Kon-Tiki

So last night I went to a Halloween party thrown by a friend of a friend, and I ran into a guy who is Norwegian. We talked about the usual stuff, as my dad served his mission there, and I have visited once. The guy is a student at BYU, studying International Relations (maybe you will meet him too Michelle) and Econ. This actually is rather surprising to me, as I have met several people from Norway here at BYU, one of which I actually met in Norway first... The guy's name is Tor, so naturally I asked if he was named after Thor Heyerdahl, of Kon-Tiki and Ra expedition fame. He said no, (Tor/Thor is a common name after the Norse god), but was impressed that I knew the name. In fact, I have been to the Kon-Tiki museum in Bygdøy, Norway. I have also been to a lecture by Thor Heyerdahl. I even read Kon-Tiki once. I should probably read it again. Anyways, if you are not in the know about one of these famous Norwegians, here is the opportunity.

An Oscar-winning documentary on Kon-Tiki

and of course, the wikipedia page.

PS. Thank you Dad, so much, for taking me along on that business trip years ago. Many good memories, and I can now say I have watched my sister fall in a fjord...

Public Health Stuff

I am learning a lot in my Public Health classes. Here is a great video about diabetes in Native American populations. I was interested to hear about the most likely cause of the diabetes epidemic in this population (the dam upstream of the Gila River), which changed the lifestyle from a more self sufficient farming community to a community more dependent on the government and western diet.

This is from a documentary called "Unnatural Causes" that aired on PBS last year. You can see more video clips at http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/video_clips.php?

I should know in a few weeks if I passed the Utah Reciprocity Exam for Paramedic. I'll keep you guys posted.

This is Public Health

Also, if you are interested in my interest in Public Health, check out this video. I actually have a hard time not getting a little teared up by the end, now THAT's good social marketing... I recommend clicking on the "watch in youtube" option so you can see it full screen. Thanks for checking in on me!

generationpublichealth.org

I have a job, and some classes

So I've had some questions about what a "Health Promoter" does. Essentially they develop programs to increase awareness, compliance, safety and health in the community or industries they choose to work in. The reason I am in this track instead of say, Environmental/Occupational Health or Epidemiology, is that I plan to use this training and knowledge to make me a better Paramedic. I see the more progressive EMS systems in the country as taking a more public health oriented course in their future. I mean, why not? Trauma and chronic disease (the major reasons for EMS utilization) are public health problems. In some EMS systems, they are identifying at risk patients (usually "frequent fliers"), and developing programs to decrease their need to visit the Emergency Department. For example, a diabetic who is non-compliant with his oral medication and diet recommendations frequently calls 911 for low blood sugars and minor injuries related to his peripheral neuropathy (a complication of uncontrolled diabetes). If the EMS system preemptively came by his house at scheduled intervals and visited with him, they might prevent his need to utilize the EMS system for transport to the hospital. They might go over a checklist where they offer to check his blood sugar, look through his refrigerator to see if he has appropriate meal options. Check his supply of oral medication, and if low or depleted, offer recommendations on low cost prescription options ($4 prescription plans, etc.). They could also survey the house and try to eliminate trip hazards and make sure he has a pair of "house shoes" to prevent foot injuries, a precursor to diabetic ulcers and injuries that require amputation. All this could be done in an hour, and in that prevention visit, which probably costs the community $70, they could avoid a trip to the ED that would cost over $1400, which would also be charged to the hospital and the community if the patient is unable to pay (honestly, most patients that match this description can't). I could help develop those programs, after getting some Paramedic street cred.

/Rave.

So anyways, I have a job. I am a research assistant for a father-son professor team on campus. They teach in my department and I actually have classes from them both. I am researching articles describing experiments done to prove the ideas behind the upcoming changes in the First Aid Guidelines put out by the American Red Cross and American Heart Association. This is the first research position, so these first weeks have been about getting used to the searches etc. Later next week I will present what I have so far so I can restart it and do it the right way after they give me comments on what I have so far. It's going to be for a book used in First Aid Training. And I get to pick my hours. Sweet, but tempting to put in fewer hours than I need to, as I don't have "scheduled hours."

Classes are good. As I mentioned, I am taking classes from my employers (professors). They are both named Thygerson (said THUR-ga-son). The father teaches my Injury Prevention class, and the son teaches my Occupational Safety and Health class. Injury Prevention is being taught using a team learning approach. We take a test every class, once as individuals, once as teams. We do an application activity as a team every week, and starting next week, we will be doing team presentations on interventions to prevent specific injuries (in 2 weeks, my team covers Occupant Protection in Motor Vehicle Collisions, I am covering the "seat belt reminder light" and it's effectiveness in preventing injury). I am surprised how much I like this class as well as my Occupational Health class. I find the idea of being a safety manager at a company interesting. My other classes are the Public Health Intro class, which I have yet to get a seat in (I am enrolled, but there are exactly the number of students as there are seats, and no one scoots to the center of the aisle.) Also Program Planning and Evaluation, which is only once a week. The teacher is interesting, but his lectures are very scatter brained. I guess we'll see how I do on the first test... Aside from that I am getting credit for research, taking a Geology class for GEs and also taking the EMS Continuing Ed class.

Yup, I'm doing BYU EMS again. I am a "floating" supervisor this year, meaning I fill in where needed. I will be co-teaching some of the classes this year as well, specifically the Pediatrics Section. More on this later probably.

As far as fun stuff, I spent the night at a friend's cabin up near Sundance. I went last year for an EFY Counselor Clump, and just like last year it was a blast. Thanks Davis and Jenna for inviting me. Great night sky, clear crisp mountain air, and staying up till 4am talking to friends. It was great.

So that's the last week in a nutshell. Take care all!

Ins and outs, ups and downs

So where have I been in life for the past months? In order of majority percentage wise, I put it like this:

Finishing my National Registry Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic Certification (NREMT-P)

Sleeping

Working full time hours at a "part time" job... (Inova Loudoun Hospital Emergency Department)

Getting ready for BYU

Getting ready for Michelle and Greg's wedding

Spending time with my nieces and nephews (their parents are great too...)

Cleaning my room.

That's life in a nutshell for what I have been doing since January. To expound a bit, also in categories.

NREMT-P

I finished my clinicals with little time to spare. My personal favorites among the clinicals were the NICU (Neonatal/Newborn ICU) followed closely by the OR rotation where I got to do intubations on live persons! In the NICU at Mary Washington, I finished my Pediatric requirements, assessed 14 newborns, changed some diapers, got to ask lots of questions, and attended two C-Sections (one for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension/PIH, the other for being several days past due with failure to progress). I finally got to practice some of the skills I learned a few years ago in my Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) class I took at LDS Hospital. I think if I were to take on nursing, I would want to be a NICU nurse. As for the OR, I choked on my first intubation, which is not unusual. I just couldn't seem to get his mouth open wide enough to put the laryngoscope in to visualize the vocal cords. That gentleman was in for a nephrectomy (kidney removal due to a tumor). The next one, which I did get, was a lady who was to have a D&C due to miscarriage, but instead, ended up having a partial salpingectomy (fallopian tube removal), because of an undiagnosed tubal pregnancy... The next few I had were gall bladder removals (cholecystectomy), and one was for a bronchoscopy, where the surgeon explained the anatomy as he passed the bronchoscope. All in all, it was fascinating. I practiced ventilation of real adult and pediatric patients, saw several pediatric intubations for tonsillectomies, and saw a fasciotomy for compartment syndrome. Although some of the anesthesiologists and anesthetists were, let's say reluctant to acknowledge my presence, some were downright hospitable and taught me a lot. As for the testing, the Computer Adaptive written portion cut off at 85 questions (I passed), and the practical portion, I also passed the first time around. I got sent this really ugly patch to prove it too! I am really glad to be finished with the program, and feel like I can use these skills to improve the lives of others.

Sleeping - 'nuff said...

Working full time hours at a "part time" job - I was slated for 24 hours, but have been working 36 for the last few months. This nearly led to me not finishing the paramedic program, as that is also pretty much like full time schooling with a part time job (clinicals) already... Anyways, the people at Loudoun were good to me, and it helped me earn some needed capital for the upcoming semesters.

Getting ready for BYU - I am back at BYU for a full year to finish up my bachelors. I started at BYU in 2001, went on a mission in 2002, returned for 2004-2007, then had to leave due to some personal circumstances (this did allow me to finish my paramedic, though) I have changed my major to Public Health - Health Promotion. I know that a lot of people finish school in 8 years. Most of them are called Doctor : ) Anyways, I am looking forward to my classes, and next week will write little blurbs about them and my professors, as well as the research I am doing.

Michelle and Greg's Wedding! - Michelle got married, Greg is my new brother-in-law, and the Teichert Family is amazing. What more can I say? To see some great pictures, see the blot on the side "30 Marens Agree."

Spending time with nieces and nephews - Wouldn't you if they looked like this?

They are pretty adorable if I do say so myself!

Cleaning my room - I need to get rid of so much stuff, it isn't funny!

So on goes life, and hopefully a weekly blog posting habit! Hope all is well with you all, have a great Labor Day!

Hey, I'm posting!

So since I last posted, I have shaken the former POTUS' hand, been in the West Wing twice, the Oval Office once, kept a fish alive for more than a few days (I'm on almost 3 months here), gone on a date(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), and gone contra dancing.  

So yeah, about the date.  As some people know, I haven't forayed into dating very much, so experience is light in this area.  I think it went well though.  I was running late (as always), and then we had some setbacks along the way, most of which included me getting lost.  Aaron was amazing though and got us through by having a friend with Secret Service connections reschedule our entrance time.  Kind of cool, eh?  Having a brother that knows someone with connections like that?   Chris, a bud from EFY (3 years running) who is doing military training in the area was great enough to accompany me with his date, Lyndsay, a nurse from the area.  My date, Kandi, was also an acquaintance from EFY this summer, works in the area for a company that does group and team building activities in an outdoor setting.

Here's a picture of it: we forgot a camera, so cell phones pictures are all that I have to treasure it...

As for the fish, his name is Botticelli (the bott part is pronounced like the word BOAT).  Here is a picture:

He is a good friend, and it is nice to have something else alive in the basement with me.  If you are curious, over the summer another Betta named Botticelli and I became friends, though I think his name was said "bott" and not "boat."  Anywho, this was (where else?) at EFY this summer, and at one point we thought he had died.  He floated at the top of the bowl for an hour, and then started swimming again... Later we deduced that the air bubbles from having his water changed from an aerated faucet made him buoyant.  It was traumatic nonetheless.

Coming up in some more recent installments, I talk about NREMT testing and results, and the exciting prospect of moving in April... Till next time, I will leave you with this cool video of contra dancing in Glen Echo park. (Skip to about 55 seconds to get to the good part, it is fun, and you actually pick it up kind of fast, more on this as I plan to go again).

Ahhh technology...

So I was reading the comics page in the newspaper today.  After getting a chuckle out of the panels, I pointed my finger at the paper and held it for a while...

And then I realized what I was doing....

You know it's been too long since you read the comics page offline when you hover your finger over the page waiting for the alt text to appear (one of my favorites, and another).

For those of you not familiar with xkcd, it is one of my favorite comics when it is within bounds.  It's pretty easy to skip over the inappropriate ones to get to the others.  I have stated before that it, like Calvin and Hobbes, describes a lot of my sense of humor.

  If you don't know what alt text is yet, hover the mouse cursor over the comic and some extra text will appear.

Here's another one of my favorites.

The moose is my personal favorite...

You all have probably already seen this, but hey, it's worth a shot if you haven't...

I found this REALLY funny.  Although I still get the impression that many of the SNL staff are Democrat, I don't think these skits were really damaging.  I think America can afford a laugh at its political process now and then.  If rap is not your cup of tea even when humorous, you probably won't like this...

Snapshot

My cousin DiscoMom does these and I love them.  Melinda, my sis, also does them about Trina, our youngest sister.  Here's the scoop:  Spencer, Emma, and Adam stopped by tonight while everyone was out at Mutual/Activity night.  I was the only one home.  When Spencer noticed this, he looked up at me and said "Uncle Dan, do you want to play Pirates with me?" (Insert doe eyes and smile here)  Uh, OF COURSE!

A short while after getting in the appropriate pirate gear, including swords, pistols, and of course, some belts to go around our shoulders... (Spencer was very particular on that one).  We dug for treasure in my Dad's closet, sailed on a boat on the couch, and even delved into other fun play scenarios, all while maintaining our "pirate-ness" of course...  At one point Spencer said "I'm sick!" and so we started to play hospital.  Emma was the nurse, and I was the fellow pirate.  When it was time to give the "go-to-sleep" shot for the "operation," Emma was noticibly absent, so I had to do it.

Me: "Shouldn't the nurse be giving you the shot?"

Spencer: "Well, pirates can give shots too, you know..."

Me: "Oh, I didn't know that, OK."

Spencer: ("snoring", because I had put him to sleep)

    I really need to play more often with these guys, how else would I have found out that Pirates can give shots?

Here they are, my current niece and nephews (and in a little over a month, another one!)

The newest one yet...


Isaac
Spencer

And Emma.

In the tops of the mountains...

Stewart Falls - Provo Canyon - Near Davis' family cabin
Suffice it to say, I am having a blast out here in Utah. I will give better details in coming posts, but I am staying at Gpa. Bezzant's house right now. I have taken care of a lot of details for me to return to BYU next fall, and I have seen a lot of people I know and love out here. Namely, family, work friends (RAs, BYU security friends, and EFY COUNSELORS...), and a lot of guys that were residents when I was an RA. It has been great to see them become great men, and also see how the ways in which they haven't changed, which can be comical. Oh, and I have met up with a few people from BYU EMS, and things are really starting to take off for the program in a lot of ways. I feel like I could write term-paper sized posts about each of these areas. Things are going very well though. I feel sad I will be leaving.

A wordle? Sounds Suessical...

The first 2 are limited to 150 words, number 3 is the top 50 words from my recent posts. Words that occur more frequently are larger. It kinds of gives you an insight into the big things in my life... like ALSO, REMEMBER, GET, and THINK. Maybe I do these things too much? You can get your own wordle here.

visited 24 states (48%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

So Katy posted a map with all the places she's visited. I thought I would post one as well. I had to reflect on what I was going to include. You see, I could include a few states, but I don't remember even passing through them. Here are some story lines to go along with the states I remember being in; in alphabetical order:

(I have a surprising dearth of A states)

California - Grandpa Bezzant's House in the hills near the SF Bay. I remember trips to the dump and ice cream stops. I also remember going to where Grandpa Cummings lived in Pasadena, seeing the Mars Observer Satellite fail, and seeing a lot of observatories. I also remember eating Crystallized Date Shakes in Indio, CA when I visited with Aaron and Cousin David (I think it was near Thermal). Last but not least there is Lake Almanor and the famed Bezzant Cabin, to which I went a few times in youth and twice during college for Thanksgiving.

Connecticut - "the state of my birth" (This phrase originated on a trip to get to EFY UMass 2008, it sounds like a state of entropy or something... and that's why it was funny) Also of note, some really awkward conversations also occurred in a car heading north about "if my umbilical cord was twitching" because I was going through the state of my birth. Ah, the memories. I am sad to say that we didn't dwell longer, though. I would have liked to do more than refuel. Other than this trip, I don't recall having returned since birth.

Florida - When I think of Florida, I think only of the reason I want to go there. Disney World. I think that about cover it, as I have been three times and don't plan to stop there. I think whomever I marry will have to at least entertain the thought of a honeymoon there. Is it asking too much to at least think about it?

Georgia - Waiting in an airport after leaving Disney World, or (going to?). I didn't even get a peach.

Iowa - I remember going through parts of this to get to other parts of LDS Church History. I think we were all sick with a stomach bug as well.

Maryland - I live across the river from Maryland, so I get there often. Memorable points are the Washington, D.C. Temple, Greenbriar Lake and Cunningham Falls before that.

Massachusetts - Aside from the fact that I have cool cousins there that I haven't visited... I went there for EFY as a Health Counselor this year in Amherst. It was pretty cool, and I loved getting lost for two hours in the backwards parts of Massachusetts. That is not meant to sound sarcastic, because I really thought it was very green and peaceful.

Missouri - The first thing that comes to mind is visiting the (then) RLDS temple. After that, however, are things that mean more to me, like the Far West temple site, Independence, and the Liberty Jail.

Nebraska - Yup, I remember this state for a phrase from John Bytheway's tape "What Are You Carrying in Your Backpack?". It was one of the tapes I used to listen to in my youth, and I always laughed when he said "... and anytime I expected to see a sign saying 'welcome to Nebraska.'" Anyways, we spent a LONG time passing through this state.

Nevada - Men's Chorus tour in 2007 that took us to Las Vegas and the Henderson Pavillion. Also a road trip in the green hornet/lantern/SANNHET that resulted in my first 911 call as we thought we were going to run out of gas on a mountain pass in the middle of a snowstorm and freeze to death. Yup, fun times. ("I'm more than a bird, more than a plane" - from a song that kept playing on the radio). The trucker we woke up in Oasis that refused to help when our cell battery died, etc. SOOO fun! When we finally got to the other side, we tried to call in and let them know that we made it on fumes and faith, but the 911 dispatcher had no idea what we were talking about... Oh well.

New Hampshire - I should have been here for the first EFY session ever, but instead I was in NY. Most memorable is Lake Winnipesauke where the Cummings 50th Anniversary was held. I still remember the fun stuff and the little kid wanting to hang with the older boys drama. I'm sure they loved it, right?

New Jersey - I'm sure there is more, but all I have for now is that I stayed at Sarah Wanlass' house while Jenny and I visited NYC.

New York - Chorus trip Sophomore or Junior Year with Marie (we either won third or nothing at all). Also a fun trip to Dad's work's apartment where I say Phantom of the Opera again, then an awesome trip with EFY counselors my first year in 2006 where we saw Hairspray, rode The Beast, and didn't climb the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. (I am never going to go to the Statue of Liberty again unless I actually get to go all the way up. Waiting for hours to see the pedestal is not my thing...) I also liked Ellis Island. I would love to live here for 3 months, maybe on an internship.

North Carolina - many family Memorial Day beach vacations, a recent trip with (who else?) EFY counselors last month, and climbing Cape Hatteras Light House 4-5 times. I even got it in before they moved it. So many times, you say? I must like it a lot. Actually, I absolutely refuse to climb it again. My family has gotten me up there for pictures the last 4 times, but no more. I am learning Photoshop and know well enough how to put myself in. That is all.

Pennsylvania - I took a BDLS and ADLS course at Einstein Medical Center there recently. I liked visiting Philadelphia and Valley Forge for the historical value with the family recently.

South Carolina - I was there for Aaron and Katy's wedding. I liked seeing the Lexington Temple, and there was good food.

South Dakota - the famed Black Hills, Biker Conventions, more bikers, Harleys, etc. Also Mount Rushmore.

Texas - I spent an hour layover here before I left the US and landed in El Salvador, the furthest south I have ever gone. I remember seeing the Restroom signs in the Airport with larger lettering for Spanish than English and thinking it was weird... Damas and Caballeros, uh, why not Mujeres and Hombres? I also wouldn't mind living in Texas.

Utah - This is obvious, BYU, SLC, Gpa. Bezzant, Mormonville. I also really enjoyed coming out of my shell a little during Education Week visits.

Vermont - Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory.

Virginia - Leesburg: my home town. Buena Vista/SVU - the place that holds the 2nd most important place in my heart as far as VA. (I spent 2 years as and EFY participant and 3 as a Health Counselor, made a lot of friends, and learned a lot about myself).

West Virginia - I have visited this place just to visit a couple of times. I make frequent jokes about it, but they are no more true than they are about 90% of Virginians as well. I went to an interesting stake "high adventure" in WV.

I've just realized that in order to drive cross country as we did, there needs to be contiguous marking on the map. I can't remember which states we went through. Maybe y'all can help remind me?

Also, coming next - states I haven't visited and what I want to do there... Feel free to suggest something to do in the states I am missing in the comments.

My thoughts exactly...

I guess you could call this WikiPolitics...

This also seems relevant in the current political culture...

The number you say? Is it unusual...

So, I added all the blogs that I follow on a semi-regular basis (that is to say, about weekly) or better to Google Reader to give it a try to keep my time spent down a little bit.  This means that you all can see the blogs I read as a function of Blogger.  I thought maybe an explanation was in order.  If I have ever been in a group or ward or job with you, and I made an effort to get to know your name, I will likely start reading your blog.  I hope you don't think I am stalking you, I just like to keep in touch with people but am terrible at initiating the contact.  I need to get better at this, but for now, it is a great way to touch base, and to have something to say in the event that I should actually meet you.  I also have some blogs written by people I have never met.  These are mostly 100 Hour Board writers that came after me/were too secretive to come to Board Parties : ), or people/organizations that I find witty/funny/informative.  So, we'll see how this week goes on Google Reader.  As a question, how many blogs do YOU follow?  Any suggestions?

Oh yeah Gandalf?

Bummer, so I didn't pass my reentry*.  I had a whole post venting about the inadequacies of my partner and frustrations at the system.  While it was good to vent, it wasn't very constructive and not effective in changing anything, so I deleted it like one of those letters that you are supposed to write, seal in an envelope and then burn.  It did help to get it out, but now to move on.

The part I didn't pass has plagued me before.  When I was trying to get back into the local county EMS system they do their own little testing.  The Trauma Scenario is 20 minutes long, 10 of which are allotted for scene time in unstable patients.  You almost always get an unstable patient, usually unconscious.  You have those 10 minutes to manage life threats to Airway Breathing or Circulation (ABCs), do a rapid assessment for life threatening injuries, and get them immobilized on a backboard.  That's a lot to do for 2 EMTs, and I'm sure we both could have done better.  But anyways, it took me about 14 minutes to finish immobilizing the patient and be ready to say "We are in the ambulance."  

I can't start my clinicals until I get certified, and I can't recertify for another week.  Will that be in time?  Will I still be able to pass the classes coming in to the rotation 3 weeks in?  Man, this is not the best situation, but I'll get through it, move over Gandalf.

*Basically, a test that determines if I can recertify after I have expired.  It still requires that I have all the recertification credits (CEUs/CMEs) needed to renew before the expiration date, just if you are over the date they make you retest.  I got into this mess when some of my credits didn't qualify because they weren't submitted by my county training office, which doesn't believe in CEUs/CMEs.  Wonderful!

The return...

(at L it's me at the OBX with some EFY Counselor friends clumping)

I've done a pretty good job keeping up with all y'all's blogs, but I haven't done a great job keeping up with mine.  I am going to give a quick update on my past, present and future.

Past:

In the past I posted some of my goals.  Here is the update:

I carried my beginning Braille book with me all summer, and didn't take the chance to feel it up at all.  (Actually, I am learning to "read" it with my eyes first).  So that isn't going super well, but I did do some research and am narrowing it down to which book of fine literature I am going to purchase to fuel my desire to learn to read with my fingers.  It is definitely going to be one of the Hardy Boys series.

I am not much closer to finishing the Appalachian Trail hike I'd love to do than I am to starting it.  I have, however, made the acquaintance of an EFY counselor who was a ranger (the one who starts troops out on their trips) at Philomont Scout Ranch.  She has quite a lot of knowledge about that sort of thing, and I was impressed, so I am going to need to do some research to get to know the requisite info before I embark on what will likely be 2-3 month trips.

I started my ASL class at NOVA last week.  I guess if I can't read with my hands, I can at least start to learn to speak with them.  I know the words for right, wrong, yes, no, "you're over my head", "slow down", boring, Republican, Democrat, "If McCain gets elected I'm moving to Canada" (my teacher is, I think, a Democrat : ), and the alphabet as well as numbers one through five and the word "first".  I have learned that there is a continuum of deaf speech which goes all the way from "Signed Exact English" to "Pidgin Sign" to ASL.  ASL and SEE are the extremes with most deaf culture groups/people using Pidgin Sign, although the only actual language is ASL.  What does that make SEE and Pidgin, dialects?  I'll need to look up the definition.  Very interesting.

I started Paramedic classes again last week as well.  This semester I am taking Special Populations (Pediatric/Neonatal/Geriatric/Obstetric patients), Medical Care (with an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Class, though I am already ACLS certified), and the ever popular clinical (6 hrs now vs. 3 last semester) and the added bonus of 12 hr internship on an Ambulance.  The one hitch is that I need to recertify (technically called "reentry" in this case, but never mind) my EMT.  I am not sure if I passed my re-certification test.  I really hope I passed, but if I don't I will just recertify a few weeks later and postpone this semester (stinky option, but I am looking into other ones, all while hoping I passed).

Going to space.  Yup, that one's gonna take a little while.  The closest I have gotten has been dinner table conversations and looking at this site for the chance to have a Zero-G flight like the ones the astronauts train on.  Yup, $4,950

Speaking of weightlessness; Griffon, the coaster at Busch Gardens, is my next quarry.  Some time in October I think.  Watch this space for the recounting of the experience...

That's all for now folks.  I'll be dealing up another update soon.  Any suggestions?

Nie Nie and Co.

I know by now that my readership is low/gone because I haven't blogged in months, but I wanted to pass on something that has amazed me.  It is the awesome efforts to support Stephanie and Christian Nielson in their recovery efforts after a plane crash.  Today a marvelous, magnanimous and massive effort to raise much-needed funds for these people started.  I was tipped off to it from Disco Mom, to whom I am proud to claim relation.  It is a silent auction!  I actually think most people that might read my blog may have already heard of this, but if not, it is free advertising.   Most of the gifts are reaching past my giving limit (set by the amount of money in my account at this point, not my own imaginary ceiling).

To see the cool things up for auction, see here!

  So, I will bid on a couple things, but likely end up just donating directly.  But see, that's the point!  You potentially get something awesome, give something needed, and everyone involved gets a cool feeling.  So, my first effort to help will be free advertising.  Here go the banners/buttons!

This one leads to the page dedicated to updates and recovery pitches, especially of note is the blog, which enumerates the upcoming events (like today's Nie Nie Day).

This one is a PayPal link to donate directly.  (Please make sure it benefits nieniefund@gmail.com)

Some other links of note worth are:
Design Mom - one of the people/blogs leading the Silent Auction
Disco Mom - one of the auctioneers (check out her cool wares)

Back History: keep a hanky handy if you are going to delve into these people's blogs after knowing whats happened...
Nie Nie Dialogues - Stephanie's ("Nie") Blog
C Jane Run - Nie's Sister's Blog.


PS.  An added benefit is seeing more of the cool stuff that's out there, that I never knew existed...

I'm a Grandfather! (Kind of, uh not really)

Well, to be a REAL grandfather, you need to have children, and I have none.  Someday, after I am married.  But, even though I don't have children, I DO have a son.  Two actually (in the LDS mission sense, ie. missionaries I trained).  My first is Jorge Andres Morales Soto from Alajuela, Costa Rica.  The other is Alberto Juarez from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. (I need to look up his full name... sorry Beto).  I will update soon with the full names and accents soon... Here are photos.

Elder Morales (Area El Nopal, Ahuachapan, 3 months as companions, 6 months in area)

Elder Juarez (Area Las Colinas, Juayua, 3 months as companions, 9 months in area)

Anyways, I went down for Beto and Vero's wedding last year for Spring Break in March.  It was my first time in Guatemala.  Beto emailed me telling me Vero [Veronica] was expecting and now the new arrival is here!

Les envío algunas fotos de mi hija!!!

 

Se llama Astrid Elena; nació el viernes 16, a las 19:15. Pesó 6 libras y 15 onzas.

Translated it means "I am sending you some photos of my daughter!!!  Her name is Astrid Elena; she was born on Friday 16, at 19:15 [7:15 pm].  She weighed 6 pounds and 15 ounces.

Congratulations Beto, Vero, and Astrid!

Roll Call

So this is a pretty funny video I thought you all might like.  I am also doing something I won't do more than once a year, I promise.  It's a roll call.  So if you read this blog, no matter how fast you skim over it, please leave a comment with at least one character in it.  It could even just be a punctuation mark (like !, #, $, %, ^, &, *, etc.)  If I don't have your blog on my reader I will then add it.  The facial hair is now gone, by the way.

BYU Approved Facial Hair!!!

So I have been taking my facial hair off in stages.  Today, I went from the goat (goatee, candado, etc) to the BYU approved mustache.  Above and below are the results.

Now as much as I look like a child molester... not really, but that is the joke that was made today.  Thick skin, thick skin...  Anyways, I have backup.  Take a look at this...  You must listen to the song.

Or this, this is pretty good to, by one of my favorite groups at BYU (favorite groups include BYUEMS, the 100 Hour Board, BYU RAs, and...) Divine Comedy.  See below.

I originally meant to take off less, I was going to leave a "flavor saver" on my chin, but I was rushed to get to church, and took off a little too much.  Here is an artist's representation of what I would have looked like.  Too bad, I think it doesn't look that bad.

So that's it for the facial hair.  I will shave it off in one week's time unless I get overwhelming comments to the contrary.  I only kept the goatee for the last month because people said they liked it.  Anyways...

I got straight A's in the Paramedic program I am in, I aced the final exams too.  This is the first time I have gotten straight A's in my life.  The closest I came to that was freshman years of High School and University, when I got mostly As and 2 Bs each.  So to celebrate the occasion, I am sharing a video shown in my ECG Class.  It is about Wenckeback.  That is, a 2nd Degree Type I AV block (in the heart).  Also known as a Mobitz Type I.  It can be distinguished by the elongating PR Intervals, eventually resulting in a "dropped beat" where the atrial depolorization is blocked from conducting to the ventricles and results in the characteristic "Normal, Longer, Longer, Drop, Now You've Got a Wenckeback" like appearance.  Like so...

So here is a music video.  I guess Justin Timberlake's music is a theme on this post, just like the mustache...

The Magician's Nephew

Recently, in preparation for the up and coming movie the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian I dug out my Chronicles of Narnia audio book.  Rather delightful things, they are.  The particular set I have is unabridged (thank goodness), and narrated by rather famous British Voices.  The one I am listening to right now is the Magician's Nephew, which is narrated by Kenneth Branagh.  The last one I am to listen to is the Last Battle, narrated by Patrick Stewart.  The other voices are familiar, but the names don't ring a bell.  They do a rather good job reading and doing the voices (some of them, rather like Jim Dale with the Harry Potter books).  Anyways, this has made for some good drive time diversion.  The last few weeks I have been listening to snippets of the books during the 50 minute stretches of highway.  Now that I am finished with finals, though, I have taken to listening at home.  I am moving out of my room to make way for new arrivals (Jen, Nathan and Isaac).  Dad is working on finishing the basement, but due to trips and other things he hasn't been able to finish the electrical wiring.  Since it needs to be inspected, and can't be inspected until it's all done, there is a bit to do still.  The lighting needs to be wired, the bathroom finished (it is only jury rigged as of now), and only after that is all inspected can the wallboard go up.  Then after the wall board is mudded, sanded and painted, then the carpet.  So there will be a lot of construction still going on.  (Sorry Jen and Nathan...).  Anyways, that's what is going on at the homestead right now.