Wish I was in Pittsburgh...

Pittsburgh is reveling in victory... Not only did the city win the Super Bowl this year, but they now have Lord Stanley's Cup to go with it. And 2,000 miles away, I am reveling in victory too. Last night's hockey game was really why I love sports. Pittsburgh was up against the wall. No one thought they could do it. They were on Detroit's Home ice and in every other game that series, the home team had won. The penguins didn't have home ice advantage the whole playoffs. Four months ago, the Penguins were 10th in the conference. Going into the playoffs they were the 4th seed. They had everything against them.... and they won. They pulled out a victory. I know, I know, I wouldn't be so happy if the Red Wings had won. But here's to the underdogs-- especially when they come from Pittsburgh. Here's to Sid the Kid, Gino, Flower, and the rest of the team. Way to go boys.

At 21, Sid is the youngest captain to ever win the Stanley Cup

P.S. The Penguins have a guy with the last name Satan on there team which proves Satan can win sometimes.

Artist of the Month/Summer

Amos Lee is my new favorite artist.  And he's from Philly and an ex elementary school teacher. Something about his guitar and soulful voice just gets to me.  Now you all know the secret of how to get to my heart... If I did things like buy CD's I would buy all of his.  But I can listen to all his music online for FREE.  Thanks Internet!

Have a gander HERE.

'Mems Day Weekend

A little late, I know, but Memorial Day weekend was really fantastic this year. Because I'm not working at the pool and currently have no job at all, I didn't have to work during Memorial Day. I took the opportunity to go camping with some friends up Dry Canyon in Orem. We packed all our gear and hiked up the canyon a bit where we set up camp. We all enjoyed a lovely evening of gathering wood (other than the bundle Autumn hiked up with on her head), fire, s'mores, and chatting. The net day, we decided to summit Big Baldy, the mountain in front of Timp. From our campsite, we guesstimated it would take about 45 minutes to summit and we'd be back in about an hour and a half. WELL.. 4 hours, 2 snakes, one other very large creature which we never saw, 2 bags of sunflower seeds, and multiple cuts and scrapes due to bushwacking up the entire face of the mountain later, we finally made it back to camp. We couldn't find a trail that went up to the top, so we decided to just hike it ourselves. It was AWESOME, but really hard. Thankfully, we found a trail for the way down. Nothing like a good weekend of camping, hiking, and getting dirty.

Packing in...

Mountain around dusk

We finally found a trail!

Scraped up legs. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Autumn Bottom's Leg courtesy of Big Baldy

Shoes of choice

Nothing like dirty feet!

Autumn, Ja, et Moi

Recommitment

Ixoj, who lives upstairs, asked me why I haven't written on my blawg lately. In my ability to not come up with a good answer, I decided I should recommit myself to blogging... perhaps not every day, but maybe one a week or something. Anyway... so here's my recommitment. I won't specify the frequency of my writing because then I don't have anything to live up to... but I can promise I will write more than I have in the past couple months. (Thank heavens for low expectations that make everyone feel like a winner.)

Spring term is almost over and I have thoroughly enjoyed the past month and half. I am taking classes, most of which I love, and I have no job. Thus, my days are spent with classes and homework until about 4, and then playing for the rest of the evening. "Playing" includes the following: running, playing touch rugby, hiking, camping, reading books of choice outside, farmers markets, gardens, and finding projects like making a firepit in the backyard of Brick House. (We inaugurated the firepit with a get together last evening, which was a great success. The corn that the fire cooked for us was delicious and the company with whom we ate the corn was even better.) I am living in B.H. basement sans meine schwester who has deicded to leave utah and head to Goshen College in ? Indiana for the next few months. Sad day. Visitors to my humble abode are always welcome.

In another bit of news, Paris study abroad awaits me this coming Fall semester. After applying for the program five (5) months late and still being able to get it because a girl just happened to drop out a few days before, I'm convinced it's fate. I really am going... I've actually paid money for it. And despite how much it scares the living hell out of me to live in France with a host family for an entire semester, I am determined not to back down as a result of this terror. Bonjour Paris! *If you find any good deals on flights, let me know.*

Anyway, there's an update. I hope you can all keep me accountable for my renewal of commitment. Until next time...

Uh oh...

You know, I was doing pretty well with life this past semester. I was handling the pressure of 17 credits and the work load that goes along with it, rugby practice 20 hours/week, being captain of the rugby team, 3 separate trips to california for rugby in 15 passenger vans, being 1st counselor in the RS presidency, and the prospect of raising the measly sum of about $20,000 in order for the rugby team to go on the said 3 trips to california plus a trip to florida. Until yesterday. Yesterday it hit me. Two words: no motivation. I sat in the library for about 6 hours and watched sports games on ESPN360.com while I managed to get in about 15 minutes of homework.

God in Heaven, let me survive finals.

Making History

We did it. The Women's Cougar Rugby (aka the BYU women's rugby team) is going to the national tournament! As a result of our win against Cal Berkeley this past weekend in the Pacific Coast Playoffs, for the first time our team is going to the Sweet 16 on April 17-18! Hooray!

However, the Sweet 16 is in Florida this year and due to the lack of recognition/funding from BYU, we are in desperate need of funds. Each plane ticket is $500 x 22 players + 2 coaches: A LOT OF MONEY! So while this post is a to tell of our great successes, I also do this to ask for your support. If you can even spare 10.00, our team could use your help. Please, please, PLEASE go to www.womenscougarrugby.com and hit "Donate To the Team" on the left-hand side of the page. All donations are secure on paypal and are tax-deductible. Tell your friends, neighbors, and anyone you can find about our story and donate now! Thank you for your support!

Update

Wow... haven't posted in awhile. Here's what's been goin' on...

• Semester is half-way over. I like my classes (thank heavens!)
• Papers, tests, and assignments coming out of my ears. Most of them take twice as long because they're in French.... change of major? Not likely...
  
• Went out to California Feb. 20-21 to play Chico St. and Stanford. Lost both games, but only by two points each. Played a great game against Stanford... losing by 2 points to the defending national champions? Not too shabby...
• Jacked up my ankle in Stanford game. I have a foot of many colors.
• Diagnosed with mono last week... and no, I did not get it from what you're all thinking. Thankfully, the only symptom I've had is a sore throat that hurts like hell and prevents swallowing, but no real fatigue. No contact sports for 3-4 weeks. (Does that include rugby?)
• Hand sanitizer has become my new best friend. And if you're around me, it should become yours too. But I don't have the plague, so be nice.
  

Well, there you have it! I'll try and be better about posting, but no promises. Bonne continuation!