Lou Holtz

As I have been studying for a upcoming Captains test in the Fire Department I find that I am drawn to the leadership styles of great sports coaches. I know, weird. Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and of course the great Lou Holtz. Most of you all know that I love Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, but especially the wit and wisdom of Lou Holtz....

Lou Holtz has some great stories and lessons. Coach Holtz had just taken the head job at a new school. On the first play of the season his team threw a pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He said his team was given a standing ovation from the crowd. It puzzled him and he thought his team’s fans were cheering for his opponent. Eventually he figured out that his team and his staff were given a standing ovation because they actually threw a pass on a first down. They were going for it, attacking and not playing to “not lose.” It had been a long time since the program he had taken over had thrown on first down. I love that story. Attack! Play to win. You might make mistakes but big deal; you will be way better off in the long run. Don’t wait around and hope success will fall on top of you if you wait long enough.

One of my favorite quotes is “When you see a person on top of a mountain, you know they didn’t fall there.” Go get it. Pass on first down.

Anyway, my random thoughts in between study sessions.....

Appleton, WI: New Engine/Truck trip 09'

A quick update for all that are interested in Lehi FD's recent purchase of a Pierce Engine and Pierce Aerial. Captain Beck, Captain Stanley, Engineer Smith and myself are currently in Appleton going through the acceptance process of our new fleet. I will try and post more pics as the trip goes along. Please excuse my photography, I am terrible.

Day One:

We arrived 7 hours late into Appleton due to mechanical problems with the airplane and were forced to get other flights which resulted in the delay. We arrived at the Pierce plant at about 930 pm and were able to check them out a bit.

Day Two:

Started the day early at the "41 plant" where are apparatus is located. Jeff had not been here before so we spent the first half of the day orienting Jeff with the place and the plant. The second half of the day we began our acceptance check off on Engine 81. Our last hour we took Engine 81 and Tower 82 for a test drive and it was amazing! Nice to FEEL the fruits our labor......this has been nearly a 1 1/2 year process. The Engine drove like a Cadilac, seriously! The Tak-4 suspension is nothing short of amazing. We would go over large bumps without feeling anything. The Caterpillar C-13 engine has a rediculous amount of horse power and torgue....powers Engine 81 nearly too well. Might be dangerous that there is so much get-up-and-go. Tower 81 has an identical drive train setup to Engine 81, but weighs nearly 25 thousand pounds more. It too powers it extremely well......I am excited. We ended the day off with a trip to the hook and ladder (firefighter bar) and dinner at Victorias in downtown Appleton. Good first day of work...

Grandma Beck

Carma Beck
(August 11, 1935 - October 17, 2008)

Carma Smith Beck passed away on October 17, 2008 while surrounded by her children, grandchildren and sisters. Carma was born August 11, 1935 in American Fork, Utah to Max and Ivon Adams Smith. She enjoyed growing up with seven sisters and one brother.

Carma married Kent E. Beck, December 14, 1955. They were later sealed in the Provo Utah LDS Temple. Kent passed away July 23, 1973. His unexpected death left Carma to raise her children alone. Carma was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1972. Her endurance, courage, and humor helped her face this challenge for the last 36 years. She never complained about her illness. Carma enjoyed her grandchildren first and foremost, but she also enjoyed chocolate, Pepsi and pizza.

Carma is survived by her children; Kim (Rebecca) Beck, Robyn (Dennis) Day, Kevin (Apryl) Beck, grandchildren; Jacob (Diane) Beck, Silas (Bethany) Day, Bronson Day, Auston Day, Jordan Beck, Jenna Beck, one great-granddaughter; Aiden Beck, sisters; Barbara (Dolph) Jolley, Kathryn (Hal) Holmstead, Linda (Frank) Manning, Judy (Eldon) Harward, Vickie (Roger) Jensen, brother; Max (Allyson) Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters, Joanne Iverson and Maxine Smith and by a granddaughter, Amanda Beck.

Funeral services will be held, Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the Lehi 2nd, 5th & 9th Ward LDS Chapel, 465 East 300 North. Family and friends may call, Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at Wing Mortuary, 118 East Main, Lehi, from 6-8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to service at the church. Interment, Lehi City Cemetery. Online guest book at wingmortuary.com.

The family would like to extend their thanks to the administration and staff at Alpine Valley Care Center for their loving and selfless service to Carma. Our hearts are filled with joy because we know Carma is now enjoying a nice long walk with Kent by her side.

Blog Update....Finally!

Two things.......
1. Yeah I know that it has been a while since I have made a post, cut me some slack. This is usually a soccer mom thing! And I am a jerkey eating, motor oil loving firefighter! haha

2. I am going to attempt to do this a bit different from now on. I may feel like posting more this way....I am going to attempt somewhat of a photo blog. Hope you enjoy!

Aiden is now about 8 months old....However this pic is a few months old. Aiden seems to be "growing up" quickly she is eating most of the stuff her mom eats, yogurt, bread, cheese, etc.. If you know Diane well you know what I am talking about and you can understand why this is funny to me. Haha

Take that BYU fans! That is right UTAH! She has been to Utah vs. UNLV, Utah vs. Weber State, Utah vs. Utah State, and Utah vs. Oregon State. How many BYU games have you went to this year??? We got season tickets this year and also are going to the San Diego for the San Diego State vs. Utah game. It has been a blast going with Ricky/Erica and Jeff/Cassandra. Aiden is a great cheerleader! (seriously)

For some reason she looks Oriental here. Nope. 100% American parents. Either way Oriental or American she is damn cute.


See!! How many of you bloggers know what this is? Thought so.............That is right, a Cat C-13. Picture taken while in Appleton, WI at the Pierce fire engine plant while finalizing our new apparatus.


Diane is the best mom! Her and Aiden at the U tailgate party before UNLV and during the game. Aiden is a great hiker! We spent three days hiking around Southern Utah and she did awesome. Little Wild Horse Canyon, Goblin Valley, Fish Lake, and Boulder Mountain are the areas we hit. We took Diane's mom and dad down for there birthday to take pictures (her mom is a photographer). We stayed in a little cabin in Torrey, Utah and had a great time.

Best picture ever!

Hope that gives everyone a small update on what we have been up to.

Thanks for looking!

Working out

Like I said in our earlier post Diane and I have been trying to do "crossfit" as much as possible. And believe me when you first start it is hard to even do it at all. The work outs are basically designed to make you vomit......all within 20 minutes. Aiden has been coming with us, kind of looks funny walking into the weight room with a car seat and baby but ohhhhh well.

Our first "date' was a work out, kind of crazy but we did about a 50 mile bike ride up American Fork Canyon and as they say "the rest is history" and Diane would go on 4 to 5 mile runs nearly up until she had Aiden. After all "a family that sweats together stays together!?"Pooooooor Aiden not quite sure how she is going to turn out because of all this!!

Been a month.......

Wow....been a month since the last blog post.
Quick update
-Aiden is getting big! 95th percentile in height and 75th in weight! I am thinking she will be the next Logan Tom (volleyball player) but who knows, maybe she will hate sports.
-We have been working on our yard, just brought in 16 yards of dirt for the vegetable garden and will probably have to bring in another 16 yards. I will then begin the process of "getting the dirt ready" for next years crop. We just planted a weeping blue atlas cedar, very beautiful tree. We are going to the nursery to get a few more plants and flowers and hope to get the flower beds planted a bit.
-Diane and I just started doing a work out called "crossfit" it is a little over the top and we are both VERY sore after just a couple of workouts. We enjoy it because it is only a twenty minute workout but it is very intense. Check it out at crossfit.com.
-I am now a proud owner of a "Ron Reynolds truck" few of you will understand this! It is a four door 4x4 Ford F-150. Nice truck and safe to put Aiden in.
-As you seen from my earlier post, Diane is back working and is waiting to hear from Utah Valley ER where she was tentativley hired pending an opening. This would be a great job cause she would be able to work nights.
-We are getting excited for summer and real excited to spend the first day of summer at the bluegrass festival in telluride colorado. We plan on being gone for a week. Aidens first trip!
-The fire department is hiring 10 additional full time people and our new station will open on April 1. A 105' ladder truck and new engine have also been ordered. This will also be the start of our Paramedic service. Fun times at the fire department right now!
-Sad but true....I have been dumpster diving in construction dumpsters looking for materials to build a shed in my back yard. I have found some awesome stuff! FYI I learned these techniques from Kristin who perfected them in New York City!
That is it I think????
My memorial day resolution is to blog more......so be prepared!

Mr. Mom

Ok, so my first day at being a Mr. Mom is no picnic! Not sure how all you REAL moms do it? Diane has proved to be the best! (yes, i am bragging!). Besides, it is SUPER hard to type with one hand and hold the baby in the other (doing it right now!).

I had to take Jackie to the groomer this morning and that alone took an hour of planning to time baby feeding, diaper changing, and car seat logistics to get Jackie to make her 10 o'clock appointment.

But, don't get me wrong.....this is ALL a good thing! I have noticed that your pace slows down (or should slow down) when you have a baby, she becomes first priority (or should be first) and all other things seem to have no value. Funny how the material things in life which used to seem important are replaced by the simple things. Maybe children or babys have a way of bringing that out?

I have been reading a lot of my old Mountain Gazette's today. For those that don't know the Gazette it is or was a moutain town magazine born in the high country of Colorado with an emphasis on good writing and less on advertisements. I have been an avid reader of them for close to ten years. I read a quote today that really stuck with me and make me think.....

"It isnt about me its about you, her, him. its about the mountains the blue skies. its about living without regrets without fear and hate. its about living, loving, and dying but never thinking about it."

This was from Free skier Billy Poole before his tragic death skiing in the Big Cottonwood Canyon back country.

One last quote from Ryan Adams (not Bryan Adams) who Diane, Aiden, and I will get to see in concert at the Telluride Bluegrass festival this summer. This kind of ties my current thoughts together..........

"You can't see tomorrow with yesterday's eyes"