Latest From Utar

Alright just to keep everyone informed on what's going on over here and how life in Happy Valley is I'll let ya know what's new in my life.
On Valentine's Day I actually had a date, as most of you already know. I took a girl that I actually like, so this date was a little different than some of the dates that I have been on in the past, admittedly I got a little nervous. I was able to play it cool though and both her and I had fun. We went to dinner at some Italian Grill, went to See's Candy where I introduced her to dark vanilla buttercreams, and then went to the movies. The date went well and everything and I took her home, but at the very end of the date she told me that she had had fun and liked me but that she really wasn't looking for any kind of boyfriend or anything like that......this is a nice way of saying you smell like poop and your face is distorted. No, it really wasn't that bad, and I took it like a champion. She just broke up with her boyfriend and is all bent out of shape cause of that still, understandable I suppose. Anyway, the point is I actually did something on what I believe to be one of the most ridiculous holidays of the year and I had fun.
In other news I've been running quite a bit and trying to get in shape (for those who don't check out my other blogs and don't know, www.seetomswim.blogspot.com ). Today I ran the furthest I have ever run in a single outing without stopping. I ran 7.44 miles, now I'm extremely tired and feel like I'm gonna die soon, but I'm pretty happy that I was able to go that far.
On to other news, Brian Smith got a hold of me a couple days ago and told me he was planning on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, a trail that starts at the Mexican border and goes up into Canada. Brian and I had talked about doing this someday back when we lived together in Coos Bay. Then this last summer in August we both, along with Greg Valle climbed Mt. McGloughlin and talked about again. The other day he told me that he wanted me to come along with him and that he plans on doing it in 2010. When I got home from my mission I made a list of things that I wanted to accomplish in this life before I die, well turns out that hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was one of them so I told him I was in. We plan on heading down there and starting a few days after my school ends in May 2010 and we believe that we can finish the hike by the time that school will start for me in the Fall. We're still only beginning to plan this thing but I'm pretty excited for it. I realize its not going to be easy but its going to be a lot of fun and I should learn a lot.
Apart from all that stuff though not a whole lot new is going on. I'm still going to school 6 days a week and working too. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in McMinnville and kind of sad I'm only coming out there for like 24 hours but oh well.

Almost Free!!!

Sorry i haven't written in seriously forever. I really have no excuse.
So swimming is almost over. As Laurie said conference is in just a week. I'm really excited mostly for the couple of weeks that follow the last day or conference though. We get the next Monday off swim for two whole weeks and then get the week before spring break and spring break off!! I'm very very excited. After that practices will get easier in the pool too but dryland becomes hell.
I was talking to our dryland coach trying to find out what i will have to prepare myself for and it sounds far from exciting. I always make jokes that we will do stuff until someone throws up and then she follows with a yeah you are pretty close to right. It scares me because i know when she is joking and when she is serious and she is totally serious. Oh well hopefully one of the other girls will hit that point before i do haha.
so total new subject now. I miss everyone and I am excited to see mom and dad at conference but i feel so left out. Everyone got to meet Sophie and I'm still left out of the loop with Tom. Well i guess know i know how he feels. Poor kid! I at least get told what's going on. . . at least i think.
Well i don't know what else to write. I am excited about conference. I'm shooting for a 49 high or 50 low in the 100 and a 152 in the 2 free. We'll see if this so called taper, well at least Kristin likes to call it that, works. Everyone is dead has no energy and has never heard of or witnessed a taper like this. Even from her last year. It's totally different. Oh well there is always next year and the 2 years after that.
Hope this filled you in a little bit about whats is happenin here in Iderho haha i miss and love you all!!
Oh yea sorry Laurie that you had to keep everyone updated about everything. You are good at it though =-)

Blessing

I just wanted to say how excited I am to see everyone next weekend and for Sophie to meet you all. It should be fun. My whole family is coming including a few of my Dad's siblings I will apologize in advance for. You will see what I mean, my Dad is the normal one of the bunch. Anyways we reserved the club house so we don't force everyone into our small place. But there will be lots of food and interesting people!

Oh and Sophie went to church today for the first time! We tried to go last week but that didn't happen on account of two 'pruts' turning into blowouts after having her loaded in the car seat both times. But she did awesome this week! She made it through the whole thing.

See you all next week!!

Golfing

I've been hitting some balls at the driving range lately. It's true. I'm doing it for two reasons. First, I live less than 2 minutes from the course. Second, everyone I know golfs and I don't want to be the odd man out. Just so everyone knows what I look like, here you go:



Yeah, I'm THAT bad. I've got a true story for you. I hit the ball with the 3 iron and drove it straight up. It hit the roof above me and bounced right back into my hand. I got 2 for 1 with that ball. It's REALLY bad. Seriously. Maybe I should stick with fly-fishing. Oh yeah, I suck at that too.

Poor Neglected Blog

Just thought since it has been a few days since anyone has been on here I would say hello.  Stephanie is coming to the end of her season and has Conference Championships in a few weeks.  Mom & Dad are going to be flying to Texas to join in on the festivities.  Last weekend, she competed in this season's last dual meet.  It was against Oregon State and, although Boise lost the meet, it seems as though Stephanie had a pretty decent meet...you can read about it here.  It would be nice if she could get on here and tell us a bit about it first hand, but I guess you'll just have to deal with my account of her life for now.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend for Sophie's blessing.  Dan has recently taken up golfing (well going to the driving range) so, Dad & Doug, if you'd like to go hit a bucket of balls with him next Saturday feel free to bring your clubs.

I think Leona just might have the crawling thing down by the time we see everyone again....maybe we can take her to Jeff & Breein's so that she can chase Spartan....

I guess that's all I can come up with to write about, at least I won't feel like this blog is being neglected...

Crap in Klamath

It's been quite some time since I last wrote, because I didn't really have anything worthwhile to write about. Nothing is changed...there's nothing worthwhile to report...but there IS some garbage I'd like some feedback on.

Here's the deal...I think the parents of kids in sports pretty much suck. The coach of Henley's freshmen basketball team has been suspended for one week and told that he won't be back next season because a kid's mother thinks he's too hard on the kids on the team. She and one other parent wrote a letter to the Principal and AD at Henley to complain about his coaching style...and that was all it took. Presto Chango...write a letter because your kid doesn't get the playing time you think he should get, and WHAM! The guy's job is gone. He coached Doug last year, and Doug liked him...in fact Doug told me a bunch of times this year that he wished that the guy could coach the JV team. He's pretty hard on the kids, and makes them run when they screw up or don't work hard, but he knows the game and from what I've seen is more than fair with substitutions. I'm pretty sure the freshmen won every league game they played last year, and they're 10 and 1 this year, so it's obvious that he has some coaching abilities. I guess he dropped some F Bombs in practice, and that's what he's being hung for.

Here's my question...all of you guys have been in multiple sports your whole lives, and all of you except Doug have done something on a collegiate level...were any of you offended because of a coach chewing your butt in practice or during a meet or game? Were any of you ready to quit because someone used foul language? Did you have any coaches that DIDN'T at one time or another use some pretty nasty words? I don't remember any of you guys ever complaining about anything other than someone's stupidity...which I completely understand...but I don't think anyone was ready to quit because of offensive language or having to work too hard in practice.

Normally I try not to get involved in stuff like this, but I felt that the idiots in this case deserved a rebuttal, so I wrote a letter to Henley's principal backing the coach...and copied Jack Lee and Greg Thede (the Klamath County school superintendent). Do you think I tubed Doug's career at Henley by sticking my nose in where it wasn't really invited? I'm sure the AD and principal are pissed.

Let me know what you think, please....

Sophie

Here is a new picture of Sophie. So she is pretty much perfect! She sleeps 4 to 5 hours at a time during the night and never really cries. She only yells a few times and then is done. She is gaining weight well. She now weighs 7lbs 2oz and is 20 inches long. Baths still aren't one of her favorite things. And she loves it when music is on. A very good addition to the North family.

Greetings from Eugene

As Dad mentioned in his last post, I have very limited Internet access.... basically the planets have to align in order for me to get on.  Apparently, they are in alignment right now, because I've actually had time to check my email, read a few posts and start this one... we'll see how long it lasts...

So, not too much going on up here... of course Tom didn't mention us in his post so maybe he doesn't care anyway... but I'll let you know

Leona had her 6 month check up a couple of days ago.  She is doing quite well.  She weighs 15 pounds and a few ounces which puts her in the 50th percentile for her age, her height is 26 1/2 inches which places her in the 85th percentile and her head is still freakishly small at 41 cm, putting her in the 10th percentile.  Hopefully she doesn't grow up to be some sort of pinhead.

Emme went to a birthday party on Saturday and had a great time.  It was the first birthday party that she has been to without us and she really enjoyed that.... I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

Calvin is as wild and crazy as ever.  He is in sunbeams now and enjoys going to primary, although I think if he were given a choice he would go back to the nursery.

Dan is trucking along in school.  This semester he has an externship with one of the top criminal judges in Lane County, so three times a week he gets to hang out at the court house listening to arraignments and filling out paper work.  Tomorrow the judge will be starting proceedings for a big case that he will get to sit in on.  It should be pretty interesting because he will be able to watch it from jury selection throughout the trial.  If it weren't such a yucky case, I think he would be pretty excited about it.

I have been running a fair amount and found that the longer and farther I run, the better I feel about myself.  In addition, Calvin & Leona seem to enjoy the runs which makes it a good thing for everyone.

So, that's it... life in Eugene for the Higgins' clan.  You are now officially informed (and maybe a bit bored)...