Sports Sadness

I have decided that disappointment in sports is one of the hardest things for me.  I get so invested.  I read every article ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, and the SLTrib write about the teams, the match-ups, opinions, blogs.  I love the thrill and the rush of a good sports team but sometimes you get disappointed.  Sometimes it stays with you and sometimes I will not remember a week later. Here are some of my greatest sadness brought on my love of sports.

• 2004 - Yankees up 3-0 over Boston to go to the World Series and Boston comes back and wins the League Championship series.
• 2001 - Yankees lose game 7 of the World Series against Arizona Diamondbacks
• 2011 - BYU loses to Florida in overtime in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
• Utah Jazz losing to the Chicago Bulls in 1997 and 1998.
• 1998 - Utah loses the championship game in the NCAA Tournament to Kentucky.
• Watching grown men cry when they lose big games.  This breaks my heart unless it is Duke or the Red Sox.
• When I was little I remember watching Weber State have a run in the NCAA tournament.  I remember them losing and feeling bad.
• The Olympics.  I put this all together because there is a moment every game that USA does not win.
• Brighton never winning the State Championship in football while I was there.

I know that when I really think about it none of these moments mean anything to my overall life but boy the great ride each of these teams have provided.

I will say I need to thank BYU basketball.  For awhile I have felt that I have had no passion for anything.  People would say "what about the Yankees?" and I was not following them.  BYU has made me love sports again.  I would say I caught Jimmermania.  So to the boys in blue, thank you for fun and the trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

Also, does anyone know of someone like Jimmer Fredette that I can marry?

My favorite time of year

I think March may be one of my favorite times of year for the following reasons.

March Madness - I love that college basketball is everywhere.  First the championships for each conference.  Second, selection Sunday where you get to see the seeding of your favorite teams.  Third, filling out your bracket.  Fourth, following basketball at work for two days.  Fifth, upsets.  Sixth, buzzer beaters.  Finally, watching your team win (GO BYU!)

The Smell of Spring - The other morning I went outside and spring was in the air.  It was the first time this year that I could smell it.  I can't describe it but I love the smell.  It didn't last because it snowed soon after but spring brings hope.

Easter - I know Easter is in April but the candy comes out in March.  It is the one time of the year that I buy tons of candy.  The other day I went to the store for groceries and ended up buying $13 of candy.  Mini Cadbury eggs, Cadbury Carmel eggs, and Sweetart chicks and ducks.  Whoops.

Spring Training - Baseball season is almost upon us.  Enough said.

Jimmermania - I know this doesn't happen every spring but it should.  He is awesome.  I love to watch him play whether it is the long 3, driving to the basket, or the 9 foot jumper.  He is the best scorer in the world.  The other thing I like about him is how people describe him and humble, unselfish, and a hard worker.  It basketball today that is hard to find.  As my dad says they are all thugs.  So thank you Jimmer Fredette for being someone that people can look up to. 

P.S. His brother T.J. is hot.  

Quotes

Quotes make me happy.  I find that people can say what I want to and always better than I can.  My family knows this because I slaughter sayings and don't use my words all the time.  So here are a few quotes that I have not messed up and make me feel inspired.

"What you get by reaching your destination is not nearly as important as what you will become by reaching your destination."
- Zig Ziglar

"I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition."
- Martha Washington

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

- Helen Keller

"It's never too late to become the person you might have been."
- George Elliot  

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."
- Elbert Hubbard

 "Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger."
- Lou Holtz

"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."
- Mother Teresa

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."
- Thomas Edison

 "It's time to start living the life you've imagined"
- Henry James

"This one step - choosing a goal and staying to it - changes everything."
- Scott Reed

 "Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."
- Scott Adams 

Enjoy!

COOOOOOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just want to say you know it is cold when you walk outside the last 2 mornings and your wet hair freezes.

I HATE Chicken!

I have decided that I hate chicken and I am leaning that way with turkey. 

Here is why.  For the last week I have been trying to change my diet and eating habits based on a book I got for Christmas.  I have been so good.  For 2 weeks I was eating more veggies and chicken.  Yesterday, I blew it.  I had given blood and felt like I needed something real to eat.  Lettuce and chicken were not going to cut it.  Then I visited Nicole in the hospital and brought Kenyan dinner.  I order a turkey dinner to go along with his because he could not decide between 2 things.  Mashed potatoes are yummy.  I have missed good tasting food.

Today for lunch I couldn't go back to veggies and chicken.  I couldn't bring myself to be excited for healthy food.  I wanted cheese, bread, and soup.  Not good when you are trying to lose 100 lbs.  So here is my dilemma.  I love food and I love eating good tasting food.  How do I diet and eat well in order to lose weight if what I really want is the fatty foods of times past? 

It is a constant battle between the fat and skinny girl in me.  Some days suppressing the fat girl is really really hard.  So to the people who say to lose weight you have to eat right and work out how do you overcome the two personalities within.  Skinny girl loves the feel of losing weight, loose clothes, and the feeling of not being really full.  Fat girl loves the taste of chewing a cheeseburger with fries, the feeling that you have stuffed yourself with the foods you love or are craving, and in a way thinking I am already fat what will this food matter.  The flip side is each girl hates some of the things the other loves. 

Food is a constant battle.  Should I eat this, Should I not.  Some days I am strong and some times I want to say who gives a damn.  What I can't get across is that the Lauren that is neither fat girl or skinny girl does give a damn.

Clearing Snow

So as I was finishing up my last blog I thought I would share this story.

The Tuesday after Christmas it was snowing really bad.  It was the really wet slushy kind.  I had drive down to my parents.  My dad was at work and the driveway really needed cleared.  I volunteered.  Someone really should talk me through these decisions before I make them.

I don't own boots or shoes that aren't slip ons so I pulled on my mom's boots (with no socks) that were a couple sizes too big.  Then I put on my grandma's old yellow fleece and the little gloves that don't really do anything if they get wet. 

I then trudge out to the garage to turn on the snow blower.  Yeah, not smarter than the snow blower.  I called my dad who was at work and he walks me through how to start it.  Why don't they make those like cars with a key.  It took a little bit but finally, after filling up the gas, it stays running.  Now it is time to get to work. 

I don't know how to describe this process.  At first I am thinking this is great and even fun.  That lasts until I have to back up the snow blower.  I didn't know it has a reverse option so I was pulling backwards.  I know I looked like an idiot.  I kept trudging along as my mom's boots were leaking water and my gloves were wet.  Then my favorite part happened.  I fell.  Shocker I know.  I was trying to push it up the driveway and struggling and my feet decided to go the opposite direction.  Smack.  I hit the slushy pavement hard.  I still have a bruise today and was not able to kneel for a long time.  I wanted to quit but I still had half a driveway to complete.  So I hurried up and finished.
 
So as I was walking in my mom opens the door and the first thing I say is "I only fell once." I think that was an accomplishment.  Then I looked in the mirror.  This is what I looked like.  Guess I should have worn a better coat and a hat.

New Year!

So it has been over 2 months since I have blogged.  I am a slacker.  Guess the goal of blogging every week is starting now. I hope.

So here are some random thoughts I have had lately.

Are there any good movies out?  I haven't seen anything in a long time.

Business trips are not where you have time to have fun in Orlando.  You have to make your own fun with the people you are with.

Painting strips on a wall is not as hard as people think.  Picking the right paint is.  Just ask Nicole.

I finally found a meal plan where I am losing weight.  I made the most amazing soup tonight.

I need to blog about the goals I have accomplished from my 112.

I am excited for President's weekend because I get to go and see Holly!!!!!

Sometimes sitting on your couch and listening to music and doing nothing else is sure a nice pastime.

Is it weird that on my Pandora Radio I have both the Alternative channel and Country channel playing at the same time?  It is a great mix.  Love them.

Can't wait until Nicole has her baby.

Gnomes are the best!  I can't wait until Gnomeo and Juliet comes to theatres near you.

Kind of sick of snow.  I don't mind it if I can still wear flip flops and not get my feet wet.  Remember when flip flops were called thongs but now thongs are dental floss underwear.

My little brother is getting married.  He always joked he would beat his sisters to the alter and he was right.

Sometimes when you sit and look around you can't help but feel such great gratitude and joy.  I have been given so much by my Father in Heaven.  I am so blessed.

 On my last thought I typed suck instead of such.  Kind of changes the meaning of things.

Well, I think that is it for this week.  I am going to try and blog about the aquarium and my henna tats this week.