fantasy football.

because most people like to learn something new every day, i'm going to teach you something new about me today...i love football. i do. and i can't remember a time when i didn't.

growing up, my dad would take me and my siblings to utah state football games (back when they were somewhat decent--let's hope for those days again)...it seemed like every saturday they played at home, we were there. really, who knows how many games we actually went to, but it seemed like we were there every saturday. and when we were kids, we weren't like a lot of the other kids that went to the games. we didn't go to socialize or to hang out with our friends...we were there to watch football. (well, and the cheerleaders...but can you blame us...we were little girls.)

and mixed in with the local college games, my oldest brother played little league and high school football. i don't really remember going to little league games, but i remember plenty of high school games. and when i was in high school, if you needed to find me on a friday night you could bet your last dollar i was singing the fight song at a football game...home or away...i went to them all.

and i'm sure you are wondering about monday nights? the night of family home evening for members of the lds church? at my house, monday nights were consumed by monday night football. the formal fhe was a rarity at our house...my dad always used to say that we were a family and we were at home and it was evening as we watched the game of the week. i can't argue with logic.

and then there were sundays. enough said, right? i mean, you get the gist.

so yeah...i love football. when i started working at my current job, it was an obvious fact that all the dudes liked sports, especially football. (it's another story for another day, but many of them even still play, or have played, for the cache valley bears.) i didn't realize how into sports these guys all were until i got invited by one of them to be in their fantasy football league. i was stoked. a little apprehensive because i didn't know anything about fantasy football, but excited all the same. mostly because i was a chick that they were inviting into their male-ritual-bonding-blah-blah-blah something or other.

but, before i got a chance to get my team set up or anything...i was kicked out. yes, i got kicked out of a fantasy football league. they (and they know who they are) told me it was because they didn't want girls to be in the league...but i later found out that one of my female co-workers was in that very "no girls" league. i was so pissed. and a little let down.

i mean, let's get real...my girlfriends and i aren't going to set up a fantasy league. my girlfriends and i don't even really talk about football, if we're being real. the extent of my football conversations with my girlfriends involves what super bowl party we are attending. basically, my let down was that if these dudes weren't going to let me "talk" football with them and let me be part of their fantasy league, then where was i going to get this experience? because, dangit, i wanted that experience.

luckily, last year "they" redeemed themselves and invited me to participate in fantasy football. not the "serious" league (that costs money), but fantasy football all the same. i faired pretty well. until the playoffs. i ended up with a good quarterback, which made all the difference. mind you, i had no clue what i was doing.

this year i was invited again...and i'm even more excited because i get it now. and just today, i found this awesome blog written by someone who perfectly understand how a girl who loves football feels. and now i can't wait for the season to officially start.

go patriots!
go longhorns!

new favorite song.

i'm not sure how i was introduced to this one man band, m.ward. but i was introduced and now i am in love. i even became a little obsessed yesterday and read as much as i could about him on the internet. love, i tell ya. and because i am so in love, i had to share my favorite song.

and just a little side note...m.ward is also in a little duo called she&him with zooey deschanel. i love zooey, too. i especially, and most recently, loved her in (500) days of summer. i highly recommend it. and the soundtrack is amazing. just a little fyi.

oh, oh...and i was just introduced to this little ditty. quickly falling in love with it. man, i do love me some tunes.

insight.

i love the sound of: new music. new music from old favorites and new music from new finds. i love music.

i love the sight of: sunshine, but i would love a summer storm about now.

i love the taste of: rice pudding. recently found some "snack packs" that are delicious, but i want to try and make it myself. if anyone has a good recipe, i could use it.

i love the smell of: my conditioner. it brings back a flood of memories from the summer of 1997.

i love the feel of: accomplishment...getting tasks done that you have been trying to get done for a long time.

random.

(btw--i don't trust government run health care...not even in the very least. but i had to share. i thought it was ironic.)

for today.

for today: august 9, 2009.

outside my window: the sun is barely starting to come up. i'm wondering why i agreed to work this shift, but i will be glad when i am done at 2:00 pm.

i am thinking: that this might be a rough morning. sometimes i get bored at work...especially when i'm by myself.

i am thankful for: the entertainment that is my life.

from the kitchen: there is nothing. i don't really have a kitchen anymore. it's a long story. it was a little touchy, but now it's funny. thus, the entertainment that is my life.

i am wearing: a jacket. it was a little chilly this morning.

i am creating: a little of this and a little of that.

i am going: to spend time away from my house today.

i am reading: a book called tweak. it's an autobiography about a meth addict. pretty crazy.

i am hoping: for a lot of things, but nothing in particular.

i am hearing: a blast from the past song.

around the house: there is a family.

one of my favorite things: is summer tv. big brother 11. so you think you can dance.

a few plans for the rest of the week: include work and more work.

here is a picture thought i am sharing:

nanatsu.

it's been a long time since my last dinner group post. i usually forget to take pictures at dinner group, so this past time, i made a special effort to get as many pictures as i could. and now you get to enjoy them. you are welcome.

these are all the members...starting at the top left, going clockwise: jaime, ether, jenni, moi, baugh (trust me, it's an awesome picture of her) and sara.

ether was our host and it was an asian themed dinner. we started with some miso soup.

then we had these spring roll thingys...they are amazingly delicious. this is the second (or maybe third) time that ether has made these for dinner group, but this was the first time i had them. i missed out, that is for sure.

for dessert, ether made bubble tea. it was mango flavored and then there are these ginormous tapioca in the bottom of the cup. the straws are super huge...it's a way fun treat.

after dinner, we all sat around on ether's new sofa, watching youtube videos. we were specifically watching air supply videos. it was super fun.

after a little while, we trekked outside to see if we could see the lunar eclipse. i think we caught a little portion of it...

...but i was more interested in how cool the complex looked against the sunset backdrop.

and then it was play time. this little contraption is supposedly part of an exercise circuit located in the complex. hours of fun.

and it brought simple pleasure to our dinner group host. priceless.

i can cook.

last week, my friend and i had to make a trip over the mountain to brigham city. we decided to have lunch at a fantastic little joint called maddox. afterwards, we headed across the street to a little farmer's market/produce stand. i got plenty of fruits, making sure not to get anything that i can get from my grandma's yard. (hahaha.) because brigham city is known for it's peaches, i definitely loaded up on peaches...specifically to make this peach, mozzarella and basil salad.

and it was amazing. maybe i will not add as much basil next time and i'd probably chop it instead of just tearing it like the recipe says. and i added a little extra oil because i didn't think there would be enough and that was totally unnecessary. so, to sum up: absolutely delicious, less basil that is more finely chopped, only add the oil it calls for.

peach, mozzarella and basil salad
serves 4

3 ripe peaches (peeled, if desired)
1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh black pepper

cut each peach into 6 to 8 wedges, then cut each wedge in half crosswise. in a large bowl, combine the peaches, basil, and mozzarella. drizzle with the oil, sprinkle with the salt and pepper, and toss. (you can cover and refrigerate the salad for up to several hours.) serve cold or at room temperature.


ps. the beans are from my grandma and the rolls are from maddox. it was an amazing dinner, seriously. i love fresh fruits and vegetables.

recipe from here.