Solids in a changing world

Life.....

Life is one crazy experience that I don't think anyone will ever actually figure out. I feel like the stage of life I'm in right now is so flexible and changing that I can barely hang on.  It seems like even the tiniest decisions that I make on a daily basis will have effects on the whole rest of my life.  Right now I'm at the point in my schooling that I need to get done as soon as humanly possible, but I still have at least three years to go, and that's just for my undergrad.  I watch my friends prepare to graduate and move off into, what seems like, will be their happily ever after... i.e good paying jobs, a permanent home, and solid direction at where the rest of their lives are going.  Meanwhile Amelia and I are still trying to find out what the heck all of this is about.  Some days I feel like changing my major at the drop of a hat and some days just the sheer weight of how much longer I have to go is very disheartening.  While at the same time knowing that I'm not tied into anything is very liberating and exciting.  Some times I wish I had a crystal ball and could just peak into the future and see how its all going to turn out, but at the same time the prospect of knowing how things turn out is the most frightening thing ever.  I know I'm rambling, but I just feel like things are royally out of control right now.... that doesn't mean things are bad, they are just crazy!!!

One thing that I've found that helps is to have a few things life that are constant and unchanging to hold on to.

My amazing wife Amelia is probably the greatest of those things, she is always there for me, and I know she will support me in anything that I do, and I pray she feels the same about me.  I know that no matter what I will always have her to turn to whether I need some advice, or some comfort, or just a good laugh, and she will always have the answer.

Most Amazing Wife Ever!!!!

Another solid in my life is all of these people:

The McGuire Clan

The Kolts Clan

I have the two greatest families in the history of the world!!!!! no matter where I am there is always someone there willing to help at the drop of the hat and I would never be able to thank them enough for that.

Finally we have to take time to stop and smell the roses occasionally, and in my mind that includes some good old wholesome recreation. :)

Beautiful Cutthroat: Strawberry Reservoir, Ut

Shooting the .22 above Paragonah, Utah

What a crack shot!!!

Beautiful Cutthroat: Panguitch, Utah

It's been awhile

Its been a long time since I posted last....... I should probably do better..... I'm not quite sure how many people read this blog or not, but I figured I'd post some more anyway......  I think my blog is going to not be just a blog about my thoughts on life and such, nor is it going to be just a blog about what I'm doing with my life.... I hope that it can be a combination of both...... sorry if that was all jumbled and makes no sense :)

INTERUPTION FOR A FISHING STORY!!!!!!!!!!!
... So I went fishing for the first time in Wisconsin last week and boy was it amazing!!!! Guess how many I caught....... 0
hahahaha sad I know, but I did get "hooked" on muskie fishing!!!! just in case you're wondering, this is what a muskie looks like........


Obviously this isn't me because I didn't actually catch anything ;)

 My first day on the lake I was fishing from a kayak using a fairly large live frog that I had found that morning...... I've never fought a stronger fish in my life!!!! I kid you not, it dragged my kayak around the lake for about three minutes!!!! I felt like the fisher from the "Old Man and the Sea" (which is a great book by the way).  I finally was able to drag the thing close enough to me to get a good look at him, and HOLY COW.... That was one big fish!!!! By far the biggest I've ever hooked.... too bad he ripped clean through that frog and the hook wasn't set enough for me to land him...... yes yes yes I know you're all rolling your eyes and thinking this is just another "the one that got away" story.... but whether you believe me or not, I'm hooked!!! and I can't wait for my next chance to do it again!!!

Whew.... sorry about that... you know how I am about telling stories. Anyway, school started back up today, and I have a feeling I'm in for a pretty rigorous semester, but I'm pretty excited too, because I'm actually taking a fair amount of true engineering classes, so that should be pretty dang awesome!!!!

Engineering Notification!!!

Here is my first Revit Draft of our future dream home



Main Floor with Vaulted ceilings



2nd Floor

Hahahahaha well like I said this post probably makes no sense to anyone, but there is a lot of really cool stuff here!!! look for more crazy posts later :)

A Bold Endevour

 I've taken on a quite formidable task in my opinion.  It all started when Amelia and I decided to start a book club.  We got thinking about it and we both realized that ever since starting college neither of us read for pleasure hardly at all.  Both having been quite large book worms growing up we decided that this needed to change.  We decided that if we didn't plan it out we never would have a chance to do some enjoyable reading ever again.  So we planned out one book a month for the next year and we both dove headlong into the first book.... let me tell you, it has rejuvenated my love for reading, and I decided that it was time to document all of the amazing books that I have read in my life.

So I began on Pintrest..... I made a board and began posting ever book and author that I could ever remember reading in my whole life....... I had no idea how many books I've read and I know that I can probably only remember about half of them..... Anyway, for a list of great books check out http://pinterest.com/liv2fish/books-ive-read/  I will be updating with every new book I read and every old book that I can remember.

Reading has been one of the most amazing parts of my life!!! reading provides knowledge, rest, happiness, perspective, life, love, adventure, pain, healing and much much more!!!!!! Reading is by far one of the best activities that has ever existed and I encourage everyone to go get a book, any book, and start reading!!!!!!  (if you need ideas/want to join Amelia and I in our book club let me know!!!! August's book is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card)

Keep Calm and Read

More on Fishing and Life

The past weekend was one of the most memorable in my life!!!!  And funny enough it involved fishing....... but once again fishing was hardly the point ;)

Impossible to not have fun with her!!

Amelia and I decided that it was about time we got away and had a vacation just the two of us.  We thought for weeks about what we might do or where we might go.  I had just gotten home from work on Monday and Amelia showed me a website that talked all about Paragonah Reservoir which is about 45 min outside of Ceder City...... I was hooked nearly instantly (Pun intended).


Map Of Panguitch Lake

Beautiful Panguitch Reservoir

Paragonah Reservoir was one of the most beautiful mountain lakes I've ever seen!!! the fish were jumping like crazy, the water was crystal clear, we had one of the best camping spots I've ever seen, and not mention I was there with the most beautiful amazing, spectacular woman in the world!!!!

Campsite

Of course Amelia caught the first fish, a beautiful 14 1/2 inch rainbow.... and she made it look easy!!! :)

One Beautiful Rainbow, and an even more beautiful Woman!!!

We had one of the best nights cooking stew, frying fish, and just enjoying each other's company!!! It was AMAZING!!!!

The next morning we pulled out the good ole canoe and paddled all over the lake it was so beautiful and peaceful and just one awesome experience.

Pristine Lake!!!

After packing up camp and loading our canoe back on the car we pulled out the trusty dusty Winchester .22 and showed some cans who was boss.... and let me tell you what.... I would never try and take on Amelia in a shooting contest cause she'd win hands down!!! She knocked down five cans in five shoots and blew a sixth glass bottle clean away.... and she never missed once!!

 

 

Shooting the .22

She Blasted the Heck Out of It!!!

 

Well knowing that camping and fishing are awesome but that other things are awesome too,  we also decided to book a hotel in Parowan for Saturday night!!! After washing off all the grime and dirt, we hit the hotel pool and boy was it refreshing.  After a nice swim we cleaned up and headed to dinner at Parowan's local burger joint, "Hamburger Patty's", it was delicious!!!

Hamburger Patty's: Parowan, Utah Awesome Buffalo Burgers

The next morning we woke up, had breakfast, and headed to Bryce Canyon!!!!! IT WAS SPECTACULAR!!!!!! Neither Amelia or I had ever been to Bryce before, and we loved every last second of it! The views were amazing, the drive was beautiful, and the whole experience was unequaled!!

Bryce Canyon National Park!!

After Bryce we went for some last minute fishing up Panguitch Creek.... So far over the whole vacation I was living up to my first post, cause I hadn't caught one thing and I was loving every second of it.... but just to sweeten the deal I caught the biggest fish I've ever caught from a stream in my life, a beautiful 17 1/2 inch Cutthroat!!!

And one of the best parts of the whole trip was being able to enjoy the whole thing, just the two of us!!!! ..... Just goes to show, fishing isn't all about catching fishing..... but it sure makes it fun!!! :)

2004 Impala and a Coleman Canoe!!!

"Just Fishin"

Since I was a very little boy my dad has always been there to teach me many of life's most important lessons.  Sometimes he would show, sometimes he would lead, sometimes he would let me figure it out on my own, and only when absolutely necessary he would actually tell me the lesson to be learned.  One of the most applicable lessons I ever learned was that "Fishing is not about catching fish."

To some people this may sound like the most ridiculous thing they've ever heard.  Why on earth would you ever spend the time, the effort, or the money to get up in the mountains with the cold, and the dirt, and sometimes even in the rain and the snow if the point isn't to catch fish?....

I could tell you the answer why, but it wouldn't do it justice...... if you really want to know, call me up anytime and we'll go fishing.

This lesson that I've learned has applied itself to nearly every aspect of my life.... let me give you a few examples, some from every day things, and some a little more profound.....

1. When Mr. Miaggi sent Daniel to wax the car and paint the fence and paint the house, the finished products weren't the point.......... the muscle and the skill Daniel gained were what was important

2. When striving for good grades in school, the good grade is rarely the point..... its the knowledge gained thats important

3. When trying to improve yourself athletically wether it be a faster mile time or a bigger max the numerical goal is rarely the point..... self mastery is whats important.

4. When building a project or painting a work of art or doing something along those lines, the finished product is rarely the point....... the ability to create is whats important.

Some a little more profound....

5. When JFK made a goal to put a man on the moon, going to the moon wasn't the point...... national motivation and high patriotic morale were what was important.

6.  When Jesus Christ walked on water in front of the apostles, getting to the ship wasn't the point....... Teaching one of the most influential lessons on faith in the Lord was what was important.

Anyway, life is full of lessons learned.... one of the greatest is that "catching fish is rarely the point."

I hope as I continue posting on this blog, some of what I've learned (and maybe some real funny stories) can be passed to those who read it.

p.s. to those who still think fishing is about catching fish, watch this

I'll miss you

Said goodbye to one of my best friends today..... Jane, Jeff, Jared, Maria, Sarah, Jenny, Nate, and Josh... you are all amazing and I love every last one of you!!!

 Stephen..... you will never be forgotten, in every joke, in every smile, in every bit of sunshine in our lives, you will be there.  I miss you bro.... I miss you more than I ever thought possible, and I cannot explain how hard it is to say goodbye.  We stood beside each other all through our lives, we grew up side by side, and I'm glad that I was able to help carry you to where you'll rest.  You were always there for those who needed you and you were always there as a friend for me. I love you Stephen.

Swimstrong

A Cousin, A Friend, A Brother

Stephen Griener was born a month and a half before me, to my awesome aunt and uncle Jane and Jeff Griener. We grew up together, we played on the same t-ball team, we competed at swim meets, we played on opposing football teams, we had sleep overs all the time, we fished together, we hungout at every family gathering, we texted back and forth all through high school, we both went to BYU our freshman year, we doubled with one of my friends from high school and her roomate on our first college date together, we left on our missions two months apart from each other, we wrote back and forth our whole missions, we've basically lived our entire lives side by side.

When I was on my mission, I'll never forget getting the e-mail from my mom saying that Stephen was really really sick and that they might bring him home.... I waited all the next week to hear what had happened.... When I read the new e-mail I couldn't believe what I read.... Hogkins Lymphoma.... Stephen had Hogkins Lymphoma.....Stephen was one of the most athletic people I'd ever met... he was in perfect shape and perfect condition.... I couldn't believe it.... it shattered me.  He was the first person I wanted to see besides my parents and siblings when I got home.

 

He'd never faltered... he took the pains and the exhaustion and the endlessness, like it was just another day. He never complained, he never worried, and he never gave up.  He not once was worried about himself, he worried about his mom, about his dad, about his siblings, about his family, and about his friends, but he never cared about what was happening to him.

When I was getting ready to marry the woman of my dreams, and start my only family... I wanted Stephen to not only be there, but to be a part of every bit of it.  The wedding was going to be smack between two stem cell transplants and Stephen said he couldn't promise anything, but he'd do his best to be there...... When I got the call about three weeks before the wedding, it was Stephen.  "Hey Daniel,  so what all do I get to do at this wedding thing, and what do I need to bring?" I told him, all he had to do is show up, and wear a tux if he felt like it..... "thats it?" he said, " Bull Crap!!! I'm your groomsman and this is gonna be the best day of your life!!! no special treatment, and no pictures cause I don't want to ruin your pictures with my mask"  I told him there was no way he was getting out of pictures, and that I could never thank him enough.

Even my beautiful wife Amelia who knew Stephen only a little time, was absolutely infected by his amazing personality.... we went to LDS a few times and played video games with Stephen, and there was never a time I ever heard him complain. Not once!!! (He also whoopped out butts at Super Smash Bros)

 

Stephen is a hero..... he is an inspiration, he is a light...... He went into every battle with his head up, only thinking of those around him. He never gave up, and he never backed down.  As an old disney movie once said "A true hero is not measured by the size of his strength, but by the Strength of his Heart" 

Stephen was a part of my life, he was my cousin, but he was my brother. I'll never be able to explain how much I'm going to miss him.  He will always be a part of my family, and he was always be a light to look to in a dark time.

 

I love you Stephen, Never, Ever, Forget it!!!

 

LEFT SIDE!!!!!!!!!!

 

-Daniel