100 Most Influential

I saw a list today of the 100 most influential Americans. Wouldn't you know it, two Mormons made the list. Joseph Smith was number 52: "The founder of Mormonism, America’s most famous homegrown faith." Brigham Young was number 74: "What Joseph Smith founded, Young preserved, leading the Mormons to their promised land." I thought that was pretty cool. I've never sat through an American history class where these two weren't mentioned. They play a major role in the shaping of America and made significant contributions to not only their religion, but also to the nation as a whole.
So, I was glad to see their names on the list with the likes of Abe Lincoln, Lewis and Clark, Thoreau, etc.

Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200612/influentials

"Turkey for me, Turkey for you...

Let's eat the turkey in my big brown shoe." ~Adam Sandler

Yeah!! It's turkey time! I love to eat...Thanksgiving dinner. I love the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Purina Dog Show (the Norwegian Elkhound never wins!)
I am so excited to eat on Thursday with the family. It is the Cowles extended family T-giving dinner this year which equals chaos!!

CHAOS #1: There is always a ton of food and a ton of laughter and a ton of people. But the more the merrier as long as the little kids eat on their own table.
CHAOS #2: My cousins don't seem to understand that just because we are in a church gym, they don't have to play basketball while everyone else is still eating! Every year the basketball ricochets off the rim (due to numerous missed shots) and hits the table with the food on it at least five times before they figure it out to maybe wait until the tables are put away. I love watching the cousins play...the Cowles don't seem to be the most athletic. To be honest, we're not horrible, but none of us are really very good. A couple cousins think they are really good, but it is not so. In the words of Grandpa Lee: "I think the NBA is safe."

After the feast, GAMES!! My personal favorite is Trivial Pursuit, but I think the name throws the family off: Trivial. However, there are six cousins who either majored or minored in history. On top of that, almost all of us have a bachelors degree. You'd think we would do better. We also play Mad Gab, Axis and Allies (I don't think this one will be brought out this year, it took way too long), Uno, Speed, and other games. We normally are introduced to a new game each year that someone brings to the festivities.

So, I hope everyone has a stupendous Thanksgiving!

Hang on a second...Hello?

Cell phones..."I use it, but I hate it." Cell phones are taking over the world. I have one just like the rest of us, but I must say that I don't really like it. I like the convenience of a cell phone, but I hate knowing that if I don't answer it, people think/know you are screening phone calls. You know, sometimes you don't have to answer your phone. Sometimes you can't answer, like in a meeting, or on a date and texting is not the answer.

You know there are just a few places where cell phones are NOT appropriate.

1. The restroom: INAPPROPRIATE! That is personal time for you and for others in the restroom with you...bottom line, don't bring it in there! I hate listening to people on the phone while doing their business. AWKWARD!! I would dare say that 99.9% of people that have home phones don't have one in their bathrooms. There's a reason for this! Think about it...that's why there is such a thing as leaving a message. People will call you back.
2. Church: unless you are a doctor, paramedic, on-call nurse, etc. I do not understand why people bring their cell phones to church. It is my biggest pet peeve to hear a phone start ringing in the middle of a lesson or even sacrament meeting! Talk about detracting from the spirit! If you absolutely must have your phone on your person at all times, at least have enough respect to turn it off or put it on silent. You are in a holy edifice for crying out loud! Are you at church for a reason? Wow!
3. The Temple: Wow again! Why do we even need to be reminded to turn them off or put them on silent while we are there? Think about where you are.
4. Standing in line: I hate being behind someone in line who is on the phone and the cashier is trying to serve him or give him his change, etc. It's just plain rude! If you're at a restaurant, get the order before you get in line, not while you're in line.
5. In the company of other people: if you are with people, give them the respect and attention they deserve. They are physically there with you, the person on the phone is not. Unless you absolutely have to take a call, I think the "leave a message" rule comes in to play again. You can usually call someone back and it is just fine. Be with the people who are there with you.
6. Movie theaters: you know before a movie starts, not a big deal, but during the show? Why did you pay $7+ to sit through a movie and talk the entire time? Why should I have to pay $7+ to sit through a movie that I can't even enjoy because someone is talking on his phone the entire time? Plus it's annoying to everyone around you.
7. Texting in the car!! This is my biggest pet peeve while driving! I thought putting on mascara was bad! Texting is ten times worse! It's normally a girl doing it and of course, she is going at least 10 mph under the speed limit! Obnoxious! Talking on the phone isn't half as bad as texting in the car. Although I think talking can be just as bad, especially in a stick.

So there you have it, my gripe for the day. Please be responsible with your cell phones!

We pulled your number, we work today!

So, I have two weeks left before the mishky! Wowser, where did the time go? It feels like yesterday I told Tara I wanted to go. I am excited, nervous, anxious, scared to death, want to throw up most of the time, and happy as can be! Are all of these emotions possible at the same time? The answer my friends is...YES. I have six more days of work, Thanksgiving, my Sunday Farewell, two prep days, and then the REAL work begins.

I can't wait for the opportunity to meet so many new and interesting people and converse with them in Spanish. I am excited to learn Spanish again and be able to really use it. I loved it in school, so I am glad to be going Spanish-speaking.

"!Holas Hermanas!" (You have to say it in a shrieking high voice).

Hike School: The Explanation

So, Brooke wants to know why Darby and I say "hike school" instead of high school.
Well, of course it is a movie quote from...Billy Madison. One of the kids in the elementary school states to Billy that he wants to go to hike school to which Billy replies "stay here as long as you can." The other reason we say "hike school" is because our freshman year our friend Ali always said it. It just kind of stuck with us and I hated high school, so any chance to make fun of it was a welcomed opportunity.

So, Brooke, there you have it the reasons we say "hike school" rather than high school.

"In a moment you're going to feel a little bit of pressure."

Shots! I've decided I hate shots, not so much actually being poked but the after-effect. OUCH!! My arms hurt so bad yesterday! For my mission I had to get a Flu shot and a Typhoid shot. The Typhoid shot was worse (physically and financially-it was $55!!) I can't believe how bad these things hurt. For my mission papers I had to get other shots (Hepatitis AB, Tetanus, a TB test and a hemoglobin test). I was pretty sick of getting stuck that day. I remember playing croquet that night and Tara inadvertently grabbed both of my arms. I calmly reminded her that I had had my shots that day. After which, she gave me a hug which made up for it.

I guess it's a lot better now than when I was little. I had to get all of my shots in my legs because my arms were too skinny. So my legs would be throbbing in pain for the rest of the day and I would normally "cry myself to sleep on my huge pilla." I hope that I don't have to get too many more shots. I think I got all the ones the packet said, but I haven't been to the MTC yet. That could be interesting.

You Scream Like a Girl!

So, last night I had my first encounter with a Haunted House. Yes I know what you all are thinking: this girl is how old and she's never been to a haunted house? Well, it's true. None of my friends did stuff like this in hike school (or if they did, we didn't go with them).
My sisters Melissa, Erin, and Darby, friend Tara, and I went to Rocky Point Haunted House. It was a pretty scary experience and my true colors definitely came through the dark mists of the house. Just about any time a creature jumped out at us, I would scream at the top of my lungs and fly almost to the ceilings! I am such a jumpy person and I gave the girls a good laugh I guess.
Anyway, Darby absolutely loved it and I can say that it was entertaining. The other aspect that was amusing were the two guys behind us: "Safety in numbers!! Safety in numbers!!" I think they were more scared than us and one of them almost constricted Tara's entire airway by clinging for dear life to her vest. No worries, she got out just fine ;)

Happy Halloween!

The Wonderful World of Baseball

America's Favorite Pastime...Baseball. I LOVE LOVE LOVE baseball! Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE to watch baseball...live, on TV, a motion picture feature (such as The Natural, Fever Pitch (see the provided pictures), For the Love of the Game, etc.), whatever, it doesn't matter. I have spent many a Saturday parked in front of the television watching double plays, diving catches, home runs, and strike outs. My favorite team is the Baltimore Orioles (even though they haven't done very well the last few seasons) and my all-time favorite player is Cal Ripken, Jr.
I believe in sticking by your team, through good times and bad. My cousin Mark is the same, only with the Angels (I can't remember which city they play in now, they keep changing it). He is a die-hard Angels fan and when they went to the World Series he was there and even took our Grandpa with him.

If I were a band-wagoner, I would have donned a Red Sox or Yankees cap long ago and probably purchased some Detroit Tigers or St. Louis Cardinals apparel in the last few weeks. However, I don't do that. If I were that vain, I would have transferred to the U (YUCK!) during the Fiesta Bowl year (LAME!). The Aggies are not the best team in the NCAA Football rankings, obviously, but they are still my team for college athletics, win or lose. Dedication is where it's at.

I have enjoyed watching the World Series this year. Growing up, the Cardinals were (and are) a favorite team. My first ball cap was a St. Louis hat my dad brought back for me and I wore that cap just about every day of my young life. I still have it and although I probably wouldn't bring it out (I don't know if it is sanitary), I like to know that I have it. Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed the World Series as much as I have and whoever wins, I LOVE baseball!

"Alright, go Sox!" ~Fever Pitch

The Tradition Lives On!

That's right! Bean Dip Night is going to be continued in the City of Salt. We are transplanting from Logan to the big city to bring the enjoyment to those who have not experienced this magic known simply as Bean Dip Night. This Saturday, the Green Street No-Nonsense house will play host to the many Bean Dippers. We, as the hostesses, are hoping for a great time and for the entire Bean Dip to be eaten!

I hope that all will be able to attend. See you then!

Friday the 13th! Moohawhawhaw!

Today, I realized when I put my phone on vibrate this morning is FRIDAY the 13th! I love the superstition that goes along with this day. But why is it the number 13 and Friday? This is some stuff I found out:

Friday the 13th is an unlucky day in much of Western Europe, North America, and
Australia. Many people avoid travel and avoid signing contracts on Friday the
13th. Floors in tall buildings often skip from 12 to 14. And while the superstition is believed to be fading, it nonetheless has deep roots in both Christian and pagan culture.

The Day Jesus Was Crucified?

Many Christians have long believed that Friday was unlucky because it was the day of the week when Jesus was crucified. The number 13 was believed to bring bad luck because there were 13 people at The Last Supper. Since there were 12 tribes of Israel, that number was considered lucky.

Roots in Norse Mythology

Thirteen was also a sinister number in Norse mythology. Loki, one of the most evil of the Norse gods, went uninvited to a party for 12 at Valhalla, a banquet hall of the gods. As a result, he caused the death of Balder, the god of light, joy, and reconciliation. Loki tricked Balder's blind brother, Hod, into throwing a sprig of mistletoe at Balder's chest. Since mistletoe was the only thing on Earth fatal to Balder, the beloved god fell dead.

Literature and Folk Wisdom

During the Middle Ages, the superstition against Friday the 13th grew. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrests of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templars and sixty of his senior knights in Paris. Thousands of others were arrested elsewhere in the country. After employing torture techniques to compel the Templars to "confess" to wrongdoing, most were eventually executed and sympathizers of the Templars condemned Friday the 13th as an evil day. Over time a large body of literature and folk wisdom have reinforced the belief. In the 18th century, the HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th. It was never heard from again. Since then, ships are not usually launched on that date. (Click here for other mysterious ship disappearances.)

Dinner With 13

It is considered especially unlucky to have 13 people at the table during a meal, such
as in Agatha Christie's mystery novel, Thirteen at Dinner. During the 1880s, a men's
group that felt superstition was an unhealthy influence on public life held Thirteen Club dinners. Those diners would have doubtless deplored Triskaidekaphobia,
which is a fear of the number 13. They would also have looked askance at
Triskaidekamania, which is an excessive enthusiasm for the number 13. (Take our Phobia Quiz (part I) on Triskaidekaphobia and other scary phobias.)

So there you have it, some reasons why people are paranoid of Friday the 13th courtesy of Dave Johnson (http://www.infoplease.com/spot/friday13th.html)

Coming Home!

It was a wonderful weekend!! I got to go Logan for homecoming and it was so nice. I love Logan and miss it more than I can say. I have not been up there since April for "A" Day. The big city is okay, but nothing beats the feeling of Logan. Darby, Erin, and I attended the Leadership Reunion and it was fun to see people who were involved in the same things as us. Student Alumni Association was the highlight of my college career and I loved being a part of that organization. So many good times, one-liners, awesome people and great memories. It truly made my college experience.

We ate dinner at Cafe Sabor and that was a good time as it turned out to be one of our favorite restaurants in Logan during our tenure there. After dinner, we headed to Romney Stadium to witness a miracle! The winless Aggies no more! They finally won a game and it was really fun to watch. 13-12 over Fresno State! A slim victory but a victory nonetheless. Aggie fans needed a win and the team finally delivered for us. It was the cherry on top for homecoming week.

Utah State Hey! Aggies all the way! Go Aggies! Go Aggies! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Passports, VISAs, Letters of Good Conduct...

Oh my heck, I have had my mission call for almost a month and I am realizing how much I still have to do. I have all of the most important things taken care of...I need a Passport, VISA, certified birth certificates, a police letter of good conduct and these need what's called an Apostille from the Secretary of State of Utah. Wow, that was a lot of stuff to get. I have most of it taken care of, so that is a relief. I can't believe how much stuff you need to get. Argentina among other nations wants to make sure they are letting in good people.

I'm getting really excited to go. Today I figured that I would leave for Argentina around the beginning of February (hopefully somewhat fluent in Espanol). So about eight more weeks and it's hasta luego para mi.

General Conference Baby!

Once again, like every six months, we had the opportunity to "come listen to a prophet's voice." I love conference. I didn't so much when I was little, but I was a little oblivious to what was going on. Anywho, I loved, loved, loved Elder Bednar's talk on being offended. He has turned out to be one of my favorite speakers at conference since he was put in the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.

On an Island in the Sun

Our family has returned from the beautiful islands of Hawaii and I think I have found a great place to go on vacation! I loved the island and the relaxed feeling there. People were very friendly to us and I can see why this place is a vacation destination.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the Shave Ice from Matsumoto's in Hale'iwa. I chose the flavor of Lilikoi and let's just say YUM! We snorkeled at Shark's Cove, went to world-famous Waikiki Beach, the Laie Temple grounds, the Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium, Pali Lookout, Pearl Harbor, and the Polynesian Cultural Center. That was a pretty cool experience.

I loved the country rather than the city and next time I go, I think I would stay somewhere on the North Shore or near Laie. Nonetheless, it was a great trip and I had a good time.
ALOHA!

Where in the world is...

After only one form lost, several months of preparation, and a lot of waiting I have FANTASTIC NEWS!! I have received my mission call to serve in the Argentina Resistencia Mission.

I will be speaking in church on Sunday, 19 November 2006.

I will enter the Provo MTC Wednesday, 29 November 2006.

I want to take this great opportunity to bear my testimony. I am giving 18 months of my life for something and someone I love and believe in, my Savior Jesus Christ and His church. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one true church on the earth, that it was restored through the power of the priesthood by Joseph Smith the Prophet. I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God and that it is a true book. I know that families can be together forever and I'm so glad I get to be with mine forever. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for his atoning sacrifice that he made for all mankind. I know that Gordon B. Hinckley is the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator called to lead and direct us today. I'm so grateful for my family and friends who have loved and supported me and my decision to serve the Lord. I hope that I can be the missionary that Heavenly Father would want me to be and I'm so excited and grateful for this opportunity. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

Wowser, I think my call will be here tomorrow! However, I am going to wait to open it because my sister and bro-in-law are out of town until Sunday night. I figure I have waited this long, what's another couple of days? This is something that I want to share with my family and close friends, so I want them to be with me when I open it. So, keep your fingers crossed that the call gets here...my next posting hopefully will be a destination!

Protect your right to ROCK!

Erin, Darby, Tara and I protected our right to ROCK last night by attending the Journey & Def Leppard concert in Salt Lake...and can I just say, ROCK ON! It was so fun and packed to the brim! We missed about half of Journey because traffic was HORRIBLE, but when we got there, we soon found out that Journey still has it. We did hear some of their really good stuff (Any Way You Want It, Faithfully, Don't Stop Believin', etc.) and then Def Leppard graced the stage and it was Awesome with a capital A.

It took us a while to recognize all the songs (except Photograph (my favorite DL song) and Pour Some Sugar on Me), but nonetheless still loved them all. And just in case this question ever comes up while you're playing Trivial Pursuit, Def Leppard's drummer only has one arm, his RIGHT arm. (This question actually came up once when we were playing the best game ever invented!) His feet were on over-drive to keep the beat, it's pretty awesome. We heard some great music and I'm really tempted to buy the Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection album. I think it would be a rockin' good time.

The concert certainly brings out the butt-rock crowd. I think it would be safe to say that about 85% of the concert-goers were completely wasted from head-to-toe, either from alcohol, marijuana or the combination of the two. We got a few whiffs of the nasty weed and I think it is one of the sickest smells in the world. Wasted people everywhere, especially the lady in front of us, she was quite the dancer and drinker. I think she may have had a little too much to drink, but she did have some killer moves...literally. She almost took out Tara with her flailing arms. It was pretty entertaining to watch her.

Anyway, it was a cool concert and well worth it. I would definitely go again and we've decided that if Heart comes to Utah, we are there. Remember to Protect your right to ROCK!

Patience is a Virtue

"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble." ~Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

Okay, so my mission papers are done...sort of. I turned them into my bishop on 10 July. Two weeks later, I had an interview with him when he informed me that he couldn't find my dental paperwork that I turned in at the beginning of March. So, now I have to resubmit those papers, have the bishop turn them in to the Stake President, have an interview with him, and have the papers sent to Salt Lake. Hopefully it will only be a week to a week and a half for my call to arrive once they have been submitted to Salt Lake.

Wow, if this isn't a patience builder I don't know what is? I guess I would consider myself a patient person. The thing is, the call will be here soon enough and then I will be gone before I know it. This too shall pass...

"To Thine Own Self Be True..."

Wow, I was reading an article today and I was amazed at how much people don't like themselves. The article was about the suicide rates of people who suffer from BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder). When did we become so vain and self-involved that we don't like ourselves enough to take our own lives? I loved Sister Susan W. Tanner's words in the October 2005 General Conference:

"[Satan's]... punishment is that he does not have [a body]. Therefore he tries to do everything he can to get us to abuse or misuse this precious gift. He has filled the world with lies and deceptions about the body. He tempts many to defile this great gift of the body through unchastity, immodesty, self-indulgence, and addictions. He seduces some to despise their bodies; others he tempts to worship their bodies. In either case, he entices the world to regard the body merely as an object. In the face of so many satanic falsehoods about the body, I want to raise my voice today in support of the sanctity of the body. I testify that the body is a gift to be treated with gratitude and respect."

What a beautiful statement! How do we get over ourselves and our problems? Service! I truly believe this. I also utterly believe that no matter how bad it may seem for you, there is always someone who is worse off. Forget yourself and look at others. I loved Sister Tanner's advice on service:

"I remember well the insecurities I felt as a teenager with a bad case of acne. I tried to care for my skin properly. My parents helped me get medical attention. For years I even went without eating chocolate and all the greasy fast foods around which teens often socialize, but with no obvious healing consequences. It was difficult for me at that time to fully appreciate this body
which was giving me so much grief. But my good mother taught me a higher law. Over and over she said to me, 'You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others.'
There it was. She was teaching me the Christlike principle of selflessness. Charity, or the pure love of Christ, 'envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own' (Moroni 7:45). When we become other-oriented, or selfless, we develop an inner beauty of spirit that glows in our outward appearance. This is how we make ourselves in the Lord's image rather than the world's and receive His image in our countenances."

I personally like who I am and I hope that we can all accept who were are. Forget yourself. I think it is worth repeating: no matter how bad it may seem for you, there is always someone who has it worse than you. Think about it.

Road Rash

I've decided I am a complete moron when it comes to playing sports. I fall all the time and it seems that 90 percent of the time, I come home with something injured. Yeah, not one injury in junior high or high school and now I can't play without something hurting by the end of the game.

Background: We were playing in a tournament in I think it was West Valley or somewhere over in that part of the valley and the field is total junk, probably some of the worst fields I have ever played on. It was like gravel!! Anywho, we played in shorts and so we wore knee-high socks, sliders and a sliding pad. Well, being the awesome hitter that I wasn't I forgot to pull up the sliding pad. What happens? Yeah I get a hit through the infield and head on over to second base. The throw was coming in and so I had to slide. My sock slid down with it and my entire right shin was a bloody mess! However, I was safe. So, I get back to the dugout where my mom (AKA: Team Doctor Cowles) decides to help clean me up by pouring an entire bottle of hydrogen peroxide on my leg! OUCH, OUCH, OUCH! I have never hurt so bad in my entire life! So, the wretched wound heals after about five gauze pads, lots of neosporin and about four weeks leaving a really nice scar to adorn my leg.

So, anywho, last week we were playing softball. Our first game was total junk and the second wasn't much better but we did win. However, my legs did not win. I decided that I hadn't slid for awhile and I went down on my way to second base as the other team was trying to turn a double play and I didn't want to pull a Jorge Posada (remember when he got hit in the face with the ball? OUCH!) So, I go down and rip up my right shin to smithereens again! The only thing I can do is pull my sock back up over the wound and finish the game.

So, here we are a week later and it still hurts like a mother! Every time I bend my leg it tears the wound and it reopens! Aahh!! Oh well, I guess it is my own fault. If you're already out, there is no point in sliding I guess. I need to remember that for fall ball.

"I don't let people rent space in my head."

Today while I have been oh so busy sitting at the front desk checking email and Fox News, I have listened to Jessica helping students register (open enrollment started today!). She is really nice and patient with them and at the end of her conversation always says, "No problem." This reminded me of our conference in Boston last summer.

Our first "keynote" speaker was a professor from Stonehill College in Massachusetts. I think he was a sociology professor and probably the worst "keynote" speaker I have ever listened to. (After him, I was done with the keynotes for the conference. I couldn't take it anymore!) He started off on the right foot by insulting everyone from Utah (the U, BYU, and USU) by stating that we had to be one of the least educated states from some article that he read. He didn't even know which state the article was about and just threw Utah in there (what about Idaho or Montana or like Alabama?) Jerk! Maybe this is changing, but last time I checked, Utah was one of the most educated states. After the insult, he kept spewing off all of these statistics about 24,000 children who had died in an African country earlier that week. He kept stating "I don't let people rent space in my head. Those children, I can't get them out of my head." Can you please get out of my life!? The only other thing that stands out from his oh so interesting speech was his crude understanding of basic mathematics to bring it back around (I realize the background was a little long). So Professor Tactless states, "No problem? When did two negatives become a positive?" What an idiot! (Maybe Ph.D. should stand for Phundamentally Dumb!) Did he not pass basic math when the teacher explains that two negatives equal a positive? It's not that hard, think about it.

PAINFUL!!

Croquet playin' fools!

Remember that part in Happy Gilmore when he is waiting at the putting green and the sprinklers come on? Okay, so, we're playing croquet last night and wouldn't you know it, the sprinklers came on! It was quite a sight to see us try to outrun the sprinklers, however, it did speed up the game tremendously.

It was good times until I was killed by poison! I worked so hard to get back in the game just to be exterminated! Oh well, I guess that I must keep playing and honing my skills to be the master champion croquet player I know I can be! Kind of like the ladies in the picture. Now they look hard-core!

Driving Escapades

Straight up now tell me, how bad are minivan drivers?!! Oh my heck, I'm driving back from North Ogden this morning to go to work. I'm just going along and I can count three instances of horrible driving:

1- Minivan coming up right behind me and then switching not one, not two, but THREE friggin' lanes to take the 500 South exit in Bountiful!
2-Minivan confused about how to exit on to I-215. There are two lanes to exit to I-215 as most of us know. The left lane is also the Beck Street Exit as most of us know. However, the mini from Idaho did NOT know! She is like freaking out and thinks she has to be in the right lane and proceeds to cut off three cars while going 50 mph!
3-Minivan driving east on South Temple. First of all, it's from Wyoming; second of all, it's lost! So the guy is like praying about turning right on 600 East. Keep in mind I still have 7 friggin' blocks to go to get to work! So, I swerve around him and he is still in the middle of the lane probably just saying Amen!

Did you notice a pattern? A pattern of MINIVANS! It's like people get behind the wheel of a mini and completely forget how to drive! AAaahhhh!!

In other happenings, the reason I was driving to work from North Ogden is because...my mission papers are done!! I had my physical exam today and it turns out I am in ship-shape to serve a mission! After getting stuck with four needles, I am set to go! TB, Hepatitis AB, Tetanus Booster and Hemoglobin check. I think I am done with needles for a little bit. Next step: the Temple. The Ogden Temple will be the place in August!
So, let the guessing begin, the call should be here in about two weeks! Booyeah!

It's Tournament Time!

It's that time of the season, the time when you really show what you're made of: Tournament Time! Our team is 7-1 on the season and we had our first tournament victory last night against a team that looked completely different from the team we played last week. That's funny, they had the same name but about seven, yes seven, different players! I hate when people cheat! It didn't do them any good anyway; no one on their team could hit or field any better than the real players. Replacement players normally backfire I think. For a few reasons: 1-many times they haven't been playing all season and so they are not in playing shape or state of mind; 2-the team says "let's bring in this person, she's good" and it totally backfires because she isn't up to par; 3-the team probably isn't that good anyway and obviously they have commitment issues with its regulars, so replacement players are not the answer.
Anyway, we have a bye next week which in a way is nice because trying to get back north is such a pain in the behind. So, in two weeks we'll be back on the field ready to play!

Independence Day Happenings

The 4th of July is always a fun time. I certainly had a fun time this year.
Tuesday we were invited to go boating with the Bawden clan. We headed up to Jordanelle and hit the water. I haven't been waterskiing for about 7 or 8 years, so I was pleased with my performance. It took me two tries to get up on the skis, but I did get up and I went for a little while. The next adventure was wakeboarding. I have never tried wakeboarding before this and to my surprise, I got up on my first try. Granted, I was only up for a few seconds. I couldn't figure out which leg I wanted to be my back leg. So, I tried a few more times and got up on a couple. The last time I got up, I was going along, kind of getting a feel for it when we hit a little bit of hard water. Needless to say I crashed, but I did it with style! I completely fell out of the boots on the wakeboard and pummelled head-first into the water. I thought my legs were pulled out of the sockets, but I would definitely try wakeboarding again.

Of course, the 4th of the July is not complete without fireworks. We had the best seat in the house for the Sandy City firework show. We watched them from Dr. Bawden's office and what a sight. I think a third of the fireworks went off on the ground or shot the wrong way! We were entertained with some lady screaming at the top of her lungs after every firework was shot off! She sounded more like she was at an amusement park on a rollercoaster rather than watching (and that's all we were doing is watching) fireworks.


Anywho, this year marks the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Wowser! I hope you all had a fun, happenin' 4th weekend!

175 Miles?...Please!

Wowser, we DID it!! The Wasatch Back Relay is in the record books for team "I Pity the Fool!": Finn, Darby, Brooke, Erin, Laurel, Jez, KaeCee, Michele, Annalee, Kallie, Tara, and Dallin! What an amazing experience! I really do "pity the fools" who never get to encounter such a remarkable undertaking. Limits are pushed, bodies are racked, blisters form, skin gets sunburned, your body is dehydrated, you're exhausted from no sleep, and in the end, it is all worth it when you see the rest of your team cheering you across the finish line. I cannot even describe in words the experience and the emotions I felt while participating in this race.

Some of the best moments or events of the race for me were:

-Running my first leg from Eden to Huntsville in the death heat, but coming around that bend to the beautiful song "Holly Holy" by Neil Diamond. Tara knows what will keep me going, "oh you know what I like!"

-Watching KaeCee totally conquer her second leg after no sleep. She freakin' hauled up those hills!

-A HUGE shout out to my cousin Kallie for filling in at the very last minute and running the race's hardest leg: RAGNAR! What a beast and she did it with a smile. THANK YOU KALLIE! She saved our butts.

-Watching Tara dance to the music on her second leg and having a good time...What it was all about!

-Watching Annalee run up by Echo reservoir and afterward commenting that she was so glad it was flat! It looked pretty hilly to me.

-Michele fighting through her last leg and her brother Hal running alongside her to keep her going. This was one of the most inspirational moments I have ever seen in a sporting event. The world just seemed right watching Hal run with Michele in his croc sandals pushing her to keep going.

-Papa Bawden spraying Michele with the hose.

-Seeing Tara come down the hill on her last leg to give me the wristband for the final leg.

-The mohawk on top of our van was killer! Mr. T would be proud, Sucka!

-Seeing my dad Jim at the top of Avon Pass under his umbrella in his usual "Weekend at Bernie's" look and at the end of my first leg in Huntsville where he gave me a big hug.

-Annalee conquering the leg before Ragnar and her fiancee Jake running with her! They are so M-F-E-O! They're gonna make it!

-Listening to Michele's Mr. T impersonations: "Shut up Foo!", "Sucka!", "I pity the foo!", T-Fu, etc.

-Robyn driving by the runners, rolling down the window, and giving them a woot woot each time.

-Michele running with an umbrella on Tara's last leg and Tara telling her to stop! "Michele I don't want you to run with me" is what she said I think, to which Michele replies, "I was bored!" "And that's a fact!"

-Robyn's brother's house in Midway--so NICE!

-Papa Bawden's comment: "I was told not to come over here because you all would be tired and bitchy!" To which Tara replied: "what did my dad just say?!"

-Talking on the phone to Erin...wait, actually that was me listening to Erin tell me how much she hated me at that moment because of her race legs. Spreading the Cowles family love around, booyeah.

-Tara and Michele dedicating their first legs to their cousin Brittany.

-KaeCee's hair on Saturday morning, Classic! I actually missed it but "word got back from those" who saw and apparently it was awesome!

-Car window paint with such sayings as: "Outta my way, Sucka!", "I'm pullin' some T-Fu on you runnin' fools!", "Mr. T is for tough you foo!" Kallie's awesome drawing of the big man himself, it almost looked life-like.

-Coming into Rockport and doing my football player move just before handing the wristband off to Finn. It was pretty sweet!

-Yelling to truck 1 that I had to go to the bathroom, which saved me on that second leg from having to do something in the lake and killing my awesome pace and time!

-Tara and Michele's magic fingers giving me the best stretch/massage ever!! THANK YOU!

-Our van being late to start our last legs in Heber. "Are you guys coming?"

-Missing the turns, once, twice, no three times on KaeCee's last leg.

-The van's backseat...what backseat? Where is it? (Darby wants credit for this one...it was pretty funny!)

For van 1 happenings, check out Brooke's Blog

What a rush! It was fun to lead the team to the finish line in our costumes, SO HOT RIGHT NOW! 12 girls running their hearts out and loving it, that's what makes life worth living!
I think this is one of the hardest, yet greatest things I have ever done in my life, but I am so glad that I can say "I did it! and I pity the fool who doesn't!"

The Wasatch Back is Tomorrow! AAaahhhhh!

"I Pity the Fool who doesn't run the Wasatch Back Relay!" What? I pity the fools that do run the Wasatch Back Relay!
Oh my heck! The WBR is tomorrow! I think we are ready. I sure hope so. I'm so ready to make a fool of myself...I think.
Oh well, I think it will be a cool experience. But I will be glad when Sunday rolls around and it is over!
Go Team! I Pity the Fool

Booyeah!

So, I've been sitting here and I've decided that my favorite word for the day is...Booyeah! Brooke says it all the time and every time I read it, I can hear Brooke's voice in my head saying it. It just makes me laugh.

Booyeah: an exclamatory statement, often said when someone is extremely overjoyed. Often people do a hand movement simultaneously as they say 'Booyeah' (clinching fist and thrusting their elbow downward vertically)
Example: "I got an A on my chem final. Booyeah!"

I Fall A LOT!

So, I was just reading my previous post and was thinking of all the times that I have fallen in just the last little while:
1-Skiing at Alta--summersault in powder
2-Snowshoeing--faceplant and slide into home at Donut Falls
3-Trying to field a hit on the softball field--twice! No three times! I totally fell my senior year at practice while playing shortstop. Megan Zito thought it was soooo funny and couldn't stop laughing.
4-Bonking heads with Darby on Mother's Day and falling to the ground my head throbbing in pain!
5-Falling down the hill at school--6th North is so steep! Darby and I used to watch people coming down the hill through our bedroom window! It was the best lunch-time entertainment ever.
6-I totally fell on some ice going over to Nottingham apartments.
7-This one isn't mine: Darby trying to chase Tara and falling at the starting blocks--and then Tara turning around and falling!
8-This one isn't mine either: Tara snowshoeing, flexing her muscles, and then flat on her back!
(7 & 8 are courtesy of the Cabin Trip of Great Prizes)

If I think of any more...

Softball, Balance, Intertia...whatever!

I have a treat for you today!! Of course it's about me falling!

Instance 1:
So, last night I'm playing some softball and you know, everything was going pretty good and then the very last play of the friggin' game! So, I'm playing third (which by the way is my home base...no pun intended). I'm pretty comfortable there. We have two outs and a runner on first. The batter cranks it out to left field and I instinctively go to the bag to cover. Courtney throws a rocket to me on the money. However, I was not on the money. The runner kind of swerved around me...needless to say, I missed the tag and then...on the ground! When I went to tag the runner and missed all of my momentum sent me right to the ground! I lay there thinking to myself, "Junk, now I'm going to have to hear about this the whole way home!" The outfield got a pretty good view of it all and of course, Lyndsey had to be on the bench (in the third base dugout) so she had an awesome scope of the spectacle that I provided.

Instance 2:
Believe it or not, I have a another fall that tops the previous! Last year (same team) we were playing and there is a slow roller hit between me and the pitcher. It is the unwritten rule that the pitcher is not to field hits unless hit right to him. It is the pitcher's job to pitch. So, I charge the ball...one problem, I was so low that as I picked up the ball I didn't set myself up straight to get a good throw. Instead, I tripped over my own feet (my knees and feet were tangled up together!). I attempted to throw the ball anyway and afterward rolled across the infield! Of course the runner was safe. I think the ball went a whopping three feet...back to the pitcher! I think I rolled farther than the ball was thrown! There was a big dust cloud and I just sat there and laughed not knowing what else to do.

I normally consider myself a pretty stable person, and athletic. But these instances remind me that even people with skills have their days ;)

Why does no one have a camera at these inglorious moments!?!?

BORED!!

With the exception of one file, I have had absolutely nothing to do today!! Eight hours of nothingness! Oh my goodness, my head hurts from doing nothing. I guess I have done something today...I've thought, a lot. I have a race next Friday (the Wasatch Back Relay), and to be quite honest, I think I might die! (Not really, but I have come to the realization that I am NOT a runner!) True, I am athletic, but that is in certain spheres. For instance, I am a decent softball player, basketball player and volleyball player, but a runner I am not. It just isn't in me to be a runner--granted I have run races and finished, but distances are not my forte. I am a sprinter--I sprint to first base, I sprint down the court on a fast break, I sprint to the volleyball--I am a sprinter.
Oh gosh, next Friday will be interesting. I'm just going to pace myself and it will all work out.
Over and out!

Busy weekend!

Erin and I awoke at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning to participate in the Salt Lake City Marathon, Half Marathon, Bike Tour and 5K. Of course, we ran the latter and it was pretty fun. Probably the best 5K I have run since the Rex Lee run in March. We ran in 32 minutes (not stellar but typical for our pace). There was tons of energy and it was a cool experience. After we finished our race, I went back down to the finish line to see Tara and Michele finish their half marathon. I think they finished in 2:09:24. I was super excited when I saw them coming down the final stretch and yelled with everything I had. (I love being a camel.) It was awesome!

I also had a funeral on Saturday and that was interesting. I had the opportunity to be a pallbearer. While this is traditionally reserved for males, that is one gender that we are lacking in our family. My great-grandfather had two girls, one grand-daughter (my mom), and four great-granddaughters (my sisters and I) and two great-great-granddaughters. So, my aunt Selma had no children and only my mom as a relative. So, my sisters, dad and I were the pallbearers. It was a pretty cool experience and I was actually glad to have had the opportunity to help Selma.

A pretty good weekend...

Oreos

So, I am sitting at the front desk of the Registrar's Office at the U and I am bored!! I had so much to do at my desk and now I have to sit here and do nothing. It's okay though, I worked for the US government for three summers, I think I know how to do nothing ;)
I have caught up on Brooke's blog and decided to write my own. So I am reading this book, Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks. Oh my heck! I read a funny part last night and was crying I was laughing so hard! Here is the background (it won't be too long, "I've read books with shorter introductions!"): this family is super poor and never get any treats. Their dad hides a package of Oreos in his office and the kids snoop them out and eat the entire package. The dad comes home to find the empty package and exclaims, "Vultures! My kids are G-D-N vultures!"
The only reason this was so funny to me, was because it was the exact same at my house growing up. Mama Sue hardly ever bought treats, sugar cereals or otherwise. If we wanted cookies, they were homemade and were not baked very often. This story hit close to home and it took me about ten minutes to stop laughing. If you want to read a good book, I would recommend this one. It was recommended to me and Darb by none other than Tarbear, and I seem to like the books she recommends (i.e., The Kite Runner, Ishmael, etc.).
Anyway, just wanted to do something for a few minutes.

Slacky-Slackerson!

Junk! I know that it has been forever since I have blogged, but that's what happens when you get a real job and live with your sister who doesn't have a computer. I know I have been slacking, people have made comments.
Anyway, today is my best friend Tara's birthday! I just wanted to give a shout out to to TarBear on her special day. We are having a BBQ for her tomorrow at Sugar House park and it will be loads of fun!
So, I've done my blogging duty for now.

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

My sister Melissa had a new baby on Sunday, thus, Aunt Ewee and I took Haylie off her hands for the afternoon today. It was fun to spend some time with the Hayster. We ate lunch and played at the park. We had a picnic and then played on the playground toys. Haylie is a big fan of swings.
There was just enough wind to fly a kite. I forgot how much fun it is to fly a kite. It reminds me of the Mary Poppins song, "Let's go fly a kite!" Auntie Ewee and I finally got the kite in the air (I forgot how to get it in the air for a minute). We asked Haylie if she wanted to fly the kite, to which she replied yes. Haylie flew the kite for a few minutes all by herself and she did very well for her first time flying. When she saw the kite in the air, she exclaimed, "I want to fly!" meaning she wanted to be in the air. It was pretty funny.
So, if you get a chance, "go fly a kite!"

Introducing...Mikaela Lynn Miller!

Top: Aunt Ewee, Sister Haylie and Daddy Eric with Mikaela
Bottom: Mikaela enjoying her yummy fingers.

We have a new member of our family! Mikaela Lynn Miller was born Sunday, 16 April 2006 at 2:44 pm. She weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces, 19 inches long, and is a cutie! Great job Melissa and Eric and congratulations to new big sister Haylie!

Easter Reflections

I love the Easter season. It has definitely become more meaningful to me as I have grown older and really understood what we are celebrating. True, the Easter Bunny and egg searching is very fun, and I love watching my niece Haylie hunt for eggs, but I really appreciate the true meaning of Easter and what it represents. Last night I went to the Easter program put on by the Temple Square Chorale and it was amazing. If you get a chance, for sure go to this performance (probably next year). It was very moving.
Easter and Christmas have become so commercialized that we don't even realize what or whom we are celebrating. I certainly hope we can remember our Savior this Easter season and his atoning sacrifice for us and his resurrection.

Happy Easter!

Go Utes?

So, more big news, I have found a new job! I will be employed by the University of Utah in the Registrar's Office. It sounds exciting and tons better than the job that I have right now (thumbs down). So, just wanted to spread some more good news! Yeah!!

Pure Rush of Adrenaline??...I think not.

So, Tuesday evening I went to the Jazz/Spurs game...what a sight. Yeah, I felt like I was watching hike school basketball in a really big gym. But, I didn't have to pay for the tickets because Brooke came across them, so that was pretty sweet. However, the game was not sweet. Brooke and I had a great conversation and don't worry, we had play-by-play and I think Jerry Sloan's proteges behind us. "Kick it back out to Williams!!" "Let's go Jazz!" "AAAHHH!!" ringing in our ears. Let's be honest, we were like five rows from the very top, do you really think they can hear you? I'm going to go with my gut feeling on this and say no.

The highlight, or possible lowlight, of the game was in the third quarter. Some guy randomly runs out on the court during a free throw while the entire security squadron is sitting there scratching their heads! It was pretty funny. Jerry Sloan finally took matters into his own hands and was not happy with the security, or better phrased, insecurity. I love when people do stupid things. It makes me so happy (unless it is directly happening to me, then I am not so happy).

So, yeah, I miss Johnny Stockton and Karl Malone in the fabulous purple uniforms. I don't think the NBA will ever be the same or as good as those two players. Thanks Brooke for a fun time!

Going geek, I mean Greek!

As a history major graduate I have hit the big times! That's right. Next Thursday, I am going to be inducted into the prestigious honor society Phi Alpha Theta, Delta Xi chapter at Utah State University. What is Phi Alpha Theta you ask? Well, according to their website:

"We are a professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. We seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways."

I know what all of you are thinking (including myself), Geek to the core! Oh well, I think it will be fun to tell my classes that I am a member of PAT when I am a big time college professor of history. Just wanted to spread some more good news.

Heck YES for Running!

So last Saturday, I ran my second 5K. I walked my first one, boo to that. I would so much rather run a 5K or any race for that matter. However, the walking was pretty fun to watch. My Aunt Margaret kicks trash at speed walking and is probably in much better shape than I am! Anyway, I went to Cougar-ville (Provo) to participate in the Rex Lee Run. It was a nice 5K through the BYU campus. Brooke and I ran it together and it was awesome. It's so much nicer to have someone to run with, because she will keep you going and vice-versa. Anyway, we finished in about 32 minutes (#526 for me and #529 for Brooke, not bad for not really running a whole lot). I was so proud of Brooke! She did so well! This was a great motivation to get out there and run and train more for the Wasatch Back Relay. It is in June and it will sneak up on us if we're not careful. So anyway, that was pretty sweet and I really enjoyed it. There were a lot of people who ran and that was also great to see, because the money raised went to cancer research, so I thought that was pretty neat!
I'm hoping to do a few more races throughout the summer besides the WBR.

Big News!!

"I hope they call me on a mission!" I just wanted to formally announce, that come fall, I will no longer be known simply as Dallin Cowles; but rather, Sister Dallin Cowles. Catchy!
Yes, you read that correctly. I will be serving the Lord for 18 months (after I take a vacation to the beautiful islands of Hawaii with the family).
There will be an opportunity to guess where I will be serving. I think I might give each continent a guess (minus Antarctica, there isn't a mission there--no one lives there!) Whoever gets it, or comes closest will get a special prize from me! (I don't know what that prize will be, something good though.)
I'm so excited for this opportunity and am so blessed to have had such wonderful examples in my life to help me make this decision!

So that is the BIG news! "Big, it's gotta be BIG!"

J-J-J-Joseph!!

So, this is my 25th posting. (I knew you'd be proud Brooke! I've had this blog since when?...July 2005?) I have officially hit the quarter-century mark...impressive for me.
Well, this has been an eventful week. Monday: I started my new job; Tuesday: went to work, then went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Awesome...more below. Wednesday: went to work, then went to the March B-day Bash at Classic Skating in friggin' Sandy (it was fun though); Thursday: went to work and relaxing at home tonight!

So, on to Joseph...it was awesome! Very fun and entertaining. Heidi Louise Belnap forgot about a test, so there was an extra ticket. Erin called me on my way home from work and asked if I wanted to go. Of course I did, so I headed down to SLC. I have only seen a few Broadway productions and Joseph was on the list of those I wanted to see, so I was excited for the opportunity. I only knew one of the songs, but I must say the entire production is very good.

Moab...or as we like to call it, Mobe

This last weekend I went to Moab with Darby, Tara and Michele (Tara's sister). Darby and I were the camels (support group) and Tara and Michele were the runners. They ran the Canyonlands Half Marathon (13.1 miles) and I am so proud of them! Mike Nielson (he's an Aggie) won the race overall with a time of 1:11:59.4; now that's impressive! Go Aggies!


Tara and Michele coming down the final stretch!

It was a great time. We made it all the way to Lindon as our first stop. We had to replace Michele's brake lights. After that, it was smooth sailing all the way to Moab. We stayed in a quaint little cabin near the Hole 'n the Rock about 15 miles south of Moab. Don't worry, we did stop by the petting zoo and see the exotic animals.

So anyway, I just wanted to give a shout out to Tara and Michele for running and finishing the race!

Ow, Ow! Can I get a woot-woot?!

Donut Falls! Hmm...Donuts.

Last Saturday (3/4/06), I went with a group snowshoeing up Big Cottonwood Canyon and we hiked up to Donut Falls. So pretty! To check it out, go to http://www.climb-utah.com/WM/donut.htm

So, we had been snowshoeing for about ten, maybe fifteen minutes and we get to this really steep part. There were two options: (1) run/go down the steep hill (way fun); (2) keep on the trail and go down a gentle slope (boring). Tara had already gone down the steep portion because she likes to run/slide down the mountains. I surveyed the scene and after listening to all the other girls complain that they were not going down that steep part, I started down the hill. I was doing pretty good and was yelling out "I got it! I got it!" and then...yep, you guessed it, FACEPLANT and a slide into home! SAFE!! "Uncle Elmore Socks, what did she do?!" I gave Tara a good chuckle. She said I looked like a little kid running to her parents really excited. I sure am glad that I can make a total fool of myself, it's good times.

I missed Tara's shining moment, but she told me about it. We decided to sled out (not a good idea because it wasn't very steep so we walked most of it). Anyway, Tara was going along and lost her sled and when she went to retrieve it under the tree, she sank. So, just picture a ballet dancer with her leg propped up on the bar. Yep, that's about the position that Tara found herself in the snow.

We decided to go sledding by the road on our way out. It was a bumpy ride. Tara and I went down on one sled and Matt and Naomi were on another and Chris rode solo. So Tara and I go down and I'm in front. Snow is kicking up in our faces. Tara thinks we are done with the ride and then...the last jump. We fly off the sled and land on our behinds! OUCH!

Anywho, if you want a good hike, snowshoe or otherwise, and sledding escapades, I would suggest Donut Falls.

I need a hero!

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon is that of Abinadi. What a stud! I have been studying the BofM quite intensely since the beginning of the year (new year's resolution) and just finished this section in Mosiah. Wowser! It was so neat to read again.
One thing that I really like about Abinadi is that he tells the people of King Noah how it is. There is no beating around the bush and no sugar coating going on. He calls them out on it, and they don't like that. Isn't that how most people are? If they aren't doing what they are supposed to and someone actually says something, they don't think "oh they're right", they get defensive and try to justify their behavior like Noah's people did. Great story!

Mini Vacation

The Happiest Place on Earth?

California...I got back from CA on Saturday night after spending some time with my cousin Natalie and her family in Long Beach. Good times. We set out on Wednesday at 8:30 am (7:30 am CA time) and pulled in to LB at 9:30 pm. We made pretty good time. It was about 70 degrees there and it was a nice break from the cold Utah weather. The highlight of the trip was going to Disneyland. I have been there before, but not to California Adventure. Pretty fun. I rode the rides single ("Lonely rider!!" "Do you have to say it like that?" "Sure I do") as my cousin was toting around her two little boys Spencer and James.

CA Adventure was okay, but my heart is still tied to Disneyland. I have been there five times now and each time, it is still fun. However, I think that there is a little false advertising going on. "The happiest place on earth"? I'm going to have to disagree. I say this because the thing that stands out the most to me at Disneyland is parents yelling at their whining kids who didn't get to stand right by Mickey when he came by. I have never seen so many kids crying or throwing tantrums all at once, except maybe at Primary or Sacrament meeting on Sundays.

So, anyway, I rode most of the really fun rides: Hollywood Tower of Terror (I don't know if that is the name of it); Space Mountain; Soarin' Over California; the big roller coaster at CA Adventure (I don't know the name of it); Splash Mountain; we walked through Tarzan's tree house; Buzz Lightyear with Spencer; Pinnochio with Spencer; Pirates of the Caribbean; and who could forget It's a Small World? So, just a few, but lines are really long, so I wanted to hit the good ones. I'm really glad It's a Small World made the list ;) I also made it over to Toon Town--Lame! I guess it's fun if you're five, but I wasn't too impressed. Spencer liked it though.

Because it is the 50th anniversary of D-land, we saw some fireworks and then headed over to Fantasmic--CHAOS! There were so many people there but still fun. So, this D-land trip was fun just like the other ones and it's fun to be a kid again but good to be home.

If something gets in your way, turn.

Since I'm unemployed and I don't do a whole lot, I guess I have to write about the things that I do. One of the things that I seem to do is ski. In honor of el dia de los presidentes, Erin and I went skiing up in beautiful Ogden Valley. We went to Wolf Mountain and it was awesome. Great snow, probably the best I've been on.
So, this is funny. Our first ride up the lift was hilarious. I'm sitting on the left of the chair, Erin is on the right. When we get to the top, I assume (and we all know what assuming does) that Erin is just going to go straight out and I'll veer to the left. Nope! Erin decided to go to the left as well and cut me off! It all happened so fast. Right when I got off the lift, my peripheral vision could see only one thing...Erin coming right over me. Needless to say, I fell into the cautionary netting and "lay there like a slug, it was [my] only defense." I was laughing so hard! The workers thought I was hurt and came over and asked me if I was okay and helped me up (I was just dead weight for them because I couldn't stop laughing). It was pretty sweet. Erin and I laughed the whole way down the mountain. Where is a camera when you need one?
It was a really fun time skiing. Erin and I ski at about the same level, so we have a good time together. Plus, how fun is it to be run over? Way fun!

What have I done?!

So, I just got back from my training run...um....yeah, it's coming along. I have been the laziest piece of crap since I graduated from high school and now I am paying for it. I used to be so active (a three-sporter in high school plus softball during the summers and umpiring!). And let's be honest, playing slow-pitch softball in the fall is "hardly aerobically effective. I doubt I worked off the calories in a stick of carefee gum." I can't believe how bad of shape I am in, but, you have to start somewhere. Plus, it's my own fault. There were plenty of opportunities to be active in Logan--the Fieldhouse, Logan Canyon, Sports Academy, etc.

Now, the Wasatch Back Relay is my motivation. I am the team captain for team "I Pity the Fool!" (yes, Mr. T will be on our team shirts!) I can't let my teammates who are training so hard down now can I? We have until June 23 to be ready, so hopefully we won't procrastinate, because I don't want to find any of my teammates on the side of the road after mile 2 saying "go on without me, I can't do it!"

In any event, our team is wicked awesome. There are 12 of us total: 11 girls and one (1), yes one boy (lucky him). I am way excited to run it! I think it will be a life-changing experience. We already have people that are committed to run it next summer (2007) so that is awesome!

Anyway, the training is coming along and hopefully my wind will pick up soon. It reminds of trying out for basketball my sophomore year. Yeah, I wasn't going to try out because I was sick of basketball, but dumb me goes to tryouts and makes the team in the worst shape of my life because volleyball season was worthless as far conditioning went! But going to practice everyday and running about 40 extremely painful ladders paid off and I was in awesome shape. That should be my motivation! Pain= Physical Fitness Success!
Over and Out

What! (random post)

Okay, since like only about three people (including myself) read this blog, I'm just going to write. It's more for my benefit anyway (kind of like the journal I don't keep).
So, I am in that awful transition phase: college student to real world (which also includes the awful moving from a student ward to either a family ward, or a singles ward). I'm beginning to see why people stay in school as long as possible. Finding a job sucks rocks. I know that something is bound to come along, but I feel like I don't have any skills. "You know, nun-chuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills. [Employers] only want [people] who have skills!" I guess that I could pour coffee for a living. It's like Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer: "What do you do with a Master's degree in art history? You get a nose ring and pour coffee for a living." "Pour it on now!" It's a jungle out there. So anyway, I just wanted to vent for a second and now I'm done--no more complaining. "Is this you not [complaining], 'cause you suck at it."

However, being unemployed has at least one benefit. I have had a lot of time to read some books and being the history geek that I am, I read books that my professors would have assigned us to read. Take for instance, right now: I am reading His Excellency, George Washington by Joseph Ellis. So far it is really good and I am learning so much about our first beloved president. Very interesting. I read Founding Brothers by the same author and it was awesome. I just finished Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and loved it. I normally don't cry (ever) but this one got to me just enough to make my eyes well up (there were no actual tears, but it was close).

So, I guess that while I have the time, I will continue reading and running. The training for the Wasatch Back is coming along. It will be fun to run it in June! Over and out!

Alta Skiing...

Okay, so I have lived in Utah my entire life and I only started skiing about 4 years ago. Crazy I know. My two older sisters were taken when they were younger while Darby and I stayed home! What a rip! But, my sophomore year of college I decided to take on the mountain. So, I've been skiing since then and have gone about three times this season: the Beav, Wolf Mountain, and Alta.

The last resort is what this blog is about. I went skiing with Darby, Robyn and Tara. I had never skied Alta before, and must say that it is a pretty cool resort. The weather wasn't the best but there was plenty of fresh powder, which I suck in!
I won for best fall of the day when I became trapped in powder and lost my tips. I leaned forward (which my mom told me this morning is the wrong thing to do!) and proceeded to do a summersault. I didn't even know I could do summersaults anymore! But, I did land in some soft powder so it was all good.

It was a pretty cold day and snowed the entire time we were on the mountain. Our last ride up the mountain was so cold and our faces were pelted with little ice chunks the whole way up. Once at the top, it wasn't better as it was a blizzard! My only thought was, "get down the mountain! Get down the mountain!"

All in all, it was a pretty good day of skiing. Plus I got to spend time with good friends! What better way to spend a Saturday?

Caution: In Training for the Wasatch Back Relay!

I've decided to get my butt in shape and start running. I've been the laziest piece of crap since hike school and it needs to change! I went and bought new kicks for the training period which starts tomorrow. I am training to run the Wasatch Back Relay in June with 11 other people. Not to worry, we are only a recreational team. The point of the race is, of course to win ("it's a race and I'm winning!") and to run for 24 hours straight raising money for children. Sounds like a good cause, plus, I'm going to get in shape.
The course will cover the entire back side of the Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah for 173 miles (Logan (Go Aggies) to Park City). Each runner will run three to six miles about three or four times for a grand total of about 18 miles! We need a team name, so if anyone is reading this, and this isn't a very popular blog, and can come up with something not vulgar, crude, or just plain sick, please do share. We will have a rally car, and I'm so hoping it is like the van from Dumb and Dumber (the Shaggin' Wagon). So far we have five or six people committed to running (does that mean 5.7 people? Deep thoughts by Darby).
So, I've committed to run off my behind. Run?...Fun? HECK YES!!

Over the River and Through the Woods...

My friend Jon has requested that this post be about his cabin (or as he likes to call it the Cabin of Great Prizes). So I feel it my responsibility to indulge him as it was "one of the most influential moments of [my] life". Plus it really was a fun trip and a great precursor to Christmas.
Jon thought it would be great to stay at his newly finished family cabin down Fairview way with some of us from the ward. Finals were over and Christmas break had begun, so naturally we had plenty of time on our hands. So, we were off, to the "Cabin Trip of Great Prizes" (we are yet to see these great prizes).
After only three stops in Logan and about three miscommunications from Logan to Spanish Fork, we all made it to the cabin in one piece. This is amazing because there were five of us and gear (which included sleeping bags, other bags, and food) crammed into Tara's Subaru Impreza which she forgot to clean out. It was okay though because we rocked out to the Killer Mix that Darby made.
So we park the cars and unload the gear and we finally make it to the cabin. It was a good 200 hundred or more yards to actually get there from the road. Jon being the host and gentleman that he is, "carried like everyone's bags" (or so he says).


The highlight of the trip I would say was the snowshoe hike we all took. It was my first time snowshoeing and I must say that I am a fan. Again, Jon was the host and gentleman and "broke trail for pretty much the whole snowshoe expedition." That's a direct quote too. I stayed in the back of the trail and reaped the benefits of everyone else's trail blazing. There was no way in heck I was going to break trail; so the duty was split among others in the group, but I think Jon, Tara and two other people (I don't remember their names) were the real trail blazers. The best part of being at the back of the line is watching everyone else fall. It was a pretty sweet view. The best part of this day was the massage circle that we formed that night. Everyone got a back rub and it was heavenly.


So, after hours of card games and laughter it was time to come home. No miscommunications this time. So Thank you Jon for a wonderful time and for some wonderful memories!