So let me tell you of a little story about a series of tragic events that happened to me on this fine Thursday. Before I begin, let me give you a little background that will make this story even better and help you understand why my life really sucks today! So I am enrolled in this business law class this semester. At the beginning of semester I went to purchase all my books. I only needed to buy three of them and one of them cost me about $50. My grand total from all my books would have come to about $450!! If you do the math, two books tallied a total of over $400, which I thought was absolutely absurd. So I did what most would do, boycott. I didn't buy either of them. I went as long as I could before it became necessary to buy the books. Two weeks ago I purchased my investment book, luckily one came in that was used so it only cost $150, instead of over $200. But my business law book was still looming at $192, no option to purchase a used one (something I was hoping for!). Which brings us to today.
So I had this test looming in my business law class. It was based solely on the text and is an open book test. Naturally it would be dumb of me not to purchase the book. So I go to the bookstore this morning to buy the dreaded book, which I still feel is the same as robbery. I find the shelf where I see the book. Look at the price again, sigh in disbelief again, reluctantly pick it up and and walk to the counter to purchase it. Spend my 190 big ones and boy did I feel like poop. To make matters worse, on my receipt the cashier stamps this huge "ALL TEXTBOOK SALES ARE FINAL, NO RETURNS!" right on the receipt. This pretty much sealed my fate. I walked out of the store and off to class with my shiny new book, still in the plastic.
As I get to class, I notice that some of the books that others have are different than mine. I think to myself "it must be an earlier addition," or something like that. I didn't think anything of it until I noticed that everyone's books are the same except for mine! All I can think about is my receipt that says "NO RETURNS." After my test, I pull up the syllabus and check to see what all this mess is about. Sure enough, I needed a different book. I go back to the bookstore to find the right one hoping they will understand that I made an honest mistake and that I would be allowed to switch out the books. I go back to the shelf where I got the wrong book, and their is no other book. My class has two sections, and apparently I got section 2's book, why they are different I don't know, both professors share the teaching duty so we have both of them. None the less, I have the wrong book and the book I need is not available, oh and just in case you are wondering, they are the exact same price. So I find an employee of the bookstore, inform him of my situation and ask two questions. Do you have the book I need? And, am I screwed having purchased the other one? He checked their inventory and told me that they would have to special order the one I needed, and even though my receipt said "NO RETURNS" on it that if I had the receipt I could exchange my wrong book for the right one when it came in. Hooray!!
Wait, don't get to ahead of yourself, this story isn't over, remember, my life sucks at times. So I walk back to my bag and proceed to walk out of the bookstore when panic strikes my heart. The receipt! It was in the bag my book came in, which I took out of the bag as I got to class and then promptly threw into the trash can!!!!! I even thought to myself "normally I hang on to these for the receipt but you saw what it read in big red bold ink, 'TEXTBOOK SALES ARE FINAL, NO RETURNS.'" I quickly new my chance for salvaging my money and my book was on the line. $190 dollars is a lot of money and I'll be darned if I let it slide! So I run back up the stairs to the library, go down three floors to the trash can outside my classroom where the receipt lay in wait for me. With students all around me wondering why I am so anxious to tear through the trash can, my worst fears are realized, my bag with the receipt is not there. In that 2 hour window, the can had been emptied and my receipt was gone. My $192 down the drain, and I still have the wrong book and most likely will not be able to exchange it for the right one. I have concluded that all the information I need has to be in the book I currently own and that it can't be that bad if I just use it, after all, its used in the other sections class. My life really sucks at times
So those of you who may not know this, Gina and I have picked up a new hobby, cycling, and are ready to take it to the next level. Well, I really don't even know what level I am on, but Gina has already had some experience so for her it is the next level. For me this may be... shall we call it, a "baptism by fire" experience! Anyway, we have done the craziest thing and registered for the LOTOJA Classic. For those of you who do now know what the LOTOJA is, it is the longest single day bike race in America. It starts in Logan, Utah (hence the LO) and finishes 216 miles later in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (hence the JA, LOgan TO JAckson). Registration for this race is quite tight and for the most part it is a lottery selection process. There are a few ways to get a guaranteed spot in the race, one being standing on the podium for last years race. Well, we all know that won't be the case!! One of the other ways is to register as a Hometown Hero. A Hometown Hero is a program sponsored by the Huntsman Cancer Institute. How it works is we sign up with the Huntsman Cancer Foundation to help raise money for their research and development. Our goal is to raise $800 that will be donated to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and in return they will register us for LOTOJA as a Hometown Hero! Gina and I are proud to say that we are excited to not only race in LOTOJA (for me its not so much a race as it is a goal just to cross the finish line!) but to also help raise money for a wonderful cause. This is where all of you come in. We need every one's help to reach our goals. We are not asking you give us your life's savings, but if you are in a position to do so, please help us out. Any amount is very much appreciated. You can can help Gina out by donating at: 
