I have created where there was nothing.

What you see here is your normal run of the mill wall. What you don't see is the work going on above that will convert this "wall" into something far greater.
I am breaking down this hunk of clay you call a "wall" and changing it into something that not only supports a roof but also transfers information from the outside world into my living room. After a few hours and a few trips to home depot the conversion is complete. The cable that was not there only a half a day before now brings "The Office" and "Lost"directly into the living room has been placed perfectly onto the wall opposite the fire place. I am man, I have tools and I dare you to tell me I can't put my TV anywhere I want.

Through the River and through the woods...

turned out to be how to spend an amazing weekend in the Sypsey wilderness not just how to get to grandmother's house. My dad and I went on a backpacking excursion this weekend and man did we have a good time. There are so many beautiful waterfalls in the area but we managed to spend the night below one of the most secluded. On a previous trip dad had found this little canyon and I can't say I wasn't skeptical when, after 6 0r 7 miles on day one, we headed "just a little ways" off the main trail to see this natural wonder. I was overwhelmed once we got there, about a mile later, at how few people probably have ever trekked down to this gorge.

It is where two tribuataries meet making two waterfalls right next to each other. Of course the waterfalls have names so we weren't the first people down there but it sure felt like it. We set up our tent on the only flatish spot around we couldn't find a trace of other people. We ended up hiking about 16 miles total and though I am definately feeling it this morning it was worth every step. I enjoy the outdoors so much I don't know how I waited this long to dive back into it. There is no better place to just feel God radiating than the outdoors seeing wildflowers, birds, snakes and insects in their natural habitat is a blessing. The last two miles of the walk back to the car we about as tough on me as anything I have ever done. We took a trial that was supposed to be about a mile long(45 min walk) and it ended up taking 2.5 hours on a ridge with no shade and it sapped me, slapped me around like I said something about it's momma. I was exausted but we persevered and Dad had to walk a little slower that he was used to but we made it home. And having finished one of my current books on the trip I figured I could end with a couple reviews.

Books

Me Talk Pretty One Day(Dave Sedaris) - 5 out of 5 - Hilarious collection of autobiographical essays. This guys just keeps me laughing. The above picture is me reading a couple sections to Dad at camp saturday night. Who would have thought God would make me a recliner all the way out there especially one that was really comfortable.

To Kill a Mockingbird - 4 out of 5 - Great classic. I had never read the whole thing and I really enjoyed it. Couldn't put it down.

The Calm After the Storm...

is so so sweet. I have spent the last twenty days in a state of perpetual work. Starting on February 28th I worked straight to Easter without a day off and without a day shorter than 12 hours. But enough about that I learned a whole hell of a lot during the outage and I'm glad I had as much responsibility as I did.

Having people that you have fun with and care about to spend time with is always something that I love. Having an awesome group of friends in Auburn, the Lost watching crowd (which is not to say we don't do other things, you know who you are), work friends, Bible study couples and my other nerdy friends that don't fall into those categories but I spend countless hours playing in the online world with are a blessing to me. You all rock my face off.

Is it just me or have the good shows just gotten better this second half of the television season. The Office and Lost seem to get better and better every week and the Black Donnellys has done nothing but surprise me with how good it is and no offense to my wife since she enjoys reality TV, I really think scripted television is taking back over. I feel like American Idol, Bachelor, etc. are on the way down and I struggle to keep from smiling when I say this but thank goodness. Ever since Friends went off the air I have worried about the state of television but I know that I laugh just as hard if not much harder at the office than I did at Friends and this is my all time favorite.

I thought maybe I would end each BLOG from now on with a recommendation list of books and movies I have read/watched since my last entry. Take it how you want I just calls 'em like I sees 'em.

Movies
Don't Watch - Eragon - Annoyingly childish and dumbed down from the high quality book it came from.
Watch - Pursuit of Happyness - Will Smith fan or not this story is outstanding and he plays the role perfectly.
Watch(dudes)/Don't Watch(ladies) - Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj - no explanation needed except one big private parts/fart joke.
Even - Children of Men - heavy movie about post apacolyptic earth with no kids, neat movie, lots of death.

Books
Count of Monte Cristo - 5 out of 5 - much better than the movie so if you liked it you will love the book.
Next(Micheal Chricton) - 2.5 out of 5 - trying to hard, somewhat hard to follow, definately not his best book as he tries to tackle genetic engineering.
Stiff: The curious life of human cadavers - 5.5 out of 5 - Full of cool stories and a history of willed body to science stuff. Cool as hell.