Been a while...

Gosh, I just realized I hadn't posted anything for a while, so here ya go! Since there isn't much to do 'round here, I have started learning to play the guitar. I play acoustic and love it! I am teaching myself, so it's a slow process and I'm sure eventually I will need to take lessons to learn some of the cool stuff that I've heard people play, but for now it's fun! I can play one song by Red Hot Chili Peppers called Desecration Smile, but it's a little choppy. I never realized how relaxing it is to play guitar! I wish I'd had this much time a few years ago to learn it, I'd be really good by now!
Anyone have any advice for me about guitar, let me know. I can use the help. Thanks!

Best invention ever!

So my bro' has been holding out on me; he just barely told me about this great, wonderful, flavorful chipotle tabasco. I really don't like regular Tabasco, so I was skeptical...Wow, try it. And B-man, you need to let me in on more of your secrets!

WARNING! Depressing post...

Cute pic of Adam and Dan of CC taken at Sundance couple years ago...He wasn't very happy 'bout it, but he still let me snap it! Thanks Adam (and Dan)

BOOORRRREEEEDDDD in the land of the boring people!!! I tried to go find something to do tonight, but there isn't one thing to do here! I'm so hatin' C-town right now! I'm a plant without water. I'm a car without oil. I'm a brain without stimulation. I'm a city without lights. I'm a thunderstorm without the rain. As Adam Duritz of Counting Crows says, "I wish this was a small world, cuz I'm lonely for a big town."

Cute pic of my bro' in Bryce Canyon

Just found this pic on my computer and it reminded me of some of the fun times I've had with the B-man! We won't mention the alien encounter...

And I don't even speak a lick of it!

I had a dream last night...You're probably thinking, "So? So did I." But you have to understand, this was a very "real" dream, and here's the kicker...it was completely in French! I don't speak any French at all! I was speaking French and my family was speaking French fluently! It was so cool. I woke up remembering most of it, so I'll give you the run down, but mind you, I don't have any idea what was being said, I only know what I "saw".

It was snowing and I was trying to get somewhere, though I can't remember where. My second oldest brother was in a European-type hotel room asleep. I went out and spoke to European cab drivers to get wherever I was going in the city and when I got back to the hotel room, my second youngest brother was asleep on the hotel bed, but the other brother had gone somewhere.

I know it's not a great dream, but for me it was awesome!

Strawberry Point~aka scary high place

This area was amazing to visit, nobody there, just a narrow "catwalk" that I was a little shy about going out on, (so I didn't), but I got really close, as you can see from the pics. The view from here varies, from the north you can see the backside of Zion N.P. to an enormous "bowl of pines" to red spires jutting out just below our feet. It is a maze to get there because you have to drive on bumpy dirt roads, but it really is worth it. It's a mini-hike, so you basically park the car and walk a couple of hundred yards to the end of the "plank", where you can see my friend Keith, (he's a skydiver, so nothing scares him). He looks small; he looks like he is further out than he really is, so if you visit, don't let that scare you. I think I might try to "get brave" and get on out there next time I go up. I'm terrified of heights, but I've been trying to get over that fear, and as you can see, the ledge I am standing on, well, a few months ago, I would never have gotten that close...

Wild antelope on the range

On our way to Cascade Springs, (which I failed to get a pic of! next time), we spotted this herd of about seven antelope. Now anyone that lives in an area where these roam freely knows how rare it is to encounter this particular animal. Let's put it this way; the last time I saw wild antelope was about 8 years ago near a reststop on I-70 going toward Colorado. At the time I took it for granted that they were like deer in their abundance, but I have gotten wiser to their ways, and now when I see them, I feel lucky. One other cool thing about this daytrip happened to be a mountain lion sighting. Keith saw it dart across the road on our way out of the Strawberry Point road. But dangit, I barely saw the back end of it as it disappeared into the bushes. From what I could see I was very happy to have been inside the car! It was huge!

Shriveling in a sunburned city

As most of you know, I live in a small town not unlike Hell, (or I'm guessing it's similar, since I've never been to Hell, but I'll keep you updated.) Back to the point; while reading my favorite author, Bill Bryson, he mentions a "city" he is visiting in Australia named Canberra, in the book In a Sunburned Country, and it just so happens that it is the capitol of Australia, but don't book that plane ticket yet...according to good ole' Bill, he is telling about his experience there and the lack of well, uh, everything. Nightlife...extinct; music...nope, culture...what's that? You get the idea. (So I thought I'd mention that it's Saturday, beautiful sunny 85 degree weather, and guess what, there's nothing to do where I live. Trust me, I've looked. You can watch tv in your house, or go to a movie in the theater, either way, you're stuck sitting in front of a screen...oh yeah, or hike to your death in the heat.) Okay, no more tangents, but I did think Mr. Bryson's interpretation of Canberra, Australia could also describe "my town". The premise: he's been looking all day for a place to find dinner, finds nothing, he ends up in a hotel bar on a Friday night at 10 minutes after 10 o'clock p.m. He tries to think of a slogan that "sums up" Canberra, while looking around the bar and only seeing four other people in the whole place. His first slogan is "Canberra-There's Nothing to It". Second one, "Canberra-Why Wait for Death?", and his third, "Canberra-Gateway to Everywhere Else!".
I think I will steal his second line, but change it a little, "Cedar City-Why Wait for Death?" I truly believe that people move here with the intention of shriveling up and disappearing into the dusty desert earth and eventually hoping to turn into cryptobiotic soil, which might be why "they" tell you not to step on it; it might be someone's grandma...
The thing that is sad in all of this, is that the people here actually believe that this is how life is. Some of them have never driven 60 miles to Zion National Park, some have never left this town at all. It has a University and appears innovative, but there are definitely some things lacking. Like I say, "I can get mad, or I can get out." Think I'll go with the second line again...Thanks Bill!