So much for Individualism

This video is dedicated to Alison and myself. On Tuesday, each of us attended our American Lit class wearing the same exact shirt. What's funny is that isn't even her shirt-- it belongs to her roommate, Mack. We were both even wearing grayish jeans and long-sleeved cardigans (thankfully those were different colors). Even our hair was curled in a similar fashion. To make it worse, she sat right next to me. What an embarrassing hour of my life. It was really uncool.

Shirts - Drillbit Taylor - watch more funny videos

This is from Drillbit Taylor. I kind of love this movie-- but I kind of love any movie with geeks, bullies, and a fat kid with an attitude. Not exactly high-brow entertainment, but this flick definitely meets my criterion.

Happy President's Day (a few days ago)

In honor of President's Day, here is a tribute to one of my top favorite U.S. Presidents, Mr. Theodore Roosevelt. If any man ever captured the "American Spirit," it was good ol' Teddy...

Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster. 

 The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly.

Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike. 

I think there is only one quality worse than hardness of heart and that is softness of head.

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month. 

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. 

Here he is with John Muir in Yosemite. The famous outdoorsman meets the son of the wilderness. He's the president who began focusing on conservation and started national parks. I love love love.

No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause. 

Rhetoric is a poor substitute for action, and we have trusted only to rhetoric. If we are really to be a great nation, we must not merely talk; we must act big. 

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. 

 To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. 

The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats. 

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. 

It's kind of funny what you will find on Youtube... like this tribute.

T.R. on Liberty

I Love My FORT.

All of my roommates were out of town this weekend, which left me all alone over Valentine's. Luckily, I am a genius, and had the genius idea to build a fort. It was probably one of the best things I have ever done...

A video tour of my fort...

You can't see anything. It is way too dark. haha. but you can listen to me ramble, if you like...

I strung christmas lights across the room. draped sheets over them. Turned the couches over. slid my mattress in. arranged the pillows and blankets. set up the TV and record player. And I snuggled with my penguin "Sullie" that somebody really cool brought me from Sea World. Even though everyone else was out of town, my friend Nathan came over to admire the fortress. He acted like I was weird, but deep inside, I knew he envied it. The fort had to be taken down tonight when my roomies got back from Vegas. Not gonna lie... it pretty much broke my heart to part with it. Maybe I'll build it again one day... after the carpet cleaners are done tomorrow.

This Just In...

This is exciting. My lil' brother's band (now called Velvetones) just recorded their first song! My friend Jake helped them out, and it is quite good for their first homemade recording. Their posted it up on their Myspace the other day, so click HERE and listen to it. It is called "Funk Street." You won't be disappointed. These kids are extremely talented for 16 year-olds. I'm way proud of them, and I'm looking forward to hearing more songs recorded.

Also, they have a new band member...

 

This is Stetson. He is a PRODIGY on guitar.  no joke.

This kid can shred.

How it goes in AZ

So this what went down over winter break in AZ...

I enjoyed the AZ sunsets.

Vurrry nice.

I did arts and crafts with jake.

Like the Home Depot hats?? 98 cents.

We stained/painted stuff for my room...

Like this clock. I sanded it and put a blue stain on it. neat, right?

Some frames we stained/painted.

Our work space.

"My room" is starting to come together. I was very pleased with how the stains came out on the chairs.
Okay, so basically this is a room that no one uses that my mom is letting me do whatver I want with. I'm haveing a lot of fun with it. It's pretty funky so far.

I had a birthday...

making a wish.

The fam. I think almost everyone made it into this pic... except Jheri, Tricia, and Chase.

Tricia, Jheri, and I got facials on our "sister day"

The Fam Celebrated Christmas!!!

Gracie put on her cowgirl boots so she could match with me.
I got to enjoy the company of my nieces and nephews like Ethan here....
and Ryal...

and Gracie! (It's a rare moment when she looks this peaceful)
And Noah (fatty)
and Kaylee! Yeah, my sis has a whole cabbage patch full of kids.

Kaylee put us all to shame on the American Idol game. The girl's got pipes!

Mason even gave it a shot. Here is a video of him singing "I'm like a Bird" haha.

haha... I love this kid!
Brock... so cool.
Tressa gave Gracie pink cupcakes in our Family service gift exchange! She called them "Pinkalicious." Grace loved them!
Tressa and TJ.

Sky and I...

Ethan. haha... my fam likes mustaches???

Christmas morning... Looks like Jher ruined the waffles again.
Fresh squeezed orange juice!!!

The lights at the Mesa Temple!

I got to hang with these punks...

nathan and jake enjoyed the comics I brought them home from london.
PWNED!!!!
Annoying Brock is one of my favorite pastimes.

I got to listen to Skyler's band jam... A TON.

These kids are practicing constantly at the house. They are getting ready for Battle of the Bands at Mesa High, and they have gotten sooo freakin good.
Seriously, it has gotten to the point to where I bring my friends over and they are so phased with my 16 year-old brother's skills, and they stop paying attention to me. I'M COOL TOO!!! haha... not really. Actually, I'm pretty blown away with these kids too, but I'm just used to their awesomeness.
Oh, and sky started singing. I was really surprised, and phased with how good he sounds. 
Levi's bass amp... and orange soda.

Skyler got this insane pedal system called the line 6. He was pretty stoked.
it's super complicated though. Skyler was scratchin his head for a while... it has got everything you'd ever need in one expensive contraption.
I walked in and found him like this... haha!

I love my fam, my friends, and AZ.

What a great Break!!!

oh, and did I mention that I saw Styx???