Yea yea, I know...

... i suck at this blogging thing. let's see if jessica can be any better!

update

Ok, so there will be a lot of these updates in the next few months. Obviously. So the date has changed from the 24th since most of scheduling conflicts with the buildings. The date will be either the 16th or the 17th of October. It will for sure be that weekend, but the final date will be posted soon I'm sure.

Jessica wants to have everything organized and planned by August. That should be really nice. Stress now so we can relax later. Man am I lucky to have her!

here it is

ok, I'm finally updating my blog! ya ya ya... I know! I'm sorry. I'm just not much of the blogging type lately.

So, exciting news, that I'm sure most all of you were expecting and knew about:

I'm engaged! Jessica and I have been dating for a few months now (that's what she says at least). I went to the temple last tuesday to check with "Big Daddy" and got the green light! Sooooo I just about emptied my checking account to seal the deal! Er- not quite seal it yet, that will be in October. Ha! But you know what I mean.

So I know what it is you're waiting for. Here are some before pictures:





And the after: (I am working on getting some of the pics of us right afterwards. Give me some time. Obviously I couldn't be the one taking pictures.)





So ya! Quite the exciting day! I'll update more along the way. As of now, the date is going to be October 24th in the Fresno Temple, given there are no hiccups. Amazing!!

elfers

haha!! more wonderful jibjab videos!! here are a couple for matt, kevin, andrew and jennika!! haha good times!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thoughts on Government

"We ought to consider what is the end of government, before we determine which is best form. Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow, that the form of government which communicates ease, comfort, to the greatest number of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best.

"All sober inquiries after truth, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity, consists in virtue. Confucius, Zo- roaster, Socrates, Mahomet, not to mention authorities really sacred, have agreed in this.

"If there is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better calculated to promote the general happiness than any other form?

"Fear is the foundation of most government; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.

"Honor is truly sacred, but hold a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue. Indeed, the former is but a part of the latter, and consequently has not equal pretensions to support a frame of government productive of human happiness.

"The foundation of every government is some principle or passion in the minds of the people. The noblest principles and most generous affections in our nature, then, have the fairest chance to support the noblest and most generous models of government.

". . . This will teach them the great political virtues of humility, patience, and moderation, without which every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey.

". . . 'Where annual elections end, there slavery begins.'"

Thoughts on Government - by John Adams, 1776

After reading this, I felt a bit inspired. Take it in whichever form you will. I find it strikingly appropriate in these times that outright revolt and punishment has become the acceptable reaction of those who find themselves defeated following the execution of the democratic process.

What message is being sent to those persecuted? What is one trying to accomplish? And by what means?

Food for thought...

-Benjamin W. Phillips

Chuck Norris

Soooooo... I have found something to blog about...

So jokes about Chuck Norris are flippin hilarious!!! I love em!! Just read them, you will see.

Chuck Norris makes onions cry

Chuck Norris can do a wheelie on a unicycle

Chuck Norris knows where Waldo is

Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding
Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door
Chuck Norris can believe it’s not butter
Chuck Norris’s tear can cure cancer. Too bad Chuck Norris never cries.
Check Norris memorized pi... Every. Single. Digit.
Chuck Norris knows the muffin man
Chuck Norris knows how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop
Jesus often asks himself, “What would Chuck Norris do?”
Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas
When the boogyman goes to bed every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris can fire Donald Trump
When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn’t get wet, water gets Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris can moonwalk forward
Chuck Norris does not sleep, he waits
Apple pays Chuck Norris 99 cents every time he listens to a song
Rock, paper, Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and slap Chuck Norris in the back of the head

When Chuck Norris flips you off, he is not giving you the finger- he is telling you how many seconds you have left to live!

voting weirdness

I am a registered republican. I participated in the primary election back in June here in California. When I went to the polling place, everything was fine, no problems. I showed up, gave them my name, took my ballot, and I voted.

Today, the day of the general election, I showed up to my polling place, gave my name, and all of the sudden, I'm not on there! What?!? I haven't changed my address, I haven't changed anything! 5 months ago there was no problem, and now today, I am no longer there! That means that SOMETHING has changed somewhere in the "system." My information has been changed without my knowledge or consent. I don't understand WHAT has changed!

Why is it that Mickey Mouse can vote for Obama without anyone thinking twice, but a registered republican, who just voted 5 months ago, no longer exists? Interesting.



To top it all off, I did not vote for Obama OR McCain. Having decided that California will not be a swing state and will undoubtedly go blue, I made a moral stand for the candidate whom I feel is best qualified, know full well that there was no plausible chance of a victory: Mitt Romney.



Some may call it throwing away my vote, but I hold that I am voting my conscious and doing what I feel is right.

Just thought I would bring that your attention. Are there any other instances of similar instances that you know of? Please, let me know.