Apruary

Living in Utah, I am constantly reminded that this is some of the best snow in the world. March is an interesting month. It should be a spring month, but it just keeps wanting to be a winter month. This picture of the last day of march sums up how this winter has been. As if we already haven't had enough amazing powder days on the mountain, we might just get one more week of it. Seems too good to be true.

"Mama said they'd take me anywhere"

I am writing on my blog instead of my journal, which I've heard some say that is a true sign of a "blogger". Ok, I admit I've been inducted into the world of internetifying my life, but I spend enough time in front of the computer, it's convenient.

A normal day, returning from work at the sizzler at about 10:30. I talked on the phone with dad for a bit as I recounted detailed memories of broken plates and stunned children watching the chards fly about the kitchen. I almost felt bad talking about it because Dad was laughing so hard and coughing from being sick I thought he might be choking. Hindsight is so awesome. The conversation evolved to the subject that constantly reminds me of one thing- Heavenly Father loves me enough to let the powers of entropy do all it can to keep my car off the road. I grow stronger with every penny I spend on that beloved ball and chain.

After talking to dad, I sat down in front of my computer to finish some newspaper ads for a 5k walk/run at UVSC. I instinctively reached for the tv remote to provide myself with some ambient noise (that usually ends up being a distraction). Right as I was about to push the power button to open the valve of filth and dirty humor, I looked at the ad, and though- "no, I'm going to finish these and do something constructive. I tossed down the remote and fished the ads in silence, then decided to go for a run (it's finally warm enough!). I prepared, stretched, strapped on my running shoes (bought in alaska at the advice of my good friends), then checked my watch right as I was leaving my apartment. 11:58 pm. A thoughtful grin. The phrase popped into my mind, "Only fools run at midnight". I was taken back to that amazing rainy night when I ran a 5k in Ketchikan with Cassidy and Tyleen. Every memory I have of Alaska brings such swells of happiness and excitement to me, it overpowers the sadness brought by nostalgia.

As I made my way over the freeway toward campus, I realized why I loved running so much in Alaska- the elevation. My lungs scream at me when I run in Utah. I ran over the freeway and ran a lap around campus. While running, I thought about happiness, or at least positive thinking. My institute lesson today taught that "I do not see the world as it is, I see it as I am". Many people develop the mindset of- "my life will finally be good when ____" (graduate, marriage, etc). This is habituated state of mind that is not cured by reaching those landmarks. One has to be positive and happy with his life now and then he will be in the habit of positive thinking no matter his situation.

As I ran, I reflected on one of the most rewarding, happy times in my life; finishing a 5 mile run in Ketchikan (at sea level), then getting cleaned up and walking the few blocks with some of my best friends to work at the Cape Fox restaurant. For some reason that specific image stands out. Why was the summer in alaska one of the happiest times in my life? Because I ran. I ran every day. I am reminded of this every time I run. Running forces the juices of optimism to flow through my body. Although a short 30 minute run is not that significant in terms of the span of my existence, it helps me to remember what is really important. Optimism, Running.

A crack in the shell

I've spent the last few days learning the language of a whole new universe- the internet. My goal is to have my website up and running by this summer. This sample of buttons on my site may be a bit disappointing to the uneducated eye, but after days of studying and learning, and a few hours of cutting and linking, I came up with this - a pretty cool example of a rollover. Watch what happens when the mouse moves over each button on the page. Once I finally got it all coded out, I sat and just watched each button as I moved the mouse over each one for about ten minutes. I'm so easily entertained it's ridiculous. I hope you can get at least some entertainment out of doing the same thing. This is my first baby step toward building an absolutely stunning website for myself and hopefully for future clients.

www.jaredmedley.com/rollover

Open your mouth in the rain.

I just noticed on my google advertisement, in the last few months, that it has been shown about a quarter of a million times (255,000). On facebook about 60,000. That means alot of people have gone to my site. That's a good thing.

Memories

Last summer I went to the Coachella Valley Music Festival. It was a three day concert in Palm Springs. Some of the bands that played were Nickel Creek, Stephen Marley, Tom Morello, Willey Nelson, The Roots, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and of course, after seven years of retirement, Rage Against the Machine. Another band that was invited to play was Crowded House, the band that plays the song you hear right now. I remember this band particularly because they played right before Rage Against the Machine. Now imagine for a moment, over 50,000 people who, for the last seven years, have been waiting to see Rage once again, having to wait through a band like this. I think the noise of the crowd chanting "RAGE, RAGE" drowned out the music from Crowded House. As they played "Don't Dream it's Over", someone from the front row threw a full opened water bottle and hit the lead singer right in the chest. He was so mad that he made the band stop playing and made the crowd sing the rest of the song. Hilarious. The lead singer reassured us that Rage would be out soon and they quickly finished their set before something more damaging might have come from the ferociously anxious crowd. Words can't describe the noise and energy that followed for the next two hours as one of my favorite bands played all of my favorite songs.

Self Portrait

This was a quick shot a classmate took for a photoshop class project. I look a little like a serial killer, but she did a pretty dang good job with the picture. I did help a little. When I look at this picture, I'm reminded of a classic quote from none other than Dwight Schrute - "I feel like it's staring into my soul".

A Weekend in Paradise

I flew home to Eureka for the weekend. I haven't seen Rachel for at least two years. I am so glad we got to spend some quality time together. Sunday, I will go back to Utah and she will begin her journey back to Iraq. It is so easy to let time get away from you. You have to see your family, even more than you think you have time to.
Rachel got a new camera and I have been showing her alot about how to use photoshop. Rachel took this picture of me at Moonstone beach, one of my favorite places in the world.
The sets would drop out about 100 yards, then come crashing back in every few minutes. Between sets, everyone ran to the cave and climb up on the rocks before the next set came in and closed it off. The tide was going out so we weren't too worried, plus the way out was only blocked by about 8 inches deep of water.
Driftwood. Just holding it sets me off into a thick sea of nostalgic memories of growing up in this amazing place.