Earthquake #2

Well, we just had our second earthquake experience here in Southern California. Actually, it is Shandie's first, seeing that she was asleep for the first one that hit the Baja peninsula several months back. The building we were in shook only for a few seconds, but one jolt was pretty powerful. When we got back home I checked the news to see where the epicenter had hit and how big it had been. Ends up it was a rather big one; 5.8 in the Richter scale. It also hit fairly close to Fullerton where we have some family. Haven't talked to them yet but the news said it had failed to report any damages or injuries. So life moves on, earthquakes and all. -Dave

Comic Con Pictures

I am so glad that the weekend is finally over and I get to have a day off. I had never heard of Comic Con until this year and didn't realize how crazy it would actually be. I said in my last post that it was 25,000 people but I was wrong about that. It was actually 125,000 people. Other than seeing all of the people around my work I didn't get a chance to go to the convention center myself. Dave walked down on Friday night though and managed to get a bunch of pictures.

As you can see I wasn't excited about my picture being taken.
This is actually the first guy that I saw in costume when it all started. I guess he was out there all weekend.
The building in the background is the convention center. This is how it looked all weekend. It was a constant flow of people coming in and out.
Dave stood by the doors and took pictures of people in costumes. Some of them (like this guy) posed for him when they noticed him taking pictures.
A lot of Batman characters were there (or maybe those are the ones I actually recognized).

This is a pretty cool view of my work with Petco Park in the background.
Another view of my work with tons of people walking by.

Happy 24th

It's kind of weird that we won't be celebrating the 24th of July this year in Utah. I will miss hanging out with family and watching fireworks. But, that isn't to say that I won't be experiencing my own interesting "sights" tonight. I will be at work during the madness that is called COMIC CON. It has officially begun today and 25,000 people will be in the downtown area. Here's a link to the website that explains what's going on: www.comic-con.org
As you know I work pretty close to the convention center where all of this is going on. I had a preview of how the rest of the weekend will be last night so I can tell you that I will probably be tired and frustrated. I am looking forward to seeing people dressed up in their costumes though. If I can sneak a few pictures I will post them.
Just so everyone knows I went to orientation and registered for classes. I am excited to get my foot in the door and start learning again. It's better late than never and I am really glad that I have such a good influence in my life that has inspired me to do more.

Well, hope that everyone has a safe evening and I will write more soon.

SHANDIE

Endless Summer 2008

I have started writing this blog a couple of different times but I keep erasing it because I feel like I need to explain something first. This blog is about a party we went to at Dwight and Lavon's house in Fullerton, CA. I wanted to explain how we know Dwight and Lavon.

*Lavon is the mother of Ren & Valeri (my step-sister and brother)
*Dwight is her husband (obviously)

Here is what I love about this situation. Cal (my step-dad) has remained on very good terms with Lavon and Dwight. Every year when they throw this party my mom and Cal fly out to California to go to it. I really love that they can all get together and have a good time and be friends. I think that is very rare when it comes to divorced couples.

ANYWAY, now you know our relation. We were lucky to be close enough to go to the party this year. We drove up on Friday night and stayed until Sunday morning. It always makes me so happy to see family. I really miss that convenience. I went with the girls and got a pedicure on Friday and went to the party on Saturday.

Cal & Shane in their matching outfits.
Dave in his new hat. (You remember how Cal likes hats... he bought us all new hats.)
My mom and baby Braxton. He is such a happy baby!
Cal & Ren (can you tell they are father and son?)
This is the back alley where the party is held every year.
Valeri & Cal dancing.
I was blowing big bubbles and Braxton would reach out and pop them. It was so cute!
Braxton and Ren.
Cal & my mom dancing.
Kallie and Robin were trying to convince Cal to let them pull out a stray eyebrow he had but he wasn't interested in that idea.
Dave and Adrian doing warm up stretches for their Ping Pong game.
Me - EXTREMELY tired.

Coming Soon

*Pictures and stories from the Endless Summer Party that we went to this weekend in Fullerton.
*School updates from me.
*Life updates.

I had a really long day today and I am too tired to post everything right now.

Shandie's Book Tagging

Thanks Dave. Here's mine:

"On almost every page, the Koran instructs observant Muslims to despise non-believers."

I tag the same people Dave tagged. In place of my name I will tag Deryk.

-The End Of Faith by Sam Harris

Book Tagging; Page 123, Sentence 5

"[T]he law must require a fairness review of self-interested transactions even if they have been approved by "disinterested" directors, because directors who are "disinterested" under the corporate-law definition may not be disinterested in fact."

-Cases and Materials on CORPORATIONS, Seventh Edition, Choper, Coffee, Gilson. 

The rules:

1-Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)

2-Turn to page 123

3-Find the 5th sentence

4-Post the 5th sentence on your blog or as a comment

5-Tag 5 people

**I tag Shandie, Meg, Ken, Angie, and Jake. 

Cal's 50th Surprise Party

Valeri decorating for the party.

Dave's "crazy" hat. (Cal always wears the craziest hats so the theme of the party was "Hats Off To Cal" and everyone wore their most crazy hat.)

Me, Cal & Deryk

My nephew Charlie
Jarid, Me, Dave, Josh
Josh
Cal's collection of hats.
Us wearing some of Cal's hats.
Shane

Hippie Cal and Shane

Shane, Josh and Dave playing Rock Band (Cal fell asleep 3 seconds after this picture was taken)

Summer Trip Home (part 1)

Today was bittersweet for me. I was excited to get home and see Dave but I was sad to leave my family in Utah. My dad dropped me off at the airport and I was definitely holding back tears as I was going through security at the airport.
The trip home was so much fun. I loved being able to spend time with everyone without having the stressful holiday events going on like we had at Christmas. We flew in last Wednesday night and my dad and Pat were there waiting for us at the airport when we got off the plane. We spent the night at his house and had a barbecue on Thursday night. I was really excited to see all of the kids in the family as well as Deryk's baby Miles. It seems like they have all grown so much since I last saw them.

My Aunt Shirlee and cousin Chad surprised me when they showed up on Thursday to see me.
Chad (who just turned 20 on 6/25)
Deryk came over with her son Miles.
My nephew Sean who turned 15 in April. Time is going by way to fast.
My nephew Gaige who is in the All Stars right now.
Dad.
Pat.

I have more pictures from the party so I will post them tomorrow. I'm tired now from the flight and it's time for me to go to bed.