Raging Rivers and Cowboys

Yesterday I did a couple of things that I have never done before. In fact, this summer seems to be full of things I haven't done before--I have gone to Europe, hiked a mountain (in the Alps mind you), and taken on a few new hobbies--running, tennis, and golf. Ok, so I'm not really good at any of those things...but it has been fun learning.

Anyway, yesterday started off as a nice day outside and I was excited for the adventure my friends and I had planned. We were going to go tubing down the Provo river. A few people had warned me that the water would be freezing...(which makes sense since the water comes from the snow that is still melting from the top of the mountains). And I was also warned that because there has been so much snow and rain this year, the river has been a little bit more raging than normal. But we decided to go anyway!

At first, I didn't think the water was too bad. Sure it was cold, but it was definitely tolerable--especially with the sun shinning down on us. But we weren't even half way down the river when dark clouds covered the sun! There went our one source of warmth! I should also mention this was no lazy, relaxing trip down a calm river. A lot of the time was spent paddling with our arms trying to keep away from the rocks and trees. There were a couple of times that my legs got scratched up by the trees and bushes on the side...not to mention my knee got banged up pretty bad by a big log.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any colder or worse....the thunder started! And up above the mountains I saw a big lightning bolt! Yep...here we are in the ONE place you don't want to be when there is lightning! I started to make myself go a little faster so that I could just get out of the cold and then things got even worse because it started to downpour and the winds were blowing like crazy. The rain was coming down so hard that it actually hurt!!!

We finally made it back to the Float Trip trailer. It took everything in my cold, numb hands to unbuckle my life jacket. Then we ran for the car to grab our towels and warm up. The rain had stopped and by the time we got back to Provo, the sun was out again! What an adventure! And would I do it again? Most definitely...but I will be sure to check the weather!


Left to Right: Charlotte, Brian, Me, Mark, Shauna, Curtis, Becky and Josh

After that adventure we went back to Becky's for a BBQ! Then Brian asked me if I had ever been to a Rodeo before? "Nope!..I sure haven't!" So, he told me about the Lehi Roundup Rodeo that night. Fortunately, another storm that rolled through that evening cleared up just in time for us to keep our plans. I don't know that I have ever been around so many cowboys!

Brian and Laura explained some of the events to me as I watched on with awe and interest in what would make someone want to do this sport. I found myself almost cheering for the little calves that were getting roped around the neck to get away. And these guys have to be just crazy to ride a bull that appears to be raging mad! But despite how crazy I though they were, I must admit the rodeo was quite entertaining and fun to watch! YeeeHawww!


From left to right: Katie, Laura, Brian, and Me at my first ever Rodeo!

It's Official!

So, I looked in the mail today and what did i find? My diploma for my Masters degree in Accounting/Tax! What a wonderful sight! A symbol of hard work and accomplishment...



All those long hours of studying and countless group projects (see below) have finally paid off! I am now considered to be qualified to go into the workforce and start a real job.



It has been a long road...(what? like 18 years of school including Kindergarten!)...and it drove me (and brian) a little crazy...



But the hard work was worth it! And it has been a fun ride. I have learned a lot throughout the college years in many aspects of life. And although it will be nice to not have to cram for exams and pull all nighters for those last minute assignments and Dr. Gardner's crazy tax exams, there is a lot I will miss about being a student. Mostly though, I will miss my friends and the relationships that we've built over the years. It has been a blast.


(left to right: Brian, Julie, John, Me, Ben, Camille, Becky)

But there will be more adventures and friends to meet! All I can say is....



I'm done and dang happy about it!

Who invented Spyware and what the heck was he thinking!??!

Have you ever felt the urge to do this to your computer???



Cause...I have! This past week my computer has become overtaken with Spyware and Adware!!! And I'm about ready to throw the dang thing across the room! I am so sick of websites popping up every couple of seconds!!! At the beginning of the week it started off with one website that wouldn't leave me alone. Now if I leave my computer for a few minutes, I come back to a pop-up infested screen!!!! And the crap just won't go away!

I have downloaded 4 different spyware/adware removers, and although they seem to be finding tons of things to delete...it just keeps coming back!!! I would really like to know who invented Spyware and what in the world was he thinking??? If I knew were he lived, I would hunt him down and bang his head against a wall or something! (Ok...not really! But it would be tempting.) He is making my life and the lives of millions of others miserable!! All for what? So, that advertisements can continually pop-up on your screen!?!! Like I’m going to read the advertisements!!!! I mean sheesh!

Well, I would rant and rave a lot more...but the pop-ups are coming and it's making it near impossible to do anything! Time to run yet another scan!!!!

"Jack Bauer Makes Me Happy!" and he's even Canadian! (Bonus!!!)

For those of you who don't know, I've become what you might want to call a little addicted to the television series 24! I haven't EVER been hooked to a TV show like I am to 24. At first I really didn't want to give the show a chance and I had a hard time believing that the show would be able to keep you interested with the entire season being 1 day. But after seeing how much my friends liked it, I finally decided to give it a chance--and boy was I wrong! My roommate Kim put it best when she said that the show is like "T.V. crack!" It is just that good!

I just recently finished season 2--which is when I decided that Jack Bauer is simply amazing! As soon as the season ended, I called my friend Brian (one of the friends that got me hooked) to tell him how excited I was to start watching season 3...And one of the first things out of my mouth was "Jack Bauer Makes me Happy!"

What is even better about Jack Bauer is that he is played by Kiefer Sutherland--A fellow Canadian! And because we Canadians stick together...He definitely deserved a shout out in my blog!



Here is Kiefer Sutherland, AKA Jack Bauer (or as I like to call him--"Superman"), between two RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officers while holding his star at the Canadian Walk of fame in Toronto on Sunday June 5, 2005.

It's also worth mentioning that Elisha Cuthbert (who plays Kim Bauer on 24) is ALSO Canadian! Not only is she Canadian, but she apparently attended one of my high school's rivals on the South Shore of Montreal.

New to the Blog

Well, I finally decided to get my own blog! I've been admiring my friend Charlotte's blog for the past little while. She always has great entries and stories to tell! I don't think I will be nearly as creative...but I thought I would give it a shot anyway! So, here I am!