Product Pick

The new Nike+ Sportband.

My first product pick was about Nike+, which I love.

There is a sensor that fits in a little spot under the insole of my nike+ shoes. This sensor sends a signal to the transmitter that plugs into my ipod.

This keeps track of my distance, time, pace, even calories burned. And I can push the center button on my ipod at any time to hear a verbal readout of my stats.

If I need a boost, I can push and hold the center button for a second to play my power song.

This can be any song that I pick that will motivate me and reenergize me. My powersong is Pump It, by the Black Eyed Peas, which I found out (after I had chosen it), is the second most popular power song chosen by all nike+ users.

The first? Can you guess? Eye of the Tiger.

Then after I run, -ok, lets be honest, walk- I can sync my ipod to my computer just like I do anyway to change my music, and all my stats are uploaded to nike.com, where I can track my totals (I am over 100 miles since February), set goals for myself, and even compete against other nike+ runners (walkers) in month long challenges.

So why am I posting this all over again for my product pick?

Well partly because I love mine so much and use it every day, but also because Nike just came out with a new feature.

The new Nike+ Sportband!

The Sportband does almost everything the nike+ ipod does, but without the ipod.

There is a wristband that receives the info from the shoe sensor. There is a readout on the sportband so you can check your stats, and when you're done with your run, (walk), a little part of the sportband unplugs from the band and has a usb plug so you can plug it into your pc and upload your stats to nike.com just like I do with my ipod.

The downside of this is that there is no music and no powersong. There is also no verbal readout of your stats, and no Lance Armstrong to tell you when you've reached a personal best like with ipod.

But this can be great for anyone who prefers to run without music, or doesn't want to shell out the bucks for a nano.

Now runners, (walkers), can listen to any mp3 player they want, or even their old sony walkman cassette player and still have the benefit of nike +.

Let's talk cost.

The new Sportband sells for $59. I paid about $30 for my nike+, but I also spent $30 on the armband that is specially designed to hold my ipod nano with the transmitter (it won't fit in regular nano cases when the transmitter is in). So the cost of the Sportband is about the same as what I spent for mine.

You still have to shell out $60-150 for your nikes. The sensor will only work in nike + shoes, so your Walmart sneakers, your Adidas, or even your old nikes will be useless to you anytime you want nike+ credit for your steps.

But as I said before you can save a pocketful of cash by not having to buy an ipod.

I know it is an investment, but for me my nike + gave me the motivation to get out and move. Well, that and my dogs whimpering every night that it's time for their walk.

I couldn't find a saveable picture of the Sportband online to post, but here is a link to the Nike website where you can check it out. >>>>nike+sportband<<<<

When I checked this morning the new Sportband had been so popular that they had sold out and were taking preorders.

Happy running! (walking)!

Baptism!

I have been going with the sister missionaries to teach a man named Charl.

I haven't been on every visit to see him, but I have been on enough visits starting early enough to be able to watch the change in him as he learned about the gospel and built a relationship with his Father in Heaven.

When I first went to see him he wasn't even sure if God was there. We encouraged him to pray and ask to know the truth about what he was reading in the Book of Mormon, what we were teaching him, and that his Father in Heaven was there and loved him.

The next visit that I accompanied the missionaries on, he greeted us at the door with a big smile, and the first thing he said was "I got my answer!"

He told us that he had been walking around his house that morning talking out loud to God, and the word came out of his mouth "Believe my son, believe". He stopped talking, surprised at the words that had come out of his own mouth, in his own voice, yet were not his own words.

He realized that these words were God speaking to him directly, telling him to believe the things he was learning and pondering about.

He was so excited to learn. He read every book, pamplet and magazine the sisters could find for him. He started coming to church and committed to baptism.

He was baptised this morning.

I didn't get to go, but Chris did, so I sent him with a camera.

From left to right is Sister Bangerter, Brother Shopal, Charl, and Sister Haws.

Bro. Shopal is Charl's neighbor who introduced him to the missionaries. Bro Shopal got the privilege of dunking Charl.

I love my Sister Missionaries too. They care so much about the people and work so hard.

Congratulations, Charl. I am so happy that you have found the church, and know your Father in Heaven loves you.

-Della

A short story

(It's totally a coincindence that the man in this story and my dad have the same name).

An 90-year old man goes for a physical.

All of his tests come back with normal results.

The doctor says, "Chuck, everything looks great! How are you doing mentally and emotionally? Are you at peace with God?"

Chuck replies, "God and I are tight. He knows I have poor eyesight, so he's fixed it so when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, POOF! the light goes on. When I'm done, POOF! the light goes off."

"WOW, that's incredible," the doctor says.

A little later in the day, the doctor calls Chuck's wife.

"Ethel," he says, "Chuck is doing fine! But, I had to call you as I am in awe of his relationship with God. Is it true that when he gets up during the night, POOF! the light goes on in the bathroom and when he's done POOF! the light goes off?"

"Oh, my God!" Ethel exclaims, "He's peeing in the refrigerator again!"

Bad Drivers

T is always telling me I'm a bad driver because I drive the rear wheel over a curb once in a while when turning or backing out of a parking space.

But I think I am a fabulous driver.

Especially compared to these brilliant people.

I wish I knew what they were thinking. Let's try and guess shall we?

#1

"At least my skirt is okay, but I think my boots are screwed."

#2

"As a Police Officer I should have had authority to drive through here."

#3

"You mean this isn't considered 'all-terrain'?"

#4

"No, Officer. I have no idea why you pulled me over. What? but I haven't gotten gas since Thursday!"

#5

"I decided if I had to look stupid by riding a scooter, I might as well go all the way and wear my helmet backwards too. Why do anything only halfway?"

#6

"What? This wasn't the ferry?"

What do you think? Please feel free to comment.

The Jazz are in the Playoffs

With their most recent win against the Spurs, the Utah Jazz have clinched a playoff spot.

For you non sporties, that means that even though the regular season isn't over yet, they could lose every one of their last 5 games and still have a spot in the playoffs.

But the better they do in those 5 games, the better their spot in the playoff line ups.

Why does that matter if they are allready in the playoffs?

Because the higher their seed is, or place in the rankings for the playoffs, the more likely they are to have home court advantage.

Many people wonder why home court advantage matters so much. And for some teams, it doesn't carry as much weight as it does with the Jazz.

But when you consider that this year Utah's record when playing at home, in the Energy Solutions Arena (formerly the Delta Center), is 35-4, the best home record in the NBA, and their road record is 16-22, you have to recognize that the Jazz just play better at home.

And seriously, if you have ever been to a Jazz game at Energy Solutions Arena, especially during the playoffs, you have to admit that there is energy and a power there that the fans share with their team. (Regardless of whether or not Thomas S. Monson is attending, but that has to help right?).

Even visiting teams recognize this and comment on it. They say SLC is a hard place to play, because the fans are amazing.

And having been to a couple Jazz away games, (against the Wizards in DC), I recognize that at least at the games I have been to, the other team's fans just didn't have the enthusiasm that I am used to getting caught up in at the ESA.

Let's cheer them on tonight when they play the Hornets in New Orleans. The Hornets have the best record in the West at 54-22, (Jazz record is 51-26), and it will be a tough game. Especially, as I have said, because it is an away game.

On another note, Jerry Sloan and the Jazz recently signed a contract extension keeping Jerry around for the 2008-09 season, making Jerry Sloan the longest tenured coach among any team in every major sports league in America.

He has been Head Coach of the Utah Jazz since 1988. (How old were you then?)

I am thrilled to have him for at least another year. Go Jerry!

Now what's it gonna take to get a Coach of the Year?

Go Jazz!

Something else we did this weekend

The kids asked if they could make tents in the living room.

I know you can't tell from the pic, but under the elaborate blanket and pillow framing, was a vast network of "tent bedrooms".

They even used geotrack buckets to form a fence so they could have a yard.

They asked if they could sleep in their tents and were given permission on the condition that when it was time for bed everyone would be quiet and go to sleep.

But what ended up happening was throughout the evening kids came up missing one at a time, only to be found (after a search) sound asleep in their designated area.

Mark was first to disappear.

I might not have been able to find J if his foot wasn't sticking out.

Little Chris was found crashed on my bed, so I moved him to the couch.

The next day much time was spent rebuilding as new ideas for architectural design were discovered. And then, finally, the entire tent city, was knocked over, folded up, and put away.

I was glad to get my living room back, and impressed with the helpfulness and willingness of cleanup, but the tents were fun while they lasted.

C'mon, I know you made living room tents as a kid. I think it's a rite of passage in that same way that "Liar Liar, Pants on Fire" is passed on to generation after generation of kids.

There are just some things that every kid has to do in order to grow up normally.

What do your kids do that you used to?

General Conference

I am posting late today because I spent today watching General Conference.

Yes, I know that only took up 4 hours of my day, and even though I live 2500 miles from where Conference was held I still got to watch it in the comfort of my own living room with our satellite dish, and didn't have to drag the kids to the Stake Center to watch it.

(Am I totally spoiled that I have never had to do that?)

One of my kids has been away this week, and since he's the one that gets up bright and early, and gets the rest of us up bright and early, we all slept in today.

We did try to follow through with a family tradition, which is to put a puzzle together while we watch conference.

Mark decided the puzzle pieces were better stacked into towers than put together, and we didn't get it all done, but I'm sure we will over the next day or two. It's still on the coffee/cocoa table.

I enjoyed conference. There were a few talks that seemed to stand out to me along the lines of parenting. (Maybe there's a reason for that, hmm...) Also good ones about tithing, the scriptures, family histories and others.

It was also great to hear Thomas S. Monson address the church during his first conference as the President of the church and to sustain him as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator.

What an important occasion! What an awesome man.

Sometimes I wonder why God felt I deserved to be born into a family that taught me about God, Jesus, and the fullness of their gospel from my infancy. So many have to struggle and search to find the truth and then have to excercise great courage and faith to accept it and live it.

Maybe God knows I am too weak to have to do it that way.

Still I am grateful.

Enough rambling for today.

If you don't know what I am talking about and want to, check out mormon.org or leave a comment.

As always, thanks for reading and continuing to reinforce and encourage me.

-Della