Archive for August, 2008

As I try to watch the ‘Canes outscore Charleston Southern (dubbed a “Catholic Girls’ School” by at least one Miami Hurricanes fan on Twitter), I’m finding myself quite excited about this season. While following the @MiamiHurricane (the campus newspaper) on Twitter today, I got to “experience” the new bus system that takes students to the games (the ride from campus to the stadium was 1:18), the feel of playing in a new stadium, the excitement of a jumbo-tron that is almost four sections wide, and the disappointment when they weren’t able to inflate the helmet our team usually runs through when coming out onto the field. I’ll miss the Orange Bowl, even from afar, but I’m so excited by the new and exciting things a real NFL stadium can bring our team!

I’m cheering for the ‘Canes tonight and will yell for the Aggies on Saturday (after we tailgate with friends and before we hit Northgate with the after-game crowd). For us, with the ‘Canes playing in College Station this year, it’s a great year for college football!

Gig ‘em, ‘Canes!

ESPN360 lags and hiccups BADLY. It’s painful to watch, but worse to listen to. Still, it’s better than nothing.

part of excellent jewelry service in the Brazos Valley

When we got married, we used all the major local jewelry stores for our rings. We really did find the best of each in three different places.

• Engagement ring: Douglas Jeweler
  As a family-recommended jeweler, Douglas really took the time to teach Emil the 4 C’s about diamonds and how to select a mounting for the stone.
• Lori’s wedding band: David Gardner’s Jewelers
  David’s had the best match for the wedding band.
• Emil’s wedding band: Montelongo’s Fine Jewlery
  Emil’s band has a comfort fit rolled edge that only Montelongo’s carried at the time that makes it tons nicer to wear.

So, when—shortly after the proposal—I smashed my hand/ring and needed a new mount, we went to the place where we had just purchased my band. When I wanted them soldered together, I went back to David Gardner’s because it was convenient. When the ring was too small, I returned to David’s mostly because I’d been volunteering with one of his staff members. I was pleased to find that the ring was simply out of round and did not need the expensive repair of additional gold added. David’s even buffed a nick out of my class ring one time. So, when I looked down this weekend and found a prong sprung and the stone alarmingly loose, I went back to my now-habitual store.

Every time I enter David & Julia’s store, I’m treated like a princess. Every time I go, there are several people dropping thousands of dollars on beautiful bobbles. I’m certainly the “smallest” customer in the room. However, I’m treated just like everyone else. For all anyone would know, I’m going to spend $20K on a new watch or cocktail ring. The most interesting part is that since buying the band (and probably repairing the crown the time I smashed it), I’ve not spent a penny in the store. Every time I go, it’s “no charge”. Granted, everything I’ve ever had done was a quick fix that needed no new metals. But, I still feel like the customer service they give me is the same that they give to everyone else.

To be fair, I don’t think I’ve ever been in Douglas’s shop. And, the times I’ve been to Montelongo’s for very minor repairs to very affordable pieces, I’ve been treated with the same level of respect and courtesey. I’m sure those stores are just as nice as David’s. I just fell into a routine and pattern.

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

For the last few seasons, Emil played on the Fighting Squirrels softball team. Their motto was to have fun. The first game Emil played, the Squirrles were outscored something like 16-2. From their demeanor and attitude, however, you’d never know that they weren’t winning every game; they had the best sportsmanship in the league.

Now that Emil has hung up his Squirrel Tail, here are some moments from this most recent season.

Emil in his role as Short Stop.

Coach & Captain extraordinaire, Amy!

Carrie made a nice hit!

Rusty and “the Catholics” were the opponent, but you can see the frustration he had in dealing with the power of the Fighting Squirrels!

Thanks for a great few seasons, Fighting Squirrles!

As a Greek, I’m against any media that severely ridicules the Greek system. At the same time, I’m not without a sense of humor, and I know good parody when I see it.

As an example, if you listen to the Directors’ notes on Legally Blonde, you’ll learn that Reese Witherspoon spent some time on campus with a sorority so she could learn the culture. She was quick to report that the “ee-ee-e-e-e” sound that we Greek girls do so well is not the least bit fake nor is it a vye for attention. Instead, she points out, it’s a real and genuine excitement for one another.

So, I watched the previews for House Bunny with hope (and a little fear! After all, there are some Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner references). I believe the movie plans to make the ZETAs out to be the smart, pretty-in-the-making, heroines of the movie.

And besides, if you have to choose between the typical retired/out-of-touch house mom and someone hip/in-the-know, who would you want?

According to the previews, House Bunny promises to gently tease the Greek system and my own Fraternity in particular. We’ll see if the move can live up to the same scrutiny.

Of course, as most of you know, I do not go to movies in the theater. There have been rare exceptions to this. Each time I make an exception, I seem to get the bad end of the deal (kids kicking my seat, people talking on the phone, tweens acting like tweens who are finally away from their parents for ~2 hours, infants/toddlers in the theater, etc.). So, don’t spoil it for me! I’ll see it 6 months after it hits the theaters, on DVD.

  ZTA stands for Zeta Tau Alpha and is named Zeta for short. Our colors are turquoise blue and steel gray. The movie clearly attempts to “steal” this moniker by using turquiose blue and the name ZETA on the house (where the E is already missing when the Z falls, so it looks very much like ZTA.)

By definition, a Sorority is a Greek organization of women founded as the counterpart to a Greek organization fo men. A Fraternity, whether male or female, has its own founding and does not rely on the other for existence. Most (all?) “sororities” today are, technically, Fraternities of Women.

Regarding ~3 people in my life right now,
Kristyn Osborn & Marcus Hummon
said it best in this song as sung by SheDaisy.

You say you’re gun shy—I say you’re spineless
You think you’re pensive—I think you’re mindless
….

Get out of my air, get off my cloud
Get out of my hair, get off of my couch
… get out of my light
Let me give you a tip, get out of my sight
Get off of your knees, get out of my face
… get out of my space
How long do I have to show and tell, scream and yell
Get over yourself

You say you’re complicated—I say too dramatic
You think I underrate you—I think I’ve finally had it
…
Designing brilliant tragedies—And it’s becoming your disease, oh

Get out of my air, get off my cloud
Get out of my hair, get off of my couch
… get out of my light
Let me give you a tip, get out of my sight
Get off of your knees, get out of my face
… get out of my space
How long do I have to show and tell, scream and yell
Get over yourself
….
Get over yourself
Get over yourself

Get Over Yourself!

This is a hilarous (and worth the watch) spin on Rickrolling.

Sending a link to the original Rick Astley music video is called Rickrolling. (In my opinion, this prank works because the song is catchy and sticks in your head for the rest of the afternoon.)

This Is Why I Twitter!

Our brother-in-law, Roy, is one of the comedians in the family. No one would dispute that.

For those who doubt the entertainment (and educational) value of Twitter, here is another example of why we Tweet!

Sign up now: http://twitter.com/