Snapping out of it

So, I don't contribute much to "our" blog, but I figured I'd make my wife happy by making some contributions.

So, it's Wednesday, and I just now decided to get out of bed, shower, and shave. I went into depression after the Utah game on Saturday, and haven't been able to venture into the world since. Well, at least figuratively speaking. I did make it to church the next morning (wearing the "U" tie and all, as I figured I had to teach the young men about loyalty and dealing with adversity). And at the Utah senior banquet Sunday night, I relived it all. I really did think about calling into sick the next morning, as I work with quite a number of Y fans - and I was pretty darn confident the week before that the Utes would humble the cougs. But then I remembered what a hard time I gave to a co-worker who called in sick in November 2004 when Bush was reelected. I had no choice but to step up. Fortunately, everybody at my work was much more gracious than I expected (or than I probably would have been). Yes, the first day was the toughest - but downloading my frustrations with some fellow Utes gave me some free therapy.

Well, I'm deciding to post today because a friend of mine passed along a blog from Sabrena - somebody I went to high school with. She wrote a great blog post about Utah being like a co-dependent boyfriend (link: http://suitespots.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-utes-are-like-co-dependent.html). It was a great read - and she hit the nail right on the head regarding the biggest problem for the Utes on Saturday. It was also nice to read her own observation that, had the entire team played with the intensity and passion that Steve always brought, the Utes would have been much happier Saturday afternoon. I couldn't agree more.

It was kind of interesting reading through her blog and seeing her links to other blogs. I saw a lot of familiar faces from old friends from high school - whom I haven't seen in a long time. Coincidentally, I just recently ran into a good high school buddy whom I hadn't seen in years while I was in Colorado at a Utah game. It was great to catch up with him, and we've gotten together a few times since to catch up on old times. Zac happens to be an artist - a painter - who has always been amazingly talented, and it sounds like the rest of the world is beginning to appreciate just how good he really is. He's booked practically an entire year out by people and companies to do paintings. Fortunately, he actually really wants to do a painting of Steve - as he's been following his career for a while, and he happens to be a big U football fan. He's hopeful that doing a piece like that could open some new doors for him to more (and wealthier) players (Steve's friends with Eric Weddle, Alex Smith, Kevin Curtis - and each of them have their friends, etc.). I'm really excited that Zac's wanting to do this. It will be a great gift for Steve and his family.
If you get a chance, you'll want to take a look at his website to see some of his work: www.zacharyproctor.com.

So, between the blog I read, my hour-long conversation with Zac, and driving our youth downtown to see the lights (listening to some of their funny stories), I couldn't help but zone out for a while, thinking about high school. I was asking myself questions like: 'how did we get around so well without cell phones??' or 'how did my parents not kill me or themselves?' or 'why didn't we do normal things for fun?'. Ah. The memories, huh?

But, just like the post-game depression, I realized that I was better off just snapping out of it.

Jamie, me, Wynn, and Savanna at the game from hell

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

My name is Jamie and I'm a snow hater! Yes I live in Utah and I hate the snow. Now don't get me wrong, it is beautiful, but I absolutely HATE driving in it. I was supposed to go to a shoe party tonight where there are all sorts of shoes for $20 and under. After all of the shoes my dog has destroyed, I was so excited! But no... it had to snow and I was too afraid to drive so I didn't go. I let snow get in the way of me buying shoes, what is wrong with me? Then, I was on my way home from work, driving 5 miles under the speed limit and there is this truck on my tail for about 5 miles and then he shines his brights at me... what's that about? There are 3 other lanes, buddy, and it's snowing, take a chill pill!

Well.. enough of all that negativity. The one thing that I do absolutely love about the snow, I realized last winter which was my first winter with my sweet puppy. She L-O-V-E-S the snow. In fact when Dustin let her out front to play, she wouldn't even come back in (please excuse the poor photography). Last winter we took her and her brother up Millcreek Canyon for a hike and she was all over the place rolling around in the snow and digging her head and body into the snow, it was the cutest thing I have ever seen. I think she probably walked twice as many miles as I did since she virtually did a zigzag through the trail. I was so sad when the summer was ending and I knew that it would be months and months until I would see her swim again, but watching her roll around in the snow tonight and catch snowballs in her mouth made me realize just how much fun this winter will be with her. This is going to be my 11th winter in Utah... yikes! And I've only caused one accident (I did a 360 on I-15... not pretty), and only slid off the road a couple of times. I can make it through another snow season... right? I'm sure there will be many more Quique snow stories (are you sick of my dog yet?). And I promise that I will try to focus on all of the positive things about the snow (e.g. the skiers (Dustin) are happy, we need the moisture, feels like Christmas... etc.) this winter. Wish me luck!

Update: My friend from work called me this morning and said that she saw about 35 accidents on her way home to Park City last night. It's only about a 30 minute drive from my house (in regular weather conditions). I hope this isn't the beginning of rough driving days ahead. See... I'm already being negative again. I just need to keep telling myself - I love the snow, I love the snow, I love the snow...

My Dad!

Apparently, it takes me writing a blog to my dad and then asking him to read my blog in order to get him to read it. The main reason I started this blog was for my family. My mom is pretty good about keeping up, but my dad needed his birthday tribute for him to read it and my sister still has yet to read my blog.

Anyway, I mentioned in my previous post to my dad that I didn't have a recent picture, so my dad's wife, Cary was kind enough to send one to me. She took the picture and I think she did a great job of capturing him. So here's to my Dad. Love you Dad! I hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving... I am sure that the food will be amazing!

Happy Birthday Autumn!

Once my dad’s birthday hits, it’s the season of birthdays. One of my dearest friends in the whole world turned 3-0 on Saturday. Autumn and I have a very unique friendship. It’s actually quite an interesting story (for me anyway). I was living in Salt Lake and she moved in with one of my friends that lived in Provo (45 minutes south of SLC). We probably met somewhere around March or April of 99 and she moved back to Arizona in July or August of that same year. It’s so crazy when I think about it. We just hit it off instantly. It was like I already knew her... it was like friends at first sight! Anyway, we’d hang out a bunch and by the time she was about to leave we had become the greatest of friends. Since then, we have never lived near each other and we probably only see each other a week out of a year (if we’re lucky) so for the most part our friendship has been over the phone. Who knows somebody for 3-4 months and then is able to hold onto a friendship… a friendship where you talk on the phone almost every week??? I know it sounds like some weird love story, but any time we tell people about it, they are in awe. So are we.

It feels like we have so many crazy stories and memories and yet we’ve maybe been in the same vicinity of each other for a total of 6 or 7 months of our lives. We haven’t been able to see each other much, but she has been a rock for me and a support system that I will always be grateful for. She wasn’t able to get pregnant her first time for about 3 or 4 years so she has been able to talk me through this process. When I feel like it’s just too hard, she tells me what I need to hear and she gives me the hope I need to keep moving forward. I love her like a sister and I am so thankful for all of the precious memories that we have. She’s now pregnant with number 3 and it was a bit of a miracle baby so her story and journey help to give me faith through mine. Autumn, I love you so much and I am so grateful for our friendship. There have been some trials in my life when I am not sure if I would have been able to survive them without you. Thank you and Happy Birthday! One of these days we’ll have to celebrate it in person!

The second picture is of us with Autumn's oldest (she's now 3) - Breckyn Jamie (yes named after me!)

Happy Birthday Dad!

So today my dad turned the big 6-5! In fact, he was anticipating the event of using his senior citizen BART ticket when he went to the city tonight. Dad, I know that you may be feeling old (hehe) but you don't look like you're 65. Sad to say that I haven't even seen my dad since February and when I was looking for a picture to post, I didn't have any pictures of us on the computer. (With Dustin out of town, I am at a loss trying to use the scanner). I'm a bad daughter! Anyway, here are some wonderful memories that I have of my dad.

• The Gourmet Chef - Both of my parents are great cooks. My mom made the meals that remind me of home and tradition. As for my dad, he has become more of the gourmet all about the presentation kind of chef (although the quality is just as wonderful as the presentation). I don't even know if I can say that he has cooked the same thing twice. He is always inventing new recipes and new ways to present his meals, I wish that I was blessed with his talent.
• Halloween - Hands down every year I would win the Costume Contests. Not only did my dad come up with great ideas (1/2 old lady, 1/2 skeleton), but I would get up hours and hours before school started so that he could paint my face. It was a work of art. One of these days I'll have to post some pictures. Also, weeks before Halloween came around, we would spend the weekends, putting together the glowing cat eyes that we had in our big oak tree in our front yard along with the scary music.
• Speeches - My dad was great with helping me with speeches whether it was for a speech contest or running for office at school. I still remember the slogan he came up with when I ran for VP in 8th Grade - "Why me... Why not?"
• Mr. Fixer - Any time something was broken or it needed to be fixed, I knew that I could always turn to my dad and he would fix it, no matter if it was a tangled necklace or a broken something else.
• The Perfectionist - After our house was remodeled I remember spending what felt like 6-8 weeks of taking long strips of plywood, drawing a straight line down the center, and then drilling holes so many inches apart. What could this be for you ask? Our Christmas lights. My dad wanted to make sure that every light was perfectly straight as these lights outlined the roofline of the house. It was almost disgusting just how far he went to make it look perfect, but it did look perfect.
  
• Playing Catch - My poor dad was never blessed with any boys, only my sister and me. Ashley has and will always be the princess of the family where as I was the tomboy growing up. Whether my dad helped to define it or just saw it in me, I remember many times going out in the front yard and playing catch. He taught me how to throw, how to swing and how to catch. If it wasn't for the demands of swimming and gymnastics, I may have kept with baseball past the age of 8 because I always loved it.

There are more stories and many more memories of my dad, but here are just a few that stick out. Dad, I know that we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, but I love you and I am grateful that you are my dad. I hope that you had a nice dinner in the city! I love you!