The One Where I Remember San Antonio

Jay Bilas wrote a nice column on espn.com about his memories of the basketball season. And since I just returned from the most memorable sporting weekend of my life, I thought I should memorialize it on this blog as well. And since we never write on it, it will probably be the top blog for a long time. :)

In no particular order:

I'll remember the look on Roy's face when his team stepped into the free throw lane early, giving Cole Aldrich another free throw that he actually made.

I'll remember Cole Aldrich fighting Tyler Hansborough for that rebound and thinking that no one had ever worked harder for a rebound.

I'll remember walking out of the stadium behind Tyler's dad. How freaking awesome is it that he walks with a limp? Ahh, the Ozarks.

I'll remember watching Kansas streak to a 40-12 lead and thinking how I had been on the Roy-coached end of the Final Four chokes many, many times.

I'll remember Kansas blowing that lead and then re-establishing it.

I'll remember the Kansas frontcourt dominating Tyler, even though he did have a decent second half.

I'll remember how Roy sent us his last final dig by not crying when he lost for the first time in tournament history.

I'll remember standing and clapping for Roy in a Jayhawk sticker.

I'll remember the guy who looked like Roy (somebody get this man 18 points) telling us in his best Southern drawl that "someone's gettin neked tonight. I called it! I called it! I just didn't know it would be the homeless guy, so we got the hell outta there."

I'll remember the guy in the North Carolina shirt telling me that he had a strange feeling that Kansas was going to beat Memphis on a last-second Mario Chalmers 3-pointer.

I'll remember being reduced to a blushing, speechless mess as Bill Self walked by me when we were sitting outside the Hilton.

I'll remember Chandler imitating Tyler.

I'll remember sneaking into the back entrance of the Hilton to stalk Kansas basketball players and talking to Larry Brown (even though he didn't talk back.)

I'll remember how excited we were to see a Whataburger.

I'll remember hearing about Boone Pickens' offering Bill millions of dollars and being compelled to walk around the Riverwalk holding a sign.

I'll remember the kid dribbling the basketball between his legs as he told me that Bill wasn't leaving. "I gots the hookup. But don't tell anyone I told you."

I'll remember the look on both Mon and Chandler's face when we saw that kid sitting on the second row next to Julian Wright.

I'll remember Bill's smile when they won.

I'll remember Mon and Chandler's smile when they won.

I'll remember everyone I hugged when Mario hit that three.

I'll remember that awful chant: T-I-G-E-R-S-TIGERS! And I'll remember how happy I was that I would never have to hear it again.

I'll remember singing the alma mater song after winning a national championship.

I'll remember what it felt like when everyone, including the players, sat down to watch "One Shining Moment." (The ball is tipped...)

I'll remember Mario (the car).

I'll remember feeling like a Mastercard commercial (watching your team win the national championship...priceless.) Never mind the fact that I'll be broke until Christmas.

I'll remember Bill Self saying that he's staying.

Jay Bilas' last "I'll remember" was so good that I'm going to steal it for my own:
"I'll remember Mario Chalmers' shot. I'll remember Kansas and how resilient that team is. I'll remember the Jayhawks as champions."

Rock Chalk Jayhawks.

The One With Chemistry Hell

Going back to school is hard. Don't let anyone tell you it isn't. Especially when you're trying to major in something that you don't naturally excel in and you're used to naturally exceling at things. I haven't been writing on this for awhile, but I'm going to try to start again. My mom is right -- writing things down helps. And I miss hearing from everyone. (Come on, Mon, what are you doing with your time these days? :)

To complicate matters, I have been suffering from a mini-depression lately. Two weeks ago, something happened to one of my friends, well his kids actually, that reminded me of my own childhood and really shook me up. My therapist would call that "a trigger." Despite my best efforts, I fell into a two-week depression that made me want to do nothing but drink and sleep in late. When I'm depressed, I can't sleep at night but I don't want to get up in the morning. Even though I was exhausted last night, I still couldn't get to sleep! It's so annoying.

Then, today, I was reminded -- probably by a song on the radio -- of the thing that gets me through pretty much everything: The worst part of my life is already over. Do you know what a relief that is? I know that I survived the very worst part of my life. It's over. No matter what happens next, I know I will be able to survive it. And thinking of that put a big smile on my face that I kept even through chem lab. And, hey, I don't have to go into my office job anymore! Another smile...

So I think I'm feeling better. And just in time. I have to start making my lazy ass go back to class. I have a huge chem test Wednesday, and I've barely studied. So I have tomorrow off from all my jobs and I'm getting ready for my 24-hour study-a-thon. See you on the other side...

The One With Too Many Jobs

When I was a little girl, I had a coloring book with a koala bear that had many different jobs. I used to go through it and tell my friend which of the jobs I wanted (all but homemaker, which I explained to my friend, didn't mean building homes). She said to me, "No one can have that many jobs." I said, "I can." Turns out, Vicky was right. No person should have six jobs and go back to school. There's really not enough time in the day for that. So I have neglected my blogging and everything that doesn't earn me a paycheck or an A.

But today is a special day, one that has caused me to get on this blog and say, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEEEEAAAARRRR MON! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" I made you birthday flan....

The One With the Radio

Do you guys remember the '90s when everything on the radio was good? OK, I have to admit, I never liked Nirvana or that Lump song, but in general, I was a huge fan of the way grunge changed rock and roll. One of the local '90s stations still has Rock of the '90s weekends, and I'll listen to the radio all weekend. Most of the music on my IPod is from the '90s. What isn't is from the '70s.

But I struggle listening to the radio now. I think that song "Delilah" is the new communication device of the devil. Seriously. Today was the second time in the last two weeks when I changed the radio as soon as that song came just to hear it on the channel I turned to. Are we running out of songs so much that we have to play that one 20 times a day?

Television is just as bad. It's like we're catering to the lowest common denominator. Intervention? Little People Big World? Are you kidding me with this stuff? I know you all stare at me stunned when I tell you that I wasn't allowed to watch television as a child, but I'm so glad I wasn't. Now I can at least read when television is bad, which it always is. Even ESPN News is driving me crazy lately. How many more times do I have to hear about Michael Vick drowning dogs? And can we PLEASE stop talking about Barry Bonds now? He broke the damn record. Let it go, folks. Let it go.

That's it. Just wanted to complain. I'm loving my new life outside of an office. Fresh air does a body good, especially a body prone to mental illness. I can't tell you how relaxing it is walking dogs on the beach. The water is so blue and beautiful, the weather warm with a nice, cool breeze. I'm having a great time. I'm back in the office part-time next week, but the great thing about part-time is that when I get tired of it, I can just leave. So I can make extra money and still spend most of my days out in the sun, walking dogs. Now if I could just tan instead of burn... All of you investors should take out stock in SPF50.

The One With the Update

When Mon and I started this blog, everyone I knew had a blog that they updated regularly. I guess they must be fading in popularity a little because now only a few of my friends have blogs and those are updated hardly ever. In fact, I forget to check them now because they are updated so seldom, which means that I forget to check my own and then update it.

But here's what's been going on. I quit my job. My last day is Friday. I gave a month notice. But then my bitch of a boss quit, so I have agreed to stay on part-time and help. The general manager told one of my colleagues today that I can have that job as long as I want it. So I'm not really saying good-bye, which I guess is a good thing because it will mean extra money.

I start school in two weeks, which is crazy because I just celebrated my 28th birthday. Strange to think that 10 years after I started school at KU that I will be starting school again in a completely unrelated field. But I'm excited about the prospect of starting a new career and doing something that I will really enjoy and be passionate about. PR just isn't it. I loved being a reporter, but nothing else in the communications field really appeals to me. I like working with animals now, and it's something that I definitely want to continue in some capacity.

My dog training boss is moving to Arizona, so I am also starting my own dog training business. It has been an eye-opening experience so far, all of the things you have to do, but I'm enjoying it. My web site is almost complete, and my collateral is done, just waiting on the printer.

It seems like baby fever is in the air. My best friend is due in a month. Ross' best friend's wife is due in two, and two of my close friends are trying. I continue to stick by my dogs-only policy, made only stronger by my fabulous family of dogs. Muggsy has been incredible the last month. With one of my best friends visiting for a week and then my mom visiting for a week, I felt sure that Muggsy was going to have a meltdown. But he has been amazing at managing his mood swings. He's definitely a little more high-strung, but he continues to make the right decisions in dealing with Chubbs and other areas where he struggles. Just Saturday, I was lying in bed, enjoying the last few minutes of my morning before I had to get up and get ready for dog class, when I heard Ross trying to get Muggsy off the couch. I yelled out, "Wanna come see Momma?" to which he jumped from the couch and ran into the bedroom, smiling and wagging his tail. (For those who have never seen a dog smile like a person, it's the cutest thing ever. A lot of dogs can't do it, and I wonder if it's more common in dogs that are only dogs for awhile and have to learn more human mannerisms.) I was almost late for class because I love cuddling with him so much. It's moments like those that make everything bad in life just melt away.

Hope everyone has a great week.

The One With the World's Worst Holiday

For those of you overly patriotic folks who take any minor thing as an insult to our country, do not read on. For the rest of you, cue the Grinch music because I am very much the Grinch Who Stole the Fourth of July.

If I could ride into town on a big sleigh pulled by my dogs and take all the fireworks from the city limits, I would absolutely do that. As it is, all I can do is call the police every time someone in my neighborhood shoots them off since it is illegal. Why is it illegal? Well, my friends, we had three inches of rain in Southern California during the last rain year. THREE inches. Do you think that's enough water to stop a fire from wiping out our neighborhood when your explosives land in a yard? Um, no. And will your fireworks land in a yard? Probably considering that in the South Bay there's an average of about six inches between your house and your neighbor's house. So, all of you out there with common sense, do you think it's a good idea to shoot off fireworks during a drought in a neighborhood where houses are literally stacked on top of each other? I'm thinking no. Fire and alcohol -- not a good idea, people.

I wonder if I had had a normal childhood if I would feel differently about holidays. If I had a family that didn't consist of redneck relatives catching the yard on fire every July 4, would I hate the Fourth of July? If Easter didn't include being forced to look for Easter eggs while your parents snickered at you until you were 18, would I still hate Easter? If Christmas didn't involve a day of fighting with family members, would I hate Christmas?

I don't have the answers to any of these questions, but I'll tell you this: alcohol and fire are still a bad idea, and while a person is smart, people are stupid. So I think that no matter what my childhood had been like, I would still hate any holiday that forces my dogs to hide in fear. If someone can explain to me why explosives are an important symbol of our country's independence, I will rethink my attitude. Until then, cue the Grinch music.

The One With My Big Black Book

Saturday, as I was sitting in on my first day of tutor training, I realized that I was going to need a way to keep track of all the things going on in my life starting in the fall. Gone will be the days where I come into the office at 8 a.m. (OK, 8:30), check my Outlook calendar and go on with my day. Managing three jobs, all that require appointments with individual clients, and school will require something a little bit more. So I bought one of those big, black day planners with all the time broken down by hour. I think it will help me keep track of all my appointments in a portable manner until I can afford one of those palm pilots that everyone seems to have nowadays.

When I started filling out what I already know -- my fall school schedule -- I realized just how busy I'm going to be trying to work and go to school fulltime. Maybe not my best idea, but we'll see how it works out. I guess if I have to cut something out, I'll just cut something out.

I think I'm really going to like tutoring. I really enjoyed the training. I think it's going to be a challenge, but I'm actually partial to high school kids when you're talking about dealing with anyone under the age of 18, and I think this will be fun in the same way that dog training is fun -- that you're really making a difference to someone. Only now I'll be making a difference to rich kids instead of dogs. But whatever works. The company really runs their business well, and I'm excited to work with them.

And I have to say that getting lasik surgery is still the best thing that I've ever done for myself. It was so cool to be the only one who could read the tiny print on the board. I love my new eyes!!