The Jessi James Gang

Brighton - February 21, 2009

Hooray for Dental Meetings! Dad was back in town this weekend for meetings, so we made sure to include a ski day at Brighton (Thanks Jen for tickets!!!). It was beautiful - blue, blue sky and nice and warm.

I'm borrowing Kurt & Carlee's digital camera for Brett & Tammy's wedding (March 7th!), so I'm grateful to have a couple extra weeks to get comfortable with a new-to-me set up. These are some of the 90+ pictures I took today. I love digital! THANK YOU Kurt & Carlee!

James - right now I can't remember where we were skiing, but I really like how this picture turned out. I like it so much, I'll make it the blog background for a while.

Dad skiing Lower Pioneer of Snake Creek. I had to lighten both these pictures, the contrast between the sunshine and shadow was too much. I think I need to read the manual.

Dad skiing Lower Pioneer off Snake Creek.

Watch out for trees! Skiing Power Line off Milli.

Gnarly old tree near Milli lift line.

Milli bowl viewed from Great Western Lift w/super zoom lens.

James in Milli Bowl. Isn't he amazing!

UT Jazz vs. Boston Celtics - February 19, 2009

Happy Birthday James! For James' 30th birthday on Dec 4th, I got him the best tickets we could afford for the Jazz v. Celtics game. (Upper bowl, 9th row - someday we'll get lower bowl tickets for a game...)

The Celtics are his favorite team, now that his favorite player, Kevin Garnett plays for the Celtics. And he likes their mascot - the little leprechaun guy. Must be because "McCalvy" is an Irish surname!

Last year for James' birthday I got us tickets to the Jazz/Celtics game and for Christmas I got him a Celtics T-Shirt #5 Garnett. I also got him a Jazz T-shirt #5 Boozer. Carlos Boozer is from Alaska and is a few years younger than James. James actually played against Boozer in high school. Well, Boozer was in Jr. High and playing for the JV team. So this year we wore his t-shirts to the game.

And it was a GREAT game. I cheered for the Jazz & James cheered for the Celtics. The Jazz were behind for most of the game. Garnett tweaked a knee during the 2nd quarter, so he was out for the rest of game. And in the last 5 minutes of the game, the Jazz rallied and won!

We took a pair of binoculars to the game (the Upper Bowl is a really long way away from the court), so I started to play with the phone's camera - this is a picture through the binoculars. Go JAZZ!

Happy Valentine's Day! - February 14, 2009

James in the 'fluff' in the Rock Garden in Mary Chutes at Brighton.

Our first Valentine's (2005) was actually our second date. James took me to see the Harlem Globetrotters. And he did bring some chocolates and a red rose.

Our second Valentine's (2006) was before we got engaged. I made a little book of love-themed comics and a couple bags of Hershey's kisses. I had them smuggled into his ski locker by our friend who also worked with James. He made me a poster-sized Valentine with pictures of the two of us, taken throughout our first year of dating. He used scrapbook paper and little quotes and it turned out incredible. We framed it for use at our reception, and it still hangs in our bedroom - a year-round Valentine.

Our third Valentine's (2007) was completely uneventful. I asked James, and together we can't remember it at all.

Our fourth Valentine's (2008), I asked James for a new dust pan and broom. He delivered - that's my romantic Husband! I don't think I got him a gift. Love you Honey!

Our fifth Valentine's (today!) was the BEST EVER. Since it is Saturday, we planned to go skiing together. But we also got presents. He got me a new travel contact case for my contact lenses. It is cute - a picture of sea otters on the case, with a little mirror inside. I got him a new scraper/brush to keep in The Outlaw. James' parents sent us a valentine with some cash inside. Each bill had a little sticky note. One said, "Money to help with lift tickets."One said, "Money to help with gas to get to the slopes." The last said, "Money for hot chocolate." Thank you thank you thank you Dick & Sharon - what a perfect Valentine!

And it snowed! And snowed! And snowed! I tell James I got him a scraper, and a storm!

Brighton (thanks for the tickets Jen!) was fantastic! We skied everything. James jumped off everything. We broke trail for a traverse out of some particularly good fresh powder turns. By the end of the day, my legs were jell-o! What a perfect date.

I didn't take my film camera with us, but we took some videos with our phones, please forgive the video quality, we're still pretty thrilled with the whole day!

James skiing Power Line off Milli

Jessi skiing Power Line off Milli

James skiing the pillows off the cliffs outside Wren Hollow

Jessi 'jumping' rocks in Wren Hollow Rock Garden area

James skiing in Milli bowl

Jessi skiing in Milli bowl

I say again, What a perfect date.

Backcountry... Continued... - February 13, 2009

Today, James was offered a full-time job with benefits with Backcountry.com. Whoo hoo!

Now we don't have to worry that he'll be swapped to part-time hours, without notice. In fact, Backcountry is hiring more warehouse personnel again. Very good news. Feels very good to have a secure job.

However, we'd already re-started the application process with the Alaska State Troopers. It is a very, very long process. This is our second go-round. In 2008, James applied in January. Mailed in the background packet (38+ pages, handwritten) in February. Phone interview in March. In April, received the invitation up to Anchorage for the in-person interview. In June he interviewed - physical fitness test (push-ups, sit-ups & 1 1/2 mile run), oral interview with a panel of troopers, written psych test, medical exam, interview w/psychologist and a lie-detector test. After all that, in July, we received a "try again next year" letter.

We were going to wait two years and save up enough for the interview process (flights, lodging, transportation, meals, etc. are all the interviewee's responsibility). But the BIG BACKCOUNTRY.COM PART-TIME SCARE prompted us to re-apply again this year.

Next steps:
1. Mail in the background packet, post-marked by Feb 25th.
2. Wait.

The goal is for James to begin a career with potential for flying planes or helicopters and with a stable job, be able to start our family and have me be a stay-at-home mom. (Of course, adventuring in Alaska is an added bonus!) Wish us luck!

To be continued...

UT Jazz vs. LA Lakers - February 11, 2009

My co-worker, Emily, gave us her tickets to the Jazz vs. Lakers game! Her husband was sick & she was going to study for an upcoming math test. Happy to say her husband got better and she did super great on the math test, but I think James & I got the better deal! THANK YOU EM!!!

We were in the upper bowl on the 16th row, surrounded by people wearing Laker's jerseys - Here's what the court looked like before the game started from way-up-there!

It was a really good game. The Jazz were just barely ahead for most of the game and they did win, by just a little bit. 113-109. But it was so bizarre to hear the entire stadium chanting "DE-FENCE, DE-FENCE" as the Jazz defended the Lakers and then when the Lakers would score, our entire section would break out cheering! At one point, a young Jazz fan behind us yelled, "Go back to California!" to all the Laker's fans. But it did make the 'energy' of the game very, very fun!

My first date with James was sort of a blind-date to a Jazz game. The Jazz vs. the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder - I've been wondering, my cousins in the Seattle area, have you missed the Sonics at all?) and the Jazz won that game too! Good omen. GO JAZZ!

G&G Price - February 8, 2009

While my Dad was in town, we made a trip up to Ogden to visit Grandma and Granddad. And by my Mom's request (for a family calendar she is working on) they allowed me to take their picture. Aren't they cute!

Snowbird - February 7, 2009

My Dad stayed with us for a couple days while attending some dental education meetings in downtown SLC. As a part of the enticement for dentists to come to this particular seminar were complimentary tickets to Snowbird Resort. James and I were planning to buy one lift ticket for James to go skiing with him - and of course check out some fat skis from Backcountry.com for them to ski test. LUCKY US! Dad 'sweet-talked' his way into THREE complimentary lift tickets and treated us to a day on the hill! Thank you Dad! Thank you Ultradent!

James - scoping the potential 'lines' from the ski lift.