MEMORIAL DAY

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day. It is one of my favorite holidays, because it signals the beginning of summer, warm weather, parties, BBQ's, and generaly being laid back until the fall. I have had some of  my best times on Memorial day. One of the best was in 2000. I was a 21 yearl old Corporal in the USMC just back from a deployment. A couple of buddies and I rented a boat and went to Lake Havasu. It was every 21 year olds dream. Due to this being a PG blog, I will leave the rest to the imagination. I will remember that Memorial day for the rest of my life. That was not the only good time I have had on memorial day. I can honestly say they have all been good. I get extra sleep, food, and relaxation regardless of where I am at, or what age I have been. These good times are only possible because of those who serve to protect our freedoms. I want to thank all of those who have, or are currently serving ( especially the Marines). No matter where i was or how much fun I was having on Memorial days of the past, I always take a moment to remember why we celebrate it. It is my sincere hope that this country is able to celebrate Memorial day for generations to come.

Willies Pool Team

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the pool teams out of Willies Lounge. There were 2 teams, 1 mens and 1 womens team to compete in Vegas at the national level. It is an accomplishment just to be able to compete against the best in the world at such a high caliber competition. The Willies Rat Pack gals and the Willies Dogs managed to do better than just compete. The women won the tournament, becoming the first national championship team out of Utah ever. The men came home third in the nation. Both teams made Willies Lounge extremely proud. It was an amazing season and a long grind just to finish the league, which lasts 9 months, shooting 16 matches a week. To win that is a major feat in itself. To then go to Vegas and do what no other teams in Utah's history have ever done is awesome. From myself, and all of the Willie Dogs around the world, I want to send our congrats to you. Your next round is on me.

Blackboard vs canvass

I am not a fan of canvass at all. Maybe it is because this is the first time I have used it, but blackboard is so much easier and organized. Anytime I want to look at all my classes to check grades or submit anything, I dread having to go to another site (canvass). I am no Alfred Einstein so maybe it is not a problem for those that are, but I am learning not to like my English 1010 class. I am a bit of a caveman, but I have been successful in other on-line classes. The organization and constant flipping from page to page that is required for my English class frustrates me to the point of insanity. I hope that by the end of the semester I am not feeling the same way, or it is going to be a long summer. If I could give advice to future USU writing students, I would recommend not taking the class online or in the summer. I say this not because the class is bad, but because it would be more straight forward in a class room environment, and who wants to spend their summer figuring out canvass.

A bar is reborn

In April 2005, I was a sergeant in the USMC, just landing at Camp Pendleton from my 3^rd combat tour in Iraq. I saw the orders clerk running to greet me. He then handed me a set of orders that said I had exactly one week to report to my new unit in Salt Lake City Utah. I asked him what country that was in, he said I was staying in the USA. Utah was a state not a country. I have lived here since then, and would like to correct the orders clerk, Utah is its own country. My duty while in Utah was unlike anywhere I had been before. I didn’t have a schedule, my fellow Marines stationed here were all of equal rank, and I slept in a bed. I had enough free time I decided to buy a business. After wondering what I was going to buy, I found a run down, old, dirty, sleazy bar. I don’t know why, but I fell in love with it. I bought it against the advice of my closest friends and advisors. I saw the potential they didn’t. On June 16^th 2006 I became the proud owner of Willies Lounge. Since then we have expanded many times. We have built up our own following and completely changed the culture of the whole area. It has not come without its costs, headaches, ulcers, and tears. Much like my time in the Marines, owning a bar (especially in Utah) has been a life changing event. Every week I see something that makes me laugh and cry. It is the only place I have ever been associated with that completely exhausts me one day, and reinvigorates me the next. I recommend everybody own a bar at least once in their lives. Life will never be boring.

Where I am from.

I grew up in small town USA, Goodland Kansas to be exact. It is a thriving metropolis of about 3000 people counting one coon dog. I am the oldest of 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl). Growing up in Goodland with my last name, I only had 2 choices. I was destined to be an athlete, farmer or both. It did not take long for me to decide I did not want to be a farmer. To make sure that I got as far away from the farm as possible I joined the USMC at 17. The Corps was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. I spent the first 12 years of my adult life as an active duty Marine. My first duty station after graduating from boot camp and the school of infantry was 8^th and I in Washington D.C., at the white house. Talk about a culture shock, the closest big city to Goodland was 250 miles away. I learned a lot during this time. I also made a lot of mistakes, but thankfully was able to overcome them. Over the next 10 years after leaving 8^th and I. I was able to drink a beer in 26 different countries and 43 states. I served 3 different combat tours, 1 luxury tour, and watched a Filipino band (that didn’t speak English) sing Sweet Home Alabama in Japan. My bucket list at 18 got a lot crossed off, thanks to my time in the Marine Corps. There are also some things that got added to it because of the Corps as well. I lost some friends and family, and gained some new friends and family. I had the highest highs and the lowest lows, but I would do it again in an instant.

What was your first music purchase? When did you make this purchase?

I have loved music for as long as I can remember. I have hated writing classes for just as long. I was not very happy to learn that I would be spending a portion of my summer in writing 1010. Then out of the blue, my first assignment was to put a playlist together and write about that. It was a great way to start my college writing career off. I have had so many different experiences and taken some crazy turns in life, so putting just 3 songs on my list took some thought. I remember getting my first CD player and two cd’s for passing 6^th grade with straight A’s. My first 2 cds were GET A GRIP by AEROSMITH and NO FENCES by GARTH BROOKS. It is funny now because I loved those albums and listened to them constantly. I would pay not to hear them now. My tastes have changed to the point I am not a fan of either artist or album anymore. The one thing that has not changed since that day, I have continued to buy and listen to different kinds of music that has helped to shape my life. As I get older and continue to evolve, my taste in music has also. I am slowly becoming more open-minded about giving different genres and artists a chance. The only type of music or artist that I just can’t take is reggae. I hope that I will forever keep experiencing new and wonderful music, but I don’t see ever enjoying reggae, regardless of how long I live.