Things That I Love

Lest you all think I'm a negativist, I decided to create a list of things that I love. Again, they're in no particular order.

1. Hoosiers--I can watch this movie over and over and never get tired of it. The scenery is gorgeous and they got the feeling and emotion of small town Indiana basketball spot on. I'm getting giddy just writing about it.

2. Apple Dumplings--This is one of my favorite desserts and one of the best things about Fall. A warm apple dumpling in a bowl of milk is one special treat. This is one of the reasons I really didn't like Texas. There were no fresh apples which meant no apple dumplings.

3. Grilling--Everything tastes better on the grill. You could grill old sneakers and they'd probably taste good. It's impossible to get that smokey flavor any other way and it's one of the best things about Summer.

4. Seinfeld--This is the best TV show ever, sin duda. Every episode makes me laugh and is a real joy. On a more depressing note, Seinfeld first aired in July 1989 which means that college Freshman this year weren't even alive! Man I feel old.

5. Cold Cereal--As a kid I didn't get a lot of cold cereal and especially the sugary stuff so I think that's why I like it so much now. My favorites are Peanut Butter Captain Crunch and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. As a Sophomore in college cold cereal was the staple of my diet. And as a diet, it's pretty effective. I lost like 20 pounds that year.

6. A Campfire--Sitting around a campfire is one of life's finest pleasures. The smell of the smoke, the warmth, and the crackle of the fire are all intoxicating.

7. Documentaries--Yeah I know it's nerdy but I really love a good documentary. The Science channel, History channel, and Discovery channel usually have the best ones although my favorite documentary was on PBS and dealt with String Theory. It blew my mind.

8. Rhubarb Pie--I really like almost any pie but Rhubarb is my favorite. The tart deliciousness is one of Spring's special treats.

9. Uruguay--I love everything about Uruguay. The asados and chorizos are to die for. The milanesas and empanadas are wonderful. The country abounds with beautiful beaches. The weather is spectacular and the people are incredible.

10. Fall--This is my favorite season. The smell, colors, and feel of Fall are unlike any other time of the year. With Fall comes the beautiful changing leaves, cool mornings and evenings, abundant sunshine, apple cider, sweatshirts, the first snow in the mountains and so much more. I never want to live somewhere again that doesn't have Fall.

11. Peaches--I'd forgotten how good fresh peaches are after living in Texas. I've bought quite a few here in Utah though and they've been delicious. They're so sweet and juicy and make wonderful pies. God truly blessed us when he gave us peaches. In my book no fruit is as good as a peach.

12. Fishing--I'm crazy about fishing. At times it consumes me. I'm constantly dreaming about fishing vacations and all the cool places I could go. I most want to go to Mexico, Alaska, and The Boundary Waters. I'm even willing to put up with another 5 years of school so I can hopefully have more time in the future to go fishing.

13. A Hot Shower after being Cold and Wet--After a long day outdoors in a cold rain, it's the best feeling in the world.

14. Oyster Soup--On the Staller side of the family we have oyster soup every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's definitely the best food that I eat all year. The smell and taste are so unique and it warms my soul every time. I look forward to this more than anything else.

15. College Football--I love spending my Saturdays watching college football. It's been especially great this year because I've been able to go to the BYU football games. The season is the perfect length and always leaves me wanting more. The system for determining a champion is screwed up but it does make every game ultra important which adds to the excitement.

16. Rabbit Hunting--As a kid I spent many days in the woods hunting rabbits with my grandpa and these are some of my fondest memories. I just love going out after a fresh snow and busting through thickets and jumping brushpiles. You never know when a rabbit will take off and the shooting can be a lot of fun. They taste pretty darn good too.

17. A River Runs Through It--Both the movie and the book are classics in my opinion. The themes along with the scenery are intriguing and beautiful. The book is especially good because there are some great short stories included at the end, Logging, Pimping, and my Pal Jim being my favorite.

18. My Grandma's Gravy--I don't know just how she does it but it's my favorite. She makes it from the drippings of whatever she has fried and it is so rich and delicious. I especially like it on her sweet potatoes.

19. Morels--These are wild mushrooms that can be found in many parts of the U.S. I grew up hunting for them in the woods and eating them every Spring. My uncle George is great at finding them and usually found enough to share with the whole family. We would all get together and eat fried mushrooms and stewed rhubarb. It really doesn't get much better. I lucked into some morels this year in Utah while fishing and was delighted. I hadn't eaten any for years so it was a very nice treat.

20. My Wife--She's getting ready to have twins in about a week and a half. She's been a real trooper through the whole thing and I'm amazed at how well she's handled it. I hope these two little boys are appreciative.