GETTING CLOSE

Only a few more days until what I expect to be one of the best summers ever. I will provide details as it happens, of course. First up, Memphis in May music festival with some friends. Rockin' out with Ben Folds Friday night!

The Madness is Approaching

March has to be one of my favorite months. The changing of cold to mild. The anticipation of spring break. Most importantly it is time for a three week invasion of college basketball. This is what months of games has lead to. No more talk about who has the resume, the RPI, strength of schedule. After selection Sunday all will be resolved. The "bubble" teams will have either burst into the NIT or slid into the tournament with hopes of a miracle run. Speaking of miracle runs, that is how some colleges gain the attention of America (George Mason). And yes, all of America is aware of what is going on in the tournament. Especially with improbably teams going far like George Mason's final four run last year. The more likely reason that all of America knows what is going on is tournament pools. The brackets are incredibly easy to fill out, someone with no sports knowledge can fill one out in a few minutes. Whether there is a prize or not most people find it fun to see if they can predict upsets, the final four, etc.

I have noticed something strange about the tournament. It seems like the end of the tournament is usually not as exciting the beginning. The beginning has games during the day, multiple games at the same time, and potential upsets. It seems like unless your team is in the final four, it is more fun to watch games earlier in the brackets. I think this could be linked to filling out brackets. Longer the tournament progresses, the fewer games to look out for on your bracket.

So as I march into the madness, I plan on being the typical sports fan. Watching all the games I can, filling out multiple brackets for multiple pools (all money-free of course). I can hear that familiar CBS music now.....

The Best Holiday

As Thanksgiving approaches I feel excited, but a little disappointed in myself. I will address the disappointment later, first I will tell you why Thanksgiving is the greatest holiday. Thanksgiving is a great holiday because you can gather with friends and family without any expectations of buying or receiving gifts. In fact, if you did give someone a gift you would probably be looked at strangely. This is one of the reasons I like Thanksgiving. Another reason I enjoy Thanksgiving is the fellowship and warmth in the gathering of friends and family. It doesn't matter to me that it is an annual appointment per se to me, in our busy worlds if that is what is needed, so be it. Turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes. Football. The classic ingridients to a perfect Thanksgiving.
Now, the true reason it is the best holiday, and the reason I am disappointed in myself. This is the only holiday in which other people are thought of first. In high school I remember participating in activities in which the poor were going to be helped because of the celebration of Thanksgiving. I did some things at Murray State. But this year, I have been so busy with schoolwork I have not found an opportunity to serve. Shame on me for not participating in the part of the holiday I find to be most appealing. I will make time next year, I hope.

-Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends at the Grad school. Espically to ones who aren't able to visit family.

Memories of a Speedy Summer

I would like to take this blogger space to look back to the summer that was. This was my first Memphis summer, and I no longer only hear about the really thick humidity and blazing heat, I have experienced it. I have decided not to complain about the lack of relaxation I have received over the summer. Usually being a student+hot weather=no school. Not this summer for me. But my wonderful wife has no such "break" as I long for and for some reason think I deserve, so no complaints here. I think that might have been a disguised complaint. Oh well.
This summer has provided me with some memories and positive experiences that I would now like to share with you, keep in mind these are only the ones I can think of at the moment. These being in no particular order:
1. World Cup/Playing soccer with my classmates
2. Group Counseling Class (the actual class time was enjoyable, I told you I wasn't going to complain about school)
3. Wednesday Night Meals-Fellow participants you know who you are.
4. Hotsprings, Arkansas
5. Winning a free DiamondJaxx ticket because of my mad bouncy ball hopping skillz.
6. A Bittersweet Memory...Jeep gone for a more reliable/gas friendly car.
7. Joesph tricking everyone into thinking he is going back to South Korea.

Well usually 10 is the appropriate number for a list like the one above, but since I go to a religious graduate school, 7 seems more appropriate for some reason. OK so I made that up, I could not think of any more. I am just a counseling student, I don't know anything about the exegesis of 7 or anything like that. But the number 7 is mentioned in Revelation alot though I hear.