March Sadness in Boise- So Close!!!

I really wanted to go to Boise to watch the Aggies play in the NCAA tournament but I just didn't think it would happen.  I have missed so much school lately and I figured tickets would be hard to come by so I decided to not even plan on going.  However, the day before the game I got a text from my brother Ramsey while I was at school that said Call me ASAP. I was nervous for about 2 seconds and then I knew he must have tickets. Sure enough I was right.  He had bought 4 tickets off of eBay.  I just couldn't say no, I really wanted to go all along and knew if the chance came up I couldn't turn it down.  So I wrote up a sub plan, cancelled some other plans I had made for Friday night and headed to Logan since we were leaving early the next morning.  

It was a fun trip with the guys as I went with my brother, my dad, and my brother-in-law Mike B.  We left Logan at 5 a.m.  Not much will get me out of bed that early.  We arrived in Boise around 9 a.m. and headed to the Taco Bell Arena.  The game didn't start till 10:30 so we had plenty of time to watch both teams warm up and get pumped for the game.  The student section was already going strong as they were chanting each players name during the warm ups.  It was exciting.   I love the spectrum on wheels cheering section.

 

Unfortunately the Aggies couldn't pull off the win even though they were so close! 58-57  It was a heartbreaker as they lost by one point in the end.  The first half wasn't the best as the team seemed a little shell shocked.  The second half was exciting as they came back and took the lead by 6 but they couldn't hold on to the lead.  I'm not sure what's worse, losing by one or being blown away.  I think if they had lost by 6 I might have felt a little better. I guess it is time to move on. I am still proud to be an Aggie!  It was a great record breaking basketball season as the Aggies went 30-5. 

Although the Aggies lost it was a beautiful day on Friday.  Spring better be right around the corner because I decided that Aggie basketball is what helps me get through the winter.  So go away Snow!!!

 

P.S. Since the Aggies didn't win I was thrilled that Utah and BYU also lost.  I am so sick of what little respect the USU Basketball team gets on the local news stations. Honestly they were nationally ranked for several weeks and hardly anything was mentioned about it. It's sad that the Big Blue incident at the New Mexico game (ripping off Pistol Pete's mustache) received more attention on the local news and nationally than the fact that USU had a record breaking season and won the WAC championship.  Living in Salt Lake makes me dislike those 2 schools even more!  I know I'm a little bit of a crazy fan. 

Utah State Aggies WAC Champions! Ready to Dance!

It was a great weekend as I was able to go to Reno and watch the Aggies sweep the WAC Tournament.  What made it even sweeter was beating Nevada on their home court.  I really hate the tournament in Reno (not the greatest little city in the world after all) and I really dislike the Nevada fans (I had a little run in with one a couple years ago after the championship game and I still have a bad taste in my mouth).  I had to miss the first game on Thursday, unfortunately I have to be a responsible adult once in awhile.  My mom and I flew down on Friday afternoon and met up with my dad who had driven down by himself on Wednesday and also met up with my Brother Ramsey and his wife Ashley who had flown down earlier.  The game Friday night against New Mexico was too close for comfort and I almost had a heart attack as Utah State pulled it off in the final 7 seconds of the game winning 71-70.  Saturday's championship game was exciting from start to finish.  I love how supportive Aggie fans are. There was a huge crowd of Utah State fans one that closely rivaled the local Nevada fans. Everywhere we went we saw Aggies.   

Coach Stew Morrill cutting down the nets after the championship.  I love this guy!

WAC Player of the year, Tourney MVP, and USU's lone senior Gary Wilkinson celebrating after taking the first cut of the net after the championship. 

It was really fun being able to spend some time with my cousin Raegan and her family.  Her husband Terry is a Nevada fan, he is the exception to my dislike of the Nevada fans luckily I do really like Terry and he is a very gracious Nevada fan.

The final score.  Nevada never once held the lead and it was fun to start the game off with a 21-4 run for the Aggies.  It shut the Wolfpack up quickly.  The arrogant Nevada guys sitting next to me even left the game early, obviously not true fans.  I was very happy when they left! Right from the start of the game they stunk like alcohol and I'm pretty sure he had 2 more beers during the first half.  He started the game booing the Aggies really loudly and obnoxiously.  He had a very limited vocabulary as every other word he said started with a F.  He kept making the most ignorant comments.  It was all I could do to hold back from saying something.  Luckily the score spoke for itself which was my saving grace! Once again he proved my dislike for the Nevada fans and the tournament in Reno.  Are you sure you're not ready to jump ship and become an Aggie fan Terry?

Randomness in Reno

I sometimes wonder if my mom has narcolepsy.  She was falling asleep at the table in the restaurant after we ate a late night dinner after the championship game. This was not the first time this has happened.  She sometimes falls asleep mid sentence. 

We had to get one last picture in Reno before heading home.  We had just stuffed our faces at a buffet and I just cashed in my chips from my black jack winnings.  I actually walked away from the blackjack table with the amount that I had started out with and was able to play for a couple hours. However, Ramsey told me I should just go put it all on Red at the Roulette table.  Luckily I didn't listen to him completely.  I put $25 on red and that was the end of that $25.  At least I walked away with a little more than half of the money I started out with.   

I couldn't resist getting a picture of this beauty. 

While in Tahoe we saw this 4-runner in the parking lot at the Heavenly ski resort.  My dad called this car Tie-Dyed, ha ha.  Even the inside dashboard and console was completely covered with Ties.  Interesting!!!

Concert Crazy

I love going to concerts!  I went to the Rascal Flatts concert a couple weeks ago.  Another teacher and I snuck out of Parent Teacher Conferences early to go to the show.  It's hard to be a responsible teacher sometimes when it interferes with my social life!

  I was a bit surprised when I found out that Jessica Simpson would be the opening act.  I was very disappointed as she started out singing "These Boots are Made for Walking" wearing heels.  It just felt so wrong.  Rascal Flatts was amazing!  Not only did they sound great but they were also pretty funny.  The stage set up and lighting was fabulous as well.  

This past Monday I went to see Donavon Frankenreiter at the Depot with a group of friends (Gary Jules opened).  I only knew one or two of his songs before the concert, I really went for the social aspect and I love live music.  I left the concert a big fan and have already bought 2 of his albums.  I like how my friend Alli described the conert on her blog "Both were looking super homeless but super attractive too which is all a little bit ironical.  I don't know what it is about a guy and a guitar.  He could be the ugliest guy in town but as soon as he starts singin' I'm a goner." I couldn't agree with her more.  It was my first time going to a concert at the Depot.  I liked the smaller space and the ability to actually see the band up close and personal along with great sound but I did feel a little out of my element.  We got funny looks from the bartender as we only ordered cokes.  My favorite was the 40+ year old woman in front of me who kept bending over to smoke pot.  At first I thought she was tying her shoe but when she stood up I could smell it very strong.  I think she would bend down, light up, take a hit, and then put it out.  Luckily it was towards the end of the concert.  People watching is a definite perk of going to concerts.  

A couple guys in our ward also put on a small concert for Kelli, Alli, and I in their basement a couple weekends ago.  Our ward always holds an Auction right before christmas to raise money for sub for santa.  Kelli purchased a personal love song from these guys in the ward.  After several months of anticipation they finally finished.  I felt honored to be part of the debut.  We showed up at their house expecting a corny song but left very impressed as they actually wrote a great song in addition they played several other songs that they have wrote.  I think they have great potential.  I'm trying to figure out a way to get my own personalized love song.  They are still trying to come up with a group name.  We suggested they call themselves "Chasing the Goods" in honor of "The Goods" which is the name of the group that Kelli, Alli, Kimi, and I started.  That's a story for another post sometime.