Call me old fashioned.....

but I still wash my hands after I pee.  I'm amazed at how many people skip that step.  Most of them know that everyone around them is waiting to see if theyre going to.  Maybe they do it just to spite the more sanitary population, but regardless, Ive been thinking about what I can do as just one person with a piece of paper and a sharpee.  I've decided that I'm going to post an anonymous sign depicting calvin from calvin and hobbes washing his hands.  Everyone knows about those stickers on the back of trucks where calvin is peeing on something clever.  I think this might help raise awareness, on a small level, that hep(atitus) is not hip(atitus).

Things I enjoy doing:

Well my hobbies are ever-changing.  They have ranged from video games to texas holdem to muting religious television and playing death metal music for the soundtrack.  However, I have settled on a few that I've stuck with and can see myself continuing "religiously", for lack of a better word.  Most recently has been my fascination with fireworks.  I mean I've always liked watching them and setting them off, but after getting layed off from my job recently, I decided to research the construction of aerial shells and many other pyrotechnics used in commercial firework displays to pass the time.  It was right around the 4th of july as a matter of fact.  I've got some videos I'll post tomorrow.  It's too late right now.  But hopefully you can appreciate that I am trying to understand the art of fireworking and not just pursuing a childish endeavor of "blowing shit up".  Although I nearly blew mySELF up a few weeks ago attempting something a little too overzealous.  I've got a video of that too.  My life, along with magnalium and potassium perchlorate flashed before my very eyes.

Another hobby I am actually best known for and I pride myself in excelling at is beatboxing/vocal percussion.  I used to be really modest and when someone would tell me I was good at it I would be way sheepish and say something like "awww thanks.  youre too kind"   But over the years as I've worked very hard at becoming the best at it I can.  I'm damn good at it.  Throw anyone at me I'll battle them.  I really don't care who.  I honestly believe that I am one of the better beatboxers in the United States.  I've jammed with many of the top beatboxers in the world and I can hang with most of them.  I was invited to teach a seminar with the dude who beatboxes for Rockapella (Jeff Thatcher from carmen sandiego) in NC at So Jam and thats when I came to realize how unique my skill is and that there is actually a minority of kids and adults who are hungry for me to teach them what I have perfected and learned on my own over the years.  If I decided to I think I could easily be famous.  (Un)fortunately the limelight leaves a sour taste in my mouth and it's not for me.  Thats fine though.  I do it solely for my enjoyment and to let others experience the mystique of mouth drumming.  I got carried away there for a bit huh?  Well consider this... I'm not good at many things.  It took me way too long to decipher my hidden talent.

Next its onto real drums.  I'll stop there for now.

How I got here

I was born and raised in Southern California.   My dad (Heber J Trunnell) got a teaching job in St. George, UT so I moved here with my family when I was about 12.  I went to Woodward 6th grade center.  Miss Bulloch (my core teacher) asked me early on if I was Mormon, and after I said "yes", she said "Oh then you'll get along great here."  I remember thinking right away... "what if I wasn't LDS???"  Thats the first impression I had of living in Utah.  I liked it here though because my grandparents on my mom(Annette Trunnell)'s side (Keith and Doris Shurtliff) had a second home here at the time and they were 2 of my favorite people.

Fast forwarding a bit, I graduated Snow Canyon Highschool in 2000.  The only class I had ever failed was foods class and it was because my teacher Miss Mulford was unreasonable and had extremely poor judgment.  Do you want an example?  Sure.  One day the handicapped kids who sat in on our class, start fighting over who knows what.  This girl sierra starts pulling this other wheelchair girl's lego-like hair and bellowing.  Miss Mulford, instead of going for help to diffuse the situation, grabs a handful of sierra's hair, starts yanking and shouts "How do YOU like it!!!???"  Even then I knew how idiotic that was for a teacher to join in on a handicapped hair jerk.  My buddy Jeff Newman and I gave her a hard time every day after that and I supposed that could have contributed to my "F".  I don't remember anything I learned in Highschool but they were some of the best years of my life.  SO many fond memories.  If you were there with me, comment your heart out about anything during those 3 years.  I love to look back and laugh.

This is gonna be tough to keep it as concise as I want it.  You'll notice I don't really have any chronological rhyme or reason either.  Things just stand out to me and I'll write about them.  And also, I dont want anyone thinking this is going to be an autobiography.  Those are usually boring.  I'm just laying the foundation.

I ended up going on a mission for the LDS church and serving in Fukuoka Japan.  I didnt have a real belief in certain things at the time but I felt strongly about going for a few reasons.  I didnt get along well at all with my family.  I was selfish and wanted to be away from them along with everything else that had piled up in my life up to that point.  Also, my cousins Ryan and T.J. Wolfe having gone, had a strong impact on my decision.  Peer pressure, despite popular opinion, can be a good thing.  Plus I wanted a change in my life.  So I went.  Overall it was a challenging and humbling experience and I will never regret going.  I met so many incredible people with more faith and charity than I have ever seen in anyone here.  And it helped to shape part of my character.  Although I am still unsure if organized religion is for someone like me.

I came back home thinking that I was never going to date an American ever again.  I had been reprogrammed and I was so set on finding my Japanese bride.  Now here's the thing...  I had never dated before I left period.  So take out that word "again".  I had no interest in girls throughout highschool and I was completely oblivious to anyone liking me.  I got tagged with a bucket of flour (she missed with the water) by some girl because I turned her down for the girl-ask-guy dance.  All I cared about was skateboarding and playstation.  (see what I mean about jumping around throughout time.  Call me ted theodore logan)  I did fall in love eventually.  Way after all the dust settled.  She is the reason why I have a dog (Joel) now.  Our love dog.  Things didnt work out.  I'm glad he's just a dog.  Joel as been such a great companion though.  He is like my kid.

 Early in 2008 I used the money I had saved from various jobs, along with a loan from my parents, to purchase a brand new townhome in Santa Clara, UT.  I'm like 15 feet from living in Ivins but my mailing address says Santa Clara.  I shouldve waited.  The market took a dive right after I bought it.  For the first year living here, I had no neighbors and a lot of dirt and tumbleweeds all around.  But I did have a new hobby.  Paintballing.  My roommates and I gathered up around 300 tires and anything else we could find around the complex and built our own paintball field on the property.  It was awesome.  We even ran lighting to it and had a vinyl banner that said "Phils paintball park sponsored by Big O Tire"  I don't think I realized how white trash I had become.  Its gone now.  Someone gave the head nod to bulldoze it and now its a vacant lot once again.  I have a lot more neighbors now.  Most of them are younger couples.  I don't get invited to their wii bowling nights.  I could care less.  I also couldnt care less.

I've got 2 roommates now but I am about to kick one of them out.  We have been good friends up til recently.  But the other day he flew off the handle and punched me in the face.  I punched him back in his face.  Now we barely ever talk.  I've lived with the guy for about 4 years without incident and just because I finally tell him what I really think about his slobby disgusting girlfriend now we are on the outs.  There were many other factors but the point is we are getting a divorce.  He is a good guy and I love him as a friend but its time.  I only want one roommate.  Preferably one who can see the blind side of a barn.

 So now I've got you pretty much caught up.  I'll add more and pictures and stories as I figure this crap out.  Thanks if you read or skimmed through this.  I have never really let semi-strangers really know who I am before.  If it scares any of you off then oh well.





 

Once upon a time... I had a blog. Before it even knew what it was.

I don't know how many of you remember my website that I had a long time ago.  It was located at www.grablegrandeur.com and it was where I wrote many of the dreams, thoughts and feelings I had, as well as misadventures and mishaps.  I was sad to wake up one day and see that it had all been erased.  I suppose that nothing is sacred when it comes to the internet.
        So why am I rebuilding?  There are a few reasons.  A dear friend who I've never even met before suggested that I start one, being the main reason.  I think that in the past I have been inconsistent when it comes to these types of things.  But I am going to make an effort to let anyone who cares to, know whats going on in my life and in my head.  I'm not saying that I am going to keep up with the kardashians but I will at least break my own record.
        I have always enjoyed writing.  I think it suits me better than talking.  Thanks for reading.