Softball Tournament From Last Weekend

Here are some images from my first softball tournament.

It was in Riverside. We did OK - it was a double elimination. The first two games we won, we beat them both with the mercy rule. (We were ahead by so much, the game ended early). Then we lost our third game. (Also third game in a row - that is tiring). After our first break, we played our fourth game and lost that, and that meant the end of the tournament for us.

We went home with 3rd place. Normally that sound good - real good - but there were only five teams. So it was OK. Hey - we got a t-shirt and 4 games for $25 bucks a person - not a bad day.

Me getting ready to lay the smack down on a ball

Here I am about to hit the long ball 3 Run Homer

Here is a pic of Todd Moran nabbing a ball in Left Center

This Todd crushing his home run ball. I think mine went farther though :)

This is a good pic of the team (congratulating Todd)

Wayne Munyer with the yellow hat - Todd up front with the white shirt, Devin to the right of Todd in the blue shirt, then me in red, and all the way to the right is Don.

Other members of the team that day were Bryce and Tyler Munyer, Byron, Yolario, David Gunnel, and Jeremiah Jones.

Don't Try To Steal A Missionaries Bike

OK - you have got to see this video. It is hillarious

Day Didnt Start Off So Good

I want to make an apology regarding this post. I made a comment below about Scouting that was offensive to some, and quite honestly - now that I see it from thier perspective, I would have never made the comment and regret it. I have highlighted it in red below for you to see if you wish.

James
Dec. 12, 2007

OK - so lately I have been riding by bike to the train station, from the train to work, and back. Well, this morning I had to catch an early train because of meeting at work, so I was riding in the dark. Not ideal - but oh well right??

So I flying down this really long hill and as it starts to flatten out, and take a bend, I see three cars stopped in the bike line. This is a busy road and I am not feeling like hitting the brakes hard. Luckily no cars coming and I can swerve out of the bike lane and into the road.

As I slow down to see what the fuss was about (presuming a car accident) it is evident that a cyclist has been fatally hit.

Whoa - no police yet, no ambulance, no fire engine (though i hear them coming). This had only happened minutes before I arrived. Immediately grateful I was running late.

I still don't know what caused it. It was dark outside, cars run real fast on that road, and if a cyclist (not motor - but a ten speed) is going fast enough around that bend, he or she could easily get wobbles and a take a bad fall. Either way - timing was all wrong this morning that fellow. Kind of stuck with me all day.

Contemplating not telling Katherin, but she'd read me that something was bothering me, and it's best just to tell than keep her wondering.

Next Topic
Work was good and all today - that is until my iPod crashed. I have owned this for over two years now and I have never had a problem with it. When I plugged it in, iTunes told me the iPod had been corrupted. Now I can't open it and get it to power on and run for me.

I was blessed with a bonus profit-sharing check yesterday - maybe my faithful iPod won't wake up and I will have to go buy the new iPod Nano that has video. As much as I don't want to spend the money - I cant say that wouldn't mind either.

Next Topic
So my iPod dies and now I am running late from work to the train - but I didnt know that. I thought I was doing just fine. That is until whileI was waiting for the elevator the train pulls up.

I had to pick up my bike, run up three flights of stairs, and make it over and down in 45 seconds or I was dead man, well I pulled it off, but I now I feel like a dead man, but I'm not dead, just feel that way.

Next topic
To make things better - I get to go to Boy Scout training tonight. I can't wait. I love hanging out for hours with grown men in uniform. Luckily I get to go with Todd. We'll show up in shorts and t-shirts, that way no one will talk to us. (Professional scouters don't talk to other Scouters who don't wear uniforms. It's a good bonus for acting like a normal person).

In all reality - I probably wouldnt mind Scout training if I didn't work for a training company. Training is my life day in and day out. I probably get 2 days month of professional development, and it is all world class. The last thing I want to do is sit in training at night with people I have nothing in common with. Oh well. It is what it is.

Next Topic
The day should end well. Todd and I are going to hit the cages hard tonight before Scout Training. There is nothing like smashing a ball over and over again It is good therapy for someone extra-heavy on the testosterone. It calms me down and makes me bearable.

Anyway - this is all I think I will end my post here.

Where I Stand

I just finished writing a post about my upcoming year. I thought I would also write a post about me, about where I stand on certain things - you know - religion, politics, and other important things like do we really need to brush our teeth 2x a day?

Religion - Latter-Day Saint (aka: Mormon). I am pretty devout. I go to church each Sunday. I am the equivelant of a youth pastor - being that I am in charge of the spritual development of all the young men, in additon to their weekly fun activities.

I absolutely love it. I work with the greatest people, and the young men are incredible. Each one of them. I know they all carry the potental to do great things. It is awesome to see them grow and mature.

Politics - I have no freaking clue, but I am a registered republican. Mostly because my parents were always republican and I don't smoke pot. So what else would I be??

I have no idea who I am going to vote for. I am waiting for the first republican to stand up and say the following: "Hey - you've been lied, screwed, asked to support a lousy war for a lousy reason - we have been disasterous in international relations - our debt is blown way out of proportion, and you will never see social security. Here are the ways I would suggest we can do to restore trust back into the white house and the senate - what do you think?"

Other things -

I brush my teeth every morning. Katherin brushes her teeth every morning and every night. Katherin gets cavaties. I don't. End of argument.

Train People - I love riding the train. I get a chance to relax, unwide from work, avoid traffic, and be totally exposed to the wierdest people and situations. Like the blind guy. This blind guy was selling hats. These hats were ugly. But you felt bad telling him no. I mean who wants to spend $10 on a neon colored mesh hat that has writing in a different language. I think if he knew what he was really selling he would be totally embarrassed.

Well no one wants to buy the hat, and nobody wants to say no - so when he walks by everyone gets real quiet. (As if there is no one on the train) We try avoid his cane hitting our feet. He cant see us, but if he can hear us - he throws out the pitch. Its like on Jurassic Park when they avoid the T-Rex by not moving. Its ridiculous. But it happens.

Then there is the bastard who wont let me sleep. I know I snore - but I dont give a rip. If I am sleeping on the train - its because I am really tired. So when this guy sits next me and I am sleeping, he just kicks me in the shins. Last time he tried to sit next to me, I just kept my legs strectched out, glared, and he walked on by.

Oh there are so many train stories. Hopefully I will BLOG them as they happen in the future.

But for now - my current train ride is almost come to an end, and I must go.

Exciting Year Ahead For Me

OK - the last two weeks of my life have been spent planning out the next 52. For work and for our Young Mens organization at church. At work we have been planning out some pretty big events called Greatness Summits. They are one-day awesome learning days about how to achieve leadership greatness. For Mutual we are planning out all of our campouts.

For Our Greatness Summits I will be traveling to:

• San Diego (2x)
• LA
• Seattle
• Phoenix
• San Francisco
• Hawaii
• Albuquerque

I will get to spend weekends in Albuquerque, San Francisco, and Hawaii after the events.

For camping I will be:

• Climbing Mt. Baldy
• Climbing San Gorgonio
• Going Snowboarding
• Doing a beach campout
• Camping at Painted Canyons
• Rapelling in Joshua Tree
• A big high adventure activity in August - either white water rafting, big hike in the High Sierras, or hiking the grand canyon into Havasupai Indian reservation and spending a week at that oasis.

So this year I will be all over the western US and I am looking forward to it. It should make this BLOG interesting. I will be sure to write a post about each adventure that I embark on.

My first one will be next week as I make my first Greatness Summit trip to San Diego.

My First Post - Oct. 15, 2007

OK, I am going to try out this whole blog thing. I spent some time reading TJs blog and was motivated to start my own. I can't guarantee that I will be as entertaining as TJ - but hey - who is?

Train ride is almost over - so I am going to sign off totally satisfied that I got at least this far.

James