There's No Place Like Home

It's good to be back in San Diego. I'm going to miss everyone when I'm gone this summer so I better soak it up now as much as I can 'cause there's no place like home...my home at least.

A Little Snowboarding in Big Bear

I took a trip to the snow with my charming parents a few days ago. You might be thinking, "Doesn't he live in the snow, why would he go there on vacation", and yes I am aware of this but it was my fathers dying wish (though he's not dying) to go skiing this season. I on the other hand had the desire to learn how to snowboard even though my attempts to persuade my father (the man pictured above in the sweet blue bibs) to do the same failed. Rather then going on about the trip in paragraph form I will continue to share the highlights in a list form:
1. Listening to Brian Regan's stand-up in the car
2. Check in at the ugliest Hotel ever...with the slowest sevice ever according to my Dad
3. Mastering how to snowboard in one day, only falling twice (or maybe four times)
4. Trying to find a gas station in Big Bear that has air to fill up our tires
5. Comparing sunburns recieved during the day...Mom won
6. Napping
7. Finding an ant in my sprite at a Mexican resturant after I had already finished half of it
8. Skip-Bo games in the ugly hotel that everyone had the chance to win
9. Singing along on the trip home to Radio Disney (not my choice)
10. Talking with Grammy and showing her how to better use her computer

It was a good trip...short trip, but good. Now I just have to cover my burns with aloe for the next week.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub Two Men in a Tub

Tuesday night was probably one of the best nights I have had since being at Hume Lake. I was having my regular gathering with my friends (see the entry entitled: Pudding and Poetry) but we met in a different place. My friend Birdie was watching a house for someone out of town and they had a hot tub. So, Birdie said that myself and my awesome friend Brynnen could use it that night. Naturally, we took the offer and were there ready to go in right after our evening discussion ended. After a freezing cold 20 foot walk to the tub in just our boardshorts in the snow, we were ready to jump in. Slight problem though, the cover was on, so we began dancing in place to stay warm as we deciphered the code that would open the contraption. After getting the cover off we jumped into a stingingly hot tub to both of our joy. I have never had such a great time sitting in a hot tub as I did that night because it began to snow. Just for fun, Brynnen and I got out at one point and rolled in the snow till we were freezing which was then immedietly follow by the both of us running back into the hot water. It was cool; in more ways then one.

Tied Together for Life

No, those are not models of this years most popular high school teachers clothing in MODERN HISTORY TEACHER MAGAZINE. It is actually my roommate and I celebrating his 21st birthday (no booze involved). Its not everyday you see two guys dressed like that and standing in the snow...thats what makes me like it. Luv ya roomie!

What Happens in Vegas When I Stay in Vegas

While in Vegas I was pleasently surprised by two friends. I couldn't believe I saw Tristen and Christine as I was leaving the Venitian because I hadn't seen them since graduation. Small world! The funniest part was later when my Joshua friends were looking through my pictures from the trip and saw me with two strange girls in Vegas. I guess it didn't look so good to them...let them think what they want, like I said...just friends.

Strip Trip

Viva Las Vegas! I'm back and I'm better then ever. For me to express in a small message what this trip was like, would be impossible. you will have to talk to me about it in person, but I can tell you that it was absolutely amazing. The reason you see people on the ground in a parking lot is because we walked up and down the Vegas strip the entire day and into the night, only to get about 5-6 hours of sleep each night. Any and every break was spent napping...oh, those were nice. The shuttle shot you see above was my home for 27 hours while traveling to and from Vegas. Thats not taking into consideration the hours spent in Vegas traffic on the strip. I have nevr seen God moving so much as I did while in Vegas. Every day it was just so apperent that Gods hand was on us and in the lives of the people we talked to. I was great just to learn obedience of God and be blown away by the Gospel everytime I was the one to share it. I felt how real God truely is and saw how joyful it is when we are doing what we were created to do. I pray for all that you find joy in doing what God has commanded and what we were created to do.

Pudding and Poetry

For the last few months a few of my friends and I have started a sort of tradition. Every monday after ten we sit by the fire, enjoy some popcorn or pudding, and then read some of our favorite poems from Shel Silversteins "Where the Sidewalk Ends". Anyone familiar with Shel knows how fantastic he truely is. Don't worry, I'm not some kind of freaky beatnick, even if I was I can't grow a go-tee (not sure how to spell that one). Anyway, it's just good fun with good friends; I suggest you join a Poetry group as well (pudding and fireplace optional).

Reedley Reedley Small

This is Jasper. A 140 pound Great Dane that lives in Reedley California. Whats that? You Don't know where Reedley is? Well, thats okay because i didn't until this weekend. Darin was nice enough to give everyone a four day weekend but I couldn't make it home so my friend Steve invited me to his house in Reedley (which is just down the hill from Hume) where I was greeted by Jasper (scary). After living in San Diego for so long, this small country town blew me away. I couldn't understand how everyone knew everyone, their siblings, or dated them at one time. The cool thing I got to do was see "Fiddler on the Roof" put on by the local high school. It was really good but right now I'm not the best judge of entertainment. The highlight of my trip was some good old fashion Thropping (thrift store shopping). I scored an amazing brown Ron Burgundy suit for ony six bucks (and a matching tie). It fits me like a glove...you know, a glove that fits perfact and is my exact size. I guess I now have friends in Reedley which could come in handy someday - even if it doesn't, what spectacular memories.

FresYES

Since I had this last weekend off, my friends and I took a trip to Fresno ( the closest civilization to Hume). I totally forgot but it happened to be the night of the Super Bowl so no one was around. That made it easy for us to stop by a lot of places and eat dinner in a short amount of time. The fountain in the picture is right outside the Red Robin were we enjoyed some grub. It was tempting to jump in (I've seen to many Friends episodes) but in the end we just decided to go to Chucky Cheese. Though we were the only people over three feet tall, it was probably the most fun I've had in a while. I even got to meet Chucky Cheese himself! I'm still laughing at the fact that Beth (the girl in the picture) took a ride on this little kids helicopter thing in Chucky Cheese, it was hilarious. To end, Fresno should no longer be know as that but rather Fres-yes...or Robbieville.

Bonus Shore Break

After the Joshua trip to San Diego I got to go home for the weekend as a little bonus. The coolest part was four of my friends from Joshua stayed at my house - Heather, Meghan, Brynnen, and Birdie. The highlight of the trip was seeing the beach (it had been five months since I last saw it). As we first walked up to the sand we all stood in awe of the waves, the sand between our toes, and even the ever lovely fishy smell. I think the best part for my friends was laughing constantly at my amazing parents. Heather had a tendency to stare at my dad, just waiting for him to say something funny. I guess the older you get, lame jokes become funnier, but right now they aren't workin' for me. In the end I just realized what an amazing family I have, willing to let a bunch of strangers stay in their house and feed them too. Thanks fam! LOVE YOU!

Driving South for the Winter

As a group one day, the entire Joshua class went to the San Diego Zoo (my home away from home). Though I was made fun of a bit for having a membership card to the Zoo (including of coarse by Darin) as soon as we got there everyone wanted to ask me where they should go, what animals are in what spots, whats the best show to see, and so on. I thoought the zoo was fun in of itself but with 55 of your friends wondering around with you...it was awesome. You can see in the picture how close i was able to get to the Gorillas. Okay, maybe that one isn't real but I still was able to get close to a lot of the animals. For the first time ever i saw two tigers playing in the water, it was the coolest. The only thing that was kinnd of weird was being completly tramatized by the tortoises (you can ask me about it some other time but I can't show the picture on my blog). All in all it was a good day and I think I might have a successful future as a tour guide a the Zoo.

What I'm SuPOST To Do

Yes, yes I know it has been forever since I've posted anything...I'm sorry. There seems to be a problem with getting pictures on my blog here at Hume. I don't know if that problem has something to do with the system here or if I just don't understand computers (which is more likely). It was just sad to me to only write and not have any cool pictures, but I got over that-so here I am writing. I just realized i really don't have anything interesting to write, or any news. Well, i did just get a haircut-actually all of them were cut- and it looks good. I would post a picture but once again my computer disability does not enable me to. I guess that means that my friends (thats you reading this) will just have to come up and visit to see my haircut. See you then!