The-Doug

Glee with a Capella

2009-10-16T12:35:00.003-06:00

Ok... Glee is amazazing! I love this show! It is such a refreshing change on Television now. A great use of such wonderful talent and that all of us get to see and enjoy. Why did I not think of a musical TV show? Why am I not ON a musical TV show?!?! That would be so fun!

If you haven't watched or seen any clips from the show. GO WATCH IT! http://www.fox.com/glee

I recently come to realize that Musicals make me really happy. I did not understand the impact of it until I was watching all these online videos of Musicals or a Capella stuff. And I was giddy!! Like truly giddy and excited. Like nothing else could make me happier at that moment. Weird huh? I knew I liked singing and Musicals in general but NEVER became giddy about it before. I love it!

For those who don't know, I am in an a Capella group called "Vocal Tonic" (the name is lame... I know) and we started up practices again. We actually sound good this year and I think we have potential to be even better. We sing some pretty standard and basic stuff but we have a great group of guys that are pretty experienced with a Capella stuff. This group is more casual and we are singing to just have fun and boy howdy, I am having fun.

I also joined another a Capella at the U called "Infrared" (the name is tenative and subject to change but I like it WAY better then the other group). It's a very different style of group that has more Choral singing experience. Also, there are 2 Girls in the group so we have the ability to do different music then just all guy stuff. We are singing for the halloween concert at the U on Friday Oct 30th, and guess what? We are singing "Thriller" ... a Capella!!! And it is awesome. No joke! It makes me so Happy!

These groups are so much fun and I will try to post any videos or music we have from my performances. And GO WATCH GLEE!!!!!!!!

-Doug

Scooter and Werewolves

2009-10-07T18:57:00.002-06:00

I FINALLY got my scooter back from the repair shop this morning! Seriously, took forever to just get it down there and then have them look at the damn thing. They literally called me Saturday night after they had finally looked at it and told me what they needed to do and come Tuesday... it was done. Not only did I have to wait in a line for them to come pick it up (since they are in American Fork) but then it had to wait in line from those that had already been there before they even looked at it! grrrr...

Well, regardless of the stress and painful amount of time it took, it's back! And just in time for winter. :P I am just happy to be mobile and doing it on my own for now. :D No more rides, no more mom's car, no more Bus! yay!

Also, this weekend, I hosted an awesome night of Werewolves at my house on Saturday night. The weather was great and was not too cold. With blankets and pillows sprawled out in my backyard, a good 18 people were playing any given game. And then as it grew later, we all piled around my home made fire pit, cuddled up in blankets and chairs and played by the full moon light.

We plan on grouping up during the full moons as kind of a basis for when the next game shall be. I hope to be able to invite more of my veteran werewolf friends so we can be uber leet experts and really enjoy werewolves as it was meant to be. Ultimate werewolves is right up our alley as well. I can't wait to share it with my friends.

OH OH! The very last game... I was a werewolf AND WON! It was gloooooorius!!! But I am pretty sure my friends hate me now and don't ever wanna play with me again or will just kill me off right from the start. O.o I lied so good and played them just as good. Being a werewolf is so much fun! You should try it. :P

-Doug

What to blog about?

2009-10-02T21:48:00.002-06:00

That is the question...

Updates on my life? Pictures from events I go to? Diary of my day to day? Just to vent, vent, vent? I just don't know yet.

I like reading other people blogs but most of the time it's a quick skim of things, pausing at the interesting happenings of friends/family. However, I quite infrequently comment on the things I find I want to comment on. Facebook has allowed me to casually glance and respond to the passing updates and going-on's of most of the people I like to keep in touch with. But people update daily or even several times a day so I can easily choose what updates I wnat to chime in on and which ones to just ... look at.

Point is. What does this blog become? Do I want people to really know what is going on with me in an in depth way? or just a quick pass by of what I am doing and feel good about it with out commenting? Do I do it on an almost daily basis, when I do fun stuff, or just to vent...?

I guess I will see what I really want out fo this.

Begin again... maybe

2009-10-01T03:05:00.003-06:00

Is this blog really still here? Sure feels like it's exactly how I left it about a year ago.

I realize how un-advanced I really am with the whole internet-ness stuff that is out there. How lazy it is to think everything will stay the same. It's about time that I caught up and utilize what I have in my life RIGHT NOW to get where I want and what I want.

The big scary question is "What do I want?". I guess 10 years is not quite long enough for me to decide yet. :/ Well, it isn't 1999 anymore. And life around me has progressed forward in so great a way and I am still... I really don't know where I am anymore. /sigh

Until then, the internet has put a wealth of info and connection at my fingertips. Although it is intimidating and down right overwhelming at times, I will try to press forward with this blog in hopes my fear of "the future" quells with every blog entry. With most everything I do in my life, I don't know how long it will last...

WoW Wrath of the Lich King Trailer

2008-11-07T13:01:00.003-07:00

I guess I'm kind of excited for this to come out in a few more days. :P Okay, I AM excited. but not like uber crazy go nuts excited. Might be fun, might be the same old stuff. We'll see on the 13th.

Impatient Kitty Wants Food

2008-11-05T17:54:00.001-07:00

SO freaking cute! I half expected the dude to whack the cat with the fork to get him off. But that would've been not funny.

Just Waking Up

2008-11-05T14:19:00.001-07:00

This totally reminds me of Toby. He is always sleeping weird like on his back in cute places. :P And does this stretchy yawny thing too. :( cute!

Face Book.. I gave in.

2008-11-04T18:44:00.003-07:00

I finally gave in and created a face book account. So I guess you can come check me out on it. It's still all very new and I am retarded when it comes to using it but it's kind of cool. :P

Let me know if you have an account there and we can be friends.

Headzup: Sarah Palin Interview With Katie Couric On CBS

2008-11-04T17:01:00.002-07:00

Holy Crap!!! This is Hilarious, like such as!!

Group Therapy and More.

2008-10-23T15:17:00.003-06:00

I'm not sure how many of you know, but I have been going to group therapy since January this year in an attempt to take care of Doug for once in my life. I just wanted to share some of the things I have been going through this last couple months.

Wow. A lot has happened and I'm not sure where to begin. I guess the reason I wanted to post this is because it has become made aware to me that my current behavior has involved and effected almost everyone in my life. I discovered that I have a pattern of seeking out love and attention from the people around me in order the feel important, wanted, and like I mattered BUT I do it in a very negative way which has prevented me from building solid lasting relationships with those who actually care about me. Those people, meaning all of you who come visit my blog. :P

I wanted to point this out because in my attempt to feel loved, I inadvertently sabotage these relationships by pushing you away or "testing" you to see if you will come back. Therefore, achieving my sought after love and affection I wanted. This is unhealthy and I need to accept my friends and families love for me regardless of these false situations I create. Overall, I am sorry I do this to you. I'm not trying to play my game anymore, but it helps me to vocalized these things and make them a reality so I can actually see it and change.

This has been one of several breakthroughs and insights that I have realized while going to therapy this last year. I have become distant with most everyone around me because I am hoping someone will just come to me and love me. I can't do this anymore. My definition of caring and love needs to change.

If you ever wanna talk about this and some of things I may have done or are doing with you and our relationship, please let me know. It's good to talk about these things in order to create a more healthy relationship. I need to open my eyes to those around me who care before it's too late and they are lost.

I realized all I want is to love and be loved in return. So ... I love you all. Those of you who come to my blog unbeknownst to me, It's okay. I need to know you care regardless of evidence from a phone call or posts on this dumb blog. Those aren't the manifestations of love I need to rely on anymore. It's time to accept and believe that those of you who are in my life are here because you want to be. Thank you for listening.

Movin' Out!

2008-10-16T21:38:00.006-06:00

I am wanting to move out like TODAY! I am SO SICK of my place and NEED to maintain my sanity some where else. So just wanted to throw that out there is case anyone had something in mind to help me.

Biggest issue, Cat. I have an indoor/outdoor Cat. His name is Toby and he doesn't require much, not even a kitty litter box. I love him so and do not want to have to get rid of him.. :(
I currently pay around $330 in rent including utilities which is great but considering the SMALL HOLE I live in, I am willing to pay more for an upgrade. Max is around $400. I know that's pushing it.. I have my own furniture and stuff like a small couch, Futon, dressers, Tables, Chairs and the like but that can go away via storage or a yard sale of some sorts if REALLY needed.

So there you have it. Any thoughts, ideas, possibilities, directions, etc... LET ME KNOW!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

2008-10-10T00:48:00.011-06:00

Okay you gotta watch this video! My friend told me about this and I gotta say it's really entertaining. This is a Joss Whedon Production (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) with Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser), Nathan Fillion (Firefly) and Felicia Day (The Guild).

You just gotta get through the first 5 minutes. At least to the first song. That's right it's a MUSICAL! It's so great!

Let me know what you think. :P

Who knows?

2008-10-06T03:08:00.001-06:00

Knowing I’m mortal with an end in sight,
Fear rages with in, filling me with fright.
Am I able to rest and last through the night?
Who knows?

Thoughts racing mad as they shroud all desire.
My heart beating wild and will surely expire.
Constant distress, Will this ever tire?
Who knows?

Time slipping away and passing till dawn,
The hope of a life full of joy is gone.
But somehow, I think, Life after goes on.
Who knows?

Long after I go, where then will I be?
In heaven’s embrace? Or a fiery sea?
But then, will time even care about me?
Who knows?

Why should I then try when I’ll cease to exist?
When the moment does come, I’ll no longer persist
What then? Shall I leave but an incomplete list?
Who knows?

Fear over powers and scares me to live.
And death slowly comes and does not forgive
Faced with the choice, to die or relive?
...

Powerthirst

2008-10-03T22:55:00.001-06:00

A poem by me

2008-10-01T15:28:00.001-06:00

My mind is so full of thoughts yet so empty at the same time
Too many uncertainties and mixed feelings flood my drowning self.
Becoming so lost after finding light and hope from a familiar beacon
Have I failed? Did it only shine for a flicker of time?
Turning to me not so long ago and providing comfort and understanding.
Have I been cast aside and forgotten?

What did I do to shatter the glass of this broken tower?
That once stood strong in the dark night of unanswered questions.
Did I just turn away, looking with my eyes shut?
It’s hard for me to admit it but is all this pain my fault?
I want you; I need you to shine again for me.
Ever constant, you once were, come back to me again!

Shrouded with grief from my own disappointment
The tower fades from my sight and appears distant, absent.
Reaching forward with determination, I take it back again!
Making the choice to embrace the love that shone before,
Filling me with eyes I once used to guide my way.
Refusing to admit defeat as fears of rejection boil to the surface,

Accept my love as I demand it from you constantly.
No more will I stand for being alone and unsatisfied.
No longer will I deny myself from peace and happiness.
I need the light to fill my heart so I can reflect it back
Reinforcing each beacon so it can serve its purpose
I am its purpose, ever looking to it as it looks back at me.

I will have the light because the darkness never leaves.

My Kitty

2008-06-13T14:45:00.005-06:00

TOBY!

My 3-footed cat!

-Doug

The Alien Saga

2008-06-03T22:05:00.037-06:00

For the past month or so, me and my Roommate, Hamilton, have taken on watching the entire Alien Saga. My Roommate had never seen any of them so I decided to educate him on the subject.We just finished Alien: Resurrection last night so here are my thoughts.

Alien was good considering the time period it was made. It was very slow going and wasn't all blood and guts action. However, the story was a great setup for a much bigger story. Pretty predictable when people start wandering off alone or crawl around in small air shafts. DUH! You are gonna die!! Although there is a huge lame factor to this movie, it provides a great prelude to Aliens. (where the story actually gets good.)

Aliens is BY FAR the best movie in the series. I just love it. SO many great lines that are totally quotable.

"They mostly come out at night. Mostly."
"A day in Corp is like a day on the farm..."
"Gameover man. It's gameover."
"Get away from her you B****!"

Characters that you can actually remember names of: Vasquez, Hudson, Hicks, Apone, Drake, Burke, Lt. Gorman, Bishop, Newt, and of course Ripley. When they died it actually meant something. Especially when Burke got what was coming to him. He was such a Douche Bag. This movie is super intense and has lots of action where it counts. And the most memorable ending ever with the freaking Queen Alien vs. Ripley. Ripley rescuing Newt, Flame throwing the Eggs, Grenade launching the sack, the Queen in the Elevator, Bishop getting torn apart, the Power loader fight and blowing the Queen out the Airlock. Way good! I will continue to quote and watch this movie over and over again.

Alien3 began with quite a bit of explanation in order to set it up. They didn't explain what I saw as this HUGE hole. With Ripley being impregnated with a queen alien inside her, how in the world did an egg get on the ship? We know that the Queen made it on board from the last movie but she ripped herself off the egg sack when she chased Ripley up the elevator. Unless she just grabbed an egg on the go, I don't see how the egg got there in the first place. AND... There had to have been at least 2 eggs if one impregnated Ripley AND another got the dog on the prison planet. They are supposed to die after they lay the egg inside you, so 2 Face suckers had to be on the escape pod. hmmm... Anyway, Other then this obvious hole in my opinion, Alien3 is done well enough that it adds to the Alien story as a whole. Again, predictable at times when and how someone will die, it still provides enough suspense and action to enjoy. Being a more recent made movie, it was written with a broader audience in mind and it does itself justice. With the return of Bishop and Ripley's inevitable death, Alien3 provides enough closure for me. Contrary to popular belief, this was a great Alien movie.

Alien: Resurrection should have never been made. #1 reason: Wynona Rider. Sigorney Weaver is a strong enough female lead and should have been fine with her carrying the lead without sharing it with Wynona... /thumbs down. I don't know why they thought they needed to do that. Besides, Ripley was DEAD! her legacy and all that she gave after she killed herself to stop this thing from spreading. To go and RUIN her legacy and everything she did to exterminate these damn creatures was absolutely RETARDED. I cannot express how idiotic it was to even CONSIDER a 4th Alien. THEN they have a scene where she faces the "failed experiments" or clones of herself and one of them looks at her and says"Kill me!". (reminiscent of the scene in Aliens) How cruel is that!? She ends up having to kill herself?! Like she hasn't been through enough... Oh! Ripley is Half-Alien by the way. Yeah, she has acid for blood and can sense things like an Alien. Apparently, they cloned her with the queen inside her so she took on aspects of the Alien. And get this... The Queen they took out has human aspects! Yeah... she no longer lays eggs but has a HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM!! She gives BIRTH to Aliens now... oh oh the ULTIMATE reason this movie SUCKED! The Queen Alien/Ripley LOVE SCENE!!! NO JOKE! It was UBER gay and totally JBG! I repeat, this movie should have never been made. End of story.

So there you go. My Alien Saga review. If you read all of this, I applaud you. Let me know what you think and stuff. I'd love to hear your comments on these movies. Thanks!

-Doug

Guess who I saw?

2008-05-31T01:24:00.003-06:00

You'll never guess who came into Macaroni Grill tonight. My old High School Drama teacher, Mr. Stokoe!

It was so crazy! He totally looked the very same and totally remembered me. lol. From being Luther Billis in South Pacific to The Prince of Aragon in The Merchant of Venice. It was a hoot to see him and look back at all the things we did in High School.

We laughed and we reminisced about old memories. Like the time after practice when Mr Stokoe comes running down the Choir hall screaming about "pipes" and "a flood"after Chad Taylor and I were leaving rehearsal. We ran back stage to a shower of water and like 3"of water on the ground. Some pipe broke in the dressing rooms and water was EVERYWHERE! lol! We frantically threw towels, blankets, whatever we could find down at the doorways to the stage. All he wanted to do was stop the water from damaging the wood on the actual stage. I remember coming back stage and thinking Holy Crap! I was in awe as I walked through the flooded hallway when a Ceiling tile came crashing down behind me. I screamed like a girl no doubt. But in the end we got the water turned off and all was well. Good times.

His wife and kids were at the Grill celebrating his sons birthday. I got to Sing Happy Birthday in Italian like I do but it was great to be doing it for his son. It's so nice to share a moment like that with people I know and care about. I guess I love doing it. Especially for an old High School teacher like Mr. Stokoe.

-Doug

(I need to get my old pictures digitized so I can share them with all of you.)

Lacquer Thinner Flame Thrower = FUN

2008-05-30T01:25:00.000-06:00

My roommate, Jon, and his Flame throwing, Laquer thinner, Paint sprayer. He is NUTS!
This is in our backyard last summer. We had left over laquer thinner from painting my dresser and bookcase. So what does he do with it? Light it on fire of course! no wonder he is missing a piece of his finger. lol.
Love ya Jon!
-Doug

Which World Of Warcraft Character Are You?

2008-05-25T04:51:00.003-06:00

This Survey says I am a Druid.. but In real life I am a Warrior! A Tank to be exact. I take all the beatings, the ridicule, the teasing, the bullies, the hard hitting stuff, and oh yeah... I do that in WoW too. :P

Which World Of Warcraft Character Are You?

Devbook Quizzes!!

Aliens vs. My Roommate...

2008-05-24T02:17:00.005-06:00

All of us know that Aliens is a freaking awesome movie. Hands down. No question about it. right? I just got finished watching it with my Roommate and he thought it was... "Okay".

OKAY? He's like, "I've seen better.", "It was too slow.", "Can't really call that an Action movie.", "Too much drama.", "I've seen scarier movies.". GAH!

What is the deal? It's ALIENS! Best sequel ever made! He'd never seen it before so I was trying to introduce to the coolness of Aliens. It's a pretty damn good movie IMO. (in my opinion)

Just thought I'd vent for a sec. /Argh

Promotion at the Mac Shack!

2008-05-21T01:09:00.006-06:00

I just thought I'd tell you all that my job is getting "enhanced" in a matter of speaking. I work at Macaroni Grill as a Singer/Host. I sing in Italian for customers Birthday's and any other occasion that should permit a celebration of some sorts. It's kind of fun and I guess I'm good at it, seeing that my job is developing into a new position. Yay!

I'm going to become the "Singer Trainer". They think I do such a great job with the guests, they want me to help develop the other singers (there is only one other singer atm but they will hire more when this system gets put in place) and teach them what to do, what songs to sing, and also some Vocal technique and diction. I basically get to teach them voice lessons. Kind of cool!

I had to learn pretty much everything on my own and brought a lot of ideas in when I came on. I made my job what it is today pretty much just by doing what I saw needed to be done. I'm pretty sure this will result in a raise along with the new position. I'm making sure of that before they start requiring me to do things outside of my original job description.

They really want to keep me and have made that very clear to me. I started this job with the intention to quit. It was supposed to be a "Fun" job so I could get some experience singing and make some cash while in school. It's turned out to be pretty worthwhile. I'm valued and measures have been taken to keep me there. This is just the latest one.

I'm excited to finally have the chance to teach others what I have learned. If you know anyone that is remotely looking to Sing while on the job, let them know that Macaroni Grill is looking for talented singers. It's fun, low pressure, and best of all, you get to learn to sing with me! :P

Anyway, if you haven't come to see me sing, COME! Several family members and friends already have and I really do appreciate it. It's great to be supported in something as small as this. Not a weekend goes by that I don't see someone I know or who knows me. Honestly, I'm not joking. It's crazy. Thanks for saying hi!

-Doug

Roxxor Loops

2008-05-18T14:13:00.008-06:00

In France last year, we participated in a festival where this guy, Roxxor Loops, came to perform in. He's a "beat boxer" or whatever you call it.
It was so fun to hear him. He can do some pretty amazing things. We actually got to meet him and invited him to "beat box" to one of our songs in our concert one night. It was pretty funny. I don't know if we got video or even audio of it but I will ask around and see. :P

Here are some videos my friends got of him performing on stage in Vaison a la Romaine in France.

-Doug

Pictures from Europe

2008-05-17T00:25:00.006-06:00

I have my Pictures from Europe organized! I made a link to a slide show I made of at least the ones from England.
I only selected the ones I thought you might wanna see... A lot of the pictures I have are of random people and things that really wouldn't make sense to most of you. So I spared you that pain of those.

If you are interested in seeing what I did last Summer, go ahead and click on the Flag in The-Pictures to go to the slide show. Enjoy!

-Doug

P.S. I haven't finished the pics from France so that link does not work yet.

Something to look at... ?

2008-05-15T19:56:00.007-06:00

I finally have Pictures from my Trip to England and France last year.

This is me at Stratford upon Avon. It's where Shakespeare was born and also where he is buried today.

Anyway, look for more pictures as I continue to pull them out to look at.

-Doug

Starting a New!

2008-05-15T17:15:00.003-06:00

Today, I begin my new blog... again. I have decided that I want to start my blog back up again. I will try to keep you updated as much as i can to what's going on in my life atm. that's short for "at the moment". :P

So look for more posts and this time ... with pictures!

-Doug

The never ending sickness...

2006-09-18T23:41:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been a few weeks now since I got sick and I think I am finally at the end of it. I have a moderate cough now but it has simmered down a bit in the last couple of days. I still am not wanting to eat very much though and I've lost some weight. Just in like my face and arms I think (at least that's what Jim told me).

I have been drinking water and taking my Flintstones vitamins daily and that has helped a whole bunch. Last week though, I woke up every morning with a desire to puke and I did. I believe my stomach was telling me I needed to eat more and especially breakfast. I had been going to school with scratchy voice but going none the less. However, thursday I bailed on school to try and not throw up in the morning. I did EVERYTHING I could to not puke. And guess what? I didn't!! I was so happy! :) I think I had finally got my physical health back under control.

Being that my voice was pretty messed up from losing it, I had to work hard to try and sing at all. My voice teacher told me to not sing or to sing only a little until I felt like enough was enough. I had been doing good and my choir teacher understood where I was coming from and let me just sit in class to take notes. At this point last week, I had developed a cough and was "hacking up a lung", as my stupid roommate called it, pretty much non stop.

School today was alot better. I feel great and energetic but still frustrated that my voice is NOT back up to par. I'm a freaking first Tenor and I can't maintain a dumb E most of the time. My high range is pretty much shot for right now. I can reach the note, scratch-aly, but can't make it sound good or consistently sing it. UGH!! Vocal Major my eye!!

We have a concert on Friday and I have memorized my music llike everyone else but I STILL need to practice with the actual choir and sing. Oh well, I think by the end of the week I should be better. Unless I catch some other dumb virus. STAY AWAY FROM DOUG!!! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME!!! Do you think that worked?

Gingivostomatitis

2006-09-06T16:55:00.000-06:00

...is the name of the Virus that I had contracted in the last week. It sucks!

It all started last Tuesday night when I, after a very good eating at Cafe Rio, had emptied my entire belly in only two minutes through a very loud and disturbing puking session. At first it seemed like it was just food poisoning when other puking sessions followed. Thursday morning, I had not eaten or drank very much of anything, I awoke feeling very uneasy and found my way upstairs to get some water. The toilet however was calling me once again. This time I puked NOTHING for my belly was empty and I began to shake and get dizzy. I had dehydrated myself and had very very low blood sugar. I really had no idea that his was only the beginning of a very long drawn out sickness.

I developed a fever and small white bumps in my throat. My throat was killing me and what do you do with a fever? Feed it! How in the world was I suppossed to do that!? After being nauseuos and now my throat being sore, food was not sounding very friendly to me. I continued to endure my water/milk/yogurt diet in hopes that i woudl be fione the next day.

Come Friday, I felt like it should be over by now. I decided to go to school and work but boy that was a bad idea. I was running a high fever all day and had no idea how to bring it down. I tried to drink as much as i could and I even got a frosty. I tried to go home early from work but NO ONE could cover for me. Even after asking my boss to close early, she refused and made me stay the entire time. Worst of all... it was PIZZA FRIDAY! My favorite Friday ever! I couldn't even have a slice my mouth hurt so much.

After work though, I convinced myself to go see a doctor,. I don't have insurance but I really needed to find out what the deal was. It was possibly Strep and if it was, I needed to get antibiotics to fix it. The doctor did the strep test and it came up negative. She told me I had a virus and that I just need to ride it through. You can imagine my disappointment. After a $85.00 appointment to find out there is nothing they can do or even tell me exactly what it was. LAME! I went home discouraged and hoped that the worst of it was over. WRONG!

The next morning my throat was COVERED in white bumps, fever was still high and now my gums were inflammed and my voice was gone. I had no voice at all and it hurt to talk. I was freaking out! Here I was, on Labor Day weekend, a Vocal Performance Major with no voice and still sick as ever. Was this going to get worse? What the hell did I have and would it damage my voice permenantly? When would it end? I couldn't miss anymore classes, especially it being the beginning of the semester.

At this point in time, my Sister and my mom found out I was sick. They came and visited me over the weekend. They brought me food and drinks like the great family they are. On Saturday night, I had a really rough night. I woke up and made myself some eggs like one of my roommates suggested. Around noon, I ralphed up everything I tried to eat that morning including those nasty eggs. This was getting out of hand. I absolutely broke down. I wasn't sure what to do anymore. I turned to my roommates for a blessing. The blessing was comforting and told me I would learn from this sickness and it would pass in time.

When I broke down, I had called my mom and expressed my concerns. So she came to see me Sunday and took me to Emergency Room at Cottonwood Hospital. After 2 bags of saline solution to re-hydrate me, the doctor gave me the diagnosis. Gingivostomatitis. A Herpes Simplex Virus that lasts for 7-10 days. I probably got from some one at school. He said it was a seasonal virus and usually see it during the begining of school. Other then that, I didn't get much more information about it. It's like a cancer sore when it comes to the herpes part of it. It's very contagious as long as the sores are there so I am to stay away from people until this goes away.

So here I am. I'm at my sister's now (she decided to take me home to take care of me) and it's been 8 days since the intial spew that Tuesday night. I have missed so much school and work. I feel so lazy doing nothing but drinking and sleeping. My voice has slighty come back and I hope I can go back to school tomorrow. At least, just to be there in choir to take down notes. Well, wish me luck and all.

School will be the death of me

2006-09-01T17:18:00.000-06:00

I know it's been a month since I posted anything on here and I KNOW that everyone and there dog reads it, so I'll just update you on a couple of things.

I recently started school at the University of Utah and Have declared Vocal Performance as my major. Exciting I know. It was a toss up between Music education or that. I figured I would just shoot for the Stars with Vocal Performance. School has been a rough week and a half. Let me tell you how ridiculous my schedule is:

First of all I only have about 12.5 credits for this semester... you ready for this. I have SEVEN CLASSES!!! I am so freaking annoyed. Of the required classes that I am taking, three of them are 1 credit only and one is .5!!! And these are hour classes three times a week! Ugh! Well, after this first week, I will just have to adjust to this time consuming schedule. I also have a private voice lesson that is worth 3 credits but is only one hour a week! I really think this is a little bass akwards.

On another note, I auditioned and made it into the University Singers! I am so happy to be in this group of fine singers. However, let me tell you, it's TOUGH! I've NEVER been in a choir that requires so MUCH out of you during rehersal. Our Director, Dr. Brady Allred, is VERY particular about ANY sound we make. Some of the things are: Controlling and matching our vibrato with the rest of the choiror using none at all, How we say each and ev-er-y sy-la-ble of the wordsand what vowel shape they make, When to breath and especially when NOT to breath, Exactly how long we hold each note and when to close to the end of the word, specific notes that we are to crescendo or diminuendo into or out of, and how the phrase of the music should be sung and where the music or words lead to. He MAKES us have a pencil in our hands at all times and whenever he tells us something important, he will yell, "I don't see any pencils moving!" He's a very nice guy too. He only gives us a hard time in class because he wants us to work hard and he expects alot out of us.

Anyway, to make this whole this complete, I am sick with who knows what. I've gone from throwing up whatever I to a fever to a major league sore throat. I think I might have strep. I dunno. But This has all happened in the last three or four days. I started to throw up Tuesday and am sitting here, AT WORK mind you, with a sore throat and a scorching fever. I had the last two days off because I was sick but now there is no one else to work for me so I had to come in and stay here until 7:00. I even missed a WHOLE bunch of school these last few days. I can't sing while I'm sick! I tried today but I couldn't do it. At least I got the notes from the songs and phrases we practiced.

Ben's Bachelor Bash!

2006-08-02T09:19:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to my friend and roommate, Ben, for getting married this Friday Aug 4th! To celebrate this grandiose occasion, a bachelor party ensued on Monday night July 31st. The evening was a great success to many skeptical attendants.

The night began with the gathering of friends at the residence of Mr. Benjamin Winters, where we set off to engorge ourselves at the luxury all-you-can-eat buffet "The Golden chorale". Expect nothing less for a group of 11 guys who can pack it in. Upon arriving we met up with other friends and began the feast of feasts. It was shrimp night and was not the favorite of our honored bachelor, Ben, but at the buffet, many OTHER items were choice above the abomination that is shrimp.

As dinner pressed on, we were delighted by the presence of an "past girlfriend" of the man of the hour. Melba, who was dressed in a purple moomoo, had a red spiky wig, glasses and nasty teeth, graced the scene with many embarrassing anecdotes about Ben and his future marriage to Kate. She spoke about Ben being busted by the Cops on faithful night up in Rexburg Idaho for making out in his car. She also reminisced on how she used to be his "Sugar Mama" and how they would go "bouncing" on the Trampoline all the time. If not to make Ben's face even more red, Melba transformed herself into Valerie and "busted" out of her moomoo, let down here hair and sang a little song in honor of him getting hitched. Everyone was a little worried that Doug had gone a bit too far when Melba disrobed her Moomoo but Doug knew, since we were in a Family restaurant, the fully clothed Valerie underneath wouldn't be inappropriate for this group of young Lds Men.

After having a great laugh watching Ben suffer and turn red, we left the buffet and headed towards home for gifts and stuff. On the wedding day, the Bride traditionally has the following: something "old", something "new", something "borrowed" and something "blue". Well, I decided to do my own simple version of this for the groom. In honor of weird Science the movie, Ben had to wear an "old" bra on his head as he opened up all his "new" and bachelor type presents. We will not mention some of the weird things that he opened... Just ask Ben. After presents we let Ben "borrow" some of our advice as he enters into his new lifestyle while leaving the single life behind. And we finished it off with a big "blue" cake and ice cream for the lucky man. (By the way, you might poop blue if you have some)

The night was rounded off with a rousing game of Halo2 with 10 of us on three TV's. After many victories and several pissed off moments, the party was, in whole, a complete success. Ben definitely enjoyed himself and that's what matters most.

Congratulations to you Ben and we hope you have a wonderful marriage!!! Thanks for being such a great friend and we love you!!!

Somethin's a Brewin'...

2006-07-21T18:00:00.000-06:00

So, in the last couple of days, I have felt the effects of my life taking some turns on me. I'm not sure where it's coming from but I've felt it. They are very small changes but it enough of a change that I have to rethink how I do things now. just little things like how I react to my friends and roommates. (being that I NOW have to live with them) Also, things at work are slightly different. Maybe it's because I've been here for almost 6 months. That tends to be the milestone on when I get sick of a job. But I'm not sick of it at all. I LOVE it. I can't quite put my finger on it but it bugging me. My friends have definitley taken a HUGE hit and have changed tremendously. I have no problems with any of them but it's all new to me.

So here's kind of what has recently happened in my life that I think has to do with this "feeling" I have.

First of all, I just recently began school OFFICIALLY for the first time last semester. I was going minimum full time at 12 hours. Not too much for me to handle. I did ok as far as my first semester goes but it definitley was a change. A good one.

Second, my Mother is selling her house and I was forced to move out. I have lived on my own previoulsy so I wasn't so worried about that but I will no longer have that security in the back of my head that if i was in trouble or needed it real bad, my mom would always have a place for me. Also, it's the house my grandpa built and my mom grew up in. My grandparents are dead and so is my dad so my mom had to take care of it, primarily, by herself. She has remodeled the house left and right and it has been a huge stress to her and the rest of the family. It will be easier to have it out of our lives but It's hard for me to accept that. Her new place is an apartment that couldn't hold me in the first place even if I needed it. But Moving out has been great overall. i just have to get used to roommoates once again and that's not that bad.

Third, MY MOTHER IS SELLING HER HOUSE! We have lived in and abouts that area for 12 years, ever since we moved mere form Virginia. We moved a ton when I was little in Virginia so I was used to doing that alot. However, this is the FIRST time in my life that I had something that lasted more then 1-2-3 or 4 years in one place. I had background and solid ground built up in that house. I am the last of several friends who have moved away from the area and sold there houses. I had a REALLY hard time with my very last friend, Seth, who hadn't lived at his house for a while but his dad and brothers were still there. There was always an open invitation to go over there whenever. I GREW UP at that house and had tons of memories and friends that spawned from that house. When his dad got married and SOLD the house, I was really freaking out! Even though I hadn't been over there for like 3 years or so, I always drove by and knew I could stop in and hang out. So Brian, Danny, Matt, Seth, and now ME! I was the one who was removing all the roots and seeds that were planted there at my house and it has been very difficult for me emotionally.

Fourth, I finally have a single social life. Up til this point, I have stuck with a good majority of my early friends in life and have done stuff with them. They have gotten married and continued to be a huge part of my life as far as friends and social life. I have only recently released myself from my married friends and began this whole new social circle with my single friends. Don't get me wrong, but I LOVE my married friends. We have a lot of history together. I was the one who was wanting to do stuff all the time and planning things with them. But married people have a whole different lifestyle. I'm not married and just kind of went along with the flow. I didn't mind but it was hard for me to not notice that they were married and I wasn't. So I just happened to meet these single frineds of my while hanging out with one of my married friends at their house. I started coming over all the time and developed a whole slew of new single friends. I was imediatley taken up into this single lifestyle and LOVED every minute of it. New faces, new things to do, new places to go! And people who I could relate to and best of all... THEY LIKED ME!!! No one had a problem with who I was or even judged me for being who I was. It is great! However, i kind of neglected my married friends and haven't been as attentive or even present when hanging out with them. They used to be my ONLY social life and now the vast majority of it includes my single frineds. So I want to be excited and happy about my new friends and social life but I also feel horrible and guilty for cutting down my social time with my married friends.

Lastly, girls, religion and dating. OH MY! That's an entirely different subject which I will save for another post.

So in the end, with all these changes in my life, I've been feeling something inside that is just bugging me. I wish I had someone to just be there for me and help me feel better about all this. My family is definitely messed up enought that it's hard to even connect with my siblings let alone recieve any comfort from them. (Except my way awesome sister that has always been supportive to me.) I have usually recieved that comfort or support from a close friend who was there for me growing up. But now that I'm older and slowly moving away from old friends and with them old ways, I have this feeling that I think has been brewing inside and is about to burst out of me. I really have no idea what will happen when it finally does but I would like to understnad it and keep it under control when it does. Until then, there's always you blogger.com. :)

Movie Game #1

2006-07-19T14:46:00.000-06:00

Let's play the movie game! Here's what to do...

First, name an Actor/Actress and a Movie they've been in and post it as a comment.
Second, someone else attempts to continue the list by either choosing the Actor/Actress or the Movie.

For Example...
The current Actor/Actress and Movie is "Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost"
The next person continues the list by either choosing...
the Actress, "Whoopi Goldberg" and name another movie she's been in like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" or
the Movie, "Ghost" and say another actor/actress that is in it like "Demi Moore"

Third, the next person must continue the list by selecting from the new Actor/Actress and Movie.

If no one else can continue the list then you have STUMPED everyone else and win the game!!

The only rule is that you cannot use an Actor/Actress that has already been used earlier in the game. Once we leave an Actors/Actresses name, you CANNOT use iti again. However, Movie titles can be used several times as long as it's a different Actor/Actress.

I will post the first commnet and let the game begin!!

What is a Lumpkin?

2006-07-18T13:01:00.000-06:00

To those of you who have read my list of Nicknames, you will have seen the name "Dougie Lumpkins" on it. One of my good friends, Westie Bergan, had given me that name quite a while ago and I have not had any worries about since.

However, one of my very good friends has informed me of the true nature of what a "lumpkin" is. Now, if any of you wish to know what that is, I will not hesitate to reply. I must give you this word of caution.... It's gross! Really gross! Like so gross you will regret wanting to know. But nevertheless, you will have wanted to know and you cannot say I didn't warn you.

But I have decided to not let this ruin the nickname that was so innocently given to me so long ago. No sick sexual favor will try to corrupt the Nickname's of Doug. So Westie, I will always be your little "Dougie Lumpkins" no matter what!

So to any of you SICKO'S who actually know what a "lumpkin" is or even worse have experienced it in it's fullness... GROSS!

Illegal fireworks are where it's at!

2006-07-10T16:24:00.000-06:00

On our way home from Oregon last weekend, we picked some sweet Fireworks from the Illegal fireworks store. We didn't get home until late on the 4th so we decided to lite them off on the 5th with all our friends over. It was great fun.

Ben however didn't lite any of his that night so he had a bunch still to lite. Well, last night, we were bored and decided to finish them off out on our driveway. We quickly learned that flying fireworks and a carport didn't mix too well. After setting some of them off like they were supossed to, Ben wanted to experiment a little with them.

We threw a couple in the air and they went flying in crazy directions. I set one off that flew up and exploded as it hit the ceiling of the carport. That was pretty cool. I was tempted to light them off under Mike's car but that would've been a little TOO mean, even for Mike. There was giant exploding flowers, super spinny flying tops and mini-helicopter bombs. The best of all was the giant 5-shot roman candle! I had no idea how high or far it would shoot so when I aimed it up, I accidentally nailed the side of the brick house across the street! Luckily, the flaming retort landed on the cement walkway that was next to the house and no one was hurt.

After last night, I definitely know which fireworks I want to get for next year. WAIT! Screw next year! The 24th is right around the corner. Oregon, here I come again!

Sticks and stones really piss me off!

2006-07-10T03:29:00.000-06:00

***WARNING! The below is merely an observation and is not directed at any specific group of people.***

You know, I really like my friends. But I hate getting teased about everything I do! I have made some new friends lately and it seems like the same thing is happening with them that has happened MANY times with any of the group of friends I've made through out my life. I start to get to know some people and things are really great. We laugh alot and just enjoy being around each other. But some where along the way it becomes "okay" to rip on Doug when ever they get the chance to. Like I said this has happened all my life and I really began to wonder why...

I have to admit I am a pretty goofy guy and, if you have ever MET me, I'm quite easy to make fun of. I honestly don't know exactly what it is. The reaction I give is probalble but I enjoy making my friends laugh and smile when they see me and talk to me. I don't mind letting myself become the target for so many EASY jabs. And boy are they easy ones. All the fat kid jokes? Come on, the 5 year olds in the Day Care I used to work at could use those on me. And the screaming like a woman? It's OBVIOUS that I do it. Way to point it out so everyone who couldn't hear me knows.

It's harmless fun when it comes to this kind of behavior coming from my close friends. But I've noticed that after a while, people just can't stop there! ANYTHING I do now is something that can or chould be made fun of. Like what I eat or how I talk or even the music I like. Stupid everyday things that make me who I am now become the butt of someones attempt to get a rise out of me. They just want a funny reaction out of chubby ole Doug. Sometimes the comments can get kind of offensive. There are times where I can't even play a game with people because all they want to do is stop, kill, or destroy me from having ANY sort of fun at all. It's no fun for me when that happens and that's where it starts to PISS ME OFF!!!

COME ON! There is a time and place where teasing and joking has to stop and feelings start to come into play. I can't be anyone else but myself and I wouldn't WANT to be anyone else either. So when everything I do becomes a just a joke or a some ten second giggle just to make someone else laugh, I begin to not want to do ANYTHING for fear that some close friend of mine will just put me down and laugh about it. It may not seem like much of anything to them because, hey, I'm goofy ole Doug. I can take it. We tease him all the time and he likes it. But... UGH... it really makes me angry when no one can see that enough is enough.

All my friends out there, please don't take this as me just whining that "everybody picks on me" or something. I know people pick on me and I definitley can handle it. Heck, I allow it. I would hope that the people who are my friends and should know me pretty well, would KNOW when they have gone too far. I may get torked about stuff and sometimes even annoyed but very few things will actually push me over the edge and FLIP OUT! I tell you what, I've gotten close a few times in the last few weeks and intend to continue to hold it back for the sake of my friends and myself.

I hate to say it but I'm a pushover. I want my friends to like me and I LET them push my buttons so much they don't know where the line is or how often and hard they can push them. I'm a soft chubby kid who has feelings too. I guess my "STOP PUSHING MY BUTTONS OR I'LL RIP YOUR BLODDY SPINE OUT" signal is not loud enough. I should add some christmas lights to it and maybe they can see it better. OOO... some nice green and purple ones should do the trick!

The Burning Bush

2006-07-08T19:58:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, my roommate Ben invited me to go up to Oregon for the 4th of July. We had quite a exciting disaster involving Ben's cousin, Steve (Aka. Dark Moses). Let me tell you what happened...

Dark Moses or otherwise Steve, likes to play with fire. He has burned down several things in his lifetime: two fields a barn, and several young children.

We were about to go shooting on Sunday afternoon when we were delayed getting into the car for some unknown reason. Steve, in this downtime, decided to meander towards the bushes in the center of the driveway with a butane lighter in hand. His eyes were drawn towards a pile cotton from the nearby cottonwood trees that had gathered itself into a small pile of kindeling there in the wind. He decides, because he was bored, to light the pile of cotton on fire and WATCH it burn for his pure entertainment.

All of the sudden, I noticed that Steve is now up looking for a hose. I had no idea why he was in such a rush... until I saw the pile of burning cotton which at this time had now turned into a burning pile of BUSHES!

So, I kind of freaked out a bit. Not like a complete freak out but I was definitely in panic mode. Steve had tried to stomp the fire out but it was too late. It had spread underneath the bushes where all the dead pine needles were and was just slowly creeping throughout the rest of the bushes on the other side of the island. I immediately looked at what kind of potential this fire could turn into if we couldn't put it out. The bush was on a island that was surrounded by the driveway so if worse came to worse, it would just burn down all the bushes and trees that were there on the island. But thinking about the wind, flying ash and the fact that Steve was standing 15 feet away from the source of the blaze with a hose that was obviously too short, calling the Fire Dept was not a bad idea. Ben, with his newly acquired hose, stopped me from doing so and I immediatley went to fetch another hose to extend Steve's feeble one.

At this time, Ben's dad, Art, was trying to get the sprinklers turned on as to help put out the now burning pillar of bush smoke that was at least 50 feet high and Ben's brother Cody was looking for someway to help. I asked Cody where another hose might be so I followed Cody to back of the house, retrieved the extra hose, ran to the front, attached it to Steve's kinked end and he was on his way into the bushes to defeat the burning shrubs. Meanwhile, Ben who had got his own hose from adifferent spiget, was spraying the bushes like he was watering them while conversing with the neighbor about this flaming pillar of smoke in their front yard. So I had to quench my panicing self and snatched the hose from Ben and dove right into the smolding island in a desperate attempt to prevent the spreading fire that steathily move along the floor of the dirt bed.

After about a couple minutes, we finally stopped the fire from engulfing the other half of the island and just had to put out the piles of fire and ash that was already too late to save and still burnign behind us. Let me tell you though... it was actually kind of exciting! I was covered, well not entirely covered, with charred marks all over my pants, legs and my shoes were just dirty as sin after I got out of those bushes. It felt so awesome to just grab that hose and dive right into the very heart of the fire and conquer it's sorry butt. I felt pretty proud about how I handled things. But Ben's dad, oh nelly, he was NOT happy. We stood there at those bushes with hoses in hand, spraying... no SOAKING those bushes down for at least 5 minutes after we had already put out everything.

I wasn't sure what to do after it was out. I was kind of afraid, not for me but for STEVE. He had just lit an entire 20 x 20 area of bushes on fire because he was frickin' bored. I couldn't help but laugh a bit and marvel at what a completely MORONIC thing it was!! No offense Steve! :) One thing is for sure. We didn't go shooting after that. In fact, we didn't do much of ANYTHING after that. Art pulled out his lawnmower to work on almost directly after we had everything put out. I avoided him for a while and was just praying for Steve and his wimpy little soul. He was toast. Burnt toast!!!

All in all, everything turned out fine in the end. Art never ripped Steve's heart out and fed it to his first born child while dancing to the gods of sweet revenge while Steve's naked body lay on the sacrificial alter of "I'm a complete Idiot!". Nor did Steve end up at the bottom of the Snake river with a lawnmower strapped to his chest and his mutilated arms and legs bolted to the grass blades with "Pyro" or "Moron" or "Dark Moses Sucks!" tatooed on them. No! None of that happend... But we sure blew the hell of Santa and Mrs. Clause the very next day! Steve even took her head off.

Nicknames

2006-07-06T18:50:00.000-06:00

As you can see, I have listed the many different nicknames I have been called throughout the years by Family, Friends, and many of you who are reading this.

So if there is a name on my list that you think should be there, please let me know and I will update it. Maybe even include the reason you call me that in the first place.

*New Addition*

"Pudgikins 3D"
Contributed by: Steve Searle

Welcome!

2006-06-28T00:15:00.000-06:00

Hello Visitor! Welcome to The-Doug.com.

This my first attempt at creating a Blog so please be patient while I work to fill my Blog with exciting stories about me and my life. If there is anything that you find boring or offensive than I apologize. This site is not meant for you. I can't be anyone but myself and that's exactly what I plan on doing on this site.

So please browse all the stories and adventures of The Doug and have a good hearty laugh on me.