State Flag Quiz:

I scored pretty well on this fun Encarta quiz!

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/education_1/Default.aspx?page=quiz93&Quizid=93>1=10187&qpt=results

Try it and see how well you know the US's states flags.

Scott

Resistance to Change…Good or Bad? -

On Saturday I told the realtor I probably wanted to take the home off the market. Then someone came to look at the house.

On Monday I told the realtor to take the home off the market. The next day, the same people wanted to see the house again.

I didn't sleep much this week because I have been stressing out about this decision. Its driving me crazy and I am feeling A LOT of pressure. I hope I made the right choice because we just lost a good potential buyer. Lynette wants to the sell the house but is respecting my decision, still, she is very disappointed. It was a tough call for me.

I believe that my decision is the right one, because its based on principles, but there is always that "what might have been" thought for situations like this. Moving would be a risk, but the payout could be phenomonal. Lynette said I am resistant to change, and thats true...maybe a huge understatement.

Right now, I’m wishing I lived permanently in the mountains where the only thing I have to worry about is where to find the next fish to eat. Sure that could be stressful, but at least that would be a ‘pleasant misery’.

Sorry for this downer post, but its what I'm going through this week.

Scott

Fathers Day –

My subject for my father’s day blog reminded me about how I have yet to mention my new job. I’m working for a worldwide engineering firm that designs freeways, bridges and roads. They’ve been in the valley for many years and are very respected. It's probably one of ADOT’s top three transportation firms. I am doing exactly what I think I want to be doing right now (designing freeways). So far it’s been great but I am still getting trained. I’m a little anxious to get into some real projects.

Ok, back to Fathers Day. I was blessed to come to family who taught me right and wrong from an early age. I was always given the opportunity to choose who I wanted to become. I value that parenting style and give credit both to my father and mother for raising me. I couldn’t have become who I am without them. I love them both for that.

I’ve recently been contemplating how small things can have monumental affects in the lives of people, programs or even in history. Recently, I’ve reflected on one small memory I have with my dad that has for some reason stayed with me throughout my life.

I’m not sure how old I was or what the situation was but once my dad gave me a pencil and paper and asked if I could draw an aerial view of a freeway interchange. He told me to include all the ramps and to make everything work (ie. each direction had access to all other legs of the interchange). Well, I tried, and did not succeed the first time. I can actually remember how surprised I was with how difficult it was to draw. So over the next few years, when I was bored in class, or when I had time and a pencil and paper and was doodling my drawings always seemed to center around the freeway interchange my dad had challenged me to draw. Later, I even tried to fiddle around with the many different ways they could be drawn.

I recalled this memory when I was interviewing with the company I now work for. I found it amazing that one small memory with my father had such a profound influence on my life. I’m not sure if I would be so interested in designing freeways now if that seed had not been planted in my youth. That singular moment with my dad is, to me, a truly sacred memory from my childhood.

Thanks for the challenge Dad, Happy Father's Day. Maybe one of these days I'll design an interchange that you can be proud of.

Scott

Fishing Trip

I went with a friend and three of my nephews on an awesome fishing trip this weekend. We fished for Small Mouth Bass on a river on one of the Indian reservations east of Phoenix.

It was a lot of fun. Total, the five of us caught 60 fish. I only caught 8 but two guys caught 19. I caught the biggest fish of the day (at least 2 pounds) and we saved that one and several others for a barbeque that we had Monday night.

It took forever to get there, but it was worth it. We had to drive on a very rough dirt road for approximately 1 hour (at least).

We hiked approximately 10 miles that day too. All in all, this was probably the most fun outing I've been on all year.

Enjoy the pics -

Scott

Scott (my nephew)

Bryce with our 'winnings'

Me and the big one.

Our intrepid guide, Ted

Nathan and his morning hair

The barbeque

Fixed the morning hair

The fish tasted great.

Verde Glen -

In May I went on a camping trip with some people at my old job. I was asked to help plan a campout and we went to a campsite near Payson called Verde Glen. It was very nice, a perfect location for what we wanted to do.

Friday night we barbequed some awesome steaks and listened to the Suns game. It was the night that Suns lost and we were all sad that they didn't advance to the Western Conference finals. Atleast, when we heard the final score we were eating some yummy peach cobbler.

The next day we had breakfast burritos, played horseshoes, hiked down the creek packed up (just before a cloud burst and rained on us) and then went to Tonto National Bridge. All in all I had an awesome time. The only thing that would have made it more fun was if Lynette could have been there. (She had to work).

I was glad that it turned out so well.

Scott

Bryce and Carlie (what a trooper)

Sam

The whole group

Francis, our cook

Playing around

Hiking through the bridge