College.

Holy Cow... This Blog is Long overdue... and I apologize for that. Things here have been crazy!

So I moved into my new apartment. I met my Roommates. I started College. I work everyday. haha so we will start with moving into my apartment.

Got here, and I talked to the manager, got my key and what not. I came down and checked out the apartment. Nice little place. Supposed to be 6 people living here, which seemed like a lot. But I thought to myself, "it cant be that bad." And, its NOT! haha. so at first, it was just me and Tanner. and I was thinking that we had 4 lame ducks that were coming late... turns out there are only 3 of us in this place! so that's Half what we would normally have! pretty awesome if you ask me. Carlton showed up Tuesday mid-day. Pretty good guys! I like em both! and they both know how to put up with my shenanigans! haha.

So, School itself isn't too bad. It's a lot different than I originally thought it was going to be. A lot of the teachers here don't want you using laptops or iPad's in their class? and they really don't want phones in their classes. I understand the phones one... but the Laptops and iPad's? I don't get it. I figured because we are paying to be there (versus high school where everyone just goes to it) then they wouldn't care so much? But they do... oh well I'm really not worried about it. I like my classes, I am only taking Fundamental Classes. but I really enjoy going to them and I actually like the teachers I have. My English class is a little intense. but its a block class so it will be over in no time. (June 1st). It seems that I have Homework every day, which is good! haha. It keeps me busy.

Also, I work at Rays still! It's pretty crazy. I go to school all day, then go to work the rest of the night, then I have homework to do after I get home... Right now it's working out pretty well, but that is because last week it was raining and they called me and told me not to come in every day. I wrote them a note and asked that, in May, my schedule not be so "everyday". I haven't been getting to bed at a normal time because I have been up doing the reading assignments. haha Every class makes you read! and I don't retain the reading because its so late. haha. oh well. I'm getting used to this stuff!

All in all, I know that I have bored you today, I'm sorry for that. I'll work on it! I promise. I just felt like I needed to get this First "College" Blog post up before I was too far into college!

Stay Sweet!
Peace Late!
-Joshua Franz

PS! Kelly is coming in May! And she is Bringing Karen! So that is going to be awesome! =D

Justin's Mission Call!

Hey Hey Hey!

Okay, so Yesterday I went to the post office, and opened the mail box up to see a HUGE WHITE envelope addressed from the Prophet, to Elder Justin Grant Franz. I promptly sent him a few photos, and things were arranged to have a little "Mission Call Opening" get together at 7 PM. Right around 7 PM all the family showed up! Grandma Hix was even in town! it was awesome to see Justin open his call and see that he has been called to the.... Watch the Video and find out!

Colorado Denver North Mission! Man, I am excited for this kid! And he leaves soon too! I don't think we have much to get done for him, as far as preparation goes. I mean he has a suit and I have a million ties that he can take with him... haha he really just needs Shirts and shoes and socks and he will be outa here!

Hey Justin, I am proud of you man. Keep up the good work! Your Mission will be a life changing experience that you will learn and grow from. It will be something that you think about every day for the rest of your life. Ask anyone who has gone on one and they will tell you that! Love you Brother!

Peace Late
-Joshua Franz

Tout The Video Instagram.

HEY!

So, I write this blog as a review for things that I like/don't like/want people to try... and today I want to talk about something that I really am starting to like, and comparing with something that I already enjoy/love.

I will begin with the thing that I love already, and that is Instagram. its an app for your phone (Yes, even YOU, with that weird Droid can now have it... as of last week that is!). Instagram is an app that you use to take pictures and share them with your friends. You can post them to Twitter ( https://twitter.com/#!/joshfranz , as you see here I have posted a few good pictures [and Tout vids as well] to Twitter using Instagram) and also Facebook, Tumblr, Email, and a few other social networks. You can follow people, be it friends, relatives, famous people, or your Mom, you follow them and see what they post and you can like and comment on it. On Instagram there are ways to edit your pictures with different filters and things to the photos to edit them and make them more presentable/cooler? anyway, what I'm trying to get at, is that its an enjoyable way to share photos.... Well, now there is a way to share not only photos with your friends and loved ones, but you can share videos with them as well. By downloading the app Tout. it is actually a LOT like instagram. It has a very similar interface, and its roughly the same as far as following friends and other people.

What I like about it:
1-Videos are limited to 15 seconds long, so there is NO Rambling on and on and saying Um... What?... Uh... Blah blah blah... its to the point, and if you don't get to the point in 15 seconds... try again.
2-It is easy to load things to Facebook and Twitter (since those are what I use for it)
3-Unlike Instagram, you can use Tout online at WWW.TOUT.COM . so if you have a computer with a webcam, then you can use it online without even having a smart phone.

What I dislike about it:
1-No one uses it that I know... haha! So you should start using it, you don't have to be a YouTube Sensation to use it and to be able to talk to a camera... just be yourself.
2-The Videos are Limited to 15 seconds. Now I know that in the Like Section above, I said that I like this... but all too often, I will be recording something and a word will get cut off... 20 seconds is all I'm asking for.

I suggest that you get yourself out there to the App Store on your Local iTunes, or get on that good ole Google store for Droids, and get Tout so that you can start to tell us of your life and your likings.

That is all that I have to say for tonight. haha..
Peace Late
-Joshua Franz

The Hunger Games! - The Movie.

Okay okay okay... so as you read in my last post. While I was in Utah last week I had the opportunity to go to The Hunger Games movie. I think that Enough time has now passed that I can give a reasonable review to it.

This MIGHT spoil this movie for you if you have not seen it.

The Hunger Games. A movie based on a novel written by Suzanne Collins. - Having read the book first, I must follow the cliche and say that the book was MUCH Better. Haha. In the movie, they followed the book very very closely. Which I appreciate, because it took me a few days to read the book and if they had gone way off the beaten path, then I would feel as though I wasted my time. Like all Movies that are based on Books, you have it pictured up in your head different then the director, or the make up people, or the author themselves. and so that is always a little annoying. but I feel as though they did a really great job using the book for a good reference as for how things looked and what not. On occasion I felt as though I was watching people in their mid-20's and not people that are 12-18 (speaking of the Tributes of course) but that is roughly what most of the actor are, is in their 20's. so I guess that is to be expected... I thought the Reaping was a little weird, as all the kids are walking out (in District 12) it seemed to me to be like footage from World War II in Germany of Jewish Children being marched somewhere.... On to the actual Games! I loved the Games, the Capitol, the Training, everything was as I imagined it(or close to it). I feel as though they did a great job at showing the killing in the games without using too much blood or gore or anything of that matter. But, in the end of the movie, I was very weird-ed out about the Wolves? To me, they looked like Smashed Faced dogs. Although they were scary and that is how they are portrayed in the book, but I pictured more of a Wolf than they were. All in All, I Loved this movie. I will be getting it on DVD when it comes out.

If you haven't seen this movie. Go, Now and watch it. That is all.

-Joshua Franz

PS. Sneaky way to Kill Seneca Crane eh?!

UTAH!!

This last weekend was really awesome! I had the chance of heading down to Utah to visit Kelly, Go to General Conference, Go to a Mission Reunion, and spend time with my Franz Family.

So I started the trip on Thursday in the morning, by Picking up one of my old Companions, Ole Raleigh Wayland out in Ririe. The next leg of our journey took us to my Aunt Cindy's house to shoot up some birds... but that didn't happen. I mean that we went out there and the birds had Flown the Coop! so we just chatted with her for a bit, then headed to Julie's house to get Tanner. Then the real Fun started! we turned on some Music and headed for the Border. The whole way there me and Raleigh talked about mission stuff and different people, while Tanner listened to his iPod. It only took us a few hours to get to Utah, and it was a really easy drive. once I dropped them off at the places they were going, I headed to the U of U to pick up Kelly! And the Rest of Thursday was spent hanging out with her and her Family. We went to a Cemetery, and took pictures(not of graves or anything, on the one end, there is kind of a park area that is really cool with statues and things). and shortly after that we all headed to the MOVIES to see The Hunger Games. Which BTW is an incredible flick! You must go and see it if you haven't already. They do a really good job at sticking to the Book. I really enjoyed the creativity of the Movie makers in this movie. The Book had a lot of things that were, I'm Sure, hard to do; but they do a great job at it all.

Friday I got up and went and picked Kelly up at the U of U again, and we headed to the 7-11 for some Slurpee's! SOO dang good! I wish there were 7-11's here in Idaho... then we went to Grandpa and Grandma Franz' place and relaxed for a bit, and eventually headed back to Kelly's house to spend time with her and her family. That night I went to my Mission Reunion in Sandy at about 6:30... and I saw a lot of AWESOME people there. People that I hadn't seen for a long time. Archi, Jergy, Jameson, Pres & Sis Talbot, Blackett, and too many others to sit and name them all! It was Really great to see them and to talk to them and find out what everyone is up to now! After the reunion, I went back to Kelly's house and was sitting and talking to her, when her Uncle showed up, and he started asking me all kinds of things about my mission and what not. I really enjoyed that. I feel like it is hard to just talk about a mission without questions about certain things. and he was really good at asking things, and it really made me miss my Mission. Those were 2 Life Changing years that's for sure.

Saturday was the BIG day, half the reason I wanted to go to Utah on this weekend! GENERAL CONFERENCE! so I got up early, and had Kelly come out to my Grandparents house, well on the way there she got pulled over. haha! but luckily for her she only got a warning... haha its still funny to me that she got pulled over. Anyway, we headed to GC. it was amazing! We were able to park underneath in the Parking Garage, which I would recommend to anyone (just need to ask your bishop or stake pres for a parking pass when you ask for tickets). Conference was really good. I felt like I got a lot from it. I think my favorite talk was Quentin L. Cook's talk from the Saturday Afternoon Session. While we where there at the Conference, Brittna text me asking where I was, and so we met up with her and James afterwards. haha it was a good time seeing them, and talking to them and getting caught up on life. so then I went and watched the rest of the Saturday sessions with Kelly's family and had dinner with them (which PS was Fish, and Normally I don't like Fish, but Karen did a REALLY good job at cooking it!). Grandpa, Eric and I all loaded up in the Van and headed to the priesthood session too! Afterwards we all had Ice Cream and Brownies and just talked and relaxed.

Sunday Morning, I went and Picked up Kelly and we Jetted out to Uncle Buck's place to watch the First Sunday session with Him and Monica and the Girls. They have a Really nice place, I had never been there before. It was good to see Uncle Buck and the rest of em! When we left his house, It was SNOWING!! it had been nice all week, and then had decided to snow! AHH! haha. it was okay though, because as we drove up the canyon back to Grandma Franz' house it was only raining. haha. so we watched the second session with them, and midway through the Bettolos showed up! it was great to see those guys! and Grandpa cooked up some Enchiladas for us! it was a really great time. then somehow I got sucked into watching Jurassic Park! haha I ended up Leaving for home at about 7-730. I made it home by 11!!

All in All, it was a great trip! I really enjoyed it! Spending time with Friends and Family was great! and Hanging out with Kelly was THE BEST! as it always is!

I hope you didn't get too bored reading this post! I Love You All! Have a great week!
Now its back to work! haha and then I need to get things finalized for school! like my apartment, and my TB test? haha idk... My mom knows what all I need to do. That lady is Organized! and I'm grateful!

-Joshua Franz