Summer Fun!

I got a call Saturday morning at 11:00 from my Relief Society President asking what I was doing... it turned out they needed one more girl to play in the regional softball tournament or they would have to take an automatic out. I quickly threw my shoes on and I was at the field within ten minutes and we had a great first game! We won the first game but lost the second game so we were automatically eliminated. I didn't have time to throw on sun screen before leaving my house cause I was in such a hurry so I have some great sun burns that go from my ankles and stop at the back of my knees, very attractive ;) Here are some team photos and some photos of the pool party that followed... I love summer!

Birthday River Float

Saturday Allie and a few of my friends and I floated the Provo river. Wow was it cold! The bus driver that shuttled us up to the location where people get into the river to float down after renting their tubes told us the water was 52 degrees... brrrr! We had such a blast together. The float is about two hours long and is comprised of several small rapids, a constant current that allows you to float without having to work much, and a few bridges that if you choose to float under you're not suppose to "let your equipment touch the bridge!", as we were told by the shuttle driver.

We decided to get out and walk around the bridges rather than floating under them because we have all heard stories about people who have been flipped over or sucked under or stuck while attempting to float under the bridges. When we got out Allie was trying to dump the water out of the center of her tube so it wouldn't be so heavy to carry. She was successful at dumping the water out of her tube, but gave herself an ice shower in the process, as she accidentally dumped the water on top of herself; so cold she couldn't even scream. Poor thing was freezing during the rest of the float because the wind picked up and we floated through two rain showers! There were several times that we laughed so hard together I almost cried. Afterwards we were so cold that we went to the cocoa bean and got hot chocolate and GIANT cup cakes. Allie and I shared a cup cake called better than whatever, oh and it was totally better than whatever you can imagine! What an amazing way to spend my 25th birthday. We made memories I will never forget :)

Shooting the Tube

I shot the tube on Thursday night and it was quite the adventure. I have heard about shooting the tube ever since I moved to Utah two years ago, but never had a real clear description or picture of exactly what that meant. I can now officially say that I have shot the tube!

There is a large concrete tunnel that runs under the freeway (I-80) a little bit north of 3300 South. This tunnel is about 200 feet in length and about 12 feet in Diameter and there is a river that runs through it. How it works is you dam the top of the tunnel (using giant medal road signs, 2x4's, and 2 large pieces of plywood) then you wait until there is a sufficient amount of water built up behind the dam, someone pulls the ropes to break the dam and all the water that has been building up is released and shoots the people that are seated on tubes, sleds, plastic lids, foam pads, air mattresses, etc. down the tunnel, which is known as the tube - so that's how you shoot the tube. It's a rush! The water was about 55 degrees and I was freezing my nee nees off! I felt like I was in the Pacific Ocean again.

New Hobby?... I think so!

I went rock climbing outdoors for the first time yesterday and it was amazing! I really think that this is going to be my new summer hobby and snow boarding will forever remain my number one winter hobby. I had such a great time! A man from work took me, Rebecca (a friend from work), and another guy from work climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon. We climbed a wall that is a 5.9 in difficulty. I'm learning that as you go up in number the more difficult the climb. For example, a 5.11 is very difficult. The easier climbs would be 5.6 or 5.7 and under and more difficult climbs for experienced climbers would be 5.10+ and up. I had such a great time I'm thinking about buying myself a harness or climbing shoes for my birthday. I look at is as an investment. A very promising investment. I keep finding new hobbies out here in Salt Lake and I kinda love it!

Also, when we first got there Bill had planned on taking us to a different rock base to learn how to climb but there were way too many people at that spot so we left to find another spot to climb for us amateur climbers. Well to get back to the car we cross a little stream that was only about 10 feet a across. I was at the back of our four-person team and so I crossed the stream last... and let's just say when I stepped onto one of the rocks, keep in mind I was carrying out climbing rope in an awkward shoulder bag, the rock I stepped onto wobbled and I fell into the stream. I'm not talking about just my feet getting wet; basically, I was sitting in the stream with water all the way up to the top of my rib cage! How I managed it I still don't know.

I was hoping that the others in my group wouldn't turn around and notice me bathing in the stream, but before I could get out of the water Rebecca turned around and loudly yelled, are you ok? After that everyone, including climbers in the surrounding area, turned to see if everything was alright or just to satisfy their curiosity. I was thourally embarrassed. It was quite refreshing. That is what the picture of me in my wet jeans is all about. Good times :)