Bucket List

I know, I know... I'm too young to have a bucket list.  Well the way I figure, it's never to early to start making goals.

This last week, I went with my roommate to a Demolition Derby here in Logan.  I had never been to one before.  I thought it was really really cool!  It was quite anti-climactic, however, because the best drivers weren't the winners.  It ended because both of the last two cars died, but one died before the other.  Kinda lame, I know.  It's like being told you are getting a dog for Christmas only to open the box and find a chihuahua.  Disappointing.

But it got me thinking.  I don't know a lot about cars, but I would like to learn about cars.  I would even like working on a car.  It gave me an ingenious idea for my Bucket List.

Get this: Build and Drive a Car in a Demolition Derby!  

How cool is that??!!?  I get to figure out a lot about cars and work on them, then I get to play bumper cars with real cars!!!  Sounds like a triple win to me! :)

Panic Button

Do you ever have those days where you feel like a car, and someone keeps hitting the panic button on the car remote?  I've had a few days where I have felt like that over the past few weeks.  Summer is drawing to a close and there is just so much time and so little to do!!  Scratch that, reverse it.

School starts in less than two weeks.  I am not really looking forward to it.  I mean, who honestly looks forward to the coming of the bane of their existence?  It's like being tied to a wall and having one of those hatchet throwing guys telling you not to flinch as he throws the hatchet, because he is about 85% certain he won't hit you.  You know it's coming, and you may have confidence in the guy.  Heck, you may not even flinch, but it doesn't mean that you are looking forward to it.  At this point, the hatchet is flying recklessly through the air towards me...

See?  Calm and Peaceful

Yet, still I find ways to keep myself distracted.  I have a lot I still wish to do with what remains of summer.  Most of it involves being outside enjoying the weather and nature. Fishing (I seem to be on that kind of buzz recently) is always a pleasant option.  I rather enjoy the calm that surrounds the activity.  It almost always involves a trip to my "Nothing" box and is quite therapeutic, especially with hatchets flying at you, metaphorically speaking.


So here are my Top 5 to finish out the summer:

1. Hiking Tony Grove
2. Backpacking in the Uintahs
3. Demolition Derby
4. Swimming (Porcupine Reservoir)
5. Floatin' the Flume

Now if only there were an EASY button to get everything I need for school...

"Good Things Come to Those Who Bait"? Right...and Pigs Fly

Anyone who knows me knows that I love the outdoors.  I love hiking and camping, and I especially love doing these activities in places near lakes/rivers because I also love fishing.  Like, a lot.  Fishing is a great activity to accompany my Nothing Box, which is my favorite box. :)

I've always been the kind of person to use more lures or flies than bait when fishing.  Using bait in my mind is just sitting here and waiting for the time to pass until the fish decides it is hungry.  If you use a spinner lure or a fly, you are tempting him with something he feel like he need to attack.  There is a lot more thrill to it.  Bait fishing in my eyes is the lazy way.  Oh...how I ate my own words.

I went fishing last week with a buddy of mine, Thomas by name.  It was super early on a Friday morning and we had been a few times before but with minimal success.  Patience was wearing thin, so that trip I decided to succumb to the idea of bait fishing.  I don't think it was meant to be my day.  We went to Porcupine Reservoir. We tried fishing off the bottom with worms tipped with a marshmallow so it floated.  We were told that it was a good method.

I don't know what we were doing wrong, but 2 hours, 5 worms, 3 lost hooks, and 0 fish later (this was just me, by the way), frustrations had maxed out.  We decided to change location and went to this small dam located up Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  For another 30 minutes at this new place we tried worms floating them from the top this time instead of the bottom.  Still, our luck did not change.

Finally, in frustration, I switched my line to have a good ol' Silver Jake's Spin-a-lure.  Mind you, we had been fishing for 2 and 1/2 hours with no luck, using bait.  4th cast, I catch an 11 inch Brown trout.  No joke.  Over the next 20 min, I catch 4 more.  My buddy Thomas traded to one as well, and caught one on his first cast.  "Good Things Come to Those Who Bait" my eye.  I'm stickin' to my method of jigs and lures.  ♫ Come on and get on my hook, fishy. Come on and get on my hook, fish fish! ♪

Sandy Eggo? I'm makin' Waffles!

Last week, my family took a week long vacation to San Deigo. Rather than bore with tiny details, main points will be observed.

Saturday: Las Vegas. It was HOT!!! Go figure...it's in the middle of the desert. We caught some of the Circus Acts in Circus Circus, went the M&M World and paid an arm and half a leg for bulk M&Ms, encountered some Born Again Christians, watched the Belagio Fountains and Mirage Volcano.

Sunday: Drove to San Diego. Was threatened to be put in Timeout by my nephew, arrived in San Diego and watch the Sunset over the ocean from some cliffs. Super tender and kinda lonely...

Monday: Zoo. Not quite sure what all the hype is about the San Diego Zoo. Sure they got Pandas...but they don't do any Kung Foo! Talk about a disappointment... Just kidding, but seriously.

Tuesday: Beach. Need I say more? (Downside: Really bad sunburn on my back. Not recommended)

They felt like burying us

Wednesday: Sea World. Sea Creatures are cool. Shamu = Huge! Dolphin show = Disappointment. Where are the Dolphins? I came to see dolphins not men in tights and bird costumes... weird people, weird.

Thursday: USS Midway. Old Town. Mormon Battalion Museum. Very cool tour. Found some gold, but blast...It was only gold for fools! San Diego Temple followed by the beach with seals. Seals out of water are funny.

Friday: Beach again and San Diego Padres game. Bratwurst = Delicious...but probably not worth the $6.75 I paid for it.

Saturday: Back to Vegas. Nice Condo, sweet pool, greasy pizza. :)

Sunday we came home. Thus ended the vacation. It was full of family, fun, games, and plenty of laughter!