The Daily 10

10: Went to Oregon. Had fun. Spent tons on gas.
9: Came home with new-to-us Buick.
8: Next day the '86 Camry died.
7: Got mad, then thanked God it lasted as long as it did.
6: Slept first night in new Springville house.
5: Discovered that the central air sucks.
4: Panicked over AC, didn't sleep well and had bad dreams about old friends.
3: Finished moving in on little sleep from night before.
2: Filled entire living room with 90% of belongings.
1: Couldn't find clean clothes. Wearing same clothes from last 3 days.

Wow, that last post was kind of embarrassing now that I go back and read it. Maybe a little TMI if you ask me. I also spelled hear as here, which is only right in stupid-speak.
Well let's move on to something more civilized and a little less graphic. Travel.

So we are headed to Rockaway Beach, Oregon tonight. Me and the Missus, Jon Raymond and his wife and Nate Carlstrom and his wife will drive the 14 hours straight. We are picking up Kristen's sister's old car which we will drive for as long as possible as it is a free car. We had to get up there somehow to go pick it up, so we figured we'd make an event out of it and invite some friends. In reality though, we are just using them for their car since our 205k mile, 1986 Camry probably wouldn't make it.
So if you're in the northwest, somewhere near the Oregon coast, give us a call and we can have lunch at the Tillamook Cheese factory and then watch the sunset over Haystack Rock from Goonies.

Came across something interesting today after trying to find a bathroom secluded enough to use...

"Paruresis is a kind of social anxiety disorder that is found in the people of both sexes. Known by different names, such as pee shy, shy kidney or bashful bladder, this problem makes the sufferer uncomfortable to urinate in places like public restrooms. Paruresis is one step ahead of shyness, and it leads to physical consequences."
-courtesy searchwarp.com

"...leads to physical consequences"? Crap. What's that supposed to mean?! Well, I guess I shouldn't fear these consequences too greatly as I can actually pee in public. That is to say, I am not 100% "pee shy." Oh sure, it's a bit awkward peeing next to someone, especially if you know them and they insist on talking to you or looking at you or elbowing you, etc. while you're trying to do what you gotta do. No, my problem lies in the other use for the bathroom. Yes, I have a problem with numero dos.
For the second time this month, I found myself in a panic, Zune in hand, trying to find a bathroom that wasn't either 1) in use, or 2) populated by people studying outside the bathroom door. The bathrooms here on campus have been inundated by sports camp kids who have come to hone their lacrosse or tap dance skills. They practice in the hallways outside the bathrooms. They change in the bathrooms. They hang out and talk in the bathrooms. And for me, that just won't do. The soothing sounds of Zune music and noise reducing ear buds can only go so far. Sure they help me pretend like I am alone and no one else can hear my symphonic concert of wind and percussion instruments. Not to be graphic, but a public restroom is one of the least sound proof places I can imagine. Music puts me in my own world, but when all is said and done, and I walk out of there, I can just hear peoples thoughts...

"Wow, he was in there a long time."
"He took his iPod in? Geeze, must be serious."
"Man, I could here that guy wipe like 40 times. What did he eat!?"
" Did he flush twice? I'm pretty sure I heard him flush twice."
"Woah, is that the same guy that walked in 25 min ago?"
"Oh, so that's where that splashing and grunting was coming from."

Come on people! Stop judging me! This is hard enough! Can't you study elsewhere? Do you REALLY have to sit outside the bathroom, quietly studying your human anatomy book? Gosh, I just hate it.
Let's just recognize this condition, accept it, and help others who suffer by being courteous in anyway we can, accommodating their discomfort where possible.

The Dark Knight=Masterpiece

When your kids are 18, you'll be watching this movie on Masterpiece Theatre, or on American Movie Classics, or Turner Classic Movies. The Dark Knight is INCREDIBLE.
I wanted so badly to prove to myself that the hype was wrong, and in fact Heath Ledger did not deserve an Academy Award. I wanted so badly to be the only one who saw the predictions of post humus award presentations as the rigged gift that they were surely to be. I wanted everyone to see, as I did, that Heath was going to receive an Oscar out of respect for a life lost. But I was wrong. He is a master of his craft and I am humbled.
This is not your older brother's comic book movie. Danny Devito will not waddle out and Jim Carry will riddle you with nothing. This is a masterpiece of story and its artful presentation. Every character in this movie NAILED it, knitting together an afghan of awesomeness. I am not exaggerating and I am not stupid; this movie is one for the records.
The plot was thick and consistent. The characters pulled you out of the theatre and right onto the screen. The special effects were perfection, leaving the excess on the cutting room floor. Absolutely amazing. This movie was woven to perfection. I highly recommend it.
Oh, and Heath? He deserves every award he'll get...and most that he won't.

What a way to go out.

Mr. Negtive

You'd think I was living in Northern Finland with the Laplanders (1 hr of sunlight) with the way I've been talking lately, but here is some more:

Minutes blur into hours
and hours blur into shifts.
Shifts blend in with evenings
I'm shocked at what I've missed.

Shifts translate to days
and days fade into weeks.
The weeks are moving fast now,
my time just seems so brief.

Weeks morph to months,
and months morph to seasons.
Season's I find depressing,
for far too many reasons.

That wasn't supposed to be a poem, but the way it was coming out it just kind of formatted itself.

Where is this all coming from? Oh, I know what it is...I held Nick and Jodi Stone's new baby girl yesterday, Grey Weather Stone...

...I think all the springs, jewels and gears in my biological clock just exploded.

Why The Seasons Suck

I was laying in bed a couple nights ago, plugging in my phone to charge, letting the cool breeze of my oscillating fan chill my fat, muggy flesh. The summer is cruel to large people like me. Unrelenting heat and soaring energy prices are causing boob sweat in husky men everywhere. Without my fan, I'd be lost.
As I rolled to my back, ticking up the volume on Style Channel's Clean House, I contemplated the depressive nature of the 4 seasons.
Winter is cold, summer is hot and there's a couple in between the two with a little bit of both; never predictable, never consistent. But the sadness doesn't come from air temperature or barometric pressure, it comes from the progression of time.
Thanks to the seasons, it's a cinch to catch yourself saying, "last summer..." or "this time last year..." or "remember where we were..." Is this bad? No, not really; not unless the particular season you're currently in is sucking.
Personally, that muggy, sweat covered moment in front of my fan and the TV was an eye opener...I'm getting old. There's really no debating my hair-loss anymore, no questioning the health risks I'll begin to face and no skirting the questions about when we're going to have kids.
MTV has grown annoying and scripted. I miss cartoons, tree forts and a life devoid of any form of responsibility. Maturity, cleanliness and responsibility are way overrated. I'm ready to be a kid again. Give me old school Nickelodeon, TGIF, MC Hammer pants and a tubes full of pogs, because Fall is just around the corner and I don't know if I can take another season.

Words to live by...

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

Oh buerto!

Wow, I am really behind on this blogging stuff. Life has been moving really quickly and been really stressful. Let's do a quick rundown.

The car, the Honda CR-V...remember that whole episode? Well the car was at 175k miles and I tucked in a brand new radiator, thermostat and spark plugs along with a full set of new tires and re-listed it for $4600. It just had to sell at this price because we started at $5900 and slowly came down. The low value on it was $5500-$6000 so surely someone would want it for $4600. Well no. Not exactly. We just let it go for $4000 on Monday night. The guy was hard nosed, but he was willing to accept the fact the car wasn't perfect and that was good enough for us. We just wanted it gone.

Next, we are moving. Yes again. This time to Springville. Yeah, I know, it sucks cause there's nothing in Springville and its no where near anything of any relevance or importance. But yes, Springville will be home and it will be a good home. Rented 2 blocks east of the main drag, the new place sports detatched garage shared with the lady living in the basement apt., wood floors throughout, mud room with W/D hookups, large front room, 2 bedrooms and one bathroom. Best of all, a quiet neighborhood, a front porch and a yard for the dogs. It will be good. The move...not so much. This is either the 7th or 8th move for us, so we have it down to a science, but it still blows beyond description.

Next, we are planning out trip to Oregon. We're going up on the 23rd for a few days with friends. Actually, this is good news. The planning is strategically frustrating, but the event as a whole will be therapeutic. So I guess I can't complain.

That's it for now.

Thats All Folks

Well, I sped the process up and finished off the shoe posts this weekend. Take a gander, and prepare for some new content as your regularly scheduled blogging will resume after the weekend. I think my demographic is different than that of the Style channel, TLC's What Not To Wear, or E!'s Fashion Police. So, understanding that, I'll let you judge me for wasting your week with pictures of my ugly shoes and I'll move on too. But, if you're here, take a look and vote. I need to make some room and I need your help...jerks.

Outdoor Shoes: Round 1

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 1:

I have wanted a pair of Keens like these for a long time; this particular style. Well $100 wasn't conducive to my budget so I went to pay less and got some Airwalk brand ones. Simple as that.

These have been my hiking shoes for the last 5 years. Obviously I don't hike as much as I used to. Thats sad. These are Nevados. Not great but they do the trick.

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 4:

Reef, basic flip flop. I won't live without these. I picked up my first pair back when I was 15 I think and I have never gone a summer or winter without them. I wore the first pair out in Ukraine and tossed them when I got home, promptly buying a new pair. Best flip flop ever made.

These are loafters made by Simple. The upper is made out of hemp and the sole is 100% natural rubber. Another pair of "green" shoes. The white spots didn't come as standard on this pair though. I wanted to clean the stinky smell of dog pee off our patio, so I mixed me up so bleach and water and got to splashing and sweeping, only to realize that my shoes were now SOL. Ruined. I still wear them though. Don't reveal the truth behind the spots.

Relax Shoes/Flops: Round 3

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 3:

Croc brand/style flip flops I picked up at Out N Back in Orem. I saw these on Pearl St. Boulder, CO and have wanted them ever since.

Corona Beer branded flip flops I picked up just outside of Chicago 2 summers ago. I had purchased new pair of Chacos right before this trip and brought them along, but they ended up being TERRIBLY uncomfortable. Well, we were driving a moving truck from NY to Portland and my feet only made it to Chicago in those Chacos before I had to drive in something else. Hence, these beer-flops.

Relax Shoes/Flops: Round 2

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 2:

NSS Nice Skate Shoes (super awesome name dude.)

Shopko sourced, plaid, hodge podge fabric, trendy stitching seamed, modern style Keds for adults. Thats really the best way I know how to describe them.

Relax Shoes/Flops: Round 1

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 1:
Airwalk brand, imitation Crocs. No, I don't work in a hospital. No, I am not a mother of 3. Yes, I wear Crocs. Get over it.

Lambskin slippers with...lambs wool innards(?)

Athletic Shoes: Round 2

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 2:

The blue Sketchers on the left should probably have been in the Cross Breed category, but I wasn't really thinking as I snapped these pix on the floor of my bedroom in my underwear. I do wear these for sports stuff though as they fit and perform kinda like a soccer shoe.

I talked my mom in to buying these blue Nikes after my mission. It was buy one get the second for 50% off. I convinced her I needed some nice new shoes to get into shape with. These have turned into slip-on daily lounge shoes though. I never lace them tight enough to do anything but walk slowly.

Athletic Shoes: Round 1

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 1:
The yellow Nikes I picked up at a thrift store in Portland last summer. They were much cleaner and newer looking when I got them. Yellow isn't exactly the easier color to keep clean.

The blue New Balances I got forever ago as a shoe to do "athletic things" in. Bike, run, go to the gym...you know, all the things I SAY I'm going to do but don't. As you can see they look almost brand new.

Tweet Tweet

just joined twitter.com and I think I might actually try and stay up to date with it. I've been doing good with keep the blog up to date, so I figured I'd proved myself responsible to add another check-box to my daily, online to dos.
If you're on twitter and know me, want to know me, or even hate me (but don't want to hurt me or my family) then feel free to add and follow me.

Cross Breeds: Round 2

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 2:

Teva, "all natural" leather shoes made from recycled materials. No laces, just interesting straps. I got these for like 80% off with free overnight shipping online.

Cream white, leather Sketchers with brown laces. I picked these up in Denver to look like a more "credible" home security salesman for a summer.

Cross Breeds: Round 1

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.


Round 1:

Slip-ons from Target (redish leather). I was at Krystal Curtis' wedding and I ripped my dress pants. I bought new pants but the shoes I was wearing didn't match. So I bought these.

Leather, Steve Maddens with suede stripes. I bought these after my mission because they were kinda in style in Europe. I saw them in Finland and Czech Republic on the way home in addition to a bit in Ukriane.

Dress Shoes: Round 4 FINAL ROUND

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 4: FINAL ROUND

These green leather babies are Etors from Spain. I purchased them at deep discount in Nikolaev, Ukraine. They are seasonal winter shoes as indicated by the clownishly thick and rugged soles.

Dress Shoes: Round 3

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

I don' think I have the patience to do only one pair a day, so lets move through this a little quicker. 2 more!

Round 3

First pair, with the cap toe, I picked up in Ukraine. Nice, smooth, shiny black leather.

Second pair are Elk skin, and the leather is EXTREMELY soft and nice. Downside is that they scuff easily.

Dress Shoes: Round 2

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 2:

Black, Gore-Tex (waterproof) Eccos purchased in Kiev, Ukraine on my mission.
Black Doc Martins I traded a red Volcom hoodie for in Nikolae, Ukraine on my mission.

(Pay no mind to the dust; they've been in my closet a while and are worn in winter months usually.)

Dress Shoes: Round 1

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE. So here is how it will go, two pairs will face off every day for the next few days. The idea isn't that one stays and one goes. No, no; I love my shoes too much to give half away. The idea is that as the shoes go up, you all comment on what you like, what you don't like, and once all 25 pair are up, then we can get a pretty comprehensive idea of what sucks and what stays. If both pairs rock, great, we'll keep 'em both. Feel free to comment positively or negatively on any and all pairs. When all is said and done, hopefully a couple pairs will be off to the bin.

Round 1:
Finnish square-toes (dark red) I picked up in Turku, Finland after my mission to Ukraine.
Brown Shoe brand square-toes (light brown) I picked up here stateside.

Twenty-Five at 25

I just made the lame and uninteresting connection that I am 25 and I have twenty-five pair of shoes. Not that deleting shoes from my closet will make me any younger, but it still needs to be done to improve my quality of life. I don't even wear some of them...ever, so obviously they need to go. I won't tell you which ones I wear and which ones I don't; you'll just have to decide for yourself.
As for how to go about this, I am a little stumped. Do you put up a pair a day? Or should I just shoot all of them so you can see them all? One a day for 25 days could get awfully boring. Its like the days leading up to Christmas, but without the fun Christ's-birth and Santa part.

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned because in an upcoming post, I am going to lay out all my shoes and let everyone (like the 3 people who might read my blog) chose which pairs of shoes I need to give away. I'm way over stocked and some pairs put me right back in 2003; so they need to go. Problem is I don't listen too well to my wife, but if we can get her voice and the voice of the world in support of dumping a few pairs, I just might be able to overcome this hurdle. I'm a Tanner. Tanner in old English means "One Who Hoards Material Things." Probably. Well actually I made that up, but I never let facts ruin a good story.

Never Leave Home Without It

Fun thing to try.
Empty your pockets right now and put everything on a table or desk in front of you (that is assuming you have a boring job at a desk like me.)
Arrange in a visible fashion.
Snap a photo.

It's kinda interesting to think what goes in your pockets everyday. Even more interesting is seeing what other people put in their pockets everyday.
If you do this and put a pic up, shoot me the link, or send the photo to me and I'll post it up here.

Here the descripto of my pockets:
1-Wallet filled with two credit cards, one debit card, four photo booth pictures of my wife and I, temple recommend, library card, GameStop gift card, 12 in 1 multi-tool card, college ID, drivers license, Costco card, insurance card for both cars, health insurance card, dental card and Maverik Adventure Club card.
1-Medicated Chapstick. The brand, the type, everytime.
1-Palm Centro smart phone.
1-cheapo, locking blade knife.
4-keys to house, parents house 2x, and mailbox.
1-fingernail clippers which I don't carry usually, but today I look like a hooker.
4-pennys
2-dimes
1-Golds Gym pass
2-USB drives, 1GB and 2GB
1-Sony Errikson whistle that I'm training the dogs with.

That's it. Try it. Very interesting.