Keia vs. Max

What better way

2010-01-04T14:39:00.005-07:00

is there to ring in the New Year than to spend one's Xmas $$$ on a new snowboard? Boom.

Never Summer SL-R, 158cm

My Hearfelt Confession

2009-06-25T09:24:00.004-06:00

As of today I have been married for four years now, and in the recent style of so many prominent members of the GOP I have a confession to make.

I am having an affair.

This affair has occurred off and on for over a year now. As a direct result I am rarely home before 7:45pm during the work week, and leave for long hours at a time on the weekends. It has caused me to shirk many of my wifely duties. I rarely clean, I never decorate, and our flower gardens have become weed gardens.

At times this affair has left me exhausted and stressed. Other times I am overwhelmed by feelings of excitement and jubilation. I have threatened to quit it so many times and yet I keep coming back for more.

In light of full disclosure, I have decided to post a picture of my accomplice. Please avoid this temptress at all costs lest you fall victim to the Siren's call.

Voyeurism

2009-04-24T08:20:00.009-06:00

Steve and I were almost blown over by incredibly strong winds while on our evening ride last night. I suppose that is what we get for trying to sneak a ride in while a storm is approaching. I love that moment right before a storm hits when you can see the dark clouds slowly creeping into the valley. The sky seems to ooze as the clouds move over the mountains. It's especially beautiful in the spring when the peaks are still covered in snow and the marsh lands are green and full of water.

Ominous weather always seems to leave the whole world on edge. I have watched the horses in the field behind my house buck and neigh at the first sound of thunder, and I always wonder what they know that I don't. Yesterday Steve and I were the anxious ones as we attempted to fight the force of the winds and stay upright on our bikes while cars and trucks passed us at highway speeds.

It was at this time that I learned Canadian Geese can in fact look menacing. During nesting season the male stands guard ready to protect the nest at a moments notice. We were lucky enough to pass one couple right when a male was aggressively fending off an approaching intruder. The fight lasted only a matter of seconds as he squawked, pushed out his neck, and raised his tail feathers. It was intimidating, and I pity any bird who tries to mess with HIS nest.

The good thing about getting caught in a dangerously gusty wind storm while on a major road is that you may discover a much more scenic way to get home. After battling our bikes for a a few minutes, having to literally lean to one side just to keep from tipping over, Steve and I decided to take our chances with a rural road and hope it would take us where we needed to be. As we cruised through scenes of large old farm homes and windy streams we were ecstatic to find a better alternative to our evening ride route. We even managed to make it home while the storm was still just a light refreshing sprinkle.

This morning as the rain came down I watched two male Mallard ducks fight in the field behind my house. It was an incredible sight as they nipped and pecked in an elaborate dance and the nesting female looked on to see who would be the victor. Our local Pheasant (We have a male and female Pheasant who nest in the field every spring.) also watched the show from a distance. It seems I am not the only voyeur in my neighborhood.

Spinning My Wheels

2009-04-22T08:37:00.012-06:00

It's officially time for me to begin training for my rides in June, so Steve and I decided to venture out for our first road ride of the year on Sunday. I love riding my road bike and am always awed by how smooth and fast it feels. Knowing I was getting a late start, and wanting to get in lots of miles before we leave for our cruise, I decided we should aim for a 30 mile ride. I started the ride feeling fantastic and glad I had occasionally attended spin class during the winter months. Our 30 mile ride turned into a 35.5 mile ride with only a small amount of swearing on my part once I realized how long I was going to be stuck on my bike. After taking a short break and eating a caffeinated Cliff Shot, I felt much better and finished the ride feeling confident I will be able to tackle Little Red Riding Hood and MS 150.

Cache Vally is an amazing place to live if you are a cyclist, and I am reminded of that every time I go out for a ride. As Steve and I cruised through the rural roads of Petersborough, Newton, and Benson, we were treated to amazing views of snow covered mountains and beautiful marshes. Spring is an excellent time to bird watch in Cache Valley, and we got an up close look at large White Pelicans feasting on fish, Sandhill Cranes, (Or were they Great Blue Herons? I wish I knew my birds better.) and countless other bird species I am not familiar with. The Canadian Geese are currently breeding and every where we turned we saw them coupled. We even biked right past a pair that were nesting practically in someone's yard. The female was sitting on the nest and the male was standing guard and puffed up his feathers as we approached giving us a menacing glare (Can geese look menacing?) as we rode by. The local residents were certainly more friendly than the male geese and one passing driver even waved at us. This may be a small town, but I am certain we did not know that driver.

Last night as we cruised out on our evening ride, and I cursed the saddle sores I still had from the weekend, we approached a family riding in a carriage being pulled by two draft horses. Behind them was a Shetland Pony pulling a smaller carriage full of the youngest children. I could not get over the sight of them with the snow capped Wellsville mountains in the background as they galloped down the highway. Sometimes, particularly when I see horses on the road, I have to shake my head and ask myself, "Where am I?"

MS 150

2009-03-26T08:50:00.004-06:00

I just registered for the MS150 bike event and am so excited. This will be my first year riding and I can't wait. My sister and I are going to ride together, and oh the fun we will have. Luckily for me, this event takes place in Cache Valley and the starting line is only a few blocks from my house. We won't have to drive at all.

MS150 is the largest organized cycling event in the state. Every year they raise funds for MS research. If you would like to make a donation please visit my personal page here:

Christine's MS150 Page

Oh, and did I mention your donation is tax-deductible?

Thanks!

-Christine-

This Morning

2009-03-13T10:48:00.002-06:00

I cut off Steve's co-worker while I was driving to work. I was running late and was tired of waiting to turn left. I am certain she knew it was me. Such are the perils of living close to his office, and the risk of buying a new car when you live in a small town. It made me realize I can no longer think I am anonymous as I cruise through the streets of Logan. This does not mean I have to wear makeup on Sundays. Does it?

It's Just Around the Corner

2009-03-05T08:41:00.001-07:00

I have started seeing the Canadian Geese again. They were there at First Dam on Sunday afternoon when Steve and I stopped to feed our leftover baguette to any interested birds. There were only two of them, and the other year-round geese chased them off and would not let them eat any of the bread.

Then this morning, when I walked outside the ground was dusted with a sprinkling of the snow that had fallen overnight, but I could here them squawking. I looked up, and there they were, once again only two.

They remind me of cycling, of pedaling passed swamp lands filled with hundreds of birds. They remind me of sun on my skin and long warm days. I can’t wait!

Perfection

2009-02-05T11:14:00.005-07:00

Just over a week ago Steve and I skipped work to ski The Beav. After three years of listening to my boss insist I should simply ask if I want to take a day off and ski, I finally decided to take him up on the offer. It was worth it. We got up early and were some of the first people on the mountain. We got first tracks down two of my favorite runs and goofed off in the seventeen inches of fresh powder under Marge's lift line. I literally giggled out loud, to myself, under the lift line. If you hear stories about the crazy lady at Beav who laughs neurotically to herself on powder days they are talking about me.

After my best day at Beaver ever, Steve and I attended a wine and cheese tasting/dinner with some friends at a local restaurant. We were there for three hours and consumed a four course meal, five small glasses of wine each, and six different types of farmstead and artisan cheese. Some of the cheeses are practically impossible to find, and I may never eat them again, but it was fantastic to taste them once. I can't think of many things better than spending a random Thursday skiing in fresh powder and then being waited on while you drink wine and eat cheese. It was the perfect day.

They Say It's Your Birthday!

2009-01-23T08:45:00.004-07:00

Today is my mother's birthday. And I vow to remember to call her. I also vow to have a glass of wine in her honor, or a margarita, because she loves both. (I know. Poor me!)

She also loves to make jewelry, quilt, hike and take my little sister on leisurely walks through their Colorado Springs neighborhood.

When my mother plays Guitar Hero she bobs her head every time she strums a note.

Last year she attempted skiing for the first time in her life and I was so impressed by her willingness to swallow her pride and spend an entire day falling in the snow on the bunny hill.

My mother is the oldest sibling of a large family. It took her nineteen years to learn how to cook for a family of four. Our fridge was never void of massive amounts of leftovers. Julie and I never had to search hard for an afternoon snack.

If ever my mother and I would almost collide in the hallway or in a crowded kitchen she would ask "Shall we dance?" As a teenager I would roll my eyes in utter annoyance. As an adult I have to stop myself from saying the same thing to coworkers, or my husband.

Today my mom will probably start her day with a cup of coffee, just like I do. Then she will work because my mother has always worked hard so she may play hard and I admire that about her. She may take a break at lunch to walk with my little sister, and I hope when the evening begins she has a glass of wine or a margarita.

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you.

Update on the Big Man

2009-01-20T17:08:00.003-07:00

I received a call from Max's vet today. His extracted tumors are benign. He's in the clear. I'll be telling him the news shortly, in the form of a tasty peanut butter dog cookie, thanks to his girlfriend, Shelli.

Congratulations, Maximus!

Why Max is Sporting a T-shirt and Keia Has Been Banished to the Back Yard

2009-01-15T19:51:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago we discovered two lumps on Max's back. After a visit to the vet, (Yes, we are personally trying to keep them in business in this struggling economy.) we learned they were mast cell tumors that would continue to grow and needed to be removed and tested. Yesterday they preformed the operation and Max is doing quite well considering he was forced to go back to that awful place, get put under yet again, and get stitches.

His tumors were sent to the university and we should have the results within the week. I would like to think some college students get to practice on them to further their education and save future lives of people or pets. In the meantime Max is quite content even though he has a large patch of his fur shaved off and an incision about six inches long. Last night he whimpered off and on a bit, but was still wagging his tail and did not hesitate to climb in my lap for a good long cuddle fest.

Keia, on the other hand, does not understand why she has to be separated from her favorite friend to jump on, groom, steal food from, and otherwise torment. We have decided to leave her outside during the day while we are at work to keep her from trying to remove Max's fashionable plain white t (heh) and to keep her from licking his wounds, literally. She has access to the garage to warm up, but we are sincerely hoping this recent inversion does not send the thermometer plummeting below zero. Perhaps it is a good thing Steve and I are both total softies and have been spoiling the dogs with all those extra treats!

For Cara: So She May Continue to Drink Her Hot Chocolate Guilt Free

2009-01-05T08:47:00.003-07:00

It seems it's officially time for me to write a new post. The weird part is that even after just finishing a hectic holiday schedule, I feel as though I have nothing to write. Perhaps it's time for that second cup of coffee!

Steve and I thoroughly enjoyed the holidays surrounded by family and friends. I even got to use my new port glasses while my parents were in town! Steve's sister visited from Austin, we made it to two family parties but missed one due to massive amounts of snow, and my parents and sister stayed with us for a few days. Oh, and let's not forget little sister. She is as spoiled and lovable as always!

Yesterday we finally made it to The Beav for the first time this season despite the threats of below zero weather. With the aid of a down coat and handwarmers we managed to have a fantastic day. I don't think I warmed up until sometime this morning while I was sleeping, but it was well worth it to ski a few of my favorite runs. I hope to see all of my fellow Loganites there this coming weekend. THINK POWDER!!!!

Homemade Hot Chocolate

2008-12-10T08:21:00.004-07:00

Last year I discovered that many brands of hot chocolate are full of hydrogenated oil. It's amazing what reading labels will teach you! Considering my addiction to the warm beverage during Logan's freezing winter months, I realized it was time for me to cut it out of my diet. And then I discovered this tasty recipe for a much healthier homemade version. I tried it last night and was pleasantly surprised by its simplicity and its creamy chocolaty deliciousness, so I decided to share it with all of you.

1 cup milk
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon agave nectar
splash of vanilla
dash of cinnamon

Warm milk until almost boiling. Add remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. Enjoy!

Do-over!

2008-12-04T20:46:00.002-07:00

Last weekend Steve and I went back to the cabin for a post Turkey-Day recovery. Since we had left a Netflix DVD there the prior weekend, we had the perfect excuse, but who needs one? We unintentionally re-created much of the the previous weekend's festivities by once again eating frozen pizzas (The less clean-up the better!) relaxing with friends who brought fantastically tasty homemade food (black bean salsa two weekends in a row!), and playing pool. I even wore the same outfit, not because I am that neurotic, but because it served its intended purpose of keeping me warm and being comfortable so why not wear it again?

The evening went a lot better and no rat poison was consumed by any humans or dogs. This left Keia available to pursue her other hobbies such as licking the hands of small children:

-Christine

An Exhausting Weekend

2008-11-24T10:07:00.003-07:00

Friday night Steve and I split into small groups of boys vs girls with the girls enjoying a delightful dinner out followed by dessert at an entirely different restaurant. The boys stayed in and watched scary moves while munching on Mexican food and chips and salsa. I think the girls won.

On Saturday we had great plans for a nice relaxing evening at Steve's parent's cabin in Bear Lake. First I had to have my hair cut and colored as it was way past due and my favorite stylist was in town from Salt Lake. I have never experienced such a hair disaster in my entire life. I was there for over three hours as she attempted to fix the dark purplish brownish streaks she had accidentally dyed into my hair. I knew the second she was washing my hair that something was wrong since her usual "oh this is going to be so fun" was replaced with silence. I think I handled the situation quite well and would have handled it even better had we not had friends waiting and if I did not have thoughts of a holiday season and rarely seen extended family members lingering in the back of my mind.

I left the salon with foils still in my hair. It is now streaked with bits of orange, a weird dark redish brown, and my usual blond. I can't wait for the next six to eight weeks to pass so I may color it again without the fear of major breakage.

Though we arrived much later than expected our evening at the cabin was quite enjoyable full of good friends, great food, and lots of laughter. It ended suddenly when Keia ate rat poison, and Max ate the crumbs she did not finish. This was followed by the boys running down dark mountain roads and climbing up wood piles to random unsuspecting cabins to beg for hydrogen peroxide. One "neighbor" was kind enough to give us some though it was not enough for our large hyper Labrador.

After two emergency phone calls to the veterinarian we were rushing down the canyon on the way to the doggie ER. $300 and over an hour later Keia had ingested enough medication for a Great Dane only to be followed by hydrogen peroxide and finally a shot. That dog has an iron stomach and tried her hardest to hold on to the pizza she had also stolen off of the counter that night. Max, on the other hand, cooperated and was fine after just one dose of medication even though he is a much larger dog. Poor Keia was also forced to eat liquid charcoal and must take Vitamin K pills for the next ten days.

After arriving home our DVD stand broke. Then our bed frame broke. It was a rough night.

Keia spent the majority of the day yesterday stumbling around the house and whimpering. It seems that Labs who have enough medication for dogs twice their size do not come out of sedation very well. She also has a large swollen spot where the vet injected her with a needle. And she was drooling charcoal while falling asleep on her feet.

She is not out of the woods quite yet as rat poison causes animals to bleed to death and the symptoms may not be present for a week or more. In the meantime she gets hotdogs stuffed full of vitamins and we have to check her for bruising every day. She also gets gourmet doggie treats complete with sprinkles and frosting given to her by our concerned friends.

Yesterday I did something I rarely do. I made cookies. And they were tasty. And I sure am glad this is a short work week.

Keith Olbermann on Proposition 8

2008-11-13T08:51:00.001-07:00

Vote now, vote often!

2008-10-24T09:27:00.005-06:00

Errr, okay, maybe you should only vote once. My point is simply that if you are in Utah or any other glorious location that has early voting, you need to get out and get after it! Much as Christine and I did on Wednesday this week. It was a great time. No line. No hassle. No obnoxious Bush supporters. Oh, yeah, he's not on the ticket this go-around. Good thing. Keia has been on some sort of anti-Bush kick for like eight years or something. Dog years, of course, she was born in 2005 after all. But what can I say? She does take after her (adopted)dad when it comes to her politics.

Anyway, back to our voting day… it was nice. I would encourage any and all to take advantage of early voting. As far as my personal endorsements of candidates (What? My endorsements aren't election swingers? Well, maybe if more people read our blog!), I'm not telling. However, I will tell you who I didn't vote for in Utah's Gubernatorial race: "Superdell" Dell Schanze. Seriously, anyone who writes in his personal statement in the Utah Voter's guide, "If you are unsure then fill your heart with love, completely open your mind and pray to God earnestly. You can't afford to get this wrong and will be held accountable for your choice."(all right after claiming that our current governor Huntsman took away our freedoms [he didn't bother to say which ones, so I guess he means all of them. Great! Now I have no freedoms. That's wonderful!] and that the Dem candidate Bob Springmeyer doesn't care about the constitution [I'm guessing he burned a copy of it in front of "Superdell" or something, since most liberals burn copies of the constitution for fun, right?]) has definitely had too many grains of sand spill out of his hourglass. However, I will admit that the idea of his running for governor is highly entertaining in its scariness.

Fine, here's one endorsement: NO on Prop 8! Oh, that's California, I don't actually have a vote there… at least not that I know of. Okay, here's one: Morgan Bowen U.S. Congressional district 1 (Utah).

And Keia voted for Obama. I was just her proxy.

Furr

2008-10-24T08:58:00.003-06:00

The women on my mother's side of the family have been known to burst into tears without even the slightest provocation. If you give my grandmother a card for her birthday, even a funny one, you had better bring a box of kleenexes and be ready for a sloppy teary kiss on the cheek. I fully believe that if you place my mother, her two sisters, and my grandmother on the top of Pikes Peak and tell them a sad story, you will solve the Colorado drought for at least the next ten years.

Growing up I swore this was one genetic trait I did not inherit. Sure I would cry I at the usual times, like when I would see a commercial asking for money for homeless pets. I mean who doesn't cry when presented with those big sad puppy dogs eyes! That was reasonable, and certainly not the curse of the Christensen teary eyes.

This morning as I was driving to work one of my new favorite songs came on Left of Center. (The best Sirius Satellite radio station ever. If you do not listen to it you should really change that starting today.) I quickly stopped listening to NPR and switched over to Sirius. Perhaps listening to the morning's news had made me a bit emotional, what with the financial crisis, Obama visiting his ailing grandmother, and McCain campaigning in Colorado, it was certainly a bleak news day. But for some reason this song almost reduced me to tears. And it is not even a sad song!! I had to fight to keep the water works from coming so I would not show up to work looking like something truly tragic had happened. How would I explain to my manager that the new Blitzen Trapper song made me cry all the way to work? How?!? I suppose it is time to stock up on the kleenexes and come to terms to the fact that I am my mother's daughter. In the mean time, you should listen to this fabulous song and see if the harmonica reduces YOU to tears.

While My Mom Was in Florida it Snowed in Logan

2008-10-21T08:35:00.005-06:00

Doesn't my dad look adorable in his shorts and tank playing in the ocean in Florida? Every time I look at this picture I can't help but laugh, in the nice loving way of course, so I thought I would share it with you.

For those of you who do not know my father, it is very very rare to see him in shorts. (What, the tan lines didn't give it away?) You should feel lucky.

The Big 3 O

2008-09-12T08:34:00.009-06:00

Tomorrow Steve turns 30 years old, and though I have many close friends and family members who reached this age a long long time ago for some reason I still can't believe that my husband, MY husband, is turning thirty. What can I say, I always had a thing for older men.

Like a fine bottle of vintage port, Steve has only gotten better with age. Not that I knew him when he was fresh off the vine, but I have heard those stories and can't believe his brother and sister still speak to us after all of his harassment.

Now instead of just singing in the shower he plays the drums, and according to our Wii, he rocks! Instead of walking one crazy dog with unbelievably strong neck muscles, he walks two, AT THE SAME TIME! Instead of running on a treadmill, he runs to the top of peaks. If the next thirty years are anything like the last, by the time this man is sixty he will be one incredible rocking running babe.

In commemoration of this big day, I have decided to make a list of my favorite things about Steve and share them with you. Not that you needed this list to realize how great (and old) he is. You knew that already.

• Anyone who has ever spent any time around Steve knows he is quite possibly the funniest man alive. No matter how prim and proper you think you are he can make you spit espresso out of your nose. Trust me on this one.

• He can jump on a road bike and pedal for hours and hours and hours, all while looking great in spandex.

• He sings songs to the dogs, about the dogs, and for the dogs. With his creative interpretation every song on the radio turns into a song about Keia. The poor dog has yet to understand she will not be fed kibble every time he sings her name.

• He has a great appreciation for fine food and fine beverages. Not only does he discover the most fantastic restaurants, but he cooks too. I am so spoiled.

• He runs marathons and to the top of mountains and he has never lost a toenail accomplishing such feats. Too bad we can't say the same about his nipples! Note to all runners out there: tape your nipples and never, ever run a marathon in a white shirt unless you want the spectators to see it covered in blood.

• He snowboards and looks good doing it and most importantly he is totally and absolutely addicted.

• Have you seen his calves?!? My manager at work noticed them once while he was leisurely walking around the grocery store. She was more than a bit jealous. And this was after he had been out of commission for weeks following knee surgery! I told her she should see those calves cycling up a steep hill. They are intimidating.

• He makes me coffee every morning. You may call this keeping the peace, and you would be right, but I sure do love him for it.

• He speaks German, and though I fear the day when he and our children can talk about me right in front of my face and I will have no idea what they are saying, I can't wait to go to Europe with him. German is a sexy language. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

• He will go hiking with me in the mornings then change into a suit and attend the opera in the evenings. And he will love every minute of it.

• This man once lost two-hundred pounds without the aid of surgery or supplements. TWO-HUNDRED! How amazing is that?

• He has an incredible smile. So incredible he has been able to win over every member of my extended family simply by smiling, and I have a very large extended family.

Now, in celebration of Steve's birthday tell me your favorite story about him. Please feel free to embarrass him. He'll like it.

Keia '08

2008-09-11T09:38:00.007-06:00

The presidential campaign is really heating up, and November is right around the corner. Both candidates are now promising change, but all I am seeing is the same old bickering, name calling, and arguing over silly things that silly people said rather than arguing over the issues that really matter to us, the voters. It is only September, and I am tired of it already, so I am proposing we elect a candidate that WILL bring change to Washington. Let's hear it for Keia '08 because we all know you can put lipstick on Keia, and she will still be Keia.

Surf Naked

2008-08-21T08:39:00.009-06:00

* Photo Courtesy of Surf Naked

As you know, I am a skier not a surfer. I have never participated in this sport naked, but can't imagine it would be advisable. If you do decide to try either sans-clothing, I would at least recommend you do so while wearing jewelry purchased from this site.

Every weekend Steve and I shop at the Logan Farmer's Market for local produce, tasty pastries, and delicious breakfast burritos. It is the happening place to be in Logan on Saturday mornings, complete with a live band, friendly locals, and the always popular Hip Mamas Lemonade. If you visit us during the summer, I will mostly likely take you there because I am totally hooked and I hate to miss a Saturday at the market. I also hate to miss out on all of the local produce, bread, and cheese.

Steve and I like to ride our bikes there and fill my cruiser bike basket full of our weekly finds. We may need to invest in shopping carts, however, because our arms are literally aching by the time we finish buying all of our beets, cantaloupe, and potatoes. When winter comes and the Farmer's Market closes we may starve. Please send provisions.

Lately I have also used our Saturday morning shopping as an excuse to buy new jewelry, which is how I discovered this great site. Her jewelry is adorable and affordable, causing my habit to be more satisfying and less guilt inducing. She purchases her beads from "all over" and even frequents a local thrift shop to discover vintage finds she salvages for the beads, creating her own unique pieces. I have yet to ask her if she actually surfs naked ( I just met her last week people!), but would like to think she does. How cool would that be?

I stalked Thom Yorke

2008-08-15T16:36:00.006-06:00

This post has been a long time coming. Christine and I went on our summer vacation… in May. We paid a visit to my sister in Austin and Christine's cousin, Valerie, in San Antonio (Texas, of course). We had a great time. We perused the sights of Austin for a few days with Tiffani before heading 60 miles south to S.A. While there we visited Sea World, where Valerie is a Beluga Whale trainer. She also performs in the dolphin/Beluga show. It was quite the spectacle. After the performance, Christine and I were lucky enough to head backstage and meet some of the animals. I was tempted to jump in their pools, but I thought that I would save Christine the embarrassment of us getting kicked out of the park… not to mention probably costing Valerie her job, so I resisted the urge. We also spent some time with our friend Randon, playing tennis, as well as going out for some authentic BBQ and then some excellent Tex-mex with him, as well as with Valerie and her husband.
Now, don't get me wrong, all of that was great and everything, but I think the true highlight of our vacation was my (our, really) stalking of Thom Yorke. You know, the Radiohead guy. The night Christine and I arrived in S.A., we decided to take part in the typical tourists' fair, and visit the River Walk in downtown S.A. We meandered up and down the River Walk, passing various restaurants, bars and shops. We browsed posted menus, figuring we should eat. As we were strolling, I made eye contact with this kind of short guy with a mess of sandy blonde hair as we passed one another, going in opposite directions. Actually, I first saw him read my shirt (Christine gave it to me, it says, "I listen to bands that don't even exist yet"), then look at me. Right after we passed each other I said to Christine, "That was Thom Yorke!" (I may have added a few expletives. Okay, I know I added some expletives, but you can fill those in as you wish). To which she said, "nuh-uh, really?"(she might have added some expletives as well, but for those of you adding them in, I'm sure hers weren't quite as sing-songy and in the same multitude as mine, but still well placed, you can be sure) I was certain of it, so we turned and followed, like any obsessive fans would. We lingered behind him a bit, but I never let him out of my sight. We even stopped to glance at a few menus, so as to not come off as insane. After a few hundred yards, sir Yorke started up one of the many flights of stairs leading up and out of the River Walk. We followed. Actually closing the gap quite a bit on the ascent up the steps. I think he was quite possibly a little drunk. Or high. Or both. So, I think the stairs were a bit of a challenge for him. Anyway, we got to within about 5 feet behind him at the top of the stairs and kept following him as he crossed the street. We had to stop, however, as he walked up to his ritzy hotel with swankily-clad doormen. It was awesome. And just so you know, Thom Yorke is a shrimper. For real, little guy. Oh, and to make sure that I wasn't nuts, I called Tiff to see if Radiohead had any shows in TX that day or the following few days (I already knew they were on their U.S. tour at the time) and sure enough, they were scheduled to play Dallas in 2 days' time. Sweet.

M.I.A. Kala

2008-08-12T09:07:00.002-06:00

If you have not bought this album yet, I suggest you do so. Just do not blame me when you can not get the catchy tunes out of your head, or when you play it so loudly your dogs complain. They live in your house and eat the kibble you buy. The least they can do is put up with a little loud music and your obnoxious ridiculous looking dancing. Right?

Cool Cat In a Hot Garage

2008-08-08T08:09:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I rescued a fat lazy cat from inside my dogs' kennel moments before my dogs mistook the feline for a generous lunch offering. It was my official good deed for the day.

Keia may never forgive me.

Nap Time?

2008-08-01T08:41:00.004-06:00

Two nights of getting less than seven hours of sleep have left me feeling intoxicated while at work. My cheeks are tingling, my palms are sweaty, and everything is a bit blurry. All of this has made me wonder:

How exactly did I survive those college years?

A little too far

2008-07-31T10:26:00.002-06:00

As many of you (loyal readers) know, Christine bought a road bike in April. Since then, she has participated in a 36 mile women's only ride and together we will be riding in the Cache Valley (metric) Century in a few weeks. We also go on training rides at least 2x per week. Both of us are very safety conscious, Christine even more so than I, in a good way. Our obstacles consist mainly of cars, most of which are operated by very courteous drivers, an occasional jogger/pedestrian and maybe a marmot, cat, dog or cow. Never as a rider, would I imagine that one of the most dangerous obstacles I'd have to worry about would be a police officer. Even if I was taking part in a quasi-protest type group bike ride. No, actually, PARTICULARLY if I was part of such a group. I would hope the officer would be there for protection. This video really is quite shocking:

Here's an excerpt from an article of what the officer claimed happened, clearly contradicted by the video footage:

'Patrick Pogan, a 22-year-old rookie cop, former football offensive lineman and son of a retired NYPD detective, claimed in court documents that 29-year-old Christopher Long of Bloomfield, New Jersey was "forcing multiple vehicles to stop abruptly or change their direction to avoid hitting the defendant." Pogan also alleged that Long knocked him to the ground after deliberately aiming the bicycle towards him.'

And lest any of you don't approve of my "liberal news source" similar articles can be found through online versions of newspapers here and here and here.

Peace.

The Bear Lake Monster

2008-07-30T08:44:00.005-06:00

Last weekend Steve and I went to Bear Lake to celebrate/mourn Michelle and Joe's upcoming move. I took with my camera, but was way too busy having fun to use it. I seem to do that a lot lately. Here are some highlights from the weekend:

Gravy (also known as Biscuit) FINALLY cuddling with me. Perhaps she avoided my lap for over twenty-four hours because I refused to call her by her proper name. Most dogs adore my lap.

Sleeping under the stairs in the pool room. Who knew it was the best room in the cabin? It is cool and you don't get woken up by those pesky yet gorgeous Bear Lake sunrises.

Learning that Michelle brought two bikinis for the weekend. When it comes to clothes that girl is always prepared. I fully intend to raid her closet before they leave and then blame it on the movers.

In Case You Were Wondering

2008-07-18T08:35:00.014-06:00

The Square One softball team rocked last night's game and destroyed the opposing team despite that team's best effort to distract the SQ1 players by making donkey noises. There is nothing like community softball to bring out the best in grown men. I have yet to understand why some people take this whole thing so seriously.

Our dear friend Joe was struck with the softball twice as he attempted to round the bases. The fastest and most dangerous ball was of course hit by Steve. Just a little going away present for you Joe. Please send all medical bills to the Smithfield community softball league. They will settle any forthcoming lawsuits with treats from the concession stand.

If You Ask Nicely She May Give You the Recipe

2008-07-09T08:33:00.004-06:00

Yesterday Steve and I braved the ninety-three degree weather to go on a short bike ride. Our favorite evening ride takes us through the swamps of Cache Valley where we are often fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of many birds including herons and cranes larger than my parent's dog. After reaching Mendon we follow the Wellsville mountains south while staring up at their snow covered peaks. My favorite part of the ride, however, is a rarely used narrow winding road that is parallel to the backside of the dump.

It was at the end of this winding road that it happened. I clipped one foot out of my pedal, and then leaned a little too far as I attempted to clip out the other. Steve quickly shot out his hand trying to stop my impending fall. Then I magically swiveled my heal and was freed from my pedal catching myself moments before my exposed forearms would have landed on the sharp fiery asphalt. I did not crash. I did not scream. I didn't even laugh out loud. I am now officially one step closer to being a hard core road biker who is not terrified of intersections.

On another worthy note, I only gained four pounds while my family was in town. Anyone who has ever tried my mother's unbelievable quinoa salad knows THAT was the true accomplishment of the week.

They Actually Feed Her Kibble With A Golden Spoon!

2008-07-03T08:51:00.006-06:00

My parents, my big sister, and my little sister are all coming to visit and will be staying in our dog infested home for a few days. The littlest sister is actually a small white fluffy dog named Kisha who is more spoiled than Julie and I ever were. I think my dad is bringing her golden water bowl along with her moist dog food, her toys, and her bed. My dogs may not be allowed to drink from the golden bowl because they are gigantic and unruly.

If you do not hear from me for some time it is either because we are hiking through the forests of Cache Valley (while carrying little sister up the most technical parts, of course) or I have eaten so much of my mother's tasty cooking that I can not get out of bed.

Just Go Home and Ice it and You Will Be Fine

2008-07-02T10:05:00.005-06:00

My recent attempt to use my new Sidi clip in pedal system has left me scraped and bruised but oh so much faster on my bike. And most importantly, I now look like an official hard core road biker. You do know this is all about my image. Right?

After the always helpful salesman at Wimmer's Bike Shop warned me everyone falls on their first attempt, I bundled up in a long sleeve shirt and the Under Armour I usually wear skiing. Who cared that it was ninety-seven degrees out. I had my flawless skin to protect. And I did fall, twice, but only the first fall my was fault. The last crash was Steve's fault because he winked at me and anyone who has ever seen me turn tomato red after one sideways glance knows you can not wink at me while I am attempting to remove my feet from the death grip of metal and plastic that are Sidi pedals.

The last fall left me sprawled on the pavement at the Bridgerland Applied Technology parking lot feeling fortunate it was Sunday and classes were not in session. My foot was still attached to the pedal and my bike had landed on top of me leaving me in a precarious position on the pavement and unable to remove myself from the bike and check for any serious injuries. The evil winking Steve was forced to come to my rescue and detract the bike from my body.

Monday night I was awoken from my much needed beauty rest by two charly horses, one in each calf. That is when I decided I was so counting Sunday's brutality as a work out.

Brag Blog

2008-07-02T08:59:00.004-06:00

On Saturday Steve braved 95 degree weather, large amounts of snow, and angry cows to complete the grueling twenty-eight mile Logan Peak Trail Run. He took thirty-six minutes off of his time from last year, did not loose any toe nails, and today he is once again able to walk up and down the stairs without moaning.

Three Years and Still Running Strong

2008-06-26T08:30:00.005-06:00

Those of you who knew me during my Ani Difranco infested early twenties realize that I am not a hopeless romantic. I don't enjoy modern chick flicks, I don't believe in love at first sight, and don't even get me started on soul mates! I do, however, appreciate fresh flowers and chocolates.

Yesterday Steve and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. When it came time to exchange gifts we both discovered we had skipped the roses and cheesy cards and had instead opted for either running or cycling gear. Now that is true love.

For The Record

2008-06-16T09:04:00.003-06:00

Steve and Ray rocked the Duathlon coming in first out of the relay teams and fourth overall.

I did a wonderful job soaking in the hot tub, eating gelato, shopping in Park City, and spending quality time with the girls.

-Christine-

33º

2008-06-11T14:21:00.003-06:00

I hate cold June days. When I heard the weather report this morning it was 33 degrees in this lovely Utah valley Steve and I, for some reason, choose to call home. It snowed in the foothills. Good thing we live in the swamps.

It is also a good thing mosquitoes hate cold June days. I have not seen one yet, and consequently have not been struck down with West Nile virus even though I have been biking without covering every inch of my body. I may have been hit by the recent Salmonella outbreak, however, but I also hate raw tomatoes. Explain that one to me.

I refuse to blame my recent undiagnosed illness on the mocha I drank because I need my mochas and I refuse to blame it on the food I ate at Little Red because I also love cantaloupe, Oreos, and Redvines. I choose to blame it on the tomatoes I did NOT eat because I hate them.

One more thing I love, hot tea on a cold day. But only when that cold day is not in June.

-Christine

Bag Lady

2008-05-02T09:08:00.009-06:00

This small town has officially ruined me and it is time for Steve and I to move.
I no longer enjoy clothes shopping.

THIS:

2008-04-23T09:23:00.007-06:00

kicked my a** last night, and now I can't walk. After going to an exceptionally grueling toning class on Monday night that left my hamstrings I-need-a-hot-tub sore, I decided to brave a spinning class for the first time on Tuesday.

When the instructor turned off the overhead lights so that the room faintly glowed from her retro multi-colored multi-light stand at the front, I knew I was in trouble. I mean what kind of exercise class takes place in the dark? Does she not want to see our faces contorted in agony? But what can you do when you have a muscular girl in spandex yelling at you to "stand up" and "climb" and "push through the pain"? You either hobble off your bike and leave the class without looking back like the two guys next to me did, or you peddle like the spandex sporting instructor is chasing you and you DON'T want to get caught because trust me, I have seen those quads and they could do some serious damage.

Now who wants to push my wheelchair?

-Christine

P.s. from Steve: Consider my a** kicked by the spin bike as well. During the home stretch, i.e. final hill sprint, I actually got to that delusional point where I believed I was being chased by our instructor. It was frightening.

5 kilometers and a new ride

2008-04-21T10:02:00.006-06:00

Yo. I'm tired. It was an eventful weekend, to say the least. Saturday morning, I dragged Christine out of the comfort of our bed in order to take part in the 5th anniversary of the Second Chance 5k fun run/walk. (Actually, I think it was Max that forced both of us out of bed. Now that it gets light outside earlier, Max has become accustomed to barking and crying at our door at about 7:00 ON THE WEEKEND!!!) The run started at 9:00 a.m. I started the run with a buddy, but the course includes a nasty hill right after the first 200 yards, so halfway up the hill, I'd already lost him. I don't know what my time was, but I think I finished in the top 10 or 15. I dunno. It doesn't really matter, but I am curious what my time was. However, to get in more miles, which is my typical weekend routine, I kept running after the finish line and ran the course again. I really wanted to catch Christine on my second lap, but I knew it wasn't going to happen. Christine and I had walked the course a couple of times the previous week, and Christine is a fast walker, so I knew that unless I could sprint the entire 10k I'd never lap her.

Christine completed the course with her work manager and word has it that they had a good time. The Second Chance run is a fund-raiser for donor awareness. Post-run there were a number of speakers who shared their experiences with organ donation and the lives it has saved. It was very moving. Christine and I would encourage everyone to register as an organ donor.

After that event, Christine and I picked up my brother's dog, Bubba, whom we are baby-sitting until tomorrow. He's a good little dog. Christine really likes it when we get to baby-sit Bubba, as he loves to cuddle and he is truly of "lap dog" size, unlike Max, who thinks he's a lap dog and tries his mightiest to be one, not understanding that tossing around 87 lbs. can actually cause his "parents" physical harm.

Since the day was so lovely (70º and sunny), we decided that house cleaning and other chores could wait. We hopped on our bikes, Christine on her beach cruiser, and rode to a local bike shop, just planning on getting a basket for Christine's bike. We did get that basket, and it is probably the coolest basket ever created, but while we were there we just so happened to browse the lovely road bikes. (Christine is participating in a cycling event the first weekend in June- see the link in our list of scheduled events, so we've been trying to figure out what she's going to ride) Eventually, Christine took a couple of test spins, to get an idea of what size bike she might need. To be honest, when I was watching Christine cruise around, I knew that by the end of the day, she'd have a road bike to call her own. However, the purchase wasn't made right then and there. We told the friendly bike shop guy that we'd think about the different options, etc. and took the newly installed basket and went for a nice ride in the lovely weather. We cruised around for half an hour or so then stopped by home for a quick lunch.

After lunch and a few errands we went up to my parents' so Christine could try out my dad's old road bike. It was a little too big, so at about 4:30 we ended up at one more bike shop in town where Christine took another bike out for a test ride. That bike fit her like a glove. So… she bought it. I dig it. More importantly, Christine digs it. It's an '07 Jamis Ventura, 51 cm. Here it is:

So now, it's full on cycling training mode for Christine. We tried to get in a ride on Sunday, but Saturday's 70º and sunny turned into a windy 25º and snow on Sunday. Not exactly ideal for a long ride. Instead we were relegated to stationary bikes at the gym. It was a little depressing, but at least Christine got in some peddling miles.
Anyway, the weekend's events left me (and I'm pretty sure Christine as well) beat. It's back to work now, but I'm looking forward to the weather turning nice again so we can start on some long peddling treks.

Three Questions

2008-04-14T09:30:00.002-06:00

1. Why do really little children always look so cute on skis?

2. Why do my co-workers find my new raccoon style sunburn even more hilarious than my recent two inch flatiron burn?

3. Why had I never skied Snowbasin before?

- Christine-

Party like a Rock*

2008-04-10T10:27:00.020-06:00

Wow. Mega wow. Like, never in my wildest dreams would I have believed that I too could be a rockstar. But now, through the grace of American Idol, erm, I mean RockBand®, those previously unattainable dreams have come to fruition! Thank you Simon, Paula and black guy, uh, sorry, Acclaim® for your excellent product! I'm going to Hollywood!

Yes, Madonna, Christine is coming.

With pouted lips.

And even Steve will be there. He thinks he too has rockstar potential, but really, he looks more like a roadie than anything. Unless there's a need for another Sammy Hagar!?!? (yes, this is Steve, typing as if he were Christine, and as if she were one of those spazzes on Idol, or, uhh, on some show where contestants play RockBand on the Playstation to become famous, or something. I know, I can get really out there sometimes. Thankfully, I'm not Christine, and she's not an "Idol" spazz. Honestly, though, we went to a RockBand party at a friend's house. It was a fun night… if you can't tell)

With all due respect, I think we'll leave the actual rocking to the professionals. April 9, we found ourselves backstage, or maybe you could say, hugging the stage, at an Eve6 concert. They played the Fieldhouse on USU's campus. It was an amazing show!

Here's a tidbit of the action (these videos and this blog are best viewed with
Firefox or if you're using a mac, they work well with Safari):

Like I mentioned, it was a great show. Following the show was an after party for all the sponsors(we were part of the sponsor group), producers, security, die-hard fans willing to pay $$, etc., etc., where we got to meet the band and chat with them a bit. It was cool. A buddy of mine (pictured below), Christine, and I ended up in quite a long conversation with the tour manager (the guy poking his head into the picture). He told us about some of the shows prior, in Texas and elsewhere. He said that Logan truly was an enjoyable show for the band. He may very well have been lying through his teeth, but he seemed sincere enough. Anyway, here we are with the band (who look extremely tired, which I'm sure they were, 4 shows in 4 days, they were in Dallas/Ft. Worth the day before they were in Logan. Not to mention, it was after midnight when we snapped this photo).

Red Dress Love

2008-03-20T15:11:00.016-06:00

Once upon a time, in a quaint little village by the name of Logan, located far north in the territory of Utah, lived a pair of what one might describe simply as a couple of bored bohemians. I can't tell you their names, as I never knew them, but I now know of them quite well. According to folklore, these two decided there weren't any social events in Logan that could fully entertain them. No concert loud enough. No lounge hip enough. No theatre dramatic enough. No club swanky enough. And no political party progressive enough. So, these two bored bohemians came up with a social gathering that they dubbed "The Red Dress Party". It was one of those anarchic events that had but 1 solitary rule: EVERY attendee must be clothed in a Red Dress.

Please, judge not my ensemble. I tried to find shoes to match, but you try and find men's size 10.5 red heels in Logan and see what luck you have!

Of course, my lovely lady was also in attendance. She was as delectable as ever.

You've gotta dig those 80's style leggings!

The night was a riot. I couldn't tell you how many people were there, but if I had to guess I'd say it hovered around the 200 mark. This year the event was a little more "open" in that one simply had to buy a ticket to get in (rather than years past, when the event was kind of a "word of mouth invite only" kind of thing), and the proceeds went to a local after school art program type thing. A worthy cause for a $30 ticket. The party was held at a location I cannot disclose, but I can say it was a hotel along the stretch of Highway 89 between Brigham City and Wellsville. Figure that one out! Anyway, it was the perfect locale, as far as I'm concerned. Three cheers to this year's organizers for that! We attendees were entertained by DJs, Live Music, Fire Dancers, and a certain "functional" ice sculpture. (File footage deemed inappropriate by the FCC)

Here's looking forward to RED DRESS '09!!!!!

IT'S ABOUT TIME

2008-02-28T10:55:00.006-07:00

Last night after work I quickly stopped by the grocery store, fed the dogs, changed into my gym clothes, and ran out the door on my way to aerobics only to realize I was a few minutes too late and the class was about to start without me. Who wants to walk in during the middle of a crowded aerobics class and find the one spot left to place your step is directly in front of the instructor on the first row? Not me! So I grabbed my light green i-pod shuffle and met hubby at the gym instead. I was home by eight o'clock. That was followed by a quick dinner, knee stretches, one batch of laundry, and packing the gym bag for today's post-work tennis lesson. Once we finished those simple chores it was time to get ready for bed. Tonight's routine will be very similar. What I want to know is this:

Who are these people who have time to update their blogs, decorate their houses, ski, go to the gym, AND go shoe shopping and how can I be one?????

-Christine

P.S. Once I get enough time, I'll post about our awesome night at Logan's 'Red Dress Party 2008'. I swear it.
-Steve

The Poet P.C.

2008-02-13T08:33:00.007-07:00

On Monday, February 11, 2008, a mighty Utah man died. He was my grandfather. One of the great influences in my life. He was a talented man full of vigor, conviction and a personal faith. My meager writings could never do his legacy justice, so I'll let his words take on that task.

Obituary of R. Paul Cracroft

Subsequent article about P.C. by Tom Wharton of the SL Tribune:
U. Teacher known for wit, writing

Utah Man, the Utah fight song.......

I am a Utah man, sir and I live across the green.
Our gang it is the jolliest that you have ever seen.
Our coeds are the fairest and each one's a shining star.
Our yell, you hear it ringing through the mountains near and far.

Chorus:
Who am I, sir, a Utah man am I:
A Utah man, sir, and will be till I die: Ki! Yi!
We're up to snuff: we never bluff.
We're game for any fuss.
No other gang of college men dare meet us in the muss.
So fill your lungs and sing it out shout it to the sky.
We'll fight for dear old crimson for.....

And when we prom the avenue, all lined up in a row.
And arm in arm and step in time as down the street we go.
No matter if a freshman green, or in a senior's gown,
The people all admit we are the warmest gang in town.

Chorus:

We may not live forever on this jolly good old sphere,
But while we do we'll live a life of merriment and cheer.
And when our college days are o'er and night is drawing nigh,
With parting breath we'll sing that song:

Chorus:

A Utah Man am I!

BACK TO REHAB

2008-02-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

We can now rest easier knowing that our country's supply of alcohol and Betsey Johnson dresses are safe for the time being.

Thanks US Embassy for denying this woman's visa request:

-Christine

Super Kibble Tuesday

2008-02-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

For the love of Keia and her kibble, Christine and I are asking, nay, demanding that everyone get out and vote in Tuesday's primaries/caucuses.

And in the spirit of keeping our blog as apolitical as possible, we're demanding this from a strictly get-out-the-vote standpoint. Which isn't to say, I'm not going to give you at least a little taste of where my primary vote is going…

Now, being that Christine and I are registered as "unaffiliated" we are limited to vote in the less-exclusive party's primary, which in Utah is the Democratic Party (or would the fact that Republicans outnumber Democrats by 3 to 1 or more make the Democratic Party more "exclusive"?).

Going into this year's primary, I'm trying to be a bit more realistic than in 2004 when I voted in the D primary for Gen. Wesley Clark (who I still think would make an incredible president) despite John Kerry's unsurmountable surge towards being the D candidate, which is to say, I'm going into this primary focused on the choice between the front runners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. And without an explanation (which would be way too political for this apolitical blog), it's Obama for me. Hands down. No contest. Pretty simple decision.

Keia, on the other hand has been having a tough time making a decision, even though her vote truly doesn't count. Being both black and female, Keia has struggled to not let her decision be based on "the woman thing" or "the black thing", but more on "the kibble thing". I've observed as she's pondered for hours on the couch, eyes closed so that she could concentrate better, about which candidate would allow for her to gain a higher daily ration of kibble. She's watched the candidates' T.V. ads, tuned in to all the debates, and visited candidates' websites to read their platforms. She told me that she wants to vote for Ron Paul, but she's registered as 'Dog', so again, in Utah, she can only vote in the Democratic primary, and since Kucinich (her first choice on the D side) dropped out, she's "settling" for Obama as well.

Then there's Max. While he too loves his Kibble, he votes strictly based on gender. As we all know, Max loathes any and all men, at least until they've sat down on the couch and ignored his incessant "intruder alert" bark for 15 minutes or so, therefore he's pitching in for Hillary (despite the numerous times I've tried to explain how she won't give out any belly rubs unless there's a good chunk of special interest change in it for her).

In summation… Don't forget to vote tomorrow.

You know you'll get a super nice sticker out of the deal.

P.s. For those of you in Cache County who would like to vote, but don't know where you need to go, those pesky Cache County political parties have wonderful little websites that can help you find your way to your voting location. Visit www.cachedemocrats.org/voting or http://www.kolob.org/gop/. If you don't know your precinct #, click on the Voting Precinct maps link, find your precinct, then click on Voting locations by precinct link to find your location.

Wham-pow, the heavy Kakao

2008-01-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

So I have been in a funk all morning and I think it might be caused by the fact that according to our cruel bathroom scale I have gained four pounds since yesterday. Four pounds in twenty-four hours! Will someone please explain how that happens? I mean I did go out to lunch yesterday with my delightful friend Michelle, and I did eat a few orange sticks in the evening (left over from Christmas mind you) and I drank
hot chocolate

right before going to bed......but when you live in Logan and it is -15º outside you NEED to meet good friends for french onion soup and you MUST drink some hot chocolate before going to bed. Though I can't tell you why my bathroom scale was in such a malicious mood this morning. I can tell you this, when I get home from my tennis lesson tonight and my ankles have turned to ice during the short walk to my car, I will probably drink something warm, and it probably won't be herbal tea.

-Christine

Na, endlich- for Joey

2008-01-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

So, I've been promising Christine for some time now that I would write a post, in which I would include some pictures of our adventures in Gingerbread house construction. And we promised our friend Joey, who built a football stadium out of his Gingerbread house ingredients, that we would do so before February (two weeks to spare!!!). Lovely, isn't she? Christine is pretty cute too. My handiwork is also easy to spot…

No, the picture isn't actually Max. That's a sticker that we got in Moab. We bought an entire sheet of Berner stickers. We chose that one because it was the ugliest and we didn't want to waste any of the good ones. Since, you know, we do so much with stickers, like scrap-booking and random Berner collages. *heh* If anyone is interested in our Gingerbread house building services next year, please feel free to contact Christine. I'll be playing the Wii, but I'm sure Christine will take care of you… for a price (she accepts chocolate, cookies, tiramisu, chips and salsa, and paypal).

Enough of that stuff. Check out our good time with Keia and Max on New Year's Day, in the hills of the East Bench in Logan. I love our snow dogs.
-Steve

Have No Fear. Winter is (Finally) Here!

2008-01-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

After a few stressful snowless weeks Steve and I finally have three stickers on our Beaver Mountain season passes. It is snowing again right now, and I am contemplating calling in sick tomorrow to make that four stickers. Those of you who know me will realize that I would never, ever call in sick to go skiing. Those of you who don't know me can decide whether or not that last sentence was true.

Our ski/snowboard season started on the 26th as Steve and I skipped out on work to head up to The Beav with my family. My mother tried skiing for her first time ever and loved it. Next year I plan to take her down her first black diamond so she had better keep practicing.

Speaking of black diamonds, Steve has now decided he is the king of the mountain after tackling his first black run on an awesome powder day. He is hooked. Right now he just plows down all of the soft moguls and pretends like they are jumps while asking me, "Did you see how much air I got?" I stand there and laugh while trying to convince him that some day he will have to learn to board AROUND the moguls, but if it keeps snowing like this he may not learn that hard lesson until next season. Edited by Steve to add: I guess for now, I'll consider him the coolest boarder in the history of mankind. For real, he's so hot on that mountain, it's a wonder that there's any snow left at all.

-Christine

Attack of the Killer Boots (man)

2007-12-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

My shoes are now taking over my guest bedroom and I fear my parents will have no place to put their things when they come visit for Christmas.
You see, the closets in our house are really small, which was almost a deal-breaker for me as I am sure most of you realize. I convinced myself that it would be okay because Steve could use the closet in the master-bedroom and I would take over the more spacious, but still small, closet in the guest bedroom just down the hall. (What kind of a builder doesn't put the largest closet in the master-bedroom?!?!)
Now my shoes no longer fit in the small guest closet, especially since I had to move my winter coats and sweater rack back to my closet for the season. (Yeah. There is no coat closet either, and we live in freezing Logan where winter layers are a necessity.) So my new shoes have been banished from the closet and are stacked in their colorful boxes on the floor next to the chest of drawers leaving almost no visible floor space in the small guest bedroom.
So when my parents come to visit they had better pack lightly, or stack their clothes on the guest bed or the on top of my stacks of shoes. Oh, and they had better not bring any clothes that wrinkle easily, because trust me, there is no room in the closet for them. And who knows where my "little sister" (a.k.a. my parent's spoiled white fluff ball of a dog named Kisha) is going to sleep. There is no room for her crate. Perhaps I will stack my shoes on top of her crate. I just know Kisha would love to stare at those colorful boxes and dream of chewing up the leathery goodness that resides inside.
-Christine

FYI

2007-12-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

The storm wasn't and the Beav still isn't. Stupid snow gods. Stupid Keia. How can I lay blame on Keia (Christine always wonders this, since I blame Keia for a lot of things)? Well, here's how I see it: Keia really digs snow. However, Max is absolutely cuckoo for cocoa-puffs in love with snow. Therefore, to spite Max, Keia prayed to the snow gods to only snow a little bit in our part of Utah (SLC got hammered with snow), since she can live without snow much easier than Max can. And apparently, the snow gods listened to Keia rather than those of us who want nothing more than to live our winters as snowboard/ski bums. So… I'm putting partial blame on Keia. Unless she somehow manages to eat our gingerbread house before we get pictures; then full blame will be put on Keia.

Das erste Snowboarden

2007-12-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

It wasn't the prettiest, the snow wasn't the best, only about 10% of the resort was even open, but it was a perfect day. I hit the slopes at The Canyons (Park City) yesterday, for the first snowboarding day of the year. My buddy Dal and I started taking runs at about 10:00 and didn't stop until about 3:30. I took one good spill at about 1:00, which left me with a sore left cheek, so to speak. But by the end of the day I had most of my confidence back, and I even started taking little jumps in the terrain park. The day left me very excited for what is supposed to be a storm large enough to hopefully, possibly, please all snow-gods do your worstely, dump enough snow on us for Beaver Mountain to FINALLY open. Dal and I would like to thank Christine for buying the Warren Miller Ski Movie passes, which awarded us with the two free lift passes to The Canyons. I couldn't have asked for a better "first time at a resort other than the Beav" experience.
-Steve

Tootsie-holics Anonymous

2007-11-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

Today I asked Steve if he could invent a drug that would make me puke whenever I ate a Tootsie Roll. You know, like that stuff they give alcoholics to make them despise the taste of alcohol. I have two dogs, and entirely believe in the power of the Pavlovian response. Perhaps if my Tootsie Roll indulgence was followed by something a little less delightful than the sweet taste of chocolate, I could stop eating them. Why are these things so addictive anyway? Is it because the third ingredient is partially hydrogenated soybean oil?

-Christine (For Real)

Lazy Bones Steve

2007-11-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

Look at Steve. Lying around on a Saturday afternoon; spooning with Max and getting kisses from Keia. Just who does he think he is?

For Kerith

2007-11-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

My new boots. Steve loves them (and doesn't know how much they cost and I plan on keeping it that way!).

-Christine

Halloween '07, Max unmasked

2007-11-02T11:36:00.000-06:00

For those of you who know Max, you know he's about the nicest dog in the world. However, he is easily spooked and upon initially meeting Max, a new acquaintance may be a bit weary of him, as he tends to bark, very loudly, at people he doesn't know- or even at me, when I come bursting through the front door, singing out loud on friday evenings, because I'm so happy the weekend has finally come. Anyway, Halloween is always a bit stressful for the diggity dogs (Keia, of course, is just plain bonkers any day, but on Halloween she KNOWS there is candy, and she wants some). First of all, we have to put the dogs leashes on them so that when the kids come to the door, one of us can hold the dogs back, while the other hands out candy, and the dogs are used to only being leashed to go on walks, which they love and go berserker over, so that gets them all worked up, long before the first trick-or-treater arrives. Then, that first kid raps on the door. A door knock always sends the dogs into a barking frenzy anyway, but the fact that they can't run to the door causes them to vocalize more than usual. Anyway, we played the trick-or-treat game with the kids and dogs for a couple of hours, including a visit from one of my co-worker's daughters, who absolutely adores Keia and Max. We allowed her to come in and say hi. She gave Max lots o' loves, but avoided Keia, since Keia was in full on "I'm-such-a-spazz-right-now-that-no-matter-what-I'm-going-to-jump-up-on-you-and-ruin-your-nice-Halloween-costume" mode. As the evening winded down, we let the dogs roam around the house unattended, but with their leashes still on, just in case. Keia positioned herself at the top of the stairs, her favorite spot, and Max passed out on the tile floor in the entryway. Christine and I played a little pick-up Uno game to pass the time. After about 15 minutes I saw a little movement through our front door. However, before I could call Max over, the trick-or-treater (a little girl dressed as Britney Spears or something) knocked on the door. Max, startled, bounced up and sprinted to the door, barking like there was no tomorrow. When he got right in front of the door, still barking, we heard a scream and watched as the girl bolted down our porch steps and to the end of the driveway. I grabbed Max's and Keia's leashes and held them while Christine gave out candy to the rest of the girl's posse. Christine also overheard the little girl ask her friends, in her quivering voice, "did you guys get candy?" For the record, they got a handful each. It just goes to show, you can't be afraid of a big dog, just because he barks. Also for the record, we're glad that our big dogs bark and that it scares people… it's the best home security system around, guaranteed.
Oh, and for those of you who couldn't tell from the picture. Christine and I dressed as a couple of key characters from the movie "Pulp Fiction", the scene at Jack Rabbit Slim's diner. I was Vincent Vega (played by John Travolta) and Christine was Mrs. Mia Wallace (played by Uma Thurman). We wore our get-ups to a super cool Halloween/Karaoke party on the 26th, complete with a few mini-reinactments of the Jack Rabbit Slim's twist off dance competition.

Viva Elvis

2007-10-16T09:34:00.000-06:00

Photo provided by www.byways.org

A few weeks ago, Steve and I went to Las Vegas for his
birthday. Those of you who know Steve will not be
surprised to learn that we spent most of our time at
arcades and lounging by the pool. We also saw
"Spamalot", wandered up and down the strip gawking at
the gigantic hotels and crazy tourists, and watched
college football while surrounded by people who
probably had a lot more riding on the games than just
their pride. Oh, and Steve also won $25 from a slot
machine at the airport while we were waiting for our
flight. A small birthday gift from the Vegas Gods?
Maybe.

Originally, I had planned a trip to Jackson Hole for
Steve's birthday. That all changed when ONE day
before his birthday The White Stripes announced they
were canceling their tour, leaving us with a hotel
room in Jackson and no concert. That could have been
fine if winter had not been looming ominously around
the corner. We decided to escape to some place warm
and sunny instead of cold and snowy.

Meg White, if you're out there, please, PLEASE the
next time you have acute anxiety and decide to cancel
a tour just let me know BEFORE I plan a birthday
surprise around your concert. Thank you.

-Christine-

26.2

2007-09-18T10:47:00.000-06:00

On Saturday, Steve competed in the Top of Utah Marathon, despite the rumors of freezing weather and moose attacks. He finished in three hours fifty minutes, taking seven full minutes off of his time from last year, and he even went hiking with me the next day. Wow. Perhaps by tomorrow he'll also be able to walk up the stairs without groaning. Now THAT would be an accomplishment.

-Christine

7 Things about Christine

2007-08-14T17:40:00.001-06:00

That's me in the white with my friend Emily on Halloween.

I NEVER do things like this, but just because you are so cool Jen, and I hope to visit you in San Francisco so I can't make you mad by ignoring your request, this is for you.

Seven Things About (Me) Christine:

1. I've bought or been given five new pairs of shoes within a week, but I still want more.

2. I am twenty-five years old, but some days I think even my dogs are too much responsibility.

3. I always sing along with the radio when driving in my car, and I don't care if people see me doing it.

4. I am pigeon-toed and get blisters on my feet every time I go hiking.

5. I often buy people the gifts I secretly want.

6. I hate going to bed, but I love sleeping.

7. I wore purple contacts in junior high school. That's right, PURPLE!!!!

-Christine

Mt. Naomi

2007-08-14T17:26:00.000-06:00

The hike to the top of Mt. Naomi was short (only about 3.5 miles each way) and steep, but well worth the views from the top. Mt. Naomi overlooks Smithfield, which is at the north end of Cache Valley. The trail head is at Tony Grove Lake, just as the White Pine Lake trail, but the trail splits near the beginning. It was a hot day, but the temperature dropped about 10-15º once we reached the peak. The wind whipping around (notice the wild hairs) on top was nice too.

Jardine-Juniper

2007-08-14T17:03:00.000-06:00

When given the choice, do you take the scenic or the shady route? Whichever one DOESN'T have the mountain lion on it that day, that's the one you take! We went scenic. No mountain lion. We must have chosen wisely.

**Seriously. My boss hiked the same trail a few days later and he saw a mountain lion right by this sign. The cat took the route that went straight down the mountain, because she is a cat and she can do that.

Steve and I decided that after hiking so far we'd better not wuss out and miss some great views, so we took the scenic route. Then on the way back we took the shady route, which also happened to be scenic. I wonder if the mountain lion watched us stop in the shade to eat our snack? Good thing cats don't like double espresso cliff shots… Or do they?????**

-Christine

It's a sexy tree, isn't it? Yeah, the Jardine-Juniper trail is much more about the hike itself, rather than the destination.

Happy Birthday Dad (Martin)!

2007-08-03T11:29:00.000-06:00

Because he is currently on a cruise in Alaska, meaning I can't speak to him on the phone, I wanted to jump on here and wish my dad a happy birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! Love,
Christine, Steve, Keia and especially Max!

White Pine Lake

2007-07-19T14:59:00.000-06:00

Sunday's hike this last weekend had an actual destination, which was a beautiful mountain lake, called White Pine Lake. There was a wee bit of drama in getting to the trailhead, however. To access White Pine Lake, one must find their way to Tony Grove, in Logan Canyon. So, on our journey to Tony Grove, Christine and I had the luck of getting a flat tire. Luckily, it happened right at the turn-off to get to Tony Grove and there was a parking lot nearby into which we were able to turn, park and put on the spare tire. The spare tire, however, was only at about 1/2 pressure, so suffice it to say, the drive home (approx. 30 miles), following the hike, took a LONG time. Anyway, the hike was amazing. It was about 8 miles round trip. We hiked in 90°+ weather for a majority of the hike, but the temperature dropped about 15° in the vicinity of the lake. It was lovely. On our way back to the trailhead, we came across a moose-at a very safe distance. It was pretty cool, as it seemed to be posing for us to take its picture. Oh, and I've included a photo of flying Keia and a curiously relaxed Max.

Right-Hand Fork Canyon hike

2007-07-10T11:05:00.001-06:00

Christine and I are trying to go on at least 1 hike per week. Last week, since we had work off on the 4th, we managed to go on 2 hikes. We didn't take a camera with us on the 4th, when we hiked part of the Jardine-Juniper trail, but we did take a camera on Sunday, when we hiked one of the trails behind Camp Lomia up Right-Hand Fork Canyon via Logan Canyon. Here are some pictures from that hike, along with a picture of me, trying to relax, but instead finding myself under attack from Keia and Max. Oh, and a picture of Keia pinning me, but she didn't get the 3 count, so my "pandemonium" wrestling record vs. Keia is still 15-0. Take that, Keia.

Loyalty vs. The Law

2007-07-03T10:09:00.000-06:00

I must preface this post by reiterating that Christine and I promised each other to leave politics out of our blog (umm, that was a much harder promise for me to make, I think). So, without mentioning EXACTLY what the background of this situation is (if you pay attention to the news in the slightest, I'm sure you'll catch on real fast), I must bring up something Christine and I heard on NPR this morning. In an interview, conducted with some sort of political analyst, there was a statement made akin to, "well, he's been seen as very loyal to so and so and his/her/their cause, therefore, he's been given this as a gift, etc., etc.". So, I ask, is being loyal to someone/something to the extent that such loyalty results in a person committing highly illegal (not to mention extremely unethical) crimes really something to be rewarded? Should loyalty trump the law? Hmmm…

Anyway, back to our little world. Christine made it home safe Sunday night. I was very happy to see her, but the dogs practically did backflips. Max seriously almost does. For our anniversary, Christine gave me Mario Party 8 for the Wii. We only got to play it once before she left, so we'll have to break that out again soon, so we can really get into it. Since Christine was out of town all of last week, I lined up a few things that I knew would make her happy. First, I got her car windows tinted. This really needed to be done. It helps a lot with the sun damage of the upholstery and the heat. Not to mention, the car looks mighty fine now, almost like new. I also purchased her a new tennis racquet and lined up tennis lessons for her. She starts next week. I'm sure she'll be sticking it to me on the tennis court by the fall. I guess I should get my own racquet re-strung.

Saturday, I ran the Logan Peak Trail Run. It was just as tough as I expected. It ended up being over 27 miles (according to one of the runner's GPS tracker watches). My dad and I ran together for the entire run. We were on pace to finish in about 6h30m, but the last 5-7 miles really took their toll on me. It was unbearably hot. I think it was about 95º or so. Therefore, we finished in 7h26m. You can see the finish times for yourself if you visit the Logan Peak Run link in the links section. I'd like to run it again next year, but get a better time. The race organizer is already talking of starting the race earlier so the heat isn't as much of a factor (I don't know how much earlier than 6:30 she'd want to start the race, but I'm all for it). I may or may not run a 15K tomorrow (since it's July 4, the race is aptly named the "Freedom Run"). I think my legs are up for it, but I'm not sure if my brain is.

Rattlesnake stew and little boy blue

2007-06-26T13:47:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning, Christine and I hiked one of our favorite trails- the Crimson Trail. It offers beautiful views of the canyon and is in general, a very peaceful hike. Well, this go around Christine came within about a foot of making our normally docile hike a panicked rush to the car. At about the midway point in the hike, one of the few sunny spots on the trail that time of day, there was a marvelous, young, 4 ft. long rattlesnake coiled up, doing a little sunbathing right in the middle of the trail. Christine was leading and luckily spotted it in time to turn away. She frightened the snake enough that it slithered away into the brush, but still, it was only a few feet off the trail. We warned a pair of hikers who were a little ways behind us about the snake and they kind of hurried up to where we were, to take a peek. Our snake friend offered up some great views of his muscular self, as he lay still in the brush. He really was pretty.
Anyway, I'm a bit down, as yesterday was our anniversary, but Christine is out of town, so we kind of just celebrated via text messaging. However, I'm working on a surprising gift for Christine while she's away, so that should be fun when she gets home Sunday!

Hikes, biathlons, trail runs, wii sports

2007-06-19T09:49:00.000-06:00

First, allow me to apologize for my lack of posts recently. Work is busy, life even more so. Christine and I have had a thus far very eventful spring, yet for some reason, we never really get 'things' done. Oh well, who needs blinds on their windows, in a house you've lived in for a year and a half anyway? Wait! I finally did get that 'thing' done on Saturday! Sweet.

You know, every spring, after the harsh winter- the 4 month stretch when we truly loathe Logan, Christine and I realize how much we like where we live. It's definitely NOT because of the valley growth- we absolutely don't need ANOTHER Wal-Mart; it's not the new plant growth- we both have allergies; It's not the newborn domesticated animals-although it's been fun watching the little colt in the field behind our house grow up; it's the mountains! We love being within minutes of the mountains. There are so many trails in so many canyons, it's incredible. Just last night, Christine and I hiked to the Wind Caves. It's a short, very steep hike, with incredible views, especially once you reach the caves. And of course, Keia and Max love going on hikes with us. They weren't invited last night, but there are a few nearby places where they are always welcome and they enjoy it every time they get to go.

In other news, the competition season has kicked off for me. I participated in the Cache Valley Biathlon on June 9. The event consisted of a 5 mile run and 16.5 mile bike. It was a lot of fun- especially since I was able to take about 3.5 minutes off of my time from last year. I have my new road bike to thank for that. My run time was almost identical to last year. I came in at 1:25:55. Last year was 1:29 something.

Coming up in a mere 11 days is the Logan Peak Trail Run (see link in 'our links'). It's going to be nasty. I'm shooting for about 8 hours (my marathon time x 2). I ran/hiked the first four miles of the course a few weeks ago, and it really taxed my legs quite a bit. However, the section I ran/hiked was the steepest and most difficult of the course, the rest isn't nearly as steep, or so I'm told. Two days ago, I tagged along with my dad (and KEIA!-she loved it!) on a little trail run up Right Hand Fork canyon, a shoot off from Logan Canyon, which he described as similar to the majority of the Logan Peak Trail run. It wasn't too bad. We ran a good 8-10 miles in a little under 2 hours, without much difficulty. So, I'm hoping the 30th is a good running day.

Saving the best for last, Christine bought me a Nintendo Wii for valentine's day-sort of. At the time, there were NONE available, so she did the next best thing and bought me a gift certificate to get one. Well, a couple months ago, we FINALLY got one. It is AWESOME! Seriously, the people at Nintendo out did themselves with this system. The Wii Sports that comes with the system is still probably the best part about having the Wii-although I've been really into Madden '07 the last couple of weeks- and I always hated Madden NFL games, but on the Wii, it is super cool. I'm looking forward to EA's college baseball and when Mario Party 8 comes out, I can guarantee some late weekend nights at our house.

Well, I'd better roll. Thanks for reading. As far as the battle of Keia vs. Max… Keia has been pulling ahead lately- mostly because she's been pulling ON Max's head, literally. Keia, when she gets bored, which is often, likes to attack Max and bite his face. She'll get a hold of an ear, or his jowls and play 'pull Max's face off' with herself. Max, the docile creature that he is, allows this to go on for a minute or two, before finally standing up and fighting back. It's quite the spectacle, and it usually ends up with both dogs being banished outside for a few minutes, where they then run in circles and Max with his weight advantage knocks Keia to the ground time and time again. But alas, Max wears himself out quicker, so Keia is also winning the energy award. The lover/cuddler award is currently in Max's corner, but Keia has been piling on the love fest lately-especially with Christine, so that battle is heating up as well. I have a sense that this competition is going to last for years.

Bikes 'R Us

2007-04-06T08:45:00.000-06:00

So, with the ski season coming to an end, there were thoughts of all sorts of free time. Of course, these thoughts were a fallacy. With the warm weather comes even more outdoor activities. Steve is dragging his carcass out of bed every morning to hit the road running by 6:00 a.m. for his marathon training. Christine, well, she has herself a new toy, for which Steve gladly takes credit, in the form of a hawaii style Beach Cruiser Bicycle. Man, that baby turns heads when she's out riding. There's actually a good little story behind it. Christine has been wanting to get a cruiser for quite some time. Last year she looked at them and test rode them from just about every bike shop she and Steve would visit. Well, she told Steve she wanted to buy one, but Steve said, "no, I'm going to find the perfect one…it has to match your scooter shoes", to which Christine said, "you're not going to find one that matches exactly, I like the pink one, or the white one with the pink ribbon, etc., etc.". Well, as it turns out, Steve DID find the perfect match. It's granny smith green with pink rims and now, since the tubes already had to be replaced, there are even green tipped tube caps. How 'bout them apples?!?! And FYI the shoes in reference here are a light grey canvas with green and pink dots/marks, etc. A picture of those will be forth coming (hopefully a picture of Christine wearing them whilst "cruising").
Steve also bought himself a new bike about a month ago. His is of the Road Racing variety. Pictures of both are below. To see more from the company that built Christine's Cruiser, see the link in 'our links' section. 'Til next time!
-Steve

Spring arrives with a vengeance

2007-03-19T09:06:00.000-06:00

Another weekend is behind us. It brought many fun times, but our hearts are slightly bruised. Winter has officially exited making way for record breaking heat. We did make it to the Beav yesterday, but the snow is quickly diminishing and we are unsure if we'll be strapping our gear on top of the car again this year. I got bigger air yesterday and am anxiously awaiting next winter so I can improve on my boarding. Christine is hoping there will be a cold wave to save some of the snow in the Salt Lake area so she can have one more skiing day with Julie when she gets back from South America in 6 weeks, but that may be futile. In other news, our good friends Adam and Nicole had their baby Saturday. She's lovely. Her name is Rainn. Also, this morning officially marked the start of my marathon training. Christine is the nicest, most patient person in the world for putting up with my ridiculous schedule of daily 6:00 a.m runs. However, this year I'm going to back off the weekend runs a bit since I'm giving myself a full 6 months to train instead of the 3 months I had last year after my knee surgery. We're excited for all the time that will free up for us to go on some good hikes this year (anyone want to join us for the Wellsvilles?). The dogs are excited for that as well. We need to get them their own packs though, because I am NOT carrying their water for the long hikes. Max drinks a TON! I will also do a piece on my new road bike in the next post (looking to get a better Biathlon time this year), so check back in a couple days for that.
-Steve

A TRIBUTE

2007-03-16T16:47:00.000-06:00

Christine and I promised we wouldn't make this blog political in anyway. However, keeping up with current events, it IS the 4th anniversary of the current conflict in Iraq. So, without stating my political stance or beliefs, I'm posting a video of a memorial honoring the fallen soldiers of our current war.
-Steve

"This memorial was conceived as a place to honor the servicemembers who lost their lives over the past four years during the Iraq War. By watching the videos, you will have the opportunity to learn about these heroes from those who knew them best -- their family, friends, and fellow servicemembers. Each man and woman represented in the memorial had attributes and qualities that made them unique, but they all have one thing in common - they were truly loved and are deeply missed."

Steve gets real air

2007-03-12T10:04:00.000-06:00

Well, I finally have proof of me getting air. My last boarding venture brought great strides in my confidence level... especially after I launched myself (unintentionally on the initial run) and LANDED it. After that, it was all about jumping the rest of the day. I must give credit to Dal for the wonderful board, notice the beautiful flexibility in the third picture and a thanks to Robert for snapping the shots. Sadly, Christine was sick yesterday and couldn't make it to the Beav with me, but we're both looking forward to next weekend (hopefully with Dal there to show me better form and to give tips) and what it might bring. One note on the pictures... I jumped off the bump Behind me, I'd estimate I covered about 12'-15' of ground on each jump before landing. What a rush!
-Steve

A weekend in the snow/sun

2007-03-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

We had an amazing weekend! Saturday, we took Keia and Max with us to the Deer Fence Trail, which is part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (see link in 'our links' section), for some snowshoeing. It was our first snowshoe outing this year, since it wasn't until the last week of snowstorms provided enough snow on the ground that we could go. The snow dogs loved it, as did we. It wore all of us out... the dogs so much so that Max wouldn't get off the couch that night to go outside for his pre-bedtime *potty-time*. We also convinced Tiffani (Steve's sister) to go up to the Beav with us on Sunday and the three of us had a blast. Steve is starting to get the feel for jumping and Christine is getting it back as well. Christine got much more air than Steve throughout the day, but Steve did ACCIDENTALLY get the biggest air of the day while following a small trail of moguls on a run. There was NO landing that jump, unless you call 'butt colliding with snow with board 3 feet off the ground' a landing, but it was pretty sweet anyway.

Pics of Robert

2007-02-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

I didn't post a few of the pics we took at the Beav on Sunday, so here they are. They are of Robert, my coworker, who so obligingly took the photos of me and Christine. My shots of him are quite blurred, due to the increased snowfall and my haste in snapping the pictures.

AWESOME

2007-02-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

Check out the Beav now!
http://www.skithebeav.com/weather.asp

So much powder!

2007-02-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

The snow gods finally paid Beaver Mountain an extended visit. We went up to the mountain Sunday, a little later than normal due to our hosting of an engagement party the previous night, to find it being blanketed by a steady snow storm. We strapped on our gear and took a couple of warm up runs. At that time there was maybe 2" of powder, with some pretty crusty stuff underneath. However, throughout the day the snow continued to fall and within a couple of hours we were cutting through 6" of the fluffy stuff. By the time we left, it was still coming down and checking the Beav's website this morning, they received a total of 10" yesterday. We should have taken the day off today and gone up again, but someone has to bring home the puppy chow (for the dogs…and Steve when he's been bad). We remembered the camera this time and have a couple of pictures. Next week we'll plan some better shots, but take a peek at these for now. Yes, again there is a Keia and Max shot, each in their best "relaxed dog" pose.

I startled awake at 4 a.m. to see…

2007-02-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

a nice glow outside the window. What does a glowing night sky mean? That's right, SNOW!!!!! Finally, a real snow storm! Seriously, the largest storm of the year didn't arrive until late February, and it's all of about 3 inches. We haven't had much snow this year-bloody el Niño. There was actually enough that I needed to shovel the driveway this morning. The dogs are loving it. I took them on a walk after shoveling and they were über-excited. Keia's snout got covered because she always had it deep in the snow and Max-well, he just liked that the snow erased all scents and he got to be the first to *mark* everything again. After the walk, Max went right out into the back yard to lay in the snow and wouldn't come back inside for the rest of the morning. He truly defines the term 'Snow Dog'.
We hit the Beav yesterday (see link in 'our links' section). I had this grand idea of snapping some great shots of Christine skiing and me carving (and maybe even a shot of us catching a little air), but alas… I forgot the camera. Weak. Christine asked me after our first run of the day, as we were on the lift heading up for our second, if I had the camera. I was so bummed out that I had forgotton it that I almost threw her poles off the lift so I could have a good laugh watching her have to ski down to fetch them, but I didn't, because that would have been mean and it wouldn't have made the camera magically appear anyway. Despite my forgetfulness, it was an awesome day. It was about 45ºF, sunny, not very crowded. We probably went on about 15 runs-although only hitting our favorite 'Shady' twice. At lunch we met up with Robert, one of my coworkers, and took a few runs with him. He took us through the new terrain park where we watched people get some BIG air and a couple of decent rail slides. What I wouldn't give for us to be up there today. They have 8" of fresh powder! However, it is President's day, and with the University and High Schools having the day off, the Beav is probably a mad house of immature imbeciles, much too much like myself, that I just couldn't possibly handle it. So, it's probably a good thing we can't go. The snow is supposed to keep falling most of the week (at the Beav, not so much in the valley) so we're already stoked for this next sunday!
-Steve

WINTER FUN!

2007-02-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally uploaded some pictures from Christine's new camera (which she won at her company Christmas party-SWEET deal). Back in January we were lucky enough to get a visit from our favorite Sister-JULIE! Julie is now is South America... visit her Blog please-see in 'our links' section. Christine, Julie and I all went to Beaver Mountain for a Ski/Snowboard day on the 21st. It was fantastic, despite the cruddy snow that day. Sadly, we didn't get any pictures of the action on the mountain, but we did think to snap a shot of Julie- giving us her best evil eye. Oh, and just for your viewing pleasure, I've included more pictures of Keia and Max-in the snow and in their best Christmas dress!

Keia vs. Max

2007-02-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, our blog is called Keia vs. Max. Keia and Max are our dogs. Keia is a british Labrador Retriever (black) and Max is a Bernese Mountain Dog AKA Berner Sennenhund. They are the coolest dogs in the world… mostly because they have the coolest parents a dog could wish for!