Australia

So Catey and I saw this on YAHOO! a while ago and we looked at each other and thought......WHY NOT!

So we did.

We have applied for the job at www.islandreefjob.com

Here is our application.

Please visit the link, tell your friends, vote on the video and send us on a once in a lifetime opportunity with our family......even if we don't get a shot, making the video reminded me what a blessing I have in my wife and family.

http://www.islandreefjob.com/applicants/watch/GPEPk6kfc8E

Saying goodbye

I read a story the other day that I wanted to add my own comments. It was a story on the front page of YAHOO! Finance about 15 companies that might not survive the crippling economy and may be out of business by the end of the year.

Here are the businesses on the list (and my thoughts):



Rite Aid - I never really used them since we moved from that place up North. We had one we used to use all the time when we lived in SugarHouse, but there are none near me now. I hate to see any competitor of Wal-Mart go out of business. I love Wal-Mart, but I am a believer that competition is good for the market.



Claire's Stores - Never had much contact with this one, except in my cross-dressing days...sad story, I don't want to go into it. Maybe my wearing their stuff is what is sending them out of busiess? Who knows!? I think I bought some earrings for Catey once, but other than that, I don't think I will miss them.



Chrysler - Really? This is one of those things where I get up on a stump and start yelling. "You have no business making $75 and hour building cars when Honda folks make $30. They make a better car and cost less! Obviously you are overpriced in your workforce, and that is the fault of the unions. So fire them all, hire them back for normal pay and make money like every other business in the world." I could go all political on this one, but if Chrysler goes away.....I won't shed a tear.



Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group - I guess they should have been more like Avis and "Tried Harder". Since these guys are 90% Chrysler fleet, I guess they won't survive the collapse either.




Realogy Corp - Again....why are there so many realtors? No offense to my cousin who is a good, honest, decent person for whom, I would lay down my life to defend (and maybe one or two others I know).....Realtors are just a step up from 'Car salesman'. Scum of the Earth, lying...[blank] [blank] [blank].......I hate realtors. Can we find something along the lines of Lawyers that will go down in flames too?



Station Casinos - We pass this place every time we go to Las Vegas. I won't miss it. Really? A Casino going down? How bad do you have to be mis-managing your finances if you are a Hotel/Casino going bankrupt?......wow.



Loehmann's Capital Corp - No clue who they are. Sorry you are doing so poorly.



Sbarro - DANG! I love Sbarro. I never go anymore, but I lived off these when I was in High School and was hanging at the mall trying to put the moves on girls.....it never worked....maybe it was the pizza breath?!



Six Flags - Another DANG! I so wanted to go there sometime. I guess no 'Superman' ride for me.....I think I might live though.



Blockbuster - Good! I think I still owe them like $16.50 for some movie like Land Before Time IXICI that I never rented from them but they charged me none-the-less. I told them I never rented it, they said I was lying.....they lost my business YEARS ago....I don't care if that ship sinks.



Krispy Kreme - This one I actually care about. I love KK. Every year my mom gives us gift certs for the kids and we take a family jaunt down to Orem to get them hot and fresh. I would seriously be sad if this ship went down. Like in the Titanic, "I'll never let go Jack....I'll never let go....." {sniff}



Sirius Satellite Radio - Cable for your car. I don't have it, but those who do love it. I would like to see this thing do well, but really, who wants to pay for radio?.....ah.....right....the same people who pay for TV! Since I do neither, I don't care one way or another.




Trump Entertainment Resorts Holdings - The Donald is in trouble?! HE'S FIRED!! I don't feel bad one bit on this one either....besides.....is anyone really going to miss this:


..And the last one...




BearingPoint - I have no clue who these folks are either.

So there you have it....maybe we could get them part of this outrageous stimulus package that our fearless leaders (I blame them all, not just one party) are passing. Then we could have realtors, drugstores and donuts all on our kids dime.

This stimulus was stupid in its infancy and is stupid now. Government has no place in business, just as business has no place in government. If business is going to die....let it die. Government should not be putting our children (and our grandchildren) in debt before they even have a say in it to save companies that were not profitable to begin with.

Insanity.

I would miss Krispy Kreme, but my children should not be paying for it.

I don't know where it makes sense to "spend more" to get out of debt. If I did that, the government would lock me up.

Honesty...the best policy

With all the hate mail, blog comments and bad looks from all my friends, I don't think any of you know me (or Catey) well enough. With all the fallout of the last blog, I am surprised I still have friends! Seriously folks, Catey and I must be unique because we are not in constant in worry of criticism.

For example.

Catey had just given birth (a couple of weeks I think) to our second child. She and I were planning to go somewhere with some friends. She went into the back room, put on her "skinny jeans" and came out and said "how do I look?" I answered her honestly and said, "um...yeah, not yet honey, I think you should go change." The other couple that was there both looked at me with terror. Catey just said "OK" and went back and changed. Right after Catey said "OK" the other woman in the room yelled at me, told me how insensitive I was and that Catey looked wonderful and HOTT and how blah blah blah blah she went on and on with the usual lies women tell each other.

I (on the other hand) know how Catey feels about herself and how she wants to look in public. I know, she would not be pleased with the way she looked in her "skinny jeans" with the jelly belly of a post-partum body. You will notice that I DIDN'T (nor did I want to , nor was I thinking....) "Sheesh you stupid fat pig, why the heck would you think you can wear those jeans....you are way too fat to wear those."

I love my wife, I would never think or say those things. I was being honest. Later (after that fallout with our neighbor) she thanked me for being honest with her.

For another example.

I have struggled with how much I weigh, my being in shape and overall fitness. I was saying something about it one day (probably while eating a huge bowl of ice cream) and Catey lovingly patted my belly, and said "Well, lets do something about it. You do need to look and feel better than you do." ....Ouch....it was a tough blow, but I am glad that she is comfortable enough with me to be honest and know that I won't backlash or freak out on her.

Don't get me wrong, I have said things that came out differently than I meant it or was misunderstood and I assure you, I begged forgiveness for my bad delivery. Catey has done the same.

We decided a long time ago, that above all else, we wanted honesty, even when it might hurt, honesty is something from which, you never have to hide.

So there.....how many of you could tell the world about your spouses bad morning breath and still be hugged and loved by them at the same time.....not many of you......

.....and for that, I am truly lucky.

Good Morning.....Mrs. Bad Breath

Although the picture above is of a dude, this story is about Catey. This morning, Catey and I had the luxury of sending the kids off to a Primary activity over at the ward. We were able to get all of them out of the house....except the youngest two. Next year at this time (that is if we don't have another baby) we will kick them ALL out, except Charli....but I digress.

Since we had the house to just the four of us, Catey and I went downstairs with the other two and decided to have a little pool face off in our PJ's. Since we didn't have anywhere to go, we decided to lounge around for a while. After a couple games of pool, Catey and I were on the couch talking about what we needed to get done and the following conversation took place:

Catey: I think we need to go to HHHHome Depot and get the dishwHHHHHHasher and HHHHHHave it delivered this wHHHHHeek. Ours is dead.

Aaron: OH!.....blech.....you need to brush your teeth. Your morning breath is killing me. {cough}

Catey: I dare you to blog about this and see what people say.

Aaron: I don't need to, I am right here and I know what I think, and I think you should brush your teeth.....and point that somewhere else.....{cough-cough}...{gag}

Everyone that knows Catey and I understands that Catey is near perfect and light years ahead of me in every way. But I am being honest with you when I say, her morning breath could stop a raging bull dead in his tracks. I'm not kidding. 2000 lbs raging, furious, charging, snot blowing, bull.....running right at us, Catey breaths out (HHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) eeeeeeeeeeeek (THUD!) the bull would drop dead because his lungs would seize up on the very first whisp of air.

Everyone has morning breath, however, I am not aware of anyone else that should be classified as military grade lethal.

For all those who wondered if Catey had any flaws.....there is one. Morning Breath.

Anyone else have something about their spouse that should be reported to the government as a weapon of mass destruction?

Facebook no more

Aaron: Hi....my name is Aaron...

Group: (in unison) Hi Aaron

Aaron: It's been 3 hours since my last time on Facebook....

Group: *gasp*

Aaron: ....I know I know, but this time, I have resolved to quit. Not just internally but externally....that is why....I have......chosen......to...
deactivate my Facebook account indefinitely.

Group: OH NO! YOU DIDN'T!

Aaron: Yes I did.......and I am a better man.


What is funny, is the first time I logged into Facebook, one of my long lost friends from High School posted on my wall "Hey Aaron, welcome to Facebook!....where you will spend hours upon hours of your natural life lost in cyberspace..."

I thought he was kidding....but my friend Ben could not have been more right. That thing is a drug. I have never thought myself to be a nosy Nelly or peeping Tom but that is what I have become! Need to know everything about everyone, who is this? What are they doing? How was their trip to Hong Kong? Wow, pics of their new Baby?

Hours and hours of trying to find those nameless, unknown faces that disappeared from my past, only to try and find them again to post on their cyber yearbook "GREAT TO SEE YOU, HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL H.A.G.S! ('Have a great summer' for those who forgot). Pointless. Well, that may be harsh. It's not pointless but to what great end? So that I can be popular? So I can keep in touch with people? Don't I already have enough people right here next to me with whom I should be keeping in touch?

The people who mean something to me are close enough I could call them or walk over to their house. Those who still mean something who are not close enough to walk to, I call, or write a letter (don't kid yourself, I don't write, I email). All others are sucking the life out of my life. It's not their fault, I just don't have the time anymore. Things like my wife, my kids and sleep are more important to me. I have tried to turn off the "things" in my life that keep me from what is really important....and Facebook, well, just wasn't a priority.

There is a time in life for letting go, High School was one of those. Those three years seem to define so much about our lives....and for what? I am nothing like the person I was in High School....in fact, I am embarassed of who I was, how I treated people, my arrogance...I hope those that remember me then, and know me now see the difference and forget the past. So many on there can't let go of High School, can't move on, find new friends, they are stuck in the past, constantly trying and striving to relive their glory days, when THESE are the glory days.

My wife and kids, other family and current friends are the best they have ever been, and they keep getting better.

I don't think there is anything wrong with Facebook, don't misunderstand my reasoning. I just feel there are more important things to be doing...even it just takes 5 min a day, what could I do for my kids or wife with another 5 min every day? This time is so precious and fleeting.....it is time to worry about greater things.

Goodbye facebook.....

Funny story

I had to share.....sadly, I did not write this but it is very funny.

For the record, this is NOT how I feel about my marriage or intimacy but I thought it funny none-the-less.

Story:

I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.

FOR EXAMPLE: One evening last week, my wife and I were getting into bed.

Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says “I don’t feel like it, I just want you to hold me.”

I said “WHAT??!! What was that?!”

So she says the words that every husband on the planet dreads to hear…
“You’re just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me
to satisfy your physical needs as a man”.
She responded to my puzzled look by saying, “Can’t you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?”

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big name department store.
I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits.
She couldn’t decide which one to take so I told her we’d just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings.
Let me tell you…she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck.
I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn’t even know how to play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I said, “That’s fine, honey”.
She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement.
Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, “I think this is all
dear, let’s go to the cashier”.

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, “No honey, I don’t feel
like it”.

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled
"WHAT?”.

I then said “honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You’re just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman.”
And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, “Why can’t you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?”.

Apparently I’m not having sex tonight either.