Peacock Walk

This beautiful bird is known as the white peacock. Truly a sight to behold. If we could all take a moment and try to imagine the thought process of a peacock. Surely the bird must feel some degree of superiority. And I am sure that the smug bird would also have a strut to accompany the pomp and circumstance of the feather spread that attaches to its behind. I would also wager that the bird would have to think, since my butt looks this good, imagine how my face looks...

But enough of the bird and on to me. Last week, I decided to ask a girl out on a date. She and I have a friend in common, therefore I saw her more often and decided a date was in order. It being finals week, a quick dinner and dessert was chosen for the outing, and we went out. While on the date, the girl remarked that I slouch as I drive and sometimes when I walk around. I responded that I have rather broad shoulders and that I do not want to appear to have a "Peacock Walk". I want to avoid the cocky walk to appear nicer and more friendly.

She said to forget that and to be proud of having sexy man shoulders. I said ok, and have been trying to walk straight up since then. However, since that time, I've been to work and dealt with the unexpected ramifications of the strut.

Not two days after the date, I went to work. With the advice still on my mind, I walked bold and upright. As I walked into one of the residents rooms, the elderly lady perked up. "Oh my, you are very tall. I like your curly hair", taken slightly aback and laughing to myself about the strange coupling of height and hair, I thanked the lady and helped her to get ready for the day. As we were ready to leave for breakfast, I realized I needed to put on the foot pedals to her wheel chair. As I was bent over attaching the stirrups, several things happened quickly. Another non-descript complement came out and a very age experienced hand was placed on my back, ran down it, and then settled on my bottom. A firm grab was then followed by a laugh from her and a red face from me.

I was once again resolved to not adopt the peacock walk into my daily life. Or rather, I will just have to save the walk for the times I am around young ladies rather than the oldies who have hands that know no bounds.

But I really cant complain... other than that isolated incident, its just another day in paradise here in East Idaho.

Weekend

This past weekend, my roommates and I had a good time together. While being away from family, I was grateful to at least be with some fun people. Seeing as we all are LDS, we went to the Priesthood session of Conference and then afterward, went out to celebrate. This coming week is finals week, so naturally, all are a little stressed. As a result of the extra stress, we planned a trip to the local steak house called Stockmans, which is famous in the area for good quality steak and "All you can eat" steak.

Naturally, this drew us in. Having starved the whole day in preparation for the big night, we became ravenous. On the way to the steak house, we proclaimed that we could easily eat 6, 7, maybe even 8 steaks, as we had prev

iously scouted out the size of the al you can eat steaks. The steaks were somewhere in the vicinity of 4 to 6 ounces each.

When we arrived, they staff knew we were coming, because one of the roommates works there, he informed them that we were coming... hungry. We ordered, and were first brought salad and bread rolls. (Not as good as dads)

Next came the steaks. Expecting the smaller steak, we let out an audible gasp at the sheer size and weight of the cows sitting on our plates.

The first steak was no lie, 16 ounces plus. It was massive. Not wanting to be out done by one another, we all pounded steak one. Steak two came up, the same size as the first. This one took some additional focus, but we muscled that one down too.

Next we took a short walk around the restaurant, to make some room, then it was round three. The third steak was equal in size and we were struggling. Big time. Alas, a new battle raged in our oxygen starved brains. In one corner it was Good judgement. In the other, it was Pride. A fierce battle ensued. Sadly, pride won out, and we ordered another steak. Much to our pleasure, the waitress brought out small 8 ouncers. Thinking we could best another piece of meat we dug in. However, by this time the steak had stopped being steak and tasted more like flavorless gum. Every bite was a challenge. Admitting defeat at the hands of the weenie steak, we asked for the check.

In total, we had approx. 56 ounces of steak in us. Thats 3 1/2 pounds! I think I will never eat steak again. Aside from the horrible stomach ache, a good time was had by all. In one week, four of the six roommates will leave to return home. It was an early good bye.

Twenty Three

As a late and rather final celebration of my birthday, I have decided to list 23 memories. The list is not all inclusive, just a few favorites.

1. School at Neil Armstrong Elementary. I played smurfs on the playground with the other kids, even though I never saw or even knew what smurfs were. I would also try and flirt it up with the girl who played smurfette.

2. Killing the gold fish. Ashley and Amy had a pet gold fish that I was put in charge of caring for. I remember them being gone, and I over fed the little guy. He ate till he burst.

3. While going to play at the McDermotts house, I wore a jacket because I was cold. I decided to run with my hands in my pockets. I tripped and fell, smashing my face on the side walk. With a bloody nose, I staggered home and into the arms of mom, who cleaned me up, held me tight, and I on my way again. I still to this day will not run with my hands in my pockets.

4.Flinging dead fruit (usually apricots because the tree grew so many of them) over the fence in Turlock

5. One winter in Turlock our street flooded. Mom was in school, so she left and we booked it out side right after she left and we (Amy, Ashley, Me) messed around in the street for a while after. I remember the water being super cold.

6. One year at school, I got a sweet lime green shirt that I loved to death. I wore that shirt all the time.

7. I got a black eye on the monkey bars at school. It hurt, but the looks I got were much better.

8. I had a friend named B.J. who lived down the street towards Brown Elementary. I remember wrestling with her younger brother Joey. He was

a tough kid.

9. Joseph moving into my room for a few months and having

to listen to the humidifier every night. It was not too loud, and was actually quite calming.

10. This has only happened to me one time ever. I was young. 7 or 8. I went to bed super tired. I remember laying down, blinking, and it instantly being morning. Seriously. One blink, the whole night passed, and I was full of energy and ready for a new day. It was awesome.

11. This one is out of order, but I can still picture, although dimly, a small bit of the Loma Prieta earthquake. From what I remember, the girls and I were outside with mom. The ground was going crazy and so mom told us to get on the lawn. Later that night some aftershocks came through and woke me up. That memory again, is foggy, but I got it.

12. Moving to Concord. I was pumped to be with dad in the moving truck. And thats all I remember.

13. Breaking my arm on the slope of El Dorado Drive whilst delivering papers for the Contra Costa Times. I was late (as usual) and was bookin it on my roller blades, slipped and fell. For the duration of my term with the cast, I w

ent swimming four times, all four times getting the cast wet, and having to go to Kaiser with d

ad to get a new one. He was so pleased every time.

14. Getting my bike stolen. One day I went

to the park and left my GT bike there. Never saw it again. Sad day.

15. Reading 13 thousand pages in my Elementary School career. What a blast. Goosebumps and I were buddies.

16. Working for Dad doing construction work, and forging a strong father son bond. I remember working on the Aikeles house, something for the Contreras', Fixing something for the Kelleys, another thing for the family from India, and of course the Old Lady addition, whos name I cant remember for the life of me, and several jobs with Phil.

17. Crashing Dads pick up truck. To make

a long story short, I drank a hot 7up, passed out, crashed the truck through several bushes, tore out a sprinkler system, knock out/over a street sign, hit an enclosed trailer, and finally push that trailer into a car. He was so pleased. And to make matters better, both the paramedics

who came to take me to the hospital were light weights. Both around 130 pounds. Dad had to help lift the gurney into the ambulance.

18. Going away to college. Got dropped off at Biddulph Hall, kiss from mom, hug from dad, and that was that. "See you later son."

19. Vacation in Paris! I will never forget taking pictures in front of every door in Paris. Blue, red, black, it didnt matter. I also remember the "Jamaican" guys selling colorful bracelets in front of Sacre Coeur for fifty bucks a pop. Thanks dad for buying them!

20. I will never forget the delicious crepes we would get from the shack outside our hotel. Chicken tika, and banana nutella. Also on the same breath seeing France beat Portugal, then the ensuing chaos in the streets of Paris.

21. Dachau Concentration Camp. I was emotionally drained. Never had I seen so much death and sadness, yet serenity seeing the efforts of the German people to document and preserve the camps in efforts to remember the people and celebrate the power of the human spirit to overcome shear hell.

22. Serving honorably and returning home to see the family. Too many emotions to convey in this space.

23. Living away from home, but still feeling loved and cared for by mom and dad.

And dad you were right, I do not remember the vacation to Lake Tahoe... sorry. But I do have many other great memories, and I hope to make more as the years roll by.