Friday, October 31, 2008

Thursday, October 30, 2008

pitter patter

Oakley, CA

Please take a moment to go vote on Cindy's blog for your favorite pumpkin. Thanks. (Everyone that goes there from my blog helps strengthen my vote. My vote is no longer worth 1 it is now worth 4. At least that's how I think it should work.)

After nearly 8 months without rain...we got rain today. Not nearly as good as snow, but it will do until I can get some snow.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

You have to Prey to make it today

Oakley, CA

Please take a moment to go vote on Cindy's blog for your favorite pumpkin. Thanks.

Tonight I got home from class to the most genius idea, which I share with you:
"You know, if I was a rich bachelor, I would have two dishwashers and just enough dishes to fill one of them... that way my dishes could just get moved from one dishwasher to the other" - Mahon (Cindy's Husband)

(BTC - Uno's after class)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Fixed Oink

Oakley, CA

Please take a moment to go vote on Cindy's blog for your favorite pumpkin. Thanks.

I was sent home from work today because I was coughing on kids, but I didn't get sent home before I had a chance to fix our pig.

--
After leaving work but before going home, I picked up some pictures from Costco that I'm sending to Tennessee. I had never actually printed off pictures from my camera before. Oh my! They look better as prints than on the screen. I never knew. I'm so exstatic. They are the 45 best PAD shots since May 28.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Brentwood sunset

Brentwood, CA

Please take a moment to go vote on Cindy's blog for your favorite pumpkin. Thanks.

(BTC - Drinks with friends)

Sunday, October 26, 2008

the need for dragons

A recent post from Cindy got me thinking about dragons and our need for dragons. I know that in the scriptures we read that there is a need for opposition in all things. We must have sorrow with happiness. We must have angry people and peacemakers. We must have Christ and Lucifer. But I'm intrigued by the concept of a dragon. In so much fairy tale literature, we see a dragon that rears up it's ugly head and is the cause of much destruction in the land before eventually a knight in shiny steel is able to ride up and slaughter the beast.

As I've pondered this, I've had two thoughts that have reoccurred. The first is the that we have dragons to remind us that little guys can beat out bigger than life problems. Dragons are our mythical version of Goliath. We are David. Dragons have a way of coming into a peaceful situation and causing chaos. Many people allow the dragon to affect them and to beat them. A lot of people don't have the courage or gumption to stand up to the dragon and beat it. Instead they flee or are destroyed. They allow the dragon this privileged. And then comes a savior. He rides in and does what no one else could do and slaughters the fire breathing beast. He is the calm that brings with himself calm. Where there isn't peace, He leaves His peace. And this reminds us to have courage to do even as he has done. We are encouraged to take on the dragons in our lives after watching someone else be victorious.

The other thought I had about why we need dragons was a way to be humbled. Dragons often come to the villages that are prospering. They come and they burn and they eat and they trample on the crops of those wealthy farmers and the farmers are left with nothing. When people are left with nothing (and are nothing like me) they often turn to God. We read in the Book of Mormon that the Lamanites were a tool to humble the people of Nephi. When the Nephites got too prosperous or too stuck on themselves, the Lamanites would suddenly show up on the out skirts of the kingdom and start destroying people's crops and lives. People would then flee to their judges and their prophets and beg for help. Those judges and prophets would then tell the people to repent and the prophet would call upon God to know what should be done next. Inspiration was given and the Lamanites were destroyed. A prophet rode up on his horse and defeated the dragon. And by listening to that knight, the residents were saved. But they first had to be humbled to be reminded that they needed a prophet. There was a saying in my old high school - we all hated the police until we actually needed one. Prophets, sometimes, feel the same way I bet. No one really listens to them until a dragon rears it's ugly head and then, at that moment, all eyes and ears are there ready to listen and obey.

I never thought I would be thankful for a dragon, but i'm grateful to the dragons that both humble me and remind me that even though the dragons in my life seem fierce, I can beat them - with the help of my Saviour.

(Dragons in the scriptures)

Lunch

Antioch, CA

I know I announced this on facebook, but I'm not sure I announced it here. I'm going to be raising rabbits for a while. I want them for their manure and then we will slaughter them and have an Easter Stew. I'm raising them at Tom's place and we are helping the kids with not getting connected to them by naming the bunnies Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and the mama rabbit is named Supper. I was going to spray paint a B, L, D & S on them, but someone pointed out that that would ruin the gloves and mittens later. So I think this one is Lunch, but it could be Dinner. They look a lot alike. However, I'm sure they will taste the same.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

chipped glass

Vallejo, CA

I went out to dinner with some friends tonight.

(BTC - For my Dad, though really anyone could look at this.)

Friday, October 24, 2008

Masquerade

Fremont, CA

I went to a masquerade tonight. There were masked people everywhere. Some were in masks made out of paper machete...others made theirs out of underwear. I didn't wear a mask because I have always thought that masks were a facade.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

papillion chiuaua



Oakley, CA

Today the Aunt of one of my clients showed up with a purse dog. The purse was designed to carry a dog. I had never seen that before - so of course I took pictures.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Apple Orchard

Byron, CA

Post # 500
501 days since day 1

(BTC)

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Working by candle light


Antioch, CA

This marks the second night this month where the sun went down before I was done digging and I was forced to dig out the flood light. I realize the pictures are of the same setting, but each picture is just slightly enough different that I need to post both.

Monday, October 20, 2008

lubercated

Brentwood, CA

I love towing. I hate dealing with the aftermath. I always lubricate my ball and the tongue before they touch so that there is very little friction during the tow. However, when towing is all over, I am supposed to clean the ball. Not my favorite thing to do.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

hippobutton

Fremont, CA

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Happy Birthday Jim

Pleasanton, CA

Today was Jim's 62 Birthday. So I took him to the Cheesecake Factory. Jim doesn't like the whole singing thing, so I ask the waitress to wish Jim a happy birthday. She wished Jim a happy birthday every time she came to our table. Our waitress also had every other person that came to our table (from the bus boys to the kitchen staff to other random people) with Jim a Happy Birthday. It was AWESOME! I had a lot of fun and I know Jim did too.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Prop 8

Brentwood, CA

It turns out there are 12 propositions in CA for this election. I didn't know about 11 of them, because I have heard more about this single prop than any other. I won't comment on how I'm voting but I do want to comment on how sad this picture makes me. When I was in high school you could debate with people and still be friends. Now politics has gotten so mean spirited. Someone could have just as easily put a "No on Prop 8" lawn advertisement next to or even in front of this one that is Yes. But instead they chose to deface it. And it's not just the "No's" that are doing this. North of me, over the weekend, a bunch of "No on Prop 8" banners were destroyed by over zealous Yes folk. Why is this? Why can't we just agree to disagree? Why do we need to get to the point where we vandalize other people's property simply because we don't agree with them? I know children that are better at acting like adults than some of these people. So tonight I would ask - grow up. You're adults. Act like it. Stop vandalizing other people's signs just because you don't agree with their point of view. Instead of vandalizing - try voting. It is a lot more effective.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Shadows in the grove

Oakley, CA

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Purdy Purple

Brentwood, CA

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Not my best side

Near Concord, CA

"Stop taking my picture and feed me!!"

(BTC)

Monday, October 13, 2008

6 window design

Oakley, CA

I redecorated the 6 windows at work today.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Holiness to the Lord

Oakland, CA

Saturday, October 11, 2008

bloomed rose

Antioch, CA

Friday, October 10, 2008

Goods Night Sun

Antioch, CA

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Left Overs

Antioch, CA

We started with 6 bunnies. Two died because of the elements and 1 was eaten by a predator. So we have 3 "wild" bunnies left. I have yet to see the mom rabbit, but when I'm at the house I'm usually digging post holes and chewing up concrete. I doubt that really entices a rabbit to come say hi.

(For my kids)

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Shadow Tree

Oakley, CA
I saw an amazing picture today that I just want to share. I love this picture.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

add ins

Fremont, CA

I went with a friend tonight to a yogurt place over by the new Costco. Great place for yogurt - I highly recommend it. These were some of the items you could sprinkle on your yogurt.

Monday, October 6, 2008

gang signs



Antioch, CA

I recruited some more people to join my Wal-Mart Gang. Here they are throwing the WM gang sign. The next step in becoming an official member is to hang out in a Wal-Mart giving wrong directions to shoppers.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

watering hole

Antioch, CA
(BTC)

Saturday, October 4, 2008

scratched

Antioch, CA

There is a saying that you should never buy a former rental car. People will do in a rental car that they won't do in their own cars. As I noticed this hubcap on a LDS missionary car, I was reminded of that second statement, "Missionaries will do things in mission cars that they wouldn't do in a rental." I think this car could testify to that.

Friday, October 3, 2008

baby bunnie



Antioch, CA

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Triple Thursday



San Fran, CA

(BTC)

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Introduction Part 1 - Paying the price

"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer..." Doctrine & Covenants 19:16

I have had a lot of things handed to me. I have been blessed and I have been unworthy of a lot of that blessing. You see, I have this problem paying the price. I'm not sure why it is, but for as long as I can remember, I have struggled paying the price. I know - in part - it is because I have never been one to jump hoops for the sake of jumping hoops. At BYUI I had a professor announce on the first day of class that he was going to make the class harder this semester. I raised my hand and asked if we were going to learn any more than the class last semester. The professor replied he doubted it. I dropped the class. If I had kept the class, I would have a sociology major today instead of a BS in University Studies. But I just couldn't jump through his hoop. I wasn't willing to pay the price.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. In Elementary school I had Mr. G. He saw through my game. As I will post later, I was a very sickly child and I was home schooled most of my early education because I was too sick to go to school. By 6th grade, I was getting better and could attend most of 6th grade. There was a lot of hoop jumping to be done and I refused to do it. I played to my parent's sympathies. Some time I won, some times I didn't. But I will surely never forget a November morning as I sat in his classroom with my parents for a conference. He called me on my game. "Sean just doesn't try if he doesn't see the point." Exactly. And there is a lot I don't either see the point to or comprehend the point to. And so for a long time I have just not paid the price to learn what those would have me learn.

I haven't paid the price in my education, my religion and my social contacts. I haven't sunk deep into the books and actually struggled through a class. Instead, if the class got too hard I would drop it, telling myself I was keeping my GPA safe when really all I was doing was refusing to pay the price. I haven't sunk deep into my scriptures and my faith. There was a point where I thought I knew as much as I needed to know. So I stopped trying to learn more. Spiritual knowledge and spiritual faith is like a car on a hill: You are either applying gas and making it farther up or you are in neutral or reverse. And really it doesn't matter which of those last two you're in - you're sliding back down the hill either way. So my faith and my diligence in learning of Christ and Heavenly Father has been in neutral. And lastly, I have not been diligent in the process of being a good person that people seek out. I have, at times been a bit of an arrogant ass. I have troubles at times filtering what comes out of my mouth. However, as I have had friends drop off, I always blame them. They aren't patient enough or willing to leave their comfort zones or what ever. However, really, it's me.

And now - right now - I'm paying the price. In December I will turn 30. I am no where near where I want to be spiritually, educationally or socially. When I was 18 I imagined myself as a married man teaching high school and being a bishop. I'm none of those things and I'm not close to it. I'm in a dead end job, renting a room in a house and still taking classes at the junior college.

I think it is time to start paying the price I need to be paying so that I will stop paying the price I'm currently paying. I hope to use this blog to help me have a record of the continuation of that path. I think I am to the point in my life where paying the price sounds like a great idea.

muggy and warm


Brentwood, CA

I wasn't happy with either of these shots and they were the best of the days 20 shots. I know tomorrow will be better so I'm okay with today's shots sucking.