Centered and Resourced

Change comes and so does the change of the seasons.  In what I call one of the roughest years so far in my life I have come to close several doors that made it tricky as the year winds down.  I never thought it would be here and yet we are finally under 60 days till 2012.  :)  Raise the roof!  

The other day I was feeling over whelmed with the changes I have been presented a head of me and then the thoughts of this last year, with specific events in the front.  As I was discussing this with my dear friend Kenley Chapman he sent me this photo...

-Gawdun

Good Times to Be Had

It's interesting the things your learn about people.  I  invest to much time into friendships that are just social encounters and not friendships.  I am a firm believer that you can tell a true friend by the amount of miles you have between you and the amount of communication and interest that fills that distance...  One of my best friends has lived in the same town as me, different countries and states and yet we have never grown apart. 

When you live in the high school world you think the number of friends means something.  Heck even in the Facebook world we live in today we think the number of friends means how cool we are.  But I have learned as you get older that number isn't important.  Your best friends are first your family, then the other people.  I am grateful for my family above all but so grateful for the friends that I can call friends in my older years.  Sorry to all those that are just social encounters, it's nothing personal, but we just never had it...

 Oh and on a side note:  Judging me by friends and/or associations then calling yourself my friend is so far from the truth.  Thanks but I don't need that negative energy in my life.

-Gawdun 

And Where Has Summer Gone?

'And The Boys'
-Angus & Julia Stone

Summer has been busy.  I've been around.  Sadly won't have my annual August trip to Tahoe.  Sample of of my summer thus far, in no particular order...

Much more to come including a few more CA trips this summer for work and housing and several events.  Hope your summers are going swanky!

'You Can't Keep Me'
-Amy LaVere


-Gawdun

I Needed A Good Avataring...

Who would have thought that witnessing a good o'l fashioned avataring would change my dismal cloud to a cloud of light?

Lesson learned:  When you have one of them days just look at your back up photo files, I'm sure there will be a mind lightener in there somewhere :)

PS:  Morgan and Kenley will have the best avatar children ever, I'm just saying.


-Gawdun

Ok You Can Stay

'Pick Up The Phone'
-Dragonette

I have been very fortunate to know some swanky and swell people in my life.  If we were to go by my Facebook friend count I would have over 400 friends but then again I don't go by that, let's be honest that is not a perfect gauge on friendship.  (I think several are business contacts and networked friends that will come in handy in the future.)

While on my run today I had the chance to do more thinking even though Madonna kept singing to me about 'Burning Up.'  I thought about those that I associate with now and those that I have in the past.  I created a mental rolodex of all those that have been major impacts and true friendship in my life.  I am going to introduce you readers to them.

(NOTE):  I don't consider this to be a complete image rolodex as I do not have photo's of all of you so if you are not pictured don't be sad you are still good I just need to get a picture of you to post here :-)

Bill, Fred, Me, Kenley:  No matter what your life has for you in difference, that doesn't make the friends, it's the person(s). 

Nicole the perfect roller derby enthusiast

Karyn  

Molly there from year back no matter where we live 

Erin, Alex, Me, and Katie.  Reno isn't a trip without this gang! 

Aunt Dawn, supper supportive and hysterical! 

And MOST IMPORTANT!!!  My family!  Alycia, Me, Lucas, Mom, and not pictured would be David. Y'all worry to much about me but I love it.

'Photojournalist'

-Small Black

-Gawdun

Blessed And Highly Favored

2010 has not been an easy year.  2010 was the year where things I thought were not and things that were, became a thought.  I have learned of being confused and then of having a clear mind.

My family has been a great support and I know and hope will always be as things get interesting in 2011.  I can just feel it being a interesting year, but then again I say that every year and I am always right ;-)

I owe a great deal of thanks to a specific group of friends I have.  They have accepted your blogger, a certain Gawdun, and been a great deal of support and sound board.  They are a great group of guys.

Ok that is the limit I have on emotion for this year.  Quota full.  Enjoy your final day of 2010!!!  Here's looking to 2011

-Gawdun

Wishing the Best

That is all.


-Gawdun

In Preparation

In preparation to be a zombie one must scoop mud off the side of the road and gather sagebrush. Next gather liquid latex and blood purchased from your local supermarkets. Take a cheese grater and run it over your clothing. I recommend not grating your hands as a trip to the ER will hinder the events of the night. Unless you can go a few hours without a doctor visit, then by all means your way more authentic and deserve a pile of jello-molded brains.

For an even better effect consult Lady Gaga for the maker of the meat dress, any scraps they may have will help in construction of stench.

Happy stumbles ghouls!

-Gawdun

Don't Hate

I understand that the following video may get me A LOT of hate mail and such but you know what that is ok. I understand the views of the subject are very mixed and that while my faith does not condone the subject, I have always been taught that no matter what we are ALL still God's children and we CAN'T hate. You don't have to agree but you can't cast stones as YOU are not perfect and are not the final judge of this life.

I have known many gay and lesbian people in my life. They have always been kind to me and NEVER bashed me (even knowing I am L.D.S.). I have friends who have family members who are gay and or lesbian. I also have really good friends who are gay and would do anything for them like I would my straight friends. They are human too and shall be treated that way!

While I am also NOT supporting suicide I find it troubling that we live in a world where we treat others the way we do and cause grief on others. I find it troubling that in doing such said things, the victims sometimes only find it easier to end their lives. I hope you readers never have to have that grief on your heads and I as well hope to never feel it. I believe that while they will answer for their choices to end life early, in the end I believe ALL of us will answer for our actions to those and others we have harmed. I am by no means perfect and have done and said things in my youth that I would love to take back and have reached out to those I harmed, but I can't to all. I have to move forward and teach the younger to not follow in my past heinous ways.

Hate this post, hate me, or love me, but it's time we stop the verbal and physical abuse to those around us. You don't have to support the lifestyle that others live but YOU DO have to LOVE each other.

For you never know what those around you are struggling with. If anything keep that in mind.

(please feel free to leave any comment good or bad, I am interested to read)

-Gawdun

I Could Not Believe It!!!

Over this weekend I made it down to the Season 6 opening game for the Fabulous Sin City Roller Girls. I was not partaking of the photography side of the bouts (what we call a game in derby speak) as this time I was the teams official Twitter-er ( @SinCityDerby for those that speak tweet.) However I did bring my trusty Lomography camera I spoke of in my last post to test out on a derby. I am printing them this week so check back for shots that I hope turned out. Anyways I was also pumped that it turns out I wont miss the October bout like I thought I would. They moved the date a week earlier! I was going to be in Reno for the October one but it looks like I will be there to cheer and scream my heart out.

I do have to give a shout out to my dear friend Annie for letting me crash at her place, it was a hoot. And man was she cheering enough for the both of us! She picked up my cheer slack so I could keep up with tweets (tweeting is not as easy live as it looks). However we need to down Oreo's next time. I mean we had two bags and not one was opened, but hey at least we got some Arrested Development in!

I will say though that the last two minutes of the last half of the bout were AMAZING! I have never seen a final push to score like that before. I was edge of my seat screaming!!!!

That is all.

-Gawdun

Supersampler Wake

'Electric Feel'

-MGMT

Over the past weekend I joined some friends at the lake. 26 and I sadly have to admit that I had never wake surfed before and the last time I was on a boat was when I was 9 or 10 and it was a tiny fishing boat. (You know the kind seen in the movie 'Date Night.' Yeah it was just as slow.)

It was a day of new things. First off I'm not a fan of water I can't see the bottom in, but that didn't even bother me. When it came time to attempt the surfing I wont lie, I sucked at first. But the guys said I was improving each try. I neither can nor cannot confirm that there was a few choice words out of my mouth at this time. I just about made it standing up but man-alive I needed to take a break, wake surfing sure used muscles I forgot I had. We then decided to hit up the cliff jumping rocks. I said "Heck NO!" to that but in the end jumped not once but twice. It was fun and addicting.

Later though when I tried wake surfing again I feel that I tore it up! One of the guys gave me a pointer on getting up on the board better and it totally worked. I was up and riding behind the boat! It was sick. The only bad time was when we hit, what my aunt calls, "that wave." I am surprised I wasn't knocked out cold. It was nooooo good.

Needless to say the pain in the morning was well worth the adventure.

While I was on the lake I brought along my camera. (I know shocking.) But I didn't bring my work camera I brought myLomography camera. It's a camera from the 'SuperSampler' line. I forgot how much I love shooting with film and this camera....

Bill yet showing how to do such events with the board.

I had Bill take a shot of me with the camera so I did my best to explain from the water how to use the camera. Bill did manage to photograph part of me, er the board I was on. Don’t worry Bill I still love it.

Fred, seriously tears it up. While I need to hold onto the rope he did not need it most the time. That shall be my goal for next time.

The cliff from which we jumped. I only was half way if that on it.

This is by far one of my favorites from the day.

'Dying Day'

-Brandi Carlile

-Gawdun

Suze Orman Beat This!

I love having the power of Google Reader, without it I would be lost and always click click clicking on the web. A friend of mine had a post today on her blog which featured one of my favorite Youtubers, Glozell. Once the video she posted was over I did the fan favorite and clicked another video to watch. Now for those of you who know not of this talented woman named, Glozell, just get up on her YouTube and watch.

With my love for the Gaga I present to you a video worth watching...

I can't breath this video is cracking me up!!!

-Gawdun

Admission is Free with Purchase

'Dance Anthem of the 80's'

-Regina Spektor

This has been a week of serious thought! Several times I wanted to take the advice of a certain Gaga and "just dance." Heck I still might tonight :)

I'll start with the worst part, that was today.

My ward was officially dissolved :( It was our last Sunday. Dang Bishop Hurst even got me to have "eye leakage" problems. Former members were there amongst all us current un-married members. Wonderful talks but the end of an era. September makes 2 years since I returned home from my mission and I moved to St. George. A town where I have struggled and learned more about myself on a personal and friend level. If it wasn't for that ward I might have left this town in 2009 instead of later this year. I remember the first time they had me speak, which today talking to the Bishop on the side he too remembers. He said I had that funky color in my hair and my energy told him "activities" would be the place for me (this was January 2009). I finally went to my first FHE in March which is were I met the most amazing group of friends. June I was called into the activities committee as a co-chair where I have been until today when the ward was dissolved. I appreciate the places I have been taken in this position. I could go on much longer on this ward but I won't. I have a separate post that once I mellow out will be written on the whole singles change here in St. George.

I can say that in the meeting where we learned our new ward assignments I did not see one person from my now dissolved ward stand up. I am back in the place of learning about new people and making new friends. And let's be honest that is not a problem with me but I would like to just keep what I have. My cell phone book is already to full and it can't hold that many more numbers. :)

Saturday was a full day ranging from a meeting at the restaurant after only having 4 hours of sleep from a crazy first day back at work. Then fixed my brothers broken bike tires. (I hate fixing trick bikes!) We set up our wards final formal dinner, which was also my last event to hold with my committee. I thought I would be happy about it but I am now saddened that I will not do such things unless I am asked again. I freakn love party planning and throwing them!

Friday was hell at work towards the end but I made out like a bandit in tips. I love my regular customers but to the man who left .27 cents just know that I remember faces very well and will make your life interesting if you return, tell that girl who was with you the same thing, I know where she works and can make that hell too. :) (yup that is the waiter speaking.)

Thursday was my return home from a week of Reno

Monday-Wednesday became known to me as the time of changes inside. I learned more about who and what I really am.

Over all this past week I have done a lot of inner searching at to what I wanted. I booked a return flight to Reno, Nevada for October 19th-30th. I will begin my hunt for work and housing now but when I get there I will hopefully solidify the stepping stones. Reno I took advantage of growing up and am ever grateful for it's welcoming arms to allow me back despite my old hates of it. Funny what growing up does to a person.

I made some new friends this week that will hopefully become a great support in the coming months and hopefully year as I make transitions. The friends I currently have I am so grateful for all you have done AND will do. Thanks for supporting me, even if you live 380, 1,000+, or 2 miles away.

And I can't forget my family, who even though they may not read this blog, I still appreciate them more than ever.

(This picture is almost 2 years old and we all look more zingy than in this photo)

This will always be THAT week.

'Everywhere I Go'

-Lissie

-Gawdun

Finally Transferred

While on your mission you move around a lot. If' I remember right a transfer is 6 weeks long and once that 6 weeks is up you either stay or move to a new town. If you don't get along with your mission companion at the time it is always great to have a transfer for one of you. While I was in the town of Tifton, GA (one of my most favorite places in the U.S.) I managed to stay there for 6 months. And I loved every bit of it.

Every time around transfers once you find out your leaving you begin your goodbyes and wrapping up teaching in the area. Sister Hebbard in Tifton, GA had a little saying she would say to all transferring missionaries, she just "knew" every time I would get transferred so when the day came I had to record it... (She is also know as the "crazy cat lady down the way")

Hope you enjoyed, more videos to come!

-Gawdun

Back That Thing Up

As promised (Wow I'm actually keeping a blog promise for once) here is video #1 in a series of short clips I took from the mission.

Now I more than likely will have to give a small description for easy understanding, here is the first:

When serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints you do what is called a back up when you are driving. A back up means that the passenger of the car literally stands behind the car and safely guides the driver to back up. Allegedly the church medical department has been rumored to say that back ups have a huge reduction in car accidents when backing a car up. Sister Lewarts (name has been changed) was a hoot of a sister and made the "extreme backup" trendy. Funny thing is she is backing a member up who is driving a bunch of missionaries off from Savannah to transfer to new areas. Watch and love (I will understand if you don't still get it and will be happy to demonstrate one in real life...

-Gawun

"Boxes, Don't Crowd Me!"

I have given myself till the end of this year to have made my complete decision on my place of residency, and what will happen with the photography business I am trying to run. (Don't worry I'm not stopping the photo industry, so all my clients that read this blog can now take a deep breath as I will still continue to update your family photo's for you)

With this grand decision to relocate finally it has come to my attention that I need to once again go through all my boxes in the closet and under my bed to throw out stuff I WILL NOT NEED. Doing so I have condensed my mission boxes into one like it should have been when I first got home. While going through that box I was reminded of many great times. Some of which I recorded onto video. So for the next few posts I will share with you some of my beloved mission short videos some of which included people who have become great friends and family since then!

Sunday August 1st I will reveal the first video that involves one of my favorite "sleep screaming" sister missionaries. (Don't worry names will be changed to protect the insane.

-Gawdun

Nepal or Bust! (I Don't Want to Bust)

http://www.savenepal2010.myevent.com

I had a conversation with a friend who was turning 28 the same day I was turning 26. They said that 26 was a great year but 27 was not so great. Now I have no idea how true that is in regards to 27 but I do know that 26 has and still is turning out to be an amazing year!

Case in Point.

Later this year from October 28th till November 8th I will be in the country of Nepal on humanitarian relief effort. I have teamed up with Singular Humanitarian Experience (SHe) who has partnered with CHOICE Humanitarian to help slow the poverty issue around our world. For one week I will work closely with other volunteers to complete a number of projects ranging from a school house being built, small medical facility being constructed and helping promote education. I have always wanted to support and work in a cause like this and I am more than excited to be part of this expedition.

However there is the catch of monetary totals. I am responsible for providing air fair and the amount for the program. The complete total comes to $3,000.00. In the next 5 months I need to raise that amount. I am working closely with two other local ward members who are also going, in regards to local business donations and fundraising events. But that is not going to help all the way. That is why I come to you my readers and friends. In the next several weeks many of you may receive a personal letter from me asking for a donation of sorts. I do ask that you help out not me but your "global community." Besides letter writing and personal presentations to businesses I have created a website that makes it super easy to donate directly to me. Please visit the link above or click the same one here:

http://www.savenepal2010.myevent.com/

By following that link you can learn more about my cause and be part of it as well. So please take the time and donate.

-Gawdun

Bzzz Buzzy

*I did not proof this posting after it was completed. I wrote this over a few days so there might be some craze missing things. But I tried to keep it understandable.

Sit back and get ready for some scrolling action as you read up on the insane events I have been up to.

First off Motley Chromatic the 3rd died. :-( He got ill, and after doing a little reading and net research I found out that he was depressed and starved him self. Your probably saying yeah right. However I swear to you that Betta's get depressed if they go through stress. They also are very demanding little fish. I think it's little man syndrome but I wont tell them that to their gills, they might get depressed and show you. (really sick way to prove a point, suicide). I did buy another one the other day and he is out of control active. I would swear he was in training to do a Iron Fish triathlon.

Speaking of Ironman triathlon...

This last weekend St. George held/sponsored their first Ironman event. The city was set up with a 5 year contract. It was super exciting. I remember being introduced to the whole Ironman world when as a young boy we were watching Baywatch (yes it's true the family would watch that on Saturdays and Roseanne on Tuesdays, so what) and this one story was set around an Ironman. However it is much more exciting in real life. I volunteered at one of the bike stations. The area I was at had a controlled pilot car that other vehicles could follow. At one point two cars completely cut off the athletes in an attempt to turn on the road I worked. Well let's just say I still wouldn't let them through and they had to wait a bit. Most vehicles were nice and allowed me to direct them safely around the athletes. But man alive, rich, older, people sure think they run the place. (The street I was working was one of the entrances to a wealthier community.) I also had a guy that came to watch tell me I wasn't an official volunteer if I didn't have my shirt or badge to say so. Eventually my team captain Rachel showed and gave me my shirt but I can't believe how that guy was. There were several other things he did and said to me that were rude but we wont worry. Needless to say Ironman was AWESOME!! There was one guy who broke his collar bone on the bike area but still finished the WHOLE event. I managed to be at the finish line when he finally came through. Two other guys walked the rest of it with him. That's 26.2 miles walked!!! Inspiring.

So this is where I make my prediction and hope. I am giving myself two years to be ready for an Ironman. That is right, I want to compete in the 2012 St. George Ironman. I'll keep you posted along the way.

Now you may ask why not get ready for next year. Simple there is a high $$ entry fee and with me going to Nepal in late Oct/early Nov I can't afford both. Yup that is right!!!

I AM GOING TO NEPAL on a service trip!!! I have noticed on my facebook it appears that the general thought is I will be gone a month or more. I will actually only be gone a total of 2 weeks with the travel times. Not long at all but we will do great things there. The whole purpose of this trip is service and helping in the cure of poverty. Nepal is a very poverish country about no bigger than Illinois, but population wise I would guess Texas in one little country. I am super exited!! I begin fundraising now and all the money I raise is tax deductible. Yup I will be hitting up all my readers and many more for donations! (more on that at the start of the week.)

Along with Ironman I also took part in a 8hour photography workshop held by local destination wedding photographer Kevin Hulett. Yeah he is the guy I work with once a week in his office (I freakn love working with him, and his wife and him are so supportive of my photography it is so bodacious). The workshop consisted of great round table style discussion where he gave information but we were all free to talk and ask anything needed. It climaxed with a live model shoot. The models rocked it and were a blast to work with. In fact two of the five want to work with me in the near future! Yeah it sounds like bragging but deal with it I am stoked that people want to do another model shoot with me. Sometimes you never know if your product it actually great. Go here to see some of the photo's from that day... TEP X class. (True Emotion Photography 10 class).

As of this moment I think you are all caught up. I have MUCH more to inform and relay in regards to the Nepal fundraising and trip so please be aware of the poverty and community help that I will be part of and feel free to donate to help get me there.

-Gawdun

P.S. I have some photos in regards to Ironman to post but it is late and I don't want this post to get longer so please check back very soon for photo's.

I'll Show You It

So the winner of the Beta naming contest, Karyn made this crazy cool picture of the little guy. She took one of the photo's I posted for naming inspiration and made this...

Rockin' awesome job Karyn. I recommend checking out her blog it is always a good read!

Ohh The Sweet Gem

While I look around society and find my next controversy to blog on I thought I would bring you some sort of wonder and amazement. I know you'll love it Trudi!

I love the fact that this was created! Oh how much I love Howard the Duck. They even used the tune of a church hymn in the movie. I'm pretty sure I heard the church song, 'All Creatures of Our God and King' in the movie. However this song is not that song. In fact you'll love this even more.

-Gawdun