Becky Goes Off to College

Today is a happy day and today is also a sad day. Becky, has earned the opportunity to attend a college of her choice to major in her choice of study. That is the happy news. The sad news is that Becky will no longer be at home and I will miss that very much.

Pagosa Springs Excursion

Sandy, Lindsay and I are in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for a week of relaxation. We arrived early on Saturday morning (2 AM). After some belated sleep, I set out for a ride to check out the town. To get to the main part of town, you decend to the river valley. This was fun. I was passing cars on the way. On the way back the resort the cars were passing me as I chugged up the hill for several miles.

Later Sandy, Lindsay and I explored the town by car. We found a great farmers market, checked out the hot springs, stopped at a private bread company and did our grocery shopping for the week.

Here are some additional pictures that I have taken so far:

This is the back side of our condo. The part of the structure that juts our is the hot tub room. We are right on the golf course so as we eat our meals, we can see the golfers tee off.

This is a view of the mountain taken from the tee behind the condo. We are in the rainy season for these parts. The day remains sunny until about 4 PM. After that time, the clouds roll in from the mountain bringing the rain.

Contest - Fill in the Thought Bubble

Let's have a little contest - a friendly competition - for all my blog readers. Tell me what you think is going through this cat's head. Comment on what you think should go in the thought bubble. All submissions will be put to a vote.

Summer Training Log - Week of July 13, 2008

Goal this Week: 150 miles - Goal was not reached this week. Out of town travel interupted training schedule.

Monday, July 14, 2008
Miles: 40
Route: Out to Goldfield Road, Usury Pass and home
Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Miles: 45
route: Out to Goldfield Road, Brown back to Recker, Recker up through Las Sendas to Power. Power back home.

The Price of Gas

I listened to Ted Koppel yesterday on NPR's Talk of the Nation. The topic centered on the drivers of demand for petroleum-based fuels. Here are some interesting points that were made during the discussion.

• China is introducing 25,000 new cars a day to their highway system.
• China's highway system now includes 33,000 miles of new freeway-style roads.
• The Chinese government subsidizes the price of gasoline to buffer the cost.

Growing Chinese consumption of gasoline is becoming a real factor in the price of gasoline sold in the US. Chinese demand for gasoline is growing at an exponential rate which means that our fuel conservation will be insufficient to offset Chinese demand. The Chinese want our way of life and the consumption patterns that follow.

Our entire economic machine is dependent on petroleum and not just our cars. Petroleum is part of much of what we produce and consume from carpet to clothing to furniture. The US freeway infrastructure was conceived and built in a time of cheap petroleum. The US love affair with automobiles also began at a time of low-priced gasoline. Now China is falling in love with the auto. What does that mean for the future of gasoline for US consumers?

What do you think? Are we at a new place and time economically due to growing global demand for petroleum in developing industrial nations? Is the soaring price of crude oil just a function of speculators driving up the price? Do you believe that price at the pump can be traced back to a conspiracy among the petroleum companies? Do you think that eventually, gasoline prices will fall below $4 a gallon and stabilize? How will rising gasoline prices change your lifestyle?

Let me hear from you, the weeping consumer.

Summer Training Log - Week of July 6

Goal this week: 150 miles - Goal was Reached

Monday, July 7, 2008

Miles: 30
Weight: 174
Route: Sossaman to Guadalupe. Guadalupe to Crismon. Crismon to Baseline. Baseline to Goldfield Road to Lost Dutchman Blvd. Turned around and went back to University. University to Sossaman. Sossaman to home.

Other exercise: 20 minutes of elyptical work, stretching and light upper body.

Comments: The ride was great today. Full recovery from Friday's ride. I felt strong. Cardio was great. Recovery was very good. Another one of those rides that was pure joy.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Miles: 30
Route: First round of training at Fitness Works. Did a 50 minute RPM cycling workout. Hills, chase, speed routines. First time I have ever done that. It didn't kill me but it was a work out. The instructor was a former racer.

Second round of training was coming home and hopping on my bike for an additional 12 miles of speed work. I had the good fortune of a monsoon wind to ride against. Made a loop by going down Sossaman to Guadalupe. Guadalupe to Crismon. Crismon to Southern and Southern to Sossaman and home.

My legs are still tingling but I can feel the improvement in stamina. Breathing was a little tougher today - may be the dust in the air from the wind.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Miles: 43 (between two rides)
Route: Morning ride - Sossaman to University. University to Ellsworth. Ellsworth to the top of Usury Pass. Return home the same direction. Evening ride - Sossaman to University. University to Power. Power to McKellips. McKellips to Recker. Recker to about 4200 N. Turned around and went back to Recker and McDowell. Ride cut short due to a monsoon.

The morning ride today was a simple out and back. Did not have enough time to get too elaborate. Followed my ride by attending a physical therapy session in an attempt to correct an old lower back injury. A lot of core strength work and hamstring stretching. The exercises are making a difference.

The evening ride was cut short due to a fast moving monsoon. I hung out at a CVS on McDowell and Recker through the wind and rain. A nice guy and his girl friend offered me a ride in their 9 passenger van. What a gesture. I was truly touched.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Miles: 30
Weight: 172
Route: Sossaman to Guadalupe. Guadalupe to Crismon. Crismon to Baseline. Baseline to Goldfield Road. Goldfield Road to Lost Dutchman/Brown. Brown to 82nd. 82nd to University. University to past Sossaman. Wound my way to Clearview. Clearview to Superstition Springs Blvd. SS Blvd to home.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Miles: 20 For a total of 153 miles this week. Goal is met!
Weight: 172
Route: Quick and easy loop up Baseline to the Pinal County line. North to Southern. Southern to Clearview. Clearview to Superstition Springs and then home.

Riding at the beginning of the week was fairly easy but the latter part of the week was more difficult for some reason. I noticed I was having a difficult time sleeping after Tuesday. I got a littel sun burned on my arms on Thursday. Maybe a combination of things. I feel like I am a stronger rider but just more fatigued this week

Team Merkley is Accepted into U of U Medical School

Congratualtions to Team Merkley on their acceptance into the U of U Medical School this fall. This is truly a tribute to the "Team's" motto - Proverbs 3:5-6. Fasts and prayers were offered. The "Team" exercised faith, moved forward with other options and put the outcome in the hands of the Lord.

The Boizelle family is proud of Team Merkley! Erik, we are happy that you will be able to live your dream. Lauren, we are pleased that you will be able to finish your student teaching. We are relieved that an economically favorable path has been made possible.

Fourth of July, 2008

Sandy, Becky, Lindsay and I decided to go to Prescott for the 4th of July. Becky had never been to Prescott before. Lindsay has been to Prescott twice in the past to ride horses at Granite Mountain Stables. Sandy joined me on one of Lindsay's trips and we decided that it would be a lot of fun and much cooler to be in Prescott for the 4th of July. The town was bustling with activity. Parades, rodeos, music, cloggers...the courthouse lawn is lined with vendors under white tents selling everything from hand cream to serious works of art.

On the evening of July 3, after we settled in our hotel room, we went down to the main square in Prescott just in time to see cloggers on the courthouse plaza. We also visited several shops including a great jewelry store featuring turquoise from Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. The proprietor had inventory from the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi tribes. This is the best inventory of turquoise I have seen so far in Arizona. We finshed the evening sitting in the lobby of the historic Hassayampa Hotel listening to the music of a jazz quartet. This hotel, built in 1927, has been largely restored to its orginal state. There is a piano in the lobby for the public to play. I think the sign indicates that you really have to be able to play. Plinking around isn't welcome.

We spent the morning of the 4th moving around the courthouse square looking at vendor wares. Becky and Lindsay were very interested in the various jewelry tents. Becky found a few tie-dye and sarong vendors. We ate lunch at the St. Michael Hotel Restaurant just in the nick of time. There was a downpour, even some hail, while we were eating.

I bought a jar of green olives stuffed with jalapenos. I love olives. We watched a reenactment of the pony express. 60 riders took turns riding from Phoenix to Prescott. We were talking to some of the other riders when the final rider rode into town and handed off the mail bag. The riders then rode around the courthouse square on their way to the rodeo grounds.

We left Prescott for Camp Verde with intentions to return for the fireworks. We got sidetracked in Jerome, an old mining town that has turned into an artist enclave. This little town seems glued to the side of the mountain about 5,100 feet above sea level. Uptown is truly up and downtown is truly down! A series of switchback roads connect top and bottom. The road from Prescott to Jerome is not for the faint of heart.

While in Jerome, we spoke with the proprietor of a neat shop that sells new and old copper goods from the US and Europe. He encouraged us to go to Cottonwood, just a few miles east, to see the fireworks. Several of the surrounding towns all chip in on the cost. We took his advice and discovered for ourselves how towns pooling their funds for fireworks can generate one heck of a fireworks display. Cottonwood put on one of the best fireworks displays we have ever seen - 35 to 40 minutes of continuous fireworks. We saw new some firework patterns and presentations that were new and unique. To top it off, the temperature was a pleasant 80 degrees!

We are staying in Camp Verde tonight and will go to Sedona tomorrow. Lindsay has never been to Sedona so this will be a treat for her. The town has been built in and around the red rock buttes that seemingly appear out of nowhere in the desert. It's a beautiful place, with the contrast of Oak Creek Canyon just out of town, a green and winding canyon with one of the few year-round flowing rivers in Arizona (most of them are dry washes during the summer months). Sedona is a true tourist town, and apparently a fair amount of celebrities like to fly in for a quiet retreat.

Spackman Family Reunion

The Boizelle family was not able to attend the Spackman family reunion this year. We made the decision to not attend after a lot of personal angst but it was wise to cool the travel for awhile. We needed a little recovery before Becky goes off to college. We feel better about the decision knowing that over the last nine months we have been in Utah with Sandy's family several times for the weddings of our children and other events. We have been fortunate to see everyone who planned to attend the reunion since Lauren's wedding last August.

We are happy that Lauren and Erik were able to attend and provide some Boizelle/Merkely representation. We really wished we could have attended. This is the first Spackman Family Reunion that we have not attended since Sandy and I married. The reunions are always enjoyable.

We heard good reports from Syd and Marne that the reunion was a success. We learned that the cardboard boat race at first dam was especially fun.

Summer Training Log - Week of June 30, 2008 - Goal Reached

I have accumulated only 400-500 miles since the middle of April. A wedding and extensive business travel in May impacted time on the bike. I am not complaining but going forward, I plan to devote more time to cycling in preparation for the Glacier National Park ride in August and for the up coming Tour of Tucson in November.

Goals:

• Ride 150 miles per week
• Lose 15 lbs
• Ride both sides of Usury Pass 3 times on one continuous ride; average up hill speed of 13 miles per hour

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Miles: 30
Weight: 175
Route: Sossoman to University. University to Ellesworth. Ellworth to the top of Usury Pass down to about 3600 n and then back up to the summit of Usury three times. Summit to Thomas. Thomas to 88th. 88th to University. University to Sossoman and home.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Miles: 40
Route: Sossoman to Guadalupe. Guadalupe to Crismon. Crismon to Baseline. Baseline to Goldfield Road. Goldfield to Lost Duchman/Brown. Brown to Ellsworth. Ellsworth to top of Usury Pass. Top of Usury Pass to Thomas. Thomas to 88th. 88th to University. University to Sossoman. Sossaman to home.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Cardio - Eliptical Trainer: 30 minutes
Stretching
Sit ups

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Miles: 20
Route: Sossoman to University, University to Recker, through Las Sendas, down Power to University, University to Sossaman.

I didn't have that much time this morning which was too bad. Today was one of those rare days when all the cylinders are firing at the same time. I had reserve and my recovery was good. I could have ridden for hours. I experienced the pure enjoyment of riding.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Miles: 30
Avg Speed: (up Usury - 12 mph)
Weight: 173

Route: Sossoman to University, University to Ellsworth, Ellsworth to the summit of Usury Pass (rode Usury twice). Back home the same way.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Miles: 30 - Achieved the goal for the week of 150 miles!!

Route: I was in Prescott on the evening of the 3rd and the 4th with Sandy, Becky and Lindsay. The weather was fabulous. The high was about 85. At the time of my morning ride the temperature was in the low 70s. Wow! The ride was so comfortable. I took a circular route leaving the Holiday Inn Express and going east for about 6 miles then north to highway 89A. From this point traveling west to the turn off to Prescott. From the turnoff heading south up a long slow grade to the main drag in Prescott. Then turning east again and up the final grade to the hotel.

This was a good work out at elevation and with long, slow burning grades. I really love the Prescott Valley as a place to ride. Great roads, wide-open spaces, variety in terrain and great scenery.

The Road Through Glacier National Park

In preparation for my ride through Glacier National Park, I have been learning about the riding conditions on the Going-To-The-Sun road. This ride is going to be an adventure! This summer is the 75th anniversary of the opening of the road. The road has been maintained but the basic configuration has not changed over the years.

The route from St. Mary to West Glacier is approximately 56 miles with over 5,000 feet of elevation change; 2,100 foot acent over 18 miles to the summit and then a 3,500 foot descent over 32 miles. Good thing we are riding from east to west.

The road was opened 75 years ago this summer and was designed for the truck capabilities of the 1920's. The grades are a fairly consistant at 6%. This means a good slow burn in low gears. Being fit will make the ride a lot more pleasant and fun. I understand that the first 6 miles out of St. Mary to Rising Sun can be brutal due to the headwinds that howl through the St. Mary Valley down from the Continental Divide. (I really don't like headwinds especially howling winds). An 18 mile ascent to Logan Pass begins after passing through this point.

This is not a ride for inexperienced cyclist. There is no shoulder on this road. The engineers and builders did not anticipate cyclists nor did they have the tools and resources to build the road any wider than it is. Riders need to be comfortable riding between motorists and several thousand foot drop offs. There are low retaining walls to provide some barrier but the possibility of being pitched over this low wall is real. The pavement can be rough due to the effects of the harsh winter. Sections of the road are typically under construction at this time of the year given a limited window of time to make repairs. This is not good for skinny tire cyclists! Helmets are always essential riding gear but on this road helmets are important to protect against falling rock! I have learned that near the summit that we may share the road with mountain goats.

Given these conditions, the ride will start early in the morning to avoid as much traffic as possible. In fact, we have to make it through a certain point in the park by 11am before the road is closed to cyclists.

Once we arrive in West Glacier, we will still have 30 more miles to Big Fork, Montana., our final destination, on the north end of Flathead Lake. By this point in the ride most of the excitement will be behind us. I anticipate that the ride will take up to 5 hours depending on scenery stops.

Prep for Logan Pass, Glacier Park

Training for my Glacier National Park ride is coming along well. Now that I have a couple hundred miles on the saddle, I am shifting my training routine to include more grades.

I rode this morning for 30 miles. I rode the south side of Usury Pass on Ellesworth 3 times. http://www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/usery_pass/190

I got on the road late due to finding my rear tire flat. By the time I finished the ride the sun was much higher in the sky than I like and temperatures were climbing. I got toasted just a little!

The picture below is what I plan to ride at the end of August.

Becky Graduates!

Congratualtions, Becky, on your recent HS graduation.

This Blog is Now Open To All Readers

I have edited earlier postings, eliminated a few pictures and done some other cleanup to mitigate the need to make this blog private.

It has been a pain in the neck for invited readers to sign in. Readership is way down. I have lost motivation to publish since the blog was intended partly to be accessible on the web so other Boizelle's (Boiselle's) could connect with me.

The effort of inviting readers and controlling the list is a pain. Bottom line...I will simply be careful in what I post and what details I include about my family members.

My site contains several links to blogs of other family, friends and relatives. If those individuals do not want their blog link open to everyone on the web, please let me know and I will remove it from view.

Waterton Lakes National Park

http://picasaweb.google.com/DaveBoizelle/AlbertaCanada

Just a few miles west of Cardston, Alberta, Canada is Canada's fourth national park - Waterton Lakes National Park. This park was formed in 1895 and was named after Waterton Lake. It borders the US and Glacier National Park in Montana. The park covers about 200 square miles of rugged mountains and wilderness.

The park is very diverse for its size having prairie, apsen and alpine forests, tundra and high meadows. The primary feature of this park is Waterton Lake, the deepest in the Canadian Rockies. The peak to the right is Vimy.




To the right is the Prince of Wales Hotel, notebly, one of the nost photographed hotels in North America. The hotel is set on a bluff above Waterton Lake. The hotel apparently offers a true British experience including an afternoon tea. We were not able to enter and look around as it was under renovation.





The wildlife is abundant! Just about everywhere in the park, wildlife strolled like pedestrians. There are over 60 species of mammals, 250 species of birds, 24 species of fish and nearly a dozen types of reptiles.

Apparently, this park, in conjunction with Glacier National park to the south, is a extremely important wildlife corridor. A number of differnet ecological regions that meet and overlap in the park. According to one web site, the park contains 45 different habitats within 200 square miles.


Cameron Falls is located in the townsite of Waterton. The setting is restful and inspiring. Some of the exposed rock around the falls site can be dated back to precambrian time; about 1.5 billion years ago. The power of water on geology is very evident. Wait long enough and water will wear you down!









These mountains are some of the oldest mountains in North America. An incredible example of fault block effect. The peak in this picture is Aldersen Peak. In the foreground is another view of the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Can you imagine having afternoon tea (herbal) in the hotel while looking out at this peak and the lake?








Another look at Aldersen Peak in the middle flanked by sister peaks.

A picture of Red Rock Canyon. On a small scale, it has a Sedona, AZ feel. The rock coloring is very similar. The canyon is set among the alpine meadows and jagged mountain peaks. We did not explore this canyon much in that we were short on time. If we had more time we could have hiked a short distance to Blakison Falls. The peak in the background is Dungarvin Peak.

This is one park that we will come back to see again.

Jon and Stephanie's Wedding

Jon and Stephanie wedding festivities turned out very well. It took about 9 days and 2600 miles to get it completed but it was well worth it. Jon married a wonderful girl named Stephanie Quinton. She comes from a great family.

I have a few pictures from the wedding in Rexburg, Idaho and some from the receptions in Logan, Utah. The camera settings must not have been correct as a few of the pictures are hazy.

The Rexburg temple was beautiful inside and out. The weather was gorgeous and so was the bride!

The Tetons Times Ten

Sandy, Jon and I traveled to Cardston, Alberta, Canada last week to meet the Quinton family and to participate in several events with family and friends.

With a week between Canadian events and Rexburg activities, we decided to explore southern Alberta. We visited Banff and Waterton Park in the Canadian Rockies. The best way to describe the Canadian Rockies is like the Tetons on steroids. The sites were so grand and majestic that for a moment I almost considered a citizenship change!

I have included a number of pictures of both parks for your viewing enjoyment. I must remind you that these pictures cannot do justice to the panaramic vistas that are only enjoyed in person.

Jon and Stephanie enjoying a moment beside Lake Louise. Lake Louise is Canada's diamond in the wilderness and one of the hiking capitals of Canada. It was named after the 4th daughter of Quenn Victoria, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. In fact, the entire province of Alberta was named after the princess.

I couldn't determine the cause of the ice melting on the lake but one theory is the love and warmth generated by the happy couple.

This is a glacial lake and the water does not really start to thaw until well into May. Once thawed and on a sunny day, the water has an emerald hue. The glacier can be seen at the top of the photo.

We took a little nature hike while in Banff and stopped to take this picture. We had one eye on the scenery and another watching for bear. Several bear had already been spotted the week we were there. They were hungry and grouchy from hibernation and probably were not in a charitable frame of mind.

The town of Banff is situated at the highest eleveation of any town in Canada at 4,800 ft. above sea level. It is a major international tourist destination due to the mountain surroundings and hot springs. Several of the well known mountains include: Mount Rundle, Cascade Mountain, Mount Norquay and Sulphur Mountain.

Sandy, Jon and Stephanie standing on one of the balconies of the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Behind them is a golf course, a river and of course more Canadian Rocky Mountain splendor.

As you might imagine, many visitors come and then say why not just live here. The insuing residential growth has generated environmental concerns which in turn have created restrictions on building. New comers must demonstrate a need to reside in Banff to take up permanent residence. The cost of housing in and around Banff is therefore astronomical.

We crossed the river just below Bow Falls and took this picture of the Fairmont Hotel. It truly is a massive hotel. This hotel was made possible by the the completion of the Trans-Canada Railroad through the Bow Valley. The Canadian government wanted to attract well to do Canandian and European citizens and other internation travelors to this new wilderness area. The Fairmont Hotel was one way to provide luxury accomodations far from home. I can assure you that this hotel is as well appointed on the inside as it appears on the outside.

I took this picture from inside the gondola as we ascended Sulpur Mountain. The high speed gondola took us to the a visitors center and observation deck atop the 8, 000 ft. mountain in 8 minutes.

I had fun discussing the various disaster scenarios I could think of as we silently passed over trees and rocks 60-80 ft. below.

Sulphur Mountain gets it name from the hot springs located on its lower slopes. The springs have been turned into swimming and hot pools.

The observation deck provided a 360 degree panarama of the Bow Valley and the spectacular snow covered peaks. Quite frankly, I have never seen a more stunning assembly of mountains anywhere in North America.

The picture to the right is a continuation of the Sulphur Mountain range.

From the main observation deck, visitors can walk a boardwalk to the Sanson Peak Meteorlogic and Cosmic Ray Station. This stone observation station was build by Norman Sanson in 1903. For 30 years he hiked/climbed each week to record his weather observations, regardless of the weather! Later, this peak was also fitted to measure cosmic radiation during the 50's and 60's.

From the observation deck this picture shows the Massive Range featuring Mount Brett the second peak from the right and Mount Bourgeau to the far left.

This range was well named. These mountains are massive. This picture does not provide the real sense of presence of this range.

The Bow Valley is in the forefront with the Bow River flowing through from west to east.

To the left is a spectacular view of what I believe is the Sundance Mountain range.

The picture below is the town of Banff as seen from the observation deck on Sulphur Mountain. The large mountain behind the town is Norquay. Norquay is the home to one of Banff's ski resorts. Vertical drop is around 1700 ft. The longest run is 3800 ft. 45% of the mountain is advanced or expert with some slopes at grades over 30%.

The area of Banff was settled in the 1880s when the transcontinental railroad was built through the Bow Valley. The town was named by Lord Steven, a former Canadian Railroad director, after his birthplace, Banffshire, in Scotland.

Three railroad workers stumbled upon a series of hot springs on the slopes of what is now Sulphur Mountain. The Canadian government promoted the area as a resort destination. This area also was established as the first Canadian national park. This action prompted the start of the Canadian national park system.

The wedding was almost off after Stephanie met this cute little man sunning himself on a bench at the weather station on Sanson Peak.

Jon was incensed when he discovered the pair getting chummy. What did she see in this cold, calculating and faceless character?

One thing was sure. The little man was melting in her presence. Stephanie could see that this relationship would not last forever.

She comes to her senses and realizes that Jon is the only man for her.

(Just having a little fun!)

91 Degrees and Fishing for Trout

A good friend of mine, Scott Barrett, has taken a position with a firm headquartered in Scottsdale. He has been in Scottsdale this week getting up to speed on his new duties and is staying over the weekend and through next week. This gave us the opportunity to go fly fishing this morning.

We fished locally on the Salt River just below the Seguaro Lake dam a few miles from my home. This was the first time either of us had fished in Arizona. It just seemed strange to fish for trout at 91 degrees in among the Suguaro Cactus and other desert fauna. This was also the first time I had fished in many years. I was rusty. Scott was kind enough to give me some "tips" to get me back up to speed. Scott is a nationally recognized fly fisherman so it is always a humbling experience to fish with him.

Scott actually pulled a rainbow out of the river and had a few other strikes and fish that came off the hook. I had a number of strikes and one fish that came off the hook. As with all fishing, catching something is not the only reason to fish. The time spent in the water and time talking is most of the fun.

I did learn that I have been away from fishing too long.

Syncronized Swimming Watershow

Lindsay performed in a syncronized swimming watershow this past Saturday. This event was a fun exhibition for family and friends to see the combined skills of the competition and recreation teams. Lindsay did a great job as usual especially in serving her team as the "board." The board forms an under water platform from which another swimmer can stand and perform a manuver like a summersault above the water. Lindsay was chosen because of her abs.

Lindsay's experience with syncronized swimming has been very positive. It is a unique team sport unlike anything that her siblings have tried. The watershows and competitions include an element of entertainment and costuming including a hairpiece and hair painted with clear knox jello to keep the hair in place throughout the manuvers.

Team practices include extensive conditioning through swimming and pilates. The manuvers require amazing strength and flexibilty. The team has a strength and pilates coach for this purpose. I have tried a few of the moves and I look like a cow floundering in the water. Lindsay makes it look so easy.

Winter Guard Takes Top Honors

Becky finishes her high school color guard career in a big way. Her High School Winter Guard earned a first place division trophy in the state competition yesterday. Becky's HS joined just two other division first place winnners in the state competition. A score of 87 points placed Becky's guard in the top 3 teams at the competition. This was a tremendous effort in that this is only the second year that her high school has fielded a winter guard color guard unit.

Becky has served as the captain of both the field season and the winter guard and her steady student leaderhip helped keep the girls together and motivated to win first place. Way to go Becky!