Hawk photo..

Anyone know the name of this hawk?

Show your deepest respect...for tyranny...

I took the clients from our drug rehab facility to an NA meeting last night. After the meeting, we came back to the center and I got on the internet and learned that Saddam Hussein had been executed. I informed some of the clients that he was hanged in Baghdad. One of them asked, "Is that why all of the flags are at half-mast?" :)

(for those who don't watch the news, ex-president Gerald Ford passed away this week)

Pulling a fast one???

I work in a drug rehabilitation/detox center. The other day a guy told me that he was working and had to do a UA for his job. He stated that he stopped using drugs 14 days before the scheduled UA. He was still worried about not passing the UA, so one of his friends said, "I'm clean. I'll pee in this condom and you can take it in and use this urine." He did, popped a hole in the condom, and poured it into the cup. He took it out and the temperature was 75 degrees. They tested it anyway and it came up dirty for methamphetamine. :) The funny thing is that his urine was probably completely clean after 2 weeks.

Blood Cubic Zirconia...

My wife hasn't worn her wedding ring in several years as it cuts into her finger. Instead, she wears a Cubic Zirconia ring that we purchased on QVC a few years ago. She has received many more compliments on that CZ ring than she ever did on her real diamond.

For Christmas, I bought her another CZ ring, as her other one lost one of the small stones to the side of the larger stone (QVC is in the process now of replacing it). One of her coworkers came over today when she had it on. He was shocked at how nice it was and asked the question we always get when someone sees her QVC rings--"Is that real?" Again, we never received those questions with her much more expensive real diamond ring.

So I stated, "If I was to get married again, I wouldn't waste my money on a diamond. I'd just get a cubic zirconia ring."

Her coworker didn't think that was the best thing to say at the moment...

More Raptors from Christmas Day...

I believe this is a Marsh Hawk near Palmyra, UT

Best American Kestrel Photo of the Day....Near Palmyra, UT

Blurry Bald Eagle photo...but I really did see it...Near Palmyra, UT

American Kestrel

American Kestrel

Taken near Palmyra, Utah

Best Christmas in Years...

Well today was the best Christmas in years...the kids didn't whine, they didn't complain, they didn't act like they needed more, they didn't tear into things, they didn't act entitled, it was just a nice, pleasant Christmas morning...Maybe I can get back into this Christmas thing. :)

Ho, Ho, Freakin' Ho...

I was talking to my brother, NM, today about how much I dislike Christmas nowadays...I like to get together with my family when I can, but I just hate all of the rush of getting ready for Christmas, the decorating, the baking, and even the opening of the presents. I think having kids that are generally ungrateful for the things they receive, even when they receive more Christmas than any other kids I have ever known, has taken away the joy of Christmas. My kids get presents from us (parents), my parents, my father-in-law, my mother-in-law, my brother/sister-in-law, one of my siblings that draws out our family, their great grandma on my wife's side, their biological grandma/grandpa, their biological great-grandma (on ex-husband's side), my grandparents, etc... Some years it has been wall-to-wall presents. They they just tear into them, don't take notice of who gave them what, and often act disappointed that there isn't more...at least one of our kids is young enough to still be grateful for anything she receives...I will try to gain back some Christmas Cheer from her tomorrow morning....

Another interesting link on Mormons from the BBC...

Just thought this link had interesting and useful information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/index.shtml

Mount Timpanogos Temple and Pollution Enhanced Sunset Glow :)

Wow...this posted REALLY small, but I liked the pink mountains behind the temple...

Mormon President???

I just read an interesting link on Mitt Romney's imminent bid for the presidency...I think the few paragraphs exposed many of the stereotypes of the Mormon faith that are just that, stereotypes...and presented a view of Mormons that is closer to my own...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6203179.stm

Congratulations to U of U and their Victory over Tulsa...

Looks like the U of U won their sixth straight bowl game...congratulations. The Mountain West Conference is now 3 and 1 in 2006 Bowl game appearances...

Love at First Rehab...

We had to confront a client at work tonight about trying to start a relationship with a guy who just got out of detox at our facility. She somehow thinks that she is going to have a successful relationship with him and find true love. In my 10 years in substance abuse treatment, I have only seen one couple get together in rehab, get married, and last more than a few months...I think it is strange to even think that you could work on your own addiction while obsessed with a new relationship with someone who is on the brink of relapse....

BYU Victorious!!!!

BYU just spanked the Oregon Ducks 38-8 in the Las Vegas Pioneer Vision Bowl. Apparently it was the largest crowd at any sports event in Nevada history. I kind of wish Oregon had made more of a game of it, but I am also excited to see if this team will end up in the top 15 at the end of the year rankings. They only lost two games early on...one to 23rd ranked Boston College after an interception ended a 2nd OT..and once to Arizona University (the wildcats) where they lost on a field goal as time expired...They are definitely one of the best BYU teams I have watched in a long time...They should be proud.

Sneaky kids and internet don't mix...

Well, my kids can't seem to stay off the computer when they aren't suppposed to be on it. My son has been sneaking upstairs around 2-3 AM to play online video games all night. Some of the kids were watching short porn videos on YouTube/Ifilm out of "curiosity." They all get on the computer even when they are grounded from it. I was finally sick of it all. Even taking the monitor cord and hiding it in the house wasn't helping...they sneak around and find it. Soooo....I finally had to put a password on the computer. It has lots of letters and numbers so I don't think they can guess it. :) I wonder when they'll learn to be more respectful and trustworthy so they can be allowed access like they used to have.

work out again...

Yeah..I did it again..it is much less strenuous to play basketball against my wife, but still a fun workout...

Working it...

Today I worked out again...I played basketball with some guys at Gold's Gym for about 80 minutes, then did some bench presses for about 5...The good news is that I only pulled one muscle in my leg, got my hand hit on something so it is hard to make a fist without pain, and have a slightly sore lower back. :) I think I will go back on Thursday.

Sunrise, moonset. Sunrise, moonset.....

I snapped this picture before work the other day...The moon was setting at sunrise and I couldn't pass it up...I-15 runs right at the base of this mountain...this is near Toquerville...

My first owl picture...

I was driving home the other day and thought I would take a little detour through the fields south of Lehi to see if I could get a picture of a bird of prey...luckily, I saw this...It almost got hit by my car and a truck as it flew between us on the road, but I pulled over and snapped several shots. Unfortunately they are grainy and not the best pictures, but I still like them...

Overdone...

Well, I went to work out for the first time in almost 2 years. I decided to "take it easy" in order to ease back into it. I got a basketball and was shooting around, running after missed shots, etc. I could feel my heart rate increasing, and it was just the right level of strenuousness...

Then the young teenagers showed up...we played a game. Initially I was on the team with 4 players and they had 5. It is hard to defend 5 guys with only 4, and it is next to impossible to drive the lane with 3 defenders sitting under the basket for the rebound...I ended up playing for nearly an hour and forty-five minutes...so much for easing back into it. I was pretty sore last night, I am a little sore today, but I know from experience that tomorrow will likely be the worst. :) If I am able to get out of bed tomorrow, I might blog again...

Oil & Fat

How does it feel to be carrying around 56 pounds of fat every day? How does it feel to have high cholesterol (240)? How does it feel to have a BMI of 30? It sucks, but acts as a great motivator...I got my gym membership yesterday...

Murder confession???

I saw a headline in the Salt Lake Tribune today. It reads:

Rabbits, granddaughter provide great fall hunting

Either that is a poor choice of words for the title, or someone's going to death row...

Springville Barn

I went to this location to take a picture of the barn to the west of this one, but it had been torn down. I think it is sad that development is taking over the rural/rustic history of North-Central Utah. I guess this barn will be torn down in a few years too. I think photographers should try to document this fading way of life before it is too late...

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf???

We were driving home from a ward Christmas party last night. I had just eaten a ton of delicious ham, potatoes, salads, pumpkin pie, etc. Apparently I had some flatulence in the van which our 2-year old heard. She said, "Daddy! Don't make big bad wolf farts!!!" We started laughing, then a few seconds later, she said, "I'll huff! and I'll puff!! and I'll FART your house down!!!" :)

Big Bruise...

My 2-year old fell off a stool a few days ago and got a huge goose-egg on her forehead. It is starting to turn an ugly yellow color. I took her to Costco with me yesterday and she was wearing a hoodie with the hood up. I was afraid that people would think that someone had been abusing her, and that I was forcing her to wear her hood "to cover it up." :)