Life is Mantastic

A little help, please

2011-09-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
Recently, I became involved with a local non-profit organization that you might have heard of. I somehow ended up on the steering committee for the Utah AIDS Foundation Walk for Life. Please take a moment and follow the link to my donation page. I have set a goal to reach $500. Every little bit will help.

Thank you
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/kylemantas/walkforlife

Wet, Hot Mess

2011-07-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hello all!!!

I am so sorry it has been so long since I updated you on my Quest for Kyle. To be honest, I haven't made much headway. I gave up soda there for a minute, then I realized that I was replacing the carbonated void with beer. Imagine my shock when I failed to lose any weight.

Never fear!!! Bikram is here!

A dear friend of mine has been raving about the benefits of doing Bikram yoga. For those of you who don't know what this is, allow me to explain. Bikram is basic yoga - done in a 120 degree room with an incredible amount of humidity. I had my first class a couple days ago and I loved it.

On the way to the yoga studio, my friend was giving me all sorts of tips and best practices.

"Keep your eyes open and focus on yourself in the mirror."

"Breathe through your nose."

"If you think you're going to fart, stand in the back."

She had prepped me the day before by warning that I need to be completely hydrated in order to survive. I drank at least 14 bottles of water throughout the day.

When we walked into the studio, it wasn't the heat or humidity that startled me. It was the overwhelming smell of curry. "Great," I thought to myself... "I get to work out while being constantly reminded of my love for Indian cuisine."

My friend instructed me to lay my newly purchased yoga mat on the line behind her. I let the mat unroll, hitting the ground with a thud - apparently disrupting the pre-meditative state of my fellow classmates.

I hushedly finished setting up and laid on the mat, waiting for class to begin.

Only three long minutes after class was scheduled to begin, a short, perky lady walked in with a Britney Spears microphone around her ear.

"Welcome friends. I hear we have some new friends among us. Raise your hands."

I followed the instruction.

"Hello new friends. What are your names?"

My fellow greenie was named Peter. It took all the energy I had left from laying in the extreme climate to audibly pronounce my name for the instructor.

"Your name is Ky?"

"Ye..."

Great. Class has been going for all of three minutes, and I've already lost my ability to articulate - that's all I had going for me up until this point.

And so we began...

My entire day before class was spent researching Bikram. I knew for damn sure that I wasn't about to wear the standard tiny shorts worn by my fellow yogies. I showed up in compression shorts, some gym shorts, and a dry-fit tennis shirt. Apparently I was overdressed...

During one of the starting poses the teacher looked at me and said "Maybe some shorter shorts next time? The shorter the better..."

Easy for her to say. Perky little thing.

Class continued, and I was feeling silly. That is, or course, up until the point where I almost passed out. I had been told before class that I shouldn't feel bad about needing to sit down during the class. Unfortunately, I am driven by competition and being a bad-ass (surprised?) and felt like sitting down would be unacceptable. My mind quickly changed when I felt the contents of my stomach attempt to cross my esophageal sphincter.

So I sat.

In sweaty shame.

The class continued around me, as I watched all of these super-humans fold and twist their bodies into previously unimaginable poses.

When I finally felt well enough to not vomit, I stood up and dove right back into the class. I only had to sit down two or three more times throughout the rest of the class.

Don't let what sounds like a miserable experience fool you. I loved it. I walked out of the room feeling a sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt since I lost my first tennis match. Though I was unable to complete all of the poses, I still felt incredible. I had found this previously untapped source of energy somewhere inside me. I knew I had accomplished something when I stared down the Taco Bell on the way home from class and had no desire for a bean n cheese burrito (with no onions).

The next morning, I practically jumped out of bed. Feeling renewed and amazing. I didn't need my usual morning RockStar (sugar-free, taurine-full, of course).

Needless to say (?)... I can't wait to go back.

Quest for Kyle

2011-05-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Announcing... The summer of change...

I'm calling it the Quest for Kyle, and here's what needs to happen.

August 23rd will be what I'm calling my "Golden Birthday." I am turning 23, on the 23rd... it'll only happen once.

So... to celebrate the occasion, I will be traveling with my besties to the happiest place on earth - Disneyworld! During our trip, we will be seeing my favorite artist (Andrew McMahon) perform. It's going to be amazing.

But, before I can celebrate, I need to make some changes...

I currently weigh more than I ever have. Ever.

My goal is to lose 30 pounds by August 15th.

I have successfully eliminated soda from my diet, and now it's time to step it up.

In order for the Quest for Kyle to be successful - I'm going to need the help of my friends. That being said, I have one simple request:

Don't let me go to dinner with you. I mean it.

The Year in Review

2010-12-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

I realize that this post is pretty vague and not entirely entertaining. The thing of it is, though, that I don't really care. This year was pretty much the best year of my life. It was the kind of year where I could literally feel myself growing (both physically and emotionally.) While not free of tragedy, there is nothing about 2010 that I would change.

Here's the low-down of what happened in 2010:

January:

New Year's Day - Told brothers that I'm gay.
Moved in with my new best buddy, Richie.
January 31st - Threw a sweet substitute party in lieu of my brother's wedding. I'm the best best-man there ever was at a wedding that didn't happen.

February:

Valentine's Day - Told my parents that I'm gay, received Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits album.

March:

My little sister turned twelve.
I went on a road trip to Disneyland/Something Corporate with my buds Richie and Melissa.

April-May:

First hangover?

June:

First experience at the Pride festival, see previous blog.
Solo road trip to Wyoming/Idaho.

July:

4th of July: first time introducing a boy to my parents and grandma. Quote from grandma - "Your friend is nice."

August:

Turned 22.

September:

Grandpa Wood passed away. He had a huge impact on the lives of many, all for the better.

October:

Started new position at the bank. Love it.

November:

Worked hard.

December:

Worked harder.
Reprised my role as "Santa Clause" at a friend's family Christmas Eve party, still hated Christmas.

2011 will be just as good, if not better.

Day 366

2010-11-20T08:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I received a beautiful text from one of my best friends.

"I'm proud of you. This year was amazing for you. I'm so honored to be friends with you and witness your growth. I love you. A lot."

The person who sent me this text is the first person that I came out to. A year ago, yesterday.

A lot has happened since that day. A couple days later, I went on my first date with a man. I wore the gayest outfit I had (argyle sweater, jeans, and nice shoes). We went to Brewvies (my first time at a bar) and saw "Where the Wild Things Are."

Irrelevant? Yes. Insignificant? Not to me.

I have learned a lot over the last year. Here are a couple highlights that I would like to share with the world:

Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I get to be a bitch.
Being out of the closet is not the equivalent of a degree in design.
Not everything matches.
I am not shaped by stereotypes.
People are usually ready for more than you'd think.

I guess, on the whole, I am one of the luckiest guys I know. Over the past year, I have met a lot of interesting people. Most of the guys I have met have not had the most supportive coming out experience. Sometimes I feel spoiled. I'm not sure what I did to deserve such wonderful people in my life, but I have no complaints.

Thanks for being great.

A Trio of Thought and Inspiration.

2010-11-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

First off, I love my mother. She's what I like to call " The Shit." Pardon the language, but mother wouldn't have it said any other way :) Hence, the awesomeness.

Secondly, I love this group with one-fourth of my heart. One of the greatest albums ever made, here is one of the highlight songs of the album. The album is "Lungs" by Florence and the Machine.

Thirdly, I caved and bought a Katy Perry album. If I wasn't out of the closet before, I certainly am now. Check out this video and welcome the inspirational thoughts.

An update

2010-11-07T16:28:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post something for quite some time now. Here is a list of topics that I have been wanting to blog about:

People who suck at driving.
Friends being awesome.
Family being awesome.
People who shouldn't be driving anymore.
Road construction.
Starting a new job (promotion!).
Honking my car horn.
Florence + The Machine.
Katy Perry (spelling?).
Thai food.
Angels in America.
Still being gay.
Political discussions with Grandma.
Crappy drivers almost killing me.
The Crazy Corn Maze.
Halloween [don't ask ;) ... ].
Honesty.
Dishonesty.
Night drives (when the crazies are off the road).
Scissor Sisters.
My first parking ticket (having nothing to do with me being a better driver than everyone else).
The pursuit of _______.

Obviously, I cannot be expected to write posts dedicated to each topic. Use your imagine, if you're really wondering how my life is going :)

Thank you and good night!

Becoming a Man

2010-09-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a condensed list of manly things I have done lately:

Joined not one, but TWO Fantasy Football Leagues and (until this week) dominated BOTH of them. My team names? The Superflies, and The Silver Mullet.
Attended an NFL opener party at a pub, starting the night off with a Bud Light rather than my usual Long Island.
Drove a truck with a nasty "Skin" window sticker on the back (please ignore the fact that I drove the truck to Ikea.)
Read Maxim, and enjoyed it.
Watched Summerslam.
Played on a softball team.
Started my second bowling team - "The Gutter-Done's"
Wore University of Utah garb in public and actively followed the score throughout the night, insulting the Cougars at every opportunity.
Shaved (and regrew) my beard in a week's time.
Potato-sack raced.
Wore a baseball hat.
Kissed a girl

Okay, that last one was a lie. . . I did kiss a boy though ;)

A Proverb

2010-09-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

Flake me once? - Head'n'Shoulders
Flake me twice? - You're infected

Tokyo Tea makes me super wise.

It Was A Matter Of Time

2010-09-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

I just need you to hear this.

. . . Like The Hulk

2010-08-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

I have been shredding my clothes lately.

Last Friday, as I was bending down to get into my car, I heard a sound that I am surprised I never heard sooner. It was the unwelcomed, but unsurprising sound of my pants ripping directly down the middle of my backside.

Peachy.

At first, I handled it well. These pants and I had been through a lot together. These were the same pants that I bought from Mr. Mac (a.k.a. God's haberdashery) before my mission. I have had them for just over three years (and 60-75 lbs) and was ready for them to leave my side.

But then it got worse.

I drove home and moon-walked inside with a random jacket from the back of my car covering my behind. I walked in and laughed about the incident with my mom and my cousin. While we were laughing at my expense, I sheepishly raised my arm behind my head to scratch an itch (or itch a scratch if you're a redneck). My mom started staring at my elbow and told me there was a hole in my shirt.

Damn.

By this point, I had had enough. My reaction was nothing short of "Hulk"-ish behavior. I bent my arm at the elbow and flexed. The hole on my elbow grew until I was able to rip my sleeve off from the elbow down.

For the sake of symmetry, I did the same thing to the other sleeve.

I then walked down the my brother's room and summoned the best Hulk Hogan impression I could muster. I grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled it apart, buttons and all.

I could tell it was going to be a good weekend.

The next day. I went shopping.

21 & Invincible

2010-08-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Since tomorrow is my birthday, I wanted to make a quick list of what I did while I was 21.

I camped in Circleville with some wonderful people who know what is important in life.
I drove to Denver with strangers and drove home with new family.
I met one of my musical influences - Andrew McMahon.
I witnessed a meeting of the gods when Elton John and Billy Joel joined forces in SL, UT.
I played keyboard for two musicals.
I bought a brand new car.
I came out of the closet.
I saw a billion movies.
I rediscovered my love of books.
I moved three times.
I played on a softball team.
I saw the Backstreet Boys perform.
I saw Ben Folds perform (with the Utah Symphony).
I ate brie and triscuits.
I got a tattoo.
I danced on two pianos simultaneously.
I toasted my brother at a night in his honor.
I went on a business trip.
I shot a big-ass gun.
I danced a lot.
I fell in love.

The Superhero

2010-08-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today is my last day of being 21. But yesterday was when the magic happened.

Last night, I had the wonderful opportunity of seeing one of my favorite performers with his old band. The wonderful Andrew McMahon brought the old boys of Something Corporate to Salt Lake City. I love Andrew concerts because I always get to see my fellow Fandrew McFan's and just enjoy the experience.

The concert itself was wonderful (of course), but nothing more to write about there.

The excitement began after the concert.

Myself and two of my dear friends made our way back to the car where we waited for my buddy and the girl he brought with him to buy shirts and come out. I got tired of leaning against the car and wandered by myself to a nice little stoop on the corner. I sat and thought and savored the night by myself for a moment or two. A nice ragged man greeted me with a "How's it going?" and walked past me up the stoop. He reached down and grabbed his sleeping bag and went to find another place to sleep. I felt pretty bad for inadvertently stealing a homeless man's turf, but I didn't really have time to beat myself up about it.

My two friends had a heated discussion about who knows what and one of them came over to join me on the stoop. I could see that she was fresh from a passionate discussion. She was in one of those places where she has hopelessly hopeful. That's the best I can do do describe it. After a couple heavy sighs the other friend made her way over to join us. Immediately after she sat down on the stoop, another man approached pushing a shopping cart. He asked us if we could use a drink. We politely/nervously declined and thanked him anyway. He wouldn't take no for an answer as he calmly reached into his cooler and pulled out three ice cold sodas. He gave us each a can (how did he know I love grade soda?) and started to talk.
"My name's Buck," he says, "remember my name. I recently got a $200 ticket for giving somebody a can of Pepsi at Pioneer Park. The policeman walked right past a crack dealer and a man with an open bottle of Vodka to give me a ticket for giving a homeless man a Pepsi. I'm going to court to fight it." He continued to tell us how it's only when we lose everything that we really have anything to give. He moved to Salt Lake to battle cancer that should have killed him 18 months ago. He was commissioned by a wealthy man to stay in a house and make sure the homeless don't sleep in his trucks. So now, Buck lets the homeless stay with him in the house. He talked about how the only thing in life that matters is love. "People don't say hi to each other any more." He said and his point was illustrated as a group of young people walked by with their heads down. All Buck likes to do is walk around downtown with his shopping cart, giving food/drinks to the needy.
I met a Superhero last night. One day I hope to see Buck again when I'm in a position to give him a hand.

Just to fill you in. . .

2010-07-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, an old friend of mine was noticing some strange facebook posts from me. She finally put the pieces together and realized that I have finally come out of the closer. She proceeded to ask me some questions (which I loved) and I wrote her back. I decided to post my response to her questions here so that anybody can read them. I really have no shame and will answer any questions that anybody might have. I just want everybody to realize that I'm still the same person, just a lot more comfortable in my own skin.

My response to her questions:

Let's face it. I've pretty much always known. I just felt that it was wrong. I thought that if I was obedient it would just fall off like a scab and I would be normal eventually. I even remember back in fourth grade feeling like I thought other boys were cute and thinking that there must be something wrong with me.
I finally acknowledged that it wasn't going away last fall. I was playing the keyboard for Little Shop of Horrors in Magna and found somebody that I thought would be worth pursuing. I remember actually saying out loud "I'm gay" while I was driving home from the play one night.
I dated that guy for a while, and started slowly coming out to very close friends and to my family. I told my brothers on new years and they were very accepting (and not really surprised). I told my parents late at night on Valentine's Day. The whole family has been really great about everything.
As far as my spirituality is concerned, I don't feel any less spiritual. I just channel my spirituality a little differently now. I obviously have left the church, but I don't feel any hostility toward any of its members. I understand that (most) of their concerns stem from a deeply founded belief that I have "chosen" condemnation and that can be hard for a lot of people to understand. However, I know that God would never make someone feel guilty about who they are. I suppose I COULD try harder. . . ya know, find some poor, innocent girl, hurry her to the temple and continue to suppress whatever instincts I might be feeling, but the risk of snapping later in life is too great and I don't see the need to involve somebody else in that.
My coming out journey has been rather pleasant. In fact, sometimes I wonder why I deserve just an easy road. My family is super understanding, I haven't really lost any friends. I have a wonderful boyfriend who is a huge part of my life. It's unfortunate, but in our community, not a lot of young men get to have such an easy time with this. You probably weren't aware, but within the last month, there have been 3 young, gay, mormon boys who have taken their own lives. Devastating.
Thanks for taking an interest, and if anybody asks you what's going on, perhaps you can educate them a little.
I miss you, but I consider you a lifer in the friend department.
Love You,
Kyle

Consider the towel thrown in.

2010-07-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

June has been a wonderful month of transition for me. Here are some of the highlights:

- PRIDE: I had the privilege of participating in the Pride Parade downtown as part of the Wells Fargo Corporate entry. I was the Green color captain. It really was such a great experience. I'm glad that I was wearing sunglasses for the parade because I actually got a little emotional when it started. My wonderful mother, sister, and brother joined me in the parade. As we set off on our march, we turned the corner onto the parade route and were greeted by a huge street lined with screaming supporters. I saw the hordes of support on the streets, then I turned to see the people I love the most at my side. It truly was a great moment that I will cherish forever. Thank you to all of my dear friends who joined me on the green team. Also, I am so grateful to work for a company that takes pride in me!

- The weekend after Pride was almost as great. Saturday after work, Ty and his girlfriend joined me for a drive to sunny Elko, Nevada to visit our cousin Hank. We checked in at our impeccably terrifying hotel/casino and hopped over to Hank's house for a little party. The next morning we had a lovely breakfast with my dear cuz Max and his family. One of those moments that should last a lot longer than it really did. Good times.

- I then headed back to Salt Lake, hopped in the shower, and hit the road again. This time I was alone. I headed up to Rock Springs to visit a friend and began my solo vacation for the year. I spent a lot of time alone in my hotel just writing. It was very therapeutic and I would recommend it to everybody. I stayed in Rock Springs for two nights then headed to exotic Montpelier, Idaho (10 miles north of Paris). The drive was beautiful and the little town was very picturesque.

- After two nights in Montpelier, I headed home to see my little sister's first performance in a play. She was the Shrew in "Taming of the Shrew". I have never been more proud of her. She slapped a boy (twice) during the play and I loved it. Hopefully she picked up a few best practices from the character she played.

- I BUZZED MY HEAD. I have always said that I don't want to be one of those balding gentleman who refuses to let go, so I did it. I have embraced my shiny scalp and I feel like it actually looks pretty good.

- After that, I just enjoyed an entire week off from work. I did absolutely nothing. I literally spent an entire day watching a season of America's Next Top Model and I am not ashamed of it. It was just what I needed to recharge my battery.

I loved June, and July is shaping up to be a great month as well. Perhaps I will update my blog more frequently. Perhaps I won't.

Play Ball

2010-05-26T16:18:00.001-07:00

Well, I avoided it for as long as I could, but the time finally came for me to play in one of my softball games. I somehow managed to find a reason to miss the first four weeks of the season, but ran out of options this time around. There was no escape.
A couple months ago, my brother, Todd, talked me into joining him and a bunch of his friends on a men's league softball team. Aptly named, The Hitmen, our team consists of Todd's besties from high school and their brothers, the three Mantas boys, and my all-too-willing buddy Richard. Excluding myself and Richard, the rest of the team has played before (at least, that is, within the last ten years). Before last night, I can't remember the last time I picked up a bat. . . Oh, wait. . . I can remember. My cousins and I used to challenge my grandpa's neighbor girls to softball games. My cousins always made me be on the girl's team. I remember being up to bat. The pitch came my way. I swung. Made contact. Then something hit me in the face. That's right. I managed to angle the my swing just right so that the ball smacked me in the eye right off the bat.
After hearing that story, you can see why I was so hesitant to finally show up for a game. . .
Well, I got to the field and thought I should probably warm up a little bit. Richard and I took our places next to the real athletes and began playing catch. We got more and more excited each time one of us caught it. Between each throw, I found myself making comments like "Isn't there a musical somewhere that I should be watching?", "Do I throw like a girl?", etc. . .
The time finally came for the game to start. My brother posted the batting line up and I waited anxiously in the dug-out for my turn. Luckily, we had our third out right before it was my turn to bat. This meant that I could get the first out of the next inning and feel okay about it.
They graciously placed me in right-field, and promised me that nobody ever hits it out there. Wrong. A hit rolled my way, apparently I did a good job stopping it and getting it back to the pitcher.
After that inning, it was my turn to hit. I marched up to the plate, making sure to shake my booty a little extra, hoping the other team would take it easy on me [why I thought a booty shake would insight sympathy? I will never know, but it's all I had]
Anyway, the umpire [or "blue" as I like to call him] said "play ball" and I raised a shaky bat over my shoulder. The pitch came slowly [the booty shake must have worked] and I swung. I made contact and the ball dropped to the ground five feet in front of me. Oh well. . . It was still in play, so I took off toward first base. I ran as fast as my chubby little legs could carry me. I was kind of slow, but once I started going, nothing could stop me [ a lot like that X-Man "Juggernaught"]. When I crossed first base, I tried to stop myself right on the base. My shoes had virtually no traction and my body kept going. I stopped moving my legs, but my top half advanced. I spun, lept, spun again, and fell to the ground. I rolled in the air to make sure I landed on my back. I hit the dirt and a shovel full of dirt made it's way down my shorts, which started making their way down my butt.
To add to my embarrassment, I wasn't sure if I was out. So I got up and walked to first base to ask the first base coach if I was out. He nodded and I made my triumphant return to the dug out.
Now, don't take this event as an indication that I was a failure for my team. Each of my three at bats ended with me hitting the ball. My 2nd up was a single, and I eventually made it to home on my 3rd.
It was a fun time, and I have no reason to be surprised by the way things turned out. I look forward to next week. I will be buying better shoes before then, so there will be nothing stopping me.
I am the Juggernaught.

My Favorite TV Show

2010-04-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

Yep. . . I'm a gLeek.

My Favorite Book

2010-04-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have been on quite a reading kick lately, so this question is more difficult to answer than it would have been a couple years ago. However, there is one book that will always be my favorite. Always. Most people make have a pained expression when I tell them that this book is my favorite, but I have my reasons, I promise.
My all-time favorite book is "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck. I think the reason most people get so uptight when I mention this book is because they were probably forced to read it for school. I had the privilege of reading the classic before it was assigned to me and it made all the difference. I would encourage everybody to revisit "Grapes", as well as any other piece of classic literature that may or may not have been ruined by unreasonable reading deadlines.

My favorite movie

2010-04-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm a kid who just loves to watch movies. It's probably my second most favorite thing to do. So, choosing a favorite is just about impossible.
Recently, I have taken to liking the work of Quentin Tarantino. I could watch the Kill Bill Vol. 1 once a week if I was able to.
However, the blog aid didn't ask what my favoriteS are. . . just one. So, without further ado, my favorite movie:
Here's a hint, it stars five girls from England in really large shoes. . .

Enjoy!

Blog Aid - My Favorite Song

2010-04-02T23:03:00.001-07:00

I got this list off of my dear friend Rachel's blog and I'm going to use it.
The first item on the list is to blog about your favorite song.

I have a couple favorite songs depending on my mood. When I am sulking, I like to listen to my boy Sufjan Stevens.

My favorite song to karaoke would have to be Madonna's "Vogue". Unfortunately, I can't find a video that will let me post it on this page. . . You should listen to it. I'm pretty excited that the Glee cast is releasing their own version of the song on April 20th.

Day 01 → Your favorite song
Day 02 → Your favorite movie
Day 03 → Your favorite book
Day 04 → Your favorite television show
Day 05 → Your favorite quote
Day 06 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 → A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 → A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 → A photo you took
Day 10 → A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 → A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 → A fictional book
Day 14 → A non-fictional book
Day 15 → A fanfic
Day 16 → A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 → An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 → A talent of yours
Day 20 → A hobby of yours
Day 21 → A recipe
Day 22 → A website
Day 23 → A YouTube video
Day 24 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 → Your day, in great detail
Day 26 → Your week, in great detail
Day 27 → This month, in great detail
Day 28 → This year, in great detail
Day 29 → Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 → Whatever tickles your fancy

My Summer Vacation

2010-04-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

I have been itching to do something awesome lately, but I haven't come up with any plans that would be awesome enough That is, until the other night. . . .
I have decided that I am going to have one of the best weeks of my life sometime in June. I am planning on taking at least a week off from work, going to a random small town hotel/bed & breakfast in another state, and locking myself away from my world during that time. Sounds crazy, I know. But, the plan is for me to spend most of the time writing. I don't know what I will have to show for it at the end of my trip, but I think it will be therapeutic for me.
The only think I have to pin down is this. . . where can I go that is isolated enough to not have too many worldly distractions, but still inspiring enough to help me come up with some good stuff. I am thinking of staying somewhere like Salmon, Idaho. The only problem with that is that I have stayed there twice already. I would like it to be somewhere new, somewhere in the northwest.
I am open to suggestions :)

SoCo in SoCal

2010-03-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

Alright ya'll. I'm going to attempt to add photos to a blog post. This is huge for me.

Last weekend, I went on an epic road trip with two of my dearest friends (who just happen to me brother and sister). Melissa, my c
oworker, and Richard, my roommate, accompanied me on the best road trip ever. Our final destination was the Bamboozle Festival at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, featuring Story of the Year, Orianthe, and most importantly - Something Corporate. My friends and I are starting to make a habit out of travelling to see any concert involving Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate's frontman).
I will now walk you through our trip.
Day 0ne:
We started our drive. My new car did a great job. We met up with Richard's coworker and her husband (who I went to high school with) in Scipio and caravaned with walkie-talkies the rest of the way to Vegas. Alissa was kind enough to let us stay at her parents house in LV. Her dad entertained us with some brilliant piano playing and singing.
That night, we wandered the strip aimlessly and ended up buying discount tickets to see the Blue Man Group. This show is amazing. Period. During our time on the strip, we made sure to catch a Bellagio water show. The song they played was "Singin' in the Rain." For whatever reason, it made me really emotional. I remember thinking that if the song went on any longer I might have shed a solitary tear.
Day Two:
The next day was Friday. We hit the road early so we could soak up as much of the California sun as possible. We drove straight to Newport beach. Melissa and Richard set up a blanket and played frisbee for a bit while I walked up and down the shops at Newport. I bought a t-shirt, a shot glass, flip-flops and a towel. You know, beach essentials. Unfortunately, none of us planned to bring our camera to the beach so we don't have any pictures. My favorite part about the beach was walking by myself into the water fully clothed and letting the waves hit me. It was an incredible experience. I only regretted it a little bit when I couldn't wear those clothes again for the rest of the trip.

Friday night we just played in our hotel room. Other pictures were taken involving make-up that I will not be posting. If you are curious enough, check facebook. I was mercilessly tagged in all of them.

Day Three:
Saturday was the day we had all been waiting for. We woke up early, enjoyed our continental breakfast, then hit the streets on our way to DISNEYLAND!!!
We were masters of the fast pass and had knocked many of the classic rides off of our list by the time the crowds arrived. It was enjoyable, of course. Unfortunately, my lame, old-man-ness made me get a little bit sick. I endured as long as I could, long enough to ride the Tower of Terror. Then we decided to call it a day.

Day Four: Sunday was the day of the Bamboozle festival. Late Saturday night, we were joined in our hotel room by a couple of friends or Richard. The next morning, we all woke up and showered. Then we checked out of the hotel room and went to a park to hang out. I stopped at Target and purchased a book to read. "The Cather in the Rye" is the book I bought and I immediately fell in love with it. I lounged on the blanket with my cheez-its, ipod, blackberry, and book and was undisturbed for a good portion of the time.
Since I only went to the festival to see Something Corporate, I spent most of the time there reading my new book. I was definitely the only person at this punk-rock festival rockin' it with a classic novel. Something Corporate performed and is was incredible. Then we hit the road for our thru-the-night drive home. We got back to SLC at 9 the next morning.
The trip was exhausting but we did SO much. I had a wonderful time and am grateful for such great, adventurous friends. This is the sort of thing people my age are supposed to do. I liked it.

Ten Things I Couldn't Live Without

2010-03-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

I apologize in advance. . . I was ambitious with the font size on this one. . . Still haven't mastered this website. . .
Okay, I admit it. . . . I stole this idea from the blog that I stalk the most (thank you Mrs. Jones).
Since, I suck at blogging of my own accord, I thought it wise to borrow someone else's idea. . . So here it is. . . My detailed list of the Top Ten Things I couldn't live without in no particular order:

1. Independence. . . not in a Glenn-Beck-creepy-patriotic way (don't get me wrong, I love America). . . but the independence to which I refer is on a much more personal level. I have finally reached a point in my life where I can say that I am completely independent.

1. Music. . . Without it, my heart has no beat.

1. Family. . . My new-found independence has helped me realize that my family is incredible! I have recently dropped some bombshells on my dear parents. Fortunately, their soft hearts have muffled any explosions.

1. Sandstone. . . Random addition to the list? I don't think so. . . Without sandstone, there would be no Zion National Park. . . without ZNP, there would be no holiday from real :)

1. Bowling. . . There are few games involving balls at which I excel. . . bowling is a part of this elite club.

1. The Beatles. . . Since the release of The Beatles Rock Band, I have taken my respect for the Fab Four to a new level. . . I could try to explain further, but you wouldn't understand.

1. Billy Joel and Elton John. . . My first memory of music that wasn't country goes like this. . . On several occasions, I would ride in the back seat of my dad's old chevy pick-up. (It had wooden drink holders, and a sticky spot on the passenger seat where he spilled a Dr. Pepper.) My dad had a Billy Joel cassette. The album was "the River of Dreams." Track number 9 ends with an inspiring rapid drum-fire. My dad would always make sure to halt whatever conversation was going on just in time to turn the radio up so we could feel the drum solo. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Billy Joel/Elton John concert. . . It changed my life, but not how you think it would. Billy didn't play the song that I remember most, but being there made me go back to that truck to salvage the memory. I have since purchased the CD of that album and I refuse to allow conversation for the last 30 seconds of track #9.

1. My feet. . . I've had to be quick on them a lot lately.

1. Brothers. . . a.k.a. best friends.

1. Minds (both open and closed). . . You can learn a lot about somebody by throwing something big at their head and waiting to see if the thing you threw is welcomed into their brain, or if it just bounces off a closed door.

Captain Jack & Tiny Dancer

2010-02-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend, I achieved one of my life goals. There are few things that I absolutely have to do before I die and I did one of them this weekend.
I saw Billy Joel and Elton John in concert on Friday night and my life will forever be changed. To be in the same room, no matter how large, with people who have shaped music so much was amazing. To see the two gods of piano rock sit key-to-key was incredible.
To make things even cooler, I got to see the concert from a sweet suite directly above the stage. I have never been in one of those little-rich-people-boxes before and I'm sorry to say that I hope to never have to sit anywhere else at the Energy Solutions Arena. The seats had cushions, the view was incredible, and there was an unlimited supply of mozzarella sticks and coke.
Since my ticket was gifted to me, I justified the expense of buying a concert t-shirt ($40 . . . ) and a Billy Joel keychain ($10 . . . ). Expensive? yes. Worth it? yes again.
I am sorry that I never post pictures on my blog because the shirt is pretty sweet.
On my way to the concert, I mentioned that the only concert that could possibly top this would have to be Michael Jackson, after his death. Since that's never going to happen, I can officially say that I have seen the best concert imaginable.
Unfortunately, this means that all concerts from here on out will pale in comparison to my heroes: Elton and Billy.

I told you you'd miss me. . .

2010-01-11T22:12:00.001-08:00

Dear Everyone,
I apologize for leaving you all hanging out there in the blogosphere. My bad for not posting for about nine months.
Here is a quick update on my life since we last spoke:
In April, I moved out of my parents house and down to Provo.
In May, I kept living in Provo and still liked it.
In June, I vacationed in my new favorite city - Seattle. It is seriously one of the coolest places I have ever been. I would love to settle in Seattle someday.
In July, I lit some fireworks and went on a blind date with a girl who was incredibly tall. It's sad, but that's all I remember from July. Oh yeah, my best buddy, BigCat (Jordan) came home from his mission in July. That was good for me.
In August, I turned 21 (finally) and moved into another apartment in Provo with said best buddy. I also began taking classes at UVU. I declared myself as a Communication major but didn't take any comm classes.
In September, I started liking Provo again. . . briefly.
In October, I had the honor of travelling to Denver with a coworker and some new friends to see one of my all-time favorite performers :Andrew McMahon (lead singer of Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate). My friends and I won a contest where we got to go in early to the show and meet the star.
October held other great things for me. After my car broke down, preventing me from a trip to Idaho, I got roped into playing the keyboard in a band for the play "Little Shop of Horrors." It was a great experience and reminded me how much I love performing.
I also bought a new car in October. (apparently it was a big month)
In November, my dislike for Provo returned with a vengeance. I decided to throw in the towel and began searching for someone to buy my contract.
In December, I did my best to get through Christmas without beating anybody up. I decided this year to give the holidays a second chance. It really wasn't too bad. Some of the highlights include: helping the Burgeners decorate their Christmas tree, drinking sparkling cider, and playing Santa Clause at the Trayner family Christmas Eve party.
Now that it is January, I find myself in an entirely different place. I moved home temporarily and now I live on my own again. I am renting a room in a house with 5 guys in South Salt Lake (Millcreek). One of my roommates is a new friend from 2009 and I'm enjoying my time here. Rent is super cheap and I have my own room. The best part is that I don't live in Provo anymore.

So that's my update. I will try to blog more frequently in the coming months but I can't make any promises. My life just isn't that exciting.

Praying for Tuberculosis?

2009-03-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

As you all know, I have been suffering from a mysterious medical conditon for well over a year now. It has been seven months since I last saw a doctor for it, so I decided to find a new urologist to get a fresh perspective.
My search was made surprisingly easy when I received a list of health care providers from my insurance company. I randomly chose a urologist in the valley.
My appointment was today. I was really nervous because these things usually involve some awkward moments. Strange enough, the doctor just talked to me. He looked over my history and is pretty sure he knows what is wrong. His guess? tuberculosis. That's right. . . TB. The same disease that claimed the lives of thousands of people in the 18 century. Just my luck, right? To be honest with you, I'm relieved. They still have more tests to run, but I really hope they have finally found out what is wrong. I'm ready to move on.

Ode to February

2009-03-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

February has always boggled my mind. It's probably the coolest month out there. It just does what it wants. It's noticably shorter than all the other months but is filled to the brim with awesomeness. The word "february" alone is evidence enough of its greatness. Just to make sure February stays cool, every once in a while it decides to have an extra day. I think we could all learn some valuable lessons from the month of February.
You likely didn't notice, but I haven't blogged since the first of February. Being that it is now the first of March, I think I will just touch on the highlights of my favorite month.

I was in training all month long for my new position at the bank. The training takes place at a big building out by the airport. This building just happens to be home to the best *cafeteria ever.
President's Day always happens in February. Question: Who doesn't love President's Day? Answer: Wells Fargo (we were the only bank open).
Valentine's Day is another holiday that calls February "home." This year all my friends that are around happened to be girls. They decided to have a "Anti-Valentine" Party (more accurately named "Party of Hate"). I'll admit, I was a little depressed that I was potentially going to have to spend the day alone. Instead of being pathetic, I took the high road. I spent the morning working with the missionaries. Then I took a break and Gavin DiFran and I went laser-tagging. After that, I went with some different missionaries to the temple open-house. It was a great Valentine's Day.
February 23rd was my half birthday. Since I am so much younger than everybody else in my class, I have always openly observed my half birthday.
The best part about February 2009 has got to be my NEW CAR!!!! I bought a 2008 Dodge Caliber. It's sexy silver with black trim. Inside it has tons of room (I can even sit all the way up and not touch the ceiling with my head). The coolest feature of my new car? Inside the glove box there are grooves where you put up to four beverages. The air-conditioning then kicks in and cools the beverages. That's right. There is a cooler in my glove box.

Ideally, all of this information would have been spread out over the last four weeks. But I'm lazy, and a procrastinator. So here it is.

*No weight was lost during the month of February.

Landmarks

2009-02-01T09:33:00.001-08:00

In the last month, I have reached a lot of interesting landmarks in my life.

My car reached 100,000 miles. My little Hyundai that could. . . did.
I finally weigh 200 lbs. Who is the biggest loser now, suckas?
January 30th was the anniversary of my first documented evidence of any sort of medical condition. I remember it like is was yesterday. My companion, Elder Clements, and I were walking through the foggy Belgian streets. We were heading to a dinner appointment with the nicest family ever. I remember turning to Elder Clements and saying, "Elder, righty doesn't feel so hot." Happy anniversary.

Already Disappointed.

2009-01-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

Anybody who glanced at a tv today knows that it was Inauguration Day. The day when the mantle of the presidency shifted from tired shoulders to the "shoulders of change." I am an Obama supporter and have been from the start. However, I find it hard to not be disappointed by what I saw today.
What upset me most was the fact that all of the festivities of the day came off like a really boring red-carpet special. I don't even want to know how much money was spent on the goings-on today. I also hate the fact that celebrities such as Ashanti were interviewed wearing skanky award-show dresses. This is an inauguration people- put on a jacket.
Our country is in a pretty serious bind here. We have money. . . or do we? I hate to think who could have benefited from the funds wasted today.
I still have faith in my boy Obama. I'm just sad is all.

Denied. . .

2009-01-15T05:53:00.000-08:00

Well friends. Plans have changed again. I'm okay with it this time, mostly because it wasn't my choice. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I was not accepted at BYU. It's no biggie though because I recently received a promotion that would have prevented me from going to Provo anyway. So now I am a Banker at Wells Fargo.
This is even better than my original plan for the following reasons:

I can keep my beard and not feel guilty for being in violation of the Honor Code.
I don't have to kick my mild swearing habit.
I can enjoy a little bit of extra money while I do online classes and night school.
I won't be throwing money away by paying rent.
I still get to hang with all my friends who live in the SL valley.
I won't be looking over my shoulder everytime I accidentally blurt out "That's what she said."

I'll be honest, I didn't really think I would get into BYU- but it was worth a shot.

Heckled

2008-12-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, I was given the honor of playing the piano for the Oquirrh Elementary School Fifth Grade Christmas Program. I thought this would be a fun thing to do. Preparations began a couple weeks ago and I immediately learned (and improved) various arrangements of songs like "Holly Jolly Christmas" "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" "Rudolph" and "Let There Be Peace On Earth". A couple days before the program, I was informed that I was expected to have "a little something" prepared for while the kids walked on and off the stage. I decided I would just take my big Christmas songbook and find something easy to play.
The program itself went well. I had a great rendition of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" for while the kids came in. The actual program went very smoothly. My confidence was firm.
Then it was suddenly over. I scrambled through my big songbook to find something for the exit. "Jingle Bell Rock" caught my eye.
I figured, since it's technically a jazz song, it wouldn't really matter if I missed a couple notes here and there. I thought I was doing a great job having never played that song before. Apparently I was wrong. Some redneck in the back row shouted "Come on, Piano." At first I thought I was just hearing things. Then I realized that my take on a Christmas classic was offending someone.
So I stopped playing. Looked around. Stood up and left.
This experience is now the newest addition to my Anti-Christmas arsenal.

In Conclusion. . .

2008-12-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

I realize that if one were to read through my previous blog posts, they would encounter two or three posts talking about some sort of "life-changing" decision. Here's another one.
These last few weeks, I have been tossing around the idea of going back on a mission. It's still hard for me to shake the thought of "where would I be right now?" and "where SHOULD I be right now?".
Well, I made up my mind. I decided I am going to try to go back. If I tried, I would know whether or not it was meant to be.
Unfortunately, not long after having made that decision, the exact opposite occurred. My body gave me a gentle reminder that I am not quite at full capacity.
So, I am here to stay.
I know what you are thinking. Deciding to stay in one place is no life-changing decision. You're right. The part about my life changing is more about the way I view my situation. I have made every effort to return, but it's just not meant to be.
The next step? Find a good reason to be here. This one shouldn't be hard.

Quirky

2008-11-25T21:26:00.000-08:00

My dear cousin, Kylie (from Connecticut) tagged me. So here are six of my many quirks:
1. I sometimes get the overwhelming urge to shake my right hand violently. Knowing that such behavior makes me look a little crazy, I usually channel the energy by rapidly rubbing my hands together. You may or may not have noticed.
2. I waste at least twenty minutes a day at work focused on facing my money, and everybody else's. I also spend at least ten minutes after playing any board game that involves cards. This time is spent turning all the cards the same way.
3. Cheap lotion makes me uneasy.
4. I refuse to fill my gas tank up without washing my front and back windows. Even if it is raining, the windows need to be washed. I would only regret it if I didn't.
5. It is impossible for me to fall directly to sleep. I get up to use the bathroom one last time approximately fifteen minutes after I lay down. This was a big problem for the first bit of my mission because I slept on the top bunk and it was hard to get up and down without shaking the whole bed.
6. I always sit indian style.

Some Like It Hot

2008-11-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful ideas of how to cope with the lack of heat in my car. I am pleased to announce that you need not worry about me any longer. Thanks to my cousin Derrick, my car now has heat. Apparently, when my other cousin installed the cd player he did a really bad job. So Derrick went in and re-did everything. What a champ.
If anybody ever wants to ride in my sweet, warm Hyundai Elantra, you know where to find me ; )

Say 'No' to Snow!

2008-11-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

To all you over-zealous snow fans, I have a one thing to say: No.

I'm just not ready. If any of you have ridden in my car lately, you realize that snow is not good news for me at this time. I have no heat in my car. In fact, cold air is constantly blowing from the vents. No heat means my windows fog up really easily. I literally hold my breath as long as I can while I drive to work. If I want to be able to see, I have to turn on the defroster which blows more cold air. It's also really hard for my to shift since I have to be bundled up pretty tight. My rear passenger window is also stuck rolled down about a half-inch. My cd player doesn't play CDs if they are too cold so I have to use friction to heat up the discs before I can listen to them.

The snow also throws off my lunch schedule. I usually walk across the parking lot to Albertson's where I buy a yogurt and some noodles. The only dress shoes I have are the same shoes I wore on my mission. Although I didn't make it two years, I still managed to wear holes in these shoes.

I drive to work in my ice cube of a car. Then I get my feet wet just walking from the car to the bank. My feet are finally dry just in time for me to walk to pick up my lunch. By the time I leave work, it's already dark and my windows are frozen once again. I have to start the whole CD rubbing process all over again.

I'm not complaining, but. . . . okay, I'm complaining. If anybody has any cheap ways to stay warm (other than the obvious answer of fixing my heater) let me know.

Please, Mr. Postman

2008-11-01T23:31:00.001-07:00

It has recently occurred to me that most of my friends currently serving missions are entering the final phase of their two years. This can be a tough time for most missionaries (or at least that's what I hear.) A lot of missionaries start to feel like their loved ones have either forgotten about them or have just moved on. There is a lot of uncertainty concerning who will be around when the missionary gets home. It makes me sad to think that my buds in the field might be experiencing these feelings.
For this reason, I am calling on anyone and everyone who knows a missionary in the field. It's time to write that missionary. Let them know that you haven't forgotten about them. I'm sure everybody who reads this can think of at least one person who might enjoy a letter from them. If you are having trouble thinking of a missionary to write, I would be happy to remind you of a couple.
You might find yourself making excuses, such as "We weren't really close friends" or "I have nothing interesting to say". However, I have witnessed the miraculous change that can be brought about when a missionary sees something in his mailbox.
It's not even hard to write to missionaries anymore. Just use dearelder.com.
I trust you'll do the "write" thing.

If Only I Took Steroids

2008-10-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

Kyle is mad. Very Mad.
When Kyle signed up at Gold's Gym, he was under the impression that he wouldn't have to make his next payment until November 25th. Just to double check, Kyle even asked the girl at the gym when his next payment was due about two weeks ago. She confirmed that it was due November 25th.
My account was debited this weekend by Paramount Acceptance (Gold's Gym's spy name) and I am not pleased. It overdrew my account. When I called the corporate number to ask what is going on, she tried to tell me it is "in my contract." When I signed up for the account, the guy never said anything about my payments being automatically debited. Needless to say, I am a little annoyed.
I gave Gold's Gym the benefit of the doubt when I signed up. Working at a bank, I get a lot of complaints from customers who were debited without giving permission. I would venture to say that about 4 out of 10 of these circumstances involved Gold's Gym. This unofficial statistic was in the back of my mind while I was getting the hard sell from the rep at GG. I should have known.

The New Plan

2008-10-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
As most of you know, my life is currently at a crossroads. I have a lot of options on my plate, but I'm having a hard time getting a grip on my silverware.
Not any more.
I have reached a decision. An important one. I have finally chosen a school and pinpointed when I will be going. It seems perfect. Now all I have to do is apply and get accepted.
The school I will be going to starting Summer of 2009 is . . . . Brigham Young University in Provo.
Now, this might come as a shock to some of you (cough-Landon-cough), but I feel right about this. When I first got home from the mission, my plan was to go to BYU. For some reason, I had a hard time committing to that plan. This last week, I was experiencing what I am calling a "higher sensitivity" thanks to my solo road trip. This is when it occurred to me that BYU is the best place for me to be.
So, I will continue to work for Wells Fargo and will eventually transfer down to Provo. Then, in the fall, my boys Steve and BigCat will be back from their missions and we will live happily ever after in what will easily be the most happenin place in P-town.
Thanks for caring.
Kyle
PS- Although I will live in Provo, I refuse to let that place get the best of me. I will still be liberal. I will still wear bright red neck-ties. And I will still refuse to jog outside.

Boy's First Baby Shower

2008-10-18T22:53:00.000-07:00

Today, I made history.
I work with a lot of cool people. For example, my Service Manager, Darci, is probably the best "boss" anyone could wish for. She is just amazing. She is also pregnant. . . very pregnant.
Since my coworkers and I love Darci so much, we decided to throw her a Baby Shower. I know what you're thinking: Baby showers are not for boys. But do you know what I say to that? This is the new millenium.
So my fellow Lead Tellers and I set to work planning a Co-Ed Baby Celebration (we weren't allowed to call it a shower since that would repel the not-so-forward-thinking guys at work). I actually contributed quite a bit to the plans. This was surprising since I have never been to a baby shower. I did most of the shopping for food and supplies. I made the invitations. I even swept the porch of Katey's apartment so we could hold the event there. However, my greatest contribution was the activity. . .
I bought a bunch of onesies and baby t-shirts, and some fabric paint. Each guest at the celebration got to decorate a onesie for the baby. Some chose to put funny sayings such as "I'm not chubby, I'm 'phat'" and "Let's face it, it's time to call Grandma." Others decorated with smiley faces, and stars. Then there were the more original creations (all created by males): Jason turned his onesie into a cow. The bottom piece was painted red so when you unsnap it, it looks like the cows tongue. Joe put a "T-Stamp" on his. (A T-stamp is a special stamp we have to put on high transactions). I chose to make mine something that would remind Darci of me every time she saw it. I drew a french flag and wrote "oui oui" under it.
We also played candy bar memory and opened presents.
I was told repeatedly that it was one of the best baby showers the guests had been to. I am now considering "Baby Shower Coordinator" as a possible career move.
If any of you are pregnant, or know somebody who is, I would love to share my expertise throughout the shower planning process.

Trip Self-Discovery: Successful?

2008-10-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

These last three days have been awesome. Here's what happened:
On Monday morning I woke up and hit the road. I go to Cedar City at roughly 11:41 am. I met my friend Kate at the Pastry Pub for some lunch. I ate the best turkey croissant I have ever had.
I then set out for Zion National Park. This is, by far, my favorite place on the planet. It was so cool to see the park alone. I met a lot of awesome french people and had some good talks. I also took some sweet pics (too bad my computer sucks or I could upload some).
Then it was off to St. George to settle down for the night. I got all checked in to my hotel. Then I hit the outlets. I found a sweet shirt/tie combo for only $30.
The next morning, I went to the St. George temple. After a session, I took more sweet pics.
Then I was back on the road, headed to Manti. On the way, I passed Cove Fort and decided to take a tour. It was so cool. I was the only person there other than the missionaries. I got the VIP treatment and was given my own tour. Again, more sweet pics were taken.
I arrived in Manti with enough time to head straight to the temple. The Manti Temple is definitely my favorite and I will hopefully be married there. The people of Manti are just so nice.
Then I drove to Ephraim for some really good pizza and bread-sticks.
The next morning, I woke up to take some more pics of the temple. Then I headed to Provo. I didn't have to be there until 2:30, but I got there at 11:30. So with three hours to kill, I went to the Provo temple. I was done there by 1:00 so I got my book out ("The Miracle of Forgiveness").
After some good reading, I decided to take more pictures. I finally got one with me in it. I probably looked like an idiot setting up the timer, pushes the button, then sprinting across the temple courtyard to get on my mark in time for the flash.
Then I went to the MTC to volunteer for a couple hours. I love missionaries and I still wish I was on a mission.
I'll be honest, I'm a little disappointed in the "self-discovery" results of my trip. I had a good time, and it was great to be alone for a bit. But, I don't feel more enlightened than I was before. The only decisions I reached aren't even heavy issues on my mind. I accidentally stumbled on a couple names for my unborn sons. Oscar Jack, and Oliver (middle name here). It wasn't a complete failure.

Day 1: Trip Self-Discovery

2008-10-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well friends, tonight is the would-be first night of my self-discovery trip. Unfortunately, when I set off on my trip, a little bit of a blizzard blew in. So I decided to turn around. I plan on leaving tomorrow morning now.

Goodbye cruel world (I'll be right back)

2008-10-11T22:07:00.000-07:00

Friends and loved ones,
Those of you who know me know how much I love solitude and independence. Tomorrow I am fulfilling a life long dream of going on a vacation. . . all by myself.
Just so nobody worries too much about me while I am gone, here is my itinerary:
Tomorrow (Sunday) night I well arrive in Cedar City where I will stay with some friends from college. I will wake up Monday and do lunch with some old school buddies. Then I will be heading further south to St. George.
On the way to St. George, I plan on stopping at Zion National Park to see some scenery. Don't worry, I am not going to do any long hikes by myself. I am brave enough, but not stupid.
After a couple hours in Zion I will continue to St. George. I will check-in to the Days Inn. (I have always wanted to stay at a hotel by myself.) I will probably spend the night reading and recording my thoughts in my handy-dandy notebook.
Tuesday morning, I will head to the St. George Temple for some long-needed recharging. Then I will get back on the road and head to Manti.
Hopefully I will get there in time to do some more temple work. I will eat dinner in Ephraim at Roy's Pizza (a.k.a. "Fat Jack's"). I will also make a stop at the Penny Candy Store to fill up on Fruitie's, SlapSticks, and Candy Tools. Then I will retire to my room at the Temple View Lodge in Manti.
Wednesday morning, depending on how awake I am, I will go to the Manti Temple again. Then I will head to the Provo MTC to do some volunteering with the french-speaking missionaries. Then I will head home.
I am pretty excited for this trip. I plan on doing a lot of soul-searching. I have a couple things that really need to be sorted out and this is when I plan on taking care of that.
Lots of people have asked that I check in frequently so they know I am okay. I will not do that. If you are concerned about my well-being, shoot me a text and I'll probably respond. Don't panic if it takes a while. Part of the purpose of this excursion is to be alone.
I love you all and will see you on Wednesday.

KySpace

2008-10-10T07:37:00.001-07:00

I logged into my old MySpace account the other night and found all of my sweet poems that I wrote in 2006/2007. I thought some of you might like to read a couple so I think I'll periodically repost them here on my blog.
This one is my favorite one:

there once was a diver
who would fall in search of joy
only when he hit the water did he realize...

there once was a climber
who crawled in search of life
only when he scaled the summit did he realize...

there once was a writer
who slept in search of thought
only when he awoke did he realize...

...the diver, you see, found his prize at the floor
where someone had left it who needed it no more

...the climber looked down and he saw what he'd left
his climb was over. he took a clean breath.

the writer awoke and frantically scrolled
fragments of dreams that his mind couldn't hold

the diver cried
the climber died
the writer felt better, but kept it inside

Faith in the Midvale Emergency Response Team

2008-10-06T06:06:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, this past weekend was General Conference. Thousands of skirts and slacks were spotted all over the valley. By Saturday night, the skirts were excused and the slacks gathered in Stake Centers to watch the General Priesthood Session.
This year, I attended the Priesthood Session at my friend, Landon's Stake Center. The Conference was going as usual. There were no surprises in the speakers' comments encouraging the respect of women, and avoiding pornography. I confess, I was starting to doze off.
While my head was nodding, I heard a strange breath from two rows in front of us. I looked up so see a man get very tense while turning to the man next to him with a look of terror in his eyes. He was having a seizure.
The commotion drew the attention of nearly all the Priesthood holders in the room and a small group helped the man without saying a word. I was amazed at the way they seemed to move together, almost like they were responding after years of drills. They helped him to the floor and continued to aid the man.
Many of the spectators were reaching for their phones when we all saw that one man already had his up to his ear. We all knew that the paramedics had been called.
They say that time moves slower at a time of crisis. I am not sure if that is what happened in that church. At one point, Landon turned to me and pointed out that the paramedics were taking a really long time.
Eventually, a lone paramedic woman strolled in carrying some equipment. She was followed by one or two of her colleagues.
I found the whole situation somewhat surreal. It is interesting to see the contrast in the response of the "normal" guys seated around the victim and the delayed response of the paramedics.
Granted, nobody knows if there was a more pressing emergency somewhere else.
Conference was generally a faith-promoting experience. However, this time around, I lost a little faith in the emergency response system in this community.

Pardon My French

2008-09-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mes amis,
Recently I have been really craving some good french conversation. Unfortunately, here in Utah, there is not a lot of opportunity for some good "parler".
I got so desperate for french that I starting reading "The Bourne Identity". There are a lot of random phrases in the dialogue, but it just isn't enough.
I work at a bank and I always get jealous when my Spanish-speaking co-worker gets to speak his mission language with the customers. Or, at least, I USED to be jealous.
The Starbucks by my bank recently hired a cool girl from Minnesota. She studied in Quebec, thus she speaks excellent french. She comes in a couple times a week to make the deposits and I get so excited each time. It's so much fun to watch everybody turn and look when they hear such a beautiful language.
She has been coming to the bank for a couple weeks now and it has been great to keep my french going.
But the other day, someone even better came in. I was helping a woman with a very french name purchase some traveler's cheques for her very silent friend standing next to her. I finally got the guts to ask her if she is french. "OUI!" I was so excited. I immediately fell into my soft french and loved it.
I walked around the rest of the day with a huge goofy smile on my face. It was the same goofy smile that I sported on my mission and it was great to have it back.
Another great feeling from my mission has been returning lately. These past couple of weeks I have been able to work with the missionaries at least once a week. And I love it.
Yesterday, one of the elders was sick so they called someone to come sit with him while I went out and worked with his companion. I miss doing that everyday.
Tonight, I got to baptize someone. Something I didn't get the opportunity to do while I was in Europe. (I always got transferred right before the baptisms.)
I stand by the fact that I am home for a reason. And I am at peace with that. But there is still joy to be had in a little french conversation and a good missionary lesson.
PS- I went to the gym four times this week. I'm determined to get my money's worth on this one.

Kyle Wants To Pump You Up

2008-09-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

Well. . . I finally did it. I joined a gym. Not just any gym... THE gym. That's right. I am now a member at Gold's Gym. The largest gym chain in the country (with over 600 locations world-wide).
My dear cousins (Chris and Mandy) talked me into coming with them. So I went to take a tour and have a little workout. They wanted to charge me $10 just to look around. So I just cut to the chase and talked to them about joining.
About ten minutes later I was a real member. I have my own key-chain pass thing and a sweet payment plan. After four "easy" payments of $175 dollars I will be a full-fledged muscle-man (for up to three years).
I couldn't believe how big this commitment was. I feel like I just took a big step.
So now my goal is to hit the gym at least three times a week.
Look out, ladies.

PS- If anybody has a Gold's pass and needs a workout buddy, I'm pretty low-key and would love to go with anyone.

What I Like About You: Cousin Edition

2008-09-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

I always love a good round of "What I Like About You"
We have been planning a cousin night for about a month now and yesterday was the big day. We all met at Italian Village for dinner. Everybody loves a good pizza bender (Joe loves two of them). Then we moved the party to Amanda's condo. We watched "The Emperor's New Groove" and ate some delicious air-pop popcorn (caramel flavor). Then we busted out the ice cream and the toppings. I discovered the great taste of putting fruity pebbles on vanilla ice cream.
The real fun started when we all just sat in a big circle in the dark and chatted it up. Chris and I (the more politically-minded of the cousins) tried very hard to not slip into a debate, but it was a struggle. We all sat there for a good hour and a half just swapping scary stories and laughing at each other. I always love a good round of "What I Like About You".
I realized last night how great my cousins really are. We are all so chill. We have been spending a lot more time with each other as we have all grown older. I love it. I am so happy it is happening like this. Usually people lose touch with their cousins as people start getting married and having careers, but that is not the case with us.
We are now planning on having a cousin night once a month, and on top of that we will be watching "The Office" every Thursday night. I am so excited.
I am also starting a completely separate blog devoted to "What I Like About You." Look for links on my page.
I love you all.

Why I'm PrObama.

2008-09-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, I'm no political analyst. Big surprise. However, I feel like I have a reasonably strong opinion concerning who I think will make a better President for, at least, the next four years.
According to my admittedly limited political knowledge, the office of "President of the United States" does not really have the unlimited power with which it is often credited. There's not much the President can do without the approval of congress. He (or she) can propose all the tax-cuts they want, but nothing is going to happen until the Senate and the House say so.
Obama can't change anything by himself.
McCain? . . . well, in a couple years he really won't be able to do much by himself.
It's called "checks and balances" and it's why we're the best.
I based my decision on this simple truth:
The rest of the world thinks America is a big joke right now.
The patriot inside me says "Who cares what the rest of the world thinks about us?" But the truth is the world is getting smaller every day. We need a leader who will be taken seriously by our neighbors. Barack Obama is exactly the kind of leader we need.
Plus, he is WAY cooler than John McCain.

The Best Two Years

2008-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

While growing up as a young man in the LDS church, the phrase "the best two years" is thrown around as something to look forward to accomplishing. Serving a mission is something you plan for as a youth, never really expecting the time to arrive.
Naturally, it does.
"The best two years" usually begin shortly after your nineteenth birthday and logically shouldn't end anytime before your twenty-first. Usually.
This past friday marked the one-year anniversary of the beginning of my "best two years." Unfortunately, I only made it eight months.
I thought this week would be one of the hardest weeks of my life.

Monday: I was working the drive-thru at Wells Fargo Bank in Riverton. I was doing fine until a car full of five missionaries came through to cash a check. It was difficult for me to speak to them, but I had to ask one of them for his ID. Their smiles and the way they carried themselves took me back to my months spent in Belgium. Back to my "best two years." I haven't cried since my farewell, but that moment was the closest I have come to shedding a few.
The next day, Tuesday, was much, much worse.
Tuesday: My cousin Michael was getting set apart as a full-time missionary on tuesday night. All day long I debated whether or not I should go. After Monday's episode, I wasn't sure if I would be able to make if through such a spiritually and emotionally draining situation. . . stress aggrivates my condition. About an hour before it was scheduled to happen, I jumped up, got dressed in "pross" and headed to the church, an hour early. I took my scriptures with me and read while I waited.
The whole family gathered in a big room at the church, and to start things off we each took turns saying anything we wanted to my cousin who was about to leave. There were tears shed by almost everyone. Bittersweet tears of pride and love. I thanked Michael for his example. At the end, a leader pointed out the support system that Michael has. Again, I found myself transported back to my mission, back to every time I was struggling. Every time a door was slammed, or every time I was in a hospital waiting room I would have this mental snapshot of all the people who were in the congregation at my farewell. I literally felt their support. I had that same support system, and while I still have all those people who love me, it is still difficult to fight feelings of failure. When I first came home, I felt as if I had let all those people down.
Wednesday passed without any sort of sorrow. I went to the State Fair. I have never been so thankful for Side-Shows and Funnel Cakes. Without them, this week would have been unbearable.
When it was time to decide whether or not to come home, I took great comfort in hearing things like "there is a reason for everything" and "the Lord will put you where you are needed."
Thursday: I endured another long day of work despite feeling a little under the weather. I had almost forgotten that I had an appointment to teach a family friend with the missionaries that night. I went over to the house and we waited for the elders to arrive. We waited for over an hour until deciding they probably weren't coming. While we were there, our family friend (who is planning on being baptized) asked me if I would baptize her.

I humbly admit that -as far as I know- I played no part in her decision to be baptized. But, things like this help me see that there is no reason this time in my life can't be my "best two years."
I love my mission. I love Belgium and France. I love the Gospel.
I know that the Lord is in charge and He brought me back for a reason.
I just have to find that reason.

Here I am

2008-09-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

So. . . I finally made a blog. Because I'm really that vain.