I got ben folds on my radio right now

I can finally say I've seen ben folds live--unfortunately without his five, no reunion show. {check number eight off the list!} let me recap the ben folds live near misses:

instance number one: my first counting crows concert oh so many years ago. ben folds five was touring with them as the opening act. adam duritz gets sick and the show is rescheduled. by the time adam duritz and the boys make it back to salt lake city, ben and his gang are no longer on the tour. at this time I didn't truly realize what a sad, sad thing that was.

instance number two: ben folds five was playing at the Big Ass Show (which will now be referred to as the BASH, for all you young, sensitive-eyed readers). I was going to Snow College at the time, but just happened to be up in SLC for the weekend because we had a soccer game against SLCC. perfect. I'd play some soccer and then head over to the show, I'd get to see ben folds and all would be happy. too bad that's not how it went down. I was going over to the BASH with my dear friend and teammate, cyndi morris. we had to make a quick stop at her sister's house first. that quick stop didn't end up being so quick. by the time we got to the fairgrounds, ben folds had just ended. I was devastated in my heart. he was really the only band I wanted to see.

instance number three: mr ben folds was playing a free show in some little club downtown. I found out the. day. after.

yeah, so can you see why it became my life's mission to see this man? so many missed opportunities.

I hadn't realized just how long I've loved ben folds. ten years. quite possibly eleven. how has it been that long? each song he played from the ben folds five era just took me back to the day. each album reminds me of such a specific time in my life. it was fun to revisit that. and I loved the sneak peak into his new album. oh yeah, and did I mention he puts on a fun, fun show?

now if only something could be done about tall people. they should not be allowed.

the night started with a little I *heart* sushi and ended with a little I *heart* ben folds. thank you, birds, for sharing in the magic.

overcoming mountains

sometimes life puts obstacles in my path at the most inopportune times. but for every mountain there is a miracle. I just need the patience to see it through to the top. because if there is one thought that I have really taken to heart lately it is this:

you are stronger than you know.

image: thoos
words: robert h. schuller

rockin' the pink!

ali, the first female biggest loser {video clip}

remember my favorite show? the biggest loser? well, I don't know what I'll do with myself on tuesday nights (besides being able to go to bed at a decent hour so I can wake for the early am swimteam) because now it's over.

but don't you see why this is the best television show on these days? it is transforming people! it is inspiring people! {click HERE for all the inspiration. check out mark he looks fantastic too. oh and roger!} seriously, while I was watching the finale last night, I just couldn't help but feel this overwhelming sense of happiness for these people. they've reclaimed their lives. it's truly amazing. and everyone looks. so. good. especially ali. she is my hero.

she and her mother were kicked off on episode 4, I do believe. not because they lost the least amount of weight, but because of game play. as ali left the elimination room she told everyone she was going to be the biggest loser. bold statement from a girl who just got voted off. but with a twist of the game, all eliminated contestants were invited back to the biggest loser campus for one final weigh in. one man and one woman would be invited back to the game. ali and mark won. ali then proceeded to kick everyone's trash in future weigh ins. even the guys. she was a rock star that fought for what she wanted.

she is so inspiring to me! seriously. I wish I could be her best friend. because I think we would be best friends. she has such a determination and drive. I truly believe that she can do anything she puts her mind to. anything. and that means beating out all the big guys on the biggest loser. {remember when kelly and brittany were whining because they felt it was impossible to beat the guys? all the cards were stacked against them? yeah, well ali comes back on the scene and proves it can be done. and she continued to prove it week after week}

she lost almost half her body weight, looks super toned + fit, and can finally reclaim her true athlete self. she is amazing.

I hope to see her on the triathlon scene someday. she'd probably kick my butt.

a tasty five-k

you all know how much I love doughnuts. and you know how I love to run. why not put them together? it is the doughnut run '08.

for every doughnut you eat, time is taken off your overall 5K finish time. there are eight "aid stations." you can eat as many doughnuts as you want at each one. but please don't purge (intentionally or not); it only counts if you keep it down. sounds like fun, no?

sign me up for the doughnut run '09! who's in for a road trip to iowa?!

{check out steve in a speedo's full race report. his was an epic adventure. not to mention he ate fifteen doughnuts and won the thing.}

after all the dreamin'

first of all, can I just tell you about my dreams? slightly bizarre. . .

[somewhere in the half-light of saturday morning. right before my eighteen mile run.]

it was marathon morning. I didn't seem all that prepared. like I didn't even have my favorite socks! (you know, the ones with the L and the R on the toes) the ones I have been planning to race in because they're probably the thinnest ones I own. so I had to use someone else's socks. luckily they were the ones with the L and the R on the toes. I finally got myself over to the race and had to find my pace group. I found the leader and there was only one other runner in the group. we must've started the race, but the other guy just seemed to disappear. it was just me and the pace group leader. for some reason--and this is where it starts to really get weird--we went to my parents house (you know, in utah. nowhere close to north dakota!) and had scripture study with my family. scripture study?! that took a while and after it was done we went into my parents kitchen and mr pace group guy started showing me all these little trinkets that he had and was trying to give to me. then I realized, hey, wait a minute! we're supposed to be running a race here. I'm trying to qualify! we'll never make it in time! pure panic. and it's like the guy didn't even really seam to care. yeah. so I'm freaking out, thinking how fast are we going to have to run to make up this time?!

I was in that state of half-consciousness, wondering if I ever finished. if I qualified for boston or not. and then I slipped into my next dream. . .

I was with katie holmes and tom cruise. you know, of tomkat fame. oh, and there little baby, suri. in their house. cleaning their toilet. I was mostly hanging out with katie. we didn't want to disturb tom because it was apparent that he wasn't a nice guy. like I was a little scared for katie, like maybe he had threatened her life at some point. like there was that unspoken tension between them. it was a weird vibe. and why was I cleaning tomkat's toilet, you might be wondering? I have no idea. I should've just made that little miss katie holmes scrub that bowl herself.

now when I woke up I still couldn't shake that feeling. . . that slight panic, wondering if I ever qualified or not. and I was also wondering why tomkat made an appearance at all. pete thinks it's because I'm still so bitter that she ever thought she could just up and run the boston marathon because she's a celebrity. (or was that really just a rumor? a publicity rouse?) people have to earn that right, missy! people like me, so just back off!!

*phew!*

okay, so now all my psycho-analysis readers, analyze me! do you think my dreams mean anything in particular? are they even related? weigh in. the best interpretation wins a prize.*

*prize yet to be determined, but will be super cool. obviously.

finding friday: the script

Chris Bonser with the Utah
Highway Patrol association
if sec How are you this morning
Good!
I know your a busy
man
But we're putting together the
next issue of utah sate
trooper magazine. it's something
we've put together twice a year
for the past 12 years) It's a widely distributed
magazine sent to over 30,000
businesses and 20,000
residence, it's also distributed
on capitol hill

oh man, who doesn't do this all the time? you've got an important phone call to make so you write out your full script. you know, important things you want to cover; phone numbers, addresses, main talking points. everything you want to remember. it always sucks, though, when the convo doesn't go as planned. and you're left to ad lib. yikes! that's why I just avoid the phone altogether.

march 15th | sunday cliffs | snowbird

this is my ski bum husband. isn't he hot?