Ring, Ring: This is the jail calling...

Ok, so quite possibly the greatest thing happened to me last night. So after totally dominating in Operation (Writer's Cramp nothin') and then doing some donuts (and potentially jacking up my power steering), I crawled into my bed and started to fall asleep to the Gladiator Soundtrack while playing Klondike on my iPod. It was almost 2am, when I started to hear The Office theme song, (which also happens to be my ringtone). So I answered my phone, and I get this recording that says, "This is a pre-paid phone call from the Utah County jail from (then the recording stopped while a girl said her name:) "Amber." My mind started to race. What Ambers do I know? Who would be in jail? The only one that I could think of was Amber Gregersen. Then I started to think, "Why would she be in jail? And why would she be calling ME?" I figured maybe she got in some kind of an accident or something, and she figured I was the most nocturnal person she knew, so naturally I would still be awake. But then I thought she was supposed to be in Paris or something.

So, I accepted the call, and started to talk to the girl on the other line. So here is the gist of our conversation:

Me: "hello?"

Amber: "hello?"

"is this Amber?"

"yes, who is this?"

"this is Drew. are you looking for me or someone else?"

"is my mom there?"

"what is your mom's name?"

"Julie."

"I don't know a Julie. What number were you trying to call?"

"801-427-9536"

"This is 801-427-9535"

"OH MY GOSH. I AM SO SORRY"

"Don't worry about it. Hopefully you can get ahold of her and get everything worked out."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's all right. Good luck with everything."

It was quite possibly one of the coolest things ever. I just busted up laughing. It was freaking awesome, and I couldn't hold it in. If it weren't for my curfew, someone else might have shared in the awesomeness of it...

Life As We Know It...

Has changed. It's great. It hasn't been at all what I expected, but hey that's life, right? I'm glad school is almost out. School=lame. But it's all good, this semester has been worth it.

Ok. I just remembered this awesome gem that my sister Amelia showed me like a year ago. So money. I don't really have a Sexy 'Stache, so I just see this and dream...

Haha. Awesome. But anyway, on a different note. 15 years ago today was actually the day that I was baptized. Kinda crazy. I actually remember quite a bit about that day. I remember there were a couple of other kids getting baptized that same day (I remember at least 3 of them. Haha) I don't remember a whole lot about what happened that day, but I do remember the way I felt. I remember just being completely happy and excited. I didn't fully understand what it meant at the time (sometimes I feel like I still don't), but I have definitely come to understand and appreciate it much more over the last 15 years. If I could find some pictures from my baptism, I would put them up, but this baptism was definitely one of the most meaningful to me. His name is Bernie, and this was probably one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had in my life. Maybe I'll blog about it someday.

Kind of like Lagoon, or maybe even Six Flags

So yesterday was a total emotional roller coaster. I was up for a long time, and it was definitely an eventful day. I really don't want to talk about the BYU game, but even though we lost, I actually had a lot of fun in the whole process. I watched it with quite an awesome group of people, which made it really fun at least. I mean, how could ripping on the mtn. and ripping on people who left in the middle to see Twilight NOT be ridiculously fun? But afterwards I watched Robot Chicken. If you don't know what it is, you are missing out. Seth Green has a couple specials that are a parody of Star Wars, and they are quite possibly some of the funniest things I have ever seen. There are two of them now, and they can be seen here and here. But yeah, I got home late, and I was falling asleep on the floor of my living room and I was totally smiling. How could you not be after watching deer and laughing at awkward high school stories with the coolest person in the whole world?

Another Update

So, just to update on the situation the last couple of days. I've kept in touch with my friend from Minnesota the last few days, and we've had some long talks on the phone the last couple nights. (Usually around an hour or so, hope no one's jealous) But anyway, it's really been amazing to see how awesome she is. Every night she just seemed happier and more cheerful than she did the previous day. And tonight she told me that she wasn't going to leave the Church after all. It was honestly one of the best feelings that I had had in a long time. It really was a testament to me of the power of the Spirit. She had been fed a whole bunch of garbage, and she knew that a lot of it wasn't true, but I don't know if she has really had anyone to just answer her questions for her. It's amazing how learning the truth, and hearing things straight from the source make a big difference. Her goal has been to receive her Patriarchal Blessing, and she told me that tomorrow she is going to quit smoking, and I'm hoping and praying that she'll stay strong on it. It's amazing how just re-focusing and trying to listen to what the Spirit tells you will lead you in the right path. 

So yeah, there is my spiritual post. On a lighter note, here is more from the Onion. Once again, the most accurate reporting is right here.

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Robert George

If you missed his forum address on October 28th, you missed out. It was one of the most incredible things I have ever heard. Ask me about it.

Today Was...

Officially the best Sunday ever.

An Update

So I was told that I need to update my blog more often. Haha. You know who you are....

But I've kind of had a lot on my mind today. I had the opportunity to teach the lesson in Priesthood today, and I was really grateful for that. But I also had a chance to talk to a really good friend from my mission as well. 

So she has had a lot of struggles since she has been a member of the Church for the last few years, and I have always admired her for sticking to it and working through the adversity, no matter the outcome. She kept on trucking. So today I got on facebook and I saw that she had made a decision to leave the Church. I was pretty disappointed, but I didn't want to preach to her or be all missionaryish, but just to be a friend and talk to her. But, I didn't have her number, so I just wrote her a message. I just kind of talked about some basic principles that I felt were important, especially as she was making a very big decision. It was amazing though that as I wrote, I realized how much the gospel really does mean to me. Sure, I have messed up a lot, and done some stupid things and I have fallen in more ways than one, but as I was thinking about everything, I just really realized how integral the gospel is in my life, and how it has really shaped everything that I believe, and everything that I am.

Anyway, she wrote back and told me to call her, and so I did. And we talked for an hour or so. It was an amazing experience. I hadn't talked to her since my mission, so it's been at least a year and a half. But she is so awesome. She had a lot of questions, and she is very open minded to everything, which is so great. But to make a long story short, I wasn't trying to persuade her one way or another, but just to give her the tools and the information necessary to take before the Lord to make her decision. It's kind of amazing how the things that I studied for my lesson in Priesthood was exactly what she needed to hear too. I'm not sure what she is going to do, but I'm definitely going to pray for her and I just hope she knows that I care about her and hope that she'll make the right decision.

Well, this is definitely different than most of what I post on here, but that's how I am. Sporadic.

A Huge Upset and a Victory for America!!!

Voting Machines Elect One Of Their Own As President

Absolutely Despicable

I don't care whether you vote for, or against Prop 8, but this ad is absolutely despicable and horrendous.

This makes me wish even more that I lived in California if only to vote for Prop 8

More on Taxation

I remember reading this analogy when I was a lot younger, and it has always stuck with me. It puts taxes in a very clear view so that even people with a very simple view of taxes can understand it. (ie those who always decry "tax cuts for the rich!) It really isn't that long, and it is definitely worth the read.

Notes on Taxation

So I'm writing a policy paper on corporate income taxes. Just a couple of notes as I write this. Although my paper is on corporate income tax, these notes are specifically about the personal income tax history.

1. When the early colonial Americans were taxed unfairly, they dressed up like Indians and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor. Why are we not dumping gasoline into Boston Harbor ? Or Utah Lake?

2. It was very common to have excise taxes on items like tobacco, liquor, or snuff back in colonial days. For example, Pennsylvania imposed an excise on liquor sales partly "to restrain persons in low circumstances from an immoderate use thereof." Now why is putting a high tax on cigarettes a bad thing???

3. Taxes were never used to redistribute wealth. Thomas Jefferson said:
 

To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it." So Obama is like the anti-Jefferson.

4. A flat income tax was the first enacted in 1894. I think they had it right the first time.

5. After the stock market crash in 1929, the Great Depression ensued and what did the government do in 1932? Raise taxes. By 1936 the top rate was up to 79%!!! Of course, raising taxes didn't end the depression, it lengthened it. Now which candidate today wants to raise our taxes again during economic turmoil????

All right. I can't handle this anymore. I need to get back to writing my paper.

The Word

A friend sent this to me, and it made me laugh.

Prop 8

Even though I am not in California, I know that this will ultimately affect the rest of the country and this is a VERY serious issue. However, I thought this was a very effective ad.

The Truth Comes Out!

It's about time some accurate knowledge about the Green Bay Packers comes out. The Onion has some very detailed analysis of how it is all working out. Check it out here.

Dating Tips

All right. I love this. I want Texas Tech to lose miserably, just like everyone else in the top 10, but he's got some great pointers. But, if I go on a date and we just happen to do things that are similar, I swear it is just a coincidence.

The Shrine of the Silver Monkey

All right. I don't even know what got me started on this, but I loved Nickelodeon when I was a kid, and my favorite show by far was "Legends of the Hidden Temple." GREATEST SHOW EVER. I always wanted to be on it (and on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, but we'll discuss that later) and I was always extremely ticked off when kids sucked at it. I was especially mad when they got all the way to the temple at the end, and couldn't put together that stupid silver monkey. It's got 3 freaking pieces. How hard can it be??? I mean come on!

So I've got two videos:

The first one is an entire temple run. A must watch, especially to refresh yourself so you can fully understand the second one.

All righty, and now for the real killer.

Nobody can seriously be this retarded. You have to listen to Kirk's (the host) comments about this kid. What a reject.

Oh yeah, and if this frustrated you as much as it did me, here is the facebook group to let out your rage.

The Onion

So I love The Onion. Ever since I was a freshman in high school and Natty, John and I read "Our Dumb Century." Now, I in no way vouch for everything that is published on The Onion, but every so often they do publish some gems. Here is one that fits right along with the whole Olympics thingy. Even though they are over...

Haka

So I was watching the BYU team do the Haka, and as much as I love it, I was a little disappointed. But when I was searching across the results on Youtube, I came across this one.

Of course, the All Blacks are the ones that you have to equate with the Haka. As I was watching this you can see the freaking intensity of these guys, and the South Africans can see it too. You can't tell me that those Utes wouldn't crap their pants after seeing this. Now that's a way to win.

Still Up....

So I wanted to be in bed by midnight, and then I started watching Paycheck. Pretty intense movie. I had never seen it before, and now it is almost 3 am, and I need to go to bed. Why am I still up???

No Dice

So pretty much today sucked. Why does EVERYBODY and their dog rent? I
talked to one guy and he said that his neighbors were either renters,
crack heads, or they were dead. True story, by the way. So hopefully
tomorrow will be better. Oh wait. To top it off, when the tech went to
install my sale from yesterday, they told him, " What alarm?" Yeah.
Pretty much a terrible any way you look at it.

Coolest Sweatshirts Ever

We found these at Marshall's. Can you imagine if someone robbed a bank
wearing these? Awesome.

Real Football

The people in the USA need to get with the program. Football. Both kinds are awesome. But I'm talking about REAL football. How can people say that it is boring? They have obviously not watched a real game. For instance, the Champions League game was played just recently. Chelsea vs. Manchester United. It was a freaking intense game. Double overtime and a shootout. Lance and I were loving it, until the DVR programming ended right in the middle of the shoot out. We had to find the YouTube video, but it just wasn't the same. Then the USA played England, and they pretty much got worked. Now I'm watching the USA vs. Spain game. So good. I love soccer. It definitely makes me want to play more.

Oakland Temple

So yesterday we went to the Oakland temple. It was SO amazing. I'm
pretty sure I could get married there.

It's been a while...

So I am really bad at keeping a journal, so I figure I should probably start writing on my blog a little bit more. I'm getting some pretty sweet stories that happen every day knocking on people's doors. Some guy got REALLY mad at me the other day. He seemed kind of frustrated, and then I asked him if he was mad, and then he really lost it. It was good though. He just needed to chill out. California is pretty intense. The weather has been pretty nice, which makes knocking on doors for a long time a lot more tolerable. The USA and Spain are going to be playing in a soccer game today. I'm recording it, because it is going to be pretty sweet. Hopefully the US plays better against Spain than they did against England. They got rocked. It was pretty sad. I think I figured out how to post my blogs from my iPhone, so maybe I will post things more often.

Here Goes Nothing...

So I suppose this is the cool thing to do now. I figure I probably better get in line with the "coolness" of having a blog, and get into the 21st century. I don't have a whole lot to say, but we'll see what happens in the next little while I suppose....