Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Dead Horse Theory

My brother Kevin drew this picture. Not sure where the writing originated from. However funny you may find this, it's very true.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Saguaro Lake

I thought this was a pretty cool picture. I wish I could get back there more often.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Tron 2.0 - To be released in 2011

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104001/

Except for Star Wars and the like, I don't think I have ever been more excited about a movie coming out.

Tron 2.0 is being filmed right now and is expected to be released in 2011.

Back in the day I remember spending every quarter I had at Barros Pizza in Mesa playing Tron. Well, I split my time between Tron and 720. Actually, I really split all of my time there between Tron, 720 and Cyberball. Those were all great games. I loved playing 720 and getting chased by the bees. "Skate or DIE!!!"

If you're looking to waste some time, this is a pretty cool online lightcycle game.

http://www.fltron.com/









Saturday, April 25, 2009

Friday, April 3, 2009

The Will To Win


by Berton Braley

If you want a thing bad enough
To go out and fight for it,
Work day and night for it,
Give up your time and your peace and

your sleep for it

If only desire of it 

Makes you quite mad enough 

Never to tire of it, 

Makes you hold all other things tawdry 

and cheap for it

If life seems all empty and useless without it
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it, 



If gladly you'll sweat for it, 

Fret for it, Plan for it, 

Lose all your terror of God
or man for it, 



If you'll simply go after that thing that you want. 

With all your capacity, 

Strength and sagacity, 

Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity, 



If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt, 

Nor sickness nor pain 

Of body or brain 

Can turn you away from the thing that you want, 



If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
You'll get it!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Then & Now

Me & my Dad...























...Me & my boy.






















My Grandpa, Don Carlos Nicoll behind the ranch house in the late 50's.




















My dad outside the ranch house.




















My dad's baptism at the Mesa Temple.





























63 years later.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Life's Soundtrack

For a more entertaining weBLOG, go to: http://toeternityandbeyond.blogspot.com. My wife's weBLOG is your way to know how the Nicoll Family is doing. My weBLOG is simply for me to park random stuff.

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I'd imagine this is common with all people but I know for me in-particular, certain songs bring to my mind specific memories.

Those who know me best know my memory consists of things of little consequence. For example, when my friends talk about something that may have happened a long time ago, I'll chime in with something like, "You had Lucky Charms for breakfast that morning." Random, I know, but that's how I roll.

I share that thought above to preface why I'm posting what's below.

What follows is a list of songs that for me bring to mind a specific memory. For example, I listed U2's song, Numb. My memory attached to that song is that I bought the Zooropa CD on an overcast day. Also, when we drove to the store to get it, my friend and I drove there on the premise that 2 permits equaled a license. (It wasn’t my family’s car but I was an accessory to the crime.)

Every so often I hear that when judgment day comes, our life will be played like a movie for all to see. A little while ago I was curious what my life's soundtrack would then be for that movie. Here’s the list I’ve compiled with more surely to come. These are the songs on my life’s soundtrack.

What songs am I missing?

*disclaimer - Just because I listed a song does not mean it deserves some award or that I would ever spend money to hear again. Generally the lyrics and/or song title also have nothing to do with the memory. In most cases, it was just the song playing at the time. Some memories are worth sharing, which I’ll document when I have more time.


Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys ~ The night I met my wife, I dressed up as one of the Backstreet Boys with some other guys and went to a Halloween institute dance. We memorized the dance they did for this video and performed it that night in front of everyone. Rachelle thought I was a dork but that seems to work well for me.

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys - Willie Nelson ~ It's just true.

Jam On It - Nucleus ~ Anyone who was into breakdancing will remember this song.

Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's ~ For some reason I can listen to this song repeat all day.

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams ~ My dad told me that he was young, he remembers my grandpa waking up early in the morning, sitting in the kitchen and listening to Hank Williams on the radio. I'm excited to one day get to know my grandparents.

Jump - Van Halen ~ As a kid I remember my brothers listening to this album. It's one of my all time favorite songs.

Coming Back to Life - Pink Floyd ~ I listened to this album a lot around this time I graduated from HS.

Hey Lady - Led Zeppelin ~ When didn't I listened to Led Zeppelin?

It's Tricky - Run DMC ~ I've always love this song but I remember listening to is everytime my brother Darren let me drive his new Dodge truck.

Duel of the Fates - John Williams ~ I love StarWars.

The Caterpillar - The Cure ~ I have always loved this album but I remember buying the CD at BYU when Justin and I drove up for EFY. All except for the speeding ticket on the way back, it was a pretty cool week.

One - U2 ~ I think everyone can relate to this song.

(Ghost) Riders in the Sky - Johnny Cash ~ I always think about my cowboy ancestors when I hear this song. Many of who were some pretty rough dudes, I hope they've softened up.

You Are My Sunshine - Gene Autry ~ My brother Kevin drew an artistic version of this song. My family then put it on shirts. I was on my mission at the time but I remember getting a little homesick when I received the pictures they sent me.

Cattle Call - Eddy Arnold ~ I remember listening to this song a lot when driving to our ranch.

Handlebars - Flobots ~ It's a newer song but it was a lot of fun hearing the first time.

Intergalactic - Beastie Boys ~ This is one of the songs I was excited to hear after I came back off my mission.

Something in the Way She Moves - James Taylor ~ I remember sitting outside Jared Merrill's house in my car listening to this song. BTW... Jared is not the 'She' that made it memorable.

Sweet Dreams - Eurythimics ~ Everytime I went to Dan Gould's apartment I would turn this on. Yet another song that I could listen to and repeat all day.

You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker ~ So many applications.

This Corrosion - Sisters of Mercy ~ I just enjoy throwing Sisters of Mercy on when I'm in a dark room.

Hey You - Pink Floyd ~ Yet another Pink Floyd Song.

Paper
Planes - MIA ~ It's a newer song but it was a lot of fun hearing the first time.

Are You Ready for the Summer - Meatballs ~ I love this movie.

America - Neil Diamond ~ I think he sang this in the movie 'Jazz Singer'. If not, I remember watching him sing this song on TV when I was next door at Russ Foster's house.

Just a Dream Away - Maarja-Liis Ilus ~ Maarja-Liis Ilus was the new hotness when I was on my mission in Estonia. She was a singer that every Estonian adored. I didn't get to listen to her CD's until I got home but I heard her on the radio everywhere.

Plastic Jesus - Paul Newman ~ I love the movie 'Cool Hand Luke'. He sings this song on the banjo after he learned that his mother passed.

Heart of Gold - Neil Young ~ Nuff said.

You Wore Flowers - Peter Brienholt ~ I had a couple of Utah friends tell me about Peter Brienholt. I bought this CD while on a quick trip to Utah and am reminded of that trip every time I hear this CD.

Temple of Love - Sisters of Mercy ~ See above.

Red Red Wine - UB40 ~ I remember listening to this song a lot one summer when we visited our Lee cousins in Utah. We slept in a trailer out behind their house. Those summers were fun.

Amos Moses - Primus ~ Anything Primus.

Beautiful Girl - INXS ~ Overall, INXS reminds me of elementary school and hanging out with Kyle Parker and Justin Swaggerty over the summer.

Never Tear Us Apart - INXS

Out to Get You - James ~ I'd put this CD on a lot when I was trying to go to sleep.

Jet City Woman - Queensrÿche ~ Nuff said.

I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins ~ Caddyshack!

More - Sisters of Mercy ~

Go West - Pet Shop Boys ~ When I left the MTC and was flying to my mission, the flight from New York to Finland had a channel that played the Pet Shop Boys the whole time. I think I felt every range of emotion on that flight and am reminded of them every time I hear PSB.

Take On Me - Aha ~ This song is obvious if you were alive in the 80's

Rainbow Connection - Kermit the Frog ~ We had the vinyl to this sound track and I recorded it to a cassette tape. I don't know what it was about a green frog that I could relate with.

I'll Sail This Ship Alone - The Beautiful South ~ I remember hearing Aaron Flake sing this on one of our rafting trips.

Everything About You - Ugly Kid Joe ~

The Bandit - Jerry Reed ~ Who doesn't want to be the Bandit?

Cannonball Run - Jerry Reed ~ Who doesn't want to be Burt Reynolds?

Movin' Right Along - The Muppets

East Bound & Down - Jerry Reed ~ Jerry Reed is the man.

She - Elvis Costello ~ 'Notting Hill' is a chick flick I can watch more than once.

Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley ~ Nuff said.

Thunder Rolls - Garth Brooks ~ I am by no means a country fan. However, Garth Brooks made it hard for me to be a hater. His box set was worth getting.

The Dance - Garth Brooks ~

1959 - Sisters of Mercy

Snow - Red Hot Chili Peppers ~ Every time Parker or Riley drive with me, they ask me to play this song.

What I've Done - Linkin Park ~ Transformers... plus, this song gets my blood going.

1979 - Smashing Pumpkins ~ High School and Smashing Pumpkins are synonymous. Smashing Pumpkins and Tool was always playing in Tyler Rowley attic.

Winds of Change - Scorpions ~ One time when we tapped into free cable, we recorded MTV so that we could rewatch it. This was one of the videos that was recorded. I also would play this song on the jukebox at BYU when I went up there for camps.

Here I Go Again - Whitesnake ~ I just like this album

Regulate - Warren G ~ Watching Dan Gould get groovy with this song is worth money.

Know How - Young MC ~ Nuff said.

Principal's Office - Young MC

Bust a Move - Young MC ~ One of the all time greats.

Going Back to Cali - LL Cool J ~ Who doesn't feel cool listening to LL?

Around the Way Girl - LL Cool J ~ Get's my blood going.

Kernkraft 400 - Zombie Nation

Good Riddance - Green Day ~ Green Day and His

When September Ends - Green Day

I Love You Always Forever
- Donna Lewis ~ I should be careful with this one. This song always came on the radio at that perfect times. I'll just explain it as such... (33.444495,-111.737555)

Buddy Holly - Weezer ~ This song would play on the radio every day when I worked at Honda Cars of Mesa during the summer of '95.

No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley ~ At one point everyone related with this song.

Precious - Depeche Mode ~

Summergirls - LFO

Laid - James ~ Why we did it, I don't know. But we'd sing this song at the top of our lungs in high school.

Sometimes - James

Selling the Drama - Live ~ Great song.

Hunger Strike - Temple of the Dog

Slow Ride - Foghat ~ Reminds me of my favorite movie... Dazed and Confused.

Somebody - Depeche Mode ~ Every Saturday night.

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

Paul revere - Beastie Boys

Girls - Beastie Boys

The Unforgiven - Metallica

Play That Funky Music - Vanilla Ice

Here Comes Santa Claus - Elvis Presley

Changes - Tupac

Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades - Timbuk 3

I Wear My Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart

The Power - Snap

The Right Stuff - New Kids on the Block

Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Crazy - Seal

Fields of Gold - Sting

Shape of My Heart - Sting

Numb - U2

Our House - Madness

Blaze of Glory - Jon Bon Jovi

Bang a Drum - Jon Bon Jovi

Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John

500 Miles - Proclaimers

Closing Time - Semisonic

Blind - Korn

Come As You Are - Nirvana

November Rain - Guns'N'Roses

Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Mysterious Ways - U2

Today - Smashing Pumpkins

Too High To Fly - Dokken

Overweight Lover - Heavy D.

Square Dance Rap - Sir Mix A Lot

Right Here, Right Now - Jesus Jones

To Wish Impossible Things - The Cure

Need You Tonight - INXS

New Sensation - INXS

Mystify - INXS

Mediate - INXS

Shine Like it Does - INXS

White Lines - Duran Duran

My Name is Mud - Primus

Tommy the Cat - Primus

Birdhouse in Your Soul - They Might Be Giants

Particle Man - They Might Be Giants

Learning To Fly - Tom Petty

American Pie - Don McLean

Dead Man's Party - Oingo Boingo

Come Take Me Now - Saigon Kick

Mmm Mmm Mmmm - Crash Test Dummies

How Bizarre - OMC

How Long - Dire Straits

On Every Street - Dire Straits

Iron Hand - Dire Straits

Ticket to Heaven - Dire Straits

I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick

The Flame - Cheap Trick

Here I Go Again - Whitesnake

Tuesday's Gone - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Love Missile F1-11 - Sigue Sigue Sputnik

Runaway Train - Soul Asylum

Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

Big in Japan - Alphaville

Forever Young - Alphaville

A Little Respect - Erasure

Love To Hate You - Erasure