10 Things

I've been tagged by my cousin-in-law, Bekah, and now I get to write ten things about myself and tag 4 others to do the same.

Ready?

(1) I LIVE for sports.
- Lakers, Angels, Chargers, Hockey (I’m half Canadian, remember?), The Olympics, March Madness!

(2) I love to quote movies and TV shows.
- I can relate FRIENDS to any social situation.

(3) I'm addicted to traveling.
- Do I really need to explain?

(4) I’ve lived in 4 different cities in Utah (Salt Lake City, Provo, Cedar City, St. George). It’s been good to me but I’m ready to leave.

(5) I made a choice last year that has completely changed my life.

(6) I’m blunt but not to the point where I will hurt your feelings.

(7) I am a loyal friend and will do anything for the people I love.

(8) My favorite meal is pancakes with bacon.
- Brinner anyone?!

(9) I have been accused of being a cynic or a pessimist. I am a realist.

(10) Bill Simmons is my favorite sports writer.


I tag Coleener, Adam, Malorie, and Lacey

Oh Canada!

As I watched the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympic games I couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed.

Canada is seen as a joke sometimes here in the US.

People say that Canada is Americas hat or attic or we make fun of the way they talk (eh?!) or how much they like Maple syrup or gravy with their fries or if we were ever in a war they could provide us with an unlimited supply of snowballs and rocks...

But I LOVE Canada!

I love the way the opening ceremonies portrayed Canada. It showed that Canada is diverse, beautiful, and strong.

I think the world needed to see that and I think I needed to see that.

I have pride in my 1/2 Canadian blood. I love that I've been able to spend some time in the true north. I love that during the Olympics I can cheer for the US and for Canada.

Here's to the Olympic games!

Cycles

Friend: "Hey kid, you don't look so good. What's going on? Wanna talk about it?"

Me: "Do I ever?"

Friend: "Haha, no, but you should, right?"

Me: "Yea, I guess."

Friend: "Okay, so sit down."

I did.

Friend: "Now, what's up? What's going on? What are you feeling?"

I bowed my head and starred at my hands. I guess I was hoping they would give me an answer.

I sat in silence trying to think of a way to answer him.

After a few more seconds he asked me again...

"Court, come on, you can't keep it in. It's gonna destroy you... eat you alive. So what is it? What are you feeling?! Don't think about it. Just answer!"

Finally, I looked up. He was starring at me. I could tell he was concerned so I decided to give him an honest answer... something I don't do a lot.

"Nothing... that's it... I feel nothing..."

This isn't the first time I've been like this. It's happened a few times before... a long time ago.

It comes in cycles.

First, I'm happy. I'm usually happy.
[That's probably why people like to be around me]

Next, something bad happens. Something scary. Something traumatizing. Then I become sad. If I can't get out of that, which I usually can, I slowly slip into depression.

Then comes the anger. I become angry with myself and with the situation. I become angry at the fact that I've let myself come this far. But usually I can pull myself out of this. I allow myself to hate, to feel anger, to feel pain. And then it's over...

If I can't get it together in time my body decides that its time to feel nothing.

I see it as a kind of defense mechanism. My body wants to protect me. No more pain, no more sorrow, no more... anything...

Nothing... I feel empty. Even as I write this I feel nothing. I'm not sad. I'm not angry. I'm just empty.

As I said, I've been in this situation before and I know how to get out of it. But do I want to? You know, I've actually wanted this before.

Have you ever been so sad or so hurt that you wish you had no feeling so it wouldn't hurt anymore?

I have. I'm sure I'm not alone.

But I regret it. I'd rather feel pain and sorrow then feel nothing. At least feeling pain still makes me feel like I'm human.

My life is about to change. Change a lot. Change in a way that I need to mentally and physically prepare for.

[Change is good, right? Its the only thing that's constant... as a realist I need that. I crave that.]

So, I gotta get it together, right?

No more of this.

I'll snap out of it. It just takes time.

I know that.

I've been here before.



"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature." -Anne Frank

Done and done

Remember how I went on a dig?

And found thousands of these (artifacts)?

And how I've spent the last 6 months analyzing them?

And how I'm now done?!

Superbowl XLIV

I'm going for the Saints!

Game on!

Where to next?

People are always asking me where I'm heading next. Well, I don't really have an answer right now. I just have a HUGE list (which will probably grow as time continues) of places/things I want to see.

North America:
Chaco Canyon [New Mexico, USA]

Mesa Verde [Colorado, USA]

Bryce Canyon [Utah, USA]

Capital Reef [Utah, USA]

Canyonlands [Utah, USA]

Boston [Massachusetts, USA]

Chicago [Illinois, USA]

New Orleans [Louisiana, USA]

Teotihuacan [Mexico]

Tikal [Guatemala]

Palenque [Mexico]

Alaskan coast line [Alaska, USA]

South America:
Andes Mountains

Gallopogos Islands [Ecuador]

Machu Picchu [Peru]

Nazca lines [Peru]

Easter Island [Chile]

Christ the Redeemer [Brazil]

Europe:
St Petersburg [Russia]

Fjords of Norway [Norway]

Prague [Czech Republic]

Parthenon [Greece]

Jokulsarlon [Iceland]
Barcelona [Spain]

Santorini [Greece]

Matterhorn [Switzerland]

Africa:
Mt Kilimanjaro [Tanzania]

Victoria Falls [Zambia and Zimbabwe]

African Safari

Asia:
Mt Everest [Nepal]

Great Wall of China [China]

Taj Mahal [India]

Angkor Wat [Cambodia]

Forbidden City [China]

Istanbul [Turkey]

Ephesus [Turkey]

Petra [Jordan]

Australia:
New Zealand

Ayers Rock [Australia]

Great Barrier Reef [Australia]

Opera House [Australia]

Antarctica:
Emperor penguins [won't happen but aren't they so awesome?!]

Aurora australis

I have goal and 1 rule:

My rule is that every time I leave the US have have to go somewhere in this country that I haven't been before (New York before Egypt, Arches before Italy, Washington DC before the UK... I've done great so far...)

My goal is to be on every continent in my rainbows.

3 down, 4 to go!