Getting New Tires

I thought it was only proper to send a shout out to the Discount Tire here in Provo. If you are local to the ProvOrem area and you need tires go there and tell them I sent you. He may not give you a discount or anything but they should at least take care of you. I feel it my personal obligation to do so.

Manager Joe Snyder, 801-343-3518 972 S University Ave Provo UT 84601

Here is a shorter (kinda), blog friendly version. I had some tires that were wearing out improperly because of an alignment issue. Discount wouldn't rotate my tires properly because it would have involved taking the tires off the wheels and apparently that is too much work to do for free. Both Discount Tires locally turned me down and insisted on charging me.

I wasn't going to be charged for a service they offer for free for people with normal tires (mine are directional). So I decided to send an email in complaining to Corporate. I basically said in the email that I had been a satisfied customer for the past few years and that I had bought several sets of tires from them over that time but now I was really turned off at this point. I said that depending on how they handled the situation they would either keep a customer or lose a customer. I got a call at 8:30 the next morning from the Provo store. The manager asked me to come in and work this out.

Now, my car has all wheel drive and I can't just throw 1 tire on there. If 1 tire goes bad than I have to buy 4 new tires. Needless to say the economy isn't treating me right and my wallet is tight. After talking with the manager he suggested I get new tires and because it was a safety issue he would work with me on the price. I'm no cheap skate and I don't look for handouts. i told him that I would pay the full amount but if I could do it over 4 months then I could pay for it. So we agreed on that deal. One tire a month until the balance was paid. No interest, no extra fees, nothing.

He really worked with me to get a new set of tires and needless to say was again satisfied and happy with the service I got. In these tough times it is good to see that there are companies and people that understand that and are willing to work it out. Sure it took a little complaining but sometimes it takes those moments of friction and indecision to really determine how a relationship is going to turn out.

I'm happy, not totally broke, and have a safe set of tires. Thank you Discount Tire of Provo.

Me Being Vulnerable

This may make my sisters cry and for that I apologize. But I get on their blogs and read the stories of their children and see the little pictures of them and I long to have those joys and those challenges and those stories of my own. I don't know if it is jealousy or self pity or what it is I feel when I get on those blogs but it makes me cry. It reminds me of how alone I am. Finding someone only gets harder as I creep towards being a single thirty something. I'm sure it will happen one of these days, "in the own due time of the Lord," but really I just wish it was sooner than later.

Parasites: the wave of the future.

Other than the lack of notable events happening in my life, which has caused the barrenness, the dearth of blog, things are going pretty alright. I got my cast off and so far my 'instability' hasn't yet lived up to its name which i a really good sign. I am taking it easy though.

I also just finished a short blog on my presidential site about taxes.

I spent Christmas in California. Mostly lounging around, watching movies, eating...the normal holiday stuff. I couldn't do too much else because my cast wouldn't allow me to participate in such activities as golf, croquette, swimming, tying anything; it was very frustrating. But now it doesn't take me 5 minutes to button my shirt. That in and of itself makes me happy.

I have this idea. Tell me what you think. You take a pill that has a parasite in it. It eats most of the food you eat. You lose weight and when you have lost the weight you wanted to you take the second pill that kills that parasite. Awesome right? Parasites are all natural. Its got to better for you AND more effective than all of the crazy drugs that are out. It has to be better than a red pepper, honey and salt water cleanse...right?

the last 3 days

My new license plates came today and I quickly mounted them on my car.

I got this cast on yesterday. only cost me $160! 6 weeks...6 weeks! I have midcarpal instability. the doc doesn't even know if this will help...just hoping. it is also the reason i am writing with little capitalization...

this is my graham cracker house, I made it at FHE on Monday. It won the best construction award. Yay for me!

My Trip to Arizona (abbreviated)

I spent a wonderful 9 days visiting friends and family. I saw Twilight with my sisters Krista, Brooke, and Kara. Brittany, being large with child(ren), couldn’t make the trip. We love you Britt and pray for you baby! We went to sushi afterwords and discussed what we liked and didn’t like. That’s not a blog I am going to write.

I babysat Krista’s little boys. Let me tell you, they are more than a handful; cute, loving and energy-sucking. You may know him as DR, Dan, pops, papa, grandpa, or just plain old Dad to me, came into town and celebrated Thanksgiving with us too.

I went to my doctor for a check up on my ankle. He said that one day I will need an ankle replacement, a day I dread. He gave me a steroid to help with the chronic pain. In that shot were some localized pain killers, Lidocane and some other 'cane'. It numbed my foot and for 2 hours I was pain free and it almost made me cry I was so happy. I wish it lasted.

I saw old friends and it made me want to live there again. I found myself driving the streets and thinking to myself, ‘I could live here again.’ Gavin got engaged too!

My phone charger broke the last day of vacation in Arizona. So instead of buying a new charger I decided to buy a new phone. I went with the new T-Mobile G1. It runs off a new Google operating system called Android. It is similar to the iPhone in that you can download applications to your phone and use them.

I got a couple of games, one of which is called, Zombies, Run! You plug in your destination address and as you drive you have to avoid the Zombies that are chasing you. It’s basically a real life Pac-Man trying to avoid the ghosts. I haven’t tried it yet but it sounds like fun. I also got one called scriptures which, when it gets working right, will allow me to access the Bible, Book of Mormon and the rest of them.

I really enjoyed the time off. I golfed, slept, watched Madagascar 2 (which made me cry I laughed so hard,) ate plenty, and spent quality time with friends and family. I can't complain.

Here are some fun websites:
Whiskey Militia
Woot
Busted Tees
Japanese Bug Fights

Mr. Serve On

As part of my gig at work I serve legal papers. I am a "process server." Let me tell you something, I LOVE serving people. It is so fun for me for some strange reason. Let me tell you why.

Tonight I was getting my serve on and I show up at this guy's door, his little kids are running around inside, some stranger at the door, confused.

Me: Hey how's it going? Are you John Doe?
Dude: Yeah.
Me: Awesome. These are for you.
Dude: Am I getting served?
Me: You bet you are.
Dude: uh...thanks.

The door closes and for some reason I got all giddy! I'm skipping across this guy's lawn, smiling, jumping in the air and clicking my heels, singing to myself, "Yeah you just got served!"

The next guy I serve I had talked to on the phone earlier because I had to track him down and confirm that he was the guy. He was worried about the legal action he was becoming involved in. I talked him through it and explained that he is just a minor figure in the grand scheme of the law suit. Anyway, I show up and I talk to him a little more about what he needs to do and assure him its not him that they are after. I thank him for being so kind and helpful and he does the same. I walk away smiling again.

The last guy I served tonight, I was 4 of 5, was having a restraining order renewed against him. I had talked to his roommate yesterday when the guy I was serving wasn't home. I see the roommate outside and ask him if homeboy is home, "Yeah he's in there." Word up.

I go to the door and he answers.
Me: Are you John?
Dude: Uh...uh who?
Me: Are you John Smith Doe?
Dude: no. What is this regarding?
Me: I just talked to your roommate, he says you're here.
Dude: I uh, what's this about?
Me: Do you know a Jane Anderson?
Dude: Yeah.
Me: These are for you.
Dude: What is it?
Me: It looks like she wants to renew her restraining order.
Dude: Renew?
Me: (as I am walking away) Apparently she's got one on you right now.
I get in my car and I'm out.

Some days are tedious and hard. Some are a breeze. Some days like today just make me giggly on the inside. I don't know why...but I like it.

Me for President!

Check out my new blog! The link is on the right. Its official, I am running for President! I even have a classy donation button for those of you who would like to support me. Check it out over the next few months as I will be laying out my plans and ideas.

Hopes and/or Dreams

So last night I was feeling a bit lonely and I ended up laying, lights off, half asleep, under the covers, in bed thinking about my life. I determined there were 4 things I wanted to do with my life. Hopes, ambitions, goals, dreams…call them what you will.

1. I want to get my poetry published in an honest to goodness book of my own. I’d like to have a reason to walk into Barnes and Noble or Borders. I don’t really care if it sells 1 or 1,000,000 copies; I’d just like to be a published writer. In this imagination I thought of several scenarios on what the book should be. I thought I could write a bit about each poem, what it was about, why I wrote it, who it was about…but then I thought that maybe just the raw poem would be good enough; that the reader could glean whatever meaning they wanted.


2. I want to invent something new and useful that would make me some money. I already have an awesome idea and last night the design came to me. Magnets. I have devised a new form of advertising. Some of you may know what I am talking about but I need to keep it something of a secret so no one steals my idea…it’s happened before. Yeah you Chase Bank and your texting people their account balances when they get low…THAT WAS MY IDEA 3 YEARS BEFORE YOU CAME OUT WITH IT. That’s beside the point. I need to figure out how to form the business model so I can make all the money on the ads not just the contraption that holds them.


3. I want to run for President. I already have some supporters from years or word of mouth campaigning.  But as I was thinking about policy and how to better the country a flood of ideas came to me about taxes, welfare, government spending, and more. I have great ideas. The problem here is that I am not a politician. I don’t like butt kissing, schmoozing, or any of that crap. I just like to keep it real. I have no doubt that I would be a good president. People would like me. I already have a motto, “For the Love…and the Plane.” (Let’s face it Air Force One is pretty rad.)


4. I want to get married. Duh. All of this thought came from being lonely initially. I needed a wife to talk to and hold. I had this vision a couple years back, it was my Bride and I, at the alter of the Temple, she was so beautiful and I was finally happy.

Halloween

Here are some pictures of me in my Halloween costume. I was Towelie, a character from South Park. I had some help sewing it together but I made the eyes and mouth. I have provided a picture of the actual Towelie so you can the see accuracy.

Now most people don’t watch South Park so not many people knew what I was or who I was. That didn’t take away any of the personal satisfaction. I went to a dance party and since no one could see my face I just closed my eyes and danced. It was pretty fun
.

Let's just assume it would be fair to say that no one enjoyed my costume more than I did. Don't let the pictures fool you. *wink wink*

Rock Band Live Tour

I made it to a concert last night that featured my favorite band, Dashboard Confessional. I don't know what it is about them that I love so much. Maybe it was the timing in which I found them. No matter now, I'm hooked. They were the 3rd act in the Rock Band Live Tour, promoting the new game obviously. Here are a couple of pics from the show and some links to some videos.

These Bones

Widow's Peak - this one is loading slow...maybe not for you though.

This band came on before Dashboard and I figured I should represent...I rock plain white t's all the time.

I took this one myself. Not too shabby.

Chris Carrabba, songwriter, founder, guitar, vocals, piano...

Liz Drake, professional babe and Rockstar.

Me Getting Famous...Again.

I don't know how I do it but pretty much every time I go to a ReAL Salt Lake game a bit of fortune and fame follow me. This trip was no different. Watch the Video and you'll see. I don't know how long the link will last so sorry if you miss it. Here it is.

I also happened to make it on the Jumbo-Tron during the pre-game video. You may remember the picture of me at the "Celebration Station," that picture was the last picture in the slide show. I had enough time to yell, "Hey that's me! I'm Awesome!" Anyways...good times.

Fun With Facial Hair!

So I grew out a bit of a beard for about 2 weeks. The time came for me to shave (because I have an intramural soccer game at BYU and they don't allow facial hair.) I decided to have a little fun instead of just cutting it all off in one fell swoop. So let me know what you think!

I had some good beard growing.

This is my tough biker gang look.

Ready to play!

The Redemtion of Clint Mathis

There is a long story behind this but I will try to keep it short. For years I have heckled Clint Mathis, a professional soccer player. At one game, he had just gotten a yellow card for complaining to the ref. Sitting in the 10th row, well with in the range of my voice, I yell at him, "MATHIS! Quit Crying you baby!" He looks right at me and says, "F#@$ You!" and flips me off. Ever since then I have hated on him.

He recently got resigned by ReAL Salt Lake and I happened to be at the game. I made a sign. Oh I also happened to have field passes again.

He got subbed in and I yelled at him a bunch. After the game we had VIP access and Mathis comes walking out. I wanted to have him autograph my sign but was scared he might punch me in the face. He's quite a jerk on the field. I came down with a bad case of Patchitis and wussed out on all my chances to get his autograph so I took some candid photos.
There he is in the striped shirt.
So finally my friend Lydia goes up to him and says, "Could you sign my friends poster? You told him to F off once." Clint says, "I've said that to a lot of people," and smiles. He signs my poster.

Then we got the best picture ever!
He was super cool. I can say now that THE BEEF IS OVER! I won't hate on him anymore. I shall turn my heckles elsewhere. Thanks for being a cool dude Clint Mathis.

There is so much more that happened at the game that night that needs mentioning. We ended up with box seats that included a free buffet of Joe's Famous BBQ before the game.

Then we went down to the bean bag seats and threw out a bunch of mini balls to the 'regular' fans.
We got the first front row handicap parking spot. It was amazing. Everything fell into place. It's in the top 3 of the best games I have ever attended. So much fun!

Personality Profile...Part 5

This is the final chapter in the saga that is, Caleb Reeve's personality. I hope you've enjoyed the ride. I know its like 10 minutes of reading which scares most people away but for those of you who have decided to carry on and read, you know more about me hopefully. You know that there is more to me than just good looks and laughs.

Introduction to Extraversion

Some days you want to hang out by yourself, not answer the phone, and make the world go away. The next day you e-mail everyone, schedule lunch with a friend, and try to find an evening gathering to take part in. It may be the phases of the moon, or something you ate; some days are just like that. In actuality, your desire to be with others or to be alone reflects something deep in your personality. Some of us are more comfortable by ourselves or with one or two friends, while others of us crave the crowd and can't stand it when the house is empty or the phone doesn't ring. The following paragraphs describe your fundamental desires about being with other people; whether you are generally an outgoing person or more reserved, if you seek adventures with others, if you tend toward assertiveness or kindness.

When it comes to Extraversion you are:

SOMETIMES OUTGOING, SOMETIMES RESERVED

Words that describe you:

Moderate Amiable Laid-back Temperate Relaxed Poised Civil Uncommitted Pleasant

A General Description of How You Interact with Others

Lucky you! You enjoy your own company as much as you enjoy the company of others. You are a great conversationalist and thrive in the wonderful kinds of connections you know how to have with your family and friends. You also equally enjoy your own company, whether sitting in a favorite chair with your book and soft music playing or meandering in the woods by yourself. You like coming home to your family or your roommate; but if no one is home, you find quiet, solitary time to be just as pleasurable. What a great combination to enjoy being outgoing and to be just as comfortable being reserved. Lucky you!! Because you are so amiable and relaxed, you are comfortable with almost any group of family or friends. Whether they are pumped up and lively or calm and subdued, you remain at ease. If someone needs to take over the conversation, you are comfortable taking the lead; you can also lay back and let someone else be in charge. If the conversation gets rowdy, your moderate demeanor will often draw it down to a more temperate level. If someone in the group loses their cool, you will most likely maintain your poise, and if they get nasty you know how to keep a civil tongue. You may find yourself out of balance on occasion. If you're alone too much, you may need to get in touch with someone. If you spend too much time with your family and friends, you may need to sneak off for a day by yourself, to putter and read and clear your head of the noise of too much conversation. When you're at your best, you live with a rhythm of time with others, time alone, time with others, time alone It's a satisfying, comfortable balance. Lucky you!

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You

You may occasionally run into problems with other people. Since not everyone is as balanced as you are, close friends and family may get frustrated with you, or you with them. They may be more sociable and outgoing, and find you too laid-back and relaxed. They want conversations to be lively and passionate while you keep things amiable and civil. Or others may be more quiet and reserved than you, and when you're in one of your more animated moments they may wish you would back off. You may be ready to put more energy into a conversation than they are comfortable with. And your balance may be a problem. Other people may be consistently more sociable or more reserved than you, and find you to hard to read, some may even say you ride the fence. Others may find themselves envious of your ability to be outgoing at times, and at other times comfortably reserved. If you pay attention to pick up these cues you will be in a better position to know how you want to interact with such folks.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You

Most people will truly appreciate your flexibility in social situations. They will like you for your amiable warmth and your willingness to engage, and for your ability to sit back and let others take the lead or the spotlight. They will appreciate ways in which you temper what could become intemperate moments; by remaining poised and relaxed when others; temperatures are rising, you keep things civil and sane. You are as good at listening and following as you are at talking and leading, and people will often appreciate your ability to adapt to the situation. Because you are sometimes outgoing and sometimes reserved, you will make most people comfortable in your presence, and they will truly enjoy your company.

Personality Profile...Part 4

Hey now! Big word! Glad I'm not the one spelling it. Again, for a refresher course, this is the personality profile I got from eHarmony.com after I filled out their giant questionnaire. Still no matches. Its gotta be them, right? I mean, look how awesome my profile is...

Introduction to Conscientiousness

It's a work day, breakfast is over, and you're dressed and ready. So how will you approach the tasks at hand? Some people work best with a clear schedule, a set of priorities and a due date for every step in the process. Others are, shall we say, less regimented. They approach a task with as much imagination as organization, and with a willingness to bend and modify in order to exercise some urge of creativity. How about you? Do you walk in a straight line toward a clear goal, or are you more likely to dance your way down whatever path will get you wherever it is you're headed? The following paragraphs describe ways in which you approach the tasks life brings to you, and to what extent you are focused or flexible in how you choose to proceed.

Your approach toward your obligations is:

FOCUSED AND FLEXIBLE

Words that describe you:

Casual Informal Compliant Reliable Organized Solid Dependable Uncommitted Genuine

A General Description of How You Interact with Others

When you take on a task at work or at home, you are reliable; you get the job done. In an organized way, you define the goal, lay out a plan, figure how long the task will take, and get to work "solid and dependable you". But and this is important you're not a slave to the plan. You're committed to it, but not chained to it; the connection is more casual and informal. You know that sometimes "the best laid plans" fall off the tracks; when this happens, you clean up the train wreck and start over, undeterred. Though not happening often, when plans change, you're okay with it. In fact, sometimes you change the plan. It's too nice of a Saturday to finish organizing the garage. Let's go for a bike ride instead. True, the next rainy Saturday will likely find you back in the garage, but for now the work can wait. What an interesting combination of qualities in you're organized, but casual; solid, but compliant; and dependable, but informal. At home and at work, people know they can rely on you. You take great satisfaction in knowing that people think of you as disciplined and responsible, but you also know that you have something of a free spirit in you, and when this spirit moves you, off you go, following the impulse of the moment. You are rightly proud of your work ethic, but you also enjoy your willingness to lay the tools down, crank up the music and play like a child.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You

Some people live like Marines: duty-bound, disciplined and driven. To these people you might seem uncommitted; where they would never leave work for play or change plans in the middle of their life's forced march, you let the circumstance sway you and move in a different direction, and they don't understand. Others live like kites on a string, attached by thin threads to the solid ground of responsibility and are blown about by every gust of impulse or imagination. To these people you might seem too cowardly, like you'll flirt with your impulses but never give in fully, play on a Saturday but never blow of the entire work-week to "follow your bliss". While these Marines and kite-flyers might look down on you for your combination of focus and flexibility, others might be envious. They can't free themselves from a sense that they're not doing enough, or from the equally frustrating feeling that they're not free enough. And here you are with your accomplishments and your pleasures, getting the job done but also getting your hair blown back as you run with the wind. As far as these people are concerned, you're lucky you've got the best of both of the worlds in which they feel they fail.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You

What a great life you have, and a great attitude to boot. You know when to buckle down and push ahead to get the job done, and you do it well. You know when to lay the tools of your trade aside, grab your kite and head for the meadow where you can run with the wind. Many people will see and admire in you this lovely combination of a person who can focus, but who is flexible enough to know when to let the spirit move you in some new and livelier direction. It's a life they aspire to, and they delight in seeing it played out in your life. They may ask your advice and turn you into a mentor of the full and balanced experience. They will want to know how you do it, what the costs are, and if you get frightened that you're not working hard enough or playing often enough. They may make you think about your own life more than you have, so you can share it with those who want to emulate this balance between flexibility and focus. They may be correct lucky you!