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!

Best Moments of 2010 (captured on camera)

Ok, so I'm fibbing a little here - this includes things from late last year, too. But consider this a best-of-since-I've-known-Dylan post.

The first picture we ever took together - only a week or two after we went out for the first time. After one of our dates. When my hair was still long. And when Dylan still thought he needed to wear collared shirts every time he saw me.

Going to my first (and hopefully last) Jazz game. I don't love the NBA, but that's not the real reason I don't want to go back - those stairs gave me a panic attack! They are so steep and narrow! But it was really fun to enjoy that evening with Dylan

Going to my ward prom. It was really fun to get dressed up and go to a fancy dinner - and then I even made Dylan dance at the dance there.

In San Francisco, when he flew out there last December to ask for my parents' permission to marry me. We were in the Legion of Honor museum there in Golden Gate Park.

Engaged! Right after we got back to P-town. On New Years' - tonight at midnight marks 1 year since he proposed.

Engagement photos in February!

Wedding day, March 20, 2010

During the summer (well, as soon as it got warm), we went on A LOT of picnics. It was so nice to spend time outside and to have that time just to talk and soak up the warm sun

Noticing a trend? I have gone to SO MANY sporting events since we got married. Not complaining - I think it's fun to share that with Dylan, especially baseball games. Here we were at a Bee's game up in Salt Lake over the summer

At his Granny's 90th birthday celebration with all of his Cannon family. She's an amazing woman.

Dylan has become my built-in photo assistant. He doesn't mind one bit - he says he thinks I'm pretty attractive when I'm doing my photography thing :) Here he was, helping me with Ilarene's bridal shoot. She and Dylan went to England on the study abroad last summer.

See? More sporting events. At the first BYU football game of the season, 2010.

Down in Manti, Utah, at the temple there. Self-timers are fabulous.

His brother, Quinton, made us into models. I mean, look at those faces - why aren't we on a magazine cover?

Not THAT big of an event, but I think D is so cute (er, handsome) here. He helped me with a photography giveaway on my photo blog, and here he is picking the winner.

The BEST photo of that whole day - Isn't this classic? We look so ANGRY. Luckily, the giraffe we were feeding has no idea what expressions we had on our faces, and she just kept on eating away at that branch.

Our honeymoon in Hawaii over Thanksgiving. The best week of the whole year. We are so grateful to both of our sets of parents for making this happen, and for being so generous. It was a much-needed week away from life, and what better place to spend that than paradise?

Thank you, Dylan, for these wonderful memories and experiences. I love him so much, and am so grateful to have him by my side. Saying 'Yes' 9 months ago was the best decision I ever made.

Our first Christmas!

 Yesterday was mine and Julie's first Christmas as a married couple. Last year on Christmas, I was trying to convince her Mom and Dad that I'm not a bum and that I would make at least some money (ok, it didn't take much convincing). So, this year was much less stressful. We had such a nice Christmas; it's sad to see it go. We went up to see my family in Salt Lake and my entire family was there. My family is a little bit crazy, but fun.

Some highlights: My Mom established a new tradition of dancing to "Santa Claus is a Black Man" with her first grandchild.

This Santa Claus is way cooler. Coca-Cola should start using him as the symbol for Kris Kringle.

My Dad was given a Wii for Christmas; he has always been strict about no video games in our house, so he's still "warming up" to the idea.

Julie bought me NBA JAM!!!!!

The closest I will ever come to jumping this high. Well, or any person for that matter.

  Geoff got a book explaining rap lyrics so that old white women can understand them.

I would never want to see this woman in a dark alley.

 Julie bought me NBA JAM!!!!

How can you not love a game where you can throw down killer jams with the President of the US?

 My hippie brother, Quinton, got a bunch of classic vinyl records. Being on Phil's team in NBA JAM (which Julie bought me!!!) and losing by 30 points to the before mentioned hippie. In Q's words, he "powned some newbs."

Thinking about Christ and the hope He brings me.

Ironically, I did a google search for LDS images of Christ and this image came up...from an anti-Mormon Utah Evangelical site. Oh, well, it really is a beautiful statue we use to celebrate the living Redeemer.

 
 Having my Dad read The Night Before Christmas, followed by my Grandpa reading the biblical account of Christ's birth (three men I look up to highly; well, two men and a baby that later became a man I look up to greatly).


Trying to talk to all of Julie's huge family at the same time on Skype. It was a very good effort by her Dad to get us all on at the same time, but some hilarious (and perhaps inevitable) circumstances made that very difficult to accomplish.

Being with people I love (especially the person I love most, my baby cakes Julie). I hope you all had as interesting and as happy as a Christmas as we had. Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!