The Election

I have been avoiding this one for a while. This year, I think more than any election that I remember before, I have done some serious soul searching as to what I believe. I think it may have to do with the fact that my vote may actually make a difference (unlike in some very, very, very red state in the west where I used to live).

I have a couple of co-workers who would be considered very conservative by the people of Utah. They have both been giving me the full court press for better than a year to come over to their side of the political spectrum. They started out with very rationally explaining their beliefs on why they are conservative. I tried to explain why I feel the way I feel. We had some very spirited and enlightening conversations on many subjects (health care, education, energy, welfare etc.). I learned a great deal from both of them and it really made me think about why I have always tended towards the left.

When it came down to it, the thought of moving my political beliefs to the right just did not sit right with me. I believe that it is our governments responsibility to provide the opportunity for every citizen to succeed. Sometimes this means giving a helping hand. This idea is very foreign and in some cases very offensive to people on the political right. I don't consider myself a socialist, my economic beliefs tend towards the conservative in most cases. However, I don't believe the Laffer curve is infallible. Trickle down economics do not work. One thing that proponents of that philosophy fail to take into account is the greed of the people who are supposed to If you can trudge through this it all is fairly interesting. I guess I am just a bleeding heart.

Finally, the negativity and nastiness of the whole campaign really has turned me off. I really question the ability of anyone to make thoughtful decisions on the welfare of hundreds of millions of people if they can be so petty and nasty to a political opponent. Maybe I am falling prey to the "liberal media" but I think the majority of the nasty campaigning has come from the right. It all makes me a bit sick to my stomach.

Rather than blathering on and on I will just say that I voted for Obama. I feel good about my choice.

Vacation Planning

Vacation planning is the joy of my life (after Nina and the girls of course). I don't know how everyone else feels about this but as soon as I get home from a vacation I immediately start planning the next one. I think I like the planning as much as or even more than the vacation. This is especially true after a vacation to Utah and Idaho to visit family. Any extended stay with either of our families is sort of taxing and not really very relaxing. I always tell Nina after these trips that our next trip is going to be something touristy and not a family visit. Needless to say I am in the midst of planning our next vacation. Unfortunately, I don't have an idea of where to go. This last trip has convinced us that flying with two girls, enough luggage for all 4 of us, two car seats and several carry-ons is not all that much fun. Of course gas is 5 million dollars a gallon and the van is sort of a gas pig (though very comfortable and good to drive long distances so I don't regret buying it) so long car trips are questionable. I have a bit of a conundrum here. I am thinking that I want to do some little weekend trips to things within half a days drive of here. I am looking for suggestions of what you folks have done and would recommend. Also, don't be surprised if Nina and I ask you to come along on our little weekend outings. The more the merrier as far as we are concerned. So long.

Grumpy Gus

Nina has a very special relationship with alot of her nieces. I think this is because she was the youngest of 12 and spent a fair amount of time babysitting these kids when she was younger. They all think Nina is the "cool" aunt. When we visit home Nina gets alot of pleasure out of helping out these kids by encouraging them in the educational pursuits or helping with their back to school shopping or helping with room makeovers.

What does this have to do with being a grumpy gus you ask. Well let me tell you. We are going to Utah/Idaho in a couple of weeks and Nina is trying to help her sister with our niece Alexa's room. I thought that I would work a few extra Saturdays at work to help facilitate this. Well, three Saturdays in and I am starting to become a bit on edge. The other night I caught myself getting very angry with att wireless after a incident with their phone support (long story). Well, I recognize what is happening and I am going to do my best to not let it get to me. I know this makes Nina very happy and my job in life is to make Nina happy (by choice not force).

On a completely different note, my baby is starting to laugh. Isn't that the coolest thing in the world when a new baby starts to smile and laugh. It just makes me grin every time. Gotta get back to work. So long.

Weight update

I hit 209 yesterday down from 227 when I started working out in December. I was fairly happy that I was in the 'single digits'. I actually fit into some of the smaller size jeans I have been keeping around. My pot gut has gotten noticeably smaller (at least I noticed), and I am in far less need of a bro. When I started all this my goal was to get to 205 but I think I may have to go to 200 to get to looking how I want. I've started going to spin classes at the gym to improve my fitness level, I highly recommend those if you have a chance. They work me much harder than if I were to go by myself to work out and they are fun. I'm hoping that I won't be the slowest person on the trail when I go mountain biking with my friends. Anyway, back to work. So long.

More Top 5

Since my book post was such and underwhelming success I thought I would continue on with the top 5's by posting my top 5 favorite movies. These are movies that, when I saw them for the first time, really effected me in some way. Some for the emotional impact some just for the wow factor. Either way I remember thinking 'this is something different' when I saw them. Anyway, here is the list along with a quote or two from each

1. Godfather parts I and II - Francis Ford Coppola (counting as one movie because they are the same story)

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli"
"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse"
"I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart! "


2. Pulp Fiction - Quentin Tarrantino

"Oh man, I shot Marvin in the face. "
" And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

3. Aliens (Directors Cut) - James Cameron

"Get away from her, you b.....!"
"we're in the pipe, five by five"

4. Dr Zhivago - David Lean

"Good marriages are made in heaven... or some such place."

5. 2001 A space odyssey - Stanley Kubrick

"Open the pod bay doors, HAL"

Ok, so I am looking for a little input here. Tell me what your top 5 are and why I am wrong.
so long.

Top 5

So I started watching the movie High Fidelity last night and in the spirit of that movie I thought I would ask people to let me know some of their top 5's. I thought I would start with books, I will narrow it down to works of fiction (because most of the people who would read this would put the Book of Mormon down if I didn't narrow it a bit).

1. The Razors Edge - W Somerset Maugham
2. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S Thompson (c'mon, this can be classified as fiction)
3. The Cider House Rules - John Irving
4. The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien
5. Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

Runners up

Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
Neuromancer - William Gibson
The Hotel New Hampshire - John Irving
A Prayer for Own Meany - John Irving
Off for the Sweet Hereafter - T.R. Pearson

Anyway, let me know what you liked the best and if you feel like include a little on why you liked it.

More politics....

I agree completely with these guys. Our political process has turned into a circus. Why can't we just concentrate on the issues instead of this peripheral garbage. Also, another reason I am a democrat and don't belong to the party that would do this. So long