Welcome To: Classmates

Since starting b-school I have met a number of amazing people and am making some great friends. They range from crazy to normal, mildly insane to out-right loopy. Many of them are my type of people. So here's a quick list of everyone I've added to the list of links on the side:

	Dave & Jamie - Dave is on my team, is tall, and very agreeable. He is amazing at every sport he plays. He killed me the other morning at racquetball.
	David & Mandi - David is on my team, has a very unique name, lives near us, and is *slightly* obsessed with BYU sports.
	Ken & Emily - Ken is also on my team, hails from CA, is a finance genius, and has a Mac, which I covet.
	Chloe - there is too much to say and not say about Chloe. We co-chair the Social Committee, she is amazingly forthright, and knows how to party.
	Julie - I sat next to Julie when we had Seating Chart #3. She spent past few years in Boston and has a total East Coast vibe.
	Ronell & Briawna - Ronell and I shared a room on the marketing trip to Moab, have studied together many a late night, and are taking all the same classes next semester.
	Mathew & Monica - Mathew and I worked together on the opening social and Monica is on the Social Committee with me. They have an adorable daughter!
	Thamina - Thamina is very cool, calm, and collected. She also has a great first and last name.
	Devan & Erin - Devan is David's best friend and an honorary member of our team. He is also killer at fusbol.

So welcome, Dear Classmates & Families.
Readers of the blog: Go! Give pageviews! Read their blogs.

Welcome To: Randolpha

There are few people on the planet who can routinely leave me speechless. Randi is one. Met during college and kept up with over the years, Randi is best described with two words: brilliance and passion. She is currently the head pastry chef for the popular Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas.

My two favorite memories of Randi are when I told her I hate the Beatles (read here) and when she and I would recite "po-etry" à-la-snooty-English-professor. Her insights into life are unique. I'm excited to be able to follow her blog.

So welcome, Dear Randi.
Readers of the blog: Go! Give pageviews! Read her blog.

Welcome To: R1 & K1

I've been lame about adding links to the right rail. And chatting with a friend reminded me that I hadn't added his. So today we welcome R1, K1, W1 and L1 (not pictured below). Aside from having the coolest name on the planet for their second child, R1 and K1 (don't want their full names posted online) are people of amazing intellect and wit, the level of which is rarely seen. We met when they came to our Ward for the summer. He is working on a PhD in imaging science and explained to me how DLP works. I was enthralled.

We only got to hang out with them for a few short months, but in that time we introduced them to Killer Bunnies, they made amazing ice cream, R1 introduced me to a black cherry juice that you get a Trader Joe's (and can't get in Utah, blast!), and helped us get ready to move. We'll miss them, but look forward to keeping up with them via their blog.

So welcome, R1 & K1.
Readers of the blog: Go! Give pageviews! Read their blog.

Welcome To: Shelly & Jeff

Today we welcome a new blog to our list of links down the right side of the page. Shelly is my paternal cousin, the oldest of four, and mother to two. She lives in Illinois with her husband, Jeff, and two daughters, Nicole and Emma.

I discovered Shelly's blog while reading her Christmas letter during my commute this morning. They have a number of posts and it was fun to catch up on her family's adventures.

So welcome, Shelly & Jeff
Readers of the blog: Go! Give pageviews! Read their blog.

Welcome To: Spencer & Amy

Occassionally in life you meet someone that you think, "Hey, they could be pretty cool." Then you start to hang out and think, "Hey, they are pretty cool." Then you find out they have a blog and you think, "Rock on."

And that brings us to Spencer & Amy. New to our ward, she's a Georgia girl and he's a Utah boy. He has a BlackBerry and has embraced BlackBerry Messenger. She maintains the blog.

So welcome, Spencer & Amy.
Readers of the blog: Go! Give pageviews! Read their blog.

Welcome To: Blair & Julie and Natalie

Blair & Julie came to visit a few months ago. We had a great time showing them our favorite haunts and playing killer bunnies. A few weeks later, we saw them while in Minnesota. They are expecting their first child in December and FINALLY STARTED A BLOG!!!

So welcome, Blair & Julie.
Readers of the blog: Go! Give pageviews.

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I first met Natalie eight years ago. We ran in the same social circles, chatted a couple of times, and relished in the fact that we are both tall. We ran into each other a few times over the years. At one such run in, at a church event, she mentioned that she'd been keeping up with the blog. We ran into each other a few weekends ago at Costco and she mentioned that she was still reading the blog. A couple of days later she posted a comment and left the URL to her blog.

So welcome, Natalie.
Readers of the blog: Go! Give pageviews. Read her blog.

Welcome Smelly-Melly & Justin

Today we welcome a very special person to our list of links on the right. Though her birth certificate says Melissa Ann she is known to me as Smelly Melly. She is my very own sister-in-law, Melissa. And with her she brings the genial chap Justin.

But two years separate Kristin and Melissa. Where one is the homebody, the other is outgoing and adventuresome. Melissa always knows the cool spots in town, what exactly to wear, and why seventy pairs of shoes aren't enough. She's a good sport with the nickname and warmly welcomed me into the family when Kristin dragged me into the clan. She and Justin live in Seattle in a great little house with a big dog, who is featured prominently in their blog's opening post. Justin and I hit it off incredibly well, and is a fine addition to the family. Though we don't get out west to see them as often as I would like, every time we do see them we wonder where the time goes and wish that we had twice as much to hang out and socialize.

So go, visit their blog. Leave a comment or two. And don't hate on Hunter. Even an anti-pet-ite such as I thinks the pup is pretty fun.

Welcome Lisa & Randy

On the eve of our trip to Minnesota to visit family it is only fitting that I post a "Welcome To" post for my cousin Lisa. I just stumbled across her blog today, and couldn't believe there was a cousin's blog I didn't link to.

So go, visit their blog. Enjoy the family pictures, the pregnant woman pictures, and whatever other pictures they have up today.

Welcome Aaron & Tiffany, Timerly & Kyle

This Friday we have two new blogs to add to our list o' links. First is Little Blonde Monkeys, the blog of our new friends Aaron & Tiffany. To understand why Aaron is one of the coolest people I know, listen to the sound track on this post. To understand why Tiffany is one of the coolest people Kristin knows, see this post.

The second is the blog of Kristin's college roommate, and our mutual friend, Timberly. She and her husband, Kyle, live in California and have two adorable little boys. Timberly was Kristin's roommate when we first met. The story goes that after eight months of Kristin and I being friends, with obvious overtones of something more, that Timberly, fed up with Kristin not knowing where our relationship stood, cornered my roommate, Craig, and asked him if Kristin and I were "dating". Craig, in turn, asked me. I replied, "I need to ask Kristin." So, one evening in March or April 1999 I turned to Kristin, as we sat in my apartment, and asked Kristin, "Are we dating?" After a moment's contemplation, she looked at me and firmly answered, "Yes."

So now you know why Timberly is such an important person in our lives. Without her, who knows where we'd be. So go. Generate pageviews. Welcome our the new blogs with your browser traffic. And enjoy the weekend.

Welcome Staci & Brian!

A few weeks ago my brother Jared told me that he'd found the blog of an old family friend, Staci. Staci and her family lived down the street from our family and is actually the same age I am. She's since married, had a couple kids, and has a blog that she co-authors with her husband, Brian. Though I've never met the guy, I must say I'm a Brian fan due to this comment and the background image on their blog a few weeks ago:
Years ago I had a boss who had a print of the painting hanging on his wall. I love the tired tension you see in both the boat, as it cuts across the water, and the riders as they lean to keep it righted. I always imagined that they were heading home after a long day, tired and worn, working to maintain their balance on the choppy sea.

So, go check out the blog by clicking the Staci & Brian link in the links section or by clicking here. Welcome!

Welcome Brig-ham!

I have a cousin named Brigham. He is a rather fine fellow. Quite the intellectual, fun to chill with, great for the random metaphysical or deep conversation.

I do not call Brigham as many people would. In my pronunciation of his name there is a pronounced break between the Brig and ham, and the h involves an h sound in the back of your throat. It is the correct way.

Brig-ham now has a blog. And you must visit it. Go now.

Welcome Becky!

I sent Clara's birth announcement e-mail to a college friend who forwarded it to another college friend who wrote back and said, "You might not remember me, but this is Becky!"

Of course Kristin and I remember Becky. She and Kristin lived on the same floor of the dorms in college, and when I moved into that Ward my first semester after my mission, I got to know her. She is from the same state as Kristin, and has a blog for her adorable daughter. Today I added the blog to our list of links.

So, go! Give her pageviews. Check out her blog.

Welcome Mary & Steve!

Today, a coming and a going. One of our blogs we linked to has gone off the air. Big brother is watching. We'll miss that blog.

And today we welcome my second cousin Mary and her men: husband Steve, son Nikolai, and son-to-be-born-soon Boy #2. Their blog, Juxtaposition, can be accessed at the bottom of the Second Cousins section of the Links list by clicking on "Mary & Steve" or by clicking here.

Go visit and give them a pageview or two.

Welcome Beth!

A few months ago at church, my friend Beth asked me a question about Clara. I asked her if she'd seen the blog, she hadn't, so I told her how the child was doing and pointed her to the blog for pictures, videos, and anecdotes galore. She went!

She also gave me the link to her blog 5under7. It's a fun blog full of pictures of her adorable children. I don't think I've ever seen two people so consistently produce perfect babies. Each one is more cute than the next. It's fun every week to see them in the front pew at church, Mom at one end, Dad at the other, and five little blond heads poking up over the back of the pew.

A new blog added to my Friends list. Go check it out and enjoy! (The January 20th post is especially good.)

Welcome Lindsay & Josh, Jonathan & Amanda!

I was combing through my Google Analytics (have I mentioned I love the thing?) and realized that my cousin Lindsay links to my blog. So, I thought I'd reciprocate and link to hers. Check out the list of links on the right and welcome our newest addition: Lindsay & Josh.

While on Lindsay's blog I came across a link to her brother, my cousin, Jonathan's blog. How could I resist? Another new addition to the list: Jonathan & Amanda.

Much like with a ward, the Cousins list has gotten too big and the growth necessitated a list split. Now we have a First Cousin group and Second Cousin group. It's cool that the family is connected enough to know the first and second cousins. Go forth. Read more blogs. Enjoy!

Welcome Heidi

I have added a new blog to our list of blogs. Welcome to my friend Heidi. Heidi and I first met before time began. We share a birthday and the fact that we both have daughters named Clara. She married a guy that my parents knew, and think quite highly of, and now lives in a disgustingly huge house in a part of the country where housing in actually affordable. Go check out her blog.

In this post she tagged me for another meme. The rules are:

1. Find the nearest book to you.
2. Name the book and author.
3. Turn to page 123.
4. Go to the fifth sentence on the page.
5. Copy out the next 3 sentences and post to your blog.
6. Tag three other people. (Which I am opting not to do.)

Before I proceed with the instructions, a little back story is in order. A few years ago we were visiting Kristin's family in Portland, OR. While taking care of my necesidades fisiológicas I needed something to read. The only book I could find was the one mentioned below. To say it was a bad book is an understatement. On a subsequent visit I ended up borrowing the book as I hadn't had the chance to finish it on the prior trip and wanted to see how it turned out. My mother-in-law told me that I didn't need to return it; it wouldn't be missed. Because of the back cover (a picture of the author with his dog on a leash and quotes from the New York Times Book Review and another much less reputable publication, see photo at right) I've always wanted to blog about the book. Therefore it has been laying next to my computer waiting for some free time. And therefore it was the closest book to me when I read about Heidi's tag. So here goes.

Title & Author: Thin Air by Robert B. Parker

Susan could get a smile from a hammerhead shark.
"Peekaboo Boy?" Samuelson said.

Now I can throw the thing away in peace.