wish come true

Last week, I posted about my desire to kayak. My first experience in a kayak was in Cambodia, during a girlfriend weekend at the beach. I instantly fell in love with sea kayaking.

After that, I tried it again...and again...and again. My last sea kayaking experience was in Malindi, Kenya. Yes, I have lived a charmed life full of exotic destinations and unforgettable adventures. I am grateful for these amazing gifts.

My love for kayaking grew over time. I have always liked river rafting, so this kind of reminds me of that.

This weekend, Phim made my wish come true. We rented a kayak and headed out on the water. Ahhh, it was as wonderful as I had imagined.

The big difference between this and my previous kayaking experiences is that this was on a water reservoir and those were in the sea. So, maybe you already see where I am going with this...but essentially I wasn't used to the stillness of the water, the lack of current. I kind of like being pulled out to the deep ends of the ocean and fighting the current with all my might to get to my destination. This was a calmer, more relaxing excursion.

For a girl who grew up in the high dessert, I have found a water sport I really like (that hasn't resulted in near death experiences that seemed to accompany my white water adventures). I am sure my dad appreciates this as prior to my last white water trip he said, "I was really hoping you had given that up, there is only so many times you can cheat death." Don't tell my dad, but rafting the Nile in Uganda is still on my bucket list. Someday...

just Sheri, enjoying the water sports

Nationals baseball game

Kenyon and I recently went to a "Nats" game. That is what the locals call their baseball team. It was truly a living-in-the-big-city experience. We rode the DC Metro in to the district. Walked a couple of blocks to the stadium (with the crowds from the Metro). And, experienced sticker shock at the food prices. How could a family possibly afford a night out at the ball field? Yikes!

There were a couple of differences between our previous experiences at the Royals games in KC and a Nats game in DC (besides the metro ride that eliminated a need for parking). First, I was star struck (as usual) that I could see the U.S. Capital building while living my every day life. I wonder if I will ever get used to that? Second, it was obvious by the third inning that our team would emerge victorious. The Nats were playing the Cardinals. The Cardinals never had a chance. We left at the seventh inning stretch due to it being a Thursday night, and Kenyon now working - necessitating a need to rise before the sun in order to get to work on time due to traffic. As we were leaving our team hit (another) home run. Though they are currently making headlines due to leadership instability - the Nats are a winning team and it was fun to be on the winning side. 

My biggest take-away though. I think they need a new marketing team. Why? Because someone with a brain should have realized that their iconic "W" was already taken. Every time I looked at that "W" I had one thought. Can you guess what it is? Walgreens! I now see that "W" every where. Never once do I think baseball. Nope. I always come back to the convenience store/pharmacy. 

Do you agree or disagree?

just Sheri, still exploring new surroundings

bits of my weekend: Big 12

One of the perks of being back in the States at this time of year is the access to college basketball. Yes, I am still a fan...in particular a fan of the Jayhawks.

So, that should give you a clue about my weekend activities. I watched the Big 12 championship and enjoyed the outcome. It made it even better to see screen shots of Kansas City...on the top of the list of favorite places I've lived.

Rock-chalk, Jayhawk. Go, KU!

just Sheri, loving the height of college basketball season

Lacrosse...I had no idea this was such a violent game

Until this summer I had never watched a lacrosse game. Oh, my!! I had no idea the game was so violent. They smack each other with sticks. In the audience I can hear the WHAP! They push. They shove. Pulling a face mask is obviously out and there were some times that penalty flags were thrown, I can't really explain what made those actions illegal while others were acceptable. My dear Paublito was playing. I've been wanting to see him play for years and always seemed to miss the games. I am so glad I had the privilege to do so this trip!

Here is a photo of him in his gear.

Have you ever seen a lacrosse game? What did you think?

College basketball is still my favorite, but I could be a lacrosse fan.

Sheri

take me out to the ball game

Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack (or a funnel cake), I don't care if I never get back,

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game.

What a lovely summer it's been. I am glad we were able to partake in a good American pastime, baseball.

Sheri

Hip-hip-hooray! It's that time of year again...

Every year I look forward to this time of year. I anticipate it. Last year I scheduled my travel plans around it, I didn't have that kind of forsight this year. What is this important event? Well, March Madness, of course. It is my favorite sporting event all year. To me it is way more exciting than the super bowl (though this year's superbowl game was exciting). I've had bragging rights all year because my team won the national championship. Regardless of the odds, and obviously regardless of where I am living, I am a Jayhawk through and through.

What team are you rooting for this year?

Go KU!

We won the championship! Hip-hip-hooray! Even if my team hadn't of won, it was a really GREAT championship game. I had watched both the semi-final and final game at the home of friends. I had planned to watch the semi-final game against North Carolina at a local sports bar, then decided that might not be wise. One crimson and blue fan in the midst of a sea of baby blue. After watching the beating Carolina took I was glad that I was at a friends house. I would have had to leave the bar and pray I didn't get jumped. :)

I am so happy KU won. I was glad to be in town to watch the games. It just isn't the same reading the ESPN scoreboard from Russia.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Sweet Sixteen

My Jayhawks have made it to the Sweet Sixteen. They play again Friday night. The only problem - I'm going to be in Russia. I haven't quite figured out the time change, nor how to get it on TV, but I assure you I will try to watch the game. I considered blacking out my travel calendar for the entire tournament, but I didn't think my boss would go for it. Imagine me saying, "sorry, I can't take that trip. It's college basketball March Madness!"

Priorities...I know, priorities.

Champions! Three years running!

I may be living in Roy Williams country and surrounded by baby blue loyalists, but I've never been one for giving in to peer pressure. I remain a Jayhawk fan! Now that I live in the mountains our TV doesn't get reception and until my house in KC sells I'm not going to add cable to my list of monthly expenses. So, I had to hunt down a sports bar to watch the games. I went to watch the semi-final game and it just so happened a Duke game was also playing. Most TV's were on the Duke game. Everyone in the place was a Duke fan. I had the waiter change a TV to the KU game so I could watch. And I did, though the volume and cheering was all programmed to another team.

My Jayhawks won their third straight Big 12 title. Three in a row! I'm so proud!

On the map...

I've received text messages from all over the nation. People who had never heard of the city I moved to have heard about it over and over and over again recently. Why? Because our college football team was supposed to lose to Michigan, but instead we won. We made football history with a gigantic upset. This is a college town, signs were everywhere. This is just one of many - "Michi who? Way to go ASU" There were t-shirts made up and all over town the next day advertising the win. People still haven't stopped talking about it. We even made the cover of Sports Illustrated. The game this weekend has a sold out crowd.

Want in on a little known fact? The player who made the final play is soon to be part of the Graham family. He is engaged to Franklin's daughter.

I had a Franklin sighting my first day at lunch. I didn't speak with him, but I did see him in the flesh. I hear that is a rare occurance since he travels so often.

Win some, lose some

Well, my Jayhawks were taken out of the competition and didn't make it to the final four. It was a good game and the loss hasn't diminished my interest in college basketball. I'll keep watching and I'll be cheering them on again next year.

Funkhouser, however, was the winner of a very close Mayoral election. This is now Funkytown (one of the songs he used in his campaign, the other was "We want the Funk, gotta have that Funk.") I do believe KC elected a man of integrity and commitment. He ran a clean campaign, never once bashing his opponent and his wife was his campaign manager (though she had no prior political experience). When asked about his choice of campaign manager, he said, "I chose the person who knows me best." He was also quoted as saying, "we ran a campaign based on authenticity." I can tell you that at campaign headquarters that word was posted on the walls and each person involved tried to live out that motto. I like a world where authenticity wins, I wish it happened more often.

Sweet Sixteen

I'm a long way from my Sweet Sixteen birthday, that isn't what I'm referring to. I'm talking about the college basketball tournament. The Jayhawks are one of the Sweet Sixteen. Three more games to the championship...

Jayhawks advance

For the first time in three years (and the first time with Bill Self as coach) the Jayhawks - my team - advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament. They beat their opponent by 40 points! That's what I like to see. I watched the game with some friends at Paddy O'quigley's sports bar. Most folks were busy celebrating St. Patty's day. I was most interested in the big screen and the basketball game. Near the end of the game I was amused by the sports announcers, they were running out of things to say. Obviously, the competition was over, but the game still had time on the clock. They were bringing up random statistics about the teams and players. They were chit-chatting about anything that came to mind. My team plays again tonight at 5pm. I'll be watching.

March Madness

It's that time again...the time of year I looked forward to. Spring is in the air and that's exciting. Why? Because it means college basketball season just stepped in to high gear. My team, the KU Jayhawks, recently won the Big 12 championship game in overtime. They are also the No. 1 seed in the West going in to the NCAA tournament. Some of you who aren't in to sports may be turning off right now so I will keep it brief...KU has a good team this year. I'm hopeful we will have good results in the playoffs. The last two years have been incredibly disappointing as we were taken out in the first round both years by teams that should not have beat us. In the coming weeks I plan to spend time I don't have in front of the television watching some b-ball. I can't afford to watch the entire championship, nor all of any game, but you can guarantee I'll be cheering for my team.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Go K-U!

Boxing

NOTE: this post is not appropriate for children or those who are easily grossed out. I'm serious, there will be blood and gore involved. If you are under the age of thirteen, don't read any further. Others, proceed at your own risk. Consider yourself warned.

Last night I had a first-time-ever-in-my-whole-life experience. I attended a boxing match. I've watched boxing before on TV and can get in to the competition of it all. In the past I've rooted for Evander Holyfield and rooted against Mike Tyson. I've cheered on Oscar De La Hoya. I confess, I even watched that low-rated TV show featuring Sylvester Stallone called "The Contender." Watching boxing on TV and watching it in person are two VERY different things. To be sitting two rows away from the ring to see the sweat and blood, to hear the sound of a fist meeting with some one's face. TV just doesn't capture real life in the same way. Kenyon's brother James has taken up boxing we went to cheer him on. They had little kids boxing - the 79 lb weight class. I called one of those boys Tigger the Tiger because all he did was bounce around the ring - bouncy, bouncy, bouncy. The bloodiest fight was between two 12 yr olds. With one hit there was a bloody mess. He busted his nose and lip. When he popped out his mouth guard he had a pool of blood in the guard. There was a moment I thought I might throw-up. The match was called in favor of the clean contestant and then they wiped up the mat for the next fight. James was round 13. He was in the big boy class. He is 30 years old, married and a father of two girls, and just taking up fighting. He was well matched with his opponent. There were some very big hits on both sides, but in the end James won. I told him afterward, I'm glad he's our friend because I wouldn't want to be his enemy. I know who I'll call if I ever need a body guard.

Rock-Chalk Jayhawk!

It's basketball season, again! I love college basketball. I miss my season tickets. It was one of my many sacrifices in returning to school. Boo hoo! One of my generous professors donated a game to a needy PhD student - ME! I took Kenyon to his first college basketball game. He wasn't aware of all the rule changes, etc in college basketball. He played b-ball in high school and he's watched NBA games. It was surprise to him that there are two periods rather than four quarters and some of the calls are different - such as what constitutes a foul, etc. We had a great time. I was so happy to be in Allen Fieldhouse for a game. The other games have been watched from the comfort of my bedroom in solitude. When I yelled at the TV, I felt kind of silly all alone in my apartment. It's a whole lot better yelling with a crowd of thousands.