German Preview

Alpine Sliding it up in Germany

Just got home last night from Germany.  I'm sure my boss would prefer I do work, so more details and pics to come soon.

See ya later hair

I’m leaving for 10 days, so no posting. Not that you will notice my absence since I haven’t posted in over 2 weeks, but hey I thought I’d let you know anyway. When I return you will be greeted with photos and tells of my trip to GERMANY (I know you’re jealous). Until then here are some photos of the hair cut I got this week.
My friend Sara Gilmore is a very talented stylist and after having her cut my hair a couple months ago I think I’m a client for life. After the cut she asked if she could take some photos for her hair blog. I was nervous having to pose for photos to I tried to break the awkwardness by chatting up her ear.  Needless to say this didn’t make for good pics (my face was horrible, but the hair looks good which is all that matters.

Smiles

Yep, that's me talking while she is trying to take photos.

Ta da!

I really like this one.

It is probably better because I'm not looking at the camera

The Short List of 4th of July Weekend Fun

A co-worker asked me the other day for some ideas of fun things to do over the 4th of July weekend.  Here is the list I gave her plus a few other ideas that I have heard of since.

• Friday
• Concert in Brigham Young Park - Mama’s Boys. Shumway family band performing foot-stomping fiddling, along with western and bluegrass selections.
• Utah Symphony Patriotic Celebration at Sundance
  Join the Utah Symphony for its annual celebration of all things American. Bring a blanket to sit on and your patriotic spirit as the orchestra performs all of your red, white, and blue favorites from Sousa Marches to Film music. (Note: A second show is on Saturday at Deer Valley and a third July 6 in West Valley)   Utah Symphony Schedule
• SL Real rock the soccer field and the skies with fireworks after the game.  Ticket Info
• Saturday
•  Start the morning with a 5K run that ends at the Utah State Capitol. Freedom 5K Details
• Continue your morning at the SL Farmers Market and get some post race breakfast.
• Or skip the 5K and head to Brighton for the Independence Day Breakfast.  Brighton Breakfast Event Details.  Haha!  They even have a blog SLC Brighton Breakfast Blog
• Thanks to a few local companies, Whole Foods and Noodles & Co. the Sugar House fireworks have been saved (yes they were in jeopardy of being shout down).  Get to the park early because it will fill up fast.  Sugar House Event Details
• Spend the entire day at Jordan Park and get a FREE pancake breakfast, watch the Kid's Parade, shop the People's Market and enjoy fireworks. SLC 4th of July Celebration
• Sunday
• SL Bees Vs Tacoma Rainiers - Fireworks after game.  Buy the lawn tickets (GA) and after the game you can movie down into the outfield and watch the fireworks there for a great view.
• One Republic at Deer Valley.  Great outdoor venue.  Not sure if there will be fireworks after, but I can't see why not. Concert Details
• Monday
• SL Bees Vs Tacoma Rainier (No fireworks but still fun)
• Monday starts the Gallivan Monday Movies.  Cuddle up and watch "An Affair to Remember" Monday Movies Schedule
• Random Idea
• You could do a hike over SL to watch fireworks from the mountains. Check out the Bonneville shoreline trail…runs all along the Aves and University area. You will be able to see several firework shows going off throughout the valley.

Have a great weekend and INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Ragnar, MS, and Cake

Team LOCO LACO (We so crazy!)

So I have had a busy few weeks. Two weeks ago I ran with my work, LACO Technologies, in the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay.  Yes, Ragnar is a funny word...read About Ragnar.

It was my first time running in this race and it was an awesome experience. The low down on how this race works. Your team of 12 runners run from Logan to Park City (190 miles total). You run all day and all night until your team finishes. Each runner will run 3 different legs. You have 2 vans, each with 6 runners. The each runners run then hands off the race baton (a slap bracelet) from one runner to the next.  The last runner finishing by handing off the baton to the first runner of van 2. While van 2 runs van 1 gets to rest, sleep, refuel and prepare for their next round of running. This continues until you all run across the finishline.  I was runner #5.  My runs included a 7.4 mile run uphills on a dirt road through the mountains (super hard, but super gorgeous), a 4.2 mile run through a little town I don't remember and a 3 mile run through Heber.

FYI - Sleeping on church lawns in sleeping bags made me feel right at camping home.

I designed the shirts (first time)...I'm so proud.

The LOCO LACO runners finished with a time of 31:34:43.8.  The best time of 18:26:56.6 was captured by the 'NordicTrack Elite Men' (all men team).

After a long day of racing, what better to do then rock out to some CAKE.  Cake was in town as part of the Utah Arts Festival (yes they came a week early).  The concert was at Library Square (basically the lawn just east of the SL Library).  There was great tunes, great friends and great hippie dancing (on my part).  They played all my favorites and some old stuff I had never heard.  The highlight of the show was when they gave away a tree to the person in the crowd who could guess what type of tree it was (it was an apple tree).  The tree is to be planted and a picture sent every year of its life.  Check out the Tree Gallery

Cake!

Last week I organized a hike to Dog Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon followed by a bonfire.  It was really fun and we had a great turn out.  I was surprised how fast everyone hiked.  I must be a really slow hiker. 

Scouting out the hike

Thursday night I went with a few friends to the Utah Arts Festival.  There seemed to be fewer food vendors then in years past which I thought was regrettable.  But I did buy some art, jewelry art.  I had seen Route Thirteen on Etsy and loved her stuff.  I was so happy to see her at the festival.  It took me a long time to decide between my favorites, but finally made my purchase.  Check out her stuff.  Route Thirteen

To finish out the week I got together with my old co-worker at Orbit Irrigation to ride in the MS - Harmon's Best Dam Bike Ride in Logan.  To get the full effect of this event here is a little history of me and the MS ride.  This was 5th year riding in the MS tour. 

Team Orbit Irrigation
• Year 1 went something like - Attempted 75 miles (no training), rode 50 miles and was picked up in a truck and driven to the end because my butt hurt so bad...there were Tears. 
• Year 2 - I was smarter and I opted to ride only 40 miles due to lack of training...No Tears, but I was told I was so slow that people couldn't ride that slow to ride with me. 
• Year 3 - I trained so I choose to do the 75 mile ride, we got lost and actually rode 87 miles instead, I didn't eat much and was out of fuel by the end...there were Tears. 
• Year 4 - Rode 100 miles because I trained. I may or may not have fallen and gotten a gigantic bruise on my buttock, but No Tears. 
• Year 5 - Based on my pattern there were going to be tears, but No Tears.  I broke the cycle.  I didn't train this year so just decided to ride 40 miles.  I ate enough and was well hydrated.  Besides pain in my knee I felt strong.  I was super happy to be speeding pass people when usually everyone is speeding pass me. No slow Annie anymore.  It was a nice change.

My name was listed as a 5 year veteran

It was really nice to see all my old co-workers and my old boss, Ben.  Ben rode the 100 last year with me and I wish I could have gone with him this year, but we did get to ride the first 20 miles together.  The race photographers got a great one of us giving each other a high five.  It was awesome.  I'll have to post it when they get the photos out.

I think this is a start of a great tradition. 

Race Ragnar with LACO and MS with Orbit. 

Tuesday Concerts in the Park

 Tuesday

• Concerts in the Park

Reminder!  FREE music on both Tuesday and Friday.  Since Tuesday are usually a slower night for activities I'd say hit up the concerts on Tuesday and save Friday for other fun with your peeps.

Listening to music with the backdrop of the Salt Lake mountains what could be better. The LDS church hosts concerts are every Tuesday and Friday during June - Aug at the Brigham Young Historic Park.  June and July concerts begin at 8:00 PM August concerts begin at 7:30 PM.  There are some chairs set up, but bring a blanket and seat on the lawn.  Very family friendly activity.  The park is located at the southeast corner of State Street and North Temple (Second Avenue).

Brigham Young Park Concert Schedule

Mondays in the SLC

 Monday

• Monday Movies

Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City hosts Monday Movies the month of July. This year's theme is Cary Grant. Starting next Monday every Monday in July they will show a different Cary Grant movie. Take a blanket or low backed lawn chair and some treats to enjoy movies under the SLC skies.  Note: Not sure what they are doing about the construction going on at the Gallivan Center and how this will effect the show. 

Monday Movie Schedule

Friday & Saturday Salt Lake Happenings

Friday

• Concerts in the Park

Photo courtesy www.lds.org

FREE music. Listening to music on a backdrop of the majestic Salt Lake mountains, what could be better. The LDS church hosts concerts are every Tuesday and Friday during June - Aug at the Brigham Young Historic Park. June and July concerts begin at 8:00 PM August concerts begin at 7:30 PM. There are some chairs set up, but bring a blanket and seat on the lawn. Very family friendly activity. The park is located at the southeast corner of State Street and North Temple (Second Avenue).

Brigham Young Park Concert Schedule

• Sugar House Farmer's Market

New this year, the Sugar House Farmers Market is sure to be a fantastic Friday night activity.  The word has already spread and all 24 booth spaces have been filled.  The market will be held on the side street on the south side of 2100 S at 1100 E.  Starting July 9 and running until Oct 15, every Friday from 3 PM to dusk. 

Sugar House Farmers Market Website

• Broadway Summer Stroll

Also new this year SLC presents the Broadway Summer Stroll (summer's version of the Gallery Stroll). This is only every 3rd Friday of the month from June to Aug.

Broadway Summer Stroll Info

Gallery Stroll Info

 Saturday

• Downtown Farmers Market

Have a full weekend of markets.  Hit up the Sugar House market Friday then jump over to the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday.  The Salt Lake Farmers Market is held every Saturday June 12 to Oct 16 at Pioneer Park (same location as this year's Twilight Concert Series).  Full of arts, crafts, food and produce the farmers market is a favorite Saturday activity.  Bring cash and your reusable bag (every good farmer's marketer should have one) and load up on fresh fruits and veggies locally grown.  I usually go for the jewelry. FYI - The vendors on the sidewalk of 400S are technically not part of the farmers market.  They have permits from the city to set up booths in that area, but really who cares if they are "officially" part of the farmers market, it is still great stuff.

Downtown Salt Lake Farmers Market