Are you ready for some Football?

 I was just going about my day today, when I happened to see an email from my bank.  This email was announcing the fact that Deseret First Credit Union was holding a contest that would award the winner with two tickets to the BYU - Utah game in September.  This is what the email asked "Are you the world's biggest fan of BYU or the University of Utah? Let everyone know on Deseret First's Facebook page! "

Well, hello, any contest looking for the biggest BYU fan is definitely one for me.  And then for the prize to be BYU football tickets, well that was a no brainer.  I mean it does seem like I may have a slight unfair advantage, given my stalking skills and relentless quest for all things BYU football. 

I immediately scanned through my memory and photo folders to find the perfect picture.  The only problem is which ONE to choose.  Really, why wouldn't they allow me to submit my entire BYU football portfolio?  I even have a published book, remember?  Because seriously if it was about quantity, I think I could win that contest.

Asking me to pick my favorite BYU football picture, is like asking me to pick my favorite child.  So not fair, and actually quite impossible.  But if I wanted to enter, then one picture had to be picked.  I choose this one, because who can compete with a magical Turkey bone found in my Thanksgiving turkey, predicting the successful win for BYU against Utah that year?

To make me feel a little bit better, I thought I would post some of the runner's up here, since I have no limit on pictures posted on my blog.

I could have chosen this adorable picture of me with the cheerleaders.  I mean, just so you know, I am the second one from right.  You wouldn't have found me otherwise, I am sure.

 I could have chosen this one of me sporting the hat with the cougar coming out of it.  And me training up Diana in the ways of loving BYU football.

 This could have been a good one since it is with Ross Apo, who is destined to catch some great ones this season.  Someday this will be a very famous picture and it would have been very current.

 I don't think anyone could argue with the fanatical part of this fan picture.  And check out the score on the screen in the background.

 This was actually my runner up picture.  I love this family Christmas card picture of forced fanaticism.  I mean the look on my teenage boys faces is just priceless.  My husband steered me away from this picture as I don't think he was comfortable with his picture being in a contest.  But then maybe he shouldn't have signed the release form.

 This was a possibility because there is no denying my excitement over my 2009 Las Vegas Bowl tickets.

 Or this one taken at the actual bowl game might have been a good choice as well.  This was the coldest games known to man, but I am so happy I went, as BYU will most likely never play in the Vegas bowl again.

 This one could have been a good one also.  I mean it is hard to compete with the face of BYU football for so many years.  It is my facebook picture by the way.  Most people probably think it is me with my grandfather.  But No, that would be me harassing the youth conference speaker before he went up to speak.

This is a great one of me with some of my best blogging friends, April, Tonya, and Barb.  So fun when blog world meets real world.

 Here I am with Bryan Karia and April doing her best "Sound of Music, cuckoo clock dance" impression.  Bryan should have an awesome season this year.

 Here is another one proving my biggest fan status.  Need I say more.

Here I am with McKay Jacobson and my stalking book after the Football fireside in Las Vegas October 2010.  I didn't get to go to the game because I had to go to Seattle so Jared could get his patriarchal blessing, but I made it to the fireside anyway.

This is a nice one of Denis Pitta and I after the football fireside in Payson before the UCLA game in Provo September 2009.

This one really is one of my all time favorites, as it was my first stalking picture.  Kind of like your oldest child.  I have to admit that it makes me kind of giggle every time I see it.  It was taken at the UNLV fireside in October 2007.  I remember leaving the fireside and all these guys were hanging around waiting for the bus.  So I just said "Hey everyone! Gather around the crazy old lady who loves BYU football"  Most of these players have graduated, but just behind me to the left is a freshman James Lark, who is a back up quarterback.

After my picture with the players, I was thrilled beyond words to see Bronco and his wife speaking for a few minutes before Bronco got on the bus.  I don't know if pictures like this happen as much any more because Bronco's popularity has grown so much.  I love this picture.

Now I could have gone on for days talking about my pictures and who I have stalked and when and where.  My pictures are rather exhaustive.  But these were some of the best ones.  I know there are other people whose passion for BYU football is equal to mine, but there is no denying that I am a true Cougar, through and through.

I have been through some difficult times in the past 4 years, and yet BYU football has always been there for me, and at times when nothing else could, has put a smile on my face without fail.  BYU football I thank you for that.  Here is to many more good times to come.  And who knows some day, my dream of having a poster in the locker room that warns players to watch out for me, well it may just come true.  Stranger things have happened.

Train up a child in the way she should stalk

Last night the dancers from So You Think You Can Dance came to Vegas to perform. Sadly, thanks to Dave Ramsey, I am trying to live within my means. This did not allow me to purchase any tickets for the show. Dang, financial limitations.

Happily, thanks to Facebook, I saw that my cousin went to the show in Utah last week. She was kind enough to let me know that you don't have to go to the show to go to the meet and greet. All you have to do is just show up and wait outside for the dancers.

I anticipated that with the show starting at 7:30 the dancers would be out by about 10:00. Diana and I headed over to the Orleans Arena about 9:30. The security people told us that it would be closer to 11 when the dancers came out.

It was ridiculously cold and we were not prepared for that kind of weather, so we went home and bundled up. We got back about 10:45 and joined the others waiting in line.

I know that it wasn't snowing or anything, but it was really windy. The Las Vegas kind of wind that cuts right through you like a knife. We ended up waiting for about 45 minutes with all the other crazies. I kept asking Diana if she was too cold and if she wanted to give up, but she was determined.

After what seemed like forever, they decided to move the free meet and greet inside out of the cold. We were right at the front of the line and we were ushered into a room with all of these people we had watched week after week. It was so amazing.

Here is Jeanine, the winner, with Diana and I. She was so pretty.

Here we are with one of our favorites, Evan. I am afraid I am suffering from an extreme case of hat hair as I value warmth over beauty. Also I wish I was wearing something other than my thermal shirt, but it did help me stay warm.

How cute are these two? We told Jeanette how sad we were when she got voted out.

Diana took this shot. Jeanette looked great in her turquoise shirt.

Kayla was next and no one was available to take our picture, so we have this one I took by holding my camera out.

We did find someone to snap our shot with Phillip. When we first came in, there was a group who had a very tiny baby with them, like two months old. This mother asked Philip to sign her baby. How odd is that? Well, I might do that if I had a baby, so perhaps it is not that strange.

Here Jason is signing Diana's book. Before it was our turn, that same group with the baby let Jason hold her and he was so cute with that baby. Jason was truly one of the nicest people.

Group shot with Jason. People were nice to snap shots for us, but next time it would be nice to have your own photographer.

Diana and Randi, she was so nice to talk to Diana and even help her get to the front of the line when people kept crowding in front of us.
One group in front of us took the classic "Butt" picture. So funny.

Here we are with Kapono. Another self shot, good thing my arm is so long.

The line to see Melissa was so long, we kept coming back but it never got shorter. Finally at the very end we got our turn. I am sure that Melissa hears all the time about how her breast cancer dance impacted people. I added my story to the others. As my mom was in the middle of her treatments, I remember sitting on the couch with tears streaming down my face, as I watched Melissa and Ade portrait so much of what we were feeling.

Cute shot of Brandon signing Diana's book. Look at all her autographs. She managed to get one from everyone who was there. Ade wasn't there, I am not sure why.

At one point they announced the five minute warning, we hurried to get the last shot with Brandon. He is shorter in person than he looks on TV, but he was really nice. Diana is so dang cute and photogenic.

It was midnight when we finally were encouraged to leave and go home. Diana loved all of it. I was so proud. I wonder how many other such opportunities we have missed out on? I will need to be more diligent in scouting out such fun. And the best part was that it was absolutely free. If stalking is wrong, I don't want to be right. Just sayin.

But wait there's more

Yes much like one of the infomercials on TV when the guys extols the virtues of a set of knives and then says "But Wait, There's More", there are more funtabulous pictures of me with BYU football players for your viewing pleasure and potential mockery.

You see last weekend, my football friends came to Vegas. And we all know what that means: another football fireside. The fireside was wonderful as usual, but I have to admit to being a bit distracted by strategizing over how to corner potential players/victims to pose with.

Here I am with my defensive guys, Scottie Johnson and Andrew Rich. These guys both wreak havoc in the secondary on a regular basis. Scottie also was a very good sport and feigned sincere interest in my stalker book. Such a good actor.

And next me and McKay Jacobson. He has been a star on the offense this year and is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. I managed to get my stalker book in the picture this time.

In the background most of the team are helping to put away the chairs. In case you were wondering, a football team can put away all the chairs that filled the gym in about 4 minutes flat.

One of the biggest helpers, my good buddy Harvey Unga. I showed him how cute we looked in our picture that was taken the week before.

I also had a fun conversation with Coleby Clawson and his wife. He liked my pictures as well. I was tempted to get another picture with him, to see if I wouldn't be overly smiling, but oh well.

Surprisingly, I am running out of players to get my picture taken with. Almost everyone I saw, I had already tortured. Inconceivable.

As hard as it was to pry myself away, I knew that I needed to go home, pack, and get to bed so I could get up at 5 an to get to the airport the next morning. As I was driving, look who was driving in the lane next to me, two buses full of football players. I had to snap a shot, although I am pretty sure driving while holding your camera out of the window and trying to look at the view screen, is not the safest thing to do.

Here they are trying to make their get away. I contemplated tailing them to the hotel, but thought discretion was the better part of valor.

And here they are getting even further away. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Finally we reached the freeway entrance, they went east and I went west. How sad. They did play fabulously on Saturday as they dismantled UNLV. Trent was there with a friend sitting in my seat. That's OK, he was kind enough to text me during the game. Surely that is the next best thing to being there?

Jared and I had a nice visit in Seattle and he received his patriarchal blessing. It is too bad that I came down with a horrible head cold Saturday morning. That is why it has taken me this long to get this posted.

Sadly, I think this maybe the end of my close encouters with the football team this season. But never fear, I will try to go on living anyway.

More Evidence that I am looney tunes and need to join stalkers anonymous.

If you managed to miss out on yesterdays post about the joys of my visit to BYU, some found it amusing and you might want to scroll down and check it out. For the rest of you, here is the promised post about the Holy Grail of BYU football.

Once we left the bookstore, we drove around and down to lower campus. There is a building there that houses the athletic department. I have never been there before, so I had no idea just how exciting it would be to the BYU football loving freak that I am .


When I first walked in, I saw this beautiful tribute to Ty Detmer. They even have a replica of his Heisman trophy. Very coolio!

And check out this magnificent statue of a cougar on the run. Great photo op.

Nice Kitty, Kitty!

Here is a picture of a picture of two of my favorite people, Coach Edwards and President Hinkley.

And then the shrine to Steve Young. He was a senior when I was a freshman and you better believe I attended every home game that year. He even walked past me once in the Cannon Center. Can you imagine? Does anyone want to touch me? Here's a shot of me showing my admiration for his football greatness.

Next the secretary in the football office took our picture in front of this mural. It covers the whole wall of the office. I wonder if I could order this for my bedroom?

After we had our picture taken, I looked over and noticed that there was a balcony with a great view to the practice field. This in and of itself was exciting, but wait there's more. Its name is called THE. WHOLE. BYU. FOOTBALL. TEAM. WERE. DOING. SPRING. TRAINING. DRILLS!!!! The sight pretty much took my breath away. We went out on the balcony for a better look and of course a picture. I was enjoying the view, when the secretary came and told me that only friends and family were allowed to watch. (I guess she missed the memo where I was named honorary friend to the whole team.) So I reluctantly left before security had to drag me away kicking and screaming like a two year old.Went went back down stairs and noticed a hall down to more windows. I asked the security guard if we could be allowed to just watch out the window. He replied that it was totally OK for us to go out on the field because it was the last day of spring drills. At this point Diana had to pinch me so I could be sure I wasn't dreaming. And I wished I had an oxygen tank or at the very least a paper bag to breathe into.

So we proceeded down the hall and out onto my field of dreams. Here is a nice shot of me RIGHT next to the field. CAN YOU SEE HOW CLOSE I AM TO THE SIDELINE? Holy close proximity, Batman.

Seriously, the security guard warned me to keep Diana out of the way, because some kids got run over last week when a play went out of bounds. How cool would that be to be run over by a real BYU player even if it did break a limb or cause a concussion.

Here is a shot of Coach Anae running some offensive drills. I stood in awe and utter disbelief.

Here is Diana's turn to be close to the field. I think her hat helped her get in.

And as if it weren't good enough already, a buzzer rang and then it was time for a scrimmage at the end of practice. AND ALL THE PLAYERS CAME OVER TO THE SIDELINE! We could see and smell the sweat on these guys. Talk about incredible.

I made Diana go and pose with the guys first. Can you tell how close she is?

Then it was my turn. This is probably the best kind of stalking, because the stalkees didn't even know I was there. But look at the illusion that I am part of the group, rubbing shoulders with my idols. There just aren't words to express my giddiness. A kid set free in a candy store could not have been happier.

Here's a shot I got of Brian Denney.

And of course my best bud, Bronco. We are just like two peas in a pod.

I think I may have been noticed here, because the guy is leaving to go see if I am on the restraining order list. Please, don't go-- really I'am harmless, I assure you.

And here I am TOUCHING the flag that gets carried out on the field at the beginning of each game. OH MYLANTA!!! Talk about touching a piece of history. All the players have signed this flag and very many famous former BYU players have had turns carrying this flag. Again wow I have now touched the flag, anyone want to touch me?

It was at this point that a different security guard came over and told me that no one is allowed to take pictures at practice. Some tom foolery about giving away secrets to the enemy. As if I could ever live with myself if I were responsible for precious secrets falling into enemy hands. Sheesh. Well I can kind of understand that, but well I am pretty sure that ship has sailed, sorry dude. Thank Heavens he didn't confiscate my memory card. Can you imagine the depths of despair and tragedy that would have been? Whew! I talked him into letting me take just one more picture of Diana with the flag.

At one point I called my sister and said "Guess where I am right now?" She asked where, and I replied "Watching the BYU football spring practice ON THE FIELD" And she appropriately humored me by saying "SHUT UP". Then I called my brother to say nani nani boo boo to him.

Finally Diana persuaded/dragged/pleaded with me to leave. It was hard to pull myself away, but I managed somehow.

So not only did I have one day of amazing dreams coming true at Wicked, but then the very next day more events to make me smile. It is wonderful how two days of happiness can overshadow some of the pain of the past 9 months.

And there is even more happifying that I will save for another post. Stay tuned.