I LOVE David Cook... and Michael Johns!!!

Seriously, I need to stop going to concerts.  It happened with Josh Groban.  Sure, he could sing... but the infatuation didn't begin until I saw him in Vegas.  Honestly, it's never been this bad though.  There is something about David Cook and Michael John when they sing.  I seem to lose all sense of my age, marital status, and reality.  After the concert I had to tell Megan I couldn't gomeet the idols because I didn't have enough self control. 

Aside from my issues... The concert was amazing!  Mom and I had 

4th row on the floor seats.  I was so close to Archeletta that I could see him swe

at.  And when he cried... I could see the tears.   They were all so good (well, except Ramielle and maybe Chekese).  My fave singer is Carly, though I think more people would appreciate her voice if she stepped out of the 70's in song choice. The crowd was SO insanely loud when 

the local boy hit the stage.  I'll try and post a few video clips so you can get some small idea of just how loud it got in 4th row floor seats.

The whole trip to SLC was great.  I FINALLY got to spend some quality time with my cousins, whom I worship from afar.  Seriously, when we were little, I'd get so excited to see them, I'd have my bags packed for days.  We initially went up for a quack attack.  That is to say a kinesthesiology appointment.  That was pretty crazy.  The guy found out I was suffering from anguish by feeling my arm drop when I put my fingers together.  Demonstrations available.  So he prescribed 40 drops a day of some flower homeopathic.  I'll let you know how it goes.  It takes 6 months to get into to him so it must work.

We also when to "This is the Place" monument and hung out for the day in the pioneer town.  I made an arrowhead necklace and printed a Declaration of Independence.  Matt took us to his favorite dive: El Rey de Oros.  He had to translate.  We took a picture (below) in case we die.  We also went to Gardner Village where I salivated over everything I couldn't buy and picked up the Advent Calendar of my dreams (I've been looking for a wooden one for 5 years!).

Here's that Idol footage I promised... oh- and that crazy mosh pit, we're in it!  Oh ya.

WHY DO I HAVE TO LIVE SO FAR AWAY FROM NEW YORK?

This is going to be a pretty bitter sweet week for me. Over 2 years ago, while we were living in New York, I heard the news that this year's All-Star Game would be at Yankee Stadium. That very day, I vowed that I would be there for it no matter what. Well, it didn't quite work out that way and it just came at a bad time. (ie. 2 tickets and a fender bender) It kills me to hear about it on ESPN radio and although it is going to be cool to watch, starting with tonight's Home Run Derby it's going to be eating me up inside that I'm not at my stadium. I mean, I just can't beleive that I'm not there!!! There was never any doubt that I wouldn't be. I even took the days off like a year ago. I Can't imagine the energy there right now. It's probably buzzing right now. It is the greatest sports city! There is always something going on. I wish I was in the city, getting on the train to go out to the stadium right now! But, I'm not. Instead, I'm at home working. So, now I just need to make sure that I get to one last game this season, preferably the Very Last game. (so far it doesn't look like any post-season.) As of right now, even the bleacher seats are going for over $200 a piece - (Totally worth it!) Can you imagine how much stuff is going to be ripped off from there that last game. I need to get my hands on a sign, dirt, grass, brick.... Anything! The carpet from inside the Club House is going for $10, 000. Don't worry, I do already have the All-Star game shirt and hat. Anyway, Can't wait to see the Mid-Summer Classic but wish I was there!

GREY

I've done it.  I've posted the first chapters of my wretched, awful book online.  It's so bad that I've decided to write it all the way through to the end and then go back and fix the beginning.  Not much help, I know, for those reading the entre vous now.  Just keep in mind that I'm aware of how perfectly cheesy and sophomoric it is.    See GREY here.

West Canyon

We haven't been able to get up very far past Last Chance this year because my mom and dad keep taking the entire world to Powell and there are too many people.  I don't know how they are paying for it, Mom and Dad are SOOO super generous... people sign up for a Metcalf trip like it's going out of style and my parents just try to figure out a time for everyone.  I don't think people realize that gas at Lake Powell is like $1 more then everywhere else... Anyway, that's all I'll say about that.   If you do happen to go to Powell with my parents, they are NOT at all whining or complaining.  They love to share what they have... but my (and only MY suggestion) would be to leave some sort of tip to help out a bit.  This summer season is going to send them to the poor house.  (I repeat- they are not complaining).  Soap box aside:

We were finally able to get up the canyon a bit and hiked West.  Well, most of us hiked West.  Quinn stayed behind to fish with Nick Nield.  The trip didn't go so well for Q.  I'll keep the details simple:  Last week he got a ticket for speeding in the gorge ($55), then he got in a wreck a few days later ($600).  On the way to Powell he got another ticket speeding through a construction zone ($157) after me making him stop at Rewind ($71).  Then when we got to the boat, we discovered that Mark had taken the hitch off and we had to borrow/buy a new one ($?).  The next morning- Quinn lost his beautiful new birthday pole and reel into the deep waters of Navajo Canyon ($80).  Maybe this is why my mind is on finances lately.  For those who think we have it made, be consoled with the fact that we took a pretty hard hit this month and it's not even half over yet.

Check out this amazing hike!  

Below is our hiking crew.  By this time, the boys had gotten bored with fishing and decided to wait for us on the houseboat.  Poor Quinn.  At least he had a nice big bowl of strawberries and cream to console himself.  If you can't get ahold of us in the near future, it's probably because we're taking on extra hours at work to compensate for our weekend of expenditures.

Independence Day

Check out the new pull system at Antelope Marina.  No need for a boat!  You wake board right past the restaurant.  Above, Mark is showing off his skills.  

This was the only time Matt and Ashley could make it down so we got to skip the Stirland family reunion and head back out to Powell. It included one of the longest games of phase 10 I have ever played and a flat tire that meant we didn't get to the lake until 3 am.  Seriously, we've got to stop burning the midnight oil.  Ashley and I bonded again and she gave me even more free tax advice which leads me to believe I should claim another exemption and switch to a Roth IRA instead of keeping my 401k.  I should start tipping her.  In fact, it was such a great trip that I lost my mind and actually posed for a full body shot in my swimsuit with a skirt attached.  Never thought it happen to me but it has.  2008 is the debut of serious cottage cheese and hip spreadage.... and I haven't even had kids yet.  WAAAA!!!

Speaking of calories gained.... Below is the SADDEST picture I have ever beheld.  You will never know just how disappointed I was when we pulled into Rewind and were met with nothing but this sign on the door.  SERIOUSLY!!!!

..And in a brief respite from Powell, we took Grandma Metcalf out to lunch.  Even though we lived close to them all my life, I don't have many memories... actually hardly any memories at all of my grandparents Metcalf.  Sad.  So we decided it was never too late to start making some. Hello Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks at Olive Garden (oh so not New York real Italian food).

Powell Pics: CHOAL

There's quite a bit of catching up to do and most of it has to do with Lake Powell.  I'm not quite sure how many trips  we've taken, but there has been at least a weekly excursion this summer so I'll include some highlights. 
The first major hike of the season was Chaol.  I had done Choal exactly 10 years ago with my best friends Paul and Ciara and couldn't believe how much the water level had changed the falls.  What used to be small pockets of rock and waterfalls to play in had turned into tall cliffs that we had a hard time getting on top of.  I'll have to see if I can dig up those old pics to compare the change.

The worst part about the hike was the lack of cooperation from my Tevas!   I've had those suckers for over 11 years and they've never once given me pain, but the headache they cause on this excursion left me limping like a rookie.  Maybe that's my hint to be a bit more active.  Suffice it to say the blisters still hadn't healed up enough to slacken my grief on the hike we did a few days later.

In other great news:  We finally met Steven's girlfriend.  This is a big fat deal since she is so dang amazing.  I think you can catch her in some of the pics.  Basically she is perfect.  Karla may well be called "Starla"!!!

To read more about our 7 hour adventure to Choal, visit JNAC to see a more in depth article.

10 things about Quinn

My dad never laughed so hard. Suffice it to say, he was eaves dropping on a conversation I was having with Quinn over the phone and the only part he heard me say was, "Honey, I know you're 28 but..."

About Quinn: He is a the ultimate manboy. I compiled a list that may shed some insight.

10 things you never knew about Quinn:

1. He has a legitimate fear of Asian men. Just try getting him to China Town.

2. Though he describes himself as the ultimate dog person, just last week he asked me if we could get a cat. When I reminded him that he hates cats he simply said, "I know, but we'll get a good one."

3. Quinn doesn't laugh, he giggles. Don't ask him why he's giggling. He'll tell you something about Pez dispensers and you still won't get it.

4. Quinn sleeps on the couch. Remember when you were a teen and you fell asleep watching TV only to wake up at 4 am with Nick at Nite blaring away and a trail of drool leading from your mouth to a logo ensconced pillowcase? Just last night, around this time in the wee hours of the morn, Quinn woke up and begged me to help him make chocolate chip cookies.

5. Those disgusting chewy gummy (which he pronounces Gumey with a long U) candies that are shaped like hotdogs and odd objects... Quinn lives for those. He buys a huge stash every time we go to Smith and Eddy's in Ogden (the only pace I know of that still sells them).

6. One time Quinn drove all the way to Nebraska and back without sleeping, just to go to Cabellas (the Utah location hadn't opened yet).

7. Quinn hated my guts for exactly 6 months because I moved him to New York. Then, one day in February, he woke up and loved New York and started speaking to me again. I still don't know what changed (it may have had something to do with his first yankee game) but he is affectionately known by many as "Mr. New York" now.

8. Quinn hates his hair in the front right above his high forehead... enough to put a hole in the bathroom wall.

9. Quinn hates tube tops and loves rap and r&b (WHY???)

10. Kids LOVE Quinn. He has as many shadows as kids within proximity. Our primary class staged a Ku (sp?) when Quinn didn't make it one Sunday. I think they like him because he is a kid himself. To prove it, consider the evidence: His scripture case is a Yankees lunchbox, he just spent our last 15 bucks on a Yankees bingo bag he found on ebay, he set a personal goal to sleep with his Yankees blanket (it has fur -yuck) every night.

All men may be boys, but no one defines the term YOUTHFUL EVERVESCENCE like Q! My dad keeps telling me that's part of his charm. Gotta love him!

Joe Torre

Have any of you checked the N.L. West standings lately? If you do, you'll find Joe Torre's Dodgers tied for first place with the Diamondbacks. Uh... maybe you should have held on to Torre, Steinbrenner..... ya think!? (not quite taking a liking to Girardi)

VIEW QUINN'S AMAZING NEW YORK FOOTAGE HERE

Rent our Condo!!!

Here are those recent photos I promised.  I took them yesterday.  Details about renting our apartment are listed in the previous post.  If interested, please contact us ASAP.  Available August 1st.

Outside view (it's not attached to any other condo so it stays very quiet).

Looking in the front door to the living room:

Living Room:

Living Room from kitchen:

Kitchen:

View of hallway to bedrooms from living area:

Master bedroom and attached bathroom w/walk-in closet in bathroom:

Second Bedroom w/walk-in closet:

Main bathroom:

High ceiling, garage w/room for storage, nice pool...  ok- you get it.  Please send your apartment looking friends our way. Thanks.