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!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

The New Ones

Today is the first day for the new novice rowers.

I'm always filled with such hope for the future of our team on the first day.
I never know who is coming, what will they add to our little family, how attached will I become...I love the kids I coach. Some I have for a short time. Some as many as four years. You spend four years with a kid, 5 days a week, travel with them, challenge them, see them succeed, see them struggle, hug, cry, laugh, tease, lead, follow...good stuff!

We tested yesterday. 2000 meters on the ergs. It had been a long time since our last test.

They amazed me. I think they amazed themselves. Haley broke 8 minutes (huge big deal for those of you who don't 'know' rowing). She was pumped. Paula was close to 8...closer than she thought she'd be. I think she was disappointed because she just missed.

Today they will help Ed and I with the novie's.

I'll let you know how it goes...

Pet Friday

I've got nothing but muddy dogs. Couldn't wait for it to warm up and for the snow to melt. Forgot about the muddy dogs...oh well, I'll clean the floors in May.

Thursday Thirteen-Basketball Blues

I have coached the same group of boys every winter for several years now. Austin, Luke and DJ I've had since the beginning. Micheal and Brian almost as long. John, Morgan and Corbin started playing for me last year. Alex is new this year. These boys no longer play for me but always play in my heart: Jordan, Aaron, Kevin, Micheal G, Dylan, Nathan, Jake, Calen, Jay and Eric.

Last night we had our very last practice. I cried on the way home. They will be high school freshman next year and too old to play in the league.

We will start my little nephew Andrew in a 3 on 3 league next year. My boys all said they'd come to Andrew's game and cheer for him. They are nice boys.

Here are 13 things that I remember from the last 5 years.

1. DJ - the most remarkable little guy. Has some personal challenges but you'd never know when he shoots. His dad gets just as excited as he does when he scores. My all time favorite kid I've ever coached!

2. Jordan - grew so fast his knees couldn't keep up. This big, talented kid. Very laid back, never got angry, never got too excited. Just played basketball.

3. Aaron - more like me than any kid I've ever coached. Always right, a bit mouthy, very intense, funny. I could get on him about something and he'd crack a smile and we'd both end up laughing.

4. Austin - my dear nephew. He's grown up SO fast. We struggled to get him to shoot with proper technique. He prevailed and his shot has turned into this very quirky, strangely accurate shot that is so him. He has always been his own person and basketball is no exception.

5. Corbin - a point guard in everything he does. He's Austin's best buddy and he 'point guards' his entire life. Kim calls him the social director. He takes the game so personal. Occasionally we get him to relax and not stress so much. He's always surprised how much fun he has.

6. Morgan - I met him initially in Austin's first grade class. Just a genuinely nice kid. He was having trouble with a little double dribbling. Started bringing the ball down the court with his left hand behind his back. Cracked us up! Even the refs were laughing.

7. Kevin - so much fun to coach. Not a basketball star but a kid who'd do anything you asked him, try so hard and when he got it right would grin from ear to ear. I've missed him the last two years.

8. Micheal - very timid little guy. When we were leaving the gym last night I realized that I'd hurt anyone who picked on him. He has three brothers, all are great athletes. Micheal is a good athlete but I always get the feeling he thinks he doesn't measure up. When he get on a hot spell he's quite a shooter. I hope he finds a place in this world where he feels special.

9. Luke - can you say 'bounces off the walls'! Sometimes we could harness the energy and he'd dominate. Often he bounced from one end to the other. Had more steals than anyone. Feisty and infuriating but fun to coach. His grandma is my all time favorite fan!

10. Brian - he has changed sooo much. He's a great little athlete. I hope he finds a sport that suits his easy going personality. He runs hard, jumps high, fights for every lose ball. Great kid!

11. John - I have never seen a kid grow so much in one year. He was a little boy last year. He came back in November a teenager. I hardly recognized him. He had to step up and play some point guard this year when Luke broke his wrist (surprise, surprise). Big jump for him but he has really blossomed. More confident, seems to be having a ball.

12. Alex - never played organized basketball until this year. Best rebounder on the team. Most consistent inside shot and can be deadly from 3 point range. Big smile, never complains, like the energizer bunny, goes and goes and goes. Wish he'd started sooner.

13. Best game memory - 1st year, we were getting killed. Mike was keeping score and he let me know that all the boys except 2 had scored. I called a time out. Told the boys. Dj scored first. Then Kevin need a bucket. I remember Aaron standing right next to him. They'd throw Aaron the ball, he'd hand it to Kevin and Kev would shoot. He got his bucket and you'd have thought we'd won the game. Best, Best memory!

Thanks to all the great parents and fans! Kim, Kenny, Cheryl, Jimmy, Sandy, Bob A, Angie, Bob B, Lezlie, Mark, Stephanie, Jim, Barb, Mike B, Dan, Robin, Stacy, Mike P, Tammy, Luke's Grandma, Brian's Grandma and anyone who's ever cheered for our team.

Go Fire Hawks!!!

Rowing Season

Okay, I know it's wordless Wednesday but is is also 1 week into Spring rowing season.
Posting will be sporadic but don't lose heart, I'm not going anywhere! (Except to practice :-))

Thursday Thirteen 2-15-07

Fun Rowing Stickers

My personal favorite

One I forgot

I brought my camera to work with me today because I had no idea what I was going to post for Wordless Wednesday.

For some reason today it struck me that we have 7 TVs in the station and typically only 9 guys (or gals).

Wordless Wednesday

Manic Monday

Oh...it truly is a 'Manic Monday'.

Spring rowing starts today for the Varsity kids....arghhhhhhhhh. I'm not ready!!!!

Okay

Today's word is Spike.

We had the greatest dog when I was in high school. He was a pug terrier mix. Little bitty guy, thought he could take on the world. Loved cheezits and my sister.

His name was Spike. I'll find a pic of him and post it...eventually.

Gotta go...go fast!

PS Ed Smith rocked in St Louis at the indoor race...He took first place in the Men's Masters group by nearly 20 seconds and posted the 5th fastest time of the day at 6:38.7. (500m Splits - 1:39.7). He also beat his 2006 performance by 1 tenth of a second!

Coffee...

Yeah, so...I got nothin'
Drinking my coffee. Sitting on the floor again (those of you who visit regularly will know why).
Kids start Monday, not done with the coaching schedule, website is a work in progress, ergs are en route from Manhattan (thanks Rob and Sharon!).

Bed needs to be made, dishes to wash, laundry to do, maybe later.

KU-MU 2:30pm GO HAWKS!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Places KCRC will go in 2007

1. St Louis
2. Topeka
3. Oklahoma City
4. Cincinnati
5. Tulsa
6. Cherry Hill, NJ
7. Wichita
8. Des Moines
9. Boston (Kenny will go to a Diversity workshop)
10. Miami (US Rowing Convention)
11. Back to the river...we hope!

Okay...we are only going 11 places...so it's the Thursday Eleven

Wordless Wednesday

"Yes Sir, I'll ask my dog to get off the bed."

What do dogs do when it's 8 degrees outside? Why, they come with me and hang out at the fire station.

The Chief came by earlier...wasn't too excited to see Rescue on the bed. When he left I helped Mags up, too. He he...

(I'm really not one of those people who blogs on and on about my pets. It's just that it's 8 degrees outside and we've been spending A LOT of time together.)

Manic Monday

drift (drĭft)
v. drift·ed, drift·ing, drifts

1.To be carried along by currents of air or water: a balloon drifting
eastward; as the wreckage drifted toward shore.


I have a Blue Heeler mix. She is 10 yrs old and is one of those true 'rowing' dogs. You know the type, always in the coaching launch, has been to more regattas than most of the team, thinks the Boathouse is home.

She's very smart, loves to swim and can usually get one of the rowers to throw something for her so she can go get it. Her favorite is the plastic water bottles the kids bring...don't set on the dock, it might not be there when you come back.

If she can't get anyone to play she will drop a bottle off the edge of the dock, watch it as it drifts down river. She will then jump in and retrieve it. She can entertain herself for quite a while...if only I could teach her to make coffee, hmmmm.

Pet Friday

Why I sit on the floor.
(There's actually a fairly nice couch under the dog (and cat) blankets)

Created this at atom smasher. Fun, huh?

Cough, Hack, Sneeze

Oh jeez, I think it's back. 3 weeks sick, 2 weeks on antibiotics, 10 days feeling pretty good and now the cough is back.
Have I mentioned that I'm sick of winter.

PS I know it's not 'winter' making me sick. It's being trapped inside with all the other sick people. Please don't post your cold remedies, I just needed a good whine...or maybe a good 'wine', hmmmm.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen rowing terms that always need to be explained.

1. Weigh Enough - rowers use this phrase instead of the word stop... best part is it sneaks into your non rowing life...

2. Gunwale - edges of the boat...primarily handholds when lifting and carrying.

3. Coxswain - people always want to know how it's spelled. The Coxswain is the person who sits in the larger boats, steers and is the 'captian' of the boat. This person DOES NOT yell 'stroke, stroke'.

4. Head Race - fall races are 'Head Races' usually 3-4 miles, single file, against the clock.

5. Erg - the blasted torture machine we use for indoor training.

6. Oars - they are 'Oars' not 'Paddles'.

7. Sculls - an old fashioned term for boat...rowers call them 'Boats'.

8. Launch - as in 'Coaching Launch'. For some reason we call the small boats the coaches use 'Launches'.

9. Crab - a dastardly accident when a rower loses control of his or her oar. The blade gets trapped in the water by the momentum of the boat and the oar handle flies backwards either over the rower’s head or striking the rower’s chest. In extreme cases the rower can be thrown from the boat. funny when it happens to someone else.

10. Feather/Square - the turning of the oar after the blade is extracted making it parallel to the water/The turning of the oar prior to entering the water to make it perpendicular.

11. Repechage - the “second chance” race given to those crews which fail to qualify for the finals from an opening heat. “Rep” qualifiers move onto semi-finals or finals depending on the number of entries. Used in international racing and national championships.

12. Sweep - boats in which the rowers each use a single sweep oar. A sweep oar is longer than a sculling oar and has a bigger blade.

13. Sculling - rowers who row with two oars each.