He's Barack Obama

My roommates showed me this video. All I know is that someone put a lot of time into it because it's dang hilarious! Enjoy...

HIGH of 26°... WTF?!?

Here it is, at the dawn of December and we are already experiencing extreme weather conditions in Provo, UT. Weather.com says it's supposed to by a high of 26° and a low of 7° today. That means it's not even going to get above freezing temperatures the entire day! And that's not even the worst part...

Chance of precipitation: 0%

So, in an effort to lift my spirits for the duration of the Winter season, I delude myself into thinking that I like it. Here's my Top 7° reasons Winter is better than death...

7. At least there's some variety!

Seriously, some places don't even get 4 seasons, like southern California and Arizona! There's "hot summer" and then there's the "not as hot off-season." At least be grateful for the changing leaves.

6. Christmas lights

There's nothing quite like driving slow through a well-lit festive neighborhood full of Christmas lights! Like this one...

(Jen sent me this and I about fell out of my chair laughing!)

5. I feel more studious when the weather changes!

Seriously, who doesn't feel better about going to school and learning things for the sake of learning and the enrichment of your mind when wearing a sweater and a scarf? You just feel so collegiate! Okay, it may also have a little bit to do with the fact that there's nothing else to do since you can't play outside, but let's forget about that for the sake of deluding ourselves to make the season more bearable.

4. Hot chocolate

Doesn't it just sound romantic to curl up next to a fire, reading a book, and sipping on a warm cup of hot coco?! Mmmmm-hmmmmm.

3 & 2. Uuuuh...?

I can't think of anything else I like about Winter at the moment. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to make comments below.

And the top reason Winter doesn't suck too bad is (drum roll please)..........

1. Snow!!!

I love snow! And I'm not just deluding myself this time. I really love it! I love the way it feels when a snowflake kisses your skin; I love how everything seems magically brighter when there's snow on the ground and when it is falling around you; I love how everything seems so hushed and quiet during snowfall; I love when it has stopped snowing and the already fallen snow gets blown around and looks like sparkling glitter in the sunlight; I love to ride my snowboard in it; I love to go sledding in it; I love making snow angels; I love making snowmen; I love making snow sculptures and seeing other peoples' sculptures the day after it has snowed; I love snowball fights, especially random ones that weren't planned; I even love when trees unexpectedly "poop" an excess of accumulated snow from it's branches on me as I walk to class.

So if it's going to be this cold, can we please have some snow to make this weather more bearable??? In the words of a holiday favorite, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Pray for SNOW!

Tackling

I'm not a football expert, but I'd call this an example of what not to do.

I'd like to say...

I'd like to say that I'm glad I was able to watch the BYU/Utah Football game from the comfort of a leather couch.

I'd like to say that I'm glad I had some food to snack on without having to leave my seat and pay ridiculous amounts of money for a pretzel.

I'd like to say that I'm glad that I had the best seat in the house by watching the game on a big screen tv with great coverage (let me just say, I hate the Mtn! Aaaah!)

I'd like to say that I'm glad I was able to avoid nearly losing my nose and toes to frostbite in freezing temperatures for five hours.

I'd like to say that I'm glad I avoided a huge throng of annoying people with absolutely zero personal space.

I'd also like to say that I'm glad I avoided being stuck in a croud for an hour after the game.

I'd like to be able to say all these things...

.

.

.

But, I can't!

What a game to miss... all because I had to be in Arizona!!! Every so often there are proud moments to be a cougar fan. Tonight was one of them! And although I have never had the privilege of rushing Cougar Stadium, I have to say I would have been the first on that field had I been there! But I rose and I shouted these words in my living room:

Rise all loyal cougars and hurl your challenge to the foe.
We will fight, day or night, rain or snow.
Loyal, strong and true, wear the white and blue.
As we sing, get set to spring
Come on cougars, it's up to you!

Oh rise and shout the cougars are out
Along the trail to fame and glory.
Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out
As you unfold your victory story.
On you go to vanquish the foe
For alma maters sons and daughers.
As we join in song
In praise of you, our faith is strong.
We'll raise our colors high in the blue
To cheer our cougars of BYU.

Ra Ra Ra-Ra-Ra, Ra Ra Ra-Ra-Ra, Ra Ra Ra-Ra-Ra,
GOOoooooooooooooooOOOOOOOO COUGARS!

...Go Cougs!

P.S. Can we PLEEEEEASE go back to the retro royal true blue colors? And not just for one game! Navy blue is just so plain and boring.

Baby Russell The Entertainer

My nephew Russell had the limelight in the aftermath of dinner tonight, and he did not fail to perform! He was reveling in the attention and he was so cute.

A few prefaces are necessary. Firstly, he is very good at identifying body parts on command, especially the location of his nose and sometimes when asked to ID his nose, he gets side tracked by his boogers... He may be a little obsessed. Secondly, he also loves to talk and sometimes he's not very articulate; it does help when he signs, which luckily he's pretty good at.

Enjoy...

Muppets Rhapsody

This pretty much describes me perfectly!

Now That's The Stuff!

Okay, so sometimes I really crave this stuff...

...actually, I crave it almost all the time!

It all goes back to my freshman year when I had "Dining Plus" and I could get anything I wanted out of the vending machine with my "play money." I had an almost daily diet of crumb donettes and BYU Creamery chocolate milk! Is that bad?

Now, even without Dining Plus I find myself succumbing to the cravings, especially on days when I didn't pack a lunch and when I have money on my student signature card. It doesn't help that there's a vending machine just around the corner from where I study. I guess I'm just part-lazy and part-I-really-just-love-this-stuff!

America's Most Fascinating Jobs

Alright Byron....

October 17, 2009

Being as my family moved to Arizona 4 years ago, I feel sort of like a "visitor" whenever I go back to California. So, when my longtime friend from the growing up years, Chad Arnold, got married it was like making my pilgrimage back to my homeland for a weekend in October. I was fortunate enough to have Ian Shepley and Randy Gilliland as my wing-men... co-adventurers if you will. Like Lewis and Clark, and that french guy, whatever his name was (I couldn't pronounce it let alone spell it!) Okay, maybe not quite as extreme as those guys, but what an adventure it was!

We embarked on the journey Thursday afternoon and we took our time getting there, with some stops in Springville, Provo for some forgotten stuff, and a very fun-filled stop in Vegas to catch up with a good friend, Sterling Snedigar (yes, in that order, hahah). Sterling has been slummin' it up in Vegas for the last year and so he showed us around the sights on the strip. My favorite was the Bellagio water show, played to "One, Singular Sensation." Seriously, so breathtaking! (see the picture I took on my phone below)! Afterwards, Sterling let us crash at his place for the night.


Eventually we got to Huntington Beach the next day. And after a nice dinner with the Shepleys at the Cheesecake Factory, we saw "Where The Wild Things Are" (seriously sort of a weird movie... no plot, whatsoever, and no resolution at the end because of the lack of plot. Wait 'till it's at the dollar theater or on tv).

Then on Saturday, the day of the wedding, we started it out with some surfing in the morning... EARLY morning! We got up at 5 AM and that was before daylight savings so it was completely dark! When we pulled up to the beach, all I could do was listen to the waves because the ocean was a big black mass! But, once we got suited up and started, it was so nice: good water, good light, good surf, good friends. And in case you were wondering, yes, I got up! Even if only for about 1.5 seconds, I got up!

Then, I jetted up to Santa Monica for the wedding, as fast as the crowded freeways would let me! The ceremony was so beautiful and it was so good to see so many faces I haven't seen in so long! Chad and Lindsie were so happy and it made me so happy I cried. Then the luncheon was back in Alta Loma, where I grew up, and I made sure to take the scenic route to get there! And after 4 years of being away, I amazed myself how well I navigated my way around that day! I was on a sentimental journey; I passed by my alma mater, Alta Loma High, the old church, my old house and neighborhood! Wow, and then there was the luncheon and reception, where I was on a trip back in time! So many familiar faces. It was enough for me to come for Chad's wedding and to see how happy he was, but to see so many longtime friends was like icing on the cake (see the pictures below for some of the events of that day)!



So, this post is dedicated to the beautiful couple, Chad and Lindsie Arnold, who were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple for time and eternity. Wow! Way to be. Best wishes for a lifetime of adventures for you two and more! I love you guys!

Movie Trailers Recut

Here are some trailers of a few favorite movies, with a slight twist... Which one is your favorite?

Dumb and Dumber: an emotional heart-warmer



Scary Mary! Oh the HORROR!



Shining... a love story?



Brokeback to the Future. A romance you didn't know existed!



And perhaps my favorite edit: Dark Space Ranger!

Have A Supi... No Really, I Insist!

I went to the Havasupi Indian reservation back in June this past summer and I used a waterproof disposable camera. The only problem with that was it had more exposures than I needed, so I decided not to develop the film until the pictures were all used up. That was my mistake... it took me until a few weeks ago to actually finish the camera and then I didn't get it developed and put onto a CD until this past week.

So, these pictures are a little old, and they might make you wish it was still June and warm out, for which I apologize in advance.

Just as soon as we arrived after the long hike into camp, we went down to Mooney Falls...

That's Mike Stoker and Dan Thuet trying to make me fall... get it? "Mooney falls"!

More of Mooney at Mooney Falls.

That's the cliff wall behind the waterfall with Dan Thuet on it. There was so much green everywhere!

And the water was so turquoise blue it was amazing! (yes, that's me doing the back flip)


Dan Dan the Muscle Man!

On the 2nd day as we embarked on our hike down to Beaver Falls. I really should have kept that shirt on because I ended up getting fried on my shoulders that day! Ouch!

Here's a good little story: the funny thing was that the hike was the best part! We found a rope swing, trudged through shallow blue river waters like this, and got seriously lost! By the time we actually got to the falls, we were pooped and ready to head back.

Thank goodness for those water-filter guys we met who refilled our water supply, because we seriously underestimated how long it would take to get there! We got talking about how pretty this place was and they told us that they had revisited Havasupi for the past 22 years straight and said that this year was actually the "least pretty" they had seen it because of the flood that happened last year. We were amazed because we couldn't even imagine it any more gorgeous!

My place of Zen.

That's Grant Johansen and Becca Hall in the front, Britney Davis in the next row and Mike Stoker and Dan Thuet in the way back.

Mike.

The gang: Becca, Britney, Grant, Dan, me, and Mike.

What a sight to see! I guess I am glad I brought my waterproof camera because it was able to take shots like this, even with water bullets being shot out from the water fall in every direction!

A Smattering of Halloween Horrors and Delights

I just wanted to share this random sampling of some pictures that I feel highlight some of the highlights of my life of late. Some of these items are "delights" and some are "horrors" (okay, most of the ones of me are horrors, and the ones with other people in them are delights.) I mainly just wanted to show off how weird I am, and also how cool my friends are! Here goes...

First on the list of horrors is this specimen, Horror #1:

This year I dressed up as the Mad-Hatter, inspired by my good friend Johnny Depp in the upcoming Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. This one is a "horror" for multiple reasons. Reason #1: just look how pale my skin is! And reason #2: just look how yellow my teeth look compared to how pale my skin is! Below is the finished product:

This is also a "delight," however, because the dear Jen Bloomfield took so much time to help me with my costume and make-up, etc. Pretty much 90% of the costume came from her... inspired by her brain and half the costume was actually provided by her family's costume closet! For that reason, I must give credit where credit is due.

Now, look how delightfully happy this Halloween was. I got to spend it with my sister Annie, who came all the way up from Arizona, and these delightsome people (above, from the left: Annie Mooney as Galinda, Sara Beth Johnson as a Gypsy, Katie Bloomfield as Cleopatra, and Jen Bloomfield as Alice).

Okay, now let's move on to item #2:

This was found at the stake Halloween Party Friday night. I just love this pic. First of all there's Randy, at his best - doing his amazing Kip impersonation; and then there's Anna Hawkins as a Care Bear; and finally, if you look closely you can see the inseparable Jason and Jordan Mann in their ninja costumes... very stealth!

And I just can't move on without putting a little more spotlight on this man: Randy Gilliland... please observe the glasses, the cheesy smile, and also the mustache... it was real, people! He grew that out for his Halloween costume. That's dedication for you right there. Cheers to Randy for pulling off the best Kip ever (even better than the real thing because he brought some sick dance moves to that party)!

Now come item no's 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7:

Also found at the stake party, from the left: Brooke Theis, Justin Seipherd, Dan Thuet and Alex Hale (also featured below as the brave Peter Pan, who coincidentally dives off the high dive in the same position!)

Then, of course, is the extraordinary impersonation of Audrey Hepburn, played by the lovely Emily Stoddard.

Item #8:

Above is the pumpkin I carved this year, with some inspiration and help from my two roommates David and Robert Hyer at family home evening.

Item #9:

After a nice drive through the canyon, Jen and I were stopped at a red light behind this specimen. You can see through my streaky windshield a fake foot and hand sticking out of this person's trunk! Truly a "horror" but a brilliant one at that! I lol'd pretty hard when I saw it!

Item #10 was Hogwarts:

The Hartman family turns their front yard into Hogwarts. Yes, the famous school of witchcraft and wizardry! The festivities and the opportunities there were endless! Here I'm posing as a magically enchanted Hogwarts portrait. There was also a platform 9 3/4; sorting into houses by the sorting hat; magic wand testing; the casting of patroni and the dark-mark; butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks; lessons on how to get rid of a Bogart; divination by Professor Trelawny aboard the Knight Bus; floating candles; the Marauder's Map; Dursleys; Hagrid with his motorbike along with all sorts of Hogwarts regulars that you could meet and even receive an autograph from. But, the best of all attractions was QUIDDITCH! Kids got to practice their quaffle-shooting skills while bludgers were thrown at them from a barrage of beaters!

Truly a magical night. And I figure the only way to adequately describe the magic of the atmosphere created at the Hartman home that night is it was basically Disneyland for Harry Potter fans! Seriously the "happiest place on earth" especially when you interact with the little kids who were so into it that it just got you excited too! I was very pleased to have been able to be a part of the magic by being on the cast as Cedric Diggory.

Last, but not least, is Horror #11:

I saved the most frightening horror for last! I had started to get pains in my back in the mornings, which I thought odd because I usually sleep very well... like the dead! However, upon inspecting the underside of my creaky bed, I found this! This is what I had been sleeping on for 2 months! A bunky-board with 5 broken slats!!! Scary huh! So my roommate Kevin and I went and picked out a nice non-creaky, and non-broken one at R.C. Willey and it has made all the difference!

Thank you for enjoying this smorgasbord of really good memories from one of my favorite holidays ever. I think you are all a delight.

Love, Daniel

Nov. 19th Couldn't Possibly Come Too Soon!

Yes, it is confirmed. The beloved In-N-Out is coming to Orem, UT!

Jen and I had some fun at the nearly completed building last night... and I really can't tell what's not finished, other than maybe the drive through... Anyway, the security guard in the parking lot said he thought it was supposed to open November 19th. And I actually called Customer Service and asked when the anticipated grand opening will be because I couldn't find anything online to concur with the security guard dude, and the friendly lady said, and I quote, "That's a tentative opening date of November 19th, or the week before Thanksgiving."

If you look closely you can see that the lights are all on! A good sign...
Quality You Can Taste

Jen, being so cute and excited!

Also, I'm pretty dang excited!... if you couldn't tell.

Me, eating an imaginary double double, Peter Pan style.

Where we'll be picking up our orders.

Walking up the drive thru

Dang... it's locked!

If that girl was standing in front of the restaurant, I don't see how anyone could stay away...
I know I couldn't!

November 19th, please get here quick!

H1N1 Fighter

Lately I've seen several billboards advertising the H1N1 flu shot. Each one has a so-called hard-core individual with their sleeve rolled up to show off their sissy little band-aid on their shoulder. They are the self-proclaimed "flu fighters." I want to join in the cause, but the sound of not only getting "shot" in the arm but also being forced to wait in long lines at the health center among likely infected persons to get it doesn't strike me as what I would call "appealing." But, I'll tell you what does...


I've come up with my own solution for my contribution to this war with the swine floosie... OJ!!! My plan of attack is to drink one large glass of orange juice every morning with breakfast. This will improve my immune system as well as throw a party for my taste buds!

I love orange juice, especially the kind you have to chew! In fact, my OJ of choice has "Lots of Pulp." In fact, that's what it says on the carton, and it's just the way I like it! This is also why I love the Tropicana pictures with the orange and the straw. Go ahead and scroll back up and look at the picture again. Doesn't that just look so delicious?! I actually tried doing this as a kid, with the result of a badly disfigured straw and a bruised orange. I've always just wanted to see if it works... sucking on an embedded straw to get the sweet nectar out of a juicy orange. The world may never know if it does. In the meantime, I am fighting the flu, one glass at a time. If I still get sick, then oh well, at least I'll have enjoyed my orange treat!

P.S. If you have an idea for how to get a straw into an orange, please tell me. We'll have an orange juice party or something!

I Like Argyle!

I'm going to start this post off by talking about Christmas shopping for my dad (I promise it'll all make sense in the end; please just keep reading)... My dad is the most difficult person to shop for because he never really needs anything - if he wants something, he usually just gets it himself.

So as a kid I always wondered what to get Dad for Christmas and the only thing I ever remember my mom suggesting was new socks. One year, after getting socks for him, I wondered if my dad ever tired of receiving these things. I know I would! I'd have been awfully disappointed if that's what I got! I hated receiving clothes as presents in general, especially something as boring as SOCKS! I would have much rather Santa, or whoever was shopping for me that year, use that precious present-giving-effort on toys or something much more fun! Although, when Dad opened my poorly-wrapped package that Christmas morning, not only was he not disappointed, but he looked pleased to see them... PLEASED!

It wasn't until years later that I started to appreciated receiving new clothes as gifts for Christmas and birthdays. I love clothes. I do. And yes, I even love socks. In fact, I have developed a love for socks that have the most unique patterns possible. One such pattern is argyle.

I love argyle. I really do! I think it may have something to do with my Irish/Scottish/English/White heritage. We white people really don't have much to take pride in, fashion-wise... we don't have fubu, do-rags, or other cool things like Afro's or high-tops with no-show socks and a rolled-up pant leg (okay, I confess I would have loved to have been born black). Nor do we have sombreros, legal fireworks, or Shakira! (basically, I just wouldn't have minded being born with dark skin!). What we DO have is newsies hats (which, until lately, I didn't think I could rock, but I'm very glad they're coming back, as well as other hats in general!), bow ties, sweaters and vests, slim jeans, and cool socks! Not much, but I have decided to embrace what I can in regards to white-boy fashion, and one of those things is socks. Argyle socks.

And it is with that preface that I introduce my new argyle blog background as well as my new blog title: "In My Mind's Eye" (which is a phrase coined by William Shakespeare, a very cool white dude!). Please enjoy the ensuing blog posts and taking a look "in my mind's eye."

Love,

Daniel

Smile!

The following is a little short film... Worth EVERY one of the 16 minutes of your time! It will seriously change your life!

Purely Random!

This is in reference to my previous post about floss.

I know it's very random but I just really like this picture too!

In fact, I "lol" every time I see it.

...enjoy!

H - B - Double Hockey Sticks!

Yesterday, Wednesday October the seventh, 2009, was the date of my first visit to the Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) this semester. Pretty good, I think, that I held out this long. I just had a test to cram for and I needed a quick place to study before I went to the Testing Center to take it.

(Even Brigham Young knows to stay the "HBLL" out!)

It really wasn't a bad experience. It was innocently quiet and I even sneaked a few grapes while I studied (food is regrettably not allowed in the library). However, I simply dislike what the library means to me. And what it means to me is this: other annoying and distracting people patronizing the library on the pretense of studying but really just going to pick up on chicks; being forced to barricade myself deep inside its chasms, well beyond cell phone reception, on late nights to study for exams or to work on big research projects; ear drum bustingly loud music they play starting at 11:45 pm on those nights when you desperately need those precious 15 minutes to finish something (e.g. a timed take-home test that is supposed to be finished in one sitting); a level of scholarship that I just don't measure up to; and quite frankly, the only books I have checked out of the library are because it was required for a research paper (let's face it, you can write a dang good research paper based purely on electronic resources!).

Although there are other very viable options for places to study, I will probably go back, albeit not regularly. What I realized last night after my experience with HBLL is the place that I really despise is the Testing Center. Poor Heber J. Grant. I can see at least some positives to having a large and respected library named after you; but, there are absolutely zero benefits for President Grant having a Testing Center as his namesake!

It Would Be Boss If I Had Floss

You know how half the time it's the Bishop's kid who is the biggest trouble-maker in the church? Just 'cause the dad has got it together doesn't mean the whole family does too.

And just like that, though I may be the son of a dental hygienist it doesn't mean I have my dental habits all figured out. This is my "Daniel the Younger" conversion story to Dental Floss...

(I know it's random, I just liked this picture)

Believe it or not, I didn't use my floss like I should. I always had a huge stock of the stuff because my mom gives it to us for free and I never used it more than once a week (sometimes it would be even longer than that -- gross, I know)! I guess I just didn't believe that it actually helped all that much. However, lately I've been on this flossing kick and my gingiva have never felt better! I'm flossing religiously once a day after I brush. And though it hurt the first few times, it's like my buddy Ralph Waldo Emerson says: "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is increased." (This is beginning to sound a little too much like a church talk, so I'm gonna switch gears).

My toothbrush and my floss have become a dynamic duo. It's kind of turned into a love affair. Like my toothbrush is singing to my floss:

I'm a movement by my self, Ooh
But I'm a Force when we're together.
Mami, I'm good all by myself,
But Baby you, you make me better!

How romantic!

So, to conclude my thought, I wanted to consult the...

Wheel of Morality, turn turn turn;
Tell us the lesson that we should learn.

And the moral of the story is (drum roll please):

You can have your cake AND eat it
when you practice good oral hygiene!

Oops! I Did It Again!

The plague of my cooking skills has returned...only temporarily.

This was supposed to be one side of another grilled cheese sandwich!

So I just buttered another piece of bread and slapped it on there in its place. Don't worry. It was still tasty, I'm just a little worried about Dinner Group this week!

Love,

Anonymous Arsenist No. 909

California Coast via CYCLE!

I was invited by my good friend Dan Ricks to go with him, his family and some friends on an adventure of a lifetime this July! We rode our bikes 365 miles from just south of San Francisco at Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara at 70 plus miles a day in five days, camping every night all along the coast! It was so long, and so challenging, but so beautiful, and so rewarding that words cannot do justice of describing the experience. But I will attempt to describe it by means of photographs I took. Unfortunately, it was difficult to get the peloton to stop for every breathtaking scenic view because there were MANY!... but I stopped and took some pictures anyway. So here they are:

We ended our first day at Monterrey Bay and our campsite was right next to these strawberry fields... Ooooh they smelled so sweet combined with the salty air from the ocean!

The four young dudes: Jess, Dakin, Dan, and me

Here we saw these pelicans diving into the water and dolphins jumping out of the water! Seriously!

I think the lady who was walking by who we asked to take our picture said this is called "Lovers' Point" or something... It's in Monterrey, home of John Steinbeck.

This is the "Lone Cypress" found along 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach.

This just looks like a pirate ship should be berthed here!

Of course I had to stop and take a picture of the beautiful bridge! What can I say, I'm a Civil Engineer at heart!

We had to ride up that road... see how it curves around that mountain? We had to climb that!!

King of the Rock!

At the end of the last day, which included 92 miles... we were pooped!