Thankfulness

I finally started thinking about what I am truly grateful for today as I was walking through a couple different airports. I thought a little bit about it during Thanksgiving but more in an obligatory way than in a true gratitude way.

And so there's the obvious:

1. Adam, obviously I am secretly in love with him, which is why I am hopelessly devoted to this joint blog and why I always pick up on the first ring whenever he calls, and never EVER ignore them because I know that picking up will make me feel guilty for being a ditcher. And it's also the reason I consistently stalk him in the Tanner building.

2. This blog, and all of its followers.

3. GENTRY. GENTRY. GENTRY. In a purely platonic gratitude way that can only be felt for someone so unique (if you didn't get it, that was my non-subtle way of dropping Gentry's name to boost the ratings)..he is awesome, and always right.

4. Food. All those participating in this amazingly glutinous and purely American holiday that we call  Thanksgiving can appreciate this one for sure.

5. Family. My crazy, hyper super awesome family are the best people ever. We had some good memories this week: watching Baby Mama(3x), getting a puppy, putting up the Christmas tree, baking, cuddling, shopping, and always: laughing.

5. Men. The big black guy carrying a teddy bear through the airport that made me feel validated about having a teddy bear in college. Random hot man in the airport who looked like a lumberjack. The sampler dude at Costco who complimented my new hoody.
But most of all, all the great men who have been examples to me over the course of my life: my father, my brothers, and yes, the Dojo.

6. The Gospel. The title of our blog is Mormon and Proud but we don't often reference what it means to be a Mormon. Having the light and truth of the Church in my life has blessed me in so many countless ways, and truly I know that I would be lost without it.

A Proper Birthday Shout-Out for Such a Proper Girl: AMANDA!!!!

"Fear less, hope more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more; And all good things are yours" - Swedish Proverb


"......but if you're not sure how to do that best, just hang out with Amanda!"- My proverb


Ninja Tag.  The past-time of our summer.  On a typical blissful summer night, it would bring much laughter, bonding, and all-around sheer athletic ninja-ness  for the low, low  price of couple bruises and a little humiliation.  On one such night it brought the Dojo so much more: a friendship with our dear friend Amanda!

How valuable is Amanda to the Dojo? Consider this:

• We went to the ends of the Earth just to be in the same ward as her this year.  Literally.  We are living in the ghetto known as Miller with Amanda's smiling presence as the PRO to Miller's CON of infrequent running hot water.  The good news is, that the PRO definitely outweighs multiple of the CONS here :) (... even if I think my brother in Chile is about to start asking if there's anything HE  can send me for Christmas to help out.)

(A past example that I found online of the "cultural" experience that is Miller)

• Amanda is undeniably the best wand finder ever. If that Garrick Ollivander guy ever closes up shop, Amanda is my odds-on favorite for replacing him.  When looking for wands for the end of our childhood the Harry Potter 7 pt II showing, we did not stop until we found the wands that made us feel like the inner wizards and witches that we are. 

(Face it: Without my wand, I'm just a nerdy Party-Rocker)

• Amanda is one of the most loyal people you will ever meet.  When we had our road trip to California, Amanda claimed she "couldn't make it." But, lo and behold, look who made an appearance with us at the beach in Cali:

• Cinnamon-roll baking skizzilz. While I was unaware of this delicious talent of hers until recently, it was a scrumptious surprise.  They warmed my tummy and fed my soul. Mmmmmm.....

(Even though I found this online, I'm convinced the photographer somehow found his way into Amanda's apt to take this picture)

• Here's a challenge: try and think of something unlikeable about Amanda?  I'll give you a minute.................okay now I'll give you a couple more..........Still can't think of something?  I'll save you the time: you can't!  Trying to find something not to love about Amanda is harder than finding GENTRY! at a Black Eyes Peas concert (subtle Gentry reference to fill my quota: check!)  She is pure goodness personified and we are lucky to know her!

Happy Birthday Amanda from MAP!!!!

Kirt Enters the Golden Years!

(Kirt, Welcome to the Golden Years!)

It is estimated that the average worker spends 33% of his life working.  After 6 months of the daily grind, our friend Kirt had had enough, so he made like Jimmy with the One-ders and quit.

Let's be clear: jobs are generally a good thing. They let you put food over your table, provide evidence that when it comes to society you're "contributing," and  if you're lucky, they have a cool beeping sound when you clock-in! (I might be a little too grateful for the Thanksgiving season right now...)

However, in Kirt's circumstances, a job meant weekend homework, late night weekday homework, and all around exhaustiveness and soul-suckery. Hence, the quitting of Kirt's job.

In celebration of this momentous event, we held a Surprise "Retirment" party for him.  Since A) Retiring is really just a quitting with a more positive spin B) Why wait til our 60s to party Retirement style?

So, we all waited for when Kirt FINALLY got off work, and, dressed in our business best (c'mon? it's a retirement party!) and the ladies dawning business ties, we "surprised" kirt when he came home with cake, ice cream, and of course....OREOS!

Below are pics from the party courtesy of Stephanie Roades!  Thanks to all the MAP followers (and non-MAP followers I guess) who came and sent Kirt out in style!

Oh, and before you ask....there was no cool quitting story......we already checked... (click link below due to youtube unavailability)///

http://www.hulu.com/watch/64578/the-office-two-weeks

Adam, you've got it going on....

So as I sat here alone in my apt on the couch with my good friend, El Laptop, Gentry (aka "GENTRY!"  aka "The Ratings Spike" aka. "Yes, We are "Gentry and Proud" but I guess so are you Jodi.....) returned home from a long evening of kicking trash in hockey Canadian style (...well half-Canadian style, but I'm pretty sure it's only the Canadian half that gives him his Hockey prowess....)

Like a "Google+" -ed Thor to a more acoustic Hammer, Gentry reached for his guitar and proceeded to serenade me in a manner a la "Bret, you've got it going on..." from "Flight of the Conchords"

......or at least I think that was the intention.

Since you, the MAP followers of the world ( I say world mainly because of you Jodi, but apparently there is some Ukrainian out there (Вітаю!!!)), were not there, I've taken the liberty of publishing the lyrics of that special song "GENTRY!!!" endearingly wrote for me just a few moments ago:

(Catchy and Melodic Guitar Intro)

Adam you’re a real swell guy…..

(Guitar Serenading.....)

I’d be sad if you died……

(More Guitar Serenading....)

Adam, I think you’re rad,,,,.

(Climax of Guitar serenading....)

(Long Pause....)

(Guitar stops playing....)

Spoken: Hey, I just got a text message!  See you later!

"Adam, You've Got it Going On!"-  Coming Soon to a record store near you!