I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, I know I did. Thanks again to the Blodgies, it is really nice to have some family around just to know I have somewhere to go when I'm stuck in Cali studying.

I just wanted to take a break for a second and tell you all that you should be thankful you're not in the library studying during your vacation. I know, because that is where I am. Not to worry, I'll be out on break soon and then things will be even. Things are going good by the way, I took advantage of my time off class and I think I will be ready when tests start next week. I also stopped by H&M this morning on the way to school, so I guess I did take advantage a little bit.

Separate note to Lance: They have a bunch of Drain and Sliq jeans at this H&M, so if you're interested I can see if they have your size. They also have some of the skinny jeans like the grey ones I bought.

On a happier note, now that Thanksgiving is over I can finally listen to Mariah Carey Christmas with no shame, or maybe not.

Aaauuggggh!!!!!!!!!

Now that I've started I can't stop!!!! I have too many quirks.
I can't throw anything away, I just keep storing more boxes at Dad and Mom's. I know you're all thinking, why Matt, we all do that! Do you still have your third place Oakdale Spelling Bee trophy? How about old scout Grand Prix cars, I even have the one Dad didn't help me with that looks like it got ran over. There's more. Keychains, pocketknives, patches, stickers, little knick knacks from weird places. This might be an obsession. I'm just gonna have to throw some stuff away when I get home this Christmas.
Another thing, I love my own jokes, like I'm crying-and-holding-my-stomach laughing, and no one else is. How about reality tv? I like it. The Hills? I know the whole plot line and all of the characters and have a very specific opinion about each one. So specific I feel I need to yell advice at them when they make bad choices.
One more thing. I hate name brand clothing. It's OK on shoes and pants and when it's really small on stuff, but just right there in your shirt? I just feel like you are proclaiming to the world, "I don't know how to dress, so I'm gonna go buy fashion advice and while I'm at it I might as well just advertise for them as well." Just because it's expensive doesn't mean you should be broadcasting it about, I mean, you don't wear shirts that say your therapist's or lawyer's name on them do you?
That felt good even though it was kinda mean. I also have an ego, Brooke, and I think my ideas are better than other peoples, furthermore I realize that I am mostly harping on people that just wear clothes that look nice and aren't trying to make a statement, so I'm sorry, I appreciate people trying to look nice.
Did I mention I hate posers too? Oh gosh, OK, quirky blogs are over. I'm perfectly normal and sane, which must mean I'm not a Harrison, so never mind, I'm weird, and I like myself, a lot.

Quirky McQuirkyton, or Quirky McGimmons if you will.

This guy? Quirky? No way!

So my friend Amanda,(who also happens to be married to my friend and former roommate Matt, but I knew her before I knew Matt so we are friends as well) anywho, she tagged me in this thing where you have to list six of your quirks, so lets get some things off the old chest.

Quirk One- People talking to me like I'm dumb. Everyone has this one I bet, but seriously I don't talk to little kids like they are dumb (animals are a different story, but they don't understand Spanish so no harm done). There is really no reason to talk down to someone unless you are trying to make them feel bad. I don't get mad often, but this gets me steamed, and I will not take it unless it's at work, cause it's my job man. Cops, friends, septuagenarians, watch yourself because you'll get an earful. Mike can attest to that, so can my old friend Elder Ackroyd. So treat people with respect, civility, and if you can muster it up, kindness.

Quirk two- People trying to act like adults. Sorry middle and high schoolers, this is directed at you. You don't "act" like and adult you "be" one. Act however you want, but be who you are. I think I should be able to have fun and joke around and generally be a goof, I'm still an adult, I pay my bills and do my homework and ain't nobody lookin over my shoulder. Everybody respects the guys who can have fun with kids and still have adult conversations, live your life.

Quirk three- I am running out. Let's see. How about people that don't like the same music as you? I am guilty of making a gagging noise and face whenever someone mentions the Goo Goo Dolls or Dave Mathcrapper's Band but it bugs me so I probably shouldn't. I happen to know that '80's metal is not the most popular music right now, I am aware people, but I like facemelting solos so leave it alone, and I will try to refrain from making fun of Coldplay and Dashbaord, although Dashboard don't need anybody to make fun of him, his music does it all. Just Kidding, sorry.

Quirk four- I will try any type of food at least twice, but if I do not like it I will not finish it. I have gotten to the point where I will not eat the last bite if I don't want it, in the same vein, however, I will eat myself sick if I want. With food I reserve the right to do whatever I want, it's one of life's great pleasures, and I will eat it if I want and I will leave it if I don't. I spent two years choking down insane portions of food I sometimes did not like, I even ate avocados-the only food I can think of that I genuinely do not like. I earned my right to be picky.

Quirk five- It bugs me when I feel like I do something the right way and people don't do it that way and I know my way is better. I have a habit of thinking through almost everything I do. I can almost always tell you my reasoning for doing most of what I do. I feel like others don't think like that and it drives me nuts when they don't do it the best way. These things include driving on certain roads or in a certain way, cleaning (I think the cleaning is because I was a janitor and yes there is a better way and yes I know it), flipping channels, cooking, serving tables, talking to customers, et cetra.

Quirk six- I like poetry. I know it does not fit with the hard rock image I try to convey, but I like it. I also like art and fashion. Maybe it's because my family is very different and I have a lot of really cool opinionated people around me, but I like it. There is definitely a time and a place, but I will search it out all by myself, so I must like it. I like writing poetry too, I would like making art, but what I make is not art, so nuts. Anyway, my main message is be yourself, you only live once, so live the best you know how and with no regrets.

Now to facilitate the blog version of chain mail, I don't think your hair will fall out if you don't do it, but it might fall out if you do, cause mine is.

here are the rules:

1. link the person who tagged you.

2. mention the rules on your blog.

3. tell about six quirks you have only 6!
4. tag six fellow bloggers to do the same.

5. leave a comment to let them know.

Who do I know that is quirky, oh yeah, there are fourteen of us. Maybe Brooker, Trace, Kendybar, Shaun, even though he has never posted on his blog, anything to get Lisa blogging again, and the indomitable Ashley Nimer. I hope you all look at yourselves differently after this experience.

The Way We Were

In tribute to the new season of 90210 (which I never watched mom because I obviously wasn't fourteen or fifteen or whatever the rule was), and in keeping with the prior post that dealt with how quickly time can go and how little we seem to remember, I thought I would refresh some of your memories, courtesy of pictures that I got off of Mom and Dad's old computer, enjoy!!I might as well embarrass myself first, some of you have seen whitetrash, well, I lived it!

This would be my nineteenth birthday party, where else do you go with a mullet? BBQ!

I will be seeing the Blodgies next week for thanksgiving, so I might as well as wear out my welcome now, all of these pictures are from '01- '02 by the way. This is D-Dawg and Dave.

Uncle Denny and Aunt Jill, thanks again for letting me live with you.

Chad and Julie, this must be '02 'cause I did not meet Julie til after my mission.

Marc and Tracy, footloose and fancy free, before the high-stakes world of Medicine and Law took it's toll on their lives.

Lisa and I, and I have no idea when this is because I can't tell if i have a mullet in this picture or not. Yes, I date myself by my hairstyle, much like women do.

Gotta be Easter in '02 or '03 because favorite son (me) was not there. That is Haley Adamson, not a random neighbor girl.

Trent, using his talents, oh yeah, it also looks like he is playing the violin in this too.

This happened, I was there, and the spectacle is burned into my mind. Dan "D-Nyde" Nydegger, and Scott "Walter" Waltman. Plus a whole lotta cheeseburgers.

A year can go so quick

What a difference a year makes. I just finished the Doctrine and Covenants and was going to start the Book of Mormon in Spanish, and I realized that I finished it in Spanish last December. I can hardly remember last Christmas, so much has happened in just eleven months.
I started and finished my last semester of college, wrote my capstone paper, graduated, worked a lot of hours at Magleby's, went to LA to see Kim and Bryon (Kim was barely preggers), flew to D.C. to see Karl Conni and family, spent some time in Portland with Nick and Lis and their families, went to a family reunion on the Oregon Coast, packed up my things and headed out to San Fran all on my lonesome, started law school, lived with the Blodgies for two months, moved into a new place, and here I am finishing my last week of classes for my first semester. Boy howdy, that's just the quick recap. A year can really go fast.
To go along with these sentiments I'll share part of a poem I've been working on. If you don't like it read it sometime when you're feeling melancholy late at night, that's when I like it best.

How frail is memory,
how fleeting it's remarks,
What today is crystal clear
is tomorrow's broken parts.

Joy is only half remembered,
Sorrow's half forgotten,
victory happened twice as much,
and losses half as often.

Some forget and laughing say,
to live each day anew.
While others hold to petty hurts
whose bitter tastes they chew.

So choose this day whether mem'ry will
be for you a help or hindrance,
a light to guide your waking hours,
or a self-inflicted penance.

A Phone with a Camera!?!?!

I guess that's not such an anomaly these days, but it used to be. If we forget history we are doomed to repeat it. All I'm saying is that if we forget that phones didn't used to have cameras we might start making them without cameras again. If that happened how could I go through my phone and get off all these memories that I had forgotten about because I didn't use my "real" camera. I got all the nieces and nephews here, except for the ones less than a month old, give me time people!

The Nomster did agree to let me babysit her, but neither of us agreed to the wind. Oregon coast.

I ain't never seen no boy that hankered to tractors this much. He's a born driver I tell ya. Asher McBasher at the Blue Heron cheese place.

I told him and told him, but he never learned to use a binkie. Lis and Bri's old house I guess.

I think I was just trying to take a picture, but he must have thought I was punishing him?

Just a normal picture of Lance and Renee, and we happened to be at Burgerville, the onions are not the only thing that's sweet about this picture.

This is Gavin, and my soon to be soggy sunglasses. No, he is not in front of a rail fence, that's Lance.

C.J. and Ne-Ne, whatev.

I swear mom, that sandwich was this long! (and this tall for Conner).

Nothin brings family together like double-bacon-Dels at Del Taco. Still the best burger for your buck, but I haven't had the triple yet, so that may change. Del Taco used to be a regular family occurence when I was in Provo, I hope Brooke can fill my awesome shoes. *Sniff*. I just got something in both my eyes, sorry.

Chugga-chugga-choo-choo!!!!!!

I guess the Bandanna scarf lost in the polls, but not in my heart. Luckily in San Francisco you can wear whatever you want. To all of you who hated it, just make sure you ain't missin the fashion train when she rolls into the station.
Update on law school, I got a B on my first test, so I probably won't flunk out, you can all stop holding your breaths. I'm talking to you, Chad and Mike, you're turning purple.

The Cowboy Scarf

Ok guys, check it out. I want every bodies opinion on this, can you rock the bandanna as a Scarf? This is an important issue in our time. Vote on the side, give it to me straight.

Sometimes we just need to be inspired . . .

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

This has always been a favorite poem of mine, so I thought I would share it. For all that I love television, especially spanish television, there is a definite power that only the written word can really carry to our hearts.

My personal best costume ever.

For all of you who don't know, I love Halloween, one of my favorite holidays. This year I have to say that I outdid myself in the costume department. I have had some good costumes in the past, Mr. T, Patrick Swayze, Axel Rose, to name a few, but none of them got the response I got this year. It makes me want to be Hulk Hogan again and again. Who can complain about having to grow a handle-bar mustache. Thanks again Dan for introducing me to Beard Season.
Here is some of the crew from our Halloween bash in Berkeley. There's Hulk Hogan, my roommate Dan, the cowboy is Betty, the Zebra is Yuka and the one in Pink is Gisela. On a separate Halloween note, I entered a Halloween donut eating contest two weeks ago and I lost to a huge samoan dude, he ate six and I only ate four, but pound for pound I think I won, because he was at least twice my size.

You'll notice it was "Dirty Dancing" Patrick, not "Ghost" Patrick.