Happy Birthday Groban Boys!!!

Today is a great day for Grobania. It is the Groban boys' birthdays. Josh Groban, our fearless king and leader, turns 31 today. And his talented videographer of a brother, Chris, turns 27 today. They are four years apart in age. And I love them both. In honor of this great day of the year I'll post the music video of Josh's that was directed and edited by Chris. :)

Valentine's Day: Worth It or Not?

As I was creating some labels with stickers this morning I found some paper hearts and thought about Valentine's Day for a brief moment. Is V-Day really worth having? What is the purpose of the day? It seems like it's so commercialized that the day has lost all meaning for me and many of my generation. I really don't like Valentine's Day. I never really have. I like the sentiment of saying I love you to people you love. But I don't like the red roses or the cards or the boxes of chocolate. (Okay, I like the chocolate but not as a gift. What girl doesn't like chocolate?) I especially don't like all the red, white, and pink decorations that are associated with the holiday. All the hearts and cupids and mushy stuff. It's just too much. Can't Valentine's Day just be another day where we appreciate our family and friends and our loved ones without being bombarded by commercial ads to buy this or that? Can't I just have my day be normal without being asked when I'm going to date someone or if I have a special Valentine? I guess that the real reason way I don't like Valentine's Day. I am a single twenty-three year old girl with no boyfriend. I am content with that, for the most part. But people always ask me if there is someone special in my life, especially around February when people have Valentine's Day on their mind. I suppose that's also the reason why I like to wear green or blue on V-Day. I rebel against the day at all costs. lol. It's just a bonus that I don't like pink or despise red roses. Seriously, if my future boyfriend/husband ever reads this ... don't ever get me red roses. I am unique. Get me flower that is too.

Missionary Binders

For each of my brother's missions for our church I put together a book binder with all of their letters. I even put in our letters to them when they brought them back home with them. So they have a book with the family's correspondence throughout their two year mission. Chad and Steven have already come and gone and they only have one binder each. I know Chad looks at it. He told me he enjoys having the book. The other day I was catching up on Eric's book so that it'll be ready when he gets home. Eric has so many letters that he has two books. I think it's because he sends an email every week in addition to his snail-mail letters. Eric has also been mailing a stack of letters (ours to him) back in sheet protectors when he sends a package. So I have already been able to complete the first half or so of his book. Chad and Steven only had their snail-mails letters so there wasn't as many papers to put in the book. Brian, who left in November on his mission, is also emailing every week so I have a feeling he will end up with two binders as well. lol. I have really enjoyed putting together these books for my brothers. It's sort of sad that after Brian's mission I won't ever do it again. It doesn't seem like that long ago when I had the idea for Chad. But it's been about six or seven years. (When did you go on your mission, Chad? lol.) I guess I'll just enjoy what time I have left gathering letters and putting them in a binder.

The spine labels of Eric's two books and Brian's book.

The letters and papers are in sheet protectors. This is Eric's first book.

P.S. Brian's book will probably change later. Right now it just has a fun font on paper. Not fun stickers on scrapbook paper like the other books. :)

Busy Bee, That's Me

*sigh* It has been a long week so far and it's only Friday. lol. I helped work the event on Wednesday night and men's basketball last night. And then I work late tonight for the gymnastics meet. I worked (am working) all day for those three days. That is ten hour days. So I got to work 30+ hours this week, not including the other shifts a did. That's nice. But next week there is not any events going on so I don't get to work as much. I do get Monday and Tuesday off. I can sleep in. It feels like I haven't been able to do that for a few days. Oh wait, I haven't. lol. Anyways ... I don't mind having those days off because this week really has been crazy. Fun. But crazy. This morning I was the only one on the phone and for 50 minutes straight I had calls. It was awesome! lol. I didn't even set the phone down. I just clicked the phone off with the pen (that I had in my hand) and a second later the next call would come through. I was able to see if a call was waiting so that's why I knew not to put the phone down. It was funny because I turned on the phone at 10am (that's when we open) and the next thing I knew it was 10:30am and then 10:50am. Most of the questions were very easy to answer. (Yes, we are sold out for gymnastics tonight. Just general admission left.) Well, all the questions I could answer. Some took longer to process. For example, I had a couple of people ask about Supercross and the gymnastics championships and such. It has been busy all day really. But I am glad there are other people here now. ... We will see how the rest of today goes. :)

AO semifinal and final

I didn't watch either the second semifinal or the final. But I totally wish I had. I was just so tired and could not stay awake. Next year I really need to look into geting ESPN and tivo.

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The second semifinal was between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. It took just under five hours to complete this match. Novak won.

Here are their stats ...

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Then the Australian Open 2012 Finals were between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. I really tried to stay up for this match but the problem is we sort of had an impromptu party at my house that night so I was awake the whole time I was planning on sleeping. So when everyone went home around 1am I planned on staying up and watching the finals which were scheduled to begin at 1:30am. But I could not keep my eyes open. I needed sleep. lol.

Anyways, this final was the longest final in history. Not the longest match just the longest final. It lasted seven minutes shy of six hours.

Novak Djokovic won his third Australian Open. :)

Here are the stats ...

Novak and Rafa.

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And in case you were wondering how this Open has shaken up the ATP Rankings ... It hasn't.

AO Semifinal: Roger vs. Rafa

The first semifinal of the Australian Open was played last night. I had to watch it. My two favorite guys in tennis. How could I not watch it. Whenever Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal take the court against (or with) each other I always try and watch it. The match was played at 7:30pm Australian-time. So 1:30am Utah-time. (I just love the time difference. *said sarcastically*) I made a plan and stuck with it. I went to bed early and got about four hours of sleep before I woke up at 1:15am to settle in for a long match. I knew it would be long because these two great guys always battle it out on the court. I love the on-court rivalry that Roger and Rafa have. It's epic. Anyways, the match was so intense but totally awesome! I was always rooting for Roger because I love him. But I also really like Rafa so I was torn at certain parts. lol. The first set had a tiebreaker (with Roger winning) and it lasted 57 minutes. The second set went to Rafa. And the third set also had a tiebreaker with Rafa winning. That third set was so intense. I was yelling at the computer and willing Roger to hold his serves and break Rafa's. (But he did really listen to me. lol.) I was pretty downhearted for a minute after that set. But I mustered my will and happy thoughts and directed them toward Roger. I really wanted him to do good and win. At one point the commentator said that if Roger won then Rafa wins as well because everyone will know that he put his all into the match. But if Rafa won then Roger loses because he just loses. That was his mindset at least. And I have to disagree with that thought. I think that whoever wins the match between Roger and Rafa put all their energy into it. No one really lost. But I guess it's an opinion that I don't share. lol. Before the match started when the commentators were analyzing the match and making all their predictions and all that fun stuff I did agree with something they said. They said that this match would be great because there was no pressure of actually winning the Australian Open. It was just a semifinal so it could just be really good tennis. And it was! I painted my nails early on just so that I wouldn't be tempted to bite them during the match. lol. (They are a lovely shade of gold.) Something random and fun was that it was Australia Day so during the match they actually had a break while the fireworks were set of for the celebration. I don't think it helped or hindered either Roger or Rafa. They did get a little bit of a respite so they were ready for the rest of the set.

Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer in the semifinal of the 2012 Australian Open.

So stats ... 

It was a great 3 and a half hours. lol.

AO update

The Australian Open is going well. There are two more matches to be played before we find out who is playing the two semifinal matches. Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer play today's day quarterfinal match. And Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori play today's night quarterfinal match. And the winners of those two matches make up the second semifinal. We already know that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be playing one of the semifinal matches. I was hoping that would be the case. I always like watching those two play. But I also always root for Roger. I like him a tiny bit more then Rafa. lol. The semifinals aren't played for a day or so. I really hope that they are on tv here and I can watch them because if not I'm gonna be sad. I am pretty sure that CBS Sports broadcasts the finals on tv but I can't remember if the show the semis as well. I miss having ESPN. lol.

BTW, writing down the results of the draw on the print-out has been really fun. I am definitely doing it for the other majors this year. :)