Up, Up, Up She Goes

She's now expected to get to 48.5 feet by 1am Thursday morning with rain forecast all week...this would be the 4th highest she's ever been.

Rivers are cool!

Why I don't Miss Our Dock At The River

This is a graph showing how high the Kansas River is predicted to get in the next few days. The blue line is where it is at the current reading and the green dotted line is the prediction. The 10th highest crest EVER is 38 feet. In...like 1974. Highest ever is 61 in 1951 during the '51 floods that devastated Kansas City.



We used to row on the Kansas River as it flows through downtown Kansas City. Several years ago the constant river level began to drop and we are no longer able to row there year 'round. We've moved to a wonderful but occasionally windy lake about 10 miles to the west.

I have been listening to the rain all day today. Started about 7:30am. It's rained buckets. And buckets.

Used to be days like this I would worry...I'd have worried yesterday when the rain was forecast. Mike and I would send emails trying to get folks lined up to move the dock. Pull it in, pull it in and then...when the water starts to go down, we'd run down and try to push it out fast enough that it wouldn't get stuck on land.

And then we'd dig it out. The tons of river crap that had collected next to and often on top of the dock had to be cleared away and the dang thing had to be put back in the water.

Rain like this...2 weeks off the water. 1 week watching and feeling sick while the river roared by. Then another week cleaning it all up.

My Mom asked me yesterday, "Who takes care of your dock at the lake?".
Innocent enough. For the last 10 years she's been listening to me gripe and cry and curse. She knows.

My answer. "Well, no one. We show up. The dock is there. We walk out onto it, put our boats in the water, row, land, walk back across it and GO HOME."

No one takes care of the dock. It's a beautiful thing.

Tagged...again

This time by my cousin Bec...and this time I'm giving you seven random facts about the Kansas City Rowing Club.

Here are the rules as passed on - Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. (You need to choose seven people to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!) I'm glad this last part is optional because Bec tagged everyone I know...maybe I need to make some blogging friends.

Seven Random Things About The Kansas City Rowing Club

1. We have no permanent home. We are currently living off of our trailer in a parking lot at the lake.

2. Once upon a time we hosted a kick butt regatta on the Kansas River near Kemper Arena. Low water levels in the river have prevented us for hosting this regatta for many years now.

3. In the past 11 years we have had 11 coaches. Me and 10 others. I've been here the whole time.

4. At one annual club gathering we square danced. With a professional square dance caller. It was actually very fun...not to mention funny.

5. One year we considered adding the color purple to our green and blue club colors. Do not ask me why.

6. I don't miss our dock at the river...not one little bit.

7. We had an 85 year old lady attend a Learn To Row this season. She did just fine.

I don't tag anyone...so there!

I've Been Tagged

If you are one of my rowing club folks who reads for interesting or important rowing thoughts...well, I don't have any right now. It's spring, I'm tired, freaked out about how this summer will go and a bit nervous about whether or not the girls are ready for Centrals.

I've been tagged for a meme by my lovely (your senior picture is drop dead!) 'niece'. (she's actually my cousin's daughter but they've always called me aunt Jenn and I consider them my nieces.)

10 things you might not know about me.

1. I have a BS from the University of Kansas in Photojournalism. Never used it. Still paying for it.

2. Until very recently (yesterday) I had a relatively large IRS issue that I had been dealing with for the last 13 years...since I divorced my ex husband who thought it was a good idea to file his taxes but not pay them. It's over now!!!!!

3. I don't have one piece of furniture in my house that I paid money for. Very early American garage sale.

4. I go to bed by 8:30-9:00 most nights...and will sleep until 7 or 8 if the dogs leave me alone.

5. I am TERRIFIED of the dentist...I've been known to break into tears even before he touches me. (but I will go into a burning building...odd)

6. I like to sew.

7. In the 1996 Olympic Trials I knew I was beaten about 800 meters into the race and I basically shut down. I came across the line at about a 26. I was so embarrassed that while everyone was at lunch I packed up my boat and left without saying goodbye to anyone.

8. I have chocolate in almost every room of my garage sale decorated house.

9. I dig bald men.

10. If I get the hiccups I will eventually throw up...every time.

Hmmm...I tag...Kimmy...everyone else who reads this and blogs has already been tagged.

This One's For Snick

Actually this is the one Skittles has on her page.

For Donna

I found this on my friend Skittles blog.

Donna, can Snick play?

KCRC Has A New Website

Go by and take a look. KCRowing
Let me know what you think.

What I Did At Work Today

Jenn Needs To...

I was tagged by my cousin Bec...google your name with 'needs to' behind it and see what pops up. Here's mine.

Jenn needs coffee...well, duh.

Jenn needs help filling out the capitol expense report...never was good at math.

Jen needs to find a self righteous, conspicuous "I'm better than you" charitable position so she can keep charming the sheep into thinking she matters a rat's ass, like Scangalina did...ummm...

Jen needs to have a session or two with a therapist...never hurts.

Jenn needs a horse...hmmm, wonder what Rescue would do with a horse.

Jen needs to take some time and be by herself. Take time for herself and friends and relax...oh my, this one is actually talking about me!

Great Plains (and my Great Girls)

Looks so pretty,, doesn't it. Sunny, grass is green, athletes are ready...

And here they are. They are so keyed up, nervous. Not as nervous as me...I know what I've sent them out into.

Can you see the wave coming up and hitting them in the backs of their heads. Note the white caps on the left. This pic doesn't do it justice.

That water is supposed to stay in the lake. Not end up in their boat.

Look at their faces...they are smiling. Glad to be back on shore, I'm sure but also they have completed their very first race!

Here I am...rowing with them.

Look at all the medals they won!!!

A team huddle.

The Sunday group.

Wordless Wednesday

Some Clarification May Be Needed

Okay, so I don't hate 'Topeka'. I am always, every year, without fail, frustrated beyond belief at the annual regatta held in Topeka.

They try to do too much which means that they run behind.

They try to do it with too much fan fare which means that while we are running behind they want to have a flag ceremony and need two rowers from each team to hold oars and make a path.

They have officials who have never rowed before so while they are running behind and trying to have a silly flag ceremony the officials who don't understand what it takes to get the boats where they need to be start yelling at the kids.

The lake is VERY susceptible to even the slightest breeze (in Kansas in the spring where the wind ALWAYS blows) so while they are running behind and trying to have a silly flag ceremony and the crappy officials are yelling at the kids who are doing everything they can to get their boats where they need to be the waves on the lake become big and scary.

They think that since this is a "Championship Regatta" (only because they named it so) they should have a hour long medals ceremony. So after a day that has run too long, where they did very little to get the schedule back on time, where my kids come off the water in tears because some 50 year old man thought it might be helpful to scream at a 15 year old girl, they want us to stand around and listen to their stupid jokes when all we want are the medals our kids won and to get the HECK out of there.

The ONLY reason we go is because it's close.

On a side note the highlight of my weekend was my 83 year old uncle Warren coming to the lake with Mean Uncle Denny, Big Daddy Kris, and my little cousins Kristin and Ethan. My family has put up with my rowing habit for years. They listen when I talk about my kids and ask how our competitions went but they don't come watch very often. It's nice to have them see what I do and who my kids are.
MUD come every year. Every year....

Have I Mentioned How Much I Hate Topeka!

Wordless Wednesday (for a day when there really are no words)

Rowing Technique by Flip Luisi

FISA World Rowing Championship 2002

Men's lightweight eights good race video.

(Junior girls...watch the finishes in the close up shots. Watch the body and arm position)

The Dutch Men's Eight

This is a good video of a start, settle and race.

GG's New Digs

My Grandmother has moved into a swank new retirement community. These pictures were taken yesterday in Wichita.
(Dad, Kim...she looks VERY happy)

She remarked, more than once, how incredibly friendly everyone has been.

The Great Grand kids (and she has 12) call her GG. She makes the best cookies!

Here is her bedroom. She is very happy with the new bedroom furniture. Note the sewing machine. On the other side of the bed is the ironing board...she remarked to my Mother..."I love to iron". Crazy.

She has some new living room furniture and it's a very nice room.

This picture looks back into the hallway to the bedroom and bathroom.

If you squint you can see her in the doorway.

This is her front window. All the residents have their windows decorated. Hers, of course, has her dolls and bears.

This is the dining room. Real table cloths, real napkins and real silverware. Looks like a restaurant.

This is the main room. A three story ceiling with skylights, a fireplace, comfy chairs...it reminds me of a fancy hotel.

Another view of the main room.

This is the Westminster room. GG's apartment opens out to this room. They play bingo, have movie night, speakers, music, game night...it's their 'rec' room.
Here is the April snow storm we drove in returning to KC...4 wheel drive, 40 miles and hour for almost 2 hours.

Crazy!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen reasons I'm too tired to do Thursday Thirteen.

1 It's spring.
2 Topeka entries.
3 We started our day with back to back car accidents. (I'm at work)
4 I had trouble sleeping last night.
5 I ran stairs this morning.
6 It's spring.
7 First week of Spring Rowing League.
8.........

See I was just too tired.

Wordless Wednesday

A MUST Read (especially for my gal pals)

Last week I borrowed the dancin' rabbit from Odat a funny blog I check in on almost everyday.

Well she's done it again. I'm not putting it here (might be a bit racy for the kids) but you need to take a look (Bec, Kimmy).

Happy 100 Days!!!!!

I'm having an episode of "I Loathe" #4.
See below for clarification.

100 Days Into 2007

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 10th, is the 100th day of the year.

A place I visit regularly April’s Salt for the Spirit came up with a neat idea.

Here are my 100 things for the 100th day.

I have lived..
1…in Wichita, KS, where I was born and lived until I was 5.
2…in Topeka, KS, where I grew up and went to High School.
3…in Lawrence, KS, where I went to College, Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
4…in Cincinnati, OH, where I coached for the Cincinnati Rowing Club and trained.
5…in Lawrence, KS (again), , where I painted Victorian Homes and tried to survive.
6…in Philadelphia, PA, where I trained at Fairmont Rowing Club and learned who I really was.
7…in Washington, DC, where I rowed at the Occoquan for the crazy Russian and made the ’94 World Championship team.
8…in Topeka, KS (again), where my grandmother took me in and allowed me to figure out what the heck I was going to do.
9…in Shawnee, KS (again), where my sister and brother in law let me live in their basement and do what I had figured out.
10…in Kansas City, KS (And I’m staying here!), where I live with my critters (and my brother who is trying to figure out what he’s going to do…must be genetic) and work as a firefighter and a rowing coach.

I have witnessed...
1…my siblings create these amazing little people who mean so much to me. (okay, I didn’t see the actual ‘creation’, that would be creepy and weird. But I did see one of them come into this world. Without exception the one most amazing day of my life)
2…pure acts of heroism.
3…young girls turn into young women…almost before my eyes, with the support and power they gain from being a part of a team.
4…total joy…have you ever seen a dog running in the grass or rolling over and over again in something really stinky.
5…a child who truly believed he was meeting Santa.
6…an athlete perform to the best of her ability, and recognize that her effort was extraordinary.
7…my parents rise above their feelings about one another to come together as a family to celebrate their grandchildren. (way to go Mom and Dad!!!)
8…total loss. More than once.
9…life leaving a person. Also more than once.
10…the sunrise over the ocean.

I have heard...
1…an eight, rowed exceptionally well.
2…Hummingbird wings.
3…soft puppy dog snores (I’m hearing some now…)
4…our club’s name announced at the medals dock at US Nationals.
5…the sound of my oars in the water.
6…the way a boat hums when it’s running well.
7…teenagers when they forget you are in the car with them.
8…my nephew’s laughing.
9…the quiet of the early morning.
10…the sound of a fire truck from the inside.

I have lost...
1…my keys, over and over and over again.
2…Taylor and Andi.
3…all of my Grandfathers.
4…most of my flexibility (yoga, everyone, quick, before it’s too late!)
5…good friends, for stupid reasons.
6…every work name tag I’ve ever been given.
7…as well as any pen I’ve ever touched.
8…my chance to be a mother.
9…my Bleeding Hearts for this year (20 degrees in KC this last week…everything froze).
10…my ability to sleep late.

I have found...
1…that my money never lasts as long as my wants.
2…that it is impossible to keep the cats off the furniture…dogs yes, cats no.
3…that I sleep better with one dog than with two.
4…that I cannot give up coffee.
5…that less explanation is better when teaching novice. If I shut up, most of them will find the correct way to move.
6…that if you cut frozen Tulips, put them in the frig and let them thaw and then put them in water they will last several days.
7…that if you are in a hurry everything that can go wrong will.
8…that I can hold my tongue…most of the time.
9…that it is worth every penny to pay Darren to mow my yard.
10…that I kind of like to run even if I’m very, very slow.

I love...
1…my life, finally.
2…my family, all bazillion of them.
3…the smell of cut grass.
4…Maggie, Rescue, Gus and Jack.
5…to teach.
6…dark chocolate.
7…blank days on my calendar.
8…growing things.
9…making a difference.
10…drinking strong coffee on my porch on a spring morning.

I can...
1…teach.
2…row.
3…write.
4…cook.
5…grow things.
6…fish.
7…fix things.
8…fight fire.
9…do CPR.
10…keep my head in emergencies.

I loathe...
1…the dentist.
2…driving in traffic.
3…loading the rowing trailer.
4…several thing associated with any Regatta in Topeka.
5…lazy people.
6…the trip to Cincinnati.
7…laundry.
8…the attitude many people have about Wyandotte County.
9…washing fire trucks.
10…oh yeah, and raspberries.

I hope...
1…I can sort out the Spring Rowing League today.
2…it warms up.
3…my plants survive this cold spell.
4…my nephews make it through the growing up process without scars.
5…my kids continue to race well this season.
6…I get promoted soon.
7…my dogs live forever.
8…Major Ed comes home safe and sound.
9…we get this Iraq mess sorted out before we lose more kids over there.
10…little Alex (granddaughter of a good friend) recovers quickly.

I am trying...
1…to live debt free (harder than it seems).
2…to lose weight (…I know, who isn’t).
3…to get in shape and stay in shape. (that running thing, you know)
4…to be a good friend (I’m too self absorbed for my own good)
5…to be a good aunt. (this one I think I’m doing okay with but it gets tricky as they get older)
6…to be a good sister. (this one always needs work)
7…to be a good Christian. (God has a plan for me; I have to remember not to get in his way)
8…to be a good firefighter. (there is so much to learn, still)
9…to be a good teacher. (I learn more than I teach)
10…to be a good person. (again, harder than it seems)

Easter Bunny Boogie

Easter Bunny Boogie

I forgot to add that I got this from Odat’s Mumblings Go say hi to her and don't forget to check out her Happy dance Fridays.

Happy Easter!

Dang...now I've lost the Bunny...

Moms

Tough call this evening...

Call your Mom today. Tell her you love her.

You won't have her forever...

And say a prayer for Nicole. She lost her Mom tonight.

Pretty

Three's

This is for my non-rowing family, Bec, Denny and Kim.(I had to since everyone, even Kim has done it!)

Three's

Three Things That Scare Me:
Something happening to the kids I love.
House Fires.
Going to the Dentist.

Three People Who Make Me Laugh:
Donna.
Andrew.
Ed Smith.

Three Things I Love to Do:
Sleep late.
Drink coffee on my porch in the spring.
Watch my kids race well.

Three Things I Hate:
Being sick. ( the cold the germy nephews gave me is kicking my butt!)
Fighting with my family.
Getting moved out to work in another station for a shift. (Tomorrow I have to go to 20's, yeck!)

Three Things I Don't Understand:
The guys I work with.
My Brother.
Why Maggie rolls in smelly stuff.

Three Things On My Desk:
(I had to get up to go look since I'm sitting on the couch)
My old laptop.
A picture of me and Rescue.
My camera.

Three Things I'm Doing Right Now:
Sneezing and Sniffling.
Sitting on the couch in my jammies at 5pm.
Watching 'What Not To Wear'.
(I figure 'blogging' is understood)

Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
Get married again.
Go to Europe.
Make a difference.

Three Things I Can Do:
Teach.
Cook.
Row.

Three Things I Can't Do:
Dance.
Sing.
Remember to get the trash out in time.

Three Things I Think You Should Listen To:
Children.
Van Morrison.
The rain.

Three Things You Should Never Listen To:
Angry people.
Loud noises (bad for your hearing).
People who don't like you.

Three Things I'd Like To Learn (but won't):
To play the piano.
To be more organized.
???????? I can do most of what I'd like to be able to do?

Three Favourite Foods:
Kimmies Enchiladas.
My Potato Soup.
Christmas Soup.
(weird...it's the same list as Kim)

Three Shows I Watched As A Kid:
Mash.
Hogan's Heros.
Zoom.

They are fast!

Oklahoma City Results
1st Junior Women's Single
1st and 3rd Junior Women's Double
1st and 5th Junior Women's Quad
3rd Junior Women's Four

It was a great day, good weather, good racing, good stuff!!!!

Don't They Look Tough

We have our first race this weekend in Oklahoma City...The Varsity girls are ready...actually the Novice are ready, too. They just have to wait a few weeks for their first race. It's gonna be a fun spring!

The SCARE -Sculling Pair

I can't wait for warmer water...

Jayhawks 33-5!

Well...so much for the Hawks.

I don't understand the folks who are spouting off about getting rid of Bill Self. If we had been offered the following results before the season started we ALL would have said 'heck yeah!'.

They one 33 games! Regular season Big 12 Champions. Big 12 tournament champions. Made it to the Elite 8 for the second time in 4 years.

Yeah it hurts a little today. But I'm going to put my red and blue on and continue to cheer on my Hawks. It's rowing season, you know!

Overall 33-5
Big 12 14-2 Champs
Home 16-2
Away 8-2
Neutral 9-1
Post-Season 6-1
Big 12 Tourn 3-0 Champs
NCAA Tourn 3-1
Made it to the Elite 8

Thursday Thirteen

"It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime. "
-Babe ruth

"The country is full of good coaches. What it takes to win is a bunch of interested players."
-Don Coryell, ex-San Diego Chargers Coach

"There's no substitute for guts."
-Paul Bear Bryant

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand."
-Vince Lombardi

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them."
-Michael Jordan

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
-John Wooden

"When someone tells me the is only one way to do things, it always lights a fire under my butt. My instant reaction is, I'm gonna prove you wrong."
-Picabo Street

"Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace."
-Amelia Earhart

"Other people may not have had high expectations for me... but I had high expectations for myself."
-Shannon Miller

"Whoever said, 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts,' probably lost."
-Martina Navratilova, American Tennis Player

"Champions keep playing until they get it right."
-Billie Jean King

"Sport strips away personality, letting the white bone of character shine through. Sport gives players an opportunity to know and test themselves." ~Rita Mae Brown

More Songs For My Hawks

Listen

The KU Fight Song
I'm A Jayhawk

Listen

Fighting Jayhawk

Listen

The Rock Chalk Chant

A little song for my Hawks...

Listen

Far above the golden valley
Glorious to view
Stands my noble alma mater
Towering toward the blue

Lift the chorus
Ever onward
Crimson and the blue

Hail to thee
My alma mater
hail to old KU

Rock chalk
Jayhawk
KUuuuuuu

GOOD LUCK HAWKS!!!

The Parent's Equipment List For Regatta Attendance

This is a list put together by a fellow coach. I thought it was good enough to share.

Chair: There isn’t anywhere to sit at a regatta. Chairs are very important when the only alternative is sitting in a mud puddle.Book: Races run late. There will be long periods of time with nothing to watch.

Warm clothes: It’s springtime in the Midwest. The weather will change. Dress in layers, warmer than you think you need.

Money for the kids (T shirts, etc): There aren’t ATMs at racecourses, and there are plenty of opportunities to spend money on regatta stuff.

Rain clothes: It’s springtime in the Midwest. It is going to rain. All day. It will be a very cold rain. Rain clothes include something to cover your pants, because you will be out in that rain all day.

Binoculars: Even coaches forget these.

Contact a parent coordinator and transport some food, equipment etc: The parents in charge of food and the traveling circus that a rowing team is need help. Transport some equipment, help set up the tent, help cook some food, because these heroes deserve it

Did I mention rain clothes and warm clothes? I love my survival suit for a reason.

Change of clothes: There is nothing nastier than finally getting in your car for the drive home, but your clothes are muddy and soaked through. Warm dry clothes after a nasty day are almost as good as a hot shower.

Sun screen: Eventually, the sun will come up, and regatta sites usually don’t have a lot of shade. Get some sweat-proof sun block, because your kid is guaranteed to forget to bring some for herself.

Sun glasses: Sunlight reflected off a river or lake isn’t fun to squint into. Polarized sunglasses are the best.

All this stuff in a waterproof bag: Assume that the ground you will be on will consist of 4 inches of freezing mud. You have a lot of stuff, and you will need to carry some of it to the tent. Have a bag that can sit in the muck and still keep your cell phone dry.

Rain/mud proof boots: Rain clothes are worthless if your feet are soaked through. Who cares about the weather when you can slop through the mud with no worries?

Comfortable walking shoes: When the weather is decent, you will realize the regatta site has spread out over a large portion of the race course. Then the distance the kids have to race over suddenly doesn’t seem that short. Launch docks are rarely close to the boats, which are rarely close to the tents, which are never close to the parking area. Be prepared to walk about 5 miles on a regatta day.

Thursday Thirteen #10

Thirteen things I love about March

1. The random days when you can go outside in shorts and bare feet.
2. Rowing on the WATER again.
3. The grass begin to green.
4. Novice rowers.
5. Tulips.
6. Hummingbirds.
7. St Paddy's Day.
8. Basketball.
9. Fishing.
10. Andrew's birthday.
11. Thunderstorms.
12. The first Learn To Row of the year.
13. The first Regatta of the season.

Happy March!
Go Hawks! (and Rebels and 49ers)

Vote for Rescue

Rescue is in a cute dog contest...please help VOTE FOR RESCUE

Auto link trouble?

I can't get the auto links to show up?
Anyone?

Wordless Wednesday

Rock Chalk Jayhawk (K-State, you were robbed...you should be dancin' too!)

Mascots are believed to bring good luck, especially to athletic teams. KU is home of the Jayhawk, a mythical bird with a fascinating history. Its origin is rooted in the historic struggles of Kansas settlers. The term "Jayhawk" was probably coined about 1848. Accounts of its use appeared from Illinois to Texas. The name combines two birds-the blue jay, a noisy, quarrelsome thing known to rob nests, and the sparrow hawk, a stealthy hunter. The message here: Do not turn your back on this bird.

During the 1850's, the Kansas Territory was filled with such Jayhawks. The area was a battleground between those wanting a state where slavery would be legal and those committed to a Free State. The factions looted, sacked, rustled cattle, and otherwise attacked each other's settlements. For a time, ruffians on both sides were called Jayhawkers. But the name stuck to the free staters. Lawrence, where KU would be founded, was a Free State stronghold.

During the Civil War, the Jayhawk's ruffian image gave way to patriotic symbol. Kansas Governor Charles Robinson raised a regiment called the Independent Mounted Kansas Jayhawkers. By war's end, Jayhawks were synonymous with the impassioned people who made Kansas a Free State. In 1886, the bird appeared in a cheer-the Rock Chalk Chant. When KU football players first took the field in 1890, it seemed natural to call them Jayhawkers.

How do you draw a Jayhawk? For years, that question stumped fans. Henry Maloy, a cartoonist for the student newspaper, drew a memorable version of the Jayhawk (top left) in 1912. He gave it shoes. Why? For kicking opponents, of course.

In 1920, a more somber bird (top right), perched on a KU monogram, came into use. In 1923, Jimmy O'Bryon and George Hollingbery designed a duck-like Jayhawk (second image on left). About 1929, Forrest O. Calvin drew a grim-faced bird (near right) sporting talons that could maim. In

1941, Gene "Yogi" Williams opened the Jayhawk's eyes and beak (left), giving it a contentious look.

It is student Harold D. Sandy's 1946 design of a smiling Jayhawk (left) that survives. The design purchased from Sandy and was copyrighted in 1947 by the KU Bookstores. The University of Kansas later registered the design as its official service-mark and it is still one of the most recognizable and unique collegiate mascots in the country.

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK

GO KU!

CHEETAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday Thirteen #9

Thirteen quick things...busy day.

1. Badly in need of a nap, up since 2:30am.
2. When you live 2 blocks from a hospital, a swollen foot because you kicked a wall when you were drunk the night before, does not require an ambulance.
3. When you ask for an ambulance for said foot you are likely to end up at a hospital across town due to strange patient load regulations for ambulance traffic.
4. If you'd limped the two blocks you'd be home by now.
5. Being really drunk at 3:45am also does not require an ambulance.
6. When you fall down the stairs because you are really drunk you will be placed on a long, hard, very uncomfortable board (to protect you from paralysis), placed in the ambulance and taken to the hospital.
7. If are really drunk at your mother's house at 4:50 am and call an ambulance she is likely to holler at you the entire time.
8. When you own a business with a wood shop and a heat detecting alarm, it really should at least have a door with a window so the firefighters called to said business in the middle of the freakin' night because the alarm has tripped know whether or not to break down said door.
9. If not you should absolutely not be pissed when they do.
10. I need to remember to have some gum in my bunkers.
11. I should not drink coffee before 4am.
12. I need light blocking curtains for my room.
13. Yawn.

Perhaps I'll Chuck It Against The Wall

Just a little rant.

I have a program that saves information (some of it important). Aparently there is an updated version. The version I have suddenly became...i don't know...empty?
All the info stored there, poof, gone.
Pisses me off.

Wordless Wednesday

Manic Monday #3

So, Today's word is BLOW.
It is spring, we are moving to the lake today, we do live in the land of 50 mile an hour winds.
Here's a little poem....

The Wind


Can you hear the wind
Been blowing all day long
That same old wind
That blew yesterday away
We are all afraid
Both animal and bird
Of mother nature
Telling us to move along
That unrelenting wind
Both hot and dry
Cold and rain
The wind wont slow
I cant seem to grow fond
Of the restless wind
Perhaps one day
It will fade away

written on a windy day 2004

allan james saywell


And a little prayer...

Please God, give us calm waters and sunny days.
Help me to teach these young hearts.
Give them strength and confidence and the courage to face the defeats along with the victories.

Amen

I've been meaning to do this for weeks

Sgt. James J. Holtom, 22, of Rexburg, Idaho.

Spc. Ross A. Clevenger, 21, of Givens Hot Springs, Idaho.

Pvt. Raymond M. Werner, 21, of Boise, Idaho.


These boys died in Iraq the same day Anna Nicole died.

She's still on the magazine covers and in the news.

Have you ever heard their names........

Thursday Thirteen #8

Thirteen Random Things About I Love About Spring Rowing...

1. Novice Rowers asking "will I get big muscles?"
2. The Varsity girls showing off for the novies...just a little.
3. The anticipation of our first day on the water (Tuesday, hopefully!)
4. The Spring race schedule
5. Laura calling and telling me she's not moving until after Topeka!!!!!!Yeah!!!!
6. A potential novice eight...yes, an eight!
7. The seniors and their erg scores.
8. The kids in tees and shorts, Laura, Ed and I freezing to death in the coaching launch.
9. The trailer loaded for the first time since fall.
10. Worrying about the dock during the first big spring storm.
11. Nine million emails about signing up for this or for that.
12. Rescue and Mags and their first spring practice.
13. Finally being OUTSIDE!!!!