Family Updates

Some of you are great about sending pictures from home, some not so much. Here are some recent pictures I've received from the home front.



Kaitlin, Jeremy and Lexi







Jason's sweetheart, Lainey






Hay Bug eating breakfast

Myrtle Beach 2007

It is official. Kevin and I are flying to SC for 10 days in June for the family beach trip festivities! Kevin will get the crash course in southern culture as we explore from Charlotte to Charleston. Load up the boogy boards, start boiling the peanuts, pass the sun screen, Here we come!

Muddy Creek Ride

I recently spent a day riding horses in the Muddy Creek Wilderness area in central Utah. 10 horses, 10 riders, and 3 dogs rode back and forth across the Muddy Creek in a beautiful canyon. We made our way to a cabin well over 100 years old and it still had a cast iron stove sitting on the buckling floor with the year 1899 on it. It left my mind full of questions about the people who lived there and the sacrifices they made to live in such a beautiful yet remote place.
About 4-5 hours into the ride our group separated into two groups and we kept our eyes open for the wild horses living in the area. The scenery was beautiful and the terrain rough; the horses worked hard for us. The final few hours of a 10 hour day in the saddle is a little “uncomfortable” and the horses were really tired. We kept getting cliffed-out and finally decided to maneuver down a sketchy drainage off of the plateau. As I led my horse, Laredo, down the steep and loose boulder filled drainage; it was a bit scary. Laredo would begin to lose control of her footing with me standing in front of her. A few tense moments later, we were all safely at the bottom.
When are spirits needed it the most, two wild horses put on a show for us. They ran away down a side canyon and circled in front of us. After watching us for a few moments they ran straight towards us, stopping a couple hundred yards away. My childhood day dreams were being played out in front of me.
Although it was a great day in the saddle, my body has never been so glad to see the truck and trailer. We were all walking a bit funny the next day.

Dear Kaitlin

~John Mauney Jr.

Life has always been a gift to cherish,
The pains of death are proof.
Live each day with strength and hope,
do more than simply breathe.
Succor yourself with meditation on blessings bestowed by God
The more you smile the happier you’ll be.
and the grief will slowly leave.
There’s joy to be found in the path you take,
wherever it may lead.

New Jersey Adventure

I flew to New Jersey Monday for work and flew back Tuesday evening. A lot happened in that 24 hour time span. I rented my first car, I learned that when people say you can only turn right in New Jersey- they are being literal, I figured out what a “jug handle” is, I spent my first night sleeping alone in a hotel room, I got lost in New Jersey and spent more than I want to admit on toll roads, and met an amazing family from Liberia, Africa. Now I could elaborate on everything mentioned above, but I won’t. However, I have to tell you about the family I met.

I got to my gate 2 hours early for my direct flight to Utah. I witnessed 2 guys about my age trying to understand what the gate attendant was saying and they were obviously having a hard time. I walked up to the attendant and said I’ll take them to their gate because I was really early. Come to find out, they were also flying to SLC and we were all at the wrong gate. I led the mom, dad, two sons, and young daughter to the correct gate. The little girl is 8 years old and has a disability; her face is severely disfigured, but she would smile when I would talk to her. They were dressed humbly and only the 2 boys spoke English. We struggled through conversation and we were each very curious about the other. When I pulled out my lap top they stared in awe. I let the little girl watch a horse DVD I had with me and the dad kept thanking me over and over. They started in Liberia, traveled by bus to a larger city, flew to Europe, and then flew to Newark, NJ. They were exhausted from such a long journey. I helped them find their seats on the flight and changed my seat to sit with them. When we got to SLC I tried to lead them down the escalator. They were very hesitant, but I eventually coaxed them on. The mom and daughter fell down a few stairs and the boys caught them; the dad’s eyes got really huge. When we all safely reached the bottom they let out a nice laugh and sigh of relief. They had never seen an escalator before. An African man named James who moved to the US 13 years ago greeted them. They had never spoken before. The mom started crying and the boys and dad couldn’t stop smiling. They had made it. For the entire family of 5, they only had two small suit cases. A Catholic center in SLC is housing them in a 3 bedroom apartment. I just can’t imagine what it has taken for them to get here and how scary it must be for them. It was a great experience traveling with them.

Fighting Sleep- 2am

So, do you ever have such a wonderful day, you fight your body's need to sleep? You don't want the day to end; you don't want to lose the feelings radiating from you. You're scared your dreams won't be as kind to you and the risk of not remembering your sweetest dreams is all too real. I suddenly can't remember how it feels to be sad or lonely. Sometimes life is wonderful. That sometimes happens to be now.

Different Strokes

So as friends from work and I sat in the back of Subway munching on our lunches, Gary Coleman walked in. He was wearing all camo, black moon boots and a depressing scowl that kept any of us from talking to him. As he walked outside to his sporty Saturn Sky, you could only hope you might hear him ask, “Whatchu talkin’ about?”

Boardin' with the CEO

I spent Saturday snowboarding with a group from work, which included the CEO and COO of CP. It is fun to work for guys who would spend their Saturday on the mountain with their employees. We all had a really fun day.

Isabel and James

Engagement photos:
http://indigo-photography.blogspot.com/

Boarding at the Bird

I went to Snowbird with friends on Saturday. Three of us didn't have to pay because we didn't get checked on the bottom lift and we stayed on the upper lifts all day. That right there made it a good day and all of the powder qualified it for a darn tootin' amazing day. These first two pics are me coming off this cliff in Mineral Basin. Too bad my head got chopped off. Look at how much powder was at the bottom though. It was a blast!

Here is to putting the cart before the horse.....

I was recently chastised for not updating my blog enough, so since inquiring minds are searching for answers, here is the latest:

My company recently restructured its departments and all of the job titles/responsibilities. Translation: I’ll do more marketing and less customer service and a few of my co-workers are looking for other employment opportunities. Bitter sweet.

I went boarding again Saturday with friends from work and then took a personal day from work on Monday when I woke up to a foot of fresh powder outside. Some of the best boarding yet! I finally purchased a helmet but can’t decide if it will prevent injury due to the philosophy I have adopted since buying it. “I can go off that jump a lot bigger now that I have a helmet,” or “I can go a lot faster through the trees now that I have a helmet.” I’m hitting my head more frequently now that I have “protection”.






On the way down Big Cotton wood canyon Moni tells us his Durango is running out of gas. With "0" miles till empty flashing and the needle below the E, we coasted into the 7 Eleven at the mouth of the canyon. Good thing for gravity!






For those who know “Elder Scotty,” he says he is lonely and wants letters.

Elder Bertoglio
1300 Crownpoint Ave. #17
Norman, OK 73072-5875

Snowboarding at The Canyons

Saturday I went snowboarding at The Canyons Resort with a group from work. It was one of the most fun days I've ever had snowboarding. There wasn't a ton of snow and some of the runs were crowded; however,last weeks storm dropped 8 inches of fresh powder and you couldn't have asked for a more fun group of people. I am sporting a nice cut on my face from a guy jumpin off this small ledge through the trees and smacking me right in the side of the head with his board. I think it's sexy. Left to right: Tyson, Eric, Leamoni, Kahiki, Bryan, me, MJ, and Tyler.

Ahhh....breath of fresh air!

Snowmobiling up at Strawberry Reservoir/Daniel’s Summit. First time out of the inversion in a week. I’ve never seen Utah Valley so disgusting before. I want to get one of those SARS masks to wear around. Up at Daniel’s Summit, I sprawled out on the ground, took a deep breath of clean air and enjoyed feeling the sun on my skin instead of the sticky grey air in the valley. Snowmobiles are so much fun!

Oppressive Utah winter

Those aren't highlights in poor Dollar's hair.

I'm an aunt (for the 12th time)

Lainee Scott Whitesell was born early this morning and weighed 6lbs 6oz.