Had a good weekend. A little sore though

So, as for my plans that I was excited for, this is what it was.

My best friend Roman was graduating from college at UC Davis. He at one time mentioned when he graduated and I mentioned that my (then) future brother in-law might be getting married around that time, but I wasn't positive. I soon found out he wasn't getting married until September, so I'd be able to make it out to his graduation.

However, Roman's wife called me (which isn't normal) and asked if it was a money issue as to why I couldn't make it out. I told her no and that I would be able to make it. She told me to keep it a secret and not tell him and that she would arrange for tickets for Alene and I when we came out.

So, I told Roman I wasn't going to be able to make it. Said I would be at a wedding.

Alene and I got our tickets and flew into Sacramento on Thursday night (the 16th). I had been chatting with Roman off and on because I got my new iMac and had a bunch of questions (by the way, I'm STOKED about having the sucker; it's so beautiful). As we drove toward his house, I called him when we pulled up to his apartment complex. I just chatted with him about nothing and walked up to his door while talking to him. I then knocked on his door and he asked me to hold on. I hung up and was standing in his doorway. He was shocked and stoked (as was I). It was cool.

Homeboy felt bad though because he had not prepared the house for visitors and was half dressed. I told him it didn't matter because I've lived with him before. Funny stuff.

Anyway, so we hung out that night. I got to see his 5 month old son Baron and his other son Jalen, and just have a good time. Betsy (his wife) showed up from work about 1/2 hour later. It was a blast. She was suprised a bit too because I had originally planned to show up on Friday night, but I was so stoked when we got to Sac-town that I had to go see him.

The next day (Friday). I took Alene on a tour of my old stomping grounds (as I was born and with an exception of a 4 year hiatus to Utah and Arizona, was pretty much raised in that area until I was 20 years old). I took her on the back roads up to my old hometown of ElDorado. We went into Coloma, where the gold rush started. We saw all kinds of great things. I hadn't been there since about 2000 and so much has changed. It was crazy.

We went to my old house that I grew up in. We lived on about 3 acres and behind our property there was tons of other acreage owned by ther people. It was basically used to graze cattle, but it was wooded and fun to play in. When I went hiking back there to see how it looked, I was amazed at the change. The whole area behind my old house was completely over-grown. It looked weird. I could hardly get through any of it and couldn't even get close enough to see my old house. There were these wild blackberry bushes that had grown like crazy. It was rediculous. Still, had a lot of good memories come back. It just amazes me how much could change over the course of 10 or so years can take place. This field behind our house had a small vehicle trail, waking paths, etc. The fact that it was so over-grown that I couldn't get through it made me think about the world we live in and the history involved and how fast things can become covered up by nature if they are not touched.

Amazing.

Later that evening we met up with Roman and his family and my good buddy Mark Wills (along with his brother Eric and Eric's girlfriend) and went to a sushi place called Mikuni's. Now, I'm not a big fan of sushi and wasn't too stoked about going there, but it was Roman's night and I went with it. I tried a few items here and there, but mainly stuck with my sesame chicken and rice. Not to shabby though and we had a good time.

Saturday was fun. Saw my buddy graduate and then we had a BBQ at his apartment complex. After eating, we had a touch football game. It was a blast playing (I tossed 3 balls to Alene and she caught and ran with all of them) however, I was SORE the next day (and still am). I'm so out of shape. I always complain about it, but never do anything about it. Oh well. Anyway, we also played whiffle ball (or as Roman would say "Whoofle ball") and that was fun too.

We had to get up EARLY on Sunday morning because our flight left at 6:20am. Not fun. Anyway, I got back in time to give a lesson in church to my young men and then get down to my parents house in Springville for a fathers day BBQ.

All of us kids got together and bought him a gas BBQ grill. The thing is nice and he was shocked when I snuck it into the back yard onto the porch. He figured I was bringing his charcoal cooker that he left at my house. He's stoked.

So it was a good day. I'm tired and sore as hell, but had good times.

Oh yeah! Yesterday I tried wake boarding for the first time. My brother in law (Jere) took me out on his boat early Tuesday morning. It took me about 15 tries before I got up. I was so sore from the previous few days, so my muscles were weak. Once I did get up though, I was in heaven. I felt like I was snowboarding again. It was a blast. Finally my legs gave out and I was too tired to get up again. Jere is really good at it and actually jumped the entire wake.

I love just being out on a lake. It was so nice. I'm trying to talk Alene into financing a couple of wave runners, but I don't think she's too keen on the idea. Someone give her some pressure to give in! :-)

Anyway, one side-effect from wake boarding is how sore your forarms are the next day. I can hardly move my arms with out them being in serious pain. I have to keep bending my hands back to stretch them. They feel like they're going to cramp up any time.

Anyway, that is that for now.