Christmas Seasons Greeting (Warning)

I am officially doomed this Holiday Season. I turned on Utah's official Christmas Station at work, and I can't keep the cheer out of my heart of coal. It happens every year, radio stations play the holiday music way to early to even think about the Holiday. In fact this year they played it 13 months too early. You heard me right, they are playing Christmas music for Christmas 2008 right now. I am outraged! I am making my stand by not calling in to win any of their contests and promotions. They'll be sorry when I get through with them.

To be honest, this holiday season I am thankful for making it this long before letting the yule-tide penetrate my Cochlea (I'm talking ears people). Oh well, it does bring a certain cheer to the season. Listening to Christmas music is like running a race. You have to be careful to keep a good pace in order to have energy to finish out the race. And be very careful to get plenty of fluids, but not too many. There is nothing worse than running on a full bladder. Conclusion: Don't listen to too much Christmas music at any one period of time, and drink egg nog in moderation.

Vernal, Utah

Yesterday I spent the day driving to and around Vernal, Utah. This booming metropolis is growing like the weeds that fill up the city limits. I spent all day looking at my subject site, a nice single family development located just outside of Vernal. The rest of the day I drove to lot sales in the area.



I am always shocked at the growth in the town on each visit. I have not been to Vernal for about 6 months and already much has changed as new development comes bursting forth. Why is it growing so quicky? Some say it is the oil shale lying beneath the earth in the region and the race to develop feasible oil extraction methods. Of course, that is ludicrous, it is because Vernal is so beautiful. I mean what is not to love about a town who's primary theme is a dinosaur? Every restaurant, every car dealership, every city park mentions dinosaurs or has a cartoon depicting a giant ancient lizard. In fact, the golf course in Vernal is called Dinaland Golf Course. I think a vote should be held to re-name Vernal to Dinaland.



My other theory of the popularity of Vernal is the city-wide dress code. While standing in the slowest Wendy's line imaginable, I realized I was overdressed for the occasion. I had on a yellow polo shirt and a pair of dark jeans. Boy was I embarrased! Every single man in that fine establishment was wearing tight jeans (mine were far to baggy for the locals) and a t-shirt, of course belt buckles were a-plenty with nearly half of the men wearing a baseball cap.

Your Own Personal Blogspot

I'm starting my own blog. This way you can look at things I write about and not have to be bombarded with pictures of our son. He is very handsome though, so please feel free to visit our blog.
Anyway, I'll give some background on my blog address. A few years ago my family's cat passed away at approximately the age of 17. His name was Snowball and he passed while my family was in Lake Powell boating. Everyone, except Lindsay. She called me up while I was sitting in the houseboat enjoying the sunny weather. She said "Snowball is dead". Those words hit me with such a force that I won't soon forget.

I of course instructed her to take care of our beloved cat, just as we had taken care of the myriad of dead hamsters that met untimely deaths. Most of whom can attribute their demise to Snowball, coincidentally.
Me: Wrap him in an old towel and stick him in the freezer unitl we get home
Linds: I'm not touching him! Okay, okay... why don't I just bury him?

Of course, she was right. Apparently, she held a little ceremony, and when we returned home a few days later, there was a cinder block lying on its side with two votive candles inside the openings. They had burned all the way down.

I guess our pets die when we least expect it, or maybe we expected it and that is why we went on vacation.