It's been a while...

So it seems I haven't made good on my attempt to write on here more often. But since I am here now, I will attempt to update from where I last left off. December was definitely one of the craziest months to date in my entire life. There was so much going on and to top off all the normal holiday craziness, we kept 3 foster kids for 6 days over Christmas.(We are respite providers but this was our first go around with the whole thing.) After the first 2 days/nights, I thought for sure that we were going to have to call someone to come get the kids or we would be go mad. But, like anything else, we had friends step in and help us out big time, and then we started learning the ropes ourselves. By the time that they were to go back into regular foster care, it was difficult to give them up....well, 2 of them at least. lol. I think I would be crushed if I kept a kid for months and then had to give them up. But, I guess all we can do is provide them with everything we can during the short time we have them. So there's that. In other news, I am in the middle of the most successful diet of my life. I have now lost 21 lbs and am really starting to feel it. I work out at the gym 6 days a week and for the first time in my life, I enjoy doing that too. Mandy and I made a deal that when I lost 40 lbs, I could get a big flat screen TV, and I'm over halfway there! Anyway, that's about all we have time for right now, so until next time....

Currently listening to: Shane and Shane...and Andrea Bocelli

Soo....

Things are well. We have had snow on the ground for a couple days now; that always lifts my spirits for some reason...I just love snow. But with that it has been colder than tarnation the last couple days and it's looking like it will continue to be that way for a couple more days. Friday Mandy and I are going snowboarding for the first time in almost a year. Those of you that talk to me often will probably remember my snowboarding debacle from last year, but I'm feeling optimistic about this trip. We'll see. As far as the diet goes, I am down 7 lbs in 7 days which is always a good thing. We went to the YMCA last night and signed up for membership there and I was in working out at the crack of dawn today (5:15...a.m.) So hopefully that will help speed the process and give me a little more energy. That's about all for now, I'm due to eat here pretty soon so I better go see about that. : )

Currently listening to: Nothing...because my Pandora station keeps freezing up...bummer.

Christmas is in the air

So a lot has happened since my last post. As I spent a little time this morning trying to revamp the ole page here, I read back quite a bit and realized that this past year has FLOWN by. It seems like just yesterday that I was whining because Christmas was a whole 300 days away...now its like 23 days away.

Last week Mandy and I went on a little vacation to Jackson Hole, WY. It was Thanksgiving and since we weren't going to travel to see family, we figured we might as well just treat ourselves to some time off. It was excellent. Truly a beautiful place with lots to see and do (just not over Thanksgiving). Yes, its true there wasn't a whole lot going on, but that's what we wanted, we just wanted to get away and relax, read a book and hang out with the dogs.

I've started a new diet. Along with my aunt and some of her coworkers, we are doing the "Game On" diet. So far so good; I have lost about 4 1/2 lbs this week. I will keep you posted on how it continues to go. The rest of this month is looking pretty busy so I'm not sure how this will go as far as updating again real soon, but we'll see.

Currently listening to: Nsync (Holiday) station on Pandora Internet Radio

Normally I don't do these things...BUT

Since I was tagged by non other than THE K.T.G...I guess I will : )

I was tagged by KT at Playing for HIM Here are the rules:

1. Go to the fourth folder wherever you keep your folder.

2. Pick the fourth picture in that folder.

3. Post that picture and tell about it on your blog.

4. Pick four other people to tag.

5. E-mail those people and tell them that they are tagged!

This picture was taken in....2004 I think, during one of the many trips we took to Sparta to get away from the stress of College and The Liberty Way. Looks like a spring trip by the way we are dressed. But anyway, thats my backyard in Sparta. Good stuff. In the photo is Aaron "Goody" Goodman, Me, Joshua "Taco" Montanya, William Bradley "P.S." Maines, and Derek "Squatting Hamster" Hulsey. Man...those were the days.

Hello 2009

Wednesday marked the first day that I messed up the date on something I was writing. I was putting in a request for a day off and definitely put 2008 as the year. That always happens. Anyhow, the family is coming to visit this week and Mandy and myself are very pumped. I know the last time I posted there was a lot of dissension between me and snowboarding and now, against my better judgment, I am going again tomorrow night. The goal will be to exert my dominance over the slope. Notice I said slope, singular and not slopes, plural. Slope as in, bunny slope. That will be my poison. Anyway, I'm psyched about it. I'm really only doing this because Josh and Allie want to attempt snowboarding. Perhaps I will even take pictures this time. The Chargers play the steelers on Sunday....the winner advances, the loser goes home. Hopefully the Chargers will overcome. Thats all for now.

Currently listening to: Seeds Family Worship This stuff is awesome.

Ok, so I know I just posted yesterday and this is quite unlike me to post two days in a row, but I felt like I had to describe last night while it's effects are still wreaking havoc on my body. So, we get there and get our lift tickets, meet up with Pastor Jeff and Nathan (his son) and strap on the ole boards. (This was much more difficult than it sounds) When you get on the lift you have to unstrap on of your boots from your board, I'm not sure why this is, I just saw everyone else do it so I did it as well. Riding the lift for like 8 minutes getting to the top of the mountain was one of the coolest most relaxing moments ever. It was completely calm, the sun was just going down below the trees, there was snow in the trees and I felt almost as though I was looking at a painting. That was the hi-light of my evening because everything after that could be described much like an encounter between a 19 year old Mike Tyson and Webster (doesn't matter what age) in the octagon. I was Webster, the mountain was Mike Tyson. I should have known things were going to be bad when I bite it coming off the lift at the top of the mountain. Everything after that was down hill...literally and figuratively. I have to believe I set a mountain record because it took me just under 3 hours to get down one run (a run that was fittingly named "Spud.") When I finally got the bottom I was greeted by the entire group and I felt like I had just finished a marathon and was given the best news of the night: "so Joel, it turns out that the bunny slope IS open." When we first arrived, it was not...or so we thought. Anyway, I spent the last hour of the excursion conquering the bunny slope and actually went down it twice without wiping out. If anyone ever tells you that snowboarding is easier than skiing, punch them in the face. I couldn't even sleep last night because of the soreness in my body and the replays of wipping out going through my mind.
As I am writing this I looked down at my beverage can, its a Monster Energy Drink and there is a warning on it that says "consume responsibly - limit 3 cans a day." Wow...who can afford to drink 3 cans of this crap a day?
Currently listening to: David Cook

Tis the season...

Well, its official. The Christmas Season is over and now I must wait a whole 300 and some odd days till Thanksgiving comes back and thus propels me into the Christmas mode. Looking back over the last month I am very pleased with the way that things went with the transition to Idaho and mine and Mandy's first Christmas as a married couple. Tomorrow night we will celebrate the coming of a New Year together...joining in that celebration with us will be approximately 16 kids that will be staying at our house to help bring it in with a bang. This should be an interesting week. And tonight...oh tonight. I will be trying my hand at snowboarding for the first time ever. Next post I will give you the skinny on whether or not it's really easier than skiing.
Sometimes I would like to kill my dog...or wish that the chocolate would do it for me. If I recall correctly I mentioned the last episode that Manchu (the dog) had with the dark chocolate M&M's. Well it didn't kill him and apparently what doesn't kill dogs only makes them stronger. We come in from shopping the day after Christmas, low and behold, Manchu has somehow managed to get one of those massive 7 oz Hershey Kisses that Mandy's parents sent her and open it up and eat it. So this is the scene I walk into. I open the door, Manchu is sitting on the arm of the couch starring at me with crap all over his face. I look down at the floor to see the box that the Kiss came in torn to shreds. Then comes the search for the remainder of the chocolate kiss, I found it, hurled it across the room towards the trash can and then started yelling at the dog. Apparently for a while he treated the Kiss as he usually did one of his chew toys, slobbering on it, throwing it around the room, dragging it over the furniture, etc. There was chocolate on everything. Sometimes, I want to kill that dog. Oh yeah, and you know the foil that the kisses come wrapped in? We never found that. I guess he ate it too. Stupid dog.
Be sure to tune in next time for: "Joel pulls a Sonny Bono on the slopes."

Currently listening to: Ever Stays Red <---the are kinda punk/emoish but their lyrics are great.