning I thought I would pose the question to you all about annoyance and your attitude towards that which annoys you. If you have read my profile you will know it says I despise stupidity. I most certainly do, it annoys me. I'm not talking about the "oops I backed into another car at the supermarket cuz I wasn't paying attention" kind of stupidity, that is human nature to make a mistake or two, I'm talking about blatant, honest to God, without a doubt, plain, right out stupidity. You all know what I'm referring to. Those people who say or do something that makes you stop and look at them in bewilderment or wonder. Those people who not only do something once but repeat their effort at stupidity with any chance they are given. I mean come on, life is not rocket science.

Let me explain a little further. Some of the things that people say really annoy me. When someone says "It was the last place I looked", I want to respond with "really?"...I mean let's think about it, why would you continue looking after you found it? Of course it's going to be the last place you looked. Another one that always gets me ( and usually ends in a very sour response) is someone who will approach you at the bus stop or Trax station and actually ask you " Did the bus/train come yet?". I usually respond to those with a kind smile and a " Yes, actually, and I stood here waiting for you so I could be the one to tell you that you missed it" ( you stupid $%*@).

Now we move on to the things people do. In my line of work, safety is a given. You are given/required to wear safety gear daily. So I always wonder why there are a few who not only walk around without it, but look at you stupidly when you ask them where it is. Could it be that they are in fact faster than a speeding bullet and are impervious to injury or bodily harm? Blatant stupidity. No other way to look at something like that.

So now tell me ( and the rest of us), what annoys you? Is it the sing-song voice of your child/children calling out " Mooommmmyyyy....mooommmm...MOM!! MOM!! MOM!!" or even "Dad..Dad..Dad..Dad"? Is it the always popular "Are we there yet?" (this one most effective if asked every five or less minutes apart...ask my Brother). Or is it the person you work with or perhaps live next to that doesnt understand that you could honestly care less about his/her sex life, or the fact that their roses/lawn are soooo beautiful? Is it the guy/gal on your facebook page that keeps sending you application invites or just simply stupid things you're not interested in? Is it blog pages? Just some examples.

What truly annoys you? Do tell. Is there something or someone out there who you desperately needs to be beaten about the face and neck? I have heard that stress is defined as "The confusion created when ones mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living crap out of some idiot who desperately needs it". There you have it..so come on, don't be shy or scared. No names please, just some shining examples of what annoys you most. Are you done yet? Are you done yet? Are you done yet?

Blog ya later, Brandon

Reading...

2008-06-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

I was recently challenged by a few of you out there to read the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I can honestly say I have started it and read rather easily the first 200 pages in one sitting. My honest opinion? Not bad. Not what I'm used to by any means..I like a book with a little "meat" on its bones. So that brings me to this entry. What makes a book good? Some out there, like my brother for example, like Autobiographies. I, however, do not. Some people like a book that instructs them on how to think, act or feel. To these I say "Pshaw". Me? I like a book that has a good story line, a believable main character and writing that makes me anticipate picking that book up at every possible chance. Now don't get me wrong, I have read self-help books, and I have read my share of Autobiographies, they are just not my "cup of tea" if you will.

So todays blog is about books. I have seen what some people have posted in their virtual bookshelves, and I must say...interesting. I'm sure some of you have looked through mine and thought the same ( but how many of you noticed that I included ALL the Dr. Seuss books as "read")? So let me pose this question to those of you brave enough to post back. What, in your mind, makes a good book?? Do you like being swept into a world of talking house elves and boy wizards? Do you prefer a book on doctrine or religion? Is your taste more inclined to political or Government? Or are you the sugar-induced, goofy grin on our face romance enthusiast? That's what I want to know. What, in your eyes, makes a book truly great? What would it take for you to recommend it to others?

Psychologists say that we are defined by what we read. Please! Everything we do defines us. If what we read actually makes us who we are, than I would be a half-alien, mind reading, gun-slinging, murderous car, for you see I have read and enjoy all of Stephen Kings work. I hope I don't strike you as a rabid dog hell bent on trapping you in your crappy Volkswagen.

Growing up we are all asked at one point or another to read something. Wether it was for a grade, your particular religion, or to understand Birth or even Death. Does this mean that those books are good? To everyone, the answer is different of course. In school I was forced to read many books or fail a course. I read them dutifully and can honestly say that Lord of the Flies, and Great Expectations are not now nor ever will be my "favorite" books. I'm sure some of you would say that about Shakespeare, or even Poe. Not everyone likes poetry or understands it. Does that make them less of a person? Not in my eyes.

Mark Twain is quoted as saying "The man who does not read a good book, has no advantage over the man who cannot read." I honestly believe that. But what makes a book good? That's the question I pose to you, dilligent reader/s. Tell us and others what your favorites are and why. Tell us if you agree with banning certain books from current school curriculum. Are there books you feel should be banned? Let us know how you feel about books and the influence some have over society today. Do you follow Oprah's suggested reading list? Do you read a book before you see the movie? Do you compare them afterwards? Do share.

Until we post again, Brandon

High School Daze

2008-06-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

As I was at work today, I got to thinking that I would like to start a blog, or a series as it may come to be. Not only for the satisfaction of getting things out of my head onto here..but to gauge reactions and responses from others as well. So I thought I would start off with one about our past. That's right...High School. And more specifically, what you consider being your fondest memories of those days. I'll start and I hope others will follow.

There is alot I remember from the three years I spent wandering the halls of Granger High. There is also alot I would just as soon forget. I vividly remember the friendships started (some of which have lasted to this day), and the experiences I shared with others. I clearly remember sluffing school with some friends to go to the "beach" out at the Great Salt Lake, only to get cited for not paying the entrance fee to get in. I remember the breakfasts spent at McDonalds and learning how to "pop" a wound up straw. How about the pins that were given out with every paper badge during every school election? Am I the only one who didn't just use those pins to hold my badge on?? I doubt that.

As I sit here so many memories flood back on me. I first learned who Guns N' Roses were during a trip to Bountiful to meet a friends current flame. My love for head banging, loud, gut-wrenching metal still exisists today due to that one encounter with Axl and the boys. I vaguely recall Spanish class and addressing the teacher as "NORM" when he walked through the door. I also remember developing my first school boy crush in that exact class.

Memories...the things you can remember when you let the gates of your sub-conscious mind open and the past to enter. Not all memories are good. I also remember being picked on ( what high school adolescent hasn't been), and I remember having my heart broken for the first time during my Junior year.

As this is my first blog, I ask that you bear with me and my mind-numbing rambling. I hope I have posted this correctly and that others may share and add anything they wish. If you have a story you remember...please tell. If you (like most people surely do) remember me as mainly "the class clown", again, please share. I look forward to writing more and reading anything added.

With much anticipation, Brandon