Shamelessly Admitting to Jimmermania

Last night, I went to the BYU-SDSU basketball game. Or more properly, the Jimmer Fredette vs. SDSU basketball game. All I've got to say is, I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more Jimmer! It was ridiculous. Jimmer from 30 feet, Jimmer taking on their tallest player, floaters, tear drops, lay-ups, etc. The whole nation is infatuated with him, right now. I've got a couple reasons why I think this is. First of all, obviously, he is good. Secondly, he is really good. Third, he has a weird name. It might have gotten him beat up when he was a chunky kid in Glen Falls, NY, but it's the "Peekaboo Street" phenomenon- the better you are, the weirder your name is, the more of a sensation you are. Fourth, he hails from a mid-major school and has the appealing underdog factor. Fifth, he is a Mormon who's balling up everyone and has a brother who thinks he is Eminem. Sixth, I hope this doesn't sound racist, but as a white person, it's kind of refreshing to see a white guy do so well in such a white athlete way. Jimmer isn't super athletic (see him try to dunk at Utah), and he uses up and under moves like every guy I've ever played against in church ball. But, he's amazing. While I absolutely cheer for any player who I think is good and I like watching regardless of race, it's kind of cool to see a guy like me do so well. I think what I'm really trying to say is, Jimmer, you give all of us slow white guys hope!

p.s. San Diego St., under further review, you got Jimmer'd (a reference to their whining about a controversial replay call in football). And yes, I am still Mormon (their fans couldn't think of anything better to cheer last year when we kicked their butt in San Diego besides "You're Still Mormon!") and I'm loving every minute of Jimmermania!

25!!!!

Well, I'm officially a quarter of a century, now. Which means that statistically, my life is about 1/3 over. My grandparents left me with fantastic longevity genes, but with all the Dr. Pepper I've consumed, the injuries and illnesses I've ignored and the stress of serving a mission, 75 seems about right. So, I've been thinking about 25 things I would like to do in those next 50 years. Here they are (in no particular order):

1- Graduate from grad school (it's not as guaranteed as it sounds).
2- Take Julie back to Ghana and have lots of nasty food, sweat all day and get all sorts of illnesses (while she loves every minute of it).
3- Go back to Wisconsin and see how many people still remember me.
4- Have a family. I would love to have a few daughters; until they get into high school and I have to lock them up for 10 years.
5- See Derek Jeter play one more time before he retires.
6- See the Jazz win a NBA Championship (maybe not in my lifetime...or anybody else's).
7- Eat a double butter bacon burger from Culver's with a side order of fried cheese tots.
8- Find another shirt to win in an eating challenge.
9- See more of the world (always wanted to go to Italy for some reason).
10- Get back in shape. Not permanently, but just to say I did it once.
11- Go to Carlo's Bakery (from Cake Boss).
12- Find the pink paisley tie I saw in England that I didn't buy. Then buy it.
13- Get a good job that I enjoy.
14- See Weezer in concert.
15- See a game at the new Yankee Stadium.
16- Beat Julie in Ticket to Ride.
17- Have a dog.
18- Learn how to ride a motorcycle and then take Julie for rides on it through the country.
19- Have a horse. Well, I probably will never be wealthy enough to have a horse that I don't have to take care of except for when it's convenient for me (you know, like how some people raise their kids?)
20- Win a fight. I'm not a violent man. Nor do I expect I could win any fight. But, I've watched a lot of action movies and have always kind of wondered if I could.
21- Learn how to throw a knuckle-ball and then teach it to a son (if he's anything like me, his arm will be too weak to throw a decent fastball).
22- Bring another person to the gospel.
23- Figure out how to be romantic.
24- Learn how to be articulate.
25- Go to heaven (far from guaranteed).

Last semester and update on masters

Today I began the last semester of my undergraduate studies. I can't believe it's almost over! And I completed it just under a decade from when I started ("You know, a lot of people go to college for 7 years." "Yeah, they're called doctors." -Tommy Boy). Pretty soon, I'll be a Marriage and Family Therapist. All of my applications are done and now I am just waiting to hear back from all of the colleges I already discussed the pros and cons of (Virginia Tech, Maryland, East Carolina) and two more colleges (University of San Diego and Alliant University). With that in mind, here are the two new schools I'll give the pros and cons for.

 University of San Diego Pros: 1- As I'm sitting here in Provo, it's 21 degrees with a low of 9 tonight. In San Diego, it is currently 62 degrees. 2- It's a good, strong Catholic university and I like Catholics. 3- Their blues are much better than orange and maroon (Va Tech) or purple and gold (East Carolina). 4- It's San Diego. 5- Close to Julie's sister, Karen, and somewhat close to her parents. 6- BYU is joining San Diego's conference, next year, so I will get to see the Cougars kill the Toreros in basketball. 7- Julie loves San Diego. As any good husband knows, a happy wife=happy life.

University of San Diego Cons: 1- Do Catholics like me? 2- What the heck is a Torero? Can't I pick one school with a normal mascot? Give me the Wildcats or Tigers! Anything! 3- Might be kind of awkward cheering for BYU in such a small stadium with my classmates. 4- Our apartment in Provo is bigger and cheaper than wherever we will live in San Diego. That's sad.

Alliant International University Pros: 1- Only had to fill out one application that was sent to all four campuses. Saved me mucho denero! 2- 1:4. One of them has to take me...right? 3- All of the campuses are in California, close to Julie's loved ones. 4- Julie loves California. Again, happier wife=happier life. 5- Has a good business school, apparently. Doesn't really relate to me, but they highlight that all over the website.

Alliant International University Cons: 1- No sports teams. I'll have to broaden my horizons of mindless entertainment. 2- California is its own country (or thinks it is) and has standards for Marriage and Family licensure that don't transfer anywhere else. 3- I'm not going to be rich and living in California will make that inevitable fact even more permanent. 4- It uses Roman numerals in its seal! I've never been able to read those!