Seriously So BLessed.....Seriously!

Well as many of you that had no clue, this past week I found myself in Switzerland. I have no idea how I got there…..just kidding. Not to have my manhood in question but holy moley it was beautiful. I was in a city called Montreux located in the far corner of Lake Geneva. I know that many people don’t really think of Switzerland when they travel to Europe, but you have got to spend some time there.


I love my job, it sends me to the craziest place. Take a look at some of these pics

View of Lake Geneva

No I am not in Disneyland that is the actual Matterhorn! Holla!

I know tht when people think of Switzerlind they thin of those recola men blowing horns and yelling, "RECOOOLAAAAAA" So I did what to disapoint.

Gotta love the people walking in front...film set rookies!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

I was up in Las Vegas (not my favorite place) for a work convention the other weekend, and I got a seriously sweet hook-up. There was a little last minute business that I had to get done for work, so I did not get to the hotel until 4:30 in the morning. I was tired, I was carrying my luggage, and I was not in the mood to be friendly. (As a side note, I find it very pathetic that the casino floor was still going strong this early in the morning.) As I get up to the registration counter to check in, they tell me that I have been “upgraded” and I am in a sweet.
I was not really all that impressed with this gesture because in today’s hotel world, they put out the room a little put a couch in the room and call it a suite. When in actuality the room is not much bigger than all the other rooms. So I thank her and go to my room. And this is what I saw-

Still not really impressed I just went into the room and found the bed and I just fell onto it and just went to sleep. The next morning I wake up and really confused, I felt like I was in some else’s room. This is what I woke up to:

(you could have fit 5 people in this shower easy)

I tell you guys it was crazy, I felt like Tom Hanks in BIG! I mean there was a hallway bathroom, the curtains in the Master Bathroom open & close by remote control, who stays in places like this? In life you win some, and you lose some, and that night I won! Even if it was for only one night.

A Moment of Truth

When I started this blog I said I would not be one of those people that blogs strong for a couple of weeks and then stops, and yet that is exactly what I did. Ha, ha, ha, I guess I am one of those guys.

In the past couple of weeks I have been doing a ton of driving around the western US. I have had some crazy things happen to me that I will blog about later. However on my travels I have had a ton of time to think about life and the things that matter most. Before I dive into my thoughts I know that many of you do not get to see my thoughtful side, because I like to be a clown, but just want to give you a warning its coming.

I don’t know if you are like me, but for the longest time I feel like I have not been an active participant in my own life. Meaning I have sitting idling by while it passes by, you know what I mean? I have been taking the path of least resistance, not because it was bad or wrong, but it was easy. Don’t get me wrong, there have been times where I have seen something and gone after it, but for the most part I have not been working towards something.

For example, some people become doctors because that is what they wanted to be since they were little kids. They make all their choices based on their end goal, becoming a doctor. I have never had that end goal, or that cool something that drove my choices. I feel like I have floated through life and if it happened then cool, and if not then that sucks but ah well. The problem with this paradigm is that opportunities present themselves and because I am not looking for them, they pass me by, unnoticed like a stranger I will never know.

Before you all think that I have jumped of the deep end and am sitting here in a funnel of depression, I want to say that despite not feeling like I have had a direction, I have had a great life. I consider myself very blessed. I have been able to do things that most people will never do, but then again I am a Hallstrom. Just kidding, family joke. No seriously, when we are all in heaven in the movie house, eating popcorn and watching my life movie, no one will look around and think that I have had it bad.

I am just thinking that it is time to fire the person that is sleeping behind the wheel of my future and take control again. This is not an announcement of any kind but just a moment of truth. I have never really had a 5, 10, and 20, plan. I know that not many people do, but successful people do. The Hallstrom in me has a desire to be successful, or at least have enough to adequately provide for my family, and have the 120 foot yacht that sails me around the world every year…..just kidding.

So today I pledge to each of you, the people I care about most, that I will be better. I want to thank each of you for parts that each of you played in my life up to this point, and here after. I know I am a pooh of a brother, cousin, and nephew, because I do not make more of an effort to stay in touch. But please know that it is not a reflection on how I love each of you individually, and collectively.

Malama Your Mamma.

Asher's Past Time

Jeff and Juli were so impressed with Asher’s gun handling abilities that they decided to send him off to work with Uncle Shawn for the rest of the summer. Shawn sent me a picture last night that I wanted to share with the rest of you. Asher is doing quite well and really coming in handy on those long convoys. Shawn was talking to the sergeant overseeing the summer program and he had this to say about Asher, “Apart from the frequent potty breaks and nap time, he is really good at popping the enemy at 65 mph. For him it’s like a turkey shoot or something. Daddy dun raised him right!”

I am so proud of little Asher, and the example that he is setting for all of us. He is really taking the “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” to heart. So this weekend my hand will be over my heart for both Shawn & Asher. Boys you are making me proud.

My Crazy Cousins

My crazy cousins are up to another one of their adventures. As you know Erin &Kara have been doing their fair share of traveling lately. This past week they decided to “go green” and give back to nature. They booked a cruise to Antarctica to do some wildlife conservation work and save the Emperor Penguins. They spent 7 days and 6 nights in the freezing cold weather, knitting the penguins sweaters, tracking them down and putting GPS collars on them (along with the sweaters) and making sure their stool samples were consistent with past samples.

I have to say, I admire Erin & Kara for giving back to mother earth. I asked Kara how she felt about the whole trip and she said, “When Erin first came up with the idea, I was like, coo-coo! But I have to tell you, it’s a trip I will always remember. In our spare time we knitted about 30 tiny sweaters for them to wear. We took some self portrait pics that I will post on my blog later. The downer of the trip was that I just wish someone would have told me it was cold there, because then I definitely would have brought a jacket. But se la vie.”

Thanks for caring so much you two. You guys have to truly inspire me to be better.

Look Mom I am cool too now!

Wow, I can’t believe it. I am actually blogging on my own site. I feel so nerdy. Anyway I just wanted this first post to give all the general disclaimers before I post. I am not a writer, and I can't spell, but I do see how much fun my family has sharing their thoughts, & that I thought I would try it out.

I don’t know how long this will last; I am a pretty low maintenance guy, so we will see. So I guess I start inviting and see who has 5 minutes to waist looking at my blog. I want to thank all the little people that made this day possible and the fans, I can’t forget the fans. J