Tour de France, 2008

July 5, 2008
marks the 95th annual
Tour de France!

But first, lets talk a little bit about Team Discovery Channel.



Team Discovery Channel is famous, of course, for Lance Armstrong and his spectacular seven tour wins! Lance has since retired, and so has the sponsor; but our favorite team rides on, now as Team Astana.



Unfortunately, in light of all the blood doping issues with last year's tour, the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) has banned Team Astana from riding! This turn of events is completely outrageous, but with only three days left to the start of the race, the decision is very, very final.

So, before the 2008 tour, I would like to honor my two favorite riders (and, I might add, the favorites to win the tour that they have been unjustly banned from).


LEVI LEIPHEIMER



The Man of all Men
Levi Leipheimer dragged both Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador up mountains and across plains, in pouring rain and blistering heat. Both Armstrong and Contador owe a portion of their victories to Levi. It is greatly due to his effort and skill that Team USPS/Discovery Channel/Astana has come so far in the cycling world.

Oh yeah, he also kicked trash in the final '07 time trial, beating out everyone by more than 2 minutes! (Most time trial leaders are within seconds of eachother)

Levi stood in third place on the podium in '07.
If he had the chance to race this year, I believe he would take the yellow jersey.


ALBERTO CONTADOR



The Rookie of the Year
This Spainiard took the cycling world by storm last year. With Team Discovery Channel, Contador beat out many of the world's top riders in the '07 Tour de France, winning both the white and the yellow jersey.

And he is only getting stronger.

Boys, you deserve to ride.
Knock their balls of in '09.



Now, on to the 2008 tour...

Running from Saturday July 5 to Sunday July 27, the 95^th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers.
(Click on the map for more detailed info on each individaul stage)



Two words: Saddle Sore.


With Leipheimer, Contador, and all of Team Astana out of the picture, I have been forced to look into other potential winners.

My top choice:
Cadel Evans with Team Silence-Lotto



Team Silence-Lotto is based in Belgium. They have been riding the Tour ever since I have been following it, and they have always had a very strong team. The red and black spandex is pretty intimidating, I think. Not to mention the hats.

CADEL EVANS



Evans is a powerhouse of cycling energy. He is a mountain trails man, a city streets man, and an everything-in-between man. Last year he managed to beat out Levi Leipheimer, taking second place on the podium. Several credible sources have picked Evans as the favorite for the '08 tour. Still, Evans is gonna have a time trying to smash the other superstars, like Alejandro Valverde, Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov.
(Click on the link to "other superstars" for more info on the other contendors)


I guess, in closing, I would just like to say good luck to all the riders.



May the best man win!

Dedicated to a Friend

The more years I have under my belt, the more I realize that growing up is a real process. It is very bittersweet sometimes, but the best part about it is the people you meet along the way.

My Freshman year in college I moved all the way from California to live with six girls I knew nothing about! I never expected my life to change the way it did.

I moved in with Ruth, and the first thing we discovered was our deep love of singing Moulin Rouge with curling irons on top of tables. I knew we would be friends.

Ruth and I shared many adventures, including crazy hair, music videos, and a very, very eventful trip to Las Vegas. Though we had our ups and downs, After freshman year we weren't just friends, we were Best Friends.

Well, freshman year came and went, and we moved out of the dorms. Spring term brought new adventures, but we always took them on together. I am forever grateful to have had Ruth with me that term. I could never repay her for all that she did for me.

Just before Sophomore year, Ruth and I took a little trip to Chicago. Acting like 4-year-olds, as always, we rode the metal bull, explored the amphitheater, and splashed around in the public fountain.

Sophomore year reality set in. Both of us as were working on pre-reqs for our majors. We spent late, late, nights in the library studying accounting together. Still, we laughed and cried through it all, and managed to have some good times in between exams.

Winter semester brought "the pursuer," and before I knew it, my constant friend for years was engaged to one of the best guys I have ever met. I have never been happier in my life. I can't wait to watch her grow through her marriage. I know she will be happy with him, forever and ever.

I know people change and grow, but I will always remember Ruth as Moulin Rouge, and Vegas, and Chicago. She has touched my life, and I only hope I have let her know how much she means to me, and that I love her.

Ruth, thanks for being my friend.

PROM NIGHT - DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!

As my family and friends will tell you, I LOVE horror movies. I am always looking for something new to scare me, so last night I went and saw the movie "Prom Night" with some of my friends.

I would never, EVER suggest this movie to anybody. It is rated "PG-13," but I definitely feel like it should have been rated "R" because of violence.

Every other character in this movie gets brutally stabbed several times, and it is absolutely sickening to watch. I wasn't scared so much as I was shocked and disgusted.

The scariest thing about this movie is that the people in the theater that were laughing at the stabbings! That is totally sick, twisted, and completely inappropriate, even if it is "just a movie." I almost threw up after the first 10 minutes.

So, I guess I just wanted to tell all of my friends and family that they should NOT go see this movie. It is disgusting and disturbing. I think I will just stick to the psychological thrillers from now on.

I Have a A New Bike!

So I have been doing a lot, Lot, LOT of research lately about bikes. I miss my Raleigh every day, and I decided it is time to admit that it is gone for good. I have been debating with myself for weeks whether getting a new bike is a good idea, and I finally decided it is! This is the bike I have chosen! It is the 2008 Myka Sport by Specialized.

Just a little after thought, the great bike debate has been weighing so much on my mind lately that I had a dream about it the other day. I dreamed that I before I bought it went back to the bike shop and that they had already sold every single bike that I was interested in. It was devastating. Good thing it was just a dream...

Intramural Champion!

Hey everyone! I just won the Racquetball singles tournament! Thought you should all know that you are friends/relatives of a CHAMPION!

The Best Dad in the World

This is a shout out to the WHOLE WORLD! I just wanted you to know that I have the Best Dad Ever!

My dad is the buisest man in the world, but he always has time for me. I love him more than I can say, and I thank God to have a great man like him in my life. He is a great example, and I couldn't ask for a better father.

The top 20 things I learned in my first 20 years of earthly existance

For the big 2-0 I thought I would brag about how much I have learned while living through two decades (Wow! That is a long time!) Here it goes:

1. Blonds really do have more fun!
And brunettes really are jealous.




2. Laughter - it's the Best Medicine.
or so Reader's Digest tells me.

So here is a good one for you:
Why do witches ride on brooms?



Because Vacuum cleaners are too heavy!
(this one gets me every time! one of those original Popsicle-stick jokes)

3. In-n-Out Burger has the best burgers in the world - hands down.
But only Californians understand



4. You get what you pay for.
So if you care about it, spend money on it!
Especially when it comes to bike locks. >:(

5. Fruit is an irreplaceable daily necessity.




6. Responsibility, what's that?
Super important, that's what! Being reliable is a "grown-up" thing, but I guess I am a grown-up now, so lets shun MxPx and get to work!

7. The Bee's are the BEST advice!
With the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, I have realized how valuable his life and lessons truly are. I am re-committing to take good advice to heart, especially the "Bees!"



8. Is it in you?
Yes! It is in me! In fact, it's in everyone!

Find a sport you are passionate for. It makes staying fit easier, and life more enjoyable!
Me? I love mountain biking!



9. Believe in yourself!
You can do so much if you just believe!

10. Don't Believe in yourself too much...
You are not invincible, so don't do dumb things.


(Alright, I stole those last two from a book, but both really are important life lessons, and I did learn them!)

11. Some knots are impossible to untie.



It is easier to avoid tangling your life altogether than to try and get yourself out of an unnecessary mess!
Make the right decision in the first place - CTR!

12. You can direct your own life, so don't leave it up to chance!



Anyone can get behind a wheel and hit the gas, but only those with a plan get where they want to go. Don't let life run you into a ditch! Set goals and be an active navigator!

13. There is always someone better than you.
But who cares?

14. True friends never go out of style.



I thank God every day for my friends. They have blessed my life in more ways than I can possibly describe.

15. Quality time is worth more than money
The more I live life, the more I realize that money doesn't buy you friends or happiness. Time buys you friends, love buys you happiness. Spend time with those around you. As you come to know and love them, your life will be blessed. Money may be able to buy you a new Audi, but the Audi will never love you like a real person can!

16. Anything you do with sisters is cool.



and matching pink Pj's are the ULTIMATE COOL!

17. Two is better than one
especially when you are a twin.



This year has been very, very hard because Eric is on his mission. I am so proud to have him as a brother, but dang I miss that boy!



18. Parents in general are DA BOMB!
but mine are #1



I can honestly say that I could not have picked better parents. You know how people talk about the day they learned their parents were "just human, like the rest of us?" That day hasn't come for me, and I doubt it ever will.

19. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Restored!



The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the true and restored gospel of Christ. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, and they directed him to build this church. The book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel, and the Bible is the word of God. President Monson is God's prophet on the earth today. Christ died for me, and he is waiting to hold me in his arms again. Most of all, I know that God loves me.

20. Trust in the Lord
with all thine heart
and lean not unto thine own understanding
In all thy ways, acknowledge Him
and he shall direct thy paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, and Everything Nice!

As promised, here are some more pictures from Moab!

Group Picture on the Gemini Bridges

Me on the Gemini Bridges

This first one is up at Gemini Bridges. We mountain biked there, which was awesome. When we got there, I discovered my extreme fear of heights. I sat right down in the middle of the bridge, just to make sure I would not tumble over the edge. ;)

Tommy and Bruce on The Rock

This is Tommy rock climbing, with a little help from Bruce. If you ask me, it might be a little too much help...

Kami, Me, Lisa, Tommy, and Jeremiah

For a service project, we painted this barn. I like to think we are ready to become pro painters.

The Mountain Bike Rack

I just think that this is the coolest picture of the Mountain Bikes!

So these next two pictures are not in Moab, they are in Alpine. I went mountian biking with my friend Ivan Ho. He is also an awesome photographer, so we got some amazing shots up in the mountains! I love mountian biking!

Ivan Ho Popping a Wheelie

Me on an Uphill Climb

Moab!

Last week I went on a camping trip with my RMYL class down to Moab! More pictures will come, but for now, the above is me by the delicate arch, and below is the Boy Scout camp we stayed at. It was a total blast!

5 Simple Pleasures

I got tagged! Here are my simple pleasures:

1. Taking my helmet off and shaking my hair out after a long bike ride.

2. Getting letters in the mail.

3. Fresh fruit, especially watermelon.

4. Talking to my mom about everything (and nothing) every single day.

5. The sound of laughter.

6. The view from the top of a mountain.

I tag Lisa, Ruth, and Brianon. What are 5 of your simple pleasures.

STOLEN!

Monday night my bike was stolen. Someone came into my apartment complex and cut my lock and rode away. I use my bike for all my daily activities and errands, so this loss is kind of a big deal to me.

Lessons learned:

1. Buy the most expensive bike lock you can
2. Keep your bike indoors at night
3. Pray like your life depends on it that your bike is always right where you left it

Unfortunately, I had to learn these lessons from experience instead of from other's mistakes.

Morning rides to work are over.
Day rides to class are over.
Evening rides with friends are over.
Weekend rides with Rebecca are over.
Saturday morning mountain biking is over.

On a proactive note, if you see anyone riding around Provo on an orange Raleigh, I will pay your medical bills if you get hurt tackling them.

closet treasures

During this month's wardrobe purging I discovered some real gems . . .
We decided to keep them. Figured that we could feature them in the next music video . . . maybe we will do a rap video this time? ;)

Also, our trip to LA was awesome! Mom and Dad, thank you so much for everything! You really are amazing, and I love you so much!

Six Flags was awesome because none of us were sunburned...yet...

LET LEVI RIDE!

Team Astana is not riding in le Tour de France this year! Because of the drug scandals of some of the team members last year, the ASO disqualified all of Team Astana from riding! This is completely unjust! The guilty members have already been removed from the team, and team Astana has spent more on anti-doping than any other cycling team this year! Contador and Leipheimer (first and second place in the 2007 tour) are among those disqualified! A Tour without them is no tour at all! PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION at www.letleviride.com.

Some Old Favorites, and Some New Favorites

I just love all these pictures! The top one - I got a bike! I absolutely love my bike! I like to ride it everywhere! I love running errands on it and towing rollerbladers behind it...basically, I love everything about it! The second picture is from the festival of colors at the Hare Krishna temple is Spanish Fork, which was amazing! I am a little sad that my hair did not change colors like many other peoples, but It was still worth it! I had pink buggers for days! Next is Addison...reading on her toilet! She is so silly! It is funny because Brianon does the same thing every day! Maybe Addison will grow up to be just like Brianon! I think that would be a good thing. :) Last, I found this picture of Ruth and I in front of the temple this week, and I absolutely love it! It is kind of significant right now because Ruth is getting married in Salt Lake in just a few months. Soon, she will be able to take pictures in front of this temple with her best friend for eternity! I am just grateful that I got to fill that roll temporarily. :) Ruth, I hope your pictures with Jordan are just as fun and exciting as us in our Utah dresses, though I can't fathom how you will convince Jordan to attempt such a fashion statement.