CHRIS & CHRISTIE

Game Over

2009-01-19T12:04:00.000-08:00

I said goodbye to my former life this weekend, and moved out of our house. Chris and I decided it would be best to end our relationship--well, I'll be honest, it was mostly Chris who decided this. Chris went away, riding in Mesquite and I recruited my entire family to help me move my stuff into a storage unit.

Temporarily, I will be staying with with my parents until I decide what it is I "plan to do with my one wild and precious life." I have job interviews lined up and am considering about going back to school as a full-time college student for the remaining year. Chris will most likely have roommates moving in and he'll continue to do what Chris feels is best.

In the end, I love and adore him. I built my entire universe around him, pouring everything I had into the dream I held of us, and don't regret a moment of it. He taught me a lot about loving and living - and really learning to trust another person with my future. He called me on my bullshit, a blessing and hard-love tactic that made me face down many of my demons in a way no one ever has. He stuck with me through the rollercoaster of my most difficult time of life; a feat I don't believe anyone else would have had the strength of heart to do.

Our chemistry just changed very slowly over time; it is like a handful of molecules morphed and mutated the chemical balance in our genetic fibers - and we evolved, together, into something not quite balanced or true to whole form. We both worked so hard to fix US and to make our dynamics work together, and I am thankful for the effort he gave. I am grateful to him for being able to see us as we really were and being bold, and truthful enough to call it to an end. I would fought to make this work, and clung to the inside the burning house until the ashes grew cold.

I am learning how to be alone again. Learning who I am without him. It is so painful to be alone with myself, this new stranger, when everything inside of me is still a reflection of him.

Despite this tragedy, and this suffocating feeling of complete loss, I step back and re-play all the wonderful memories we made together, all the ways he made me happy, and all of the fun, charming, strong pieces of him I'll carry with me now on this adventure down a separate road. I will always love him, and hope that moving forward he can continue to be my best friend. I just can't imagine him out of my life forever; I can't forget someone whose blood is now my blood, who's heartbeat I heard synchronize with mine on those dark, quiet nights together in our bed.

I don't want to erase this blog site, and all the memories we have here. I just want to start a new one to account for myself. So from now on, you can see me at www.christiewilkes.wordpress.com.

Chris, Keno & Lincoln - me and Shitty will miss you and think about you everyday. All our love.

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things...

2009-01-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

Looking through some old pictures and thought I'd put a couple on here that I like best.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T03:18:00.000-08:00

Ah, another year has passed, and after vacuuming nearly 3 lbs of fallen pine needles, the tree has finally been taken down and all the decorations put away.

This year we've celebrated Christmas & New Years in a fairly mild manner, keeping things simple and relatively uninvolved- a nice change!

We spent Christmas Eve with my parents, and were able to meet Oliva & Jason- Bryan's new girlfriend and her 3 yr old son. We made gingerbread houses again, and of course, Bryan smoked us all. My "Ol' Swiss House" didn't have a chance compared to his delux "temple." Lame. I always lose now this competition now. Mom & Dad gave us a Belgian Waffel maker, money, jewelry, and some other nice stuff.

I woke up Christmas morning to a whole stockpile of new bike parts, including all new plastics, beautiful pipe (which I'm holding in the pic), and gear which literally transformed the entire appearance of my bike. I've wanted black plastics since I saw them last year. Chris spent ALL DAY Christmas day putting together my "new" bike, which included custom graphics that he'd designed and ordered. We drove the bike into the front entry so we could work on it and be warm, and here are some before & after pics --I was completely stoked. My bike looks completely hot now, I have to admit - I don't even want to ride it in fear of scratching it!

I gave Chris a very manly, uber-powered kerosene garage space heater as well as a "Boom Bucket" all-weather portable iPod player for the pool and all our camping excursions. I wanted him to rock the toasty garage too! ;-)

Lincoln got "The Mouser" from Santa Clause, which has been the source of many exciting hours. It's so freakin' cute to see him play! He loved the wrapping paper, drinking the water out of the tree holder, and sleeping on the wrapping paper boxes.

We hope that friends and family received our cute Christmas card this year and hope that 2009 is a fabulous one for all!!!

Grandma Georgia's 90th B-day

2008-12-28T03:31:00.000-08:00

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's 90th birthday we go! We drove to Vernal to the home of Norm & Pam Pease, Chris' dad & mom, where they were hosted the luncheon to celebrate Georgia's near century on the planet. Chris & I gave her the first of the Jan Karon books, "At Home in Mitford" and a nice bookmark. She loaded up on all kinda of sweet notes, cards, and gifts from all of the family, friends, and community members who showed up to honor her. It was really nice, and fun to see everyone. We were even able to snag a family photo, which I'll post on here once it is received.
Happy Birthday Grandma Georgia!

St. George

2008-12-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

Chris, Myself, Phat Jimmy, Charlie & Luwana Canfield, and Shane & Cooper Eliason all hit trails outside of St. George this weekend. We put about 90 miles on the bikes and had an "epic" ride due to abnormally nice weather and soft, no-dust trail conditions. We went through some of the old Rhino Rally big bike course, and hit a bunch of HUGE clay hills that were like riding a roller coaster. It was great because no one was hurt (I got a cactus to the leg that is kind a blue and swelling) and all the bikes were fine.

I was hauling down this trail into a wash. Jimmy was in front of me, parked and watching as the rest of us dropped from the trail, down a 4' step and on. HOWEVER, I picked the left side of the trail and saw Jimmy flagging me "no! no! no!" so I slammed on my brakes-- but it was too late; the front wheel of my bike was already over the edge and I crunched my pipe, again. Turns out he was worried I didn't know how to "jump" my bike and thought that I'd endo over the handlebars when I hit the ground. It was pretty funny; I was totally centered on the edge of the ledge-- like that one time in high school when I high centered my mom's van on the cemement parking barrier in the Layton High School parking lot. The guys had to come grab my bike and pick it up and off for me. Wish I would have got a picture of that.

On the way back, Chris hooked us up with a room in Cedar City so I could see my Grandma Bernice. Ironically, my father, Lawrence, was also in town so we all hooked up at the Sizzler for all-you-can-eat shrimp and to catch up. It was great getting to see them again.

Think we are going to go down and ride and camp from Christmas - New Years in Mesquite.

Speaking of Christmas: Got home to set up the Christmas tree last night, and woke up this morning to a downed tree-- yes ornaments all over the place, glitter, tinsel in a bind... it's a mess. My poor tree is now lopsidded and jacked up. Charlie Brown tree... ;-(

Had a great weekend - and I'm getting into the Christmas Spirit!

Page, AZ Final Race Report

2008-11-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

I sucked. I took 4th place, and will not be placing in the Top 3 over-all. This is a pathetic picture of me nearly in tears, seriously considering NOT finishing the last loop.

Ok, so there was this new little girl who raced: she is 13 years old, like 100 pounds, and she placed 3rd in the NATION. She spanked me like a naughty schoolgirl, and even beat Trish by like a good 10 minutes!!

The course was some of the deepest, nastiest, most horrible whoops ever (a "whoop" is a little/deep "hill" in a series of closely compacted hills, that you have to either roll your bike up and over, which is exhausting, or you have to hit them so fast you skid over the tops of them - which is scary as hell). I forgot to pack earplugs, so I did not get ONE MINUTE of sleep the previous night before. I was already pooped before the race began and just didn't have the energy to perform like I needed to.

Secondly, I was NOT prepared with the skill and speed necessary to do well, and got my ass handed to me. Here is some crazy cool footage of the Big Bikes trying to get up "THE HILL." We didn't have to go up this hill on our course, but you can see how deep and sandy the terrain was, and how difficult it can be once you lay your bike down, to pick it up and get going again without sinking.

youtube.com/watch?v=vUSZRGocVwM

Third, I feel this is somewhat of a conspiracy: toward the end of the first loop, there as a 45-degree angle turn-off that was market with yellow ribbon (signaling a wrong-way) as well as some pink ribbon down in the near distance (signaling the correct way and part of the course) so initially I thought it was a wrong way, HOWEVER-- there was a little kid standing at the intersection POINTING to GO DOWN the turn-off. I ended up miles down the course, in the middle of the freakin' desert, in some construction site. I had to turn around, find my way back to the nearest race workers and ask them for directions. Turns out, the turn-off was NOT part of my course, and that I had lost nearly an entire loop's worth of time by the time I was back-on-course. So Trish ended up LAPPING me, along with another girl who placed 3rd place.
I am trying not to believe it was a ploy to see me fail. After speaking with the other racers, the course was poorly marked and we ended up missing a couple turns throughout. But I was the ONLY one that got re-directed off course. I'm trying to chalk it up to an inexperienced/young race worker's mistake... and not something else.

More drama: Chris was attacked by some dude who is a member of the Sage Riders club (the club that hosted the race). I was sleeping back in our room, but apparently he and a couple of our other friends walked into another hotel to go watch some footage of the race, when this huge drunk dude (A member of the Sage Riders Motorcycle Club) asked him, "Are you Chris? Let's go outside" started mauling him!! The drunk dude got pulled off, so Chris walked back into the hotel lobby, upset and loudly asking where this dude was, what his problem was, ect. Then the dude attacked him again! The police got called, so when people ripped the huge guy off Chris the second time, apparently he "went for a walk" in the desert and was nowhere to be found when the 5-0 rolled in and cuffed Chris.

Long story short: Chris didn't go to jail. But when Chris walked up to a couple of our close friends (who are also Sage Riders) to ask them for information about the attacker with the police present, they flat out REFUSED to even acknowledge they even KNEW Chris! These are people that we've been really good friends with?! So Chris had his feelings really hurt, and he was pissed at how spineless our friends where. The whole circumstance has spiralled out of control due to people only seeing/hearing part of the episode and blaming Chris in person, on the phone, and on the Internet. It's not pretty.

All-in-all, I don't believe we'll be driving 700+ miles to go to the Arizona race next year.

I'll let you know how I place over-all when the points are tallied and become available.

Start Your Engines

2008-11-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

We are off this weekend to the very LAST, LAST race of the Desert Racing Series. We will be in Paige, Arizona Friday-Sunday this weekend, dueling it out for the last possible chance to beat Trish (#1W TNG) and take 1st place.

Chris has prepped my bike to perfection (as much as it can be at the end of a grueling, damaging season) and I'm about to head out the door to jog 1.5 miles, stretch, and do some push-ups. I'm loading up on carbs and water--- and getting ready to dish out a big serving of

EAT MY DUST - TRISH!!!!!

Wish me luck. If I don't take 1st at this race, I loose 3rd place on the Over-All scheme of the points system, and that will really blow.

Jericho Ride

2008-11-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

Went riding in Jericho yesterday with Kerry (Old Buzzard), John Schultz, Ross (Spamburger), Mike (lthom), some new dude named John, Chris and myself. I felt slightly silly, as I was the most inexperienced rider there, the youngest, and the only Chick, but it was completely swell. I was "in the groove" in the morning, and completed the 1/2 half of the day without injury or accident-- AWESOME!

They had me racing through some really tight, technical, steep, rocky stuff, and I had to hold my breath on a couple of the sections... but it was so exhilarating to get THROUGH the tough stuff without eating shit.

The second half of the day was slighly more challenging. Cherelle and Jake showed up to join us too - and Cherelle, I'm sure, feels my pain today! We had already completed 32 miles before lunch, and after lunch, I only made it another 12 before I threw in the towel and BEGGED to go back to camp via the road, not the trails! I crashed like 7 times, falling face-first down a steep rock slab, hitting Neutral instead of 1st 20' from the TOP of a super-steep hill which resulted in me stuck and scrambling on the slope... among a few other tragedies.

My bike weighs 213 lbs. so I only have about 3-4 crashes where I PHYSICALLY have the upper body strength to pick my bike up. After that, I'm toast-- and I have to rely on the other people in the group to help me upright my rig.

We did hit one super duper muddy hill which will now be know as "Mud Slide Hill-'O-Death" and had to traverse through "Little Dutchman's Gorge-O'-Pain" but I made it out with only a few major bruises.

I totally feel ready to KICK SOME TRASH at the very last Paige, AZ race that is taking place this coming weekend. BRING IT ON!

Chris' 36th Birthday - American Fork Canyon

2008-11-03T04:25:00.000-08:00

Chris turned 36 this past weekend, and we celebrated by taking the weekend off and camping up American Fork Canyon. Though it was a cold and stormy, we had a completely fabulous time!

I gave Chris a much anticipated Helmet Camera so he could mount it to his helmet and take videos of our rides 'n races. I also gave him a nice dose of the new Armani cologne "Armani Diamonds"--which is delicious!

We invited a bunch of people to come up and meet us for a ride, but I believe the weather forecast was a deterrent. We did have Russ come up for a sweet afternoon ride, but missed out on the other folks. Too bad, because the weather on Saturday morning, after the rain shower, was awesome! Slippin' 'n slidding through the muck and mud eventually turned into some sweet conditions when things dried out a little! I have to admit, I was a little nervous trying to get down what I will now endearingly refer to as the "Indiana Jones Ravine of Peril" -- but managed to descend the muddy, rocky, ravine with all limbs intact, and no giant rolling rock chasing us down the mountain.

We didn't loose our dogs to the Hippies this camp trip, nor did our littlest puppy get disoriented and fail to return to camp; we didn't get the trailer lodged in a post-monsoon muddy mountain grave, and Chris seems to be happy- so I'd consider it the entire adventure a success.

It was refreshing to spend some alone time in the serene mountains again before the snow fell, and to hang out "as a family" just the 4 of us - Chris, me, Keno, and Shet.

I hope he enjoyed his time there and is excited about starting a new year. 36 years old... wonder what this one will bring!

Happy Birthday, my Super-Sexy Moto Man!

Fantastic Contraption

2008-10-29T06:08:00.001-07:00

I am absolutely addicted to this game. I don't usually like computer games, but I'm telling you: this physics-based on-line game is the next best thing to the game "Boggle"....and I ADORE "Boggle."

If you haven't tried it, go to this link:
http://www.fantasticcontraption.com/

There are 21 total "levels" and the objective gets increasingly more challenging with every level.

I simply COULD NOT create an object that would get the little red circl (the object) up the stairs and into the final "box" destination/goal using the wheels, rods, and water pressure rods that were provided. Then, this morning, I had a STROKE of GENIUS and finally created the perfect machine! It's like a little tank, but hinged in the center.....

Check this out - just hit "play" and then "start":
http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=3659681

(and once you play the game, you'll appreciate this even better!)

FAILED ATTEMPT LINK JOURNAL (so I can come back and remember what I tried):
http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=3661365
http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=3662144

Green River Riding Trip

2008-10-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Chris and Jon (Local Hero) joined up with some other guys to hit trails in the Green River area this weekend. He goes for a Boys Ride every fall and ride Dead Cow Loop, 5 Miles of Hell, Lenny's Butterfly Trail, and other notorious trails in that area.

Chris was the Ride Director this year, rallying forces on his own for the first time. From his reports every evening, sounds like the trip was a success!

Apparently he had one crash that he says re-broke his pinkie finger (again?!!) but no other tragedies. I missed him and am glad he's on his way back home this evening. Maybe one of these upcoming years I'll have the skills to be able to go on one of the trips-- but from the looks of these pictures, I'm a couple years out yet! Holy crap, look at the height of those giant steps?!!!

I've never been on the "5 Miles of Hell" trail, but I don't think I want to go....

Chris' Snoring Issue

2008-10-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

So Chris is currently in Green River on his annual "boys ride" with his gang, but I thought it was SOOO funny to read the post his friend/roomate posted on MotoUtah.com about his adventure trying to sleep in the same room as Chris (AKA "Slave" on MotoUtah):

"Slave and I are in Green River and we rode 5 Miles of Hell yesterday. I was up all night before the ride getting stuff taken care of, then the ride tired me out. It's 5:00 AM in Green River.....I'm not sleeping. SLAVE1 has the loudest, most horrible, I'm at the door of death, smokers snore that I've ever heard. Each breath sounds like he's fighting for his life. I tried putting the pillows over my head, sleeping on the floor on the other side of the bed.... the only thing I still want to try is punching Slave in the neck as hard as I can. Luckly for me, the lobby is playing country music. Wait, I hate country music. How do you deal with it KTMgirl?"

I couldn't help but respond:

LOCAL, Didn't Slave give you the set of Instructions I sent with him for you?

1.) 8:30 PM: Take sleeping pills (Sleep Rite brand is best) so you can be tired by 10:00
2.) 9:00 PM: Drink a White Russian to aid the effects of sleeping pills
3.) 9:30 PM: Remove remaining Captain & Coke from Slave; the less he drinks, the longer he stays awake, providing you a better chance of falling asleep before him.
4.) 9:45 PM: Mix another White Russian, cuz Slave is still drinking, and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Maybe you won't remember your hours of non-sleeping in the morning....
5.) 10:00 PM: Make Slave put on Breath Right Strip; if he's too intoxicated to apply, you'll need to stick it on him yourself-- WATCH OUT: he'll try and swat at you, be light on your toes!
6.) 10:30 PM: Build WALL-O-PILLOWS at least 18-24" high as a sound wall - the more dense the pillow, the better.
6.5) INSERT EAR PLUGS WITH DECIBEL RATING OF 32+.
7.) If he falls asleep before you and is still snoring despite your efforts, quickly YANK the pillow out from under his head to buy yourself 6-9 minutes of snore-free time to try and fall asleep.
8.) If the pillow-yanking method doesn't work, just kick him in the shins whenever he snores, and DISREGARD the mean, half-slurred response you'll evoke from him--he doesn't really mean whatever hurtful things he says!
9.) 11:00 PM: Pretend you are Victor Frankl or a POW being tortured, and practice mental dissociation from your horrid reality.
10.) 12:00 AM: If you are STILL awake, you might as well give up, find a good chick flick to watch in some other room, and pop a couple more sleeping pills; after a couple nights of this, the foggy haze of delirium will begin to FEEL like real sleep!
GOOD LUCK, CHAMP!

PS. He's a great snuggler!

"Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse

2008-10-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

So after 6 years of owning the book, I finally finished the Novella "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse. It's a classic. I just haven 't been in the frame of mind or stage of life where I feel I would have appreciated it, until now.

To summarize, kid wakes up and realizes he wants to know the meaning of his life. Joins the wandering "Samanas" who are like roaming, self-denying "sages" who meditate on life and practice minimalism to the extreme. Studies with Gotama Buddha for a while, but decides to strike out on his own. Gets caught up in the world, become rich, impregnates his hot whorish lover, and leaves her before finding out shes prego because he hates being "of the world" and is all suicidal. Lives alone and wanders for a long time in the forest and becomes roommates with a Ferry Boat guy that lives at a river who is a "sage." His girlfriend/kid run across him like 10 year later and she dies, leaving the kid with him. Kid runs away because he hates living like a freakshow by the river. After years of "studying the river" and looking inwardly at his own life and lessons, Siddatha, then a famous Sage and spiritual leader, concludes that the best thing you can do for yourself is realize that life is like a river - full of transition, ever flowing, constantly full of change. He believes that each person has to strike out on their own, and independantly realize their own destiny, finding their own way to their inward "awareness" or consciousness, not necessarily through a specific system of religious practices, beliefs or dogma.

Quote "He saw all these forms and faces in a thousand relationships to each other, all helping each other, loving, hating, destroying each other and become newly born. Each one of them was mortal, a passionate, painful example of all that was transitory. Yet none of them died, they only changed, were always reborn, continually had a new face: only time stood between one face and another." Chapter 12, pg. 121

It was a great book, written in 1922, and full of imagery and a good message. If you haven't read it and want something a little "deeper" to chew on, this is a great read for a blooming psychoanalyst - or for a good dose of free-spirited religious philosophy. If you decide to read it, curl up with some Herbal Tea, some Nog Champa incense burning, and some Nepalis music playing.

Your "inner Hippie" will be very happy!!!

(Here's a link about the real guy - very interesting after reading the book.)

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/siddhartha.html

Knolls Race 10.11.2008

2008-10-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

...THE RESULTS ARE IN:

I took 1st place at the last race! But before you get too excited- realize that Trish didn't show up to this race-- so lame!!! I don't feel victorious. However, she will be at the next race in Page, Arizona next month. It's the very last race of the year - and my very last chance to beat her.

I'm in 4th place OVER-ALL because I was disqualified from one race, and missed another. The girl that's in 3rd right now, will TAKE 3rd place if she shows up in AZ. If she doesn't show up in AZ, I may have a chance to place 3rd over-all, if I do well at this last race. Mostly, I wanted to place over-all, and feel slightly pissed that I'm 4th overall.

RACE REPORT: Well, it snowed! I froze my butt off and my hands and face were completely numb throughout the whole race. We were all bundled up, but I don't have all the cold-weather gear. The wind was blowing like crazy and it was a MISERABLE course- mucky, sandy, snowy, blowy, freezing!!! I just took my chillin' time and didn't crash, because it was slippery!

Chris didn't race this race - he worked it. He actually was a sweet heart and asked to help with my race, so I had the opportunity to pass him four times throughout the course. Being a Boyscout, he'd built a massive fire in the middle of the stormy desert to weather out the storm and was there cheering me on the whole time, helping everyone who was getting stuck in the super-deep sand!!! Trooper. He also lucked out and won a couple items from the Raffle they auctioned.

Mostly I hung out in the trailer and cooked Mexican food all day after the race-- it was too freakin' cold to hang out!!!!

But you should have seen some of the folks that crossed the finish line - looked like they'd just drug themselves through a mile of muddy trenches! Check out these pics. The pic of this one dude illustrates just how deep it was in some spot - so deep, the back tire is burried and guys were peddeling themsleves through the sand, trying to keep upright!

FINAL RACE:

November 15th

WOO HOO!!!!

2008-09-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd toot my 'lil horn for half a second:

AFTER 5 YEARS, 35+ SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTIONS, 200+ HOURS OF STUDY, TWO SLEEPLESS NIGHTS CRAMMING, AND 4+ NERVOUS BATHROOM STOPS, I FINALLY PASSED ---
MY REAL ESTATE BROKER'S TEST!!!!!
IT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT TEST I'VE EVER, EVER TAKEN!!!!!!

[CUE BRASS BAND!!!]

I'm half tempted to throw a party for myself, considering I was 99.98% convinced I wouldn't pass while I was at the testing center. I was all kinds of frazzled considering I studied until nearly 2:00am, woke up at 4:00am to study some more, had to drive 25 minutes out of my way to Clearfield to get my freakin' Real Estate Calculator I'd forgotten to bring home, then got to the testing center ONLY to realize that I'd left my bloody driver's license in my jeans at home in Centerville, which was required to take the test! The test coordinator told me I had exactly 37 minutes to drive home to Centerville, get my license and be BACK on 12th street in OGDEN to qualify for my test---- driving 110 MPH on I-15 DURING rush-hour, I was exactly 7 minutes shy of being dis-qualified from taking the test upon my return!!!

Then, it took me 3 hours and 47 minutes to complete the test- exactly 13 minutes less than the maximum time allowed, and holy sh*t, I was sweating bullets. My freakin' BRAIN hurt from thinking too much and cleanching my jaw.

But, the stars aligned, and I PASSED!!!!!!! I triumphantly celebrated by (1.) Taking a nap (2.) Getting a 1 1/2 hour massage at the spa (3.) going out to dinner courtesy of my handsome hunk!

Who's yer Broker?! ya baby!!! ;-)

Didn't Know If You Guys Saw The News:

2008-09-29T13:04:00.001-07:00

MotoUtah BBQ

2008-09-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Chris and I hung out with the crazy folk who frequent http://www.MotoUtah.com/ (which is a chat site for local ATV riders, Motocross Riders, and Desert Racers) at the MU BBQ this weekend. Chris is obsessed with the site, and we've actually made some really awesome friends from people we've come to know on the web. Chris has quite the "following" of individuals who adore and abore him, including this guy, John, who actually made a shirt in honor of Chris - as "Slave" is his user name on MU.

I had to work late, and missed a lot of the action - including Chris being attacked by Will's crazy hoard of children, resulting in a broken pinkie finger! He's so cute with kids!

Since the party was over by dark (but the night was young!), Lenny, Chris, and I headed downtown for a good time - the details to remain undisclosed .... lol.

Too much fun for one weekend! I am ready for Chris' finger to be healed... I think he's milkin' it a wee bit!

Book Report - Eat, Love, Pray

2008-09-17T22:25:00.001-07:00

I only read this book because my (psychic) mother suggested it. I hated the title and thought it was lame, but I started it anyway - and lemme tell you - it's been a 'lil slice of Happy Pie every night I've read it for the last couple of weeks! I was awake until nearly 3:30am this morning finishing the dang thing! What a powerful, romantic, spiritual, realistic, soul-stretching experience this book has been!

I can relate to the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, in every single way - her depression, her tremulous romantic, mental, professional and physical challenges, and the constant anger, resentment, doubt, and fear she inwardly stews on! The constant feeling of unworthiness, incapability, repression, lack of traditional values and lifestyle, which she feels is chaotic emotional misdirection and quietly lets mount and build. I just "get it" because I am SO THERE.

I admire her ability to call it quits on the behaviors, lifestyle, relationships, and circumstances that she recognizes are leaving her unfulfilled. She says, "I was not rescued by a prince; I was the administrator of my own rescue." I wish I too had the ability to get paid to travel the world for a year, writing a book and soul-searching in Italy, India, and Indonesia! It was wonderful living vicariously through her travels, through the meditations and prayers, experiencing, second-hand, the great relief that comes from the release of giving yourself permission to believe in happiness again. And moreso, believing that you are divine creator of your own Happiness. And - to take it one step father - it's wonderful to have your heart opened to the belief that it's OK to "ask" the Greater Power for assistance FINDING a way to create happiness for yourself again. All three of these things have been so far removed from my thinking for the last year or so, it's like a river of opportunity running through my heart again.

Like many others, I've been groomed and raised in a conservative family and taught the religious dogma that has made many people happy - it just never "did it" for me. This book, however, had reinforced a very important principle that is best captured in this quote:

"Yogic scriptures say that God responds to the sacred prayers and efforts of human beings in any way whatsoever that mortals choose to worship-just so long as those prayers are sincere." The Upanishad says, "People follow different paths, straight or crooked, according to their temperament, depending on which they consider best or most appropriate-and all reach [God], just as rivers enter the ocean."

This book has gently re-surfaced a desire to be independently happy - to create my own happiness in whatever spiritual way I feel is best for me, and to find happiness in all the circumstances I find myself in. More than that- I find my interest in believing in God has been re-ignited and, yes, I've been regularly praying for the first time a long time. I've been going to the meditations and classes taught at that Zen Center in SLC a lot more too - and every time I leave there, coupled with the later reading of this book and my praying, I feel like I've taken a spiritual shower after a year of camping in the desert without a bath! I am falling in-love with Zen, like I've been waiting for it my whole life.

"Zen Buddhist believe that an oak tree is brought into creation by two forces at the same time. Obviously there is the acorn from which it all begins, the seed which holds all the promise and potential, which grows into the tree. Everybody can see that. But only a few can recognize that there is another force operating here as well-the future tree itself, which wants so badly to exist that it pulls the acorn into being, drawing the seedling forth with longing out of the void, guiding the evolution from nothingness to maturity. In this respect, say the Zens, it is the oak tree that creates the very acorn from which it was born." Maybe I am currently traveling down a spiritual path created by a Greater Me, being pulled into the Truth that will make me the bigger/healthier/happier Me I will soon be.... wow! Deep....

I have to admit - I feel lightly enveloped by a shimmery layer of optimism that I haven't felt in a long time; I feel (as cliche as this is) "at peace" with my slightly (shitty) circumstances, because I feel CAPABLE of genuinely loving life, loving the people in my life, and earnestly wanting to share life/love/the pursuit of happiness with other people - again! I feel like I want to find my life's purpose and go help starving children in Africa again. I feel like "life" isn't all about what I GET from it, but what I can GIVE and SHARE with other people! And yes, that includes a big fat dose of giving forgiveness to myself and to others as well.

Oh I could go on and on and on!

[end of tangent.]

Just read this book- you'll either love it or hate it. But I thought it was delicious!

Sugarloafer's Cow Dung Race, Delta UT

2008-09-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

Chris and I went out to the Sugarloafer's Cow Dung race in Delta over the weekend of the 13th.

To summarize, I took 2nd place, again! HOWEVER, I had a terrible start and was far, far behind the group off the line because my bike wouldn't start! I did, however, keep my pace very steady through all 4 loops and was able to regain my position.

Through the pits, Chris kept saying, "Trish is right in front of you!" and I didn't believe him UNTIL I PASSED HER! I totally caught up and diced out the entire last loop with her - I honestly thought I had it! I was, literally, praying out-loud "God, just let me win ONE freakin' race!" and was even screaming at Trish, "Common' Trish, just let me win ONCE!"

We were coming around the FINAL stretch of the race, she was right in back of me, and I tried to take a sharp turn too fast and washed out! She made the corner, and ended up winning the race. I'm tellin' you: If I crash, or fumble, or hesitate at ALL during a race, she beats me.
We only have 2 races left - one in Knolls, and one in Page, Arizona. I only have 2 more races to beat her - and, I'm currently ranked 4th in my class, because I missed one race and was disqualified from the other. DAMN IT. So I've gotta kick some butt and take names to even PLACE over-all. Keep your fingers crossed.

Chris didn't race this race, but had fun hanging out on Pit Row, watching the more experienced riders come through the "Endurocross" section of the loop - it was unlike anything we've seen before, and really fun to watch these guys get stuck on the obstacles! Check out the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=homHORBEpmw

Adams Canyon - for Hollie & Erin

2008-09-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the newest additions to both Erin's and Hollie's families, I thought it'd be cool to spend a day in the place that the 3 of us loved the most, growing up. You guys already have all the baby stuff, so for my present to you both, I thought I'd take my camera and put together a little photo journal of our greatest place! Thought it'd be fun for you guys to see the memories we had of being kids while you are in the middle of raising your own!

It took about 4 1/2 hours (what is it, like 3 miles high?), but I MADE IT to the freakin' top of that canyon, all by myself! It was great, you guys would have loved it - the weather was perfect (a little rain), and the water was low. It's changed a lot since we've been up it - it's much more "groomed" than before. But all the classics are still there: the grooling sandy switch backs in which you say "Holy crap, why am I doing this?!", then the glory of that canyon opening up to you. I laughed out-loud when I saw the "Swiss Family Robinson Tree" in which Erin and I made elaborate plans to one day build a home in the branches and live with the squirrels... LOL. Then there's the tree I was forced to climb 30 feet into the air, OVER the river, to see my carved initials... Then there are all the awesome pools that fill in run-off season, that I remember swimming in. The waterfalls - and the continual contest to see who'd get submerged in the FREEZING water first! Then past the camp ground where Stephanie and I tried to camp out one night, only to hike ALL the way down in the middle of the night because were were COVERED in spiders and Box Elder Bugs!!! I always think of Erin when I get to that scary wall we have to cross on all fours, and Erin: "Oh no! I dropped my water bottle in the river!" and David Powell climbing all the way down there to get it for you... TENDER! And then there's the long stretch in which Hollie tripped and slid down, belly first! - not so funny, but still, kinda funny! And the final 3rd waterfall - hanging out in the sun and playing in the pool of water.

What a great day. Miss you guys both a ton, and wish were all together again to enjoy this. I love you gals, and hope you're both doing well playing Mommy!

-Christie (boo boo)

Eat, Pray, Love

2008-09-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a book called "Eat, Pray, Love" which I'll elaborate on later, but I wanted to post this quote that really hit me today. For those of you who frequently check my lil' blog, I hope it leaves you something to think about.

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake."

A whole new perspective about what it means to really love someone. This quote today hit me in the gut with a remembrance that a "real love" is the person who sees what you are capable of being, even when you are in lowest form, and is willing to risk it all fighting (sometimes even you) to make sure you become the healthy, happy, joyful, whole person you deserve to be.

It is from rubble that some of the greatest cities were rebuilt.

Fly Fishing Ogden River

2008-09-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

So Eric, my bro, and I woke up super early this morning and decided to try and fly fish the Ogden River. Having never officially tried to fly fish on my own, yet alone instruct a completely inexperienced person, it was interesting to say the least! I've gone a few times with Chris, but never without him.

I got hooked up with a really fabulous deal on some very nice gear, so after we grabbed coffee, we loaded up and hit the water, just below The Oaks restaurant. The weather was PERFECT and the water was really great. Apparently the dam was open, so the river was much deeper and faster than we were anticipating, but it was still really fun.

We ALMOST caught a little Brown, but it didn't get far out of the water before it ripped off the line, dang it. I did, however, successfully catch a tree and Eric!! LOL - (don't worry, he didn't get too hurt!) So, minus 1 furry little fly (which ripped out in the tree) and part of Eric's hand, we came out of the experience unscathed, a success by any measure!

I really do love fly fishing, I've decided. I just kinda suck at it still. But I have mastered the Surgeon's Knot, so I'm well on my way, watch out!

NIN: Lights in the Sky Concert

2008-09-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

Chris and Local Hero (John), a friend from MotoUtah, went to the Nine Inch Nails concert tonight at the E Center! Chris was going for Cliff's, Chris' best friends', birthday- I think Cliff turned 36 this year. I haven't received the report yet since it's only 11:30pm, but I'm sure the concert was awesome. Shelly, Cliff's wife, rented a suite, and planned for a handful of people to be there, how cool is that? There are a bunch of cool You Tube videos of live NIN performances that are impressive, like this one:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFx2TmQfM-o

I had to work late at the model home tonight, which paid off because I think I'll get a sale out of it, we'll see. Hate to miss the party, and it's weird not being with Chris for these kind of events...

Hopefully he makes it back home in one piece and everyone had fun!!!

Happy Birthday Cliff!

National MX Track in Mona, Utah

2008-08-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Like the ROCKSTAR he is, here are pics of Chris today in Mona, Utah at the new National Motocross track. For all the crap he's given others about being MX'ers, looks like he'd be a good MX candidate! Seems like the Motocross'ers get hurt a lot more often then Desert Racers, so I'm not sure I'm super excited for him to ride tracks more often, but you've gotta admit - he looks freakin' hot!

Sand Mountain

2008-08-24T17:07:00.001-07:00

Chris spent the afternoon a couple weekends ago at Sand Mountain with RM Chick & Co. He put a new spiffy paddle tire on his bike and said he had a pretty good time. I didn't go because I hate the freakin' sand! From his report, he only had 1 pretty gnarly experience, getting caught in some brush! LOL. Crazy boy!

Hare & Hound Ntl in Wendover

2008-08-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

My parents, Josh, and Bryan came down to Wendover for the Hare and Hound National Race in Wendover. My family stayed in town and Chris's friend, Trent, joined the campers in the desert, also experiencing his first-ever desert race!

Chris didn't race this race, as he was helping the Desert Foxes host the race. I raced and placed 2nd in Beginning Women's, again! I took the hole-shot, and maintained 1st place the entire first loop, until the very end. As we came up over the top of a steep road, in 4-5th gear, I crossed over the summit and ran smack into a huge rock, and ate shit, hard. I really did some damage to my right knee, and laid there for a good couple minutes, daring to straighten it all out... I was able to finish the race, but not without doing some great damage to my bike as well.

My super sexy mechanic informs me that I must be planning to invest in some new parts after the next race if I keep crashing, as his masterful skills can only re-salvage the parts so many times before they just poop out.
Hopefully the next race I take 1st - I only have 3 more shots at it before Trish owns the year, undefeated!!!

LOOK AT THIS BEFORE YOU VOTE!

2008-07-21T23:10:00.001-07:00

KANZEON ZEN CENTER

2008-07-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

Eric & I went to the Kanzeon Zen Center for "church" this morning. I've been wanting to go to a Sunday Service for a long time, but just really felt the need this morning. IT WAS AMAZING!

It's a little house on South Temple downtown that has been converted into a modern zen center. There were probably 50 people there, barefoot and sitting on mats and pillows. The class opened with 30 minutes of quiet meditation, followed by an hour of discussion by Genpo Roshi Abbott.

He discussed with us the concept of the Triangle - the dichotomy between the "Dual Self" and the "Non-Dual Self." The left line of the Triangle is comprised of the The "Dual Self" which is the left-brain side of you that is forced to think in linear terms of past/future, right/wrong, good/bad, better/worse. This side of the brain cannot help by focus entirely on our person, and give little concern for others. It is reason and logic. This is also the side that holds anger, resentment, unhappiness, immaturity.

The other side of the Triangle is made of the The "Non-Dual Self" which is the right-side of your brain. This side is the subjective, emotional, non-judgemental, universal, accepting, healthy, and globally minded side, which focuses on the "Highest & Best" choices, and the present moment. This side is mature, peaceful, conscious, and calm.

At the apex of the Triangle, there is a union of self-mindedness which encompasses the Dual and Non-Dual Self. This point is the fame of mind which enables oneto logically assess and gauge each life situation using the "Dual/left-brain" side, then consciously choose to react in a way that is conducive to Non-Dual living , focusing on the Highest/Best/Healthy/Happy outcome. In this way, we learn to un-attach ourselves from destructive/selfish/single-minded behaviors. Once we learn to only "attach" to healthy/happy/whole things, it is easy to "lose" those things/people/behaviors which bring us pain, but that we feel forced to associate with. For example, regret, loss of life, anger, addiction, blame, resentment, unhealthy people.

The concept to too big to describe in one page. I'd suggest everyone in the world take this class.

Eric & I walked out of there feeling so totally great. So inspired by the flood of good energy, and a community of healthy like-minded, positive people. The course is free, and is taught every Sunday at 1274 East South Temple at 10:00-11:30. We are going to go again next week. If you want to come, let me know.

2008-07-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

"Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging." -Joseph Campbell

Just wanted to report that I took 3 contracts this week as a Sales Counselor for FieldStone Homes! That's an all-time high for me! WOO! So I've been on the job (officially selling) for 2 weeks. I hope to have 3-5 homes sold this month. I know that this is happening because I have finally opened my heart to the "help" of a power greater than myself.

It's funny how sometimes you can really see that "bad" things happen for a good reason. As everyone knows, this past month has been fairly tragic for me and mine in about every way possible. Personally, I've had to deal with 3 of the 5 "most tragic and life changing events" a person can expect to deal with in a life time, so it's been a roller coaster to say the least.

For those of you who have never read the book or seen the lil' movie "The Secret" it's a little kookie - but the message is the same as scripture: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he live." If you believe good things will happen and you hold goodness in your heart, the universe will provide. It's interesting: I'm at an all-time "low" in my life in so may capacities, but I've "asked" the Greater Power for "hope" and I think it's really helped. I feel motivated when I wake up, empowered, capable, and....well...hopeful! I catch myself really ENJOYING the simplest things about life - my cup of coffee, elevator music and a good Carpenter's song cover, overly-enthusiastic people, full moons. I enjoy my work and helping people. I genuinely try to improve every situation I encounter. I feel full of gratitude and charity; I can't remember the last time I felt this FOCUSED.

It's interesting how the people you surround yourself with make such a huge impact on your general attitude about life. Some of the most successful Sales coaches I've ever listened to say "If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people." I believe this is true for all realms of "success" - financial, professional, emotional, spiritual, etc.

For the first time in my life, I'm truly beginning to see it's not challenges we conquer, but the limitations we set on ourselves.

2008-07-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Chris spent the day riding the Cache Valley Motocross track in Idaho with a couple of buddies. He's getting pretty good at the jumps - look at that height! Crazy skillz!!!

"Grown Up" - by Cheryl Mercer

2008-07-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

"When I think about marriage, what I long for most, strangely enough, is not an elevated spiritual union with a man; that's a fantasy not readily envisioned. What seems wondrous to me instead are the small, shared rituals that bind a man and woman in familiar intimacy, the borders inside which they make love, choose furniture, plan vacations, quarrel over closet space and ex-lovers, share the toothpaste, and celebrate Christmas the same way they did last year. I've been in love myself, so I know something of what it's like to build a life together - the private jokes, the friends you share, knowing in advance which of you makes the coffee and which goes for the paper, even the comfortable tedium of hearing his or her favorite story told yet again. To promise to share forever the small - not only the grand - moments of life seems to me profoundly human, more intimate even than making love with someone for the first time."

2008-07-01T18:38:00.001-07:00

Pray for me. I've finally, pain-stakingly COMPLETED my 120 hours of Real Estate Broker's classes and have completed the school test. I am now walking, slowly, into the Tunnel of Doom and must successfully complete my Final Broker's Test with an 80% or better. I am taking the test next Tuesday.

Petrified, I'm studying my A** OFF for this final test!

Send positive energy my way! May the Force be with me, right?

***PS*** how awesome is this: I was offered an Instructors position at Stringham Real Estate school, teaching the "New Construction" & "Federal Law" courses! I met with the school President yesterday and proposed my class outline and materials and received the official invitation to teach! Rock on! I'm so excited and wildly flattered!!!

Stuido Soiree

2008-06-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Getting in-touch with "the Goddess within," I was inspired to attend a Pole-Dancing class held at a private studio called Studio Soiree in Sugarhouse tonight. It wasn't skanky or dirty or anything - and man, do those girls have some SERIOUS athletic skillz! We learned the basic steps, "fireman" pole slides, some floor moves, and a lil' routine. It was a TOTAL BLAST! The class was really small and very classy - it was really liberating "exploring" the art of a generally considered "erotic" dance in a way that was both expressive and athletic - man, you've gotta be STRONG to be good at this.

I'll tell ya this much: I have a WHOLE new respect for those "trashy" girls that can climb a pole, hand upside down, in the SPLITS and twirl down into a perfect pose. They deserve every dollar they earn!

I am determined to not look like a huge, pasty, fleshy SLUG oozing down that dang pole,and get this new art-form down! If anyone wants to hook up and attend a class with me - it's addictive - call me!

Check out the website:
http://www.studiosoiree.com/

Utah Arts Festival

2008-06-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

Went to the Utah Arts Festival tonight and spent the evening madly in-love, completely high on culture, music, good food, under a saucy canopy of stars!

It's amazing how shyness melts away when the euphoria of "true self" seeps through the cracks of reservation in an environment that encourages self-expression! I am so FUELED & INSPIRED BY PEOPLE UNAFRAID TO LIVE WHAT THEY LOVE & STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX!!!

I am a creature of art. I LOVE everything artistic that is freaky, strange, different, and bold. I love the pieces that make you say or think, "What did you just say?!" or "wow - that piece is reflected in a way that speaks true to my soul." Less a gal spitting out some vulgarity regarding a Ronald Wesley in a poetry slam, the night was full of wonder and everything beautiful I enjoy about this crazy funky world we live in.

We danced in an ocean of people to a live Disco Band and, everything girly and mysterious inside of me fell in-love again for the first time in a long while.

The night was nothing short of magical!

WWW.UAF.ORG

Ani DiFranco @ Library Square

2008-06-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

Bryan (my bro) and I went to the Ani DiFranco concert at Library Square on Saturday night-- AND WE WERE ON THE FRONT ROW!!! Bryan had a friend that scored VIP tickets and she was able to save us a spot! IT WAS THE BEST CONCERT, EVER! I am so madly, madly in-love with this gal, it's unbelievable. She is EVERYTHING I wish I was - and her political, artistic, and feminine POWER is unlike any other! The lyrics to her songs are so poetic, metaphoric, deep,playful, and passionate. WOW! That's all I can say about that--and considering my life circumstances, I connect and relate to her music in the deepest fibers of my soul. She's also put out a couple books of poetry that you need to check her out! If anything, check out her web page and review some of the "causes" and calls-to-action she sponsors.

http://www.righteousbabe.com

New Considerations

2008-06-10T19:46:00.001-07:00

So the slump in the housing market is continuing to take a toll on both Chris and I, who have chosen professions in this industry. As of late, we're both considering what our options are and what we could & should do to keep our household stable.

Interesting enough, I interviewed with Fieldstone Homes yesterday for a Sales Agent position. Their product is very different from the custom luxury homes I've sold, but they seem to have successfully rooted the company and have a thriving corporate culture. I don't think it's a bad option. I have a second interview with the President on Friday. I may decide to go this route instead of the Commercial Real Estate Internship with NAI UTah for the greater short-term income potential and likelihood of success. Also, I would like to create a stable income situation for us both so that Chris has the liberty to pursue better options, should he decide to.

2008 Presidential Vote

2008-05-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

DON'T KNOW WHO TO VOTE FOR? Compare the Representatives with this nifty lil' table: http://www.2decide.com/table.htm

I'm not hugely involved in the political arena, but I read an article in the June 2008 Reader's Digest that really intrigued me regarding the bloc weight our "Millennium" generation has as compared to our "Gen X" co parts. Apparently the "Millennium Generation " (ages 19-29) folks are nearly 3x more involved people in their 30's and 40's.

This article talks about the influence our generation will have over this next election and future political processes. Because of Internet "blog sites" and the economy most greatly impacting US RIGHT NOW, our generation is stepping up and actually voting (or planning to vote in November) in numbers much greater than those in history.

The "older" people in government are trying to figure out how to capture our attention, and our votes, as more "socially" focused and technologically advanced. Apparently our current candidates are perplexed by how greatly our generation is influenced by policies that impact the global arena, versus the very conservative people currently in office, or the previous majority voters who were products of the "me" generation. Our generation is an "action generation"; they are calling us "entrepreneurial, not for the purpose of making money, but for doing social good." Though 38% of Millennial voters are Liberal, most are stuck somewhere in the middle, wedged between the Donkey and the Elephant (like me!).

Cool statistics about the Millennium Voters:

* 63% of would currently approve gay marriage
* 67% consider themselves "religiously minded" and the rate jumps to 90% if the word "religious" is replaced with "spiritual"
*63 % of voters are currently siding with Obama
* 8.2% of the unemployment rates are affecting people 18-24 years old - the highest rate ever
*40% are "deeply" concerned about global warming and reusable fuels
*68% of individuals DON'T want to pay social security, because we believe it won't be around for us to collect on it.

I plan to vote in November and be much more involved in the political stratosphere this year than in previous years because I realize what an impact the current political representatives have, even on a micro level. I can't complain about being unsatisfied with the government if I don't take action to try and contribute to electing good people into office. There is no excuse for not knowing where our current leaders stand on particular issues. Here's a quick reference to help ya out: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18437398

Get involved & see the current issues, candidates and other helpful tidbits on the ROCK THE VOTE website: http://www.rockthevote.com/ and please register to vote with the Widget on the right-hand side of the page. Go Team!

Happy 26th Birthday!

2008-05-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

I turned 26 years old yesterday. (whoa)... Chris, being the sweetheart that he is, completely surprised me with a couples' SALSA DANCING LESSON COURSE which we'll last about a month!!! Can you believe it?! Chris - dancing?!!! He'll be a great dancer and I'll just love it! He also took me out to the Oyster Bar downtown because we didn't know we needed reservations for The Melting Pot.

Tonight though, we got all dressed up and went out for the very classy Fondue dinner. It was delicious and so nice to see him so suave and handsome in his dressiness.
I just adore him!

Tomorrow we are meeting up with my family to go see the new Indiana Jones flick after lunch.

Such a great memory!

GREAT BIRTHDAY!!

(Looks like my birthday wishes are off to a great start!!!)

Cherry Creek Race - 5/17/08

2008-05-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the Cherry Creek race. I almost beat my nemisis this time, T.N.G! Securing second place off the line, I was able to stay in first place for the first two 17-mile loops. Then, out of nowhere, she passed me on a really dusty/sandy 4-wheeler road. In a flurry of dust, I must have hit a rock (at 4th gear speeds!) and kart-wheeled over my handlebars, catapulting face-first into the sage brush and dirt! I contemplated not finishing, as I sat there and in the dirt and cried, but figured finishing sure beat sitting on my butt in the sun in the middle of nowhere.

Trish was able to secure her lead, and despite my demolition, I placed 2nd. I took a trophy, a black eye, and a gnarly bruised thigh home from this battle!

Chris didn't race this race but he played Pit Crew and is, of course, my biggest (and cutest) fan! It's always is so exhilarating to see him cheer me on each race!

When we got home, there was an entire forum about what a "classless" terrible person I am on MotoUtah.com - which is really funny, you should read it (my response is the 11th post from the top):
http://www.motoutah.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=30&func=view&catid=37&id=34185#34185

Here is a video of my start if ya wanna watch it:

I refuse to ride in the Beginning Women's class anymore - it sucks because we're forced to ride a large size bike (like my 250) with little smaller people riding a range of bike sizes, which creates a plethora of problems. So, I'm going to officially move up into the "Big Bikes" class and race in the Women's Class with the Big Dogs for this next race in June.

Frankly, I'm completely terrified to ride with the men, as we watched a whole lotta people flying off bikes in a dust cloud at high speeds this weekend. Unless you've seen it first-hand, you'll never understand the challenges of the starting line, the skill required by the technicalities of the courses, and the determination one must summon to finish under a sweltering sun in a 100-mile race!

Check out this picture of our good friend Cole "Cornholio" who rolled into the finish line at 60 MPH in 6th gear pinned, on nothing but RIM, missing his rear tire and rear brake, for the last 16 miles! He still placed 20th over-all!!! This just illustrates the "stuff" you've gotta be made of to compete in this arena.

No one is sure I have the strength or skill to be able to "hang" with the big bikes--- but I'll guess we'll see soon enough!!

GO BIG OR GO HOME!

NEXT RACE:

Bull Hollow

June 16-17

Monticello, Utah

Firebirds Race - Jericho Utah April 23rd

2008-04-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Chris and I both raced the firebirds race this past weekend. I've been slow at reporting results because I have a freaking concussion. LOL. I ate shit so hard, you just wouldn't believe it! My start was shaky, but I was able to get in-front of TNG (Trish) for the entire 1st loop! I was right in-front of her on the first of 3 home checks. However, she passed me after I over-shot a corner on the second loop, and she and I battled it out for most of the 2nd loop, with her in-front at the second home check. It's kinda funny: she looked back at me when we were checking in, and I said "Go faster Trish, I'm gonna catch ya!" and, well, that was really dumb of me-she turned it up and stayed in-front the rest of the race (but only because I crashed!)

I have no idea what happened, but somehow (I think I was in sandy whoops) I flipped over my handle bars at a pretty high speed. I remember flying off my bike, but don't remember the crash or picking up my bike and starting back on the trail. The strangest part: I like "lapsed" back into my dream from the former night... and it wasn't until nearly the END of the last loop that I "zoned" in again and realized I was still racing and that I had to finish... It was, by far, the most strange thing that has happened in a while. I was completely zoned. Overall, I'll take 2nd place in points for this race, which makes me mad because I ALMOST HAD HER and I tried my very hardest, boo hoo. TRISH WINS AGAIN!?!!!!

We spent the day cooking grub for the crew and my head kinda hurt. It wasn't until later that night when we all went back out to the hot-pots that the pain really kicked in full-steam. Since then, my head has hurt SOOOOO bad, and my neck is still so hurtie all the way around and down through my shoulder blades. That's not all-- you should see the black and green bruise on my hip, 'oly crap. ?!

Chris raced the first loop and opted out of the 2nd loop because he was cramping up so bad, so he'll have another DNF (Did Not Finish) on his points record for the year. Don't quite know where he is in the running for his class this year. Gotta try and keep him out of the pits (and out of the Captain Morgan) if he's gonna place this year!

We had a blast at this race and we had a really fun time hanging out with Landry & Mandy, Cole & Carrie, Britt & John, and the other fabulous desert folk we've grown so attached to. Love 'em all!

NEXT RACE:

CHERRY CREEK

MAY 17th

Lot's of New Pages Turning...

2008-04-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

After a period of slow-down and readjustment, I've finally decided and am moving in a few new directions:

First, I interviewed with a handful of different employers, and have accepted the most challenging (and probably craziest) challenge of my professional life: a Commercial Real Estate Internship.

I interviewed with NAI Utah http://www.naiutah.com/ (a commercial real estate firm which manages acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence, and related consulting and advisory services), the 3rd largest commercial real estate firm in Utah, for the chance to "compete" in a 3-month long internship in which the top 2-3 of 10-14 candidates will be offered permanent positions with the company (kind of like the "Pursuit of Happyness" movie). They interviewed 36 candidates, and I was 1 of 7-10 that were accepted! Starting August 25th, For 12 weeks, I will be judged on my ability to learn commercial real estate practices and policies, present and sell properties, create an over-all personal business structure to be judged by a board of 5 managers, and pass a series of classroom and field tests in a plethora of on-site scenarios. (Scarry?!)

If I am one two of the top performers in my class, I may be offered a permanent position with the company, in which I will be required to work 2 years in EACH of the company departments (research, acquisitions, marketing, sales...etc). After the 2-year period, I will be able to work as a Junior Agent and start performing sales to earn commissions. After 2 years of Junior Agency, I can graduate to a full independent Commericial Agent.

I know it sounds like complete insanity, working my brains out for 3 months which MAY or MAY NOT result in a career, to earn very little income for 4 additional years... but at the end of 5 years, this MAY result in one of the most respected positions in the Commerical industry, in which case most agents earn well over 6-figure incomes! That's what I'm talking about, baby.

To gain an additional professional edge, I'm going back to school full-time starting May 1st, to earn my Broker's license. It's nearly double the requirements as the Real Estate Agent program, and my days will begin at 4 am and end at 8 pm, but it'll be worth it. I hope to start, end, and test within a 3 month period of time, so I can complete my Broker course before the NAI Internship starts in August. Wish me luck.... I know it's going to kick my ass.

Third, to balance the need for personal gain, I've joined (AND FALLEN IN-LOVE WITH!) a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization committed to creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty, called RESULTS. The group is committed to individuals exercising their personal and political power by lobbying elected officials for effective solutions and key policies that affect hunger and poverty. (http://www.results.org/)

I randomly read a book called "Banker to the Poor" by Professor Muhhamad Yunus, which is the story of the Grameen Bank, and how 1 man created an entire system of Micro-lending (giving small loans to poor people) which enabled entrepreneurship for poor individuals and alleviated millions from poverty! Not only that, he tells readers how to get involved and make a difference. I joined the suggested Salt Lake Chapter of "R.E.S.U.L.T.S." as a "constituent" to work with local legislators to focus on presenting and passing Bills that will help achieve the Millennium Development Goals of 2015:

Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
Achieve Universal Primary Education
Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Reduce Child Mortality
Improve Maternal Health
Combat HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and other Diseases
Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Create a Global Partnership for Development

I've officially decided NOT to join the Peace Corps (yet, LOL), and have taken a rain-check on marriage and kids for another 4 1/2 years. I've decided that my career is really important to me, that establishing a name for myself and accomplishing the goals I've held in my mind since I was a kid needs to be achieved before I feel comfortable turning my attention to motherhood and wifery. I just don't want to wake up in 30 years and feel like I "didn't give it my all."

So - I'm officially putting an end to the State of Crisis since being laid off from my last job, and I look forward to my working, school, Broker's license, eradicating world hunger and disease, racing motorcycles, and generally kicking ass!

Let's turn up the music and rock on!

SAGE RIDER'S RACE - Jericho Utah April 5th

2008-04-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

We just came back from another fabulous race weekend (nope, still not getting old yet!) in Jericho. However, I am an idiot, and pretty much messed up the whole racing side of things for both Chris and I.

My start went really well and I was able to punch it and get into 3rd place off the line. I held my speed and even - YES - PASSED Tattoo Neck Girl (TNG, her name is Trish) and held first place for the entire first loop. HOWEVER, I over-shot a corner, rounded a big bush, and ran into a barbed wire fence and lost my lead. Somehow in the mix of things, I got totally off the course (don't even ask me how) and ended up returning to the main loop after MISSING PIT ROW, and I basically did a 3/4 loop and then a full loop, and finished the race, wondering why I never came into pit and why the loops were sooo long! (duh to me.)

Chris started to really worry when everyone came through pit row on the first loop, but me. Thinking I was hurt or lost, he hopped on his bike and followed the course to come find me. However, since the Big Bikes were also planned to race a portion of our course, the race officials DISQUALIFIED HIM FOR RIDING ON THE COURSE! Sad huh! He was disqualified in his efforts to come find me! (sigh. How tender!)

So, we were both disqualified in this race, which is really going to hurt my over-all points position. Really, I would have placed second, or maybe first, had I just kept up with TNG. Grrr...

We were able to watch the Expert's start -which was PHENOMINAL considering there were national and highly recognized professinal riders - the action was awesome!

After the race, our crew (Chris, Myself, Cole, Landry, Mike, Marcie, Carrie) all drove out in the 40 degree weather to the middle of the freakin' desert to a deserted, haunted, Japanese work- camp hot pot place that left the remains of 3 concrete natural hot springs tubs in the ground.. (yes, it is as freakish as it sounds.) Everyone was pretty loaded, except me, so I was the only one that really felt the moss and and dead bugs squishing under my butt and toes.... it was pretty gross, but totally worth it (minus the random strangers who showed up naked and humped infront of our whole group mid-evening ?!!) ! Chris gracefully slipped on some concrete in the dark and split his ankle open... dork, which was the only tragedy of the weekend. But is was pretty funny watching him whine, spread eagle in a mucky swamp hole.... LOL!

We had a great weekend and can't wait for the next one!

NEXT RACE:

April 26th

Firebird's in Jericho, Utah

P.S. I got a signed t-shirt from Destry Abbott!

Results from Rhino Rally Race - St. George

2008-03-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

FINALLY we have the official results in from the last desert race which took place in St. George late last month. The race was extremely fun because the conditions were so nice. Rain kept ost of the dust down and the sunshine was so warm! This race is one of the largest races of the year, attracting people from all over the area including Arizona and Nevada. Every year the club turns down entrees after accepting 350 rider applicants (the picture above illustrates just how many people that is on the starting line - this frame only captures 1/2 the line-up!).

My biological father, Lawrence, and his mom, Grandma Bernice, both came to watch my start - and how nice it was to see both of them supporting me in the crowd!

I was nervous because this race had a "dead start" which means riders have to kick-start the bike once the flag is dropped, versus just hitting the throttle on a running engine. It's hard for me to kick-start my bike, so I feared this was going to b a challenge for me.

I started my bike right off, and only had 1 other girl (Tattoo Neck Girl, again) right in-front of me. The start was laced with some fairly deep washes, cacti, and big chunks of lava rock, which took some people out. Here's a clip from my start:

The rest of the race was mostly winding, sandy, trails in the bottom of small ravines and such, a couple of hill climbs and a couple wide-open high speed shots. I was doing really well until I over-shot a corner and slammed into a wall, tipped over, and slammed my head hard right before I came into Pit Row (where all the other people watch). This is a picture of Chris yelling "Go Faster!!!" when I came through Pit Row on the first loop. Gotta love the encouragement!

On the second loop, I had fallen behind and had a couple of stalls that put me even farther behind. HIGHLIGHT: I came up a steep hill with no visibility at the top, and piled up into someone who'd crashed at the on the other side (who knows how that happens?). As I was bending over up to pick up my bike, another person ascents the hill and literally RUNS OVER ME, plowing right over my hip and ass! #*$! That little delay pretty much cost me the whole race. Over all, I came in 5th of 11 riders in my class. The Year-End points were just calculated, and I'm still in 2nd place, but only by a mere 100 points... need to UP MY GAME if I'm going to trophy over-all in my class at the end of the yea. The girl that took 1st last race placed again (TNG)- come in nearly 12 minutes ahead of everyone else, she's that good. Grrrr.

Chris did well and trophied 2nd place in his class. Over all, he is still ranked 3rd in his class year-to-date. He had to run a much more grueling course than I did, completing 2 30 mile loops. The second loop was full of massive boulders which riders had to pick their way around technically and aggressively. Chris reports, "The race was hurt-ie" (which means he and his bike got beat-up) and complains that "all his fast stuff fell off his bike" during the race (ie parts).

Here's a clip from his start, which is much meaner and more tough than mine!:

Since Chris trophied, we attended the awards banquet that night where he was awarded, not only a trophy, but a kiss too from the cute trophy girl! Double-grrrr.

Can't wait for the next race:

Sage Rider's National

APRIL 5th in Jericho.

You Must Watch this Video

2008-03-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

This Oprah segment is 11 minutes long, but well worth your time. It is a lecture from a young man who is dying of pancreatic cancer. It'll be your little dose of medicinal reality for the day, aiding to help you re-focus and recalibrate your priorities. Wow.

"How to Live Your Life" by Rany Pausch

Randy Pausch reprising his Last Lecture

When it Rains...

2008-03-01T04:35:00.001-08:00

...It freakin' pours. Well, I got laid off from my job yesterday. Shocker, eh? It was to me, considering I was recruited to Symphony Homes only 7 months ago from another home builder. I am not suprised by, nor do I resent the business owner's need to perform more lay-offs considering market conditions in the Real Estate industry right now.. By 12:30 yesterday afternoon, my few belongings were packed and all the great dreams I had for myself and my career were left with the key to the building. I couldn't even cry about it - still can't - because if you know me at all, you'll understand that my life is ever presenting me with new challenges to face and new opportunities to become someone entirely different (about every 2 years.) I think this is a genetic fatalistic pre-disposition I was encoded with from my natural mother...

I could bitch and moan about the whole circumstance, but what does that get me?

I am scared because I specialize in Residential New Construction and that market segment is most affected by unstable economic conditions - so my integration into a new job in this industry isn't looking too probable - or stable.

Most forecasts for the 2008 year predict a slow year across the nation; many people are calling this the "Clean Out Year" for the Utah market insomuch that many investor's inventory homes which flooded and rode the market spur during the 90's-2006 will be forced to reduce prices, bring the average median home price down (thank God) and increasing the number of home buyers in the 20-30 year-old demographic. Most projectors are saying that home builder's who target that demographic of buyer will survive the weather of 2008.

Most predictors also hold that, despite the recent release of the Economy Boost Package from Government, "cheaper-priced markets are more likely to be healthier, as loan activity is less constrained. Still, no market finds itself in a boom, and discussing which markets are the healthiest 'is a relative term.'" -Forbes.com

Check these websites out if you want more prediction information:

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008011605?OpenDocument

http://theutahrealestateblog.com/2008/01/2008-utah-real-estate-forecast.html

http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/01/property-stable-homes-forbeslife-cx_mw_1001realestate.html

http://utahhomesforsale.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/utah-housing-market-outlook-is-it-a-good-time-to-buy/

Point of all of this is: everything goes full-circle, and right now we are on the bottom half of the cirlce. Some sophisticates report the market will pick up in 2009. Some crazies say this is the beginning of the most significant recession we've seen since the early century, and that it'll take a decade or so to process. Let's all hope for high job-growth and clean-up in the mortgage lending industry - or else everyone in the Construction/Real Estate world will be applying for jobs as Order Cooks at Denny's.

I'm trying not to mope or get down about my circumstance, though I'm hurt and mad and scared. I found the tallest, steepest hillside I could find in Farmington yesterday and made myself run up it as hard and as fast as I could until I just didn't want to run up it anymore. Then I made myself run down and up again. It was therapeutic, the physical realization that it's just gonna have to hurt like hell to get back up to the top, and all I can do is try to get there as fast and as hard as I can.

More than ever, I am thankful to have a wonderful man beside me who has chosen to saddle up and ride the most dangerous and dynamic "roller coaster" portion of my life with me for the last couple years, who supports and (sometimes crazily)believes in what I am capable of building with our future. He is my strength and my best friend. Without him, and the support of my family, I'd have just flung myself off that damn mountain yesterday, LOL.
I love you, Chris.

As for the rest of you, if you know of any career pportunities available, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll post again when I find something new.

Maybe this is my opportunity to "re-calibrate"my expectations of myself and really "re-choose" the direction I want my life to take. Maybe it's my opportunity to re-evaluate the resentments I've held for not doing the things I felt I should have.

Sounds like it's time to find and fall in-love with my old dreams again...

This is one of my favorite pieces; makes me appreciate the dreamers and risk-takers:

"Homage to the Divers"
A love poem at the bottom
of the sea, in a treasure ship,
reachable, yes,
we must believe reachable.
In an air-tight container
somewhere in the captain's quarters,
somewhere off Hatteras,
written by...
And a key in a skeleton's hand
and the whole world up above
diving for it,
some with all the equipment,
some holding their breath.

-Stephan Dunn, "A Circus of Needs"

Book Report - Snow Flower & the Secret Fan

2008-02-26T22:53:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago, a series of pictures were floating around the email world which captured the essence of the ancient practice of Chinese footbinding. These images have remained with me because of the initial horror I felt at first sight.

Ah, the magic of perspective. I was inspired to read this book after viewing these images. I've learned so much from introspection and reflection the book forced evaluate of in respect to the ancient gender-based literal and subjective concepts the still hold ground today-nearly 200 years later. This book really forced me to re-evalute the MOTIVE and reason behind the strong "roles" women play as emotional keepers of the "domestic" (ie the "inner")world, versus the men's phsycially strong roles as providers/protectors and controllers of the "outter world."

I am not easily convinced or persuaded to condone stereotyping or the notion of gender-based roles, however this book really magnified the POWER women have and the IMPORTANCE every woman's unique "femaleness."

One of the strangest concepts was this practice of footbinding - in which women's mothers were responsible for soaking their daughters feet in roots, herbs, and urine then wrapping them as tightly as they can in a series of shrinking wraps until the bones softened and eventually broke, in which case the bones could literally be "folded" under the largest toe. The goal was to create a foot no larger than a thumb (look at the size of the shoe in this picture.) The smaller the foot, the more desirable the women (in fact, her foot was more "secret" and sexual than her actual private areas.) The more desirable the women, the higher the price was paid to her family for the right to marry. A woman's future was completely determined by the size and shape of her feet, insomuch her entire financial destiny and prodigy would be determined by it. The brutal beauty was each woman gladly accepted the fate of the broken and tiny feet, the years of pain and agony (which is grimly detailed in the book), because from it they had the power to completely (literally) haped their entire future. In a world of so much uncertainty and fatalistic control-based thinking, they harnessed the 1 thing they could control and used it improve their personal circumstance: their bodies.

Also, this book also examines the importance of the female's NEED to communicate as an outlet, and the significance of female friends.

All in all, the book is written well with many solid historical references and fantastic flow. This is an easy read - only 260(ish) pages, and well worth the time.

Take a weekend and read it!

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

2008-02-26T22:06:00.001-08:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Morph - Genology - Family history

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

2008-02-26T21:40:00.001-08:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Morph - Roots - Vintage photos

All Work No Play...

2008-02-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

I started yet another job (this makes 3). I've been fortunate this last month to have had the opportunity to represent some Buyers with the purchase of a new home in Kaysville. So that MONSTROSITY of a process (yes, we toured over 30 homes in 2 days... everywhere from Lehi to Layton) absorbed a lot of my time this last month. I LOVE Real Estate - and it was a nice little "breather" to get back into the Sales field a little after a year+ break managing different aspects of the construction world. I was born with that "sales stuff" in me; it's just who I am- and I'll probably go back into sales when the market changes. We will be closing on their new home in 3 weeks - woo hoo!

Also, I just started a new part-time job at Lakeview Hospital working 2 nights/1 weekend day a week in the Lab as a Lab Tech. My primary responsibilities are associated with the Phlebotomy Department & Microbiology. I draw a lot of blood, process drug tests, prepare Micobiology samples, process readings, chart test results, do a lot of random stuff with the ER and am kinda the go-between for the Blood Bank, Pathology, Microbiology, and Chemistry.

My first night was last week - What an eye opener. Not having worked in the Lab for nearly 6 years, it was a challenge (to say the least!) to remember all the terminology and abriviations for processes. Everything is a code or acronym?! And, of course, the people I work with are "too busy" to explain anything well- it's just do-or-die around there, literally!

I'm still really nervous about it. I have to go back to work tonight and train with my Latina ornery co-worker, lucky me.

On a positive note: the extra cash will be great and being back in the hospital is refreshing. I love the blood and that kind of stress. I like the technical aspects of it all and having to remember all the interesting stuff I learned in all my Medical classes!

So, when I'm not at Symphony Homes, selling a house, at the hospital, or at a race, I'm at home eating, sleeping, or cleaning. Feels like life is racing at about 210 MPH. Good thing I'm an adrenaline junky and enjoy the speed!

Mesquite, NV Buzzards Race Jan. 2008

2008-01-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

So we both made it back in 1 piece from Mesquite, Nevada from our first Desert Race of the 2008 season!

I have 3 words for you: DEEP, WET, SAND!!!! UG!

RE-CAP:
Since we we showed up almost too-late (8:30 in the morning?!) I was super-rushed to get dressed, signed in, and on the start line. By the time the flag was up, I hadn't even had time to warm up or think about what I was doing?! Since this is my 1st (participating) desert race, ever, it was probably a good thing I had to just get in and do it!

Our race (beginners) was roughly five 6 mile loops. The course was 1/2 motocross track and 1/2 tight twisted sand whoops, rock hills, and deep, slushy sandy flats. For the most part, you had to put it in a high gear and just keep it pinned, or else the front-end would dive and you'd sink and fall over in shin-deep sand. Ya, I learned that from the 1st loop.... after picking the bike up (no joke) like 28 times, I was freakin' exhausted. Me, and all the other "beginners" had a whole troop of sweepers to come find us, dig us out, and put us back in an up-right position... it was funny and frustrating!

I got some pretty bad bruises- one the size of a freakin' grape fruit on my right thigh where I hit a rock or my handle bars or something?! and I can barely move today~! LOL. I feel like I've done about 300 push-ups!

I placed 2nd overall in the Beginning Women's class this race - the girl that beat me is a seasoned rider, and from here on out will be referred to Tattoo Neck Girl (since she had a gnarly tat on the back of her neck and I spent most of the race looking at it, or burring my face in sand....) So, T.N. G. is officially my season arch-nemesis!

Here's a lil' diddy of the Chris' Amature Class race start - sorry the film is so wobbly:

Chris did wells too, though we're not sure yet how he placed overall, as they hadn't calculated places when we left. He'd moved up to the Amature class from the Novice, and the riders in this class are MUCH more refined! He said this is one of the only races he considered quitting mid-stream in. He was BEET red when he came across the finish and soaking wet with sweat! He has a bone-bruise on his right knee from hitting something as well!?!

But man, to watch those guys rush the start at 50 MPH, slide into a massive jump and then clear a triple- some of them hitting 15+ feet in the air- is UNBELIEVABLE!!! Again, the sand for these guys was so deep and slushy and hard to control that they all came in exhausted.

Many said this was the hardest race they've ever done in the Desert Racing Series. Good thing it was my 1st so I have nothing to compare it too!

It occurred to me, as I was cursing up a storm at one massive tumbleweed I was entrapped in, that I finally understand why this no-money, dirty, hot, dangerous sport is addicting and even - yes - "rewarding" : there are very few challenges in life that CONDENSE into one, brief, daunting OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE TO YOURSELF WHAT YOU ARE REALLY MADE OF based on inward commitment, will, endurance, and strength; experiences that lace you up with endorphins and adrenaline, that leave you feeling both powerless and laughable, humble and empowered at the end of the day - experiences that make you realize you have to earn character. And, when you are drenched head-to-toe in sand and stuck under a tumbleweed in the middle of the damn desert, you realize no one is standing there with a score card to gauge your "character" - you are out there to prove what you are made of to no one, but yourself. And I'm guessing that there really never is a "finish" line when it comes to that kind of challenge, which is why we'll all keep doing it year after year.

Unless you ride, you'll never understand, and that's ok. Think we're crazy and love us all the same when we come home broken and dusty. We will appreciate the support.

Next race- February 23nd in St. George.

(PS: be jealous. We left the Black Jack tables up $875!)

USRA Awards Banquet Pics

2008-01-18T20:21:00.000-08:00

We went to the USRA Award Banquet last weekend where Chris was awarded 2nd place in his class for the 2007 season. Here's a pic of all 3 placers, Paul, John & Chris.

After the banquet, we had a bunch of people from the Desert Racing scene over for a hell-bender. Here's a shot with the Crew (Psychoxer, Cornholio, DesertChick111, RM Chick #68, Hot Daniel & Co., Desertrat222 & Melissa, and Slave1 and I.)

Our Family

2008-01-18T14:44:00.000-08:00

Ok - I'm gettin' mad!

Now that I'm all over this whole "blogging" thing, I'm stumbling all over long-lost friends and their profiles, and well they are all full of smiling little kids and families! I guess it's pulling on the one (tiny) heart-string I have for motherhood.

So, I'm going to post my own version of "motherhood" at my house and show of my "kids" and family!

This is Keno, our German Shorthair (4 yrs). He is grounded and tied to the bumper of our camper because he ran off into the wilderness while camping and didn't come home all night. Later, Chris found that some Hippies had captured him, holed him up in a tent, and fed him steak! I love this dog.

This is Shet, short for "Shetland Sheep Dog" (2 yrs.) I know, it's not really very original. I had a hard time naming him. He has a very- unique- personality and pretty much can't be bothered with people. He "herds" Keno around the yard all day and his loyalties are 100% with him. We thought he was a "dud" at first, as he didn't bark or prance or chase or fetch or anything. It was concerning. Chris, consequentially, nicknamed him "Shitty Dog" and well, as horrible as it is, it's kinda funny. Funny thing is, he's very mellow and sweet, and the fourth link in our crew.

This is Lincoln (6 mo.), our newest addition (Chris' birthday present in October.) He is a seal-point Siamese Kitty (I know, who thought I'd like a damn cat?!) But he is adorable. Freakin' adorable. His favorite game is "hide behind the corner and jump out, spread eagle, as someone walks around a corner." Chris cuddles up with him like a baby - he is, by far, the most pampered ever!

(Lincoln was Baby Jesus for Christmas.)

Prepin' for the New Desert Season

2008-01-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

We are super excited to be on our way to Mesquite, NV on the 26th of January for our first race of the season! Chris has a new bike and I have new gear, and well, I'm just excited to be participating this year besides just playing Pit Crew and Camp Cook!

Here's a glimps of one flight of races from a race last year near Jericho. Some race starts have 3oo hundred racers lined up across the horizon, amp'd and ready to rock.

It's a terrifying and magnificent sight to watch those guys (and girls!) battle it out for nearly 100 miles in 5th gear pinned with zero visability across the desert scape! You've gotta have some serious guts to hang. I'm super proud of him - and excited my life-long little girl dream to fall in-love with a motorcycle racer has come true! ;-)

Check it out!

2008 New Years Resolutions

2008-01-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

To start off the new year well, I'm made my lil' diddy of new year resolutions:

The classic: loose weight.
Don't be so stubborn and learn when NOT to argue... right.
Complete the WHOLE dang desert racing season and place in at least one race
Run a 1/2 marathon (13 miles) down Ogden Canyon in May
Run the Breast Cancer 5k in May
Ride the Antelope Island Midnight Bike Ride in May (30 miles at midnight, I think)
Complete the back yard landscaping - quite the lofty goal...
Learn AutoCAD better for work and sell 2 homes on the side
Learn how to cook Prime Rib better. Grrr, prime rib and chicken fried steak. :-(

It's funny, mostly, I just want to "be ontop of things" on a daily basis - ya know, wake up on-time, clothes ironed, to work on-time, eat healthy and cook great meals, money in the bank, vacations planned, presents mailed on birthdays, fuel in the car... the usual. Seems like life just gets so crazy busy - and the time we do have isn't always spent so well. I wish I could take all the hours I've poorly spent and re-focus them into hours spent writting a novel or organizing a college charity fund for Foster kids.... but if I can just "get on-top" this year, then maybe next year will lend itself to more "lofty" goals and aspirations.