Tradition

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here and A LOT has happened in the past month. For those of you who don't know, I am once again on the move. My work has asked me to relocate to the sunny skies and sandy beaches of Southern California. Kansas City is a great city and was a great experience for me, but I am so stoked to live the dream in the Southwest U.S. I am currently residing in Utah until my place opens up in January. So all you Utah friends, get at your boy. More on the move and other happenings later.

When it comes to holidays I would classify myself as a fairweather fan. I don't necessarily love or hate holidays. To me it's just another day, that is until the holiday is actually upon us. Every major holiday throughout the year (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Veterans Day, etc.....) something happens to me the morning of. I wake up and for a brief moment I think about the "special" day and what it means to me. This very thing happened to me this morning. I woke to the muffled sound of Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab on VH1. Desperately trying to switch stations I angrily searched for the nowhere-to-be-found remote. After 20 mins of looking I finally stumbled upon the blasted thing wrapped up in the very blanket I used to sleep with the night before. As I was searching through the channels that feeling struck me. It was at that moment I realized how grateful I am for so many things, including the ability to sit on my fat butt and change the channel with the press of a button. If you think about it the remote control is such a rad invention. Then I thought about all the other things I'm grateful for like peanut M&M's, my past collection of Homies (the little guys you get at Smith's along side the temporary tattoos and calvin-peeing- on-things stickers), The Beach Boys and ultimately my friends (Creekers For Life) and my fam. Then I went back to sleep.

A few hours, one and a half of Becca's waffles and two glasses of OJ later I was on the road to eat dinner with my family in Payson. While gathered around the table I announced to my step-family my recently created Thanksgiving tradition (born in 2003) of telling my Dad something from my past that he didn't know about and that I really can't get into trouble for anymore. The inaugural launch of this tradition resulted in the telling of an event from my past that included delivery trucks and a very well known potato chip distributor. If you want more info just ask, it's epic.

With all ears at attention, I expunded on an unforgettable night in the summer of '97. Under the influence of certain beverages and amidst several of my friends and my older brother's friends, I proceeded to ride my little brother's bicycle around the backyard pool yelling "Look at me!" When I reached the diving board I thought to myself 'What could be better than riding this bicycle off the diving board? Nothing, thats what.' I pedaled hard trying to reach maximum speed. Once in the air I realized that there was one problem, I was fully clothed.

My Dad shook his head in minor dissapointment and major laughter, along with the others, at my wondrous feat. May everyone have a grand Thanksgiving and don't forget to undress before you decide that it's a good idea to ride a bicycle into water.

Halloween

I have been many things for Halloween through the years: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, mad scientist, a girl, a human body part and the list goes on. But my most accomplished costume of all time was two years ago. Remember the Cobra Kai skeleton costumes from The Karate Kid? No? Maybe this will refresh your memory........

I wore a homemade skeleton outfit exactly like you see here, it was so dope. If only I had some pics of it, oh well.

I know a lot of you out there have seen some pretty fresh and pretty dope Halloween costumes. But what is one of the worst costumes you've ever seen? Here's one I came across...


I have one that tops all others, but I don't think it's appropriate for this blog. Just go and Google "worst costumes ever" and you may come across it.

California Dreamin'

I'm on my way........

Son, She's Gone

So I have been thinking a lot about my Mom lately and just how much I love her. I guess this is something I don't talk about a lot. I mean, it doesn't bother me to talk about it you know, I don't get all teary-eyed or weird about it. In fact, I enjoy talking about it because then I open myself up to others in a way that I previously knew not how. I don't tell you this for any sort of pity or for your condolences. I tell you this to praise the woman who I was able to spend 23 of the best years of my life with.

Most of you know the basics of my Mom's death. For those of you that don't, here you go. Candice P. Crouch was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma in Dec 2004/Jan 2005 and passed away in July 2005.

This whole ordeal started back about 10 years or so. As she fought through various pains, no one could diagnose her condition. This went on for several years with good days and bad days. In Dec 2004 she suffered from a seizure that caused a minor blip in her heart as well, so she was hospitalized. After her release, she had another seizure causing even greater damage to her heart . During this time the doctors noticed a tumor that had developed on her kidney. The heart issue cleared up and the kidney was removed, but my Mother would never be the same. The cancer did irreparable damage, causing her to function with the mentality of a small child. 7 long months later she passed away quietly with my Father by her side.

As one can only imagine, things became very complicated, very quickly. We have the ability to control almost every aspect of our life - our career, what we eat, the music we listen to, the people we choose to call friends, etc..... It is not often, almost never in fact, that we are faced with a situation in which we do not have some sort of control. But this is exactly where I found myself. There is absolutely nothing I could have done that would have saved my Mother's life and that's the hardest part, coming to grips with the fact that I had no form of control in the situation. The following period of time proved to be difficult in many arena's of life.

Three years and two months later, I find myself in a much different state. I have learned that, and this is as eloquent as I can put it, shit happens. I have come to terms with the fact that she has passed and that I don't know why. I don't think I'll ever understand why this happened, but I am learning each day how to integrate this experience into my life for the better. I still struggle with a lot of things surrounding her death, but this I do know: regardless of my beliefs, actions and status in life I will see her again.

I wrote a song in tribute to my Mom and if you're lucky enough you may just get to hear it one day. Until then, I'm playing this one close to my chest.

The Cat's Out Of The Bag or My Dad has an Eagle Eye and Spotted This Within Two Minutes

Rumor's have been spreading, so here it is in all of its glory......


In other news, I recently finished first in the Kieth Crouch look-a-like contest. Check out my winning photo:

Tears

I am shedding tears at how funny this clip is. Mad props to my homie Collin "Cons" Creek for the storyline and the film work, mad props.

3 Years To The Day

Mom, I miss you.