My legs feel like burnt rubber bands

 Oh hi Bake!

So Joe and I just got home from skiing. I actually skied with him this time. I calculated that it was the first time in 24 years that I’ve gone. That’s too long, skiing is too fun. Problem is, is it’s too expensive. It was $75 each, ouch. Plus almost $30 each to rent skis. But I think there’s a cheaper way to do it. I think you would really love it once you got the hang of it. It took Joey two frustrating runs to get going again, then he did great. Keep in mind, we went on the easiest runs. It took me a few runs to get my muscle memory back. We got in about 15 runs or so, and my legs were burnin and I needed to stop before Joey was ready to. There were 3 leaders and 6 or 7 boys that went. The bishop wasn’t able to go. It was really warm, and the snow wasn’t too bad at all. Super fun time. I think doing stuff together with the boys is what makes relationships, so I’m glad I went, and I’m glad i skied. We were starving after, and since Joe and I were by ourselves, we stopped by McDonald’s on the way home. Those quarter pounder deluxe are super good.

Bill Riley is starting to talk Utes football again. Gabe Reid, a linebacker from Stanford has transferred to Utah. I think he’s pretty amazing. He’s buddies with Britain Covey, who I’m guessing sold him on Utah. I wish that would encourage him to come back. Spring practice starts soon, and the spring game is on April 23. I told mom that all I wanted for my birthday was to go to the spring game and go to Hire’s and I’m super happy. 

The war in the Ukraine is still going. Russia is advancing, but Ukraine is not giving up easily. There are reports of Ukrainian Air Force fighters shooting down Russian fighters. And the Ukrainian people are really resisting the Russian army, including making human road blocks on the highways leading into the cities. Apparently it’s working because the crowds are massive and the ground is so saturated with water right now that the heavy tanks and machinery sink into the mud and get stuck if they don’t stay on the roads. The Ukrainian people are being trained on how to resist with guns and Molotov cocktails. It also sounds like the U.S. sanctions are really having an affect. The Russian economy is in a Death spiral and nobody’s buying their oil. 

Last night was the state of the Union where President Biden talked a lot about what’s going on. He really strongly threatened the Russian oligarchs that he would seize their money and they’re yachts and their possessions. He said he’d do the same with Putin’s assets as well. He came across as serious and capable. It must have had an affect because today this super rich Russian who owned one of the top premier league soccer teams in England GAVE it back to the team, and forgave a bunch of debt the team had, like $2 billion worth or so. Last week, the Russians threatened to sink the international space station. Elon musk tweeted back that his company SpaceX wouldn’t allow it. The reports after the state of the union was that Putin has done more to unify the world than trump did to divide it, meaning everyone is against him and his unprovoked invasion. Meanwhile, all trump does is praise Putin and say how smart he is for the invasion. It’s nice to have a President who leads again. It was remarked by the press that Biden was speaking as the leader of the free world, something trump was never capable of doing. I don’t know what will happen over there Jacob, but so far, Russia is not the mighty nation they thought they were. The scary thing now is wondering what Putin will do. He’s already used these illegal bombs called vacuum bombs. They are bombs so powerful that they suck up all of the oxygen in an area, even out of the lungs of people and animals. He’s also killed 2,000 civilians at this point, he is an evil man, probably capable of far worse.

Well, that’s about all for tonight kid. Please know that I love you, and admire you. I know you probably feel like you could do better, because we all can. But please know that from your dad’s perspective, you are really an amazing missionary. I am so proud of you.

Pops 

P.s. this lady that I worked with years ago commented on Facebook about your last letter on your blog. It was very positive, she’s not a member and I’m not sure she’s even religious, but she appreciates reading your letters. Thought you should know that.