You can bid Ashlee's youth 'good-day'.

For Ashlee's 25th we stayed at Marriott's MountainSide in Park City,
Raced on the Alpine Slide (man oh man I totally won),


Ate breakfast in Heber,
Drove back to Park City and rode the Alpine Coaster,

Went on a shopping spree,
Rode horses around Timpanogos ,

(click here for the exclusive video of my gitty up)

And ate dinner in The Tree Room at Sundance.

Who wouldn't want to be pregnant?!

I wish I was pregnant! I mean just look at all of the advantages. I'm going to be dragging Ashlee all over town now every time I go anywhere because I hate driving around crowded parking lots the size of Texas only to find the last empty spot miles from the store entrance.

Soooo you throw up a few times, develop an insatiable appetite, gain a little weight and become a bit more emotional but seriously, to be able to park right up front... totally worth it! Besides, your husband loves you and he will do whatever it takes to make you happy.

post script:

here's to all the ladies I know who are currently expecting (Cami, Kristin, Laura, mom...totally kidding!, and Sarah) who have rubbed off on me and Ashlee. Rather, Ashlee and I.

Anyone else coming with?

October 3rd - 5th. Virgin, Utah.

What do you say when your heart is full?

Bike Ride

Lotoja

When you consider that Ashlee and I had both been sick all week prior to Lotoja this year (let alone busy working in the yard all summer instead of training) I'd say we did well. We both rode for two different Great Harvest relay teams. I rode two legs for my team and Ashlee rode one for her team. We timed it just right so as I rode through Afton, Ashlee hopped on her bike and pulled me to Alpine.
I wish that I could get my hair to stay like this for days after a bike ride. Alas, no hairspray is strong enough.

Do you know what Europeans love more than "The Hoff"?

Southern Utah, specifically Zion National Park. And frankly so do I. Suppose that's why Ashlee and I go there as much as we do.

Havasu Falls was flooded out the week before our permit reservation so we had to change plans last minute and decided to hit Zion instead.

We hiked The Narrows...




Angel's Landing...





Keyhole Canyon...



I told you we didn't need wet-suites. Okay, they woulda been nice but we didn't really need them per se.

Sorry CJ, I had to crop you outta the photo cause you're flashing G's... sinner.

Kanarra Creek...



and Rocky Mouth Canyon...

I work really really hard.

Listen. I'm in my office by 10:30 AM sharp. I don't leave for lunch until 11:00 and I'm always back by 3:00. Even then I stay until 4:00 PM so I don't get home until 4:15. Besides, working every other day is demanding so I think it's just fine if I take three hours out of my work-day to post to my blog, don't you?

Only Seven Years to Go Until 2015 !

So one of my friends just got a new phone that streams live television via cell reception. It's a little unlike portable tv's of the past because this thing actually works. Hate to say it though, but as cool as it is doesn't it seem about 10 years too late?

I mean if Back to the Future had it all figured out in 1985 (and let me tell you; this 8 year old Dave was convinced that Back to the Future had EVERYTHING figured out... sweet "pick-up" trucks and of course time travel) shouldn't we have had portable tv's before the year 2000? Come on! I've got Star Wars and The Rocketeer telling me that jet-packs were an actual possibility over 10 years ago!? I blame them for making me feel like science owes me a fully functioning flying back-pack. Maybe its Jansport that needs do that R&D because NASA doesn't seem to stay focused. Don't even get me started on flying cars!

Mattel better get on the ball because I expect hover boards to be a universal toy among children within the next five years. Back to the Future II was set in 2015, but the hover boards seemed pretty common place so I figure they were released at least two years before that. The clock's ticking.

Dangit! Dangitall to heck!

My posts are going sans visual aid and boring now because my camera is busted.

Fantasyland Football

So for those of you who know me (lucky suckers) you know that I am a pretty big sport’s fan. Yah that’s right. I qualify as one of the unwashed, unread morons that scream and yell at the TV, throw the remote and then curse the gods for my misery when a group of athletes break my heart.

As for Fantasyland Football; I’m just plain against it. Look, I know I’m in the minority on this one. Every person who claims to be a football fan is geeking over fantasy football in every office in corporate America. However, I believe football is a glorious enough sport to be appreciated and savored on its face value. I don't have to make up a little imaginary game within the game to enjoy it. If you need to do that to be interested, you’re not a football fan. You're a closet Dungeons and Dragons Master.

For the fantasy players that are real football fans, I'm warning you; it messes with your loyalties. Want proof? Here's a test. If you hate the Cowboys (and you should - sorry uncle Mark) and you drafted Tony Romo for your quarterback, how are you going to feel when the Eagles have a late game lead, but the Cowboy’s are driving?

A) You hope Romo fumbles away yet another big game = You're a real football fan.

B) You hope Romo passes for another 30 yards to bring up his quarterback rating = Dungeons and Dragons Master who sold his soul to the stat geek, nerd-world of pseudo fandom. For shame.

And one more thing. If you are one of these guys that loves fantasy football more than actual football, please keep it to yourself. No one cares about your fantasy football team. Ever. No matter how brilliant your lineup substitution may have been, unless someone specifically asks you about it, don't walk into the office and start bragging about it because no one gives a

It’s like talking about your blog. Nothing wrong with having a blog (I hope) just don’t talk about it. If someone else brings it up, fine. But don’t ever start a sentence, “So have you read my blog? I wrote yesterday about how SHSHSHSHSHSH”. See that’s what happens to the person listening. Your voice turns into white noise. Talking about fantasy football does the same thing. Here, I'll prove it...

"So I drafted both Plaxico Burress and Terrell Owens, but I could only play one of them so I decided to SHSHSHSHSHSH". See.

Now, if on the other hand you want to talk about the actual game, let's shoot the bull...

But it has to be real football, a game that actually happened and was a documented event witnessed by those not watching Lord of the Rings instead of the game (wait? She's in Lord of the Rings? Can we TiVo the game?) Your brilliance in managing a fantasy team exists only in the world of hypotheticals and therefore is of no value to anyone outside of that same land of make believe.

The good guys won.

Do you remember at the end of Return of the Jedi, when Darth Vader grabs the Emporor and throws him down the conveniently located bottomless pit? The Empire was dead. No more dark side of the force.

Well my friends, that is exactly what happened last week in Yankee Stadium. In the 8th inning, 2007 Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia hit a grand slam, clinching the game and the last series played between the Red Sox and the dirty dirty Yankees in Yankee Stadium. It also effectively killed whatever hope the filthy Yankees had of catching the Red Sox in the wild card race. For the first time since 1994, the most evil team in professional sports (Lakers are a close second) will not be in the playoffs. So there Steinbrenner.

Knowing the Yankees are dead maks me want to dance around a bonfire with a bunch of Ewoks singing the celebration song.

By the way, how awesome is it that all I have to do is google "yub yub" and I can immediately access the lyrics of the original Ewok song, complete with translation? Glorious nerds and their internet. Here's the link so you can sing along. And yes, I know the Yankees beat the Sox the next day avoiding the sweep but I don't care. The Yankees remain dead. Light the match.