Happy Father's Day to all you daddies out there. It's a good day; the weather's perfect and the day has been relaxing.
A little update: Our family went with our neighbors and friends to Farmington Canyon to go camping on Fri night and Saturday. It was nice to get away, but I wasn't too impressed by our campground. The picnic tables were in a sad state and it wasn't all that great of a location. We even had to pay a fee. Makes me wonder where all that money is going to. The girls were another issue. Eliza had issue sleeping thru the night (not a surprise) and Hannah was really disobedient and sassy. She's bound and determined to do whatever she wants. I'm afraid she'll be one of those teenagers who'll need to learn on her own why she should do what her parents ask her to do/not do.
Our neighbors are awesome, though. They're really easy going and good with their boys. This is the second time we've been with them camping.
Last Wednesday our stake had Lagoon day. With our free entry pass, we had about six ride passes; I think we took advantage of almost all, if not all of them. There was hardly anyone there so we didn't wait that long in lines at all. It was one of the best family experiences we've had in a long time. It was just nice to enjoy being together without having to get after Hannah every few minutes.
Life's good (just wish it could be summer all year round), not much to talk about now.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Gas Prices, Park City, Etc.
Gas Prices
I want to start out by discussing gas prices. I'm just as ticked as the next guy that prices are skyrocketing. I don't believe getting the government involved will help (when was the last time the government did something right?). Who really wants Uncle Sam taking over more control of our lives? Just as there is a solution to the border, there is a solution to our gas crunch, but our politicians (not statesmen, because they almost don't exist) are more concerned about pleasing their lobbyists and parties than doing what's right for our country.
Well, I also believe there is a silver lining or two to this current crisis. I just saw a story that got me a little excited over the possibilities. UTA is talking about increasinig development around their transit centers (including the intermodal hub in downtown Salt Lake City). It gets me excited because we'll be taken from our 'boxes of isolation' (i.e.: cars, SUVs, trucks, etc.) and thrown in together with a bunch of strangers where we'll have to actually talk and get along. In addition, we'll see more walkable communities where stores are brought to us rather than us having to drive 10, 15, 20 minutes or more to get our shopping done. This will also force us to communicate more with our fellow men and break down any barriers of misunderstanding that exist because of the current set up of our society. I know, the internet/TV/video games will act as a counterweight to this, but the possibilities are exciting.
Another silver lining is the fact that companies are forced to develop cleaner, more efficient vehicles. They're also forced to develop viable alternative technologies to oil, which will benefit us greatly in the long term by taking us off our dependence on foreign oil and help clean up the environment.
Park City
Micaela and I stayed up at a nice resort below the Canyons Resort in Park City last weekend. A time share company (West Gate Resorts) put us up there for free if we would listen to a 90-minute presentation. We vowed we wouldn't buy into it, but as our tour of the facilities progressed, Micaela and I became more and more interested. By the end we were really considering buying, but asked for a week to decide. Our salesman said that would be fine and then talked to his manager. The manager gave us an offer we couln't refuse. He offered us a unit that was available because the previous owners had upgraded; he offered it to us at the price the original owner paid for it which means we would get instant equity just by purchasing the unit. We bit the bullett and got it. We've had some buyers' remorse but are happy to have it and hope that we and our family will get many years of enjoyment from it.
I want to start out by discussing gas prices. I'm just as ticked as the next guy that prices are skyrocketing. I don't believe getting the government involved will help (when was the last time the government did something right?). Who really wants Uncle Sam taking over more control of our lives? Just as there is a solution to the border, there is a solution to our gas crunch, but our politicians (not statesmen, because they almost don't exist) are more concerned about pleasing their lobbyists and parties than doing what's right for our country.
Well, I also believe there is a silver lining or two to this current crisis. I just saw a story that got me a little excited over the possibilities. UTA is talking about increasinig development around their transit centers (including the intermodal hub in downtown Salt Lake City). It gets me excited because we'll be taken from our 'boxes of isolation' (i.e.: cars, SUVs, trucks, etc.) and thrown in together with a bunch of strangers where we'll have to actually talk and get along. In addition, we'll see more walkable communities where stores are brought to us rather than us having to drive 10, 15, 20 minutes or more to get our shopping done. This will also force us to communicate more with our fellow men and break down any barriers of misunderstanding that exist because of the current set up of our society. I know, the internet/TV/video games will act as a counterweight to this, but the possibilities are exciting.
Another silver lining is the fact that companies are forced to develop cleaner, more efficient vehicles. They're also forced to develop viable alternative technologies to oil, which will benefit us greatly in the long term by taking us off our dependence on foreign oil and help clean up the environment.
Park City
Micaela and I stayed up at a nice resort below the Canyons Resort in Park City last weekend. A time share company (West Gate Resorts) put us up there for free if we would listen to a 90-minute presentation. We vowed we wouldn't buy into it, but as our tour of the facilities progressed, Micaela and I became more and more interested. By the end we were really considering buying, but asked for a week to decide. Our salesman said that would be fine and then talked to his manager. The manager gave us an offer we couln't refuse. He offered us a unit that was available because the previous owners had upgraded; he offered it to us at the price the original owner paid for it which means we would get instant equity just by purchasing the unit. We bit the bullett and got it. We've had some buyers' remorse but are happy to have it and hope that we and our family will get many years of enjoyment from it.
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