tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7716238953144110382024-02-02T12:28:51.043-08:00RooUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-60754934225924151052008-10-04T11:26:00.000-07:002008-10-04T11:29:18.094-07:00Costa Rica Pure Life Highlights 2008My first attempt at a slideshow and youtube. Hope you enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D43Zi_c8LNw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D43Zi_c8LNw</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-30064168112769699262008-06-17T10:23:00.000-07:002008-06-17T10:25:30.323-07:00I Like Kayaking<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNxvFBIvYiLYCbTXIAv2UcX9meiw0gDOlxCOZ-vlG71u3D9qAxK_zyVmcbiQZh6ZsYhjkGiq4zMuHUUZb-tDqfDvpHr2hZDV90SpDGC-XwSfsy3BBBy1BMCw-z2_L1ctEbI5WYA092Q4/s1600-h/Pacuare+June+2008+119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNxvFBIvYiLYCbTXIAv2UcX9meiw0gDOlxCOZ-vlG71u3D9qAxK_zyVmcbiQZh6ZsYhjkGiq4zMuHUUZb-tDqfDvpHr2hZDV90SpDGC-XwSfsy3BBBy1BMCw-z2_L1ctEbI5WYA092Q4/s400/Pacuare+June+2008+119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212902736651857074" border="0" /></a><br />OLE!!!!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-80546090913080710942008-05-27T21:30:00.000-07:002008-06-04T21:08:55.523-07:00History of Mustache May<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym00gpCjhtYiX4_qYfovXntxZDeJeFmbZabRhWMi2X-62QwQbKT5CkP-RCEEz3CRZzfpudi9vSk2yEDjvor0bWsgW40xG8LVRXXmHORVU-43Yle3u7eu-0w-eYPlUCiKbNqT6nQ3VmUo/s1600-h/IMGP2272.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym00gpCjhtYiX4_qYfovXntxZDeJeFmbZabRhWMi2X-62QwQbKT5CkP-RCEEz3CRZzfpudi9vSk2yEDjvor0bWsgW40xG8LVRXXmHORVU-43Yle3u7eu-0w-eYPlUCiKbNqT6nQ3VmUo/s320/IMGP2272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205282061836717458" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">It was a beautiful evening in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Moab</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the spring of 2001.<span style=""> </span>I was sitting on the front porch of my new home for the summer, a dreamy double wide trailer.<span style=""> </span>I had just started training for my new job as a river guide and was having the time of my life.<span style=""> </span>My new companions and I were lamenting over the fact that we were required to stay clean shaven all summer as part of our job description.<span style=""> </span>Then one of the veteran guides mentioned that there was a loop hole, we were allowed to grow mustaches.<span style=""> </span>We all laughed at the thought and then things got quiet and we all just looked up at the stars for a minute.<span style=""> </span>It appeared as though the conversation had ended, but we were all thinking the exact same thing.<span style=""> </span>I can’t remember who piped up first, but we were quickly decided, we were going to grow mustaches and we would declare the month Mustache May!<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were instantly heroes; at least that’s how I like to remember it.<span style=""> </span>There was some resistance here and there, but people seemed to rally around it pretty quickly, except for our boss, which made it that much sweeter.<span style=""> </span>I recall many glorious nights that spring, sitting around the campfire, chatting with visitors from all over the world about the joys of having a mustache.<span style=""> </span>But the true test came when I headed home for the weekend to see friends and family, it was the first time I would be alone with the stache.<span style=""> </span>After a solid 10 minutes of abuse and laughter from my friends, just like before, things got quiet.<span style=""> </span>Then Hady shyly asked, “So do you have to be a river guide to do Mustache May?”<span style=""> </span>And just like that, the true spirit of Mustache May was born.<span style=""> </span>I figure about 20 guys had mustaches by the end of the May 2001.<span style=""> </span>The next year we were all ready to go, most guys grew beards to get a head start on the month.<span style=""> </span>Then Hady and Chad moved to <st1:place st="on">Southern California</st1:place> and started reporting that their whole office was on board.<span style=""> </span>Another friend from D.C. said his office was in as well.<span style=""> </span>Paul Newton was in flight school in 2003 and called me and told me he was holding a picture of him and 30 of his classmates all rockin the stache.<span style=""> </span>There is something about growing a mustache, not only is it stylish and fun, it’s also extremely contagious.<span style=""> </span>My Dad even joined the ranks one year, despite the pleadings of my sweet mother, “Steve, don’t encourage him!”<span style=""> </span>Some guys struggle at first, but once they actually do it, they never go back.<span style=""> </span>It took two years to convince Jared Hansen and now look at him, he is well on his way to win the Mustache May Spirit Award of the year.<span style=""> </span>I got a phone call from a Blake Burdette a few weeks ago, a 6 year veteran of Mustache May and he told me of some high school kids he ran into with mustaches.<span style=""> </span>When he asked them what they were growing mustaches for they snapped back at him, “It’s mustache may, duh!”<span style=""> </span>His comment to me and the rest of the crew was, “Mustache May is bigger than us now.”<span style=""> </span>I would guess conservatively that there are a couple of hundred guys all over the world rockin the mustache this May.<span style=""> </span>The third year one of the original members and I sat down and wrote down the official rules of Mustache May.<span style=""> </span>Mustache May means something a little different to every guy who participates, but it’s really pretty simple.<span style=""> </span>The idea is to wear the stache and wear it proud.<span style=""> </span>On that quiet night in Moab we were just a couple of young bucks trying to have some fun and make the world a better place one mustache at a time.<span style=""> </span>We never set out to change the world, it just sort of happened that way.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Official Rules of Mustache May:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">1- The grandeur of the mustache must be worshipped in truth and singularity. Therefore, no mustache can be accompanied by any other form of facial hair. In other words, don’t hide behind the beard.<br /><br />2. May 1st = Mustache.<br /><br />3- No complaining due to lack of action. It ruins the spirit of the stache. We are all in this together and nobody said it would be easy. Be creative with it, like "Ladies, it tickles when we kiss. Wanna try?"<br /><br />4- Handlebars are discouraged. Acceptable only if you really have a Harley Davidson, or you really can kick anybody’s trash, just like Hulk Hogan or Paul Senior, from American Choppers.<br /><br />5- Be proud of your stache. Don’t avoid public or mingling with the opposite sex because you are ashamed of your facial hair. The hairy upper lip is empowering!<br /><br />6- It's not what's on the upper lip, it's what's in your heart. Don’t shirk participation because you think your stache is weak or pathetic. Not everybody can grow a stache like Tom Selleck. Michael Jordan got cut from his high school basketball team.<br /><br />7- Hook up your fellow Mustache May participants. If you wait tables, free drinks would be an appropriate gesture.<br /><br />8-Encourage others to grow the stache. It’s liberating, spread the love.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-66835397931287690622008-05-06T17:17:00.000-07:002008-05-06T17:45:24.672-07:00Top Ten from Europe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdZv0oMb9Zt7slFlFROI254gImGw4MqXwSB3ww9Shpo_e_6sJrZ1Xpmz7YMOeXUVvzWoCgbmLRe4rXmv51Nc2Mnm6Xq8rVsoxYtez6PBBDIvYvSlXWSz6qvxWAZBOBJY2BOEDC6gS-ZI/s1600-h/Europe+2008+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdZv0oMb9Zt7slFlFROI254gImGw4MqXwSB3ww9Shpo_e_6sJrZ1Xpmz7YMOeXUVvzWoCgbmLRe4rXmv51Nc2Mnm6Xq8rVsoxYtez6PBBDIvYvSlXWSz6qvxWAZBOBJY2BOEDC6gS-ZI/s200/Europe+2008+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197430133809205426" border="0" /></a><br />I spent a total of two weeks in Europe. One week in Italy and then a week in Spain visiting my parents who are currently living in Madrid and serving a medical mission. Instead of a detailed and boring report, here are my top ten European moments.<br /><br />10 - "You're in my bed..." (see previous post)<br /><br />9 - Retiro Park - Madrid, Spain - I rented a little boat and paddled around this big pond, the weather was terrible that day except for the 45 minutes I had that boat, the sun was shining right on that pond and it was perfect!<br /><br />8 - Valley of the Fallen - Spain<br /><br />7 - Spaghetti in Italy - (see previous post)<br /><br />6 - Vespa Crash - Granada, Spain - Some Spaniard bit the dust going down this big hill 5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPcKNWQ_wbqts74s93757HfuphbXQ-Wn1OA77hSCUhKRabwbU2nfpTD5-LYrwE-GosYVOX03wOUSlK2paoThiqw8QvbsfavJZn4Ccghtm4kIzSPqA1DEZ_iCSZkpQI0gygieDXbLu_iE/s1600-h/2385629361_ec6d6c7cb1_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPcKNWQ_wbqts74s93757HfuphbXQ-Wn1OA77hSCUhKRabwbU2nfpTD5-LYrwE-GosYVOX03wOUSlK2paoThiqw8QvbsfavJZn4Ccghtm4kIzSPqA1DEZ_iCSZkpQI0gygieDXbLu_iE/s200/2385629361_ec6d6c7cb1_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197429180326465682" border="0" /></a>' away from me. As I was helping him up I caught a wiff of the alchohol on him, those people love to party.<br /><br />5 - Mandolin Moment - Monterosso, Italy - It was a late sunny afternoon in this beachtown in Italy and this street musician was playing classical music on his mandolin on the boardwalk. It was perfect.<br /><br />4 - The Roman Empire - Rome, Italy - The colosseum, the forum, unbelievable!<br /><br />3 - Flamenco Dancing - Madrid and Granada, Spain - The show I saw in Granada took <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotiVTzVmCDi-CWYEZ40W2zeOu9bbf_iRfVYtmge3rZNISzuR27uH8GUwg75f8DNPoWyDESdgZ_4GNeEIy9Syn3HFpyvYBxdXv6c4Rj2sLhpW3stDRbgvOitW-YVYM9v0tiG5LE-RdWag/s1600-h/2401030697_44796e63dc_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotiVTzVmCDi-CWYEZ40W2zeOu9bbf_iRfVYtmge3rZNISzuR27uH8GUwg75f8DNPoWyDESdgZ_4GNeEIy9Syn3HFpyvYBxdXv6c4Rj2sLhpW3stDRbgvOitW-YVYM9v0tiG5LE-RdWag/s200/2401030697_44796e63dc_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197429738672214178" border="0" /></a>place in a gypsy cave and they pulled me out on the stage to dance with them at the end, OLE!<br /><br />2 - La Alahambra - Granada, Spain - Unbelievable Moorish Palace<br /><br />1 - Hiking the Via de Amore - Cincque Terre, Italy - absolutely breathtaking views of mediterranean sea and 5 small picturesque villages.<br /><br />I traveled alone most of the time and made some friends along the way. It was great to see my parents, I am very proud of them. They could be just relaxing in their beautiful home and a comfortable life here in SLC, but instead they are living in a small apartment in Madrid<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimMt6edxbMnhPZZgM3fkywpuU70D0-sGWg2krSFXqZePtQqJNiYru8XNbOFGj0EVhnC4pozOfSUKclK4RYiftfzuUfIXuEPnYpjQpH-HKpODr-pCD708jpK9jSP_9YPWgxU8tgUT8C0g/s1600-h/2401842560_fd492bfef8_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimMt6edxbMnhPZZgM3fkywpuU70D0-sGWg2krSFXqZePtQqJNiYru8XNbOFGj0EVhnC4pozOfSUKclK4RYiftfzuUfIXuEPnYpjQpH-HKpODr-pCD708jpK9jSP_9YPWgxU8tgUT8C0g/s200/2401842560_fd492bfef8_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197428806664310914" border="0" /></a>, catching the subway, walking and driving all over western Europe and struggling with the spanish language. They are doing an awesome job and the missionaries love them!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-54202608368319106962008-04-02T10:19:00.000-07:002008-04-02T10:37:33.615-07:00You are in my bed!So I flew into Rome after 24 hours of travel and very little sleep that whole time. I met two Italian girls on my flight from Madrid to Rome named Erica and Cheti, they taught me the basics of Italian. I was pleased to see how well I could communicate with them with my Spanish background. They were very friendly and helped me get on the train to my hotel. When I got to my hostel I hit the town for some pasta with my new bunk mates. Two girls from So. Carolina and a girl and guy from London. We hit a hole in the wall and I had the best plate of Spaghetti I have ever had in my entire life, or maybe I was just that hungry! Amazing! I had been awake now for 36 hours and was feeling really out of it, which was discouraging cause when Navy Seals train they stay awake for something like 72 hours straight. As much as I like to think I could've been a seal, moments like these let you know just how amazing those guys are. I passed out on my bed only to be awoken by this cell phone all lit up waving around above me in my bed, and some girl speaking french...disoriented? Completely! It took me a second to realize what was going on then she says in english, "You are in my bed." So I roll out of bed and show her my paper that shows that I am actually in the correct bed, did I mention it was 3 AM? She was not convinced and would not leave. So I walked her out to the hallway so as not to wake the other 6 people in my room and in my best French, Italian, Spanish accent I say...."recepcion." We walk three flights of stairs to the front desk only to have the guy say "sorry, our mistake." Why she didn't go to the front desk in the first place is beyond me. <br /><br />I have only seen Rome so far, just got to Florence and will update more later, I didn't come to Italy to sit in an internet cafe!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-49895381869475000532008-03-10T17:09:00.000-07:002008-03-10T17:18:49.934-07:00Bloggers BlockHas anybody experienced this before? <br /><br />There is a ton to report, yet nothing is really coming out. I am just going with bullet points to see if that can get things flowing again.<br /><br /><ul><li>Took the GMAT - abstaining from math for 7 years did not help at all on the test...wierd.<br /></li><li>Applied to Masters Real Estate Development program at ASU</li><li>Went to Costa Rica for a week, flipped a raft (first time in 6 years...demons!)</li><li>Headed to Spain at the end of March to see my padres!</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-59861248400422452072007-12-31T18:30:00.000-08:002008-01-04T16:53:27.738-08:00Happy New YearIt has been an awesome holiday season to say the least. However, it has not been the same without my parents here. They love the holidays and have a tendency to go "all out" with decorations, food, gifts and parties. They were complaining on the phone that it only took 30 minutes to set up Christmas in their little apartment in Spain....as opposed to the two week set-up and two week take down process they are used to at home. Anyway, we are all very proud of them and the example of service they are setting for the rest of us.<br /><br />The latest on my Costa Rica adventure???? mmmmm...... I hesitate to say, for fear of losing the thousands of readers who visit my blog daily.... I am moving back to the states!<br />There are many reasons for pulling the plug but basically what had felt right, at one time for me, changed once I got down there and got into it. I will however, continue to run my all-inclusive package tours, this allows me to live pretty much wherever I want. I am not exactly sure if I will be moving back to Salt Lake City, I am currently looking into some options to do the rest of the year, when I am not running trips. I loved every minute of my experience living down there and trying to start a rafting company. I have no regrets and take peace in the fact that I will never look back and say, "I wonder what would've happened if I had tried....." So here is my sum up of my 6 months in Costa Rica this year-<br /><br />flat tires- 3<br />stuck in the mud- 2<br />mangos consumed- muchos<br />lung infections- 4<br />food poisoning- 1<br />trips to mechanic- 5<br />ocean sunsets watched- 15 (roughly)<br />waves attempted to surf- 500<br />waves actually surfed- 2.5<br />round trip flights to and from US- 5<br />attempts at a bank account-13<br /><br />On a more personal note, I am grateful for the experience for many reasons, but if anything I think I am taking perspective from it. I have had friends comment from time to time on how jealous they were of me living down there. There is no doubt the place is beautiful and the activities and adventures were unforgettable, however, I couldn't help but feel often times that despite the fact that I was living in paradise, there was a certain emptiness to it. It's hard to explain, it wasn't loneliness, but more of an idle feeling.....does that make sense? Other than the unbelievable moments spent surfing, looking at the beautiful views, rafting the river, or watching the sunset, there really wasn't much else going on. So "living the dream" was not really "the dream" as you would imagine it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-6007331061007588492007-11-28T13:06:00.001-08:002007-11-28T13:10:39.479-08:00The Good Old DaysMy friend Kaisha put together a music video with all sorts of shots of where we live. Check it out on you tube at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZLV3B1dz1U">www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZLV3B1dz1U</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-3279070265853385862007-11-28T12:53:00.001-08:002007-11-29T07:55:09.013-08:00Paparazzi<div><embed src="http://widget-77.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=648518346367226487&site=widget-77.slide.com" style="width: 400px; height: 320px;" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width: 400px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=648518346367226487&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-77.slide.com/p1/648518346367226487/bb_t014_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=648518346367226487&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-77.slide.com/p2/648518346367226487/bb_t014_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-2742269020288294252007-11-20T07:17:00.000-08:002007-11-20T07:29:01.814-08:00Mi casa es su casa!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WbI00mVAwrBAhbTv8PqI8Mkk8Goy_7-8gq-z-SBLiUSnEdm2lE6PzwCQg6pQFyzay0Q1x8UbGyJcFCjzBxrJOCc1AIULIGCoeLklkb1Six5G69AKzKk5v85d6gieRyhrP100AJbQKYs/s1600-h/Sunset,+Linda+house,+move+053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WbI00mVAwrBAhbTv8PqI8Mkk8Goy_7-8gq-z-SBLiUSnEdm2lE6PzwCQg6pQFyzay0Q1x8UbGyJcFCjzBxrJOCc1AIULIGCoeLklkb1Six5G69AKzKk5v85d6gieRyhrP100AJbQKYs/s320/Sunset,+Linda+house,+move+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134943321172837234" border="0" /></a>So this is my place....ok, ok, I only live on the bottom floor.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3XRhFcXNm413mfq1ttjdRUlPHFgAXaa2ZoueKtHQgf73yj5aE1AKIKU7cOjIfjnksc41M-hS2NWPg42MC4yw0yc7BLFcN3_7dbE_YFXGcXrKMG__0F0CyLA3FZmrmWASlSRgHFggwHc/s1600-h/Sunset,+Linda+house,+move+050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3XRhFcXNm413mfq1ttjdRUlPHFgAXaa2ZoueKtHQgf73yj5aE1AKIKU7cOjIfjnksc41M-hS2NWPg42MC4yw0yc7BLFcN3_7dbE_YFXGcXrKMG__0F0CyLA3FZmrmWASlSRgHFggwHc/s320/Sunset,+Linda+house,+move+050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134943003345257298" border="0" /></a><br /> Sunset view from the back patio.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp_ND7hyohaHXSyGEz2RPlh4BaW5MeXPv3Jp-kCffOsFy-chVEm9Szx_Z-9CXvW2ZDf2Fhpx_i10JL0Ac7S-2ykqAUWJtLkLTLs9R44AAn_KmYRq8buOA4ecQsxKslly-asV9WlyksZs/s1600-h/Sunset,+Linda+house,+move+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp_ND7hyohaHXSyGEz2RPlh4BaW5MeXPv3Jp-kCffOsFy-chVEm9Szx_Z-9CXvW2ZDf2Fhpx_i10JL0Ac7S-2ykqAUWJtLkLTLs9R44AAn_KmYRq8buOA4ecQsxKslly-asV9WlyksZs/s320/Sunset,+Linda+house,+move+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134943918173291394" border="0" /></a>View from the side of the house looking south.<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-45746160846892883312007-11-06T10:35:00.001-08:002007-11-06T11:17:31.519-08:00The godfather gets it done!I now have a bank <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">account</span>! After twelve tries and many, many hours with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">attorneys</span> and bank people, I can now accept money in this country! I met with a new attorney in San Jose that supposedly had friends in high places at the bank. He looked like some sort of mafia big shot. We walked in to the bank and everyone immediately recognized him, he talked to some guy for a minute, walked back to me and in a Godfather-esque tone said (english with a thick spanish accent), "They are going to give you an account today, everything is going to be fine." Now I just need my insurance, and I am in business. I applied 3 weeks ago, and it should've only taken a few days, but the government insurance agency is backed up...and so it goes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-87621481819477341682007-10-29T14:19:00.000-07:002007-10-29T15:09:05.168-07:00Broken Ribs...One Guide Down<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgHwI-I-0kTTtsrgAqzsk3tIJfV2v3pD8lumd5FUOp5v1nDpLZ4QeqHpYLYLV9V63GyYa_pNxk5iLtIGuBPMKMeSD8LIrQXHxKdZn-09Pi1o_ECi9l86MtWPDue-f0xOL-YeCadM4mbw/s1600-h/Marcus+pics+037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgHwI-I-0kTTtsrgAqzsk3tIJfV2v3pD8lumd5FUOp5v1nDpLZ4QeqHpYLYLV9V63GyYa_pNxk5iLtIGuBPMKMeSD8LIrQXHxKdZn-09Pi1o_ECi9l86MtWPDue-f0xOL-YeCadM4mbw/s320/Marcus+pics+037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126878306229477874" border="0" /></a><br />Last week was training week for the new guides. Marcus, Zach, and I loaded up the cruiser and headed out with our new driver Alfredo. It was great to get out on the river and remember why I decided to do all this stuff in the first place. Water conditions were really high that day, but we weren't worried with 3 experienced guides and no paying customers to worry about. Things were going really well, we ran Come Gringo (Gringo Eater, pic on left) a class IV rapid right through the sketchiest part and came out with no problems. Then we got to Upper Rio Blanco another class IV rapid. The first wave we hit stopped us in our tracks and we barely got through it, but the next one was even bigger and we just didn't have the momentum to get through it, our raft dump trucked us. A dump truck is when a raft flips up and throws everyone out but the raft doesn't flip over. By the time I got back to the raft and located the other two guys, I could hear Zach groaning pretty loud. He had hit a rock on his side pretty hard in the middle of the rapid. He took it easy for a day, went surfing, said he felt ok, so we hit the river again on Friday. Once he started paddling he started the groaning again, it was obvious to us all that it wasn't just some bruise, he had cracked a rib or two, he couldn't even paddle, let alone breathe without serious pain. He flew out today. We decided to change the name of the Upper Rio Blanco rapid to Bodi Safa. You guys remember the movie Point Break with Patrick Swayze, it's terrible but it's a must see. We had nicknamed Zach Bodi, so we thought it would be a good tribute to him. We had to take this pic from a rock cause there was nobody there to take it, so it's not that great, but we had to document the Pure Life Expeditions virgin run, I hope the rest go much smoother! Marcus on the left, Bodi in the back, and me on the right.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA95LihbjNdl4NecH-Jw3NqvS6pcAnj8iUZSFWNoAU3Sl-5PxaviNKimm1WWoR0p79HV-CJuT27vhlAGBRTcKcCbWS9fAYbk7qbH2ewvDIh8y_cZnknnxLnbSt6ZXMCj7RU4jwOv_ya0/s1600-h/Marcus+pics+034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA95LihbjNdl4NecH-Jw3NqvS6pcAnj8iUZSFWNoAU3Sl-5PxaviNKimm1WWoR0p79HV-CJuT27vhlAGBRTcKcCbWS9fAYbk7qbH2ewvDIh8y_cZnknnxLnbSt6ZXMCj7RU4jwOv_ya0/s400/Marcus+pics+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126878641236926978" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-14585676482464736912007-10-25T13:54:00.000-07:002007-10-25T13:58:22.360-07:000-11O-11, I changed my passport this year and I guess I need to register that with the country, you think my attorney would've mentioned that 2 months ago when we were going over all this stuff.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-28325495304357056022007-10-24T21:15:00.000-07:002007-10-24T21:18:04.580-07:000-10Seriously, 0 for 10 on attempts to open a bank account. Tomorrow is my day, I can feel it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-81848764769717010022007-10-21T17:03:00.000-07:002007-10-21T17:26:46.407-07:00New CompadresWow, more has happened in the last 4 days to even begin to tell, it has been interesting to say the least. I have two guys who came down to help me out for a few months. Marcus and Zach are long time guides from Moab and Idaho who found me through people I used to work with down there. Their getting in touch with me has been most helpful and it's great to have helping hands with the madness. So my one bedroom bungalow landlord lady said, "NO WAY" leaving us high and dry and on the streets, however, Kaisha a friend of mine down here from Canada swooped in with the rescue. She has another friend named Tina who owns a beautiful ocean view condo and Tina is not there for a week and half. So we went from sleeping in the back of my truck to ocean views from our beds, and cable TV. I don't know how, but I convinced another lady to rent us her basement apartment, she said, "No Way" to the 3 guys in her place too, but somewhere in our conversation she changed her mind and I have no idea why! Once again where doors are closing others are opening, I am so thankful for the support of great friends here and there, I am truly never alone.<br /><br />I went to church at my new branch today....where to start.....can't even go there, let's just say that in Elders Quorum today I felt like I was in an episode of "The Office" sitting in one of Michael Scott's crazy spur of the moment meetings.<br /><br />More pics coming soon....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-35046363079910925272007-10-17T19:07:00.000-07:002007-10-17T19:42:32.647-07:00O-5I went to the bank to make a deposit into my new bank account and apparently they made some sort of a mistake and I have to re-open an account all over again. If your just catching up on the bank saga, I have tried now 4 times to open an account and thought I was finally succesful but apparently 5 failed right at the final buzzer. I will win, I don't know how, but I am gonna give these people my business if it's the last thing I do. <br /><br />Just got back from Utah for a week, went home to take care of some things and hang with an awesome girl I met a few months ago named Kim. We had a blast and it was a nice break from the craziness that I have been dealing with here. I am also glad I got to catch some conference and a week of the fall season.<br /><br />My flight home was crazy, we could not land in Costa Rica so I ended up in Panama at 4 AM, they did take good care of us with hotels and such. I got sick on the flight down, fever, aches, and chills + delayed flights and traveling = perfect storm. When I got to CR I found out that the two guys flying in to work for me were nowhere to be found and they were supposed to arrive a day before me. We finally got in touch with each other that night, I am getting better, and everything is moving forward with or without a bank account. So I am hopefully moving to Dominical once and for all tomorrow. I called my landlady today to tell her that I would be moving in with two other guys and needless to say she was not pleased, 3 guys in a one bedroom bungalow....what landlord wouldn't want that? I told her we would be super clean and that she could kick us out if she wasn't happy...this could get interesting fast. <br /><br />I hope I don't sound like I am complaing, cause I am having an absolute blast here and I know this is what starting a business is all about. However, maybe someday it would be nice to write something like "everything is going as planned and nothing new here".....someday.<br /><br />ps- The road to Dominical is closed for two weeks because of landslides from heavy rains, now I have to take the long way (5 hours driving as opposed to 3).....touche!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-13493020016852039632007-10-05T21:24:00.000-07:002007-10-05T22:01:56.717-07:00Going with the flowSo yesterday I had my cruiser all packed up, ready to make my official move to Dominical when the power went out in the house, no big deal right? Well, the property is enclosed by a giant red gate that only opens and closes by electricity, brilliant! So instead of flying over a mountain road mach 10 with my hair on fire to my new place, I was stuck in this house with no way of getting out, no internet and a million things needing to get done. I had only one day to head down there and get moved in because I will be traveling all next week, pushing things another week back, so that puts me about 3 weeks behind planned schedule now. So what do you do? Fortunately and unfortunately this is what living is Costa Rica is all about. It can drive you crazy if you let it, and some days it does. I have gone to the open an account at the bank 4 times now, everytime I go they tell me I need something else. As frustrating as all of these inconveniences can get, I am thankful for them. They help me remember it's really just small stuff at the end of the day. I actually really enjoyed my afternoon and evening, I wrote in my journal, played my guitar, and took a nap in the hammock on the back patio. I don't know when I will get another afternoon like that again. Ole!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-64964239340500530342007-09-29T10:10:00.001-07:002007-09-29T10:10:37.822-07:00Photo Gallery<div><embed src="http://widget-64.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=504403158280588388&site=widget-64.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=504403158280588388&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-64.slide.com/p1/504403158280588388/bb_t014_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=504403158280588388&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-64.slide.com/p2/504403158280588388/bb_t014_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-14461092204945925692007-09-28T18:18:00.001-07:002007-09-28T18:28:55.095-07:00Another day at the office....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRTVOab43kADP9JoKuOD1JSNsXTUvQp3FeoPZdliq9rsnJ9RQgv4sEIY5S34bJBgh4WCipvHmwy0Qhvqdma5b6nZ_sdx-Ah0Z9bcqNqFkYXamYendDsKZ2GpE0RuOh7BKcXxuQ9MiUA8/s1600-h/Ex+trip,+sunset+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRTVOab43kADP9JoKuOD1JSNsXTUvQp3FeoPZdliq9rsnJ9RQgv4sEIY5S34bJBgh4WCipvHmwy0Qhvqdma5b6nZ_sdx-Ah0Z9bcqNqFkYXamYendDsKZ2GpE0RuOh7BKcXxuQ9MiUA8/s320/Ex+trip,+sunset+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115431842631497506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I have spent a good chunk of my time in San Jose (the capital) lately trying to get my truck put together and get bank accounts set up, work with my attorney, etc. There is a great family that has been letting me stay with them in their 6 bedroom house with a pool, yea, I did just say that. But sometimes it can get crowded with the just the 3 of us here. They are americans and their names are Darin & Kim McOwen, they have been very generous with me and I can't wait to return the favor. Anyway, they have this big back patio where I usually work from when I am here. Tonight this is the sunset that I caught from the patio.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZx-jCojbgfJdRhoM2X9XnJO8uac6fk9_sjkQy9yvWnw539zX7hDKOFdGvUj7VKrGcnArZUi-_SyZdU-33KiHOS7RWJb9xwGhJ-W99piUt0u6y1tBHZsK5rOnT5Gdxpa5vE5HWTVjtxI/s1600-h/Ex+trip,+sunset+146.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZx-jCojbgfJdRhoM2X9XnJO8uac6fk9_sjkQy9yvWnw539zX7hDKOFdGvUj7VKrGcnArZUi-_SyZdU-33KiHOS7RWJb9xwGhJ-W99piUt0u6y1tBHZsK5rOnT5Gdxpa5vE5HWTVjtxI/s400/Ex+trip,+sunset+146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115429892716345090" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771623895314411038.post-13693827256236616352007-09-26T16:38:00.000-07:002007-09-28T18:33:43.381-07:00Anything for my fans.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVaYQXK-jUSOX1zFMg5ltQ7lIf4o3i7rAaC6itvusXlq0dqwGIPWxoo_MdMd4ryc6sxfwPThxMSTpCsvOPpD0CtAd2QKXYIFSCxr5BVRd9WroahXiNKLM9uEMwTso3ZxGmTUnAT-Vdok/s1600-h/Marisol_Selection_Day_June_14th-20th_046%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVaYQXK-jUSOX1zFMg5ltQ7lIf4o3i7rAaC6itvusXlq0dqwGIPWxoo_MdMd4ryc6sxfwPThxMSTpCsvOPpD0CtAd2QKXYIFSCxr5BVRd9WroahXiNKLM9uEMwTso3ZxGmTUnAT-Vdok/s320/Marisol_Selection_Day_June_14th-20th_046%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114672552543106754" border="0" /></a><br />At the request of so many of my fans out there I am finally taking time from my very busy schedule to update you all on my exciting life. Ok, ok, so really Chad is pretty much "it" as far as fans and I think the only reason he wants me to do a blog is so that he can have another blog to stalk while he is trying to act busy at the office.<br /><br />I am currently living the "pura vida" in Costa Rica. I moved down here about a month ago to make a real go of my business Pure Life Expedtions (www.purelifeexp.com). I have been in business almost 4 years now and decided last year to go full time with it and so far things have gone really well. It's been fun to see how many doors have opened at all the right times. It definitely gives me confidence as I move forward and take huge steps towards pursuing my dreams.<br /><br />I am currently running 10 day all-inclusive adventure trips around the country, but the goal is to start running daily rafting tours and in-country tours out of a sweet beach town called Dominical that is know for it's surfing. It is growing quickly and has a ton of potential, not to mention it sits close to 4 unbelievable rivers, countless waterfalls, beautiful mountains and the beach!<br /><br />Here are some questions I get these days?<br /><br />Do I miss home? All the time, Salt Lake City is an amazing place to live and I love it. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, I get the best of both worlds. I miss my family and friends everyday, but I feel like right now I am where I am supposed to be, that could change tomorrow, I am just trying to put my life in God's hands.<br /><br />How long you staying for? Dunno....just trying to take it one day at a time. I definitely would love to set up my business in a way that I don't have to always be here, but I can be here when I want to be here. I think that Costa Rica will probably always play some sort of role in my life, but I see myself probably raising a family in the states. I couldn't imagine my boys not having the opportunity to play football like their old man and stuff like that<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho274ZDFkODd2dkkuZpZaFlRAnqF15jHHtDXBjkTrDFJjajha2heWcBtZPzhEF3CdP_wSdYFKHedLA4gOjv8oJiAsR8L-aEpJCv2oXTe1l6gCcKKs7znO7oOtgk0gF2oPN7rpPP3fiu40/s1600-h/Angel+Falls+165.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho274ZDFkODd2dkkuZpZaFlRAnqF15jHHtDXBjkTrDFJjajha2heWcBtZPzhEF3CdP_wSdYFKHedLA4gOjv8oJiAsR8L-aEpJCv2oXTe1l6gCcKKs7znO7oOtgk0gF2oPN7rpPP3fiu40/s400/Angel+Falls+165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114677513230333682" border="0" /></a><br />Do you want to marry a Costa Rican girl? Nope<br /><br />Do you get lonely? All the time, but I have great friendships down here, and continue to meet amazing people everyday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2