Cleaning rampage!!!

Every once and a while, perhaps when some sort of alignment occurs somewhere in our galaxy, Rich goes on a cleaning rampage. It is an unpredictable phenomenon, though it usually happens late in the night, and simply fantastic to watch. His strength increases (that's why he beat me in an arm wrestle earlier that night), his speed augments, and he is unstoppable. For example, I walk in the kitchen and all the dishes are washed, the microwave is spotless, and the table is shining... and goodness gracious, hasn't he been in the kitchen for only a couple of minutes! His organization skills become off the hook as well during the rampage and he arranges everything from the beds, the clothes, to the essential toiletries. After he's done with the bathroom, it's sparkling and our toothbrushes are perfectly aligned next to the toothpaste tube. I don't think I've ever seen him finish a rampage as well because I'm usually in bed sleeping before it ends. Rich, maybe you inherited this from Grandma Freedman..

A proposal

I propose that blog members can no longer vote for themselves in the polls. The fact that Stephen has two votes in the 'who would kill the mob boss and corrupt police chief' a la Godfather is a clear indicator that this is happening. We all know that Stephen, despite his especially violent free-style lyrics, wouldn't hurt a fly. He might be able to two-and-a-half-it off the diving board, but I can't see him offing anyone. Little Brooklyn Italian restaurant or not.

That's all. Except some woman is slaving away in the costume shop recesses of the HFAC basement to hand make me a killer three piece, 40's style pin-stripe suit for the musical I'm doing at BYU. They won't let me keep it, but it might just disappear...

Baby we were born to run

As the light from the morning sun poured across my chest (muscular) through the blinds, I looked up at a picture of an eagle scrawled across my bedroom wall. It was then that I found a brand new vision as I embark on my job search. I am going to go America all over everyone! In the words of the Boss:

In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected
and steppin' out over the line
Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
`Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run

Like my Jewish ancestors of old, I'm going to live the American dream, except mine will have a soundtrack provided by Bruce Springsteen. Why? Because in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. I hold these truths to be self-evident all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Recognize it? It's the Declaration. USA! USA! USA!

Rest In Peace Richard Knerr!

Richard Knerr died monday at the age of 82. Now some of you might ask who is Richard Knerr? Well Richard Knerr was the co-founder of the amazing company Wham-O. The same company that brought us the Hula Hoop, The Frisbee, Slip 'N Slide, and Silly String! These amazing toys have brought me and many others hours of fun on end. Two summers ago you wouldn't believe how much fun Richard, Stephen and I had with the hula hoop. Even this last summer we had amazing Slip 'N Slide fun. So to the man who brought us these marvelous inventions, we salute you!  

In over my head...

When I first took my job offer, my first reaction was wow I am in over my head with this stuff. The last interview I had with the company they had me come in and work in the lab with them. They were throwing around word and numbers that had no meaning to me. I really thought that I might not be able to work there. The funny thing is though, as I've been putting together my proposal for my project, I am starting to get excited for the work. I've been reading some of the journal articles which they gave me to read, which I started to find fascinating, and I've began to understand better what I'm going to be working with and I'm not so scared anymore. I still have some stuff to review (math stuff, woof!) before I'll feel like I'm 100% ready. But I do feel more at ease I must say and I'm looking forward to working there. 

Nebraska ho..

I am elated the blog readers have voted me most likely to farm in Nebraska by a record-breaking 75 percent. I thought it was high time to acknowledge my victory and send my thanks out there to the people. I would like to first and foremost thank the wonderful farmers in Nebraska, they're the ones out there that really do the work. I would like to thank the voters of course, and finally, my wicked farming skills.

We're Going to Go Back, Way Back in Time...

Two nights ago Stephen mentioned that he found a slow jams mix from back in the day. This comment opened the flood gates of reminiscing of great songs from back in the middle/high school days. Songs such as Pony by Ginuwine, Nobody by Keith Sweat, and many other great jams from the 90's. So this morning I spent some time digging around and finding some of these great songs that haven't been played for a long time. It was worth the work. Especially when Stephen decided to do a little dancing.

Note To Self...

First off Rich way to go with the blogging. I've been way bad about it the past week or so. I think mostly due to the funk I was in from having to decide what to do with my life. So as most of everybody knows I ended taking the job up in Seattle. Which I start on the 4th of February so that means I have to leave for Seattle by at latest the 1st of February which by my calculations is three weeks from today or I guess yesterday cuz it's now past midnight. So whoever wants to get their last helpings of Mike Lau for the next couple of months better do so quickly. Also I'm taking ideas for what I need to do before I leave the Beehive State. My friend Lisha has already started a nice little list for me but I need more. So if anybody has any ideas feel free to let me know. 

Where will Richard be March 14th at 8:00PM?

Answer: At Kilby Court to watch the following madness take stage. The group is called Leslie and the LY's... ENJOY!

Richard Wood Goes On Welfare

I write this next bit tilting my head to the upper right, closing my eyes, and gently kissing the sweet taste off the tips of my fingers: "Ah... few things beat the fine corpulence of you my friend, welfare cheque." As you can all see, I also look the part. I've broken my record in growing out my beard for a two and a half weeks. My showers have unfortunately not been daily. Also my crazy afro is back. So, obviously, I will be spending my cheque on bling and to put money down on a large screen television. My brothers and I get these cheques every three months because the government loves us... no it's actually a rebate for Goods and Services Tax (our national sales tax or GST). So is it actually welfare? Debatable, but I'd like to think so.

Getting to know Winnipeg

I have loved posting pictures of Winnipeg on the blog because it seems like such an anomaly. I don't think people know what to expect of this Midwest Canadian city. So I decided to post up a picture that I recently took of Winnipeg at night. This picture was taken after a short drive from where I live in the CITY of Winnipeg to the actual downtown portion with skyscrapers and such. So Winnipeg isn't as barren as I sometimes may make it out to be. I also included a picture of my brothers and I when we were kids because of Stephen's shorts... absolutely brilliant!

The Good Ol' Hockey Game

I think everyone will be happy to know that hockey is alive and well in Canada. It's so crazy living in Canada and seeing how important hockey is. There is no doubt in my mind that it plays an integral part of our culture, probably more so than baseball does for America. Stephen and I, along with our Dad and our brother Sam, hit the ice early this morning to celebrate. And you know what? We may not be able to compete with best, or the average, or the slightly below average but on the whole I was really impressed with our ability to play the game. We could defend skating backwards, handle the puck around people, score goals, make smart plays, and skate hard with ramming into the boards and falling on the ice. I can't wait to go back and play next week! The amount of ice rinks in Winnipeg is mind boggling, seriously. Once November comes we just pour water on the ground and count on it being there till March or April. In other news, I was so upset by the Republican Primary in Iowa I started up my personal blog again. I linked it on the side.

Winnipeg Stake's New Year Dance

Every year the LDS Stake in Winnipeg holds an everyone-welcome New Year's Dance. It sounds fantastic on paper, and in reality... it actually is. Except, it's fantastic for some non-standard reasons. First, you get a wonderful mix of misfits:


Second, everyone is watching your dance moves. Thus the dancing stays very conservative as no one wants to become the talk of various parents and church leaders. You should have heard the talk when Stephen did a booty move a few years ago. What does this equal? Painfully awkward dancing. The highlight of the evening was when Boyz II Men's "4 Seasons of Loneliness" came on and Steve and I just stood on the sidelines paralyzed in our ability to ask girls to dance with us.


Third reason the dance is awesome, the party doesn't start till the Wood Family steps on the scene.

I feel happy... I like drugs

I know I'm a bit delayed getting a report of the exciting New Year's Dance, but in other news Stephen got his wisdom teeth out. I'm having a little trouble deciding if Stephen was feeling the effects of the drugs or if he is just being his regular self. You decide. In other news I bought a dreidel that grows to 300 times its size when put in water, and then you can play regular dreidel when it's not humongous.