The Contract

Annie pulled her hand back quickly. She nearly let out an expletive but had made it a new years resolution to clean up her rough tongue, something she had learned from her coal mining father. The water heater in the house was the original when the house was built in the 1930's. It worked extremely well, too well in moments like this when warm water would be preferable over scalding hot water. Annie rinsed her hands for a minute in the cold water and then dried them on the front of her apron. She looked out the window above the sink and could see the lighthouse in the distance.

Being a girl from North Dakota, she often wondered how she had ended up in Maine. Sometimes she felt like a stranger here in New England, despite having left North Dakota over 18 years ago. It wasn't that she held a particular fondness for that flat and uninspiring state, it was simply "home". Her parents along with 2 of her 3 brother still lived on the family property near Mercer. She glanced at the clock. It was 7:18 and David should have been home by now. He usually called when he was passing the Sinclair but tonight he hadn't phoned. The Shepherd's Pie was just about done, the cheese turning a golden brown around the edges. It smelled comforting and she was proud of herself for not allowing their recent wealth to make her lazy and order out every night. David had begun work 3 years previous on a device that would allow voice encryption over cell towers at an impressive 512k. The government was informed and took interest in the chip. This led to a formal invitation to present in D.C. and after 2 weeks of negotiations, David sold the technology to the Department of Defense for 12 million dollars. The contract required David to stay involved in the transition and implementation of the technology for the ensuing 18 months. After which, David would be free and had promised to take her to Europe for the summer.

She had dreamed of floating down the canals of Venice and watching a firework show at the Eiffel Tower. It would be very unique to vacation together, just the two of them, and not have a single worry about money. She had always been so frugal, mostly a result of her low income upbringing, and now she didn't have to worry. She heard the old automatic garage door open and was relieved that David was home. She started toward the stairs to the garage when she heard her cell phone ringing from the counter. She headed back to answer it when the home phone rang. Almost instantaneously the door bell rang and a knock came at the back door. Then the sound from the garage door opening suddenly stopped. Annie froze and chills shot up her spine. Something very wrong was happening at 2564 White Pine Drive. She reached for her cell phone and as soon as she did everything went silent.

The Beginning

The morning rain had drenched the city and the lines in the sidewalk lines were still dark. The sun had since burst through the heavy clouds and the heat from the July summer day was amplified by the extra dose of humidity. I walked more carefully this morning. Yesterday I nearly lost my big toe nail in a battle of toe vs. rough concrete. My mind felt refreshed. It had been months since I had slept that long. The job at Drisden Investments had been rewarding financially but draining in most all other aspects of my life. The job finally made possible the relocation from the musty apartment on 9th Street to the more spacious and airy condo on 2nd Street and Bentley. The real benefit gleaned from working so much was that I had very little time to spend at the new pad.

It was beneficial in that the place felt lonely since Stacey moved out. Stacey was the dream girl that I had met at the Fieldhouse during my Senior year at Columbia. We happened to both be looking for a tennis partner and soon the tennis games lead to getting drinks together and after about 5 months she moved in. Now, 2 years later, my days were mundane without her. I never thought I'd miss the sound of the blow dryer at 5 A.M. but now I'd give anything to be woken up by her getting ready for the day. One could argue that the relationship decayed slowly over multiple weeks but to me it felt abrupt, like that terrible feeling of rear ending the car in front of you. It happened on a night when I came home late. Of course I was late,I had been putting in extra hours almost every night, anxious to obtain the next promotion. I found her sitting at the kitchen table. She looked different. Her hair was pulled up and she wore no makeup. To me she looked absolutely gorgeous. In fact, everytime I saw her like this it reminded me of the first day we met. Except that day she had just finished the running on the treadmill and was red in the face and wet with sweat. Stacey was also staying fit and whenever I started to think I was in really good shape, she would quickly remind me how far I had to go. Tonight, however, the care-free smile she once carried, was now replaced with a blank stare. A blank face, like a mime. I knew something was seriously wrong. I hung my laptop bag on the hook by the door and swung the door closed behind me. I think in my unease from the situation I pushed harder then was necessary and the door slammed shut with a thud. At least the door closed without applying a heavy shoulder to it and pulling up on the door handle. Then again, this place did cost $475,000 so it better have a door that will close without great physical involvement. She didn't seem to notice the bang. And then, it really was over, practically before it began. She stood up, wrapped her arms around my neck, told me she needed something new, and was gone. My heart told me to run after her but my brain was stuck. It was like the gray matter had been sloshed against my ivory skull and the result was a tidal wave of confusion. I stood still for probably 10 minutes. My feet felt cemented to the floor and my eyes were having a hard time focusing. I closed my eyes and that only made matters worse. The dizziness was overwhelming and I collapsed in a heap on the hardwood floor.

Tears didn't come. At least not that night. Nor the next in fact. I went 2 weeks before I came home, called out her name, and realized she REALLY was gone. Even that annoying Yorkie I had threatened to drop kick at least once a week now felt missing. I busied myself with other things. I took up painting again but that didn't seem to help. I rode the stationary bike until my quads would spasm. I started watching cooking shows on cable television. And then I started spending money. A lot of it. Didn't matter if it was wanted or needed, I bought it; New computer, tv, summer clothes, flip flops, etc.

That's where I was headed now in fact. To buy something. I wasn't sure what but I had a feeling that the heat would influence the decision. I was now nearing the street market that dominated Donovan Avenue from about 11th to 14th every Saturday morning. Then I heard and felt it. The crackling of brick being blown to pieces and the bits of plaster and brick being sprayed into my face. It was then I realized that the bullet had graced my ear, instantly flowing down my shoulder and arm. This would be alarming except for the realization that I had just been 2 inches away from having my head become a splatter of graffiti on the wall. After 15 years, 3 countries, and 2 different names, I had been tracked down. The impossible had been accomplished. I was back on the dart board and I had a feeling they didn't want to fail again.

To buy or Not to Buy: Part 2

Provided by Mint.com

What to Buy!?

I want these three things right now. Which should I get?

1. The Bowers & Wilkins P5 Headphones. HERE.

2. The Smith Broadcast Prescription Eyeglasses. HERE.

3. The Lebron 8 V/2. HERE.

So, what do I choose? Comment below!

Oh The Places I Want to Go!

Places I want to travel this year(or in the very near future):

Sweden

The reason for this: I love cold Scandinavian countries. Ok, actually, I want to visit the Morace and Julie Ann clan.

Next: Belize.

The caption for this photo says, "Imagine awakening with your loved one as the sun rises over the Caribbean." Can do.

While I'm in the area, I might as well hit up El Vecino: Guatemala

But I also really want to see my friends in the Dominican Republic:

And I've never been to Maui:

And to stay a little closer to open, I want to experience the marvelous Lake Powell!

And do The Subway:

And spend a few nights in the Uinta Mountains:

Who wants to join?

STOP!

I worked 13 hours last night. Then I stopped and fixed a friend's alarm system. By that time we we had passed the 11 PM mark. I couldn't go home because of a wood floor fix. So Sam and Chelsea kindly obliged to let me crash on the couch. I was driving up 1300 S, a bit tired, but content, when next thing I knew I had sirens in my rear view mirror. I hadn't been speeding so I was excited; the thrill of finding out what menial law had been violated. Had I ran someone over? Maybe a cat or a raccoon? Had I driven too close to the curb? The middle line? And then panic: Had they finally caught onto my late night prostitution? Oh no! The officer approached. Asked me for the usual: Driver's License, proof of insurance, registration, and a Virginia Slim. I was able to provide 75% of requested items.(Will not disclose which 3) The cop then, seeing the fear in my eyes, informed me that I had been pulled over for not coming to a complete stop.

Oh dear! How could I? Once a law abiding citizen, in mere seconds I had become a hardened criminal, a menace to society, a threat to the population, a danger to the masses. The rape, drug use, theft, domestic violence, drunk driving, indecent exposure, reckless driving can go on. But the failure to fully halt at a 4 way stop on an abandoned street, this must stop. Think of the fatalities, injuries, repercussions, heartache, and loss that most likely occurred from my claimed infraction. Tears welled up in my eyes out of the shame I felt. My pulse sank to a mere 74/23 as depression and guilt overwhelmed my soul.

But wait? I had stopped. I hadn't blitzed that stop sign. There was a car I had pulled up next to. We hung out at that white line together before he went right and I proceeded straight. Hmm... So what if the cop was just upset that my car hadn't been washed in months? Maybe he had just failed for the 20th straight time on the same Angry Birds level. Maybe he was thinking about the recent streak of losses by the Jazz and Utes. Maybe he was imagining what it would have been like to be in Egypt without internet for 5 days? Maybe he had tried to order his Verizon iPhone on his dinner break and realized they were already sold out? So maybe I was the scape goat? The truly innocent citizen, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like the innocent gazelle who happened to meander down to the river to quench its thirst only to be at the wrong river bend at the wrong time and find itself feet up, head down the alligator's throat.

So I had a decision to make. Did I get out of the car and challenge the officer to a smack-down, a thumb war, or break dance competition? I quickly determined that this was a bad idea. Leaving your vehicle during a moment like this was always frowned upon and interpreted as a sign of hostility and defiance. So i abated my desire for a game of paper-rock-scissors and waited patiently. The officer returned after some delay to proudly hand me a citation. As he handed me the citation, I noticed him quickly wiping what appeared to be ketchup off his fingers and onto his fine pressed navy slacks. Wait a second? He'd been back there eating Wendy's Sea Salted Fries this whole time? My paper had dark spots from where the sodium content had soiled the starch on the ticket. Next thing I knew, he was throwing up the peace sign and parting ways with a simple, "Ten cuidado Justino, tu salvacion esta en juego." Jaw dropped and stunned, like a deer in headlights, I slide the ticket onto the floor, the shifter into drive, and eased my way back onto the road and into society, Heaven alone knowing the who the real violator in the situation was.

3G, 4G, what G do I need?

I'm a nut for technology. I love the stuff. I love following people who tweet about it. I love subscribing to blogs in my Google reader that discuss it. I spend my days troubleshooting windows based machines. At nights and on weekends I talk Mac. In all of this and being that we are 1 week from the launch of the iPhone 4 on Verizon, I felt it pertinent to write a blog post about something many people seem to be either curious or confused about: 3G vs. 4G.

First, it should be made clear that cell phone manufacturers and carriers have done us no favor in the use of the terms 3G and 4G. The use of 3's and 4's crops up nearly everywhere, so what does it all mean?

Smartphones connect to the internet. However, unlike the majority of people's computers in their homes, which connect to the internet through a DSL or Cable connection, smartphones connect to the internet through cellular towers. Cellular towers were originally used for the transmission of voice but our unprecedented need to always be connected caused a conversion to occur so that data(internet) transfer could occur as well.

For most people, and we will keep this simple, Edge(2G) was probably the first cellular internet standard you may have heard of. This is what the original iPhone used and it was PAINFULLY slow. So let's not worry too much about that.

Next came 3G (which really just means 3rd Generation). This is the technology that ALMOST everyone who has a smartphone is taking advantage of. So, to clarify some confusion, the iPhone 3G(released Summer of 2008), the iPhone 3GS(released summer of 2009) and the iPhone 4(released summer of 2010 on AT&T and February 10th of 2011 on Verizon) ALL use the 3G network. The iPhone 4 is not a 4G phone, it is simply the 4th generation OF THE iPhone.

For about a year now, we have been seeing Sprint's advertisements for "4G". Now Verizon and T-Mobile have followed suit. Expect AT&T to be right behind.

I'm going to try and give a very basic explanation here.

The biggest difference for users between 3G and 4G is going to be speed. But the main point I want to make in this article is this: Do you even know what speeds you are getting? When was the last time you used the Speedtest.net application on your Android or iPhone? The reality of it is, people just like things to work. They want to click on the Facebook App and have it show their news feed. Or they want to open the weather app and see if they need to wear a jacket. MOST users aren't cursing the air because they are getting 1 MBPS compared to 1.3 MBPS. Most users in fact probably have no idea what that means except that the 1.3 is probably faster and better. And that's OK not to know or care! If you do care, here's John Gruber's comparison of the iPhone 4 on AT&T compared to Verizon:

Ok, so back to our discussion. Yes 4G is faster. Yes Facebook will load a bit more quickly. So will you end up wanting/using/needing 4G? Yes. Do you need it right now? Probably not. Think of it as the very first of the HDTV craze. Manufacturers were selling HDTVs before we even had our cable companies broadcasting in HD.

So many Verizon customers are anxious and excited to finally get the iPhone but then they hear, "It doesn't have 4G." What!? No 4G!? Psh, must be a bunch of garbage! "Maybe I should wait!?" Wrong. Most of the cellular companies are still in the early stages of rolling out their 4G network. Verizon doesn't even have 4G in Salt Lake City, let alone Bountiful. (ok, it's at the Airport). Nor do they even have any 4G phones for sale at this time. In fact, here is where they do have 4G coverage:

Will it be here 18 months from now? Yes. Will you be ready for a new iPhone in about 18-24 months? Yes.

So if you are the type that had to have a blu ray player before everyone did, already has a 3D HDTV, and has placed your order for the Nissan Leaf, then you probably won't want to buy the iPhone 4 next Thursday. However, if you are part of the majority, the iPhone 4 is going to be an amazing phone that you will absolutely love! Even if it's not "4G" ;)

To Buy or Not to Buy

Interest rates are low. The housing market is flooded with foreclosures, short sales, and other sales. I'm 24 and working full time (58 hours is full time, right?) so I started thinking about buying a home.

Then I spoke with Spence. He's a very smart, rational human being. We discussed the pros and cons of buying a home.

Here are some of the costs associated with owning a home:

1. Mortgage Payment

2. Home Insurance

3. Property Taxes

4. Water and Sewer

5. Heat/Cooling

6. Internet and TV

7. Furniture and Appliances.

8. Lawn Care

9. Upkeep and Maintenance

10. Other

These are not reasons to NEVER buy a home, but they have definitely caused me to reconsider WHEN I will buy a home.

Leave your opinion in the comments section!

Favorite Artist of 2009/2010

A few hints and facts:

• He spells his name with only one T.
• I stayed at a Best Western in a city in Nebraska with the same name as his last name.
• He rocks a white button up, skinny black tie, and hat.
• When he played at The Venue in 2009, I got a glimpse of what Heaven will be like.
• His passion and talent is contagious.

I speak of the man Mat Kearney.

Favorite Songs include: All I Have, Fire and Rain, Never Be Ready, Undeniable, Girl America, Bullet, Won't Back Down.

That list seems long but it was hard enough getting it narrowed down to that.

Check out a vid Mat posted on his site where he discusses his forthcoming album. Click HERE.

If you don't have his music: Get it and let it wash over you. Great stuff. Keep it coming Mat!

You can also follow him on twitter @ twitter.com/matkearney

Breathing made Hard

If you are reading this, please follow the instructions below:

Close your eyes.

Take a deep breath through your nose, all the while keeping your mouth closed.

Hold the breath for roughly 5 seconds and exhale through your nose.

Now plug your nose and repeat.

The process goes from simple to impossible.

Welcome to my life.

I suffer from chronic sinus congestion. I decided to write this blog post for two reasons: 1. I am frustrated with my situation and am really hoping to find a remedy ASAP. 2. I am made aware of those everywhere who suffer and struggle with problems far worse then mine. To those, I praise and applaud you for being amazing to keep smiling and to keep going despite your ailments. I am also grateful to not have problems of such magnitude.

So.

Here is what I have tried:

and this is how it is used:

I have also gone through the magical experience of squirting water up my nose and having it come out the other side.

So to try and facilitate drainage:

Which leads to an irritated throat that causes a cough, so now i'm puffin this:

Oh, and i've been drinking this:

In conclusion:

I'm going to try and schedule an appointment with an ENT ASAP.

I miss the easy to breathe Dominican air.

I don't like Utah's winter air.

My mouth is tired of doing all the work: Talking, eating, and breathing. Time to give the nose the breathing duty back.