11. I have a crazy fetish for hats.
12. I like to shout out random words to complete people's phrases.
13. I have never felt the need and doubt I ever will to wax my eyebrows.
14. I sleep with a giraffe who answers to the name of Lurpy.
15. I occassionally laugh out loud when no one else is laughing which leads to everybody laughing at me. (Last Sunday is a perfect example!)
16. I have no known allergies.
17. I can't focus until my tank is empty. ;o}
18. All of my favorite cds were ones recommended by my best friends.
19. I can listen to Christmas music 365 days of the year - well almost.
20. I like it when people comment in the comment part of my site.

100 THINGS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME - VOLUME ONE
22 October 2004 ...

VULNERABLE
22 October 2004 ...
Sometimes there are things I consider writing about on here, but I am scared to. Scared to open myself up that much where anyone could read it. Scared to let people know just how deeply I feel about things, how much things go to my heart. How much things people say and do effect me. How things are effecting me right now.

BRITNEY SPEARS IS NOT ON THIS WEBSITE
21 October 2004 ...
I am continuously learning more and more about myself each day. You would think that because I am me, I would know myself better than anyone else. But no, I often find that I barely know myself at all. I was chatting with a friend last night who recommended that I take a risk in my life. She suggested going out and kissing someone. I will be honest this is something I can't see myself doing! I am just not that type of person. So I told her that. She recommended that I do it anyways ... gotta think on that one. Any offers?

PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE
20 October 2004 ...
FIRST

TRIPPING UP - 19 October 2004 ...

I don't know how to write down all that I feel about the time I spent while I was in Indiana. The trip started on Friday, October 8th when I flew into Chicago's Midway airport. My friend Emily was there to pick me up. It was so great to see her. Her husband Jeff and their two children, Meagan & Spencer were in the car waiting for us. We spent Friday night just resting and catching up.

On Saturday, Emily and I went to Shipshewana. Shipshewana is an Amish community in Northern Indiana. It was so much fun. The trip there was beautiful, plus on the way we saw Amish families in horse drawn buggies and men and boys riding bicycles. They wore older clder styled clothing. It was like going back in time. We saw tractors that were run on steam power rather than electric and we bought homemade carmel popcorn. The men made it in a huge kettles and had to wear a special covering on their beards. It was delicious stuff! I am getting hungry just thinking about it ... yummmmm!

Sunday I left early and drove three hours east to Huntington, Indiana. Huntington was my last area on my mission. I got there just after 9 o'clock and was a few minutes late for Sacrament Meeting. I just got a seat in the back and had a good time watching the people in the congregation looking to see who was there that I knew. Through out the entire block of meetings everyone kept coming up to me, either asking me if I was a visitor or asking if they knew me because I looked familiar. (Keep in mind that I had short hair and glasses when I was on my mission and looked just a tad different). In Relief Society I introduced myself and it was funny to hear everyone's reactions to who I was. One lady was like, "That's how I know her!" It was great. It was fun getting to see everyone and to catch up on their lives.

After church was over, I went and visited the Jordan family (a family that I got very close to while serving in Huntington). Man I didn't realize how much I missed them and their farm! It was so good to see them and to see how well they were doing. They showed me their new goats, one being the goat dog. The goat dog is a goat by the name of Feather who is their grandson Jessie's goat, who thinks he is a dog. She is so funny! I got to see my goat Kelly. She got hurt after I left and her leg has some problems and her horn was broken. I am glad she is okay though. She doesn't know me anymore. She would barely stay still when I went in her pen. I love those goats! Jessie is a cutie. He was born just a few months after I came home and is now 4 years old. He loves his Gator tractor. He likes to make it go really fast, but sometimes he forgets to watch where he is going and crashes into things like trees and cars! :o}

Monday I was so groggy I spent the entire day on the couch sleeping!

Tuesday was a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois. I was so thrilled to finally get a chance to go there. I rented a car (a 2005 Nissan Sentra) The car was brand spankin' new! And so I headed out and drove 4 and a half hours across Illinois to get there. The drive was beautiful. The only bad thing was that it rained most of the day. I started out with a visit to Scovil Bakery where I got a sample of gingerbread and learned about bistle stoves. Then I got to ride in a wagon that was pulled by oxen. I went to Pendleton School, Lucy Mack Smith's house, the Brickyard, the Post Office, Printing Shop, Patti Sessions home, Lyon Drug & Variety store, the Blacksmith shop, and more. My favorites were the homes of Brigham Young & Wilford Woodruff. The spirit in those places really touched me. The home of Wilford Woodruff was continuously lived in from when he left it until the church bought it as a site and is in excellent shape. When Wilford served his first mission to England he was extremely cold and made a goal to build a house that would be very warm for him and his family. So when he built the house he put one fireplace in each room, 8 fireplaces total. Which was alot for that time period. I was really excited to see the places where Joseph Smith lived and worked, but unfortunately they are owned by another church, and the only one of the buildings that you can still go inside is the Red Brick Store. I loved going up to the prophet Joseph's office. I almost cried to see the location where the first temple ordinances were performed.

Unfortunately the trip was a bit rushed, but I am so glad that I was able to go, even if it was for a short time. To be in the places where these amazing men and women walked, talked, preached, and lived amazed me. I feel so blessed that they were willing to sacrafice so much so that we could have so much today. I am eternally grateful to them.

Wednesday I got in the rental car again and headed to two more of my areas, Muncie and Speedway. In Muncie I went and spent some time on the Ball State University campus. I especially loved the book store. I found an orange sharpie! ;o) I almost killed myself on the way to Muncie. It was raining really hard and on my off the exit ramp I started to hydroplane. I tried to steer off to the side of the road so that I wouldn't hit anyone, and some one was parked there ... in the middle of the exit ramp. I came within five inches of hitting the other car. I have never been so scared.

Speedway is in the heart of downtown Indy. It is where the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is, the home of the Indianapolis 500. I went to see Sister Leonard, the woman I lived with while there. I am so glad she was home. We had a nice visit, and while I was there the sisters that currently live there showed up. Oh the memories our discussion evoked. They took me down to the apartment that I used to live in. It so looks the same from the beds to the crazy toilet. My picture is even on the wall, even though I looked much different. I had hoped to go to Terre Haute too, but with time and weather, that wasn't possible.

Back to Shererville I went and spent Thursday with Emily and the kids. We went to the Calumet campus of Purdue University. Had lunch at Panera Bread and had some girl time. That night we had dinner at the Olive Garden.

Friday was spent lounging around the house. And that night the Elders came over for dinner. Meagan loved the missionaries, especially Elder Dyer. She didn't want them to leave. And the next morning when she woke up she came and found me and was like "Alan, where are the missionaries?" I tell you all this mission stuff, really has me mission that period of my life. I learned and grew so much and spent every day serving my Heavenly Father.

Saturday we were going to go up to Chicago, but unfortunately Meagan broke out in a rash all over her poor little body, so Jeff & Emily had to take her to the doctor. I stayed with Spencer and did some packing. After they got back and we had put Meagan down for a nap, Emily, Spencer, & I went shopping, and I found the cutest poncho (the must have of the season!) which I absolutely adore! Luckily Meagan is doing much better now. It was an allergic reaction to their new laundry detergent.

You might be wondering why Meagan called me "Alan". This is because she can't say Allison. So she got the first part and the last part out. We tried to teach her to call me Ali and it didn't work so well. That is okay, I found it cute! She is the cutest little imp! And Spencer is the cutest little man. He has these gorgeous blue eyes and most beautiful smile. They just make you melt! We did a photoshoot of Spencer like we did at one point with Meagan. They turned out so good.

Sunday I went to church with Jeff & Emily and taught one of the primary classes. Very fun... considering I haven't been in Primary in about 4 years. After church Jeff took me to the airport. We got lost so I got to see some of Chicago, the Sears Tower, the ball park where the Chicago White Sox play, Lake Michigan, and some other sites. It was very neat. I took a few pics on my camera while on the freeway.

My experience at the airport was a bit frustrating, because my suitcase was too heavy and I had to pay $25.00 to get it on the plane. I slept almost all of the first plane ride to Minneapolis and watched a movie on my laptop from Minneapolis to Salt Lake City. It was nice to be home! As fun as it is to visit other places, there really is no place like home!

To see pics from my trip go here.

NEW LAYOUT - 15 October 2004 ...

I am still in Indiana and totally loving it! What a marvelous experience it has been! I will update more about that when I return to Utah. Until then enjoy the new layout I have done .... Travis this one is for you!

P.S. I also added a new poll ... this is a very important issue and I would really like to hear your thoughts.

INDIANA OR BUST! - 07 October 2004 ...

In 24 hours from now I will be seated on a plane on my way to Indiana ... the home of my mission and my best friend, Emily. I can't wait! My next week is going to be full of gorgeous fall leaves in every color, Amish towns with horse & buggy, the Sears Tower & Navy Pier, and possibly even a trip to Nauvoo. I can't wait! See you all when I get back.

UPLIFTED & VERY HYDRATED - 04 October 2004 ...

This past weekend was fabulous! I always love watching General Conference and hearing new things to inspire and uplift my soul. I especially loved President Hinckley's comments on women in the Sunday morning session. I can't wait to get a transcript of it, so I can re-read some of his comments.

I have been so sick all weekend ... my kidney's have been infected and so I have been trying to take it easy and drink lots of Cranberry juice. If I drink much more I am going to turn into a cranberry! Or drown my insides with cranberry juice!

One of the great things about this weekend was spending time with my friends. I have kinda turned into a slight hermit lately, which really has been nice in a way. It has allowed me to gain a little focus in my life and get some perspective on my friendships. It makes me realize who in my life I have really missed, who I can count on, and what really matters. Because lately I am learning that you can't always count on everyone to always be there. That there are friends and there are true friends. Thank you to those of you that are those I can count on in my life and can call my true friends.  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - 01 October 2004 ...

What a week this has been! So many wonderful things have been happening … and the Swim with the Stars was just the beginning.

Wednesday, I was sitting at my desk waiting for 5:00 to arrive when my mom called me to tell me that I had received some mail. My first thought was that it was my two new photo lenses for my camera that I have been waiting for. But I was wrong. It was from Gardner Village.

About two weeks ago I submitted three of my photographs to Gardner's annual amateur photography contest. They were to have sent out letters on September 27 th to let people know how they had done. Well I won two prizes! I won first prize in thebuilding category and third prize in the historical category. Can you believe it? I can't!

If you want to see the pictures you can go here.

P.S. Just so you are aware, my internet at work is having some huge issues, which is why I haven't updated most of the site, so please be patient as I get everything worked out.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2004 - DOWN MEMORY LANE

What a difference a year makes!

Last night I went and hung out with my friends Kate & Kyle. Kate had been sorting out some things and came across some pictures we took last summer at Lagoon and at a movie that we went and saw. Go to the gallery to see them.

It seems so odd to think how much has changed in that time. I mean the friends I have, the weight I have gained and lossed, my attitude about life, etc. It is so true that life is change.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2004 - FORGIVENESS

So much has been going on inside me lately and yesterday it finally came all pouring out. I guess I should start more towards the beginning to make things a little bit more understandable.

Over the past two months I have been letting so much anger and bitterness build up inside and it was at a point where it was starting to eat me alive. I knew that I had to change something, but what? I mean I had no control over the situation and what was happening, which I think is part of the reason I was so angry. I hate not knowing what is going on and having no way to fix or make things better. I hate things being forced on me and that is how I have felt through out this entire situation. It really sucked.

Finally two of my friends talked to me and told me that they hated seeing me the way that I was and to do something about it, to talk to the person that I needed to talk to. I told them I didn't want to because he is so non-confrontational. But they both felt that it is something that needed to be dealt with. So I did. I confronted him. I didn't start things as rationally or calmly as I should have, and he was "appalled" at my way of dealing with it. I apologized and decided I needed to calm down.

Anyways we ended up talking, and things ended up making me feel much better. The one thing that happened that I think is the reason I feel better about things was that he told me he cared about me and gave me a hug. For the first time in our entire friendship he told me that he cared. That is all I have ever wanted. I wanted to know how he felt, because I didn't know.

After this talk I went home and my home teachers came over. They spoke on forgiveness. On letting go of the bitterness and anger and letting Heavenly Father take charge. And you know, that is what I had started to do. One thing they commented on is how in the Bible when Christ is on the cross he says "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." How true this is. Most people do not realize when they do something the effect that it will have on someone else or even on themselves. They may realize that it will hurt others, but they never truly know beforehand how much pain can be evoked.

I feel much better today about things in general. After our talk my friend asked if I felt better. I told him yes and no and that hopefully time will heal the rest. I hope this is true.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2004 - THE ENERGIZER BUNNY

That is how I feel today, like I keep going and going and going and going ....

First on Tuesday after I got off work a little early I went down to Manti for my friends Kara & Keith's sealing. Plus I was their photographer. It was a beautiful day and so neat to share it with them, but the four hour round trip wore me out.

Then last night Kate & I went to the Utah State Fair to see Carolyn Dawn Johnson in concert. It was fabulous! But I didn't get home until late and so it is all finally catching up with me ... I could really use a nap! If you want to see pics from the concert go here.

Yesterday the mail man brought me my ticket to Swim with the Stars that is next week ... I can't wait to be able to see Michael Phelps swim live! :o)

SEPTEMBER 8, 2004 - MY LIFE LIST

My friend Kate and I were talking this week about our Relief Society lesson. During this discussion we decided to put together a life list of 100 things we wanted to do before we die. I am at about 32. Gotta get cracking on it. But putting this list together made me really think about all the time I have made available to me and how I am using it. I am going to start making a real effort to living life more to the fullest and trying to accomplish as much as I can in each day.

I have made a new layout ... tried something new.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 - HISTORY

I attended my institute class this past week for the first time this term and the topic is Church History. I forgot just how much I have always loved studying history especially church history. It amazes me how much people sacraficed in order for us to have the world that we currently have. I am in awe of these men and women and hope to be able to be more like them.

Updated the Featured Pic. (in honor of this week's passion)

SEPTEMBER 2, 2004 - PASSION

As many people have noticed, I haven't updated this past week…I guess it is because I really haven't had much to say. (And for anyone who knows me well, is probably shocked by this!)

I think that my life has been so confusing as of late, that I haven't know what to share, especially since I have been quite negative as a whole, and I didn't want to share that part of me. But I finally decided to share a few thoughts that have been on my mind.

What is life? It is a matter of time, people, places, and things that make up who we are as individuals. There really isn't that much time in each of our lives, and the time we have is unknown. It could be anywhere from 1 day to 100 years. There isn't much to each of our lives, but it is all that we have. We need to fill up each moment with love, laughter, and life. Surround ourselves with good people that we care for and trust. Find things that are meaningful and make a difference. Find out who we are.

In all honesty, I am not sure I know who I am anymore, and I am not sure that I ever will. Do I want to be the person I used to be? Do I want to be someone else? Do I even know the answers to these questions?

I have been told that I need to find something to be passionate about. You know, the things that I once found exciting and fun and brought me joy, really don't do that anymore. (ok ... Michael Phelps does - some people think I am nuts!) So I am trying to rediscover the things that I feel passionate about and discover new ones to help me feel alive.

The first thing that has brought me even the smallest bit of joy in the past month is the fact that yesterday my mom bought me a ticket to go to Indiana for a week next month - oooh how I can't wait! I am really looking forward to the time away from work, church, and life in general. It will be nice to go to my mission stomping grounds, visit my best friend, and have some time with my camera.