Moon's injury- 2 weeks later

It will be a long road to recovery.

Ode to Macy

Macy left us to go play rugby for the BYU Hawaii team and things aren't the same without her!!!!

Camera phone pics

Me and Courtney



Country dancing with Courtney & Lindsey




Me and Dollar

Not for the weak stomach...

Moon got his hind foot stuck in the slats of an extremely heavy metal gate out at the farm last weekend. Guessing by the massive trail of blood he left in the snow…we figure he drug it around for a while before freeing himself. Three of his 4 legs were thrashed and swollen larger than I’ve ever seen before. Jake, Courtney, Melissa, and I have spent countless hours playing vet with him. We’re hoping the coronet band won’t be too badly damaged and that he’ll walk away with no long term problems and just the inevitable scar.

Brrrrrrrrr!

The weather has turned quite bitter here in Utah Valley as of late. James, Courtney, and I went riding down by Santaquin on Saturday, and it was the coldest ride of my life. When we finally got back to the trailer and dismounted I realized my feet were completely frozen. Ok, maybe only my boots, but they were literally frozen stiff in the position I'd ridden in. Anyone who has ever jumped off of a horse in cold weather knows of the shooting pains I experienced when my feet made contact with the ground. Ouch! I waddled like a duck around as I unsaddled and put Dollar's blanket back on him. He's pretty miserable too. The icicles hanging from his whiskers have now been there for 4 days and I can’t keep the water troughs busted up. I hear it is the upper 60’s in SC.
Things I enjoy about this weather:
-Watching people slide around the roads is really fun and exciting to me
-Obviously snowboarding
-The feeling of taking a hot shower and rediscovering my hands and feet
-Making snow cream for Utah natives who have more snow than they know what to do with but somehow never thought to make it into the amazing dessert we southerners love
-Sleeping in hoodies and sweatpants
-The way the mountains look covered in white
-Wearing my favorite green hat (I know it's not stylish, but it's my favorite hat-enough said)
-Saying "nice toboggan" and watching the confusion
(BTW- Toboggan is what you westerners call a beanie, a sled is, well, a sled)
-Cuddling (I miss you Amanda!)
-Seeing my breath and quoting Sanka in “Cool Runnings”

Sam Walton owes me!

So I took my car to Wal-Mart to get my oil changed. When I went to pick it up, I paid and then the gum smacking teenager told me the manager wanted to walk me out to my car. I thought great….here we go; he’s going to tell me I need to buy this fluid and that fluid, or my car is going to blow up. Well, I was wrong. As we walked he said, “we had a lil’ accident with your car.” I said, “you’re pulling my leg right?” He said, “no” as if thinking what kind of stupid joke would that be!?! The video shows they dropped a wheel off of this machine and it crashed into the side of my car. My favorite part of the story- they actually charged me for the oil change before telling me they had an “accident” with my car.

Catching up with an old friend~

I had the opportunity to go and visit Josh Cramer three different times while I was home. The visits were such a big part of my trip home, I wanted to write something about them. The first visit was quite intimidating, contrary to what I had expected. I walked up to a door amidst towering fences heavily covered with razor wire. As I stood in line I observed the other people waiting and imagined what tragedies they had been through that brought them to such an uninviting place. We all had something in common; we cared about someone inside. After being searched and checked in, I was then shuffled through numerous doors/rooms and down a long walkway. I finally made it into the visitation room. I checked in there as well and took a seat. I was then informed by a friendly fellow visitor that the tables were assigned and there was a correct and incorrect side of the table to sit on. Once I was compliant with all the rules, I found myself internalizing the thought that I was about to see Josh face to face. It had been over 9 years since I had seen him and probably 7 since the last letters were exchanged. I was nervous. What if there wasn’t anything to talk about. Do I hug him? Will conversation be forced or easy? What will he look like? In about 10 minutes he walked through the door and we both had enormous smiles spread across our faces. (I’m sure partly from being nervous) I could type ten pages of the rest of this visit and the following two, but I’ll just share a general overview.

Conversation was never hard; Josh is a great conversationalist. He was extremely happy, upbeat, and positive to be around. He is writing a fictional book based on some of the characters and events in the Book of Mormon, and has become a superb wood worker, building anything from clocks to mini pool tables. He told me all about the jobs he has in a wood work shop making specialized/custom flooring. There’s much more to it than that, but I’ll play the girl card; I don’t know exactly what he does, only that it is very labor intensive. Companies pay the state $7 an hour for labor, the state keeps like $2 of each $7 and after an augmented amount of tax dollars are withheld, he keeps $1.50. You may ask…what does he need money for? A lot! For example, to keep pictures he receives he needed an album. The only way to get stuff like that is to order it from an approved catalog. The catalog charges $X and then the state charges Josh $X plus whatever profit they want to make. They can’t get fruit because too many people were making wine, and they lost their thick wool blankets to a much thinner version because people used it to escape the vicious razor wire. They have rules for everything because you can assume someone abused the freedom somehow.

We also spent a good bit of time reminiscing about high school days: Mrs. Gutierrez and the antics we each pulled in her Spanish class, Josh’s wrestling days and his numerous state championships, football games, and common friends. After my visits I felt a real love for Josh. I’ve always loved his family, but had now had a chance to get to know him all over again and in a more real way. 10 hours of talking had felt like 4, and I drove away with a new and better perspective of the blessings in my life.
I wanted to share my experience for 2 reasons. 1) As I said earlier, it was an important part of my visit home 2) I encourage all of you who knew Josh or would like to know him again to write or visit. It was a very positive and enjoyable experience.

Christmas Slide Show

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Good-bye 2006!

1/2/06 oops I mean 1/2/07
Welcome 2007!
I was reading through my journal on my plane ride back to Utah. What a crazy year! I went on some fun trips (Moab, Zion, Goblin Valley, San Rafael Swell, AZ, NM, WY, ID, FL, SC, NC etc…), I moved Dollar up from AZ, descended my first class C canyons, got a chance to be an assistant canyoneering guide, purchased my first mountain bike, learned to ride in powder, learned to ride regular and goofy on my board, hitch hiked numerous times, experienced my first aneurism, got to wear a neck brace, ran up Y mountain, threw up on Y mountain, went through 10 roommates, moved twice, went white water rafting without a guide, slept on the sand by the Virgin River all alone, didn’t fall off a horse, get bitten by a horse, or kicked by a horse all year long, bought my first Australian saddle, landed my first salaried position, received flowers from a guy I liked, attended my grandpa’s 100 birthday party, made my first batch of rice krispy treats ever, danced on a table, slept in my car, did not get a parking or speeding ticket, I did laugh so hard I peed my pants, I cut my own hair, raced a train on Dollar, went running bare back through hay fields, jumped off cliffs, went sea kayaking, went surfing, napped by the ocean, went to Disney World, met lil’ Lexi and Nicholas, I’ve been happy, I’ve been sad…..I could go on for quite a while! 2006 was amazing and I can’t wait to make 2007 even better!

I'll be home for Christmas!

I'm extremely excited to go back to S.C for the holidays. I'm taking a red eye 12/20. The last few weeks have been really great. I've gotten some days in snowboarding, transitioned back into having a horse in Utah in the winter time, returned to a regular workout schedule, and taken some time out to spend with friends. I love when I feel like I have control over my life and I'm not just hanging on for the ride. It is all about simplification.

We were asked to submit 2 pictures from when we were little at work for the surprise Christmas party. Here are some Dad emailed me.... I love that Mom dressed me in a sweat suit with black platinum leather shoes and white socks for the one picture.

Nate's Aconcagua Trip

For anyone interested:
My friend Nate, who I climbed Rainier with, is in Argentina climbing Aconcagua. It is his first solo big mountain climb. 2 weeks ago, the temperature on the summit was -70. It is now -20. I've included updates from his girlfriend Claire.
Dec. 9th
Hi Everyone:

Nate has made it to Argentina! After a ridiculous morning of calls to Argentina, dropped Sat phone calls from Nate, missing permit offices and other complications, Nate is all settled in Mendoza with his climbing permits, and will be leaving tomorrow morning to trek into base camp. The permit office has recently moved, throwning a kink into Nate's plans, but it has been all worked out, and he will still be leaving to get to the mountain tomorrow morning! He has very limited internet access at his hostel in Mendoza, so though he may not be able to
answer, he may be able to read his emails if any of you would like to drop him a few quick lines. Tomorrow he leaves for his two day trek into base camp, and will rest there for a day. After that, he has several solid days of climbing, with summiting projected on the 16th. He will return to the states on December 23rd.

Thanks
Claire

Dec 10th
Hello Everyone:

I heard from Nate this afternoon at about 4 pm (Which is about 8oclock in Argentina), and he was settled at his first camp, Confluencia, about half way into his trek to base camp. He started climbing at 4 30pm today (after leaving at 10 to drive the 170 kilometers out to the beginning of his journey) and made it to camp by 7pm, and apparently in a rather miserable snow storm. He says most guided groups usually take 3-5 hours for this portion, with mules, so he was very happy to do it in 2 and a 1/2 unsupported. He says it is cold at his camp, but the storm subsided, and he is now all settled in his tent and warm. When he called me he was getting ready to make dinner, and sounded great. He says he feels strong, and is excited to start climbing tomorrow and make it to base camp, where he will spend two days. He says hello to everyone!

Claire

12/15/06

Hi Everyone:

I apologize for not emailing you all sooner with updates, finals and wrapping up at my job for the semester have kept me rather busy. I heard from Nate on the 11th, and after a grueling 10 hour trek, he made it into base camp. There he spent a much needed day resting, and then pushed on to his first camp that was actually on the mountain, Camp Canada, at 16,108 feet. Apparently there is a small storm on the mountain, and he said his push to Camp Canada was very cold. As of now, I have not heard from him since 2 days ago when he made it to Camp Canada. I know he was going to push to his second camp, Nido Des Condores (17,552ft), and then wait out the weather from there, and then attempt his summit when it was clear. The satellite phone does not work when there are clouds in the sky, so I am hoping that the reason I haven't heard from him is the lack of reception due to the storm. Please send happy thoughts towards Argentina, let's all hope this storm subsides! He has several weather days built into his schedule, and the proper gear to wait out a storm, so I know he will be safe. I will email you all as soon as I next hear from him.

Claire

12/16/06
At this point, I had hoped to be emailing you all to tell you that Nate would be attempting his summit tomorrow. However, I have some different, and more critical news. Today at 11 30am I recieved a call from a group of Australians climbing who had found Nate at Camp Canada (approx 16000ft), suffering from what they believed to be Pulmonary and Cerebral Adema, both basically very very severe forms of high altitude sickness. He went on his climb with medications for both of these, and I was able to direct the men that found them to where the meds were, and get them administered to him. After that, with loads of help from lots of people, namely my father, we managed to get an evacuation coordinated, and approxamatly an hour and a half after I got the phone call, a rescue team had reached Nate, and brought him back down to base camp. I then got another call at base camp from the Australians, letting me know that Nate was in seeing a doctor. This was the last communication I had with anyone down there. On the descent, he regained consciousness, and was able to talk again by the time
he reached base camp. Thankfully, the way these illnesses work is that the instant you start to descend, you begin to feel better. As of now, that is all the information I have. As I get more information, I promise to pass it along as soon as I know. I wish I had more to tell you all, but as of now, take comfort in knowing he is at base camp in the hands of the medical team, which is the best place he can be right now. He will be ok. Again, I will email the instant I have more information. Please keep Nate in your thoughts and prayers.

As of this morning, I heard from the Australian fellow who was at Base Camp with Nate. He is doing well, and according to him, he was leaving base camp today on mules. However, after speaking with some other people involved in this situation, they seem to think he was going to be helicoptered out of Base Camp to Mendoza. Despite the conflicting information, all reports indicate that he is safe, and doing well. I have still not talked to him, and we believe this is due to the storm currently on Aconcagua (clouds obscure the sat phone reception). When I hear more, I will be sure to let you know, but we know that he is conscious, coherent and safe at this point. Now it is simply a matter of getting him back to Mendoza and then back to the USA. Again, I feel bad that I don't have more information for everyone, but I promise that as I do get it, I will pass
it along. I am back in Colorado for break now, and hopefully will be flying to wherever it is that Nate comes back to in a few days.

12/17/06
I have wonderful news! We have found Nate, and I spent about 20 minutes on the phone with him this morning! After much searching, we discovered that he made it to a hospital, not in Mendoza, but in a suburb about 30 miles out from the city. We finally found the number, and after a few tries, I was able to get in touch with the hospital, and finally, for the first time since Wednesday afternoon, talk to Nate! He sounds good, and just wants to get home to the states. His father and I are working on getting him out of the hospital and back to Mendoza. He is doing ok, and says that he currently is just feeling some back pain (apparently when he was moved
from Camp Canada to Base Camp, it was on a sled, and was a rather rough ride). He is still at 12,000 ft, so when he makes it all the way to Mendoza (4000ft) he should be feeling even better. With any kind of luck, he may be back in the USA as early as Tuesday. Right now we just have to get everything squared away with getting him out of the hospital and to Mendoza to a hotel. I made sure to pass along all the supportive emails that I have been getting to Nathan. As soon as we get him out of the hospital and to Mendoza, I will let everyone know.

Another email with good news! Nate called me a few hours ago, and has made it back to Mendoza, and was eating at a restaurant when he called me. Though the connection only lasted for about 20 seconds, he was able to tell me that he was getting some food, had made it to his hotel, and got back in touch with his wallet and plane tickets, so things are looking up. From here, he just needs some rest, and then when he is ready, he will fly home. I know I can rest a bit easier now, knowing that he is safe, and has access to food, a shower and a nice clean bed. I can only imagine how much better he feels. Again, thank you for all the kind words, I will be sure
to pass them along to Nate when we get to talk for longer than a minute!

Eating Raw

It has now been 3 weeks eating only raw foods, with the exception of crackers and canned chicken noodle soup when I was sick. Let's just say vegetables didn't sound very good. I made it through Thanksgiving, a Whitesell family vacation, and living with roommates still in college. I've lost weight, have more energy, and best of all have gained a great deal of self control.
New favorite snacks- almonds, dehydrated vegetables, rasberries, and sugar snap peas

Disney World Trip

Last Wednesday I flew to Orlando for our family’s Disney World trip.
12 adults + 11 kids (5 in diapers) + 5 strollers + 1 wheel chair + 2 “How to get the most of your Disney vacation books” = a typical Whitesell family vacation
The trip went pretty well except for a horrid stomach virus that began making its rounds on day 3.
Trip back to UT:
3am Sunday morning I met my cab driver to make the trip back to the airport. As we chatted my stomach began churning and I started to look for the button to roll down the window, then noticed the floors were plastic; no worries. By the time I checked in and walked to the gate my stomach and I were hating life. I sprawled out on the gross tile floor in the handicap stall and waited for my flight to take off. The flight to Denver was bearable- I had the entire row to myself and slept with the occasional rush to the bathroom. When I landed in Denver I had exactly 30 minutes until my connection to Salt Lake left. The flight attendant announced the Salt Lake flight would be leaving from concourse C23; she was even nice enough to clarify with, Charley 23. Blast! I was in concourse B. I grabbed my throw up bag and ran for the tram, and then ran down to the end of concourse C. But wait! What did I find? There was no gate C23. My flight to SLC was departing, now in 10 minutes, from gate B23. With throw up sack in hand I ran back to the tram and then down to gate B23 and boarded as they shut the doors. Within 12 hours of being home one of my roommates started throwing up, and last night the other one started as well.
Even with all of the stress of such a large group and the horrible trip home, I enjoyed myself. I love spending time with my quirky family!

Holdin' Cash

I participated in a service auction last week and 60 college kids raised over $2200 for the sub for Santa program. It was amazing to watch. Seeing kids without jobs drop $60 to learn to groom a horse or $100 to have someone cook dinner for them and their roommates was quite interesting. I studied in my marketing courses how the generation Y/ MTV generations have more expendable cash than any other generations have ever had. I’ll admit, I got sucked into the excitement of the auction and walked away with a scooter ride with some guy I’ve never met and a dinner for 4. I lost the bids on the free brake change and a night of star gazing with a 6th grade science teacher.

Day 6 on a strictly raw foods diet. Biggest lesson learned: You can make people really uncomfortable by not eating something when offered. I can’t count how many times I’ve turned down food this last week. It really drives people nuts. Try it!

Vegas Baby!

My parents are flying to Salt Lake tomorrow and the three of us are hitting the road to sin city to hit up the craps tables in celebration of my Granddad's 100th birthday bash!!! You can bet with Ms Diane coming into town, Jessica will be cleaning house tonight. (What can I say, I am my mother)