the JAZZ game!!!!

So along the way on our travels through Utah, my older sister Emily decided to solidify her spot in heaven and get Jazz tickets for Game 3 against the Lakers. So her, Kim and my old man all met in Ogden and hopped on the train and headed to Salt Lake City for the showdown. It was great to ride the train cause we missed all the traffic both going to and coming from the game. (Also I (Jake) was interviewed by both the Standard Examiner (see http://www.standard.net/live and the video entitled "Follow our Drew Godleski as he rides FrontRunner to the Jazz game) and a TV station from Spain, Canal +, for my thoughts on the game).

It was an awesome game, very intense and extremely loud the entire time. Some kid named David Archuleta sang the national anthem. The song wasn't too bad, but everyone, including Kim and my sister made a huge fuss over him....anyone heard of him?

Anyways, the Jazz played a decent game and pulled it off in the end, 104 - 99. It was a TON of fun to get to go to a Jazz playoff game and my sister is awesome for pulling it off.

Kim getting ready for the game wearing her new boyfriend's shirt.

Photo op on the train on the way to the game.
View from our seats. Pretty high up, but closer to heaven so our prayers got there first.
David Archuleta singing the national anthem. Apparently none of the Jazz players wanted his autograph.
Mr. Archuleta again. Not a bad singing voice for picking some random kid to sing at the game. Maybe this will help him launch some sort of career.
Jake and Old Man River stoically observing the refs not allow Kobe to be harmed the entire game.

MOAB: Bikes & 4-Wheelers....

Ok, so if you don't already know, little miss Kimberly and I are spending our summer outside of the broiling oven of Phoenix and going to be living in the humid sauna of St. Louis while I prove to my wife that I am capable of holding down a good job. For three months at least. On our way out to the exciting Midwest, we are visiting both of our families in Utah.

So we met up with Kim's family in Moab, Utah, which has got to be one of the most amazing places on this earth. Perfect warm weather. Beautiful breathtaking views. And plenty of rocks to climb on with both 4-wheelers and your conventional peddle bicycle.

We had so much fun riding on the Jeep trails and passing all of the slow-poke trucks creeping along. We made a good attempt at Slickrock on our bikes, but had to stick to most of the practice loop. Still made about 7 miles of it though. Still incredibly tough.

A big cliff on the Slickrock Trail.
Kim taking pictures of herself. Classic pose.
We hiked to this little hole in the rock.
A long line of Jeeps and FJ's. We just went around them.
One of the longest, steepest hills we had to climb.

Fun Pictures

These are my sisters and of course Jake, in the "bright" colors that they are! Hahahaha, fun.

Farewell Dinner with Thunderbird Pals

Saturday night we had a farewell dinner at Cheesecake Factory, for the Thunderbird friends, because most of us are leaving for the summer, graduating or will be gone by the end of it. I am so grateful we've had such great friends to share the school year with Jake and I will miss you all so much!

Jake's Pie

I came home from work the other day and Jake had made me a beef pot pie. Sure was sweet.

Me Learning to Take Pictures

I went out to Sahuaro Ranch the other day and took 150 pictures of roses. I want a picture of a Rose to go over my bed, but I don't want to pay very much for it, so I decided that I would teach myself how to take better pictures. Tell me what you think. This was a lot harder than I thought but, I liked about six of the 150 and here they are!

YW American Idol Standards Night

For YW's we did an American Idol Standards night where the contestants were judged according to their actions. It was really fun. I was Paula Abdul and my friend Aaron was a "white" Randy!

the Church is still true...

President Monson cheers on Jazz.....

(In response to my good friend Bry's similar blog post)

For people who know me well, they know that one of my perhaps borderline unhealthy obsessions is with the Utah Jazz.....Since I've been at school in Phoenix I don't get to catch as many games on TV and I prefer, but I do watch enough (channelsurfing.net) to keep me alive. I love wearing my Jazz gear to the gym (which is a local Phoenix Suns sponsored YMCA) and getting awesome looks from people. Whenever the Jazz do play the Suns on TV its a lot of fun to go to a local sports bar or restaurant and be the only Jazz fans (and sober people) in the whole place.

Recently on the Deseret News, there was a great article (see above link) about how President Monson enjoys going to a few Jazz games a month. What an awesome guy. Besides his daily duties being a Prophet, Seer and Revelator, he takes time to enjoy a very important and worthwhile past-time.

I have always tried my best to follow the Prophet and in this regard I can say I am definitely 100%, if not 110%.

spring training baseball...

One of the joys of living in the Phoenix area is being able to enjoy Spring Training Baseball! 12 Major League teams call the Phoenix/Tuscon area their home for a few months and the games are a lot of fun.
Yours truly at a Royals/Dodgers game. Surprisingly the Royals won.

Our CRUISE to ENSENADA

Me, Mom, Haley
My sister Jennifer
Mom and I
Mom and Dad at formal night
Jan and Darrell at formal night (family friends)
Us in WINDY Ensenada!
Family friends Tyler, Donavan and my sister Sara
My sister Haley at formal night
Jake and I at formal night

fun rock climbing on the boat!

school, school and more school....

Since I am spending so much of my time within the walls of Thunderbird School of Global Management working on my MBA in International Marketing Strategy, I thought it appropriate to share a little bit about this sunny place...All in all, it has been a wonderful experience thus far and I would recommend it to anyone!

"Since its founding in 1946, Thunderbird has been synonymous with global leadership in business education.

This leadership is recognized by major publications around the world, which have consistently named Thunderbird as a leader in global business education. The following is a list of our current rankings."

Business School/MBA Rankings

• #1 “International Business” 7th consecutive #1 ranking
  The Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive 2007 Survey of Corporate Recruiters

• #1 “International Programs” 12th consecutive #1 ranking
  U.S.News & World Report 2008

• #1 “Best in International Business” Full-time MBA
  Financial Times 2008

• #7 "Distance-learning MBA"
  Economist Intelligence Unit 2008

• #7 “Most Family Friendly - Best Business Schools”
  Princeton Review 2007

• #7 “Great Opportunity for Minority Students - Best Business Schools”
  Princeton Review 2007

My sister Haley

Last month my sister Haley came to visit, just her. We had a blast. She is growing up so fast. I was so happy she came, we went go-karting (WE LOVE IT) and to the science center. She showed two books that she wrote and illustrated and let me tell you they were a better job than I could've done. She gets straight A's all the time and is a very intelligent, sweet person. She is such a great example to me and I told my dad that if he ever wants to give me money or anything, he needs to buy her a ticket to come visit. I really haven't been able to see her much since I've been in college and married, so it was a great time. I love you Haley!

Kim

I try to Imagine...

"Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one...."

-John Lennon

Kim's Master's degree

Also, Kim is starting her master's degree this month; she says she is pretty excited to be working on a 'real' education that is much more career-oriented, but I think she just wants to have a master's degree because I am getting my MBA. No competition there. She'll be getting a Master's degree in Health Professions Education with a Medical emphasis at A.T. Still University and plans on teaching at a junior college or university when she's done. It will take her 20 months to finish and she'll be able to do a lot of it online, which is good as we're gonna be moving around a lot. The program is also a feeder into the Ph.D program so if she wants to, down the road she can do that and it would only take her another 20 months or so. I guess that would mean I would need my Ph.D too... Good luck Kimberly!

"Home of the world’s first osteopathic medical school, established in 1892, A.T. Still University is recognized around the world. A renowned, multidisciplinary healthcare educator, ATSU instills in students the knowledge, integrity, compassion, and hands-on experience needed to address the needs of the whole person. A.T. Still University provides graduate and professional school programs in healthcare fields at campuses in Kirksville, Missouri, and Mesa, Arizona."

Kim's television debut!!

Heathers really old Tag that I (KIM) did not do, but am doing it now!

1. Grab the nearest book
2. Go to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Type the next three sentences along with these instructions
5. Tag 10 people to do it (5 will do too!)

Book: In Defense of Food (An Eaters Manifesto) by Michael Pollan Amazing book!

Bruce Ames, the renowned Berkeley biochemist, works with kids like this at Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland. He's convinced that our high-calorie, low-nutrient diet is responsible for many chronic diseases, including cancer. Ames has found that even subtle micronutrient deficiencies--far below the levels needed to produce acute deficiency diseases--- can cause damage to DNA that may lead to cancer.

AMEN!!

I tag: Rachel Madson, Nicole Rowland, Annie Fonnesbeck, Emily Jensen, Aunt Carole,Paige Frakes, Katie Taggart, Barbara Schaefermeyer, Erika Hanks, Chelsea Neilson, Jen Petty.

Tagged by Annie

I'm (KIM, again) supposed to post 6 facts about myself and then tag 6 other people (this was really hard for me):

1. I eat a bowl of ice-cream probably almost every day (at least it's low fat!).
2. My two front teeth are fake, because they were hit out playing softball when I was 10 or 11 on my first day of softball practice. My sister Sara did it.
3. I feel that college only makes you loose your mind not gain it (hahahaha).
4. I absolutely love fuzzy socks, nice shampoo and reading nutrition labels.
5. I own a motorcycle and look darn good riding it!
6. A goal of mine is to someday buy a very fast four-wheeler with big sand tires. Another goal for my life is to read an autobiography of every LDS President, and every US President (I just made that goal and so far I'm half way through Joseph Smith, it's going to take a while).


I tag Erika, Katie, Chelsea, Heather, Nicole, Barbara.

Tagged by Heather

4 random jobs that I've (yes, this is KIM) had:
Dairy Keen in Heber, Utah
Lancome makeup artist
Tutor for Anorexia-bulemia clinic
CNA on an Alzheimers Unit (great fun!)

4 Movies that I could watch over and over:
What About Bob
The Pink Panther
White Chicks
Rat Race

4 places I've lived
Cary NC
Phoenix AZ
Logan UT
Pleasant Grove/Highland UT

5 TV Shows that I watch
LOST
the Office
Arrested Development
American Idol
Keeping Up Appearances (British comedy!)

4 places I've been
I have driven accross the US to NY (so all the states along the way)
Cancun, Mexico
St. Louis MO
The Sand Dunes in central Utah

5 favorite foods
balsalmic vinegar with sourdough bread
Thai food (coconut curry)
garlic stuffed green olives
Horseradish (YAY!)
Of course Chocolate cake/ice-cream/brownies etc....

I tag Erika, Brittney, Katie, Annie, Chelsea,

tagg-ed

I don't typically endorse these types of posts, but I was indulged by a friend of mine who's pregnant and you just don't mess with pregnant women...

Four things about me (Jake) that you may or may not have known, in no particular order.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Milked cows on the family farm.
2. Pizza Plus in Tremonton, UT. Best breadsticks you'll ever have.
3. Wells Fargo Bank & Home Mortgage
4. Advertising at The Herald Journal


Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Batman Begins
2. Any Star Wars or Any Indiana Jones
3. The Motorcycle Diaries
4. The Man from Snowy River


Four places you have lived:
1. Old Farm in Logan, UT
2. Rigby, ID
3. Deweyville, UT
4. Peru



Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. LOST
2. The Office
3. Arrested Development
4. Flight of the Conchords


Four places you have been:
1. Peru
2. Phoenix, AZ
3. Cancun, Mexico
4. St. Louis, MO


People who email me (regularly):
1. My brother Nate
2. People from my school wanting stuff done
3. eBay
4. Kimberly


Four of my favorite foods:
1. Thai food
2. New York strip steak
3. Asparagus
4. Grapefruit


Four places I would rather be right now:
1. 8 weeks from now (no more broken ankle)
2. At a MLB game
3. Graduating from my MBA program
4. Deweyville, UT playing in the snow.


Things you are looking forward to this year:
1. Summer internship in St. Louis
2. No more cast on my leg
3. Baseball
4. More Utah Jazz wins

And I tag Emily, Ryan Madson, Seth and Aunt Carole......

so I USED to play rugby....

So I am going to school right now at Thunderbird School of Global Management and working on my MBA in International Marketing. The school is really great and I've been having a lot of fun. Since the school isn't part of an undergraduate university, we don't really have collegiate athletics except for a few club teams, on of which is the Rugby Football Club. I had never played before I came down here, but had played football so I thought I'd give it a try. Well, I had a lot of fun and was really enjoying the hitting until I had the unfortunate event of breaking my ankle. I was carrying to ball and got tackled and rolled on, and my foot twisted out instead of typically rolling in and the tendons on the inside of my foot tore part of the bone off the inside of my ankle. Sounds gross and painful I know, but...well, it is pretty painful. They said I should be down 6 to 8 weeks and hopefully won't need surgery but we'll see. My advice, still play rugby!!!!




Theses are my x-rays, the arrow points to the fracture. I know its small, but it does really hurt.

Visit to Arizona...

My parents are getting a little old and senile now that they are well into their 50's, so we thought it would be a good idea if they came and visited Kim and me in Arizona since a lot of people retire to the Valley of the Sun. Ok, just kidding. My mom had some time off school, so they made a quick trip away from the awful snow of Utah and enjoyed some nice 60 degree weather with us. It was a lot of fun, my dad especially loved all the cactus and we even went to a wild west town in Chandler.