I've been a UK basketball fan for almost as long as I can remember. I grew up on the Pitino teams of the early 90's, fell in love with Travis Ford, Jeff Brassow, and Tony Delk in middle school, watched the domination of the late 90s teams make 3 trips to the National Title game in 3 years, and then got to watch Tayshaun Prince, Chuck Hayes, and Rajon Rondo work thorough College. I've been to most of UK's home games over the last 8 years, seen many great UK basketball moment (Brassow's tip-in to win the Maui Invitational, Padgett's 3 to put us up over Duke, Prince's 7 straight 3's to open the game vs North Carolina). But never have I seen an individual put up the kind of performance Jodie Meeks put up last night vs Tennessee. That was something to behold.
The numbers are impressive all on their own:
Jodie
Points Scored: 54 (15-22 from the field, 14-14 from the line)
Three Point Baskets: 10 (10-15)
Rebounds: 8
Assists: 4
Mins Played: 39
The rest of UK's team
Points Scored: 36 (15-31 from the field, 4-6 from the line)
Three Point Baskets: 2 (2-4)
Rebounds: 31
Assists: 12
But what is even more impressive is the fact that Jodie did all this playing on the road in one of the most hostile environments UK has faced this year over a host of different defenders. He single handedly outscore the top 3 guys for UT (54 to 48). In fact, according to Pat Forde of ESPN (and formerly the Louisville Courier-Journal), Jodie scored more points than 6 of the Division I schools that played Tuesday night. And he did it all while playing stellar defense and not turning the ball over.
Oh, and as a foot note, he broke 3 records last night as well. Dan Issel's almost 30 year old single game scoring record (previously 53 set in 1970). Tony Delk's single game 3 point record (formerly 9). And the Thompson Bowling Arena most points scored by a single player record (previously 49 by Chris Jackson of LSU in 1999).
Sports Guys and Bloggers all over are talking about Meeks today. About how good he is. About how many points he put up. But what many of them over look is the fact that when he was asked after the game about his performance, the first words out of his mouth were "My team mates". So many guys would have touted themselves--talked about how great they were, how bad the defenders were--Meeks simply thanked his team for getting him the ball "when I was open." You gotta love a kid like that.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Welcome to 2009
So the holidays are finally over a life has slowed back down to something that resembles a normal pace. I hate how crazy everything seems to get around Christmas time. I feel like I don't get to enjoy the holidays any more since it's always rush rush rush. But in all the rush rush rush, I did manage to get a few more things on my list done. But first, one of several changes that I'm going to be making to the list:
I'm replacing #97: Replace my recliner with a new goal of Join a Gym. First, because I don't really need to replace my recliner and I realized when I was shopping for my couch that I don't have enough room to get the big over sized chair that I want, so I'm just going to live with it for now. Second, I need to join a gym so that I can workout and lift weights while the weather is nasty. (It's snowing right now and it's been raining all week.)
I'll probably be replacing a few more things over the next few weeks, but for right now, that is it.
Now, on to the updates:
#1 Take a Multivitamin every day for 1 month: I started this on Monday (1/5/09) and so far I haven't missed a day. I'm hoping to keep it up for the entire month (and beyond). Maybe by then I'll have made it a habit and I can keep on keeping on.
#57 Write in my Journal once a week for 3 months: I also started this with the first of the year. I figured it was a good time to start something new. Plus, I realized how much I enjoy being able to go back and read about what I was thinking and feeling and doing at various points in my life. I've kept a journal since I was in 8th Grade (Mrs. Nation's English Class) and while I haven't always written in it all that often, I have never not had a journal since then and I tend to take it with me everywhere I go.
#61 Get into UK's Ovarian Cancer Screening Program: I finally looked up the number today and made the call. My appointment is for February 4th (ironically enough since Mom's anniversary is February 9th). It is a great program and I've been meaning to get myself in since I turned 25.
#65 Be 1st Author on a Manuscript: Before the holiday break, I had written up the project I took as a poster to NNTS this summer. My boss helped me edit it and we sent it out just before Christmas. We haven't heard anything back yet (not that I expected we would have) but it is still exciting to know that there is a paper out there in the world with my name listed first.
#70 Create a Budget: This seems all the more important now, in this uncertain economic time, so I sat down just after the first of the year and made up my budget for the year. I had been tracking my spending during all of last year, so I was able to see where my money was going and where I needed to cut back. Now, I just need to stick to the budget and all will be well....
#74 Clean out my Old Clothes and Donate them to Goodwill: I haven't actually made it to Goodwill yet, but I did clean out my closets the other day and got 4 bags of clothes to take away. I got rid of everything that didn't fit right or was old and crappy looking and most everything that I hadn't worn in over a year. I still have tons of clothes, which is kind of scary, but at least I know that everything in my closet fits now.
#86 Clean out the Closet on my Balcony: I took the opportunity while I was putting away all my Christmas stuff (which is the majority of what is out there in that closet) to clean out a bunch of junk. Now it is all neat and organized and I can actually get stuff in and out without starting a land slide.
I'm replacing #97: Replace my recliner with a new goal of Join a Gym. First, because I don't really need to replace my recliner and I realized when I was shopping for my couch that I don't have enough room to get the big over sized chair that I want, so I'm just going to live with it for now. Second, I need to join a gym so that I can workout and lift weights while the weather is nasty. (It's snowing right now and it's been raining all week.)
I'll probably be replacing a few more things over the next few weeks, but for right now, that is it.
Now, on to the updates:
#1 Take a Multivitamin every day for 1 month: I started this on Monday (1/5/09) and so far I haven't missed a day. I'm hoping to keep it up for the entire month (and beyond). Maybe by then I'll have made it a habit and I can keep on keeping on.
#57 Write in my Journal once a week for 3 months: I also started this with the first of the year. I figured it was a good time to start something new. Plus, I realized how much I enjoy being able to go back and read about what I was thinking and feeling and doing at various points in my life. I've kept a journal since I was in 8th Grade (Mrs. Nation's English Class) and while I haven't always written in it all that often, I have never not had a journal since then and I tend to take it with me everywhere I go.
#61 Get into UK's Ovarian Cancer Screening Program: I finally looked up the number today and made the call. My appointment is for February 4th (ironically enough since Mom's anniversary is February 9th). It is a great program and I've been meaning to get myself in since I turned 25.
#65 Be 1st Author on a Manuscript: Before the holiday break, I had written up the project I took as a poster to NNTS this summer. My boss helped me edit it and we sent it out just before Christmas. We haven't heard anything back yet (not that I expected we would have) but it is still exciting to know that there is a paper out there in the world with my name listed first.
#70 Create a Budget: This seems all the more important now, in this uncertain economic time, so I sat down just after the first of the year and made up my budget for the year. I had been tracking my spending during all of last year, so I was able to see where my money was going and where I needed to cut back. Now, I just need to stick to the budget and all will be well....
#74 Clean out my Old Clothes and Donate them to Goodwill: I haven't actually made it to Goodwill yet, but I did clean out my closets the other day and got 4 bags of clothes to take away. I got rid of everything that didn't fit right or was old and crappy looking and most everything that I hadn't worn in over a year. I still have tons of clothes, which is kind of scary, but at least I know that everything in my closet fits now.
#86 Clean out the Closet on my Balcony: I took the opportunity while I was putting away all my Christmas stuff (which is the majority of what is out there in that closet) to clean out a bunch of junk. Now it is all neat and organized and I can actually get stuff in and out without starting a land slide.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
101 Things Update
So, it's been awhile since I updated my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days and there a few more things to add to the list.
26.) Try 5 restaurants I've never been to before: A new place opened in town called Bar Louie's. Apparently it is a chain with a branch up in Cincy, but I had never eaten there before. Jenny and I went there the other night, and it was quite good. In fact, it was so good that Jenny, AJ, and I went there again last night. They have the best french fries ever! Anyway, so that makes 2. (2/5)
30.) Read The Greatest Generation. This one was easy since I've always been fascinated by the WWII era. It probably has something to do with the fact that my Grandmother Russell gave me the Molly American Girl doll when I was a kid and she lived during WWII. Still, it was fascinating to get to see all these different people and all their different stories. My only regret was that some of them weren't long enough.
47.) Go Deer Hunting with Dad. This one I did this year. In fact, not only did I go hunting, I killed a deer. A nine point buck to be exact. It was getting dark when I shot him, and we couldn't find him that night or the next morning, but we did find him. I have a picture of the antlers just to prove it. I'm still not sure about the whole getting up at the crack of dawn bit, but it was nice to spend some time with Dad, and he was so excited to take his daughter hunting that it was fun for me too.
26.) Try 5 restaurants I've never been to before: A new place opened in town called Bar Louie's. Apparently it is a chain with a branch up in Cincy, but I had never eaten there before. Jenny and I went there the other night, and it was quite good. In fact, it was so good that Jenny, AJ, and I went there again last night. They have the best french fries ever! Anyway, so that makes 2. (2/5)
30.) Read The Greatest Generation. This one was easy since I've always been fascinated by the WWII era. It probably has something to do with the fact that my Grandmother Russell gave me the Molly American Girl doll when I was a kid and she lived during WWII. Still, it was fascinating to get to see all these different people and all their different stories. My only regret was that some of them weren't long enough.
47.) Go Deer Hunting with Dad. This one I did this year. In fact, not only did I go hunting, I killed a deer. A nine point buck to be exact. It was getting dark when I shot him, and we couldn't find him that night or the next morning, but we did find him. I have a picture of the antlers just to prove it. I'm still not sure about the whole getting up at the crack of dawn bit, but it was nice to spend some time with Dad, and he was so excited to take his daughter hunting that it was fun for me too.
56.) Get a pedicure 4 times. Not that I need an excuse to do this, but it is nice to treat myself once in awhile. So I used the annual SCoBIRC Christmas party as my excuse and had my toes done. It was the perfect way to take a moment and unwind from all the holiday stress. If only I had the money to have it done all the time. (1/4)
100.) Make 1 new friend. There is a new guy at work (Christ) who I am befriending. He works for my old boss (crazy boss) so that complicates things a bit, but still, you can never have too many friend. Right?
And a couple of things that are in progress:
54.) See a musical. Jenny, AJ, and I have tickets to see Wicked in Louisville in January. True, I've already seen it on Broadway, but it was wonderful, and I can't wait to see it again. So, baring a major illness, this should get checked off soon.
72.) Put $250 a month into savings for 1 year. This has been on going for awhile now. In fact, I figured out how to have the bank do it automatically for me, so I don't even have to think about it. Now I just have to keep my job for a year so that I still have the money to put in there.
73.) Give Blood as often as I can. I am giving every time I am eligible (or when they want me to). Right now they like to schedule things so that I come in around the holidays so they have plenty of blood on hand then.
I do think that I will be changing a few things on my list. Mostly because I've thought of a few things that I'd rather have on there. But also because a few of them seem a little silly now. Still, stay tuned.
Completed tasks are in blue (because I like blue). Tasks in progress are in red.
The List:
1. Take a daily multivitamin for 1 month
2. Take a daily calcium supplement for 1 month
3. Get my weight down to 140lbs
4. Run 3 times a week for 1 month
5. Lift weights 3 times a week for 1 month
6. Go 1 month without fast food
7. Run a 5K in under 29.00min (Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 28.39 on 9/26/08)
8. Run a 10K
9. Be able to run 6 miles without stopping
10. Run the Run Like Hell 5K in Cincinnati
11. Finish a Half Marathon
12. Go hiking (10/4/08 Mammoth Cave)
13. Swim in the Bluegrass State Games
14. Visit Europe
15. Visit the Newport Aquarium
16. Visit a Haunted House
17. Visit Waverly Sanatorium
18. Visit a State I’ve never been to before
19. Take Ballroom Dance Lessons
20. Go to the Drive in Movies
21. Go to King’s Island for Fearfest
22. Go to Needles and Angles
23. Go ice skating
24. Go to a midnight Hockey game
25. Take a cooking class
26. Try 5 restaurants I’ve never been to before (2/5) (Bonefish Grill 9/16/08) (Bar Louie's 12/5/08)
27. Learn to Quilt
28. Learn to make Grandmother Russell’s Special Occasion Rolls
29. Take a Personal/Family Finance Class
30. Read The Greatest Generation
31. Read Jane Eyre
32. Buy the 7th Harry Potter Book
33. Reread the entire Harry Potter series start to finish (0/7)
34. Read 5 books from the Booker Prize Winners List (0/5)
35. Read 5 books from the 50 Essential Reads List (0/5)
36. Read 4 nonfiction books (0/4)
37. Read the entire New Testament
38. Read 1984
39. Watch Casablanca
40. Watch Gone with the Wind
41. Watch 10 Best Picture Oscar Winners (0/10)
42. Watch the Godfather Trilogy
43. Watch Schindler’s List
44. Watch all 3 Lord of the Rings Movies (extended editions) in one weekend
45. Put together a family tree (as far back as I can go)
46. Take Dad to see the Eagles in Concert
47. Go deer hunting with Dad (11/8/08 9 point buck)
48. Visit Granddad Russell in Oak Ridge 3 times (0/3)
49. Go sailing with Granddad Russell
50. Do something special with just my sister
51. Go on 3 dates (0/3)
52. See Kenney Chesney in Concert (again)
53. See a play
54. See a musical
55. Knit a sweater for me
56. Get a pedicure 4 times (1/4) (12/1/08)
57. Write in my journal at least once a week for 3 months
58. Blog at least once a week for the 1001 days
59. Sew something for myself
60. Go camping
61. Get into UK’s Ovarian Cancer Screening Program
62. Get a massage
63. Go to a UK swim meet
64. Write a short story
65. Be 1st Author on a Manuscript
66. Take the GRE
67. Make a decision about going back to school
68. Learn to do Western Blot
69. Learn to do Slot Blots
70. Create a budget
71. Stick to my budget for 6 months (0/6)
72. Put $250 a month in savings for 1 year
73. Give blood as often as I can (every 56 days)
74. Clean out my old clothes and donate them to Goodwill
75. Volunteer for the Thursday night meal at church
76. Become an organ donor
77. Bake Cookies for someone just because
78. Knit something for charity
79. Renew my CPR certification
80. Get on the Bone Marrow Donor Registry
81. Knit a sweater for someone else
82. Cook a special dinner for some of my friends
83. Organize and Sort my Photos
84. Organize/Update/Sort the Music Collection on my Computer
85. Clean out my craft supplies
86. Clean out the closet on my balcony
87. Sort and Catalog my book collection
88. Clean Dean’s tank at once a month for 6 months (0/6)
89. Buy a new couch (9/18/08)
90. Buy reusable grocery bags
91. Use reusable grocery bags
92. Kiss Under the Mistletoe
93. Get a new coffee table
94. Replace my recliner
95. Bake a cake from scratch
96. Finish my Dragon Cross Stitch
97. Eat out for lunch only once a week for 1 month
98. Send a secret to Post Secret
99. Reconnect with 1 person I’ve lost touch with
100.Make 1 new friend
101. Update my blog with the list and progress
100.) Make 1 new friend. There is a new guy at work (Christ) who I am befriending. He works for my old boss (crazy boss) so that complicates things a bit, but still, you can never have too many friend. Right?
And a couple of things that are in progress:
54.) See a musical. Jenny, AJ, and I have tickets to see Wicked in Louisville in January. True, I've already seen it on Broadway, but it was wonderful, and I can't wait to see it again. So, baring a major illness, this should get checked off soon.
72.) Put $250 a month into savings for 1 year. This has been on going for awhile now. In fact, I figured out how to have the bank do it automatically for me, so I don't even have to think about it. Now I just have to keep my job for a year so that I still have the money to put in there.
73.) Give Blood as often as I can. I am giving every time I am eligible (or when they want me to). Right now they like to schedule things so that I come in around the holidays so they have plenty of blood on hand then.
I do think that I will be changing a few things on my list. Mostly because I've thought of a few things that I'd rather have on there. But also because a few of them seem a little silly now. Still, stay tuned.
Completed tasks are in blue (because I like blue). Tasks in progress are in red.
The List:
1. Take a daily multivitamin for 1 month
2. Take a daily calcium supplement for 1 month
3. Get my weight down to 140lbs
4. Run 3 times a week for 1 month
5. Lift weights 3 times a week for 1 month
6. Go 1 month without fast food
7. Run a 5K in under 29.00min (Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 28.39 on 9/26/08)
8. Run a 10K
9. Be able to run 6 miles without stopping
10. Run the Run Like Hell 5K in Cincinnati
11. Finish a Half Marathon
12. Go hiking (10/4/08 Mammoth Cave)
13. Swim in the Bluegrass State Games
14. Visit Europe
15. Visit the Newport Aquarium
16. Visit a Haunted House
17. Visit Waverly Sanatorium
18. Visit a State I’ve never been to before
19. Take Ballroom Dance Lessons
20. Go to the Drive in Movies
21. Go to King’s Island for Fearfest
22. Go to Needles and Angles
23. Go ice skating
24. Go to a midnight Hockey game
25. Take a cooking class
26. Try 5 restaurants I’ve never been to before (2/5) (Bonefish Grill 9/16/08) (Bar Louie's 12/5/08)
27. Learn to Quilt
28. Learn to make Grandmother Russell’s Special Occasion Rolls
29. Take a Personal/Family Finance Class
30. Read The Greatest Generation
31. Read Jane Eyre
32. Buy the 7th Harry Potter Book
33. Reread the entire Harry Potter series start to finish (0/7)
34. Read 5 books from the Booker Prize Winners List (0/5)
35. Read 5 books from the 50 Essential Reads List (0/5)
36. Read 4 nonfiction books (0/4)
37. Read the entire New Testament
38. Read 1984
39. Watch Casablanca
40. Watch Gone with the Wind
41. Watch 10 Best Picture Oscar Winners (0/10)
42. Watch the Godfather Trilogy
43. Watch Schindler’s List
44. Watch all 3 Lord of the Rings Movies (extended editions) in one weekend
45. Put together a family tree (as far back as I can go)
46. Take Dad to see the Eagles in Concert
47. Go deer hunting with Dad (11/8/08 9 point buck)
48. Visit Granddad Russell in Oak Ridge 3 times (0/3)
49. Go sailing with Granddad Russell
50. Do something special with just my sister
51. Go on 3 dates (0/3)
52. See Kenney Chesney in Concert (again)
53. See a play
54. See a musical
55. Knit a sweater for me
56. Get a pedicure 4 times (1/4) (12/1/08)
57. Write in my journal at least once a week for 3 months
58. Blog at least once a week for the 1001 days
59. Sew something for myself
60. Go camping
61. Get into UK’s Ovarian Cancer Screening Program
62. Get a massage
63. Go to a UK swim meet
64. Write a short story
65. Be 1st Author on a Manuscript
66. Take the GRE
67. Make a decision about going back to school
68. Learn to do Western Blot
69. Learn to do Slot Blots
70. Create a budget
71. Stick to my budget for 6 months (0/6)
72. Put $250 a month in savings for 1 year
73. Give blood as often as I can (every 56 days)
74. Clean out my old clothes and donate them to Goodwill
75. Volunteer for the Thursday night meal at church
76. Become an organ donor
77. Bake Cookies for someone just because
78. Knit something for charity
79. Renew my CPR certification
80. Get on the Bone Marrow Donor Registry
81. Knit a sweater for someone else
82. Cook a special dinner for some of my friends
83. Organize and Sort my Photos
84. Organize/Update/Sort the Music Collection on my Computer
85. Clean out my craft supplies
86. Clean out the closet on my balcony
87. Sort and Catalog my book collection
88. Clean Dean’s tank at once a month for 6 months (0/6)
89. Buy a new couch (9/18/08)
90. Buy reusable grocery bags
91. Use reusable grocery bags
92. Kiss Under the Mistletoe
93. Get a new coffee table
94. Replace my recliner
95. Bake a cake from scratch
96. Finish my Dragon Cross Stitch
97. Eat out for lunch only once a week for 1 month
98. Send a secret to Post Secret
99. Reconnect with 1 person I’ve lost touch with
100.Make 1 new friend
101. Update my blog with the list and progress
Friday, December 12, 2008
Food is our common ground, our universal experience.
So today is the Holiday Potluck at work which basically means that the entire floor has smelled like food all day long so I'm starving. Needless to say, this is one of the best days of the year.
But before you get all excited and starting picturing tables full of casseroles and cookies, let me just say that you have never been to a potluck quite like the ones we have at work. Our potlucks tend to resemble nothing so much as an explosion of the food court at the mall. You are equally as likely to have egg rolls and fried rices as macaroni and cheese and cookies. Chicken vindaloo might be next to a dish of green bean casserole. And the desserts sometimes run the gambit from familiar (sugar cookies and brownies) to just plain odd (a sour cream/chickpea combination that was tasty, but strange).
This, my friends is what happens when you introduce the concept of a potluck to a multicultural group of people from all over the world. You never know what you are going to get, but you can bet that most of it (not all, but most) will be delicious.
So, here in about 30 min, I'll be off to see what wonderful concoctions the potluck will bring me this year.
But before you get all excited and starting picturing tables full of casseroles and cookies, let me just say that you have never been to a potluck quite like the ones we have at work. Our potlucks tend to resemble nothing so much as an explosion of the food court at the mall. You are equally as likely to have egg rolls and fried rices as macaroni and cheese and cookies. Chicken vindaloo might be next to a dish of green bean casserole. And the desserts sometimes run the gambit from familiar (sugar cookies and brownies) to just plain odd (a sour cream/chickpea combination that was tasty, but strange).
This, my friends is what happens when you introduce the concept of a potluck to a multicultural group of people from all over the world. You never know what you are going to get, but you can bet that most of it (not all, but most) will be delicious.
So, here in about 30 min, I'll be off to see what wonderful concoctions the potluck will bring me this year.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas....
So it's that time of year again. The time when you get to go absolutely nutty trying to buy gifts for people that you don't even see in the course of the year but still must send presents for. The time of year when you have to fight the hordes of people at the mall who aren't any happier to be there than you are. The time of year when your stress level has reached critical capacity.
This lovely time of year (also known as Christmas time) happens to coincide quite nicely with one of the busiest times of the year for me at work (known as I must get all this crap done before the holiday break). And this year, on top of everything else, it also happens to be the tail end of my Cell Biology class.
Now, I have really enjoyed the class up so far. It has been interesting and stimulating and, in a weird sort of way, fun. This week happens to be the final week of lectures. I was looking forward to this week not only because it means I'm almost done with the class, but because we were going to be discussing Cancer which is a subject that is quite personal to me and which I find interesting.
In Monday's lecture, however, I found out that maybe this week wasn't going to be as great as I thought it would be. The teacher was fine. The subject was interesting. But for some reason (and I'm still not sure why) sitting through a lecture on cancer really really bothered me.
Now, let me say that after almost 6 years, I am pretty good a guessing when something is going to get to me. I know, for example, that I need to ignore Mother's Day and I try to stay away from movies like Stepmom (which makes me cry every single time). But this one I didn't see coming. And that was almost worse than anything.
If I know it's coming, I can prepare myself for it. I can get ready. But this just kind of blindsided me. I've sat through many lectures before, on all sorts of topics related to cancer, and it has never bothered me. I've read books and looked at websites that deal with cancer, and it was fine. Maybe it was because it's so close to the holidays and I always miss her more this time of year. Maybe it's because I was already having a bit of a bad day. But whatever the reason, I know that I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's lecture now. Now, I just want it all done and over with.
This lovely time of year (also known as Christmas time) happens to coincide quite nicely with one of the busiest times of the year for me at work (known as I must get all this crap done before the holiday break). And this year, on top of everything else, it also happens to be the tail end of my Cell Biology class.
Now, I have really enjoyed the class up so far. It has been interesting and stimulating and, in a weird sort of way, fun. This week happens to be the final week of lectures. I was looking forward to this week not only because it means I'm almost done with the class, but because we were going to be discussing Cancer which is a subject that is quite personal to me and which I find interesting.
In Monday's lecture, however, I found out that maybe this week wasn't going to be as great as I thought it would be. The teacher was fine. The subject was interesting. But for some reason (and I'm still not sure why) sitting through a lecture on cancer really really bothered me.
Now, let me say that after almost 6 years, I am pretty good a guessing when something is going to get to me. I know, for example, that I need to ignore Mother's Day and I try to stay away from movies like Stepmom (which makes me cry every single time). But this one I didn't see coming. And that was almost worse than anything.
If I know it's coming, I can prepare myself for it. I can get ready. But this just kind of blindsided me. I've sat through many lectures before, on all sorts of topics related to cancer, and it has never bothered me. I've read books and looked at websites that deal with cancer, and it was fine. Maybe it was because it's so close to the holidays and I always miss her more this time of year. Maybe it's because I was already having a bit of a bad day. But whatever the reason, I know that I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's lecture now. Now, I just want it all done and over with.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Feast or Famine
Dear UK sports teams,
I realize that this holiday weekend is a busy one for you. I also realize that it probably isn't the best situation to have to be out on the road for what is normally a family holiday. But please keep just a few things in mind.
To the Football team:
Last year I sat in the freezing cold for almost 4 hours to watch you blow your chance to beat Tennessee for the first time since I've been alive. (No, I wasn't at the game, I was sitting on my Dad's couch, but the furnace had gone out and the house had no heat). Please remember that when you are facing the Vols again on Saturday. I would very much like to beat them this year, especially since they are about as bad as and Tennessee football team is likely to ever be. It is just another game. They are just another team. Please, just pretend that it's Norfolk State, only they are in their Orange uniforms for this game.
To the Men's Basketball team:
You need to win your game on Friday. No excuses. No mistakes. You have to win. Not only to give yourselves a win over a team that isn't Longwood or Delaware State, but because you need to play in the late game on Saturday so that I can watch the football team play too. I don't want to have to pick between the two of you. And if I do, I'd have to say that you might be the loser. After all, at least the football team almost beat Alabama and Georgia. There wasn't anything almost about your loss to UNC. So win, that way it won't be an issue.
To the Women's Basketball team:
Honestly, while I enjoy watching you play and usually try to keep up with your games, there is just too much going on this weekend. Play well, but I'm not going to be watching. After all, I have to find time somewhere to eat and sleep and shop.
And finally, to Mitch Barnhart:
While I realize that the Thanksgiving holiday is a big sports weekend, do you think that next year you could spread things out some? After all, there are plenty of other weekends in the year for our teams to play, they don't all have to play at the same time. And I'm sure the broadcast crews will thank you too.
Yours Truly,
A Big Blue Fan.
PS. And just to underscore the madness: From the Herald-Leader Wild UK Weekend
I realize that this holiday weekend is a busy one for you. I also realize that it probably isn't the best situation to have to be out on the road for what is normally a family holiday. But please keep just a few things in mind.
To the Football team:
Last year I sat in the freezing cold for almost 4 hours to watch you blow your chance to beat Tennessee for the first time since I've been alive. (No, I wasn't at the game, I was sitting on my Dad's couch, but the furnace had gone out and the house had no heat). Please remember that when you are facing the Vols again on Saturday. I would very much like to beat them this year, especially since they are about as bad as and Tennessee football team is likely to ever be. It is just another game. They are just another team. Please, just pretend that it's Norfolk State, only they are in their Orange uniforms for this game.
To the Men's Basketball team:
You need to win your game on Friday. No excuses. No mistakes. You have to win. Not only to give yourselves a win over a team that isn't Longwood or Delaware State, but because you need to play in the late game on Saturday so that I can watch the football team play too. I don't want to have to pick between the two of you. And if I do, I'd have to say that you might be the loser. After all, at least the football team almost beat Alabama and Georgia. There wasn't anything almost about your loss to UNC. So win, that way it won't be an issue.
To the Women's Basketball team:
Honestly, while I enjoy watching you play and usually try to keep up with your games, there is just too much going on this weekend. Play well, but I'm not going to be watching. After all, I have to find time somewhere to eat and sleep and shop.
And finally, to Mitch Barnhart:
While I realize that the Thanksgiving holiday is a big sports weekend, do you think that next year you could spread things out some? After all, there are plenty of other weekends in the year for our teams to play, they don't all have to play at the same time. And I'm sure the broadcast crews will thank you too.
Yours Truly,
A Big Blue Fan.
PS. And just to underscore the madness: From the Herald-Leader Wild UK Weekend
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Never Doubt that a Small Group of Dedicated Individuals can Change the World....Indeed, it is the Only Thing that Ever Has
So Tuesday was election day. It was a big election day. UK even gave me the entire day off work (and Lord knows it takes an act of God for UK to call off work).
I will say that I went out and voted. I believe that no matter who you are going to vote for, or what you believe, it is your duty to vote. It is our right as American Citizens to vote. And if you don't vote, you have no right to complain. So I voted.
And as I was standing in line to vote (the only time, mind you, that I have ever had to wait in line to vote at my precinct) I was struck by how much this election meant to so many people. It wasn't all that long ago that African Americans gained the right to vote (1870 i believe, which sounds like a long time ago, but is really only a few generations removed. My Great-Grandparents would have seen this Amendment pass). For women, that right came even later (1920, less than 100 years ago). And yet, on the Presidential ballot, we had both our first African American Presidential candidate and the first women Vice Presidential candidate on a truly viable ticket. Oh, how far we have come.
I was also struck with how important it was that this country was willing to elect an African American man as our President. No matter what you think of his politics, you have to admit that it was a huge step for a country that, only 150 years ago relied on slaves for much of its industry. For a country who only 60 years ago was still trying to figure out how to grow past its past of slavery and oppression. Where for so long, any person of color was treated as inferior. Where it took armed soldiers to integrate schools. Where people died because they wanted equal rights for everyone.
Now, I'm not saying that this election erases that history. I'm not saying that it makes up for all the bad blood there. But it does show just how far we have come. And I can't help but think that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr would be pleased at the progress we have made. After all, he had a dream.....
Langston Hughes
I will say that I went out and voted. I believe that no matter who you are going to vote for, or what you believe, it is your duty to vote. It is our right as American Citizens to vote. And if you don't vote, you have no right to complain. So I voted.
And as I was standing in line to vote (the only time, mind you, that I have ever had to wait in line to vote at my precinct) I was struck by how much this election meant to so many people. It wasn't all that long ago that African Americans gained the right to vote (1870 i believe, which sounds like a long time ago, but is really only a few generations removed. My Great-Grandparents would have seen this Amendment pass). For women, that right came even later (1920, less than 100 years ago). And yet, on the Presidential ballot, we had both our first African American Presidential candidate and the first women Vice Presidential candidate on a truly viable ticket. Oh, how far we have come.
I was also struck with how important it was that this country was willing to elect an African American man as our President. No matter what you think of his politics, you have to admit that it was a huge step for a country that, only 150 years ago relied on slaves for much of its industry. For a country who only 60 years ago was still trying to figure out how to grow past its past of slavery and oppression. Where for so long, any person of color was treated as inferior. Where it took armed soldiers to integrate schools. Where people died because they wanted equal rights for everyone.
Now, I'm not saying that this election erases that history. I'm not saying that it makes up for all the bad blood there. But it does show just how far we have come. And I can't help but think that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr would be pleased at the progress we have made. After all, he had a dream.....
A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
