D.C Update

My Dear Family and Friends,

  Well I just noticed that Corey posted. I'll admit I found it a little funny that no one has posted in over a month but Corey and I both thought to at the same time. Totally inspired. Anyways, I thought I'd give a lot of the pictures from the semester as a bit of an update. I think I'll post more once more get on to Facebook, but there are plenty for now.
  As far as my life goes, I can honestly say that this was one of the best semesters ever. I am so glad I took advantage of the opportunity to come out here to D.C.. I have made so many friends but have also understood how much people appreciate hard work. I think the most satisfying part of the whole experience is knowing that I could get a job on the Hill had I tried. The staffers really appreciated what Madison and I did and we had so much fun.
  As you all know by now, Kirsten and I broke up. Not much to say there...just looking for the right one and well, you know what I mean.
  I feel like I could rant, but I'll just do it storybook style, the pictures below are in chronological order.

I have to have an obligatory monument picture:

So Madison and I were helping out with a press conference for the Speaker and we saw the open podium at the podium was open at the end so we asked the press people if we could take a super quick picture. I think we look dang photogenic:

So this is what I call my shutdown ball. The day before the government shutdown Will (my supervisor) suggested that I try making a rubber band ball out of all the rubber bands we get from petitions (which as you can see are quite a few). This is the status of my ball at the end of the shutdown:

For Halloween we did a Jack-o-Lantern project and well...let's just say the girls in my group are a little obsessed with the Walking Dead:

Madison and I were walking home from work one day and couldn't resist:

Ten points to anyone that can tell me what I made with these water cups one day when I clearly had too much time on my hands:

This was on our class trip to Gettysburg, it was such a great trip! Names are as follows: Kirsten, Sam, Taylor, Cameron, Sam, Emily, Amy, Harrison, Ivanna, and Flaka. Cameron has been a really great friend of mine, we ride the bus together to work everyday and get along so well. Taylor is a blast because she probably has the most similar sense of humor to mine out of everybody here in the Barlow. As far as the rest, they are just all awesome! Oh yeah! This is Gettysburg College's campus, such a beautiful place.

The family came and visited! And I just love these two dorks so much.

The World War Two memorial is so powerful with the Lincoln in the background.

This is right outside of Union Station, where I get on the bus everyday after work. Madison and I took this picture on our way back from work one day. She had just found out that her dad's cancer returned, she was crushed. As we waited for Kirsten though we saw this sky and it just reminded me how beautiful this world is:

Just outside of my office:

Winona and Jason Silas came out to D.C.. Jason and his two daughters were the last family that got baptized on the mission, they were baptized and confirmed my last Sunday (Winona was a member). They came out to D.C. for a code-talker's ceremony (Winona's grandfather was a world war two code-talker). Kirsten and I went out to dinner with them and it was amazing to catch up. They're doing so well. Sorry about the crappy photo.

Just so you know what's happening on Luke's Instagram :).

The missionaries got to see the balcony!

The Capitol Christmas tree lighting. Its a giant tree! 88 feet tall.

There's a new Anchorman exhibit at the Newseum. I spent all day this past Saturday there. Such an amazing and emotionally powerful museum. I loved the JFK stuff after reading Killing Kennedy this summer.

Madison got back last week and came with me to our ward party last Saturday. It has been amazing to have her as a friend here in D.C.. Can't wait to stay in touch with her and have a lifelong friend.

Snapchat. No other explanation necessary.

The view from the balcony in today's snow. So gorgeous.

Finally, some pictures from our Barlow Talent show. Cameron read "poetry" (Brittney Spears lyrics) while the other Sam and I interpretative danced. I don't know how we both ended up carrying the other one.

So, as you can see, I'm loving my time here! D.C. has been great and I'm so glad to be here. Can't wait to come home! I miss you all and can't wait to see all of you except Jacko soon!

With Love, Forever and Always, Sam

A Little British Humor

Hi family,
I've been listening to some Bill Bryson books on my commute lately (just finished one called At Home: A Short History of Private Life that I think Lexi would enjoy - it was fascinating) and I came across this lovely piece of dry British humor. Having prepared our taxes for the last few years, I particularly enjoyed this and I hope you will as well. :)

Love,
Corey

YOUR TAX FORM EXPLAINED

By Bill Bryson

Enclosed is your 1997 United States Internal Revenue Service Tax Form 1040-ES OCR: 'Estimated Tax for Self-Employed Individuals'. You may use this form to estimate your 1997 fiscal year tax if:

1. You are head of a household and the sum of the ages of your spouse and dependents, minus the ages of qualifying pets (see Schedule 12G), is divisible by a whole number. (Use Supplementary Schedule 142C if pets are deceased but buried on your property.)

2. Your Gross Adjusted Income does not exceed your Adjusted Gross Income (except where applicable) and you did not pay taxable interest on dividend income prior to 1903.

3. You are not claiming a foreign tax credit, except as a 'foreign' tax credit. (Warning: claiming a foreign tax credit for a foreign 'tax' credit, except where a foreign 'tax credit' is involved, may result in a fine of $125,000 and 25 years' imprisonment.)

4. You are one of the following: married and filing jointly; married and not filing jointly; not married and not filing; jointed but not filing; other.

INSTRUCTIONS

Type all answers with a number two lead pencil. Do not cross anything out. Do not use abbreviations or ditto marks. Do not misspell 'miscellaneous'. Write your name, address and social security number, and the name, address and social security numbers of your spouse and dependents, in full on each page twice. Do not put a tick in a box marked 'cross' or a cross in a box marked 'tick' unless it is your wish to do the whole thing again. Do not write 'Search me' in any blank spaces. Do not make anything up.

Complete sections 47 to 52 first, then proceed to even-numbered sections and complete in reverse order. Do not use this form if your total pensions and annuities disbursements were greater than your advanced earned income credits or vice versa.

Under 'income', list all wages, salaries, net foreign source taxable income, royalties, tips, gratuities, taxable interest, capital gains, air miles, pints paid on, and money found down the back of the sofa. If your earnings are divided wholly, or partially but not primarily, or wholly and partially but not primarily, from other countries other than the United States (if uncertain, see USIA Leaflet 212W, 'Countries That Are Not The United States') or your rotated gross income from Schedule H was greater than your earned income credit on nontaxable net disbursements, you must include a Grantor/Transferror Waiver Voucher. Failure to do so may result in a fine of £1,500,000 and seizure of a child.

Under Section 890F, list total farm income (if none, give details). If you were born after 1 January 1897, and are not a widow(er), include excess casualty losses and provide carryover figures for depreciation on line 27iii. You must list number of turkeys slaughtered for export. Subtract, but do not deduct, net gross dividends from pro rata interest payments, multiply by the total number of steps in your home, and enter on line 356d.

On Schedule F1001, line c, list the contents of your garage. Include all electrical and non-electrical items on Schedule 295D, but do not include electrical or non-electrical items not listed on Supplementary Form 243d.

Under 'Personal Expenditures', itemize all cash expenditures of more than $1, and include verification. If you have had dental work and you are not claiming a refund on the federal oil spill allowance, enter your shoe sizes since birth and enclose specimen shoes. (Right foot only.) Multiply by 1.5 or 1,319, whichever is larger, and divide line 3f by 3d. Under Section 912g, enter federal income support grants for the production of alfalfa, barley (but not sorghum, unless for home consumption) and okra whether or not you received any. Failure to do so may result in a fine of $3,750,000 and death by lethal injection.

If your children are dependent but not living at home, or living at home but not dependent, or dependent and living at home but hardly ever there and you are not claiming exemption for leases of maritime vessels in excess of 12,000 tons dead-weight (15,000 tons if you were born in Guam), you must complete and include a Maritime Vessel Exemption Form. Failure to do so may result in a fine of $111,000,000 and a nuclear attack on a small, neutral country.

On pages 924-926, Schedule D, enter the names of people you know personally who are Communist or use drugs. (Use extra pages if necessary.)

If you have interest earnings from savings accounts, securities, bearer bonds, certificates of deposit or other fiduciary instruments but do not know your hat size, complete Supplementary Schedules 112d and 112f and enclose all relevant tables. (Do not send chairs at this time.) Include, but do not collate, ongoing losses from mining investments commodities transactions and organ transplants, divide by the total number of motel visits you made in 1996, and enter in any remaining spaces. If you have unreimbursed employee expenses, tough.

To compute your estimated tax, add lines 27 through 964, deduct lines 45a and 699f from Schedule 2F (if greater or less than 2.2% of average alternative minimum estimated tax for the last five years), multiply by the number of RPMs your car registers when stuck on ice, and add 2. If line 997 is smaller than line 998, start again. In the space marked 'Tax Due', write a very large figure.

Make your cheque payable to 'Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America and to the Republic for Which It Stands', and mark for the attention of Patty. On the back of your cheque write your social security number, Taxpayer Identification Number, IRS Tax Code Audit Number(s), IRS Regional Office Sub-Unit Zone Number (unless you are filing a T/45 Sub-Unit Zone Exclusion Notice), sexual orientation and smoking preference, and send to:

Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America
Tax Reception and Orientation Center
Building D/Annex G78
Suite 900
Subduction Zone 12
Box 132677-02
Drawer 2, About Halfway Back
Federal City
Maryland 10001

If you have any questions about filing, or require assistance with your return, phone 1-800-BUSYSIGNAL. Thank you and have a prosperous 1998. Failure to do so may result in a fine of $125,000 and a long walk to the cooler.

Tech Life

Hey family,
   So, I read a really interesting article on piracy that I thought you might like.  It's only a couple pages long but it makes some really neat points. http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2003-09-07-1.html
        Other than that, life is dandy out here for Corey and I.  I have decided that I want to go to graduate school, and possibly even get a PhD.  My long term plans would still be to work in industry, just at a higher pay scale essentially.  At the moment I am mainly interested in getting my masters, and the only real excitement about a PhD is the prospect of being Dr. DeBaltzo, so we'll see what I think.  This is all still a couple years away, but I have started taking the time to talk to some Professors about doing research with them which would help me get a good jump on my graduate work, potentially shaving up to a year off of my masters program.  I'm not quite sure what I want to research at this point, but there is a Professor that I really like who studies software from a social perspective and how it is the people and the social structure of the company that affects how software will turn out.  What this means is if you consider a few large companies, like Google, Microsoft, and Apple, and think about how they all do great things and create great products, but they are incredibly different.  This difference lies beyond simple differences in how the software looks and feels, but down to how things were released, how the architecture of the company affected how they did what they did, and why.  That might seem a bit vague, but it sounds potentially very interesting to me and I think it could be a lot of fun to be a part of that.  We shall see what happens on that front however.

      I've been all over music lately, and have really been digging Spotify.  I just recently learned that they are based in Sweden, and I'm thinking about applying there at some point and seeing how I could be a part of that.  It would be really neat to be in a software company that works directly with music.  I also really believe in the product which can make a huge difference.  I got a 64gig expansion hard drive for my phone and have been filling my phone with music and it has been great to listen to everything I want to at any time.  I've been listening lately to a lot of Queen and The Band.  It's funny how music kind of goes in cycles in life, how there can be times that you listen to a certain song 100 times in a week, and then you don't listen to it again for 5 years.  Music is kind of like a really good book in that regards, it can inspire emotions, relationships, and really powerful contemplation.

    So this weekend is our 3rd Annual Murder Mystery party which will take place on the Titanic.  I am Captain John Smith, and the other characters are just various persons from the voyage, including the unsinkable Molly Brown!  I think it will be a lot of fun, we invited 3 other couples over to join us for this and we'll be doing a nice dinner and playing the game.  We're having my last mission companion Daniel Carlisle and his wife Shelby. A couple that I have worked with for a while now, who also came with us to Yaya and Grandpa Dicks house for conference, Eric and Iris Seaman.  The third couple is a guy that I've had many classes with and works with me as well.  We've spent a lot of time playing games with them.  They are Dean and Katie Lebaron and have a 3 month old son, Jared.

Alright, well I love you all, I'm off to class now!

Max

From the Youngest in the Family

Missionary Name: Elder Jacob DeBaltzo Mission: Provo MTC Date Submitted: October 3 Brother of my soul - It has been two weeks since I looked at you. Make that two weeks and two days. Today I have looked longingly into the eyes of She Who Provides Food but she continues to deny me. I point blank refuse to eat the slop that remains in my dish from yesterday. I did not like it then and I do not like it now. It remains. Under a layer of water. And I decline courteously. Despite meowing, looking threateningly at the iPhone cords in Her room. There is no sympathy. And the Place Where I Have Private Time. You would not recognize it. That Red Headed Villain walks right on by it. Until She had guests come stay in your room over the weekend, no one was caring for my needs properly. For a few days it was acceptable but I fear it is headed in the wrong direction. There seems to be no sense of what in right in that Red Headed One. Perhaps I shall work on the Young Female. Over the weekend - I spent hours walking back and forth across the tv but She and Her Father just kept looking at pictures of my relatives from a Foreign Land. Her Father even said hurtful things about how some African House Cat would "tear me up." I was rightfully offended. Over the weekend the weather improved and delightful smells came in from the Outside. I spent a great deal of time patiently pawing at the door until I was able to escape to enjoy some peace and quiet on the Deck. SHE caught me however and requested my presence inside. I acquiesced...but only until SHE left again. I got out again and this time was not discovered until the Darkness was upon us. Young Female found me this time but I was ready to return at this time so I was not put off. One day last week I challenged authority by choosing to nap on She Who Provides Food's (usually) bed. Young Female disturbed my rest and indicated I was lucky that She did not catch me. I disagree as I would have looked at Her with disdain as I slowly moved out of the room. Alas, it is not the same without You. I miss the scratches and the opportunity to rest in your bed. I know that we will both survive this separation. But it is a chore to train these menial people whom you have left in charge of my life. Well wishes to you. Farewell for now. Moses

Philly and being Brave

Hey how are ya!

  Well since this blog is quickly becoming the Sam DeBaltzo in D.C. blog I thought I would share a little of the fun and games I am experiencing here in D.C. in the form of pictures and words.

  So last week the whole BYU gang took a trip out to Valley Forge and Philadelphia. It was so cool and I learned a ton of things. I didn't really know much of the story of Valley Forge prior to going but this trip was very explanatory. We had an old colonial actor too who was flipping hysterical. I must have been slacking in Valley Forge with the Iphone though because I don't have any pictures of that part of the trip.

  Philly was such a great day though. We started off going through Independence Hall and seeing the Liberty Bell which was really cool, I knew most of the information but it was still great to see everything. Following the official tours we were sent off around the city and were allowed to see whatever we wanted. I got my first official Philly cheese-steak and realized why I had failed in all previous experiences with cheese-steaks. The most important part of the Philly cheese-steak is getting cheese-whiz. That cheese is probably the grossest and most manufactured concoction I have ever had but boy oh boy was that cheese-steak amazing. Here is the magic man who made it:

(He was pretty much a miracle man with the stove and the steak; way jealous)

After getting cheese-steaks we decided that we had to get Rita's shaved ice (the O'Dorks love it) and it was so good. They had STARBURSTS flavored shaved ice. Is that heaven or what? Needless to say, I tried a couple of flavors and ended up quite content with my Mango-Strawberry shaved ice.

(Brain freeze, minor consequence of eating too much shaved ice too quickly)

(Then we walked to New Jersey and took a picture with Philly in the background)

(Another SAMWICH; love Sam and Taylor soooo much)

Other than that the week was good. Madison (the intern from Michigan that I work with everyday) and I decided that we needed a quality shot from the Speaker's balcony. She is so awesome and so stoked that I'm applying to Satan's University. And talk about the view!

And here is what happens when your roommate vacuums and fails to check for cords (thank goodness you gave me that backup dad!)

I entitled this blog "Philly and being Brave" because yesterday I went ROCK CLIMBING! I know, me! Sam, the pansy who is afraid of heights and pretty much anything that could risk my life. However, I freaking loved this so much and I can't wait to go back. It's way freaky at first but once you realized that the cords are super strong you have so much confidence and it's a blast.

(A nice girl Kendra in the ward who was quite touchy as she harnessed me; hope her boyfriend didn't mind)

(Harmony and Katie; two girls from the ward that have started hanging out with us - and Kim, a BYU girl who I have unofficially adopted as another sister and I another brother to her. Love her.

(Kim didn't get any of me climbing but I loved hanging horizontally from the rope, you feel so secure)

(War wounds; see if you can find them all!)

Overall I am just living the dream and loving it. I hope you all are having respected blasts wherever you may be and will talk to everyone soon. Also, I don't think it would be bad to post Jack's weekly emails here (if he ever sends any). Love you all so much!

-Sam

There are many snowballs in hell

FAMBAM!

I am flippin loving my time here in D.C. All in all the internship is fantastic. Simple stuff; however, I signed a fancy waiver saying I wouldn't blog about anything work related. So, let me tell you about my weekend of fun and games.
We took a trip with the ward down to Gettysburg which turned out to be the most amazing trip ever on one hand but also the most cold/poorly prepared for trip ever. Let me explain...
I was packing my bag for the weekend campout on Friday afternoon. It had been quite a hot week and Friday was no exception. Therefore, I was sweating as I came back from the briefing we went to as a class. Due to my sweaty state I made the mistake of deciding that it would be war all weekend. Little did I know that Mr. Snow Miser would attack the campsite:

(Mr. Snow Miser)
So anyways we got to the camp (about 10 miles outside of Gettysburg) at about 8:30 at night and it was pretty chilly. There was a huge fir though so I just chilled by it and joined a little dance party. By the time everyone went to bed around 12 I was exhausted and fell promptly asleep.
I feel like this is a good time to let you all know that the only things I brought on this campout were a pair of shorts, a pair of jeans, three short sleeved shirts, an oxford, and a light throw blanket. Note: NONE of these items are cold weather items.

(Does this look any better than a scarf?)

So, after falling asleep quickly with the throw blanket wrapped around me the best I could I got a wonderful four hours of sleep. I had the blessed opportunity of waking up at 4 A.M. realizing that I was shivering and could barely feel my toes (oh yeah, I only brought one pair of socks). I was still wearing my shoes so in a vain attempt to get warm I hopped out of bed (and just to add to the misery of the experience I was on the top bunk in the cabin) and went for a brief walk until I regained feeling. I then crawled back up into the excuse for a bed and pulled myself into the fetal position (still utilizing the throw blanket to the best of my ability) and fell asleep. This time I got a quality half hour of sleep and woke up again at five. At this point I believe I was going a little crazy because of loss of blood to the head so I whispered my roommate's name until he woke up then said "never mind." I secretly hoped that he wouldn't answer because I was planning on taking his blanket from him while he was asleep. Not exactly Christlike, but hey I was desperate! So I rolled around uncomfortably for another 20 minutes until another BYU kid in the cabin woke up. I walked over to his bed and sat down and we chatted for about a minute, then I just decided I was coming in and I crawled in his bed. Never has body heat mixed with a comforter felt so amazing. We were joined about 30 seconds later by the other BYU kid in the cabin who promptly related that he had the exact same experience as I did the night before because he was ill-equipped also. Basic gist: twin beds can fit three grown men and we were warm.
Overall, I made it through the campout alive. I know you all think I'm an idiot, and I can support that, but thought you would all enjoy my minor misery. Love you all so much, thinking about you tons.

-Sam
PS: Here are some pictures from my stay thus far :).

A "samwich!" Me, Taylor, and Sam (both BYU kids) at a mass we went to on Sunday.

Delivering mail; it felt like market day back at Lincoln!

A breathtaking view from the top of the Capitol building.

My roommate Brian and me. Horrible photo but I love our faces so I kept it.

Stehly (BYU) and me in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

The FDR memorial.

Sugar Island Fun

Thought I would share some pics from our time up on Sugar Island :) Sorry some of them are rotated... blogger doesn't like the ones I took on my phone for some reason. 

My parents' 

farm 

Touring the boat locks

Lake Superior beach

Tahquamanon Falls

Max asleep after the shipwreck museum

Chippewa County Fair

Bingo...Max won $4 and was thrilled

The cove in front of my parents house