welcome December!

Finals are on their way. I feel like there should be another month of school. Crazy, right!? I'm doing quite well in school this semester but feel like I should be trying harder somehow. I have a few papers left and presentations to sum up but other than that...cake walk.

Could it really be just one more semester o

f course work? I feel like I've been going to school for so long I won't know what to do with myself. Well of course I'll get a job and all... but it will be so different.

On another note. I have had so many people setting me up on dates lately. I visited the Spanish Fork ward the other week and after sacrament meeting the high councilman and I were talking and he gave me his little sister's number. We went ice skating and had a good time. Then an old mission buddy gave

me his wife's second cousin's number. Not to mention my own efforts. Ah, the life of Reedo.

I am totally loving life right now. It's not perfect but I am seeking to do and be the best at what I am doing. Life is good!

Lastly, here is our third cousin, Andrew George, scoring the winning touchdown!!!

The Sin Bin

My team lost tonight. I set a new record for myself. I was thrown in the penalty box 3 times. I couldn't believe what was going on. Then this little guy came skating down on our end and I hit him into the boards so hard. He was super mad and feisty. He jumped on my back and just started swinging. The guy had to be 5' nothing and weighed 120 lbs. I knew if I started swinging back, it would have been malicious and I would've killed the kid. I love a good physical game but don't hit the ice looking for a fight. We lost 6-4 and I blame myself as 2 goals were scored as I was sitting watching my team play a man down for my zealousness. In the words of Rocky Balboa: "There's some stuff down in the basement." I suppose I get most of it out with that one hour a week on the ice.

pumpkin carving

The other night I went on a group date with some of the boys and the wonderful residents of Apt. 212. We all had a blast. We carved pumpkins. Have you ever wondered where the pumpkin carving started; I have. Before I get into that too much I have to announce our pumpkin was modeled after the Monsters Inc. character, Mike Wazowski. What do you think?

Origin of pumpkin carving

Vegetable lanterns have been used for a long time during harvest season. this would illuminate fields and block the winds from blowing out the flame. They haven't only used pumpkins for this and in Europe turnips were a favorite for many years. Although these lanterns were used in agrarian societies they were only associated with American inline with Halloween. Evidence of the carved vegetable lanterns aren't associated with Halloween until later in the 19th century. Lastly, the carving of lanterns is worldwide but the word Jack o' lantern is almost exclusively associated with America. ..... God Bless it!

A roommates proposal

My roommate proposed this summer and I played a small role. It's a little long but you can skip ahead to about the 4 minute mark if you want... I just thought I would throw my youtube debut up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXIWV_gypHg

Eucalyptus deglupta

When we were in Hawaii last year there were the coolest looking trees outside the Walther's condo. The bark was the most amazing variation of colors. We all stood around it and admired and of course it was cool because it was in Hawaii!

I am currently taking a Plant Biology test and we are studying the morphology of bark. I was flipping through the text book and saw THE TREE.

It is a Rainbow Eucalyptus tree. This is the only Eucalyptus tree that is native to the Northern Hemisphere. The bark actually sheds every year and the green inner bark is shown. As the green inner bark matures it darkens to blue, purple, red, and/or maroon.

Pretty cool stuff!

Aphonopelma iodius

The other day I went fishing up Payson Canyon.  As I was driving up I spotted a black blob in the road.  I pulled off the road and saw this awesome Tarantula.  This was about 7,000 ft.  Don't freak out too much.  This is the first one I have ever seen in the wild.  I had a small 12 oz soda cup so I didn't try to catch it.  Another adventure....PS: this is a female.