It's time again for another random and weird celebrity crush post

So you will have to wait until 2010 for the year's top ten celebrity crush list, but here is a short list of weird crushes I have on random celebrities......don't judge me.

Chelsea Handler



The funniest person on late night tv. She kills Conan, Dave, Jay, and the Jimmy's. I aspire one day to be on the round table. Me, Heather "Longboobs" McDonald a must and either Whitney Cummings (we could battle for who should retain the last name) or Ross the intern or Guy the funny gay.

Charlyne Yi


She is adorable. This picture shows just how adorable she is. I would marry her in a heartbeat. I have been in an Appatow film fest mood lately and her small role on Knocked Up is the funniest part of the movie. See Paper Heart and you will see again why I love her. Also, coming in my next post of funny clips you will see two reasons more why I love her.


Leslie Mann

I have been on an Appatow film movie craze lately with the release of my favorite Appatow film "Funny People" but between "Knocked Up" and "Funny People" it has made me realized that I have a thing for Leslie Mann. Hot right? I know, a little old for me, but she is funny. Way funny.

Ok that is all I have for this list. It is late and I should go to bed. Just thought I would give the blogging world what they want.....another celebrity crush post B-rad style. Let me know what you think.

This is not going to be popular but.....

I regret to inform you all that I have officially decided to leave the blogging world. It has been a good/awkward/interesting journey over the past two years but I feel like it is time to call it quits. A thank you to you all for keeping me company on here, it has been a trip and a half.

Psych. I really had you going. My title however, is what is going to come next. I put the previous paragraph up to hopefully lessen the blow of this next statement. You know, if that is not the case then whatever I am about to say could not be near as bad as the thought of never seeing my blog again......just remember that as you keep reading.

Taylor Swift is possibly the most over rated musician since the creation of music. There I said it and I think that you all really needed to hear it. The truth stings a bit, but just think about her songs and look for any real talent that she may have. Did you find any? Her voice- mediocre at best, often off key and weird sounding (even worse live). Meaningful lyrics- none unless you are a drama filled 15-year-old girl. Guitar playing? I will give her some credit that she can actually play, but as with most pop songs, especially country ones, they aren't that difficult. I get the appeal, finally a good role model for kiddos. Check she has that. I get why kids like her - they have no real taste in music, but you adults, you are what keeps me up late at night.
Apparently she won best artist of the year at the American Music Awards last night. Granted here was her competition: Kings of Leon (an aight band but nothing spectacular), Lady Gaga (America's most prominent transgender since Fergie) Eminem (had a coupla decent tracks on the new CD but has been losing what made him what he is) and Michael Jackson the King of Pop. First of all I am shocked that these are the people who are nominated. Not to go all Kanye on everyone, but I wish he would have interrupted here. Beyonce should have been on that list for the following reasons: If I Were A Boy, Halo, and Single Ladies. Three hits that had to of sold more than any of the others. And I wanna give a shout out to her beau, Jay-Z who I have ridiculed for six years for putting out flat CDs dropped Blueprint 3 which has been the best rap CD since Kanye's College Dropout. Jay-Z the mastermind that he is, pulled out all the stops with collaborations. Who else could put Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Kanye, Kid Cudi, Pharrell, and Young Jeezy all on the same record. Sick is all I have got to say. Sick album. Those two should have won and declared it a tie.
With that said, I will admit I like the new John Mayer song that Taylor Swift sings backup vocals on...........can I reccomend a new stage location for her to sing-behind those who can. Bahahahahahahaha. Deep down you know its true.

Hi

Hi Nerds,

I got nothing.

I wanted to sit down tonight and write a novel with stories of: fun late nights, draining school work, a job that is less fun with two of my besties going on to much better things, music I am listening to, shows I am watching, movies I would reccomend, dates I have been on, how my dad is my hero, how I want to be a better person, how important doing UNICEF work is to me, how the loss of someone I don't see very much anymore is having more of an impact on me than I thought it would, how I am finally starting to get the LSAT better, about how I miss certain people, how excited I am for my brother, how I want a vacation ASAP, some new goals I have, my belief in the need for healthcare reform, my fears of the future, the size of my muscles, how I want to quit life and follow The Killers on tour, how I have been getting a ton of migrains, wendover fun, and finally how I finally got new windshield wipers.

But I am tired.......and lazy.

B-radley out.

Blog Identity Crisis

Dear You.

I have a blogging identiy crisis.

It has been a month since you last saw something new.

Sorry.

Life has been Stellar. Busy. Fun. Sleepless. Awesome. Chill. Stressful. All wrapped in to one.

And I can't think of anything to blog about.

Help.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

B-rad

True Confessions

True confessions is something one of my best friends says to me right before she is about to say something either really personal, personally embarrassing, or embarrassingly funny. I think that this post is going to contain a mixture of all of the above.
Embarrassingly Funny
I heart Michael Jackson. OK I said it, it feels good to say it publicly, because the last ten years it has been uncool to pop in an MJ cd unless it is Halloween and you are ripping Thriller for a bad A party. I am ashamed to say that I would have to jam to MJ when driving in my car by myself. If only you could see me bumping to "Beat It" or "Billy Jean" or "Smooth Criminal" or fill in the blank with any MJ song, for the last ten years you probably would have been embarrassed for me. Well guess what it is finally cool again to heart MJ. So suck it, now when you hear me blaring down South Temple with "The Way You Make Me Feel" following behind, please recognize my coolness, and take a moment of silence for the greatness that was MJ.
Personally Embarrassing
His death has had me thinking a lot. Like a little too much about death and how unexpected it is. I really feel bad for him. He was dealt a pretty tragic life. He had an abusive father, shoved into the spotlight at a young age, and had to deal with the never ending onslaught of fame and the public eye for all of his life. I have noticed with great musicians, when they reach this iconic level of amazingness, that they break. Each break differently in their own uniquely weird way (Elvis, John Lennon, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, David Bowie, etc)where there musical Guinness takes a hold of them and they sort of lose touch with reality. Unfortunately for MJ this was all too public, all too misunderstood, and far too sad. I really think he was a good person, who did a lot of good for others, and changed music forever.

Really Personal
I blog a lot about how much I look up to my parents and family. They mean everything to me. But I think I don't tell some of my friends, who are true personal heroes to me, how much I look up to and admire them. So this part of the true confessions is going to be dedicated to a few of them. If your name is not listed here, don't flip out. I don't have the time to list everyone, just a few that I really need to tell them because I really want them to hear it.

Brianne:
I think it is amazing how fast that we have been able to become amazing friends. If you don't know her, or know her well, I really think that you are missing out. She is my hero because she has sacrificed so much of her life to take care of a little boy who needed a home and had no where else to go. She took him in, gave him the one thing that he really needed, unconditional love, and has given him everything. She literally has saved her little guy, and it is because of her that he will become an equally amazing person. You know in the scriptures you read about charity. Charity being the pure love of Christ. I think it is because it costs something, it requires a real sacrifice. She exudes what real charity is day in and day out raising a small boy as a single mom, and I hope she knows how well she does it. Also she is one of the funniest people I have ever met.

Wes:
I don't see or talk to my old roomie near as often as I would like. If you haven't met Wes, just know that he is one of the coolest people I have ever met. In all honesty, I never felt adequate enough to be considered one of his friends. And I am pretty awesome, and for me to admit that, should just tell you how awesome he really is. He is just one of those people who is naturally good at everything. He can play any sport, can play the guitar, sing, and everything else, better than you will ever be able no matter how hard you practice at it. I have probably played Wes in tennis over twenty times and have lost to him every single time. I hate losing. I hate it, especially at tennis. But somehow he never gloated about it. He is always just really laid back and chill and one of the most down to earth guys I have ever met. That is why he was able to marry Jesse, who equals him in the awesomeness I just used to describe Wes. Those two are so effortlessly cool, I was lucky to have Wes as a roomate and them both as people I considered to be really good friends who I really look up to, and hope to be cool enough to not feel inadequate when around them.

Leigh:
Leigh has this innate and unique ability to get people. All people. No matter who they are, what circumstances they may find themselves in, she gets them and understands them. I kick myself in the face for never being as good of a friend to her as she has always been to me. She is one of the greatest friends anyone could ever ask for.

Jaimey:
She just came back to visit and I am so glad she did. She just got married not too long ago to a cool guy named Jim who is in the armed forces. She sacrifices him everyday in order to ensure the freedoms that I enjoy every day. She has done this for a few months and will for a few more until he comes home. I find that amazing and inspiring. She is a constant reminder for me to pray for the military and for their families back at home, because without them, me and my big mouth would have landed me in the slammer in so many other countries. But because of their sacrifice I can live in the here and enjoy the freedoms that I have.

Cole:
This kid I miss big time. He was my best buddy in high school. I like to laugh so all of my best friends can make me laugh like no other. Gilfillan. You know how there are just certain people that you just kind of lose touch with, even though you don't want to, it just kind of happens, but when you do see them it is magically like it hasn't been two years since the last time you talked. He is one of those kind of people.

Christa:
One of my really close friends. Another sacrificer. She really gives so much to other people that it is really humbling for me to see how much someone will do for their family. I am so glad that we are neighbors and that we have become such good friends.

McCall:
Everyone at work knows why McCall is a hero. Work just isn't quite the same with her gone. I get really sad whenever I go into her old office. Sometimes I forget and come into work with something that I have to tell McCall and then remember and think crap, she is not there. I don't think she understands how helpful and cool she really is. Lucky people in Pittsburgh are getting her and her just as cool husband Tannon for the next few years. They better be greatful.

Anyways, I hope this post is coherent. It is almost four in the morning and me and my dumb insomnia are finally calling it quits for the night. Please, if your name was not listed here, don't get mad, I don't have all day to list everyone, I just needed to tell these guys this. You will probably get an honorable mention in a post at sometime in the near distant future. Just know that I appreciate you friendship.

Top Ten: NYC Version

Ok ok ok, I get it. People want to see pictures from my trip to NYC. So here they are in a top ten form. Enjoy.

10. The Chrysler Building



This is one of the coolest looking buildings that I have ever seen.

9. Time Square at Night



8. Ground Zero



My hotel was two blocks away from Ground Zero and I walked passed it almost every day I was there. It was a really sombering sight to see. I think that we have forgotten.......sad.

7. Besties



This is a picture of the besties I made while I at the Unicef Conference that brought me to New York. Meet Shristi and Olivia, and that is my friend Aj that I work with and helped start the club Unicef Red. We had a lot of fun from chilling at the conference from Shristi and Olivia pretending to be Mormon with me for a night. Classic. They were a ton of fun.

6. 30 Rock



It is no secret that I love NBC Thursday night comedy line up and Saturday Night Live. Hence spending most of a day at Rockefeller Plaza. Here is an awesome pic of the GE building.

5. Random Pic I photo-shopped



I walked down this street on my way from the headquarters for the US Fund for Unicef. So I decided to take a picture of it and then played around a little with it. What do you think?

4. Top of the Rock view of Central Park



Really amazing.

3. The Statue of Liberty



The Statue of Liberty really is an amazing sight to see. I layed down in the grass in front of her and took a lot of pics. This one for some reason is my favorite.

2. View of Manhattan from the Top of the Rock



I spent 45 minutes on top of the Rock taking pictures and just admiring New York. It was really my favorite place in all of New York.

1. Time Square Remix



I black and whited this pic and then added a color focal point of the yellow taxi. I really love this pic and am going to blow it up and frame it.

All in all NYC was a lot of fun. So glad I went. So glad that I made new besties and got to be with one of my old besties, Leigh. It was soooooooo good to see and be with her again. She is definately one of my heroes.

The Big Apple

So I am going to New York. I board a plane in roughly 21 hours and 4 minutes.....but who's counting? I don't mean to sound like a wimp or anything but I kind of have butterflies in the belly, kind of nervous anxiety where my mind can't stop thinking and I feel like I have to be tapping my foot. New York is the place I have dreamed about going since, Idk, forever. I have always thought of myself as an East Coast person, ironic because I have never been to the East Coast. More specifically I always thought of myself as a New York kind of person. I heart big cities. Going to Chicago on the mish confirmed and reinforced my love of big cities. I love the buildings, the people, the diversity, the business, the way you can get lost in a million people yet find yourself kind of thing that big cities encompass. At least Chicago has done that for me. I know that definately I could move to Chicago and I would be perfectly ok. I kind of know that about San Diego and the O.C. as well.

But New York is different. Much much more different. It's New York. Over the past 15 years I have dreamed of going to NYC and have built it into something that I am afraid could easily disappoint. I hope it doesn't. I think NYC is the mecca that progressive thinking Americans must take at least once in their lives. And here I go, on my own little Mecca to the capital of everything awesome.....I think I am about to pee my pants. And I will feel that way until a few days after I get back.

A few random thoughts....

So I have been thinking lately and this is what I have come up with:

- What if I go to Cornell for Law School? That would still be cool. Maybe I can join an a ca pella group, and we can call ourselves "Here Comes Trebel." If we do this than the first song we should learn is "Take a Chance on Me." What are your thoughts?

- Maybe I know way too many random bits of information about the Office......and should stop trying to incorporate it into my every day life.

- What's up with Meg Ryan's face? That's weird.

- I went and saw Dane Cook live. It was what i like to call hilarious. Completely inappropriate and crude but overall was big smiles time. My favorite bit: "Have you seen those ads about being politically correct. Like the one that has two ladies shopping and one tries on a jacket and asks the other how it looks on her, and the friend replies, 'it looks really gay on you.' Then out of no where Hillary Duff comes walking out explaining how we shouldn't use the word gay to describe something you don't like. Thank God for Hilary Duff. What would we be doing without her. We would be calling things gay left and right. For now on, whenever I find myself in a little conundrum I am going to ask myself, 'What would Hillary Duff do?'"

- One of my high school teachers begged me once to try stand up. She wanted me and a friend to be on SNL really bad. What would life of been like if that would have ever happened.......

- I have learned that I have so many friends and family with bdays in april and may. Literally one bday party a week (Two times there were two) for every weekend in April and May. My bestie Brianne's was hilarious. Honestly who had adult bouncy houses for their B-day? Only the coolest. It has been awesome. Which means August and September must be a busy time for couples.

- I don't know if I am ready for one on one yet.

- If ever in a really awkward situation I like to ask people if they have been working out..... it really makes things less awkward and weird silence is gone and no one gives you a weird look.

- I am going to see the Killers on Sept. 26th. I am buying my tickets next week.

- I am so sad that comcast doesn't have the tennis channel. I would be watching me some French Open 24/7 if I did. Luckily the parentals do. I should get them to DVR me some Sharapova (for obvious reasons) and Roddick (because he is my fave).

- For the first time in my life I have been wondering if maybe I should change my sleeping habits. For the past two weeks I have been going to bed around 3 in the am and waking up at 8:30. A little over five hours of sleep I am still fully functional but often complain about being tired. IDK, I will keep you informed.

- I had my first Wendover experience two weeks ago. It was awesome. 12 of us made the trek there and then came back at 4 in the am. It was big smiles times.

- I wanna go camping sometime soon.....who's in?

- There has been a homeless man sitting out in the plaza in front of my work all week. I have given him a dollar as I walk in to work and this morning he wasn't there. It is supposed to be a hot day so I brought him my favorite new drink a Sobe Life Water. I had to drink it myself. Sad.

Well I guess that is about it.

The B-radley's

It is now finally time for me to give out my picks for the best movies of last year. Kind of like the oscars but not gay and slightly less anticipated. It took me a while to see all of the movies that were nominated for awards but I have now done it with the exception of Vicki Christina Barcelona, and I really don't have any desire to see that movie. Penelope Cruz is not that talented in my opinion and Scarlett Johanson has potential but picks stupid movies to do. So that one will not be counted. So here it goes.

Best Supporting Actress
- Amy Adams (Doubt)
-Viola Davis (Doubt)
- Tariji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
- Marissa Tomei (The Wrestler)
- Frieda Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire)

And the winner is........ Viola Davis for Doubt. She is only in the film for less than ten minutes but her five minutes overshadows the two power houses of Phillip Seymore Hoffman and Meryl Streep.


Best Supporting Actor
- Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
- Phillip Seymore Hoffman (Doubt)
- Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon)
- Josh Brolin (Milk)
- Brad Pitt (Burn After Reading)

And I give the B-radley to...... Heath Ledger of course. But I will note that both Michael Sheen and Brad Pitt were deserving in their roles. I did not include Robert Downy Jr. in Tropic Thunder like the Academy Awards- it was a dumb movie, and his role was not that great, or Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road (Because I haven't seen it yet.)

Best Actress
- Kate Winslet (The Reader)
- Meryl Streep (Doubt)
- Angelina Jolie (The Changeling)
- Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
- Frances McDormand (Burn After Reading)

And the winner is . . . . . I will give it to Kate Winslet. The Reader wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be, but she was great in it. I have thought about this one long and hard (that's what she said) and at first I wasn't going to give it to her I was going to go with Angelina Jolie or Frances McDormant (who unfortunately wasn't even nominated by that other award show, which is a shame) but went with Kate Winslet because she really was great in a mediocre film. I would much rather her have won this for Eternal Sunshine or Finding Neverland but she is due for a win, I just wish I would have liked the movie better.

Best Actor
- Sean Penn (Milk)
- Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
- Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
- Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)
- David Kros (The Reader)
or instead Clint Eastwood (Grand Torino)

And the winner is.......... I have to give it hands down to Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon. Frank Langella was amazing as Richard Nixon. I was amazed. Sean Penn's acting in Milk was good but way too reminiscent of his performance in I am Sam. Harvey Milk was gay, not mentally handicapped. He was good but not good enough. Brad Pitt was really good and I am mad that Dev Patel wasn't even nominated for his job in Slumdog by the Academy. I did not find Mickey Rourke's performance to be that great in The Wrestler. I was really disappointed with the movie. Maybe I was so distracted by Rourke's weird looking face to pay attention his acting, but I think it was over-exaggerated. David Kros was great in the mediocre film The Reader.

Best Film
- Frost/Nixon
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Doubt
- Milk
- The Dark Knight

And the winner is . . . . . . . Slumdog Millionaire. Yes it really was as good as everyone made it out to be. Followed closely by Frost/Nixon. Almost nominated was The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. See last post. But Slumdog wins it.

Best Flick
A flick is in no way a typical award winning movie but is still awesome and deserves some recognition.
- Role Models
- In Bruges
- Pineapple Express
- Kungfu Panda
- W.

And the winner is. . . . . . . . Role Models. It really was hilarious and probably the funniest movie of last year.

Well that is it for the first annual B-radley's. Let me know what you think and what I missed or should have changed.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

I watched this movie last night and it blew my mind. It is one of the best Holocaust movies I have ever seen. Probably right under Schindler's List and tied with the old school black and white version of The Diary of Anne Franke. It is an Israeli film telling the story of a boy who's father is a German soldier during World War II. That is all I will tell you because I am afraid if I say anything more it could spoil a little part of it and I like you all too much to do that. Just please see this movie. It is short, only PG-13, and seriously a great film- that is if you can handle depressing Holocaust like movies.

I love these types of movies. I like them because they are real. In reality you don't fall in love with someone through their son calling a radio station and saying that he needs a new mom or a rich businessman picking up a prostitute with a heart of gold blah blah blah (referncing Pretty Woman and Sleepless in Seatle). Real life can kind of suck sometimes, and every once and a while it is refreshing to see a film that doesn't shy away from reality, that tell it to you in a way that makes it so you are speechless and drained of energy at the end of the film, but leave you to wake up the next morning making you think of what can I do to make the world a better place, a place where there will never be another Holocaust again, where people treat each other decently just because that is the way it should be.

I know liberal idealist bull, but nice thoughts to think about. Maybe it takes seeing things like that to wake me up from a simplistic every day nerf life where a bad day consists of waking up before 9 in the AM or catching the common cold or having to do the dishes.

Anyways, sorry for the long absence in blogging, I am back from school caused hiatus, and will hopefully be able to fill you in more on my life and my never ending rants on the way things should be (see above rant).

Coming soon: After I watch Frost/Nixon a list of my nominations for best films, actors, actresses, etc for last years movies. I think that is the last one on the list of all the oscar nominated films that I haven't seen yet. So that will be neat-gives you something to look forward to.

Things I Miss

1. First and fore most bad 90's music that is awesome. Ace of Base, Kris Kross, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, Paula Abdul, and the my life mentor, MC Hammer. Long gone are the days of being driven to soccer practice while jamming out to I Saw the Sign, 2 Legit, and Kris Kross makes ya wanna JUMP JUMP. Straight up now tell me you don't agree with that one.
2. Speaking of soccer practice I miss oranges that someone's mom had already cut up for you, capri suns, and juice boxes. Also shin guards
2. Saved by the Bell. I haven't seen it in years. Sad.
3. Old school xmen, thundercat, and TMNT cartoons.
4. Night games. The classics like kick the can and steal the flag.
5. Climbing in trees. Although I was banned after falling/jumping out of a tree and breaking my foot, I miss it.
6. Signing casts- everyonce and a while I will think of something when I see someone get hurt......or when I get hurt and think - ha ha that would be awesome to have stuck on a cast for six weeks.
7. Going to Bear Lake. My family used to go to Bear Lake all the time. I miss that.
8. Wave running and swimming to the buoey at pineview.
9. Going and hiking waterfall canyon or northfork
10. A lot of my long time friends that I don't see much anymore. Stupid marriage
11. High school sometimes, mainly just my debate class and my friends in there.
12. The Drive In. I haven't been to one since premish times. I used to have parties there all the time. I miss those.

Sorry just reminiscing. Thanks for listening.

Another Cold.....Honestly is this happening?

Why yes it is. It is the fourth time this winter season. The fourth time!!!!! During an average winter I will get the common cold once maybe twice. This year I guess I unknowingly decided to outdo myself and went to bed last night with number 4. I guess this weather doesn't help, the whole it is 75 and sunny to 30 and snowing like a motha. My perfect day of sleeping in, doing a little bit of homework, going to church and then dinner and games with some friends was put on hold for some other time. Instead it involved waking up every thirty minutes hacking up a lung, no sleep, locked up in my room, watching the entire third season of the office (no real complaint on that one) and overall feeling pretty miserable. I guess when I asked for a lazy sunday I should have specified for a healthy lazy sunday. Simply said, colds are lame.

3 Years Ago this Week

I just realized that three years ago this week I returned home from my mission in the Southside of Chicago. Which means five years ago this week I first entered the MTC. It is really crazy how time goes by so fast. I look back on my mission with great fondness, it was in the field and on the streets of Chicago that I really grew up. I was forced to. I was 2,000 miles away from everyone I knew and from anyone that really knew me. In the beginning I was scared, not really sure why exactly I was out there, and really afraid that I wouldn't succeed. I didn't have my mom and dad to run to, to tell how I felt, and to ask advice. I didn't have any friends that I could vent to, that I could be around just to make myself feel better. I only had one source of strength and comfort to turn to - Jesus Christ.

I decided that first night in the mission home that I was going to give it my all. And I did, try really hard to do just that, I studied, I prayed, I tracted, I taught, I even baptized a few times. I never became unafraid, not really of the areas I was in- there were some shady ones- but I was never afraid to be in them, I was afraid of failing. Of missing that person that I needed to find, of letting down that One person who I realized was the only person I could lean on. I was afraid that there was going to be someone who needed to know who the Savior is and that I might not be there to tell them. I tried really hard to be successful, and I hope that I was, I never was able to quantify what being a successful missionary was. My mission meant everything to me, for the longest time that was all I could think about. I still think about it almost every day. There is always something that reminds me of it.












I miss how sure of everything I was. I knew that God loved me, that Jesus died for my sins, that there is a plan for me to return to live with them someday. I knew it, I fully believed it, and I taught it with the conviction of knowing it. Then three years ago I came home, back to the world I left behind.

Realizing how long ago it was that I came home from the mish has led me to some serious introspection. The real world hit me faster than I was prepared for. I started to slip into the old routine of things, casually forgetting to say a prayer at night, not reading my scriptures. And I have realized how easily not doing those two things makes it to not do other things. Someone once told me that the only way you really could measure a successful missionary was a few years after they got home, by the way they were living. If that is the case I feel like a failure.

I have lost that surety that I once had. I have let my testimony slide. I feel like one of my favorite church paintings....well almost. Here it is and then I will explain.

The painting is by Greg Olsen and it is called "Lost and Found". It is a painting that I have always loved and kept in my room. Right now more than ever does it make sense to me. I feel very lost. I know that I have to make a decision soon if I want to be found. Right now I am the boy in the picture. I can see Christ on the park bench a little ways in the distance, and I know He is saving a place for me on that bench. That as soon as I sit down next to Him, He will hug me, tell me He has missed me, and as I try to explain why I left the bench three years ago, He will tell me that it doesn't matter, that I am here now, and what matters is what I do from here on out. He will let me know that He will be there for me when I am tempted to get up off the bench if I want Him to be. I turn around and I can see another life,it is just as inviting but the the pathway down is a little darker, more mysterious, but enticing, and I have to decide now which direction I am going to start walking towards. In the last three years I have semi-unconsciously taken a few steps away from the park bench. Now I realize that I have to consciously decide what I direction I need to take.

I have avoided making this decision for as long as I can take, I procrastinate everything I do, but the deadline is up, if I continue to procrastinate I know I will be taking a few more steps away from the park bench, and I don't think I can afford to do that if I want to make a fully conscious decision.

The decision should be easy, I know the outcome of taking steps towards the park bench, I know that it leads to a fulfilling happiness, or at least that it has in the past. Taking steps in the other direction lead me to short lived moments of extreme happiness that leave you with a dull feeling inside once they leave, making me do whatever it takes to get my next fix.

And so it goes, B-rad at the apex of a crossroads, at home plate ready to bat. The pitcher is ready to throw the ball and I have to decide if I am going to swing or not. And if I do swing am I really going to go for it-the ball out of the park home run, or am I going to hit a pop fly, guaranteed to get myself out.

I don't know why I am writing this here, for the world (also known as the four of you who read this) to see, but I felt like I had to. I wish I had the certainty that I once had, where I knew the answers or at least really knew who I could turn to for the answers.

Anyways thanks for listening, I am sure the decision I make will be evident, I should probably stop blogging in the middle of the night, maybe I will just delete this, chances are I will probably fall asleep and forget I ever wrote it until a week from now....or most likely after American Idol and I come on here to blog my opinion of the week and realize how lame I am for writing this. oh well I will leave it on here, so I don't feel like I have wasted the last hour and a half. For now I am going to go pass out on my bed for hopefully ten hours, wake up ready for a new day of soul searching and decision making.

The TAP Project-I need your help

The TAP Project is a program created by the US fund for Unicef to raise money to provide clean drinking water for children who do not have access to it. Every day more than 4,200 children die due to a lack of clean drinking water. Unicef has a goal to reduce that number to 0.

The TAP Project began in New York City two years ago when Unicef partnered with major NY restaurants asking them to have their patrons to donate a dollar or more for the drinking water they would normally receive for free. Unicef promised to turn that dollar into 40 days worth of clean drinking water for children in third world countries. The idea grew and this is the first year that it has become a global initiative and the first year it has been introduced into Utah.

I have been lucky enough to help introduce the TAP Project into the Salt Lake area in trying to get restaurants involved and helping to create awareness for this amazing opportunity that we have to really make an impact on the world. I feel overwhelmingly lucky and blessed to be living in a country that I do not have to walk four hours every day to find clean drinking water. Since I am lucky enough to have unlimited clean drinking water I feel it is my duty to try and help those that are not as fortunate as I am.

Please watch this video, it explains the TAP Project better than I can.



If you can't view go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JXbaWQDjZQ

I need your help!

I have been thinking about how the blogging world could be an aid into helping more people aware of the TAP Project and I am literally on my knees begging you to make a post showing the video with your own comments on what you think of the TAP Project begging your friends to do the same. Kind of like a tag, but one that will create awareness of this amazing project and letting people know what they can do to help.

Today marks the beginning of World Water Week and the week the TAP Project is in full form. There is a list of participating restaurants at www.tapproject.org and also for those in Utah www.utahtap.org.

Please post the video and beg your friends to do it as well, the goal of 0 is attainable with your help and the help of your friends.

Meet the my Family

I guess it is probably time to introduce you to the fam-damily. I think you all know me well enough now that it is probably about that time. So here it is:

THE CUMMINGS FAMILY




That is us, the Cummings family. We are a pretty cool bunch. Now let me tell you the story of a lovely lady and a killer dude. My Mom and Dad.

















Meet the Parents:
My Mom and Dad mean more to me than anything. They are constantly there for me when I need them and I know that no matter what they always will be. They have always been the cool parents. I remember once me and my friends went to get shakes at Johnny's Dairy, and my friends
saw my parents pull up at the drive through window to pick up some milk and they ran over, left me to watch their stuff, so they could go outside and talk to my parents. My house has always been a hang out house. Whether it is two or twenty people, my parents have always been good about having my friends over.



They have been there for me at every significant event in my life. I owe them everything that is me.







Jeff:

He is my brother. He is three years older than me and has secretly always been my hero. Don't tell him, it will go straight to his head. He is the kind of guy who just seemed to be good at everything. And as much as that drove me nuts growing up, looking back it made me better at everything because we were so competitive with eachother. When we were kids we were good friends, I remember him beating up a kid who was trying to pick a fight with me who was two years older than me. (I was kind of a smart A, even back in the third grade) and again a year later with another dude. He always had my back and was always willing to fight my battles for me, even though I was his punk kid brother. When we were teenagers we kind of grew apart, got in stupid fights constantly, but now we are back, probably closer than we ever have been. I am so glad to have him as my brother.



Katie:


Katie is three years younger than me. We have always been really close for as long as I can remember. We have always had inside jokes and nicknames for each as well. I would go into that, but some may find them inappropriate or require a long story, just know they are funny. It was crazy to leave on my mission seeing her as an almost 16 year old and then coming home to see her being an almost 18 year old. She is one of my closest friends and one of the funniest people you will ever meet. I am so lucky to have her as my sister.





Kylee:


Kylee is the youngest in the family at 15. She is one of the most thoughtful teenagers I have met. She is smart, cute, and really starting to come into her own. Being the baby of the family has probably been hard but she is a champ. We have always been pretty close. One of my favorite memories of her is when I went and snuck her out of school once and went to artic circle for lunch and then to a movie. I owed her one big time, and that is how I made up for it. We had fun. She also stays up late watching tv with me whenever I spend the night at the parentals. She had got serious insomnia like I do, and it is nice having someone as cool as her to spend that time with.

So here you have it, the Cummings Family




Those of you who know me know I am not one of those look how perfect my life/family/world blog kind of people, so I thought I would include some of the funny pics. Most of them are mine, because I don't want to embarass the fam too much, they say I do that enough as it is. Now it is time for the Cummings family photo bloopers. Mainly they are of me. I guess I am what photographer's call "a blinker"























Hair Malfunctions and funny faces:

24 years and those who made it happen

Hi everybody, or basically the three of you who read this blog. I turned 24 on Saturday. It is kind of crazy for me to think that I am now 24. 24, still single, still working on my bachelors degree, still having to stop at the parental's once a week, still playing practical jokes on people (for my latest one I have to apologize to my friend Brianne at work for.....it was pretty funny though, I am glad you laugh about it now, and I am glad you didn't call me at six in the a.m. when you mysteriously had your alarm go off on a Saturday morning,) and even inspite of still being as immature as I was at 23, I am still your average rockstar. I am glad that being one year older hasn't had any dramatic effects on me yet. It is kind of weird though. I always thought I would be two more steps ahead of where I am now when I used to think about what would happen when I would be 24. I thought I would be graduating this fall because 18 credit hours would be easy, (Ha ha never have taken more than 15 with two of those credits always being tennis classes) thought I would be married or engaged (this is not even close to happening, and right now I don't feel too bad about it), I don't think I will ever stop playing practical jokes (you may just never want me to see your cell phone again, it was such a funny practical joke, sorry again Brianne) and I will probably be a rockstar when I am 80. Thats it, no new profound explaination on the new age, no sudden new plans, no new resolutions.
With that said I do have to thank all my killer friends for making my bday an awesome weekend. First, Friday afternoon my awesome friends at work had a small bday party for me. Thank you Erin, Blair, Mccall, Jenni, Kelly, Wendy, Jesse, Will and everyone else at work. Then that night Christa and Amber took me out to eat at Stoneground, one of my favorite restaurants, and then we met up with Sheldon and saw the Reader (I will blog about the movie later) and then went back to the APT for brownies and ice cream. Then Saturday I went up to O-town to celebrate my birth with my friends up there. They took me to the OG, and then we went back to Missy's for an Office Marathon. Thanks Missy, Kriddy, Chelsie, Tyler, Lawrence, Heather, Brock, Briann, Kellie, Mike, Chiara, and Chantastic. I got a pass to do the I-fly at the Junction (indoor skydiving) and a few other goodies. It was awesome. Thanks.
Then Sunday was the fam's time to party. Both sets of G-parents came over, and my whole family was there (minus Katie who was on a trip and said she will make it up to me). It was a lot of fun. Made out with some loot from the the Parentals and the G-parents, and got some good flicks from the siblings, and the best picture from my buddy Jax. All in all an awesome bday.

Thanks!

Season 8 of American Idol

So as you all probably know I am an addict of American Idol. Lame I know, but I love music and it is cool to watch people who don't have the opportunities that others have to make it into the business. Anyways I guess I don't need to defend myself, even though I kinda feel like I do. Well finally tonights show has given me a favorite. Her name is Lil Rounds. She rocked Mary J Blige's Be Without You. Awesome. I finally have someone I am really cheering for.




Lil has got some pipes. She is my favorite.












Here are some others that I like.



Danny Gokey: I hate on him a little bit because I think Fox has been exploiting the death of his wife to make him as popular as he is. He has been shown more than any of the other contestants, which again gives him an unfair advantage. Can he sing-yes in the whole Bryan Adams kind of singing. Don't get me wrong I like him, I am just not buying the hype that has gone into making him what he is. If his wife was still alive would he be as popular?-probably not, and it is shameful of Fox to exploit it. I do not give out pitty votes. That said he sooo deserves to be in the top 12, unlike the blind guy. He is sacrament meeting good, not I wanna listen to him on any other day but sunday kind of good.













Ju'Not rocked Hey Delilah. Changed it up enough to make it different but left the important parts the same. He was the best guy of round 3, I hope he makes it to the top 12.













Kris Allen suprised me by doing a classic MJ song and doing it well. Who would have thought a white boy from Arkansas could authentically do Man in the Mirror? He is pretty good.










My Wild Card Hopefuls: Those I want them to bring back.


Megan Corkrey is hot. I kind of have a crush on her, and maybe that is why I am hoping she makes the wild card picks. I know her style of music is limited but I think that it represents a new era of music for women who can't do the powerhouse vocals of Alicia Keys, the hip of Beyonce, or the rock of Pink, but don't want to fall into the dumb pop genre. It is a throwback to 60's jazz/r&b mixed in with a bit of British invasion that is cool, soulful, and chill. Think Amy Whinehouse, Adele, Duffy, Corrine Bailey Ray, or Norah Jones. She has potential.





I kind of have a weird crush on Jackie. She is goofy but she has an awesome soulful rock voice that reminds of Janice Joplin mixed in with Pink when she is actually singing and not being goofy/angry. She has potential and I hope they bring her back even though i think it is doubtful.





That leaves one more spot in the wild card and I hope it goes to either Anoop-Dawg or Kai. They are both really good and I like both of them.

Some of my fave SNL stuff

So it is probably no big secret that I love SNL. Here are some of my favorite ones with the exception of recent Tina Fey Sarah Palin skits-those are fantastic but I couldn't just choose one. Sorry some might have brief commercials.
Beyonce, JT, and Paul Rudd- Single Ladies

justin timberlake snl beyonce single ladies video

Debbie Downer


Anne Hathaway-Mary Poppins


Natalie Portman Raps (Warning bleeped out f words, maybe inappropriate for minors. Haha)


Angelina wants more babies


Really with Seth and Amy, Really


Sorry, couldn't sleep so I was playing around online and thought you all could benefit from it.

Living for yourself

Apparently does not include school work or cleaning your room. At least not on a daily or a weekly basis. Putting off school work and room cleanage for five weeks means a lot of fun, a trip to San Diego, and did I mention a lot of fun, but these five weeks have finally hit a crossroads. My room is literally a giant mess and I have three papers due in a week and a half. Do I know what these are on?....no. Have I read anything to get me ready to write them?....no. Do I even know when the are due?....not really, just in a general sense, I remember looking at my syllabi (that is pluaral for syllabus, right?)at some point and making a mental note that a lot would be happening in February, somewhere in the twenties. Last time I checked, and then was reminded every where I went today, it is apparently February 13, well it is after midnight so I guess it is V Day. (Side Note, my friend's coworker wished her a happy VD, then had to have it explained that if you want to shorten Valentines Day, call it V-Day, VD means something entirely different....As a further sidenote I submit calling February 15 VD Day, because I am assuming that is the day you find out that maybe Valentines day isn't such a good idea.)
Anyways back to the point at hand, I gotta get my schooling on, and fast. Also I guess I have to do a class presentation or something on Tuesday, about contructivist theory in international relations, yeah pretty intense, and am not even sure if I spelt constructivist right. And get this, teach wants me to give her an outline by tomorrow night, on what it is I am going to do. So I get to spend V-Day making up an outline and then VD Day figuring out exactly what I am going to present on. Lame.
I guess life has to eventually catch up with you right? Even though my V Day and VD Day are going to suck, I don't think I would take anything back that I have done over the last five weeks. It has been fun. Living to make yourself happy has been the best and only resolution I have kept this year. I am not so worried about what others think, I beginning to care less about it. Instead of getting worried when I think someone is mad at me I say boo on them. Treating other people the way they treat you is kind of theraputic. Thinking you know what, they really don't care how you feel when they treat you this way, you should care just as little, as bad as it sounds feels kinda good. I am experimenting with this new way of looking at life and those who I interact with, and it is kind of interesting. Those who treat my like crap, are now all of a sudden mad that my backbone is showing again. That I am not saying thanks serve me up another junk punch and keep em coming all night, please. Those who treat me like they should probably don't notice too much of a difference. This goal of not being the proverbial doormat, is paying off. I feel less stressed, less self-cautious, and am getting back to being me.
I want to thank a few people, who have been really awesome to me lately, and for no apparent reason. First my work friends. You know who you are. Thank you for making work a place I don't dread going, no matter how much someone is trying to make it be that way. I do have to say that I have always had awesome friends that I have made from work. Then my roomie and the girls upstairs. Even though this weekend (actually doing homework) is going to suck, the past five weeks have been killer. Thanks for keeping me occuppied. And the others of you, know who you are, thanks.

Coming soon in a future post, the family pictures that were three weeks in the making, and a movie update.

PS: I didn't know how to incorporate this into my post but feel the need to tell you all about my bad luck day on Thursday. All in one day I broke my phone, a copier (literally a door to it fell off after I closed it), and a blender all in a day. All not on purpose, all corresponding with the first letter of a swear word I wanted to say. Lame day huh? I dealt with it better than I thought I would. Weird.

The Real World

"This is the true story... of eight strangers... picked to live in a house...work together and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real...The Real World."



So, I have decided to do a throwback to 1998 and watch the new season of the Real World. I haven't watched the Real World in seven years, but this new season with two people from Salt Lake, I thought I would give it a try again. And it is awesome. Maybe I mentally never really graduated high school, but for reals guys, it is good. I would check it out if you haven't already. Here are the members of the house with my commentary.

Chet


Chet is definately in my top four favorite of this cast. He is a pretty cool, funny, chill mormon dude from slick city. Remind you of anyone? Ha ha. He is a little full of himself and a little to quick to start a fight, but I am a fan.




Sarah



Sarah is definately the nicest person on the show. She is the go to person for everyone on the show. I think that she will be the one who causes the least amount of drama for others on the show but has a a ton o drama in her real life. Sad. But she is def in my top three as well.










Ryan

Ryan is the funniest one on the show. Ryan and Chet are the pranksters of the show and are hilarious. He also can sing pretty well. Check out the first episode if you want to see it, don't judge it just by the tampon song.




Baya

She rounds up my top favorite four. She is pretty cool, at first I was a little skeptical of Baya. I didn't buy her love for hip hop dance in the beginning, but after thinking about most peeps wouldn't think I live hip hop music, but I do, so I let that one slide. But as the season has continued I have started to like her more and more.




JD

I really liked JD in the beginning, but his drinking problem gives him a totally bad case of drunk foot in your mouth itis. He is really rude to the others in the house and to random strangers when he gets his liquor. Sober JD pretty cool for the most part, drunk one of my least favorite.




Devyn

Boring. Boring. Boring. I had some high hopes for her, but her lack of doing anything exciting has made her the second most boring member of the house. Sorry Devyn the acting and singing career just isn't gonna happen. Go back to school. Harsh deal of reality, but I gotta say it like it is. She is nice though. Also get over Scott. That also is not going to happen.




Scott

And here goes the award for the most boring part of the whole show. Scott, Scott Scott, who let him on the show? Honestly, the only person he can have a conversation with is Devyn and that is because she loves him. Dude lay off the juice and pick up a book or.....I don't know a dictionary so you can learn words and then ask someone to show you how to put them together to form sentences. Ask Devyn, she would be more than willing to help.




Kaitlyn

I will be the first one to admit that I am completely ignorant when it comes to the transgender lifestyle and don't quite comprehend what it is that makes people want to do that, that said, I think she needs to be honest with everyone in the house. She should have came out the first day they were all there, and even more so with those that she dates. If she wants to be taken seriously as a transgender she needs to be honest about her lifestyle. Lying about who you are is never a good thing, especially about this. Anyways she creates a lot of drama on the show which keeps it entertaining.

So there it is, that is the house, someone watch it so I can have someone to talk about it with.