Still in good ol' Provo

Hello everyone. Let me first start out by stating that I know I never belonged to THE red meat night, but I was fortunate enough to attend a few times before venturing out on my own. It was good to see how everyone is doing and I thought I would add my two bits about what is going on in my life.
Pete and I are still in Provo. I'm working full time in Springville for a company called Nature's Way. I work in their international department taking care of the accounts we have around the world. This last May Pete and I went to Thailand and Taiwan for my work. We spent 2 1/2 weeks touring and having fun. Oh, and I had a few meetings in between. Since Pete served in Taiwan, we didn't have any major problems getting around the country despite the major language barrier.
Pete started his first year of law school. He's been spending a lot of time with Jill in the law library lately. I think he really enjoys it-so far.
I guess most people know that I'm expecting next April. I'm pretty much done with my first trimester and feel pretty good so far. Jill has been kind enough to run with me every once in awhile despite the fact that I'm slower than a buffalo. We're pretty excited and are hoping that it is a boy (despite Coach's wishes for a girl).
Since Pete and I will be here for a few more years, we more than welcome anyone that comes to old Provo. It's good to see some of the "older" girls once in awhile.
Thanks for allowing me the privlige of posting on your blog. And JoLee-PEACE OUT!

Katie (Martin) Sabey

Boston Insights - via San Francisco

As a preface to this entry, I need to warn all of you that this is not from a Red Meat Night girl. However, it is from the husband of a Red Meat Night girl. I was one of the few men who actually joined a meal or two during track season at BYU. As a result, I get to be one of the few men who get to post to their blog. Don't worry, Kristen has put me up to this -- and with good reason. I am in Boston right now and had the opportunity of having dinner and an evening together with Nicole and her "friend" Hyrum.

I was a bit surprised when Nicole said that we were going to this great restaurant called "striptease!" But before I had cast away all hope for Nicole's eternal salvation, she assured me that my wife would be okay with it because it was prounounced "striptease," but spelled "strip T's" as in T-bone steak. The place wasn't racey at all.

I'm belaboring the reason Kristen asked me to write this, I'm killing some time before my next appointment in Boston today. The purpose here is to give a full report on Hyrum. As I told Kristen after my four hour evening on the town, I was thoroughly impressed with the guy. He is tall, skinny (which I can relate to), funny, has a full head of hair, spiritually sharp, funny (did I mention that?) and, in a very un-San Francisco way of viewing men, I would say he is a handsome fellow (to which I can also relate - please don't edit this blog Kristen).

He works in a top secret Department of Defense lab for MIT, where he plays with lasers (truly every man's dream), speaks Russian, yet is a humble kid from Idaho. As I told Kristen, this guy's general authority material. So Nicole, in this public forum, let me privately tell you that this guy is a great catch! I'm rooting for you.

Since I'm on the topic of guys, JoLee, you have a winner too. THERE ARE NOT OTHER FISH IN THE SEA LIKE THESE GUYS.

Thanks for the red meat,
Cory

Greetings From Kansas

Wow. We really are getting spread out across the country. It's kind of fun to think that I have friends in so many different places these days. And I always love to hear how everyone is faring in their parts of the country.

So, Kansas... I am here starting my Ph.D. in Art History. It's actually a really nice place. Kansas' greatest asset is that everyone is really nice here. Niceness is a Kansan theme I think. I have been really impressed with how personable and genuine my professors are. However, while I do like the professors, my judgment of the program as a whole is still pending. I' m not certain I know enough about it yet to give the thumbs up. But in the meantime, I'm enjoying learning about Kansas. I decided that I needed to do "Kansas cultural activities" so that I can learn about where I now live. My activities so far have included: going to the artsy movie theater downtown, getting a library card at the public library, eating ice cream at the "best place in town," and a trip to the art museum in Kansas City, and I have some other plans as well.

My roommate, Becky, is great. I think that we were meant to be friends. We are in the same general stage of life, which makes conversation very natural. So, I'm glad to have a friend. Another great thing about Kansas is that it is really pretty. The land here really appeals to me. I like the trees and the rivers. A few weeks ago we took a temple trip to Winter Quarters (remember our trips there during Indoor?) and the drive was enchanting. It's not an in your face beautiful like the mountains, but it's very pleasant. I think I need to start taking pictures and then maybe I can post them someday.

However, there are plenty of things that I don't like about Kansas as well, not the least being that Nathan is in Utah. He's finishing his Master's program in Statistics and will be done in December, which is really not very far away. After that? Well, I'll keep you updated. We are working on it, and I'm keeping an open mind to all possibilities. I was out in California last weekend, as you know from Kristin's update, for Nathan's sister's baby blessing. It was really nice to be together, and we will see each other again in a few weeks because I have a Fall Break (amazing after BYU's no-breaks ever policy). Kristen, Nathan said he really enjoyed visiting you before you ever said all that great stuff about him. And I'm really glad we had a chance to come by. There's nothing like old friends! And in case you were wondering all those comments Kristen made about Nathan are true.

I hope all of you are doing well. This seems to be a great way to stay in touch. Thanks for setting it up Kristen.

Love,
JoLee

Sunny California

Hi girls!! This is a great idea. I have to admit that I am very slow on learning computers, so this is quite advanced for me. I have to agree with Nicole, I don't think I'll be posting any pictures anytime soon as I am still old fashioned with the camera---but I can always write updates.

Jill Dogger recently came and visited sunny California. It was great seeing her---only for a few minutes. Jill and I switched places for the weekend, she was here, and I flew to BYU to see the USC game. Sorry to say it Cougars, but I was in Trojan attire all weekend. The game was a blast. I sure wish there were some of us remaining in Provo because things aren't the same. It wasn't the same eating at the Brick Oven without any teammates.

Life in California is great. This time of year is always great---the Fall colors (yes, even in California), and the Halloween candy..life couldn't be much better. I do think the St. George marathon in 2005 is a goal of mine, so anyone wanting to join Barney and myself is more than welcome.

Well, I've gotta run. Hope everyone is doing well and I'll talk to you all soon.

Sure wish I could update you about the boy department, but there just aren't any new developments...the guy in front of me at the BYU/USC game was pretty hot, and he was wearing my USC scarf by the end of the game....but I'm still single, selfish, and loving it!

Miss you all lots and think of you often!!!
Love,
Sarah

Hi from Boston

Hey folks! This is Nicole speaking. I think that this is a great idea.
I want to see everyone post pictures and write memoirs. I don't have a
picture to post yet but I soon hope to. I still have an old
conventional camera so no high-tech digital loading for me.

Ahhh life, where do I start? I feel like Heavenly Father is blessing
me profusely these days. I am still out here in Massachusetts. I
recently moved from Framingham to Watertown. Watertown is about three
or four miles from Boston but on the other side of the Charles River.
It is a nice spot and I adore my roommates. Two are from Utah and one
from Indiana, and one from California. I met them in my ward and they
are outstanding. If any of you want to come out for a visit our house
has a great futon in a little sun room. Also one roommate is engaged
so in October we will have a spare bedroom. I would love for any of
you to come take advantage of me.

I recently got a new job. I finished my dietetic internship at Mount
Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, and now I am working at three dialysis
clinics. I am working with patients with chronic kidney failure who
are on dialysis, or basically an artificial kidney. I will be at a
dialysis clinic in downtown Boston, and two ghettos/barrios of Boston;
Roxbury and Hyde Park. The patients are really fun. It is a completely
different population then you ever see down-town Provo, that is for
sure. There is a big learning-curve for me and right now I am feeling
a little overwhelmed but I think I am going to like it.

I guess the last but definitely not the least thing in my life right
now is that I am dating someone pretty special. His name is Hyrum and
he is from Idaho. I met him here in the ward. He actually graduated
last year from BYU with me with his masters in electrical engineering.
He works for MIT at an Air Force base doing research. He is wicked
smart (note the Boston slang and smart is to be pronounced smaht :)).
So anyways, I am totally smitten. He came out to Seattle over Labor
Day and I am going home with him for Thanksgiving. One of my favorite
things about him is how funny and fun he is. He isn't embarrassed to
do funny things. We went to a local high school football game and they
didn't have a band so at half-time he went out to his car and got his
accordian (which he learned to play on his mission in Russia) and
played some songs. It cracked me up.

Well, anyway, that is about the extent of my life these days. I have
been running with some of our favorite former-BYU athletes, Jessica
Heiner and Sherida Bird. I am also supposed to meet up with Emily Mars
Raymond tomorrow to go running. I wish you all were here to come with.

Precious 

JoLee, Kristen and Rachel on our back porch.  

Fun with JoLee

I just want you all to know that I was fortunate enough to hang out with Nathan and JoLee today for a couple of hours. All I can say about that is those two are perfect for each other! He just totally respects her and knows her and is very fun to talk to - he even listened intently as we spoke about all of the running friends. It was great fun except when Rachel peed through her diaper onto JoLee.

I am doing well, mostly just surviving. Someone the other day said to me - having one kid is a hobby, having two is a full time job. I definitely agree - I guess I can best sum it up by saying that I love my full time job, but miss my other hobbies. Rachel is a good baby, she is starting to smile and interact more. She is also in the 95th percentile for her weight, already at the 12 lb mark, Blake was 12 pounds probably at4 months. I'm not sure I will have a runner for Coach Shane, but Legas should get a shot-putter.

I do change a lot of diapers, but there are great moments - Blake kissing Rachel's forehead and rubbing her stomach while saying it's OK baby. Blake and Cory running around the living room in a circle yelling PATZI (Pizza - Blake's favorite food), dancing to Elmo, catching snails at the park, early morning runs by myself, reading books about choo-choo trains and learning more than I ever wanted to know about beatles, ants and moths.

I am trying of course to keep myself busy, my newest front is as a member of the Republican women's club - I am not sure if I quite fit in. Most of the members are in their 60's and driving huge Lincoln Continentals to the country club where they eat a fancy lunch and talk about how to save their tax dollars from the evil government and how Bush is perfect. I am not sure I agree with everything that they say, but it is definitely inspiring to see old ladies interested in the school system volunteering all over the place in the community. I also called up the special olympics chapter around here and I am hoping to volunteer with them some over the year. We will see.

I am not coaching, which is hard for me. I miss my girls and my boys! But, I do get to go watch them run and feel good when they are excited to see me. Plus, I just enjoy, I don't have to get mad when the silly freshman is munching on cupcakes when she should be on the line.

I have started running, I can go a good 30 minutes and still feel good. St. George 2005 is the training obejective. Sarah Ellis has committed- anyone else want to give it a go? You can even walk it - I just want to have a reunion.

I hope you all like the pictures and that you write a long note. I miss you all- how bout you all move out to the East Bay? Think how much fun it would be!