So this is the best week of the year for sports fans everywhere. Indeed the NBA finals are cool, baseball fans like the World Series, and the Superbowl is the best single event. Not even to mention Golf, Nascar, or the American Idol finale.
I love playing hookey from work to watch part of the Madness. This week displays the ultimate of what sports stands for. We get to see Cinderella stories, upsets, and of course the bracketology. For you linguists out there yes bracketology is a word in the month of March.
I've never been all that great at picking brackets in the local office pool. After 16 years of picking March Maddness brackets this much I know. NEVER NEVER NEVER bet on the Cougars of BYU. As a loyal Cougar fan this has been very disapointing to me. The Cougs have hurt me real bad.
Good luck to everyone out there as you experience the emotional highs and lows of the next few weeks.
Oh by the way I got a promotion at work and now my title is Associate Vice President.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I fought the law and...... I won!
One of the major differences between my wife and I is our taste in cities. I went to school in Cedar City, population 28,000 (at the time) and she went to a University that had that many people enrolled! While I would be perfectly content living in small town American, she likes the big city. We have compromised and have settled in the suburbs.
My distaste for big cities goes beyond not liking them. I really don't care for big cities at all. I don't like all the people and the difficulty of getting from point A to point B.
So I went downtown about a month ago to see a basketball game. Not just any game, but the Lakers V Jazz. Great game and the Jazz won! However when I got to my car to drive home, there was a parking ticket on my windshield. I HATE DOWNTOWN! As a side-note about a year ago I went to a Jazz V Laker game, got a parking ticket, and in my anger got a speeding ticket 5 minutes later!
This time I'd had enough and it's time to stand up for myself say, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
I decided to take on City Hall! My infraction was parking to close to a fire hydrant. "Too close" is defined as 5 feet on either side of a line drawn from the fire hydrant to the curb.
Clearly the reason why parking isn't allowed is for the safety of the citizens. Emergency vehicles may need to access the hydrant and need that space for hoses.
It occurred to me that throughout the city, there are tons of legal parking spots in violation of this city code. "Wait, how is this so?", your asking yourself. Well, the way it works is if you PAY a PARKING MEETER then it's perfectly legal to violate the city parking code.
Hypocrisy, Double Standard, Greed. These are just a few of the words that describe this practice. I took my case to Salt Lake Cities hearing officer and she got so angry with my position we took a field trip outside the courtroom to see first hand a parking meeter within 2 feet of a hydrant! She got even more angry and told me I was guilty and would need to pay an additional $75 (nuisance fee) if I wanted to see a judge to present my case.
Let it be known that my youngest child gets his stubborn streak from his father. I would rather pay the extortion money and see a judge to state my case, than concede to the hearing officer (cashier).
Today was my day in court. I took my case to the city of Salt Lake City, and won! Clearly I need to take my fancy lawyering skills to the next level. I wonder if California needs help defending prop 8?
It was music to my ears to hear those beautiful words.... "Case Dismissed!"
My distaste for big cities goes beyond not liking them. I really don't care for big cities at all. I don't like all the people and the difficulty of getting from point A to point B.
So I went downtown about a month ago to see a basketball game. Not just any game, but the Lakers V Jazz. Great game and the Jazz won! However when I got to my car to drive home, there was a parking ticket on my windshield. I HATE DOWNTOWN! As a side-note about a year ago I went to a Jazz V Laker game, got a parking ticket, and in my anger got a speeding ticket 5 minutes later!
This time I'd had enough and it's time to stand up for myself say, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
I decided to take on City Hall! My infraction was parking to close to a fire hydrant. "Too close" is defined as 5 feet on either side of a line drawn from the fire hydrant to the curb.
Clearly the reason why parking isn't allowed is for the safety of the citizens. Emergency vehicles may need to access the hydrant and need that space for hoses.
It occurred to me that throughout the city, there are tons of legal parking spots in violation of this city code. "Wait, how is this so?", your asking yourself. Well, the way it works is if you PAY a PARKING MEETER then it's perfectly legal to violate the city parking code.
Hypocrisy, Double Standard, Greed. These are just a few of the words that describe this practice. I took my case to Salt Lake Cities hearing officer and she got so angry with my position we took a field trip outside the courtroom to see first hand a parking meeter within 2 feet of a hydrant! She got even more angry and told me I was guilty and would need to pay an additional $75 (nuisance fee) if I wanted to see a judge to present my case.
Let it be known that my youngest child gets his stubborn streak from his father. I would rather pay the extortion money and see a judge to state my case, than concede to the hearing officer (cashier).
Today was my day in court. I took my case to the city of Salt Lake City, and won! Clearly I need to take my fancy lawyering skills to the next level. I wonder if California needs help defending prop 8?
It was music to my ears to hear those beautiful words.... "Case Dismissed!"
Monday, February 2, 2009
Selective Reduction
Just in case you've been living in a cave, I thought I would introduce you to the newest buzz word in the news lately. That word is Selective Reduction. This word was made popular with the announcement of octuplets that were born in California last week. The mother didn't want to be identified for obvious reasons. She has 6 children under the age of 7, and therein lie many ethical questions about the fashion in which she became pregnant.
As most of you know, Jill and I know a little something about in vitro fertilization. While going through this process we were all too familiar with the word "Selective Reduction". This means that when a woman is pregnant with multiple children, there is an argument that for the health of the mother and the children, some of the children should be aborted.
Abortion is a hot button that evokes strong feelings from both sides of the isle. Selective Reduction is a politically correct term for abortion. While many feel very strongly about a child's right to life, selective reduction can lead some to believe that it's not the same as abortion. Those people are wrong. Taking a child's life is wrong.
Of course placing 8 or more embryo's in a woman's uterus is horrible judgement. While aborting an unborn child is counter to God's will, it could also be argued that God's will was for that woman not to get pregnant. Science helps many couples become families, although there are other alternatives that should be thoughtfully and prayerfully considered before this step.
Each day there are babies born that need a loving father and mother. My running partner, at the time Jill and I considered in vitro, had adopted 8 children. On our long runs we had some amazing discussions about eternal families, and bringing the gospel to children who otherwise would not have had this blessing.
No doctor or woman in their right mind would even consider using 8 embryo's. In some cases for women older than 35, using 3 embryo's is a consideration. When those embryo's all take, these babies run the risk of serious health problems. Also the mother will spend her entire pregnancy on bed-rest.
I feel for all couples who struggle with infertility. This is a very private matter that should be looked at on all levels. It's a decision that should be made by a husband, a wife, a licensed infertility doctor, and God. Once the decision has been made it's not for anyone else to criticize that decision.
Responsibility is a word that has lost most of it's meaning in today's bailout world. It's too bad that it has also been neglected in this case of a California woman and her desire for children. With 14 children under the age of 7, no father in the picture, and no gainful employment, this story should be the poster child for the word irresponsible.
As most of you know, Jill and I know a little something about in vitro fertilization. While going through this process we were all too familiar with the word "Selective Reduction". This means that when a woman is pregnant with multiple children, there is an argument that for the health of the mother and the children, some of the children should be aborted.
Abortion is a hot button that evokes strong feelings from both sides of the isle. Selective Reduction is a politically correct term for abortion. While many feel very strongly about a child's right to life, selective reduction can lead some to believe that it's not the same as abortion. Those people are wrong. Taking a child's life is wrong.
Of course placing 8 or more embryo's in a woman's uterus is horrible judgement. While aborting an unborn child is counter to God's will, it could also be argued that God's will was for that woman not to get pregnant. Science helps many couples become families, although there are other alternatives that should be thoughtfully and prayerfully considered before this step.
Each day there are babies born that need a loving father and mother. My running partner, at the time Jill and I considered in vitro, had adopted 8 children. On our long runs we had some amazing discussions about eternal families, and bringing the gospel to children who otherwise would not have had this blessing.
No doctor or woman in their right mind would even consider using 8 embryo's. In some cases for women older than 35, using 3 embryo's is a consideration. When those embryo's all take, these babies run the risk of serious health problems. Also the mother will spend her entire pregnancy on bed-rest.
I feel for all couples who struggle with infertility. This is a very private matter that should be looked at on all levels. It's a decision that should be made by a husband, a wife, a licensed infertility doctor, and God. Once the decision has been made it's not for anyone else to criticize that decision.
Responsibility is a word that has lost most of it's meaning in today's bailout world. It's too bad that it has also been neglected in this case of a California woman and her desire for children. With 14 children under the age of 7, no father in the picture, and no gainful employment, this story should be the poster child for the word irresponsible.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
No More Naps
So I'm totally turning into a blogger chick with these posts entirely about my kids, but this just had to be published so all of my blogging family loyalists could see.
For about two years now the only solace Jill gets is when Landon takes his afternoon nap, and Logan gets to watch a T.V. show. In the entire day this is when Jill gets to be productive, and not chase after, clean up, intervene, or break up a fight between our two sons.
That all stopped today. After putting Landon in his crib so Jill could do her thing, to her dismay ..... he came walking out of the room. "Wait, this isn't how it's supposed to work."
Well sure it is if your boy has mad crib climbing skills.
Not sure how to fix this little dilemma, but it's captured for when his kids get this savvy and we can show him that they get their special gift from their father.
For about two years now the only solace Jill gets is when Landon takes his afternoon nap, and Logan gets to watch a T.V. show. In the entire day this is when Jill gets to be productive, and not chase after, clean up, intervene, or break up a fight between our two sons.
That all stopped today. After putting Landon in his crib so Jill could do her thing, to her dismay ..... he came walking out of the room. "Wait, this isn't how it's supposed to work."
Well sure it is if your boy has mad crib climbing skills.
Not sure how to fix this little dilemma, but it's captured for when his kids get this savvy and we can show him that they get their special gift from their father.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
How do you make tough choices?
Each of us make choices each day. Should I wake up early to get a jump start on the day before the children wake up? Should I make my wife happy and lower the toilet seat? That 3rd piece of Papa Murphy's Pizza sure looks good. Some choices are less significant and don't make dramatic differences in our lives. While other choices cary so much weight they determine our life's outcome. Which college should I attend, should I marry her, can I make a living doing what I love eating fast food? (Thanks Morgan Spurlock for giving us all hope).
This morning on our weekly Saturday run with a few guys in my neighborhood, there was much to discuss. Two of us had run a 1/2 marathon the week before, and the other had been camping in the snowy mountains of Utah with his 12 year old son earning "Who Really Camps in the Snow Anyway" Merit Badge.
The relationship I have with my running partners has really been strengthened over the past year as we have been running each week together (Take note lady readers.... Relationships, feelings, and Twighlight will not be talked about beyond this point). We have spent a lot of time together waking up early each weekend to spend an hour or two together, sharing, laughing, crying..... okay not crying. We run together, we laugh at each other, and we provide lots of "teaching material" to the one who is our church's Sunday School Teacher. Luckily he doesn't take any of our "suggestions", although if he would he could get released.... but that's another blog for another day.
For 3 years my two running partners have participated in the Wasatch Back Relay race. This is a 178 mile relay run through the mountains of Utah beginning in Logan and ending outside of Park City. 12 runners participate and run 3 sections of up to 7 miles. To complete this course it takes a team somewhere around 24 hours to finish. Spending this much time together further unifies the bond that runners share.
Each year this race falls on the 3rd weekend in June. The 3rd weekend in June is a significant date for the Bryant Family. For the last 15 years, this has been the date chosen by our elders as the time to work on our mountain property. We work together falling trees with chainsaws, road and fence maintenance, ATV riding, and eating an amazing meal. This is the only time of the year that most of the Bryant's will be together.
Two years ago I ran the race and had a terrific time. Last year I felt it more important to attend the Bryant reunion, and also had a terrific time.
This morning on the run, after much chiding, I was again invited to run with my band of brothers in the Wasatch Back Relay. This is significant because others before me have dropped out for scheduling conflicts and have never been invited back into the fold. Receiving this invitation a second time is like getting a second chance at buying Red Sox season tickets. It just doesn't happen.
This brings me to my vexing dilemma. Should I go to the family reunion and see extended family that I haven't seen in exactly 1 year, or run the race that we train for all year long with "my boys"?
Where is my magic 8 ball?
All signs point to yes? What am I supposed to take from that?
This morning on our weekly Saturday run with a few guys in my neighborhood, there was much to discuss. Two of us had run a 1/2 marathon the week before, and the other had been camping in the snowy mountains of Utah with his 12 year old son earning "Who Really Camps in the Snow Anyway" Merit Badge.
The relationship I have with my running partners has really been strengthened over the past year as we have been running each week together (Take note lady readers.... Relationships, feelings, and Twighlight will not be talked about beyond this point). We have spent a lot of time together waking up early each weekend to spend an hour or two together, sharing, laughing, crying..... okay not crying. We run together, we laugh at each other, and we provide lots of "teaching material" to the one who is our church's Sunday School Teacher. Luckily he doesn't take any of our "suggestions", although if he would he could get released.... but that's another blog for another day.
For 3 years my two running partners have participated in the Wasatch Back Relay race. This is a 178 mile relay run through the mountains of Utah beginning in Logan and ending outside of Park City. 12 runners participate and run 3 sections of up to 7 miles. To complete this course it takes a team somewhere around 24 hours to finish. Spending this much time together further unifies the bond that runners share.
Each year this race falls on the 3rd weekend in June. The 3rd weekend in June is a significant date for the Bryant Family. For the last 15 years, this has been the date chosen by our elders as the time to work on our mountain property. We work together falling trees with chainsaws, road and fence maintenance, ATV riding, and eating an amazing meal. This is the only time of the year that most of the Bryant's will be together.
Two years ago I ran the race and had a terrific time. Last year I felt it more important to attend the Bryant reunion, and also had a terrific time.
This morning on the run, after much chiding, I was again invited to run with my band of brothers in the Wasatch Back Relay. This is significant because others before me have dropped out for scheduling conflicts and have never been invited back into the fold. Receiving this invitation a second time is like getting a second chance at buying Red Sox season tickets. It just doesn't happen.
This brings me to my vexing dilemma. Should I go to the family reunion and see extended family that I haven't seen in exactly 1 year, or run the race that we train for all year long with "my boys"?
Where is my magic 8 ball?
All signs point to yes? What am I supposed to take from that?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
1:50:57
Keeping up with tradition of posting all about a recent family trip the following blog is about our families fun trip to St. George. It's especially cool because as pointed out by my sister-in-law Becky Jo, the weather up in Salt Lake City sucked with cold temperatures and inversion. Meanwhile we were in St. George soaking up the SUN!
The temps down in St. George were terrific! We hiked around in the red rock with short sleeve shirts and the boys just LOVED being outside.
We drove down Friday morning with Aaron, Amy, and their daughter Addison. We went for a short hike at Red Cliffs and the boys loved throwing rocks in the water.
Look at the gorgeous blue sky (Becky Jo your family really needs to go to St. George).
As for the official reason we went to Utah's Dixie: The 27th Annual Painters 1/2 marathon was being held, and I had somewhat trained and was going to participate in the big run. My brother-in-law, and another running partner from my neighborhood, were all going to run the race. I wasn't in the best of shape, and the course was pretty much flat, so my expectations were just to finish. Worse case scenario would have been 2 hours 10 minutes, best guess was 2 hours, and I would never expect to beat my half marathon PR of 1:50.
Aaron ran along with me for the first 8 miles. Once he saw how fast we were going, he decided to pick it up for the last 5 miles and shoot for a PR himself. I hung back and ran my race. As I got close to mile 10 I realized that I too was on pace for a terrific race time.
Coming into the finish line, I had my family cheering me on.
Would you believe that with only a fair amount of training, I tied to the minute my 1/2 marathon PR? Well I did it! The official chip time is 1:50:57. I couldn't have been happier with my time. My race time, and the good times being had in St. George.
The temps down in St. George were terrific! We hiked around in the red rock with short sleeve shirts and the boys just LOVED being outside.
We drove down Friday morning with Aaron, Amy, and their daughter Addison. We went for a short hike at Red Cliffs and the boys loved throwing rocks in the water.
Look at the gorgeous blue sky (Becky Jo your family really needs to go to St. George).
As for the official reason we went to Utah's Dixie: The 27th Annual Painters 1/2 marathon was being held, and I had somewhat trained and was going to participate in the big run. My brother-in-law, and another running partner from my neighborhood, were all going to run the race. I wasn't in the best of shape, and the course was pretty much flat, so my expectations were just to finish. Worse case scenario would have been 2 hours 10 minutes, best guess was 2 hours, and I would never expect to beat my half marathon PR of 1:50.
Aaron ran along with me for the first 8 miles. Once he saw how fast we were going, he decided to pick it up for the last 5 miles and shoot for a PR himself. I hung back and ran my race. As I got close to mile 10 I realized that I too was on pace for a terrific race time.
Coming into the finish line, I had my family cheering me on.
Would you believe that with only a fair amount of training, I tied to the minute my 1/2 marathon PR? Well I did it! The official chip time is 1:50:57. I couldn't have been happier with my time. My race time, and the good times being had in St. George.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Winning isn't Everything; It's the Only Thing
It's been said by those who know me that I am somewhat of a competitive person. Maybe it comes from when I was a child and I ruthlessly beat everyone who dared play me in Connect Four. No other 3rd grader at Washington Elementary would dare play me because they really never had a chance. Even adults wouldn't want to play me. Looking back I'm not sure if it was my amazing Connect Four skills, or the in-your-face attitude I had with my competition.
As I progressed through the years, I enjoyed beating the tar out of the other children in my class in the math bowl. Somehow I got the hang of multiplication and intimidated other kids... they didn't have a chance.
Any discussion of competition must include church basketball. As a teenager I wasn't the best player on the team, but always contributed to our stake and region victories. Other wards in our stake always knew they were competing for 2nd place each year because 1st place would always belong to the 3rd Ward.
As a Missionary for my church I remember a young member boy threw rocks at us one day. He wasn't even coming close to hitting us. Naturally I had to throw a rock at him and show him how to "hit the target." 6 stitches and a sucker later, I really showed him.
Which brings me to my current dilemma.
For Christmas Logan got Candyland. Obviously a game which requires no skill and cunning. Simply draw a card, hope for a double color, and stay away from the sticky licorice boxes that require you to loose a turn. Logan always likes to be the winner. The thing is he always wins! Just when I get ahead of him and I think I will beat him, I draw the candy cane card and have to go back to the middle of the board, and he wins again.
In a game of chance you would think that the law of averages would eventually catch up to Logan. He can't continue to win in a game of chance can he? After about 15 games I have yet to score a victory.
Obviously as the bigger person, I should loose most of the time to let the 4 year old boost his confidence. But I wouldn't be doing a very good job as a father if I didn't teach him how to loose graciously. As a responsible father I owe it to him to teach him to loose with dignity. The trouble is, he keeps winning.
Would it make me feel better if I beat him in Chess?
As I progressed through the years, I enjoyed beating the tar out of the other children in my class in the math bowl. Somehow I got the hang of multiplication and intimidated other kids... they didn't have a chance.
Any discussion of competition must include church basketball. As a teenager I wasn't the best player on the team, but always contributed to our stake and region victories. Other wards in our stake always knew they were competing for 2nd place each year because 1st place would always belong to the 3rd Ward.
As a Missionary for my church I remember a young member boy threw rocks at us one day. He wasn't even coming close to hitting us. Naturally I had to throw a rock at him and show him how to "hit the target." 6 stitches and a sucker later, I really showed him.
Which brings me to my current dilemma.
For Christmas Logan got Candyland. Obviously a game which requires no skill and cunning. Simply draw a card, hope for a double color, and stay away from the sticky licorice boxes that require you to loose a turn. Logan always likes to be the winner. The thing is he always wins! Just when I get ahead of him and I think I will beat him, I draw the candy cane card and have to go back to the middle of the board, and he wins again.
In a game of chance you would think that the law of averages would eventually catch up to Logan. He can't continue to win in a game of chance can he? After about 15 games I have yet to score a victory.
Obviously as the bigger person, I should loose most of the time to let the 4 year old boost his confidence. But I wouldn't be doing a very good job as a father if I didn't teach him how to loose graciously. As a responsible father I owe it to him to teach him to loose with dignity. The trouble is, he keeps winning.
Would it make me feel better if I beat him in Chess?
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