Favorite Artist of 2009/2010

A few hints and facts:

• He spells his name with only one T.
• I stayed at a Best Western in a city in Nebraska with the same name as his last name.
• He rocks a white button up, skinny black tie, and hat.
• When he played at The Venue in 2009, I got a glimpse of what Heaven will be like.
• His passion and talent is contagious.

I speak of the man Mat Kearney.

Favorite Songs include: All I Have, Fire and Rain, Never Be Ready, Undeniable, Girl America, Bullet, Won't Back Down.

That list seems long but it was hard enough getting it narrowed down to that.

Check out a vid Mat posted on his site where he discusses his forthcoming album. Click HERE.

If you don't have his music: Get it and let it wash over you. Great stuff. Keep it coming Mat!

You can also follow him on twitter @ twitter.com/matkearney

Breathing made Hard

If you are reading this, please follow the instructions below:

Close your eyes.

Take a deep breath through your nose, all the while keeping your mouth closed.

Hold the breath for roughly 5 seconds and exhale through your nose.

Now plug your nose and repeat.

The process goes from simple to impossible.

Welcome to my life.

I suffer from chronic sinus congestion. I decided to write this blog post for two reasons: 1. I am frustrated with my situation and am really hoping to find a remedy ASAP. 2. I am made aware of those everywhere who suffer and struggle with problems far worse then mine. To those, I praise and applaud you for being amazing to keep smiling and to keep going despite your ailments. I am also grateful to not have problems of such magnitude.

So.

Here is what I have tried:

and this is how it is used:

I have also gone through the magical experience of squirting water up my nose and having it come out the other side.

So to try and facilitate drainage:

Which leads to an irritated throat that causes a cough, so now i'm puffin this:

Oh, and i've been drinking this:

In conclusion:

I'm going to try and schedule an appointment with an ENT ASAP.

I miss the easy to breathe Dominican air.

I don't like Utah's winter air.

My mouth is tired of doing all the work: Talking, eating, and breathing. Time to give the nose the breathing duty back.

The Partyyyy Out Back....Is Gone!

Well, my glory days, the days of my youth, my wild and rebellious days of flowing long hair are gone. Good bye lovely mullet. Hello short trim. Please click HERE for documentation enjoyment.

*Note: Watch Mullet first and then Allll business.

The Road Not Taken

My favorite poem is written by Sir Robert Frost. The Road Not Taken was penned and first published in 1916. I was required to memorize the poem in sophomore english class and it has remained with me since. Just as the subject in the poem knew not which path to take, and indeed feared a future feeling of remorse for choosing wrong, I too hope that the decisions I make this year will take me down "the road less traveled by, for that will make all the difference."

Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

11 Months of 2010

This is the kind of post you would normally save for the end of the year. But no calls are in coming in at work yet, so I think it's a good post for 12/13/10. Today, for starters is Nick Terry's birthday. Happy Birthday old man. Hope this year is your best ever!

Let's review the year 2010 for a minute.

*Note: I'm at work and so the only photos I have are the ones I still have on my iPhone.

I started the year working at Consulmed and taking 5 classes at the U. I was also dating Cristy Ann Bubert, who is now engaged to the charming Scott Smith-Sound.

On May 1st, I embarked on a 2,400 mile journey across the country to Virginia. Accompanying me was Kyle Ray Brown. 4 days later we arrived in Yorktown, Virginia. We took a picture by the Nebraska state sign.

I flew home on June 17th. Two of my husbands were marrie off in two days. Brian to Courtnie on the 17th and Mark to Brooke on the 18th.

On July 19th, I met Lauren St. Mary, the beautiful life guard at the pool at Grafton Station. We spent the next 14 days together before I had to drive away from Virginia.

I drove 8 hours the first day, 8 hours the second day, and 17 straight hours the third day. This is the Nebraska state sign going west. Missing a state sign was one of the most devastating aspects of the drive. Besides the drive itself that is.

Morace, Julie Ann, Ezra, and Sofia moved to Stockholm, Sweden.

I started working at Edwards Lifesciences. I started out setting up iPads, then Windows 7 Deployment, and now I'm working on the Global Help Desk.

Nick and Carrie had their first baby: Natalee!

Spence and Kathy had their fourth baby: Emelia Lou Lake. She is the ninth niece/nephew. I get to hold on her Christmas!

Utah beat BYU on a blocked field goal. It was my last home game in the MUSS. We rushed the field. See video HERE.

I was hired on at the Apple Store at the Gateway!

Mark and Brooke had their first baby: Everett

I had my last undergad class of college on 12/9/10! 1 Final to go.

I'm single.

Summary: A good year and glad to be alive!

Utah Field Rush Celebration vs BYU 2010

Utah Man Am I!

Danny MacAskill - "Way Back Home" - NEW street trials riding short film

The Apple Event Effect

or

There is a phenomenon that occurs, roughly every 3 to 6 months. It is an Apple event. Apple traditionally has a keynote event in January, an iPhone event in June, iPod event in September, and now Apple has hosted a Back to Mac event. Yesterday, Apple announced new iLife 11 software, highlighted future Lion features, and new Macbook Air models. After watching these Apple events, I experience a very similar reaction. "I WANT that!" Yesterday was no exception. After watching the iLife 11 demos, my reaction was, "I WANT iLife 11." No harm in that. The software costs a mere $49. After watching the Macbook Air presentation, I immediately responded, "I WANT a Macbook Air" The problem with this is the cost. I would opt for the 13"with the 128gb storage and then throw down an additional $90 to upgrade to 4GB of RAM. Even with the student discount, that build will set me back a cool $1,339. I spent the rest of the day analyzing, stewing, debating, comparing, reading, and ultimately trying to find a way to justify this computer. I read a great article by Marco.org, (click here) that did a great job at putting a lot of my thoughts down in writing. Since I am 2 months away from graduation, my computer needs/usage may change drastically. Will I need a ultraportable Macbook Air? Would a powerhouse, 15" Macbook Pro be the way to go? How about settling down with the 27" iMac? Or maybe I should just keep on trucking with my nearly 3 year old white Macbook. Ultimately, I have had to step back, relax, and let my initial appetite for new Apple products assuage. I think I'll give it a couple months to settle and come back to this decision in January.

Utah vs. Pitt Game! Victory!

Football is back. Victory is in the air. And the Utes are 1-0.

A little tailgate action to kick things off.

Then onto the game.

These are our season tickets this year. ROW 1 Baby!!!

Rice Eccles was a rockin full house.

The attending crew! We were glad to have MJ with us!

We are legit. Mainly because we are cool. Also because we sit on the front row.

Pre Game Photo!

And for a little video action!

The North Liberty and Nauvoo Reunion

Two weekends ago we had the first annual Bob and Diane Lake Family Reunion. The original plan was for all members of my immediate family to be in attendance. Unfortunately, due to a move to Sweden, Morace, Julie Ann, Ezra, and Sofia were absent and sorely missed! We had a great time though! The kids in this family are amazing!

Baby Ian. I love this kid.

The bullet hole in the door of Carthage Jail.

The kids made friends with Joseph and Hyrum!

Us with Paul Bunyan, I mean Joseph Smith.

True pioneer cowboys.

Precious Pioneers.

Doesn't get much better then this pic! 4 beautiful Lakes!

Dress up!

Thanks Parents for the great time! Let's do it in California next year!