25 Will Be...

'Two Way Monologue'

-Sondre Lerche

I've decided that if I am listening to music during the creation of my blogs I would include the song and artist at the top so that y'all may enjoy the soundtrack of my life.  At least that is this next years minor goal.

So it has been a rather great birthday.  As previously posted yesterday I had a lot of fun and greatness on the pre-birthday festivities.  The below picture was taken after dinner at Benja's Thai Restaurant last night where I was treated to dinner.  I loved the Unagi I ate there it was AMAZING.  (Unagi is Eel Sushi.)  Dustin didn't make it but oh well maybe next time. 

(left to right:  Amy, Tabitha B. Maggie, Tabitha H. and Me)

However today the real day proved to be a lot of fun.  Work was work.  At the beginning of the week I made the comment that my job is kinda dull lately. I mean I really wasn't doing a whole lot of new things since they moved me up to server back in early Jan.  Well that changed today.  I was at work when one of the managers came up and informed me that they want me to start learning the 'pantry' side of the kitchen.  Which makes fries, salad's and a lot of the appetizers at work.  Well about 20 minutes later he came back and said he also wants me to learn how to make drinks in the bar.  Now I know there are gonna be some LDS readers out there that will gasp at this new opportunity that I have been given but don't worry, I'm not out boozing it up.  (so please pull yourself off the ceilings.)  Besides I am getting a butt load of experiences that will help me when I move off to school in the fall.  Just think that I will be more able to work in a restaurant in NYC if I end up at that school.  ANYWAYS moving on...

So I also managed to complete another purchase that will get my photography side job up and going now...I got the Nikon D60 today!!!!  Plus it came in a package deal that included an extra lens (55-200mm)  I am super excited.  Today's part of the birthday celebration ended with me going over to a good friends house and having dinner with the fiance and bunch of their friends.  The fiance is a great cook.  He works at a local country club and went to Le'Cordon Blue in Vegas so you know he can cook.  Saturday my family due to our busy week schedule will be having birthday festival-ness.  Once again it's like this turning 25 will not end!  I love it.

So I know this is gonna be a great year. Heck I'm still planning on visiting the former mission in May and then I got school to follow in the fall.  I was invited to learn to surf in Cali this summer and then who knows what else will happen.  Heck maybe I'll get hitched!! Yeah I'm laughing at the last one hehehehe.  I wont be wasting this year.  I have some great family members that support me and then I have some amazing friends.  Thanks for all the support and insight on this crazy life style of a 20 something.  (by the way Katie October 1st is coming quick, your turn to turn 25 is next...muahahahahahahahah  j/k)

Oh heavens I think it is time to turn the iTunes off.  Old school New Kids on the Block started playing.  Why I have one of their songs is beyond me.  But whatever I like all music.  

-Gawdun

*oh and all them facebook 'happy birthday' notes I thank everybody for

"My name is Anne, I'll take a stand"

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Don't ask me why I named this post the way I did. It's actually the line from the song by Santogold I'm listening to, and it just made me laugh.

So today is a good day.  Not only is it the eve of a milestone in my life but it was also a day off and I got a butt load of mess taken care of.  I managed to get a run in until my long time friend Molly called and then it just turned into a walk.  It was fun!  However I managed to lock myself out of the house and my sister didn't have her key so I jumped the 6ft wall we have to find the back door locked.  Drat. Needless to say the guy who is fixing my car that is taking FOREVER to finish had my spare house key.  We got in and the sister unit got to work on time...

As you can already tell this is just a re-count of my day...so far(there is 6 or so hours left)  Anyways I managed to clean up the bathroom and also (make all the jokes you want) watch two episodes of a family favorite show...the original 90210 (oh that Kelly and Donna were foxes when I was young ;-p)  

When I finally got out of the house around noon, I went and did some window shopping at Best Buy so that I could go and stare at the new camera I am getting in a few weeks  (Nikon D60).  I found it was on sale with an extra lens included so that made my pre birthday day.  I think I'm getting it this weekend, I can't wait.  The extra lens is 55-200mm.  I've never shot that way before so I am all excited.  Anyways I then went to American Eagle where me being a card holder got 20% my purchase since it's my birthday tomorrow.  I mean seriously it's like the whole world is celebrating my big "quarter of a century" festival.  That's right I'm calling it a festival, I just wont have a blow up bounce house cause shoot there are to dang pricey.  That pricey spelling doesn't look right maybe it should be pricie.  Who cares.  Back to me...I traipsed down to the Barnes and Noble to use there Wi-Fi but dang the Starbucks was gonna charge me $3.00 just to use it.  "No sir you can just march yourself right out of there!"  And that I did.  After I left there I went to my work and had a couple scoops of ice-cream and a macadamia nut cookie right before I called and made contact with one of the local Mortuaries.  That's right you don't need to read it again I said "Mortuary."  I'm actually, for them who are lost and haven't caught up, am apply to a couple funeral schools in the fall and wanted to make sure this is what I want to do.  The lady on the phone seemed real excited for me and said she would most definitely have the proper channels call me back.  (I can actually use the phrase "channels" and get away with it now.  Whoop Whoop!!!)  

Now I'm currently enjoying the sun while sitting outside a the local town square that has FREE Wi-Fi (take that you Starbucks jerkos).  It's rather nice out here.  Today I think the high was 70.  I'm mucho happy about that.  Here in 30 minutes I'm gonna walk over to the local Thai Restaurant.  Some co-workers are taking me out there tonight.  Mmmmmm Thai food is as the french say..."c'est super cool!"

I'll post pictures later from tonight but till the next time...

-Gawdun

 

IT'S HERE!!!!! LASER CATS!!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

"And the Winner Is..."

So I'm currently sitting here watching The 81st Annual Academy Awards.  The first showing in 2 years.  I don't know what it is but I love this show.  Call me corny but it makes me want to continue in my artistic hobbies.  But let's be honest...I still and have always wanted to be there, winning or attending.  Either way it would be awesome!  When Penelope Cruz was giving her acceptance speech for her win in Vicky Cristina Barcelona she made a comment that we have to protect our artistic interest in this world.  Along with the decline of funding for our education outlets in the world we are also loosing the creating education outlets the world has to offer.  I have a friend who works for Boys and Girls Club which is a program that gives kids a place to be that also teaches many things.  Among which is art.  Anyways as I spoke to her she mentioned they have cut the budget form her art department and this is sad.  We have way to many sporting events out there and not enough art events.  

You know I don't write to many serious things on here so this must be pretty darn important for me to put it on here.  Even if you can't afford school programs for your kids the teach them to express themselves in anyways possible.  Art is wonderful! 

However don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for me one day at the Academy!

-Gawdun

Reno, the Final Frontier 12th-16th

So last week I went with my little brother and mother back to the home land of Reno, NV.  It was a grand visit and vacation away from the busy life at the restaurant.  (I got to luck out of the hectic Valentines dinner crowd.)  

We left town on Thursday the 12th and returned this last Monday the 16th.  Due to weather we added an additional 1.5 hours to the already 7.5 hour drive by going through Las Vegas so we wouldn't have to bother with the storms.  When we got just out of Vegas we ran into what I thought was an Inmate Bus.  They were actually Nelis Air Force Base people being transported.  I you would ask me I thought they had the look of depressed inmates..

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Along the way up we went through Goldfield, NV which has a supposed extremely haunted hotel.  (Travel Channel TV show Ghost Adventures reported there)...

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

We made it to Tonopah, NV not to long after and stopped by to see my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Dwayne and cousin Cameron..

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Along the way managed to pass some of good'ol Nevada Desert landmarks.  Everything from rest stops, brothels and cloud formations.

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

We finally made it to Reno around 11pm.  Aunt Dawn was readily waiting for us.  It is always exciting to get to her house.  I am a big fan of staying at her house.  This time was also a most exciting time as she has a Macbook Pro and I got my Macbook so we could talk computers and she was able to show me around my new Macbook when I got it on Friday.  

Friday we went down to Carson City and saw my brother David.  He seems to be doing as good can be in these hard times.  Although he needs to invest in a razor and trim that shaggy face hair up.  LOL.

Property of Andrew Gawdun

We also went to Gardnerville so I could get a hair cut and see some old pals.  The one I met up with just happened to have gotten married to a good guy and has her 2nd child.  Alia is funny.

Property of Andrew Gawdun

We witnessed the funniest thing for a valentines promotion.  We passed the grocery store there and found this...

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

These dummies just so happen to be Halloween dummies that as you can tell they dressed up Valentines colors.  I just love how they put a duck umbrella on the one and a red see through scarf to cover the face of the other.  All I gotta say is "small town ghetto."  This mountain side (Jobes Peak) is just a nice look at what I saw while going to high school in that town during the winter months

Property of Andrew Gawdun

However that night was also my blind date dinner and dance at my old singles ward.  I don't have any pictures but I will tell you that Brittany was a wonderful date and she was alot of fun.  I don't have any pics of me dancing either, but I can tell you that I did shake it like a poloroid picture!  ;-)  I wont lie though, it took me a bunch of songs to get in the grove as I had not shakin since before my mission.  That was 2.5 long YEARS!

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Saturday (V-day) I went and did temple work and hung out with Katie who is pretty much rockin' awesome. We talked about some fun stuff and watched 'Flight of the Concord.'  All the while discussing why Valentines is lame. 

Property of Andrew Gawdun

I also managed to get "engaged" to Ann.  Look at the size of that emerald! 

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Her brother Corey was not amused...

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Sunday was a good day.  I realized how much I miss my old Reno Singles Ward.  It has shrunk considerably but felt like I never left.  Don't get me wrong I love the "meat market ward" I'm in here in St George but it's not the same.  Them people just have fun and know how to.  Maybe I'll move back...

Property of Andrew Gawdun

I also managed to run into a former roommate and found out that he is expecting his first child with his wife and finally removed the airplane pictures and clouds off his living room walls.  However the most exciting things that happened that weekend was also seeing my grandfather, cousins and not to mention my cousin Christy's baby Jillian...

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

Property of Andrew Gawdun

In the end I Had the most amazing time back there and I miss it more than I realized.  Katie suggested something that I should do this summer before I head out to school.  Move to Reno for a month or so and work a side job that way I can see what comes of it... Just a thought.  I will end it at this time as I have been trying to get this done for what seems like a lifetime so enjoy this last picture on the house... (by the way if any family or others want a copy of these pictures let me know and don't just copy them, it's illegal.  You know who you are)

Property of Andrew Gawdun

-Gawdun

Ken Lee

Whelp I was shown this video by a great friend and thought many of you would also enjoy the good laugh.

(copy the below link, paste into your browser and prepare to laugh)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koTCXbV0jEw

-Gawdun