Do A Barrel Roll...

You may have heard about Google's latest gem of geekiness today.  If you go to Google.com and type, "do a barrel roll" then hit enter, you'll, well, you just have to try it for yourself if you haven't.  But it seems nothing else of significance happened in the world today.

 While I definitely took part in the barrel roll several times today I wouldn't say that my day was as boring as this jpeg would suggest.  I had an interview today for an Inventory Control Clerk position at the distribution center for a locally based international health and wellness corporation.  I was one of six applicants that had been selected for interviews.  I was pretty nervous and unsure of what to expect.  I've been blessed thus far with not having to endure a lot of interviews in the past.  Every job I have ever had, I was able to get fairly easily, it seems.  So the concept of a real interview was a little bit scary.  I got all ready and dressed nice to make a good impression and then headed out being certain to arrive exactly 5 minutes early.  The interview lasted for over 45 minutes and took place in a small conference room in front of a panel of three members of department management who possessed a combined 60 years of experience with the company.  It was an interesting experience and one that I hadn't really had before but I'm glad that I did.  I feel like I did the best that I could at presenting myself and I left with a good feeling.  But I'm not going to hold my breath just yet since I won't know for certain until Monday.  Whether or not I get the job, I still feel good about the experience.
     Having finished the interview and feeling pretty good about the day I decided to go on a little adventure while the weather was still good.  I like to get out on little adventures often but lately I've felt like I haven't really covered any new ground.  I grabbed my camera and headed towards the mountains with no destination or plan whatsoever.  As I drove, I tossed around several ideas for possible destinations but never really made a decision, so I just headed straight for Provo Canyon hoping to get a final glance at some fall colors before the last leaves hit the ground.  I stopped at a little wayside below North (Upper) Falls that doesn't see a lot of people and took some pictures of the area since everything had changed with the seasons since the last time I had been there.

I wanted to see something new however, so I got back on the main road and headed further up the canyon.  I hadn't really driven anywhere past the area around North Falls, being more interested in other areas to explore.  But today was the day to go a bit farther.  I drove through a tunnel and followed the Provo River to where it flows from a reservoir.  Shortly after encountering the reservoir I found a road that took off to the right, I figured I'd see if there was anything interesting down there and planned on turning around at some point.  It was a two lane country road that entered a small valley.  I stopped for a couple photo ops along the way before I got to a small town. Wallsburg.  Now it was pretty clear that there wasn't much here.  Wikipedia tells me that as of the 2000 census, Wallsburg, Utah had a population of 274 people and was first established in 1862, making it 150 years old next year.  There was one little run down store that actually had an open sign on the door.  I should've stopped in and met some locals, but I didn't.  I found a couple old buildings and snapped some cool shots.  An old store, long since closed.  A very rustic old cabin style house, easily over 100 years old.  Some random chickens wandering through the street.  A run down log cabin.  Most interesting of all was what appeared to be an old boarded up brick schoolhouse on a rock and mortar foundation with the year 1904 on the front.  It was a fairly large building with a for sale sign on one of the boarded up windows.  I thought about possible uses for the building.  Renovation into a home, museum or cultural center.  But anything would probably take too great an investment just getting it to pass safety inspections than it would be worth.  But I enjoyed exploring the town a little bit and taking pictures of old buildings.

For a long time I have had this concept of a photo series utilizing old rural structures, but I have yet to do much about it.  But the subject remains an interesting photographic topic that I enjoy.  It started getting pretty chilly and I wanted to get back before it was dark so I left Wallsburg and headed out of the canyon.  But I was so intrigued with the place that I will most definitely return on another adventure.  I got back, made dinner, chilled with the roommates for a bit while watching Criminal Minds and Seinfeld and ate tons more candy.  This pile of wrappers is starting to get pretty impressive!  So while many people had a boring day, the highlight of which was a barrel roll on Google, my day was a successful adventure.  I feel good about today and I'm ready for the next adventure.