Hey Sarah! Happy Birthday?

(I apologize for the lack of blog entries as of late. I have started an official family blog and have spent most of my free time there. This is a post I originally put there, but modified. If I am found dead in the coming days or weeks it will be because one of my brothers murdered me for posting this picture.)

Okay- the instructions were to dress like a "nerd"- and pictured below is how that was interpreted. It was Sarah's birthday and we decided to have a little fun. In my family you are lucky if someone calls because they remembered it, but Sarah's is never forgotten (though she has a short memory and doesn't see it that way). I guess you could say that she is spoiled, which is probably due to the fact that she is the youngest and our only sister. I think that she thinks she has it rough, and maybe she does, because...

If you went into a restaurant and had been invited to sit with this bunch, what would you have done?

Yes. I would have run as well.

Pictured from left to right are Homie "Hip-Hop" Brown, Bo, Rhett "Hot Rod" Andrews, Kevyn L. Baker, B.S. (aspiring astrophysics student), Dr. Stan Cipek (astrophysics professor), and the flamer, Alf Kimo.

This nerdy, rough, and groovy bunch met Sarah and Steve at the Braza Grill in Salt Lake for her dinner birthday. Thanks to Stevie for getting her there and holding on to her when she tried to run away.

Upcoming Family Events:
April 7th - "Homie" Brown will be in concert most of the day at the Delta Center (on the northeast corner by the Trax stop). Let's support him and drop some change in the can. I heard he'll be playing the new drum that he made. Also Matt's birthday.

April 13th - Kimball gets a life.

April 15th - Nathan said we could drop by for free oil changes on this day for their "tax day special." Stuart will be there to make sure he does it right. About all Nathan can change is a diaper or a channel. (I'm just kidding)

April 21st - Spencer presents his research to NASA (Kevyn will be there to assist). Also Mom's birthday.

June 13th - Rhett will be driving in the Candidagua 500 in hopes to qualify for the Daytona 500 in late June. Also Andrew's birthday.

Just had to share an inspiring thought...

I came by this a while ago and just had to share it.

This blog post is dedicated to my oldest brother, Spencer, who introduced me to Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, and the starship Enterprise, who boldly went where no man had gone before.

Live long and prosper.

(Note: This post will have more meaning if you grew up in the 70's or earlier)

Help for a poor sole?

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”

- Doug Larson

I'll try to keep this simple:
I've had a difficult time finding a pair of shoes the past two months. In my usual stops at Famous Footwear and other local stores I have been unable to find a pair that I liked. I did find a few once, but they did not have any in my size. So this blog entry is a lame request help on the best places to buy shoes!

In a few of my conversations with my farmer-neighbor, the topic of shoes came up. He is quite the internet-shopper and buys his shoes on-line. He also buys seeds and sells his sheep occasionally on-line. He recommended B.A. Mason Shoes. I checked it out and was pretty impressed- except for the fact that once I found a few pairs that I liked, they didn't have my size! I found some of the same shoes at Shoes.com, but wanted to find what places you'd recommend. If you're guy and would be willing to divulge the location of your favorite "shoe-fishing hole," please do! I wear a 10.5 and will be sure that I don't buy the last pair. And you ladies- if you happen to have a little "Imelda Marcos" in you (1,060 pairs?)- or happen to know where the men in your life find their shoes, I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I'd appreciate your help. Now that the snow has melted I think people are staring at me for continuing to wear my moon boots everywhere I go...

What in the heck are you staring at?!
GOSH!

(Halloween 2005)

Tai Pan Trading, part 2

The following is a comment my brother Andrew left on the previous post, "Tai Pan Trading Co." Read it as you would a Dr. Seuss book:

M.T. Soule said...

I LOVE TaiPan Trading Co!
Next to Wal-Mart, They have the world's largest selection of STUFF! But everything at TaiPan is non life-sustaining yet you can't get enough!
A perfect plethora of plastic pastries and fruit,
Baskets, vases, bowls, and statues –SO cute!
The endless array of faux flora and fauna will make you a bonified Martha Stewart prima donna!
Pre-assembled crafts and McMansion wall-hangings and paraphernalia. Shiny, aged, copper-patina whoknowsits and whatsits all made in China.
It comes in all colors, all shapes and all sizes.
Each glance yields more 'didn't-know-I-needed' surprises!
More and more and more and more, this endless cycle of consumer glut-decor galore!
It's just like walking into a landfill but it's all indoor!

He highly recommends visiting www.thestoryofstuff.com

I'll have to put a few photos of the planters I found at Tai Pan Trading. They are pretty nice. The only other thing that they had that I thought was cool were some really big framed prints of bold yellow and red flowers. If I didn't already have a dozen other prints I am wanting to buy, frame, and hang, I'd have been tempted more than I was.
-Loren

Tai Pan Trading Co., also known as...

Today I went to visit Tai Pan Trading for the first time- a Utah store that sells a variety of home decor items. I had been warned by my brother that it was the place that had "everything you never needed," but when I texted him to ask if I should go there to find planters and pots for plants, he replied, "oh yes." So, after work today and on my way to look at planters at Lowe's (Home Improvement), I decided to make a quick visit. I had a few plants that are getting too big for their britches.

To cut a long story short (yes, you can thank your lucky stars today- this post will be shortER), I didn't get lost, but it was difficult shopping. Everything is in general 'areas' and you have to just meander through it all, hoping you're going to find another display of what you're looking for, or wondering if you're entering another area, or if you've seen everything that particular area in which you were hoping to find something.

Okay- I confess, I found a few long planters I liked- and I bought them. But I found them the second time I meandered back through the pottery area, or areas. Without the normal aisles and rows I just followed the outer wall, for fear I'd get lost and locked up inside the store when everyone went home for the night. I knew when I was getting close when I once again approached the stoneware and plastic food displays- one of which is a bowl of plastic chocolate-dipped strawberries. I thought that the strawberries were there to show off the dishes, but no, they sell those too.

In conclusion, I think that that the store needs to change it's name. What would be an appropriate name? The "Pre-D.I." For those of you who don't know what the D.I. is, it is a local thrift store, more commonly called by its initials rather than its name, the Deseret Industries. At Tai Pan you'll find the common items normally encountered at garage sales and thrift stores. So, if you want something from Tai Pan Trading, just visit a neighborhood garage sale IN A FEW YEARS and you'll find EVERYTHING they bought at Tai Pan Trading THIS WEEK- and you'll get it at a fraction of the price!