I'm Bloated!

The Wakefield's came up for a visit this last week. It's been great to hang out and be around them again. And I've eaten an enormous amount of food since they've been here! Jayton and I went to the temple on Friday morning (I took a little time off of work). After that we went for a run up in Cedar Hills. I took a couple weeks off of running due to a nagging neck/back/shoulder injury (I think I will forever be susceptible to injuries due to the bike accident). We ran by the golf course, down a huge hill, which meant we had to run back up it!! Ugh. Man, my legs were hurting bad. We decided we would all meet up later.

I took Abby out for lunch at The Italian Place. I love the steak and everything sandwiches. Love them. Not just a liking or partiality, but true love. I want to carry a picture of a sandwich in my wallet type love. We split a bag of salt & vinegar chips and had a cherry Coke. We hung out, went to the Hobby Lobby and had a fun time. Abby rocks.

Well, we did all meet up at Brick Oven for dinner. The Grover's, Frandsen's, Wakefield's, and even the Hanks' came along (you know, my daughter and son-in-law). We had a great time, laughed, were loud and finally left and drove back here to our place. I drove with Brad because my little wife had to stay on campus for a test review. Finals, you know. Anyway, Brad and I started laughing at the restaurant @ 12, that's the name of the place. Chinese take out. So, what, you start throwing up @ 12? That led to other topics and finally to a discussion of how when I was about 12 and came to the realization that Loni Anderson uses the bathroom?!?! And then Brad says "Yeah, Loni's probably had to light a match a time or two." We started laughing so hard we had tears. Classic.

Teresa took her Calculus final on Saturday, and just as I thought, she got a 90! She is awesome. I am so proud of her for doing the math thing. It has been a hectic semester for her and there has been a lot of stress around the home front, but understandably so. She has also been taking an economics class. Good stuff.

Jayton and I ran around the streets here in Orem on Saturday. He always says I am trying to kill him, but my legs were extremely sore and I could barely run.

So we ate out again at Macaroni Grill. That is where the photo is from. One thing that really stinks about the Droid phone is the camera is a big piece of crap and takes terrible photos, especially in low lighting. Anyway, one thing I don't understand about the Macaroni Grill... the are always soooooo SLOW!!! Good grief, there was three other groups of people there, and it took FOREVER to get anything! Heavens. We thought about walking out a few times because we couldn't find our waiter. The food, and especially the bread (and dipping it in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar) is delicious. Teresa and I split a dish. It was real fun to just hang out again and laugh. Teresa and Beth both got the lemon cream cake. Yummy, and I'm not a lemon cake fan- hard to believe, I know.

We did eat Cafe Rio the next night. We all got our food then came over here to eat. It was rowdy and fun. Chelsea is done with school and has moved back home, so her stuff was all over the front room. Teresa, Madalyn and I all shared a chili roast salad. Chelsea helped Beth with hers. I even had some of Oliver's black bean. Yummy. Man, my cholesterol is going to shoot up! Good thing I started running again to try and offset the calories.

Today for work we went to a meeting up in Salt Lake City, at Sizzler. Salad bar, lots of fruit. But I did have a couple skewers of the shrimp. And then there was tonight- we went to Sakura so they could all eat sushi. Teresa ordered the chicken teriyaki and I just got a bowl of fried rice. Well, the Frandsen's and Wakefield's all ate their sushi and we waited and waited for our food. When it came, the rice was super shiny and extremely oily, and Teresa's chicken was waaaaay over cooked and dry and nasty. Our waiter just says, Sorry. So we spoke to the owner. Needless to say, we are never going back there, ever. Osaka is our Japanese food destination.

We went to Farr's for them to all eat ice cream. I just had a few samples. Holy cow, good stuff. I want to bring a Dixie Cup with me and when they ask if I want a sample cup I can pull out my cup and say "Got one!"

So, the Wakefield's are on their way home, and we miss them already. Stupid Wakefield's. Jeeze, why did they have to move? We hope Jayton can buy a business around here. Oh well.

And there you have it. Bloated! You know, I mowed the lawn for the first time last week. I'm not excited about that weekly ritual. It is still quite cool and real wet. I hate this time of year because I am ready for it to be nice and warm, but not in Utah, nooo.
And where the heck did all the dandelions come from? Good heavens!!

And why is gas so expensive? Back a couple years ago we hit the high prices when barrels of oil hit $!40, so why are we paying even more when barrels are only $112? So what does Obama do? He's going to get a committee to check it out. What?! Here, I'll help... LET US GET OUR OWN OIL!

Okay, well, the Giants are generally do pretty good so far. Blew the first few games, but I think they needed to shake off the World Series hangover. LA Dodger fans showed how awesome they are by putting an innocent Giants fan in the hospital with brain damage. Quality LA fans.

Happy Easter!

It Was Work!

So I was able to go to a conference down in Palm Desert, CA last week for work. We stayed in the J W Marriott resort. Holy Dooley that place is huge and awesome! Four pools and three jacuzzi's, and, yes, I jumped in all of them! I flew down with a co-worker and was freaked out to see what seemed to be countless golf courses surrounded by homes! Lots of pools, too. I was excited to get off the plane and step into the 86 degree warmth. We met up with another co-worker who had taken his whole family on a vacation.

Monday morning around 6:20 I went for a 5 mile run. Perfect 65 degree weather and a beautiful pink sky! The conference was really good, too! The first keynote speaker was an economics professor from New Mexico State University. He was like Doc Brown from Back To The Future! I don't know if I agreed with all his thoughts, but he was fun. Lots of good discussions and speakers. Crappy lunches, though.

After the conference sessions we hung out at the pools and got some needed sun. Yes, a Utah winter makes one very pasty! We were invited by a vendor to a dinner at another golf resort. We got shuttled over and were taken to the bar. You know, living here in Utah and working at BYU I just don't see a whole lot of drinking going on, but at these events with an open bar, people are just throwing them down! Crazy. But, they had phenomenal hors devours! We adjourned to a room for a beautiful steak and fish dinner. I hate fish, so the steak was what I ate. And can someone please tell me why asparagus affects the urinary track with that smell?!?!?! Oye!

Another early morning run on Tuesday. It's been a long while since I have sweat while running in the morning outside! Lovely.
We had another economist speak, but this one was more realistic on what's taking place in the economy. Fun topics and speakers, another subpar lunch, but more pool time! We also had a big conference banquet. Holy cow, people were getting hammered.

The best part of the dinner was this luscious dessert! Chocolatey and rich. Ed ate two of them! Anyway, pretty sweet gig. I had a blast and it was so nice to be in the warm weather.

The cab driver sure took the long way to the Palm Springs airport!

And I must say, I have seen enough old, leathery, wrinkled skin to last a lifetime!

Of course when we landed in Utah, it was cold, rainy and windy. Welcome home. March and April are tough months for me; I am programmed for Spring being nice and temperatures going up. Here you get snow into April. I think it snowed last May. Ugh. Anyway, it really was a work trip. I could handle those more often.

Like Zeppelin Says...It's Been a Long Time

So I know it's been months and months since I wrote anything. Call it lazy, lack of interest, being spooked about who's stealing my info, heck, pick an excuse, it doesn't matter. Brad Frandsen made a comment about not writing on his anymore with "There's no instant gratification like on Facebook." Well screw that, I'm gonna write about what has been happening since July!

The Wakefield's came in August for a visit. We laughed that they stopped here before going to Beth's folks' house! We loved having them around and of course Jayton and I went running. We always eat out when they are here. Brad, Jayton, and I went shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond and were cracking up at all the items in there. We kept saying "I get that one for a white-elepant gift!" I think the best was the men's bikini shaver. Makes you shudder just thinking about it, eh?

Abby was in the marching band. It's sad that they have to combine with their rival school because Mountain View doesn't have enough band nerds. Oh well. She plays the xylophone so she doesn't have to really march. Classic. And those uniforms! Whoa! But bless her little heart for doing it and she has a blast, so I guess that's all that matters.

Teresa climbed in the saddle at the Texas Roadhouse so we could sing happy birthday to her. She's a babe.

I couldn't believe that the San Francisco Giants were hanging in there throughout September and suddenly had a death match with the Padres. We were stressing out but the playoffs were great! I had the games on at work and was yelling in my office. But they kicked butt, even though no one thought they would.

So, in October the big event was running the Ragnar Relay Race in Las Vegas. Carl talked me into doing it. Our half of the team drove down together, listening to the Giants vs. Phillies as we went. 3 of the dudes stayed at a really nice place and then Carl, Brad, and I stayed in a glorified double-wide. It was one of those situations that you really didn't want to touch the sheets, but did anyways.
We got up, picked up our other dudes and headed out to the Valley of Fire in Nevada. Since this was my first Ragnar, I didn't know what to expect. Lots of people dressed up, and I'm not going to repeat the names of some of the teams, but they were nasty. Brad and I had to take a photo with this lady. I kept wondering "How in the world is she going to run?! Not just the boots, but I figured she would fall over from being top-heavy!" Turns out she was just a helper at the starting line.
I was runner 4. While waiting I saw Jeff Wise, a guy I worked with for years in the foundry world. We ran the same legs. Well, I had a 6 mile run and was surprised at how many hills I had to run up! But I passed 25 people. After our legs of the race, we were at the Lowes Resort. Sweet! We even watched the Rangers beat the Yankees as we hung out in a cabana! If only we had the monkey butlers bringing us food and drinks, it would have been perfect! My second run was at 11-ish at night and was only 3.5 miles. I did it in 22 minutes and passed another 13 people, including a 12 year boy who about pooped himself when I ran passed him.
We slept, or tried to, at a school in some rinky-dink town. They had a generator blaring and they sprinklers had been on so the grass was wet. We had a tarp, so a few of us threw our sleeping bags down and tried to sleep. About 20 minutes later the sprinklers came back on! Big sprinklers! I stood up and tried to get out of the way but was soaked after one pass! I tried sleeping in our vehicle, but was wet and cold and got maybe an hour or two of sleep. Classic.
The other van had people that weren't runners. When their dude came in, I thought he was going to die! His wife thought so, too. My third run was about 7 miles at 8 in the morning. First mile was on a paved road but then the rest was on a dirt road. That was pretty hectic. But we did it and it was great. The funny part is that all we worry about is making sure we don't have to take a dump when we are on our run! Our team was supposed to be Hot & Runny, but the other group didn't like that, so we ended up with Team Firestorm. I am running the Wasatch Back Ragnar in June with the dudes again. Looking forward to it.

Anyway, when the Giants were one inning away from winning the World Series, I was freaking out! Blooming Wilson always makes it so stressful, but I was excited that they won! A couple of my girls were watching and the tension was horrible! I ran outside and screamed! You need to know, for years and years we went to Candlestick Park, freezing our butts off, just hoping that someday they would be good enough to even make the playoffs! There were games when it looked like maybe 2,000 people were scattered throughout the ball park. Ugh, just so happy that it finally happened.

How about that "Blizzard" that never really made it. Pathetic when the weather people are trying to say "it really was a blizzard..." Shut it.

Carl and I ran the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It was 5 degrees. 5. And the wind was blowing. There weren't as many people as usual... wonder why. I was pretty bundled up and could get loose as I ran. I really hate the start of the race- they leave us all standing there forever, just waiting. Shoot the stinking gun! Running on Center Street past the High School right into the wind, my mouth and part of my face went numb like I had just visited the dentist! My lips swelled a bit! I started wondering, "how fast does frost bite set in?". I tried to run with one hand up covering my face, but that didn't work so well. My hands were hurting and it just all-around sucked! I was 50 seconds slower than the previous year. I wanted to get the hot chocolate they had at the end of the race and pour it on my face and then dump some on my crotch!

We did have a fun Thanksgiving at Carl's house. We kept cutting little slices of the turkey cake to eat, you know, so you don't feel guilty that you're eating so much. And of course we played Sequence. And the women folk cheated as usual. But the best part of the day was the Cowboys lost!!!

The Wakefield's came up again and we had a big party over at Beth's parents place. We had a lot of people there and had a great time. After dinner, we played some minute to win it games. That's a picture of Jayton, Thomas Grover, Sarah Chaffin, and you can't see Ashley Nelson, stacking Little Debi Snack Cakes on their foreheads. They started smashing them to make them stick and all I can think is "AHHH, don't waste them! I'll eat them right off your face!!"
Jeff Wilde gave the best white-elephant gift of all, and I opened it: a model of the women's reproductive organs! Classic. Then Jayton stole it from me!

Christmas was pretty low-key. I love Christmas music and would still be listening to it today, but I fear that someone would beat the tar out of me. Most likely Teresa!

Right before Christmas, the dentist removed the crowns off my front teeth. I've had those baby's since 1984, and they looked it! See, back in 1974 we used to go swimming over at Cupertino High School during the summer. Carl, William, and I went into the locker room where some punky kids had plugged up the drains and had all the showers on. I slipped and landed on my face, chipping my four front teeth. For years I had temporary caps on my teeth, but then as a senior in high school, Dr. Webb, our dentist, ground my teeth down and gave me crowns. So, the photo shows what teeth start looking like after a couple decades of being all cooped up. I was so happy to get my new teeth on Jan 3, 2011!

Teresa got accepted into the Accounting Program at BYU, which is no easy task. I already knew she is brilliant. I guess next fall will be a bit hellish for her. And if mom's not happy, no one's happy. So, we will have to keep lots of chocolate in the house and I will need to learn a few more recipes!

Abby is now 16 and went on a date to a dance! She looked real pretty. I don't know why I am having such a tough time with her growing up, but it has really freaked me out a bit.

So one of my goals is to read 5 books this year. Sounds pretty un-impressive to the everyday man, but I am such a slow reader that it takes forever for me to get through a stinking book! I am reading Broke by Glenn Beck right now. Pretty interesting. Do books on tape count? Hee hee.

How about our awesome president?!?! Good night, he shows no leadership skills. You know, if these idiots wants a socialist society, please move to a different country that has a socialist government. Then again, Wisconsin could be that socialist haven they are looking for. And think of all the government cheese that they could have!

You know, I'm always hungry. Always, just ask my wife, she'll tell you. Tape worm? Possibly.

Well, I can't think anymore. I'm hoping it doesn't take another 7 months to write again.

Fourth and Fifth

Seeing as how the 4th was on the Sabbath, we did the Freedom Run on the 5th. Yesterday we did go to Carl's for some dessert and fireworks. Ivette made a beautiful frozen coconut dessert, I guess it's a Nicaraguan delight. We did all kinds of fireworks (Carl bought the big pack from Costco), but they all seem to do the same thing! Fun, but a cool night!
So this morning we ran the Freedom Run. It was weird not having Jayton there, but I did visit the bushes in his honor. I met up with Austin at the start, but never saw Carl. A couple dudes were dressed like Vikings (and later we saw some Viking girl), but they lasted about 1/2 a block and we lost them. That first mile uphill is brutal, but the heading down University Parkway is sweet. Austin stayed with me for most of the run on University Ave.but he fell behind after 3 miles. We waved at the Billings' as they screamed and yelled for us. I saw Thomas Grover on the corner of Center Street and 900 East.
Same thing, though, at the end... trying to dodge the strollers and walkers and people kinda roaming aimlessly. I thought, by the clock at the finish line, that I had really blown away last years time, but the clock was off by a whole minute! So, I was actually 8 seconds slower than last year. Oh well.
Austin came in about 1 minute after me, Carl about 14 minutes after that. Teresa and the girls got there just in time to get some photos! Classic. Anyway, it was a fun run. And of course, the post-run barfing pictures. That's Carl's running friend, Brad, but he never did vomit!

Shopping Bonanza!

As many of you may know, my wife is a Coupon Queen. Check this deal out---

15 Boxes of Fiber One for just a few dollars!
I'm in heaven.

I love my wife!

Chantel & Austin Get Married!

Last Friday Chantel and Austin got married in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Pretty interesting. Steve Ogden of Ogden Carpets performed the ceremony. Crazy. On Thursday, Austin and I started getting the church ready for the reception. Teresa and Laurie came by and started ironing table clothes.Brenda came over, too. Lots of people filtered in and helped. It was great. Andrea was cracking up as she was tying ribbons on the chairs. So, the candy bar was all set up and looking good, and Brenda had blue teeth from eating a blue raspberry ball! The place looked great.
Beth Wakefield came up with her boys (it was fun to see them again and hear Porter speaking!!!). She was the make-up queen for all the girls. Classic. We really miss having them here and missed Jayton, who was unable to get away from work. Anyway, the Snyder women all looked glamorous. After the ceremony we went out back and took a ton of photos. Jenny, Chantel's bestest girlfriend was there. We love Jenny; she is a crack up. It was pretty fun. We had to wait around for the happy couple to finish, then we met up with everyone down at Mimi's Cafe for lunch. We were all starving, so the dry burger actually tasted well.
The reception was actually really fun. The food consisted of cupcakes and candy! Teresa had lots of people make the cupcakes and they were all delicious!!! Especially the p-nut butter topped ones. Mamma Jamma! It was great to see cousins and relatives. My nephew Taylor sucked down about 100 cupcakes! But, he's a growing boy, so it's all good. We had these old doors as backdrops and Chantel even brought her bike over. It all looked real cool.
When it was time for them to skeedaddle, everyone had bubbles to blow at them as they left. Too bad their car was Seran Wrapped! They finally were able to get inside the car and were off!
We had a lot of folks stay and help clean up. It's amazing how much stuff was left! They didn't really eat any wedding cake, which was delicious, so it has been on our counter for a week. It's like eating a big Suzie Q. Ooh baby. I ate way too much. And Brad's Red Velvet cupcakes. And all the other cupcakes.It's no secret how much I love cake.I can't believe I am going to admit this, but I think I don't want cake for a while.
Anyway, I am putting some of my favorite pictures up. I love the bike pictures.
Can you believe I forgot to put an invitation up at work!? Man, what a moron. My wife asks "How come no one from work came?" Uh, hey, idiot!
So, it's a week later and we still have stuff all around the house. We need a vacation.
Chelsea, you better not be getting married anytime soon!

Cinco and Stuff

So last Monday evening I saw the Frandsen's out for a walk and gave them a shout to come on over. We sat out front in the fading sunshine and had a good chuckle. Rob Clegg came over and we started discussing what we could do for a Cinco de Mayo party. Well, we ended up having it on Cinco de Ocho. But holy cow, what delicious food! Bradley picked up some marinated meat which he threw on the grill, Rob made a boatload of beef enchilada's, and my wife made the yummiest cupcakes I have ever eaten!
The Jazz game was on, so Wes and Trent were freaking out (we could hear them downstairs). We all ate and ate and then had multiple cupcakes. I hurt bad afterward. But it was so worth it.
We played Whoonu and had a great time learning some interesting tidbits about each other, like Brad HATES crossword puzzles and Andrea hates coconut. Rob likes nail polish (odd, I know, especially when he busts out pictures of his wife's toenails all painted up).
The best part was how we all said, See, we don't need the Wakefields to have fun! But we all knew we were lying. Blimey! When are they coming back?!
Fun evening. Fat evening.
So here we are for Mother's Day. I have been cooking a hunk of meat all day and plan on getting some mashed potatoes and veggies going soon, too. My wife rocks.
My brother is 45! Wow, that's old!
Chantel is getting married this week. Good grief!
Chelsea turned 18, Abby can get her driver's permit, and Madalyn is on a softball team.
Man, I'm Old!