Sports

What a great sporting weekend this has been.  The Utes win over UCLA was a great way to start the weekend, but the football games today were just wonderful.  First Peyton plays an awesome game against the evil empire and Tom Brady, who by the way scores at least a 9 on his contribution to the loss with the many overthrows he made, then the team that spurned Alex Smith got burned.

I couldn't be happier to see the 49ers lose  but the way they lost was just so sweet.  Seeing Kaep fumble then throw two interceptions to finish the game was just so enjoyable.  I'm not a big Seattle fan, but I might have even cheered for Tom Brady over the 49ers.

On that note why don't we question Crabtree's miraculous recovery from ACL surgery?  Is there any question these athletes are juicing?  I read an article the other day comparing Crabtree to Lindsay Vohn.  They are both world class athletes with all the latest technology to help in their recovery.  One is in the NFL that has shown over and over again that the number one priority is keep their stars on the field regardless of the risk, the other is in the olympics that has the most rigorous drug testing protocol anywhere.  One started playing 2 months ago, 10 months after the initial knee injury, the other just pulled out of the olympics 14 months after her initial injury.  Really?  The big question is how have the NFL and NBA escaped the PED controversy while MLB and cycling have gone down in flames?

I'm Back

My lack of blogging coincides with my aquisition of an ipad and frequent use of Facebook.  That changes now.  I recently purchased a keyboard for my Ipad (though it will take some time to get used to the small size and feel of this keyboard) and I made a resolution that I will not get on Facebook at home.  So I'm back.

I feel I've missed out on quite  bit of gloating what with the Utes beating that team down south some many times I've lost count.  I was happy that Jabari Parker didn't get the Chris Burgess treatment from the current Cougar coaching staff.

The older kids got new bikes for Christmas so we've been on a few cold rides over the past few weeks.  I'm excited to take Spencer out on some of the dirt roads when they dry out.

This is a somewhat pathetic post, but I'm hoping they'll get better.

Spencer the Author

A few months back the kids at school were assigned to write a story.  Spencer did as he was assigned and wrote the following story.  He had some help with the editing (mostly just punctuation and past and present form of verbs) from mom, but all the dialogue and idea was completely his.  Today we were excited to hear that his story was chosen as one of the top three for his grade.  He wanted to share it here with all of you (though if we're being honest, he really only cares that Uncle Eric reads it).

The Dragon World

By Spencer Corry

            Mating season of the dragons is about to begin.  By tradition, five of the ten types of dragons will meet at the Great Crystal Land for this annual occasion.  These five types include Ice dragons, Fire dragons, Lightening dragons, Water dragons, and Crystal dragons.  The other five types of dragons are not invited to the Great Crystal land because they are evil dragons.  They are Darkness dragons, Death dragons, Vampire dragons, Werewolf dragons, and Shadow Magic dragons.

            The King and Queen of Crystal Land are the only 2 Crystal dragons in existence. Legend tells that some day the King and Queen’s magical power will be threatened by evil that will use it to unleash a mystical power that would destroy all dragons forever. But the legend also offers hope.  It was long ago prophesied that a son would be born to the King and Queen and that he would quest to find gifts from Ice, Water, Fire, Lightening, and Crystal.  These gifts combined would give him the power to combat the evil arising.   Each year the dragons hope for a son to be born to the King and Queen. A son that they hope to call the Dragon of all Dragons.

            Mating season has begun.  The King and Queen through magic were able to create a single dragon egg.  They eagerly await it to hatch, but so far, there are no signs of life. 

            A newborn girl lightening dragon crawls up to the King and Queen’s nest and says “What’s wrong?” in her little voice.

            “Maris”, calls the girl’s father.

            “It’s okay”, says the King.

            A newborn boy fire dragon ambles up to the nest and says “Wakie, Wakie”

            “Ronae”, calls the boy’s mother.

            “Its fine”, says the Queen.

            Just then, with all gathered to watch, a small crack forms in the egg.  A head pokes out, followed by a claw, and then an entire baby dragon spills out into the world.  The prophesied son has been born!  The King and Queen named their awaited son Aliber.

            Ronae, Maris, and Aliber grow up and become best friends.  Maris is the fastest, Ronae is the funniest, and Aliber is the most determined.  Aliber’s parents, the King and Queen, told him of the legend when he was very young.  He is always trying to find his gifts, but to this day he has found none. 

            “Stop trying to find the gifts, let them come to you” says Maris.  

            “Yeah”, says Ronae, “It will all turn out okay.”

            “Maybe, but I need to find my gifts to fulfill the prophesy and protect Crystal Land and all dragon kind” Aliber says.

            One day Aliber, Maris, and Ronae flew up to the highest Northern mountain peak to look over Crystal Land. 

            BOOM!!!!!  Aliber, Maris, and Ronae know that sound can only mean one thing.  As the dust settles in the Southern part of the land 5 evil dragons enter Crystal Land to wreak havoc.  A Shadow Magic dragon leads and a Vampire, a Werewolf, a Death, and a Darkness dragon all follow in his wake. 

            Aliber, Maris, and Ronae fly as fast as they can to the Southern part of the land to help protect Crystal Land’s dragons.  When they arrive, they see their Fathers have already arrived.  Ronae’s father is fighting the Death dragon while Maris’s father is battling the Werewolf dragon.   The King is locked in battle with the Vampire dragon.  Ronae and Maris quickly engage the Darkness dragon which left Aliber to fight the Shadow Magic dragon. 

            “This is too easy! You are weak.” says the Shadow Magic dragon in a raspy voice. 

            “I may look weak, but I will be one of the strongest dragons you ever meet” says Aliber

            Aliber looks around and sees that his friends and their father’s are losing ground.  They are in need of help.  Suddenly, Aliber feels strength running through his veins.  His eyes begin to glow light blue and in a flash BAM! Where 5 evil dragons once were now stood 5 ice sculptures.  Aliber had found his first gift.  The power to surround his enemy in a cocoon of ice that drains their magical power. 

            The dragons speed back to the Crystal Palace to meet and discuss what has happened.  They know that this is only the beginning.  These were just scouts and an army of evil dragons is sure to follow.  The council decides the only way to stop the evil dragon’s invasion is to send Ronae, Maris, and Aliber to the Cave of Darkness, where they hope Aliber will be able to find his second gift.

            So Aliber, Ronae, and Maris leave that night for the Cave of Darkness.  When they arrive they find there are no guards at the cave entrance. 

            Ronae says, “This is bound to be a trap.”

            They have no choice but to go in so they begin walking.  In the cave they hear voices.  Suddenly, they are surrounded by a whole herd of Darkness dragons.

            “We will take you to our Supreme Master” says one of the dragons. 

            They are shoved down the hall and into a central room. 

            “Supreme Master, we found these worthless dragons searching the cave.” says the guard.

            “Take them to the dungeon.  We will do the usual and they shall become more than nothing.” says the master in his deep voice.

            “Aliber, what does he mean we will become more than nothing?” whispers Maris

            “I don’t know” Aliber whispers back, “just stay close to me”.

            Aliber, Ronae and Maris and shoved into the dungeon where they find several incarcerated Water dragons. 

            “We have been here more than 50 years” says one of the dragons, “and you are our rescuers.”

            “Rescuers?” asks Ronae. 

            But Ronae can ask no more because a Darkness dragon enters the dungeon and forces a Water dragon to follow him out.  The other Water dragons move to the window and Ronae, Maris and Aliber follow them.

            In the central room, the Water dragon is surrounded by Darkness dragons.  In unison, they blast the Water dragon with a beam of darkness.  As the dark lifts Ronae, Maris and Aliber gasp to find that the Water dragon has been transformed into a Darkness dragon. 

            “That’s what he meant by we shall become more than nothing!” says Ronae.

            “They will do that to all of us unless you help us” says the oldest Water dragon. 

            “Okay, here’s what were going to do” says Ronae.

            Later, a darkness dragon comes to take another victim to become one of their kind.  As the darkness enters the dungeon it is surprised to be shot in the back with water blasts.  Ronae had figured that if all the Water dragons shot together that even in their weakened state it would be enough to knock out the guard.

            All of the dragons leave the dungeon and as they do they feel their power return to them.  The dungeons magic shield no longer affected them.  The group enters the central room and begins firing blasts of water, fire, and lightning.  Aliber fights his way to the Supreme Master.

            “Your journey must end” says the Master.

            Aliber stares at the Supreme Master and feels boiling water rushing through his body.  His eyes begin to glow deep blue.

            “By the will of my mother and father, the King and Queen of Crystal Land, Our journey has just begun!” declares Aliber.

            WHOOSH!!!  A flood of water crashes through the cave walls surrounds the Supreme Master and rushes out the cave entrance.  When the water clears, the Supreme Master is gone and all what used to be Darkness dragons have been transformed back to Water dragons.    

            Aliber, Maris, and Ronea return to the Crystal Palace to share the news that Aliber has discovered his second gift.  Hopefully, with it, a time of peace will come.  But, the prophesy is not yet fulfilled.  There are still three more gifts to find.

              

                       

            

Half, Mile, ND

Saturday was quite a day for us here.  I started quite early by driving down to St. George with my brother to run the Snow Canyon Half Marathon.  Now I'm sure you're thinking, "what would possess you to run a half marathon".  It appears I'm a sucker for peer pressure when that peer happens to be my brother.  Robert approached me about a month ago and said he was seriously thinking about running the half so we increased our training from 14 miles a week to 16 miles a week and had one day of 8 miles and one day of 10 miles.  Looking back I think that was adequate training in order to finish a half, but not if you run the first 7 miles of that half at 7:30 pace.  It was a brutal final 5 for me.  Melissa and the kids came down to watch me finish and run their own race that day as well.

 Spencer and Jessi ran in the Tuff Kids mile race.  This was Spencer's first race and he did very well.  Jessi's an old pro at running, but she did equally well.  They both broke 9 minutes in the mile.

 They were wearing Barbara Corry shirts to help promote grandma's election tomorrow, but they pinned the numbers over the signage so I'm not sure anyone noticed during the race.

 Both Jessi and Spencer were excited to get medals at the end of the race and they liked wearing the timing chip on their shoes.

 Here we are after the races back home safe and sound.

 After the races we spent the afternoon watching the Irish play Pitt.  It was a stressful game for all of us as you can see from the final picture, but when ND triumphed at the end of triple overtime there was great rejoicing in our household.

In case you are wondering, it's now two days since the half and I continue to have searing pain in my legs with each step.

Naderism

Some of you longtime followers may remember when we used to write about some of the interesting things Spencer said and did.  We called those Spencerisms.

Well the other night I watched as the kids said their nightime prayers.  Kristian always seems to say longer prayers than his two older siblings.  I thought this a bit curious so I asked him what he prays for at night.

Me:  "Nader, you always pray for a long time at night.  What do you say in your prayers?"
Nader:  "I pray for us to be happy, no nightmares, that we can be a family forever and that you and mom can go to the temple."
Me:  "Do you say anything else because that doesn't sound like it would take as long as you usually pray?"
Nader:  "You don't want to know what else."
Me:  "Sure I do, tell me, it's ok."
Nader (with a little smirk on his face):  "I pray that I can get better at playing the Wii."

Just FYI, we don't even own a Wii, but his Grandma in Salt Lake does and he likes to play it when we go visit.