DATO! is now DEGRAW!

I would like to give a shout out to my good friend Kristy, who many of you know because you went to Capernwray (Capenberry Rebecca) with her. She got Married last night and I had the distinct pleasure of attending the festivities. It was a really beautiful ceremony at the Crown Ball Room in down town p-town. It was an evening wedding and they served amazing deserts! I saw some old friends I have not seen in years and got the chance to reconnect with people who I have not had the chance to do so with all summer. It was really great and I wish them the best. Anyway if you wish to offer your congratulations on her blog she is Linked under DEGRAW (formerly the DATO link) I just think she is great and I am very very happy for her and Jacob (the husband, who I do not know but seems like a really great guy) And Kristy I will try to remember to shout out DeGRAW now when I see you and not DATO.

(the picture is of us almost exactly two years ago on the plane waiting to take off for England)

Awesome Video!

Do you ever have more treadmills than you know what to do with? If so click on the picture!!!

HA!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!

School is finally out for the summer!!! well summer school is finally out for the summer... I now have a month to get back to my usual routine of stalking and being the bogeyman (staring at you Mayer!)

I have to take a moment to complain about computer science people though, get comfy this may take a while ... sorry to those who I offend, but lets be honest with each other, you deserve it. You know it.. come on... So I completed my final on Wed for my one and only computer science class I have to take and I had one more project (computer program) due by midnight on Thursday. I had to design a phone book program. I needed to be able to enter in peoples information, save it, then search for it and have it pop up. Sounds simple, and most of it was but there was one little part I couldn't get. So I go to my professors office during his office hours on Wed, before the final, and he is not there. "Oh well" I am thinking I will just catch him after the final. After I take the final he tells me to come by his office around 2:30 and he will help me out. Mind you I have the whole thing done but one button programmed, the search button. I have no flippin clue on how to search through the phone book. So he sits down with me and my laptop and tells me to look at his notes he gave to the class and there would be an example. (I have been over these notes 100 times and I know there is nothing there) To appease him I looked and then told him I didn't see anything. So he took them and looked and then said, "hmmm... I guess you're right. I didn't include that... oh well, you'll figure it out. Listen I am going to run over to Taco Del Mar and I'll check back on you in a little bit." (Thanks Buddy! I am thinking in my head) There was another student sitting at the table with me who was in my class and working on a different problem with his project (I later learned he was going way above and beyond what the directions called for and was getting help on that) I asked to borrow his text book and when he didn't give it too me I back-handed the little dunch and kicked him in the teeth... Kidding just seeing if you were still reading... He gave it to me and told me "ch 11 I would find most useful" Who talks like that!?! He asked me if I understood what I was doing, I replied "is it that obvious?" He laughed and said lets take a look. I am thinking great! someone to help me get this thing done. Well, I guess he felt like making this a "teaching moment." He only asked me questions in order for me to think for myself. which I really don't mind when I do want to understand what I am doing. At this point however, I just want to finish this class and be done with it! He drags this out for an hour and a half!!!! AHHH!!! for all of 4 lines of code. Then I did back hand him and took his left nipple as penance. That'll learn him. Oh I forgot after all that it still didn't work so I went and tracked down my professor and I just had entered the code in the wrong order and then it was fine. AHHHH!

Whew... that felt good.

Love and Marriage California Style!

So this time I just attended a wedding, I was not the officiant. It was the wonderful union of Jón and Marisa! Although I did get the honor of being the MC for the reception, which was fun. It was crazy though. They (meaning you Miss RAY!) gave me a piece of paper after the ceremony right before the reception which had the order of events on it... no more.. but no less and said,"ok, make it work." So I did my best with what I had and I hope it was alright.

The whole weekend was really nice. I got to see loads of people from Capernwray (sorry, Capenberry Rebecca) which until then I was not sure if I would ever see again, this side of heaven anyway. I was very bummed that I did not get to see Beth though, she was suppose to be there, but missed her connecting flight due to no fault of her own. I rented a car, which was f-ing expensive (only because I am under 25), but they upgraded me because they didn't have any more of the cheap ones that I had reserved. So I got to cruise around in a Ford Escape all weekend. It was pretty sweet! La Jolla is incredibly beautiful. I had such a fun time, It was really nice to get away from school. I did do homework on the plane, both ways, but that doesn't count. Oh! I forgot to mention how amazingly talented Jón's family is! They all (well not his dad) sang and/or played an instrument for the wedding. They were not just good, they were really good. I was blown away.

Did I mention how great it was to see everyone? I love all of those people so much (Janice, BJ, Jeff, Courtnay, Elin, Chelsea, Daveo, Ben, Luke, Heidi, Dana, Brittany, Shawana and of course Jón and Marisa,) Well, now I need to get back to school work. I only have two more weeks then I am done with these classes!!! wooohooooo! There will be pictures to follow, so check back, but I do not have access to the pictures here at school.

It is summer... I am in school...

I know that I have told you all before in previous posts that I am in summer school, but that does not make it any more "cool." I hate it (because I am there right now) and I love it at the same time. I am getting these classes out of the way in literally a fraction of the time It would take me during a normal term, but I am not really enjoying my summer. My family is leaving today to go camping at Detroit Lake in central Oregon for two weeks. This is our 11th (or 12th.. I don't remember) year going and I am not going to be there. MAN! well I will get to go up for the day now and then, but I have those pesky classes I cannot miss because they are so condensed.

I have just completed my first week of a four week course. It is Monday through Friday 8:00am to 9:50am. Managerial Accounting. It is not as bad as it sounds. It is better than the 8 week class I am in right now that is the Basics of Computer Programming. I would just like to make the official statement that I am not a programmer; nor have I ever been one, or do I ever intend on being one.

So enough of the pity party. I am really excited that I am going to California this weekend!!! Woohooo!!! I am going to San Diego for Jon and Marisa's Wedding. That should be really neat!

Well I really need to stop procrastinating and do my homework and study for my midterm tomorrow. Until next time Planeteers, The Power is Yours!

-Danny

Oh Canada!

Well, sorry it has been so long since I last posted. I have been busy with summer classes and work. Wooohooo! I did however have a good time last weekend when I drove up to Calgary to visit people. It was kind a spur of the moment thing. (I am Sorry Allison that I missed your birthday) I was talking to Rob Cox on the phone and he said that I should come up to Canada this weekend (meaning last weekend) and I thought about it and decided that it would be fun (This was on Tuesday). So I looked at flights and it was way too expensive to fly so I borrowed my moms car and drove 14 hours to Calgary. I left my house at 4:45 in the morning on Thursday and got my first ever speeding ticket by 5:50am. I was going 80 in a 65... whoops... I was so excited to go up to Canada it didn't ruin my day at all. So I then continued on my journey, a bit slower, and what a beautiful drive it was. I mean wow! Except for Idaho, what a hole! I got stuck at a traffic light for 15 minutes. It must have broke. I was about five cars back and we were turning left. It cycled through the other cars several times. Eventually everyone in line just started going where there was a break in traffic. All I was thinking was that I really didn't need another ticket, however this did not stop me from turning left on a red light. The Border patrol man was really nice. He was an older gentleman who when looking at my passport saw that I had been to Capernwray and asked me about it and then made sure I wasn't bringing in any alcohol or tobacco or large weapons of mass destruction. So needless to say I had to turn in all of my weapons of mass destruction and pick them back up on my way back into the country. They held them for me, I thought that was nice. However, my plot to take over Canada was foiled again! The rest of the drive was really nice through the Rockies. I enjoyed it until about hour 12; then I was just tired of driving. It is amazing how many CDs you can listen to in 14 hours and how you even let the bad songs play just to fill the time. Once I got to Calgary I stayed with Jeff and his family, who by the way rock! I also saw Tyler, J, Kyle, Lisa, Diana, Jackie, and Rob Cox. It was a fantastic time! Well, this post is long enough if you want to know more details you will have to ask me later.

-Danny

Something

So not much going on with me, sorry it has been a while since I posted last. I am back in school. Summer School sucks! Oh I did meet Luis Palau, he came and spoke to my college group bible study, somebody had connections. It was the first time I have ever been star struck. What an amazing evangelist. Lets see.. what else. I can't think of anything blog worthy. I am kind of tired so I think I am going to go to bed. Later
-Danny

My TV Commercial

Here is my commercial. I am very proud of it. Sorry for the short post, but I think the commercial will say enough. Ha! I love It. Click on the type of player you want to view it on.

Windows Media Player

QuickTime player

What kind of Pirate are Ye?

Ok so I cannot take the credit for finding this, because my friend Rebecca did but you all need to take it! It is hysterical and frighteningly accurate! Also tell me what type of Pirate you are. It is only like 7 or 8 questions.

TAKE THE QUIZ!

This is me.. I think it is a remarkable resemblance ;)

Now taking applications

Well, I have an open slot in my television viewing schedule now that my beloved Alias is no more. Any suggestions as to what I should fill the void with? And don't answer with "Jesus" all you little Bible Schoolers! I know I commented about Alias' Finale on Janice's and Josh's blogs, but I felt I should give a little tribute to it here. Hey! Marisa gave one to that girl from the OC (Misha Barton?). I will not give anything away if you have not seen the last Alias yet, but I liked it. Well most of it. There was one of the three deaths that I was really not happy with, but I was very pleased with what happened to Sloane! Overall it was a good time for it to end, this season was kind of weak.

I have a confession to make to Janice and Josh... I had already replaced my need of espionage when Alias failed to deliver with... 24. What a good show!!! Did anyone else watch it this season? Jack Bower Rocks! In a different kind of way than Sydney. Still what a cool guy!

One more thing. I got my plane tickets to California Today for Jon and Marisa's Wedding, who else is going and where are you staying?

Your ad goes here!

So here I am once again, avoiding homework. I thought these pictures were really cool so enjoy. Well the first one anyway, the second one is kind of sad, who has felt like that before?, hands? ... Just me... ok I figured as much. Anyway, not much new with me. I am starting running again and I have found a new marathon training buddy, so I am hopefully back on track with that. I can't remember if I told you all or not that my last group bailed on me. hmmm imagine people not wanting to force themselves to run 26.2 miles... (I know it is hard for you to fathom Jill, but there are people out there who do not like to run like we do) But this guy is an ex-marine and is training for a triathlon right now, so needless to say he is dedicated. I have seven weeks to get myself back up to ten to twelve miles and I will start training with him. Well I do really need to stop avoiding the inevitable and do my French homework now. Talk to you soon , Je vous aime.

-Danny

The Weekend Update with Danny

I had the greatest weekend. To begin on Friday, my friend Rebecca and I went out and got a few beers and a bite to eat. That was good. Then on Saturday I filmed the most awesome commercial. I had a really big part in it too. For all of you in Oregon and Washington you will get to see it, oh probably part of Idaho too. It will start airing in a few weeks. It was a spot for Columbia Credit Union. There were four spots (different commercials) filmed over the weekend I was in one of them. The whole concept of this one that banking is more than just the re-enactment of the fall of the Ming Dynasty during lunch break. hahah it is hysterical! I am the customer in the line waiting to be helped and all of a sudden these bank employees dressed as warriors come running in from all directions and start fighting with obviously foam swords and cheesy oriental costumes. I am the only one in line and you see me turn around in shock and horror at what is going on as all of this fighting is happening around me. HAHAH it was awesome. I guess the best part was that I got to do it with my family. Four of my cousins were in it too. Two of them were tellers behind the counter shooting arrows at people. One was a customer being helped and another was a random warrior. My cousins husband was the creative genius behind these spots. He works for the ad agency that produced these so he got me the gig. Its all about who you know. I did not get paid, but I had a more featured part than some of the paid actors. So I thought that was pretty cool! Two of the other commercials were dragon boat jousting, and one where hippies were secretly planting a forest of bamboo and running from the forest ranger. What a great time. I will try and post it on here so you can see it (can I do that does anyone know how to post a video on the blog?) I don't have it yet, it will be a while before I get a copy.
Oh the weekend is not over. On Sunday I got up early and with some the cast of a skit I am in at Church in a service coming up in two weeks we went down town Portland and fed breakfast to the homeless for two hours. It was so amazing and really good food too. We went and helped this organization which is out of some seventh day adventist church who does this every Sunday morning in O'bryant square just north of the Park Blocks from 8 to 10. There were five grills going and we made french toast and hash browns for between 500 and 1000 people. All the food and supplies are donated by Albertsons. I do have to say that I am a french toast master. It was so cool there was so much food to give to these people and really good food too. Sometimes the food given to them from other organizations is crap. Anyway it was a great experience. Well, i am off to bed. Ya'll come back now, hear?

-Danny

P.S Awesome quote I heard this weekend from church "Serving others is not just showing God's love, it is showing God love." There is a little nugget I thought was neat.

Not Much Happening

So there is not a whole lot new going on. I just wanted to post to let you all know I am still alive and functioning. Lets see... My car went back into the shop yesterday... I swear it loves that place. Anyway long story short, the new water pump was too big and it threw the alternator belt. So my car over heated in like five minutes to where my radiator fluid was boiling... last I checked not a good sign. Anyway so this was just a fluke they stuck a new one on today that was 1/4 of an inch shorter and it fit perfect and everything works. Plus this was all covered under warranty !!! so it was free!!! I love those mechanics down there they are so good to me. So Angie rides again.
In other world news I do have a prayer request. I have decided to join my college bible study group in their missions/ work relief trip to the south this summer. Yes I am going to be in Alabama the second week of August, I think I might die. If the humidity does not kill me I'm sure the swamp snakes will. I am going to help with the rebuilding process which is still underway after Katrina. They say it will probably take years to complete and some places that are below sea level will not even be bothered with. So with my limited skill (and by limited I mean none) I will be gutting a house for a week. I also have to raise 1000.00 in support for me to go to cover airfare, food, and supplies. So if you could pray for that too, I would appreciate it because I have none of it.
Well I am off to a study group tonight for my midterm tomorrow in the fundamentals of Financial Accounting (yes the class is as AWESOME!!!! as it sounds!!!...... sarcasm if you cannot tell) Anyway, I'll talk to you all later.

-Danny

P.S here are some pictures I liked and I couldn't decide which one to put on my blog so I put them all on. The stories behind each are at This Week in Pictures on msn.com.

Love and Marriage

As some of you know I played a different part this last weekend. I officiated a marriage. Thats right I played the pastor. It was very nerve wracking! Yes I have no legal binding power, but they were legally married the Tuesday before at the courthouse in front of a judge. They asked me to do this several months ago because neither one is over all religious and they just wanted a simple ceremony and a party. I was happy to oblige. It was very fun and a beautiful wedding. It was at the Queen Anne Victorian Mansion in Portland. It was an evening wedding and the whole place is lit up with gobs of tiny white Christmas lights. The Tualatin High School Jazz ensemble played swing music for everyone to dance to during the reception. The get away car was very cool too, it was a 1958 mint green Cadillac, oh! Beautiful! Anyway over all it was very fun and I saw many people I have not seen in years. That was interesting, but that is a whole nother story. Well I am tired. I will talk to you all later, peace out!

Home

Oh I am home! First of all, what a nice break it was to be away from the rain and the grey and just everything. Now I have to say how much I love Portland! When I got off the plane today I was greeted by a multitude of things. The first being a much crisper temperature (When I left California it was almost 80, when I got off the plane in Oregon it was cloudy and 50 with a good chance of some light rain) I'll be real honest in saying this was not my favorite greeting, but I was immediately welcomed again when I walked through the gate into the airport and the aroma of Coffee People filled the air. Coffee People has one of their stations literally at my gate, which warmed my heart. Then further down I hear live music playing, but not just by any musician. In true Oregon style a fairly clean looking hippy of a man (I know.. clean hippy... doesn't make sense, but it was the airport) with long hair and a beard was playing "Here Comes the Sun." The best part is he was hired by PDX to be there, he was legit with a microphone and and sound system and everything. It put a big smile on my face. You know people are just nicer in Oregon too. In California the people are polite, but not always nice. At least that is what I have observed. Anyway, now I am at home and I need to do laundry because the new term starts tomorrow at good ol' PSU and I have no clean clothes. Well until next time, good night and good luck. (PS. the picture is of PDX in case you didn't figure that out)

The Prodigal returns

Sorry I have not updated in a while, I am a dunch as Josh said, there is no escaping it, it is just who I am. So here is what is new:

Ah spring break! This is where I am staying with my family for this week (Palm Desert California). It is beautiful (see picture above). The air is thick with the fragrance of flowers and the warmth of the sun is a sensation altogether new and exciting. Now the only problem is surviving my family... or rather staying myself from killing them. kidding... kidding.... sort of... I am beginning to remember why family vacations are not always a good idea... But really, I am loving the break from everything, it is so quiet down here and peaceful. I am reading an incredible book too, I know many of you have read it, because many of you told me to read it, well now I am. I am reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Incredible! What a great book, if you have not read it you need to do so, it is one of the best "Christian" books I have ever read.

Oh here is another update for you all... drum roll please... my car is back!!!! Finally! I am so thankful to have it back; it spent six weeks in the shop. Now we are good to go.

Lets see what else, the term finished well. I am done with Economics forever! Can I get an Amen!?! (sorry to all you econ majors, you are a stronger person than I)

Well I am going to go now, much love and all that junk to all of you. Sorry again for taking so long and I will try and be better about posting. Until next time, peace out

-Danny

AHHH!!!

SO I have had an obscene amount of homework these past few weeks and I am sorry for neglecting you all. Anyway here are some up dates about my life. I promised that I would update you on my car situation and... it is still dead, I do not have it back yet. So sadly that is all I can report on that. I wish I knew more, but I don't. School is going well, I am just very busy with it. I'm still running a lot... I am really exhausted and am going to go to bed now, sorry for the short update, but hey I just figured I give y'all a little sompin to hold you over until I can dazzle you once again with my witty wittisisms ( I don't know if that is a word, but just go with it.)

I did it!

Well I did it! I ran 10 miles today. And again no one was chasing me and I was not chasing anyone. Although it did help that I was following an Albertsons Bakery delivery truck with a big picture of a cake on the side of it (fat kid joke for Caleb) for a bit. I am just really proud of myself and so thankful to God for what he has helped me accomplish so far with my running. 16.2 miles to go!!!
Oh P.S it is not me in the picture. It came down to this picture or this other one of a ripped shirtless black guy running. I figure this one would be a more convincing fake...

What happened to the Rooster in the, "Run!!!" post

HAHA! I saw this and I laughed. It is the sequel to my Run!!! post. In case you were curious to what happened to that chicken.

Actually no, it is not the same bird here is the little blip that went with the picture, I though it was interesting so here you go:

A man prepares to cut off a roosters heard in his yard in the village of Goloca, Bulgaria, on Feb 2nd. People mainly in the eastern part of Bulgaria sacrifice a rooster on Rooster's day for the health and safety of young boys. The tradition springs from the biblical tale of King Herod, who ordered the slaughter of male Hebrew babies in an effort to kill Jesus. A mother killed a rooster and marked her door and neighbors' with its blood, fooling the soldiers into thinking the killing there was done, thereby saving her child.

Oh The Automobile

Alright, so for years myself, my dad, and my grandpa have gone to the Annual Portland Auto Show. This year we finally convinced my brother to come with us and it was such a good time. It was last weekend (I know I'm a little behind on my posting, but give me a break) Here are some pictures from the show:

We'll begin with My Dad's favorite... the Chevy convertible truck.

Next We have the Ugliest Car of the Year Award: And the Winner is (drumroll.........) The Chevy HHR!!! (which my brother has so eloquently nic-named the Hairy Herbst Racer) This is a picture of me and My grandpa (above is my dad and grandpa)
Here is My Grandpa who has graciously posed for a picture in a close second for the ugliest car of the year award the Scion XB. (Plus I just think it is a good picture of him)
Here I am in a Caddy. I just like the picture because I am the only thing in focus. hmmm now you have to ask yourself: Was it an accident? Or does everything but Danny tend to go out of focus when he enters a room? hmmmm accident .. I think not ;)
And in other auto news it was a very sad day on Monday. A day that will live in infamy as, "Black Monday" It was the day my car died. Yes, Monday the engine lost it's will to go on, and so young too. It was only 34 years old. I was driving down my street and I noticed that my car was not handling well. I looked down at the gauges and noticed that I had no oil pressure. So to make a long story short... I drove my car home, it was towed to my mechanic (by the way that is one of the worst feelings in the world to watch your car being towed away. Others told me this and I didn't believe it until I experienced it first hand) and it was the main bearings. There is a glimpse of happiness yet in this story, however tiny it is, my mechanic is rebuilding the engine for cost for me. So the car will live on, it is just sort of in a medically induced coma right now. However, I have come to the realization that it is probably time to sell my car. It has been so much fun and a dream that I have had since I was was little to own such a car (yes I was small once). I am entering a point in my life where I can't afford to be tied down to a car that is just a bottomless vacuum for my money. I know it is only a car and someday I might be able to get another one, but it feels like I am losing more than that. So you heard it here first, it is not for sure, but it is looking like it. My reservation for keeping it, is the longer I keep it the more it is going to be worth and what ever I replace it with the longer I keep that the less it is going to be worth. I have had the car three years and it is worth over double what I paid for it. Now I got it for a really good deal and I have done a lot too it, but still. That is awesome for a car. If you think about it please pray for wisdom on my part and that God gives me a peace about whatever decision I make. Thoughts and comments appreciated. (in case you didn't know, this is my car below. It is the only picture I have of it on my computer so sorry it is so small, I used it as an avatar on a website)

RUN!!!

So I am very proud of myself... I ran eight miles the other day (Monday) and It felt really good. Before you ask the answer is No... I was not being chased.... or chasing anyone. I am going to try to run a marathon in June. My run on Monday felt really good. I actually could have kept on going. That was very encouraging, it was the first time that I felt that maybe I can actually do this. I have been running on a treadmill since September so I didn't know how far I could actually run. I know that I still have 18.2 miles to go, but still I feel I have made a lot of progress. They say that once you can run more than 10 miles the rest is pretty easy... This is probably some horrible lie created by a person who now sits back and has a hearty belly laugh as these stupid runners try to finish 26.2 miles. So I will let you all know, If I don't end up like the chicken in the picture... on your dinner table... unless you are a veggie then you are safe... for now... Actually I had a good laugh when I saw this picture, the chicken is trying to escape from a poultry farm in Turkey (no pun intended.. I think...?) When I run I think I am going to picture a man with scary green gloves and a large implement of death who is chasing me (probably Caleb). I'll probably go faster.. you never know.

Life

So I came across this picture today on the internet. It is from "This Week in Pictures" From MSN. Anyway for all of you photograph junkies the site has some really cool shots up there every week from all over the world, you really should check them out. Anyway back to this one...

To me this feels like life. (If you read this before I have edited it...) Take from it what you will.

Do you Blog too much?

Ok... so this is for all you hard core bloggers out there... you know who you are. So in Macro Economics I had to subscribe to, "Business Week" as a required text. So when I was reading it ... in class... I came across this and thought of you all. So in honor of this I think we should start a list of, "Signs that you blog too much."

#1. Your Mother has to read your blog to talk to you.

Another Term

Well this is my first official Post... I just started school on Monday in the Beautiful City of Portland, Oregon. I am at Portland State (Go Vikings!... yes Jon is my Mascot, however I do not think he is as excited about it as I am...) Anyway I am taking 19 credit hours between PSU and Portland Community College, so I am keeping myself busy. I just finished a play a month ago entitled, "Faith, Hope and the Giant" I am also working in the Jr High at my church. I am a 6th grade guys small group leader and I love it! Actually on Sunday night I got to speak in front of the whole group (about 250 Jr. Highers... I think?) they asked me to speak on loneliness. Why they thought of me when needing someone to talk on loneliness.... your guess is as good as mine... Actually they wanted me to talk about being at Capernwray and being away from your family and friends at home. The main verse I used was Psalm 68:6a "God sets the lonely in families" Sue shared that with us last year and it is very true. Capernwray is one big multi- cultural, loving, awkward, awesome, and dysfunctional family. Which I am eternally grateful for. So that is where I am at right now. I am looking forward to this term because it means I am that much closer to graduating! Plus it is winter and I can go up to the mountain and ski!!! (as seen in the background on the picture above)

for all those who have asked...

... here you go... and I promise nothing. I feel that I have fallen a little. That is I have fallen a little into the darkness that is blogging, so consider this a trial run.