Welcome to a new year!!! I know I should have posted my resolutions a few weeks ago but at last I have not. I actually gave a talk in Church the last week in 2007 about resolutions and goal setting that was really good(or at least I thought so) I was going to post the talk because it gave some good goal setting techniques. The gist of it was the acronym "SMART": S-Specific; M-Measurable; A-Action Oriented(and Accountability); R-Realistic; T-Time and Resource Constrained.
I also talked about writing them down and then went on to talk about ways we can strengthen our testimonies during the new year based largely on a New Era article in the Question Answer section of the December issue. Some of the things were: Truly commit to study and ponder the scriptures, Make sure you are worthy to have the Holy Ghost with you at all times, Make sure you repent humbly even for little sins, Think about what your testimony is based on, and Bear your testimony often. It's actually a good little guide for goals. It was based on a talk by Elder Wirthlin in the 1992 Ensign called "Spiritual Bonfires of Testimony" which a highly recommend!

Ok now what I'm sure you all have been waiting for...my New Years Resolutions!!!


1. Work out at least three times a week
a. Be able to Bench my weight at least 10 times by July (I currently bench 130)
b. Be able to run a mile under 7 minutes
c. Regain the six pack I use to own
2. Read from the Scriptures Daily
3. Read at least one book a month(if you have good ones to recommend I'm listening, I've also joined Shelfari so you can see what I'm reading or what I have read, viewable to the right)
4. Buy a duplex or other multi-unit rental property by July
5. Work on my procrastinating bad habit!

So there you have it, you can pester me about these until I complete them. I've set some for half the year so perhaps I'll make more goals for the last half around my B-day.

Thanks for reading!!!

Thanks be to Jason and Amy and Anonymous for still reading(and probably Mary Lynn). So the other day the Stage Manager of Forgotten Carols needed to talk to me and one other technician. He said, "I'm too busy with my real job so I won't be around much anymore(he really wasn't around much anyway), so could you guys step up to the plate and take over? Matt can you step in and be the Stage Manager, and Fred can you be on stage instead of running spot?" We both agreed, and he said our pay would reflect our new work! So I get a raise and the only thing more that I have to do is open the house and start the second act. So I guess I am now the Stage Manager of the Forgotten Carols! Pretty cool title!
The other cool thing in my life is that I will be running sound for Jericho Road today. Joe called me up and asked how my sound ears were, I said I've run sound for Living Legends before and he said that's enough for him. It's too bad that I'll be gone next week cause they are doing a lunch show for the First Presidency next week. It's funny how once you are in a line of work than the opportunities start opening up like none other. John also invited me on tour with the YA's for 10 day to Southern California, so we will see where this takes me for now.
I am still thinking about moving though. I have the East Coast or Seattle as suggestions so far. I think it would be way fun out East but still a little hesitant because I like living near family. Anyway, that's the update!

Well, I don't think anyone reads this anymore but here's to getting the story out.
I'm working the Forgotten Carols this month and leave for tour tomorrow night. It should be fun but a little boring. I'm use to high flying big shows big cast Young Ambassadors and Living Legends. Now I get a six person cast with five technicians. It's a piece of cake! I really like the message though and for those who know the show I love the end part where Nurse Chamberlain sings "I cry when I take the tree down" and also her last song which I'm forgetting right now. I know I'll cry one of these times when I'm really into the show and nobody is watching :) I also play a small, very small role (so I guess there are 7 in the cast!) I come on at the beginning and start decorating this desk and then get yelled at twice and then leave. Pretty awesome I know but oh well it pays well.
Recently I've been thinking about moving. And I don't mean across town. With the money I make from the Carols tour and then maybe selling my horse I could move anywhere and survive for a few months. I'm thinking that this will get me out of my comfort zone and make me find a job. It could also help me get out of this no dating rut. I've tried but when I'm interested in a girl then I try to call her to ask her out and can never reach them. I don't know if it takes me too long to figure out that girls are actually cool and could be worth pursuing then they've already lost interest or what the problem is. It's frustrating though and just makes me mad most of the time. So moving would be good to get me out on my butt to get going. Where is the only question. I've though about D.C. I think it would be a lot of fun and I might be able to find a job where I actually use my degree! I've also thought about Helena, I know random, but I was up there with the Young Ambassadors and I like it there and the lady I stayed with says there are a lot of jobs up that way. It would be fun there. I'm pretty sure that if I do move I'll stay away from my siblings. Since I am everyones favorite then I wouldn't want to start rumors that I have chosen a favorite. So that eliminates Albuquerque, NM, Chicago, IL, Sacramento, CA and Utah. So given those choices I could go to quite a few different places. Anyway, probably won't happen but I've thought a lot about it so maybe it will, who knows.
If anyone is still reading then I know you are a true friend. Let me know what you think on where I should move to? It's getting late and I need some sleep. I'll keep this blog more updated or at least try to.

So, um, I know that I'm a slacker when it comes to posting on my blog but ever since I renewed my love affair with Facebook I have done my blogging over there sort of. Check it out if you have Facebook if not then join and you can see new pictures of my latest camping/horse riding trip!

Sincerely,

Matthew

I needed to post something...it's been awhile. So I stole this idea from Kelly and Scott.

So even though I hate getting these as emails...I guess I can fill this out to "catch up"
I might break the rule a few times :)

Only rule: you have to answer with one word.

1. Where is your mobile phone? pocket

2. Relationship? nonexistent

3. Your hair? long

4. Work? none

5. Your sister(s)? gone

6. Your favorite thing? AC

7. Your dream last night? forgot

8. Your favorite drink? pop or soda

9. Your dream car? 65 Mustang

10. The room you're in? cleaner

11. Your shoes? dirty

12. Your fears? what fears!

13. What do you want to be in 10 years? married

14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? nieces

15. What are you not good at? spanish

16. Muffin? Costco

17. Wish list item? a job

18. Where you grew up? Bountiful

19. The last thing you did? showered

20. What are you wearing? jeans

21. What are you not wearing? make-up

22. Your pet? Big Mac

23. Your computer? Flash

24. Your life? awesome

25. Your mood? lackadaisical

26. Missing? a wife

27. What are you thinking about? horses

28. Your car? mustang

29. Your kitchen? messy

30. Your summer? laid-back

31. Your favorite color? BYU blue

32. Last time you laughed? afternoon

33. Last time you cried? forgot

34. School? BYU

35. Love? yes please