Not much to talk about...let's see...
Oh, Coach Gillispie got canned. I can't say as I didn't see this one coming. Personally, I could have given him another year as Rome wasn't built in a day, but his spiky demeanor and stubborn refusal to adapt to game situations was difficult. The cats were just plain old painful to watch, and I've been there through some tough seasons (89-90 comes to mind--14-14) that were more fun. Their strength of schedule was mind-bogglingly low and we are just use to better here. Hopefully, this is the best for everyone involved. I'm sure Billy G will land on his feet (the millions in buyout shouldn't hurt), and I hope that UK ends up a little better off in the end. The rumor mill is churning, and personally I'm hoping for Pitino (almost impossible) or Travis Ford (unlikely). I await with bait breath...(maybe I should brush)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Basketball Woes and the Final Throes (of Winter)
It has been a disappointing few weeks, as my beloved Wildcats continue to struggle. Unfortunately, their disappointing loss to LSU in the SEC tournament seems to have sealed the deal and they are not going to the NCAA tournament, but are NIT bound. The inevitable off-season conversations can begin-will Meeks, Patterson and Gillispie stay or go? I would just like to say that I support UK's coach, no matter who it is as long as he is there, so long as he is following the rules and keeping UK's program clean. Hopefully that will put to rest any speculation as to how I feel about it. I also think you need more than two years to complete a transition, especially if the cupboard is if not bare, at least less than fully stocked with players.
That all being said, it is the most wonderful time of year, and I will be pulling for KY schools first, then SEC schools. This year, 3 KY clubs made the big dance, Louisville, a likely #1 seed, my alma mater WKU, and Morehead State from the OVC.
At our respective schools, Ellice and I have been keeping our noses to the grindstone. Ellice is preparing for Academic team regionals, and I'm just trying to hang on. We are growing ever more optimistic and fearful about the pregnancy as the threshold day gradually approaches.
We had what will probably our last snow, one final blast of winter. It was less than desired, but still a joy to watch. This has probably been the harshest winter we've had for about four years, after a series of particularly long ones. Time for spring to rear its allergy-induing head.
Race to Witch Mountain
Lately Hollywood, with an ever-growing deficit of ideas for new movies, has been reviving old movie series and TV shows. Disney is no different, so they dusted off this old, cheesy franchise, inserted a high-profile actor (the Rock, Dwayne Johnson)--and created something truly memorable. As far as family films go, this one has a bit of violence and intensity, but it is Disney violence so you'll probably be okay. I really enjoyed this film and we intend to add it to our Disney library. ***1/2
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
This is the Newbury award winning prequel to The Blue Sword. Ellice recommended this title to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the first half. Aerin, a misfit half-witch princess who doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the royal family, cuts her teeth dragon-hunting, and eventually discovers her niche--as a great hero. Her near-fatal battle to slay the great dragon Maug leads her on a road of discovery and eventually on a search for the Hero's Crown. The quest leads her to find out about her own heritage. I found the battle scenes were where the book really soared, but found some of the book rather indulgent. There were times when it was difficult to tell what was really going on and what was in Aerin's head. I recommend the book as well, as long as you are willing to reread sections to figure out what is really going on. **1/2
That all being said, it is the most wonderful time of year, and I will be pulling for KY schools first, then SEC schools. This year, 3 KY clubs made the big dance, Louisville, a likely #1 seed, my alma mater WKU, and Morehead State from the OVC.
At our respective schools, Ellice and I have been keeping our noses to the grindstone. Ellice is preparing for Academic team regionals, and I'm just trying to hang on. We are growing ever more optimistic and fearful about the pregnancy as the threshold day gradually approaches.
We had what will probably our last snow, one final blast of winter. It was less than desired, but still a joy to watch. This has probably been the harshest winter we've had for about four years, after a series of particularly long ones. Time for spring to rear its allergy-induing head.
Race to Witch Mountain
Lately Hollywood, with an ever-growing deficit of ideas for new movies, has been reviving old movie series and TV shows. Disney is no different, so they dusted off this old, cheesy franchise, inserted a high-profile actor (the Rock, Dwayne Johnson)--and created something truly memorable. As far as family films go, this one has a bit of violence and intensity, but it is Disney violence so you'll probably be okay. I really enjoyed this film and we intend to add it to our Disney library. ***1/2
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
This is the Newbury award winning prequel to The Blue Sword. Ellice recommended this title to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the first half. Aerin, a misfit half-witch princess who doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the royal family, cuts her teeth dragon-hunting, and eventually discovers her niche--as a great hero. Her near-fatal battle to slay the great dragon Maug leads her on a road of discovery and eventually on a search for the Hero's Crown. The quest leads her to find out about her own heritage. I found the battle scenes were where the book really soared, but found some of the book rather indulgent. There were times when it was difficult to tell what was really going on and what was in Aerin's head. I recommend the book as well, as long as you are willing to reread sections to figure out what is really going on. **1/2
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Two weeks
A few quick notes:
We've pretty much stuck to our schedule with work, volleyball, and Wednesday night church. There have been a few UK games: up and down as par for the course this year, a few wins a few losses. Unfortunately, the losses have put us in jeopardy of not making the tournament this year. We are in the delicate position of needing to win our next two games to get a chance at the Big dance.
We haven't seen many movies, what with American Idol, basketball, Amazing Race and Survivor. This season is more stay at home than anything. We do plan on watching Witch Mountain soon, but other than that, not much is interesting us.
Ellice's team won District in Governor's Cup! That's like UK football beating Florida or Tennessee, it has been so long for her school. I'm very proud of my wife and all the time and energy she has put into this team. She's very proud of her kids.
We have recently started the Love Dare, the marriage devotional featured in the Kirk Cameron movie Fireproof. It is fun, and sometimes a little work, but in the long run, if you don't actively focus on your marriage, you won't get as much out of it.
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Yes, this is the original, and it is quite different than film portrayals. Very enjoyable if a little dated in terms of treatments of race. The story is pretty much the opening chapter of the legend that we already know of from films, with some interesting other elements. I greatly enjoyed Tarzan's rise to power among the apes and the dangers of Africa. This is an excellent tale of the struggle and ultimate triumph of man versus nature. A bit of a surprise when the characters ended up in the United States. The ending is largely unresolved; logical as this story was part of a very long series. ***
Fireproof (DVD)
This movie was hyped to us as a landmark in Christian film. While I don't think it was all that and certainly not a wonderful cinematic achievement, it was an enjoyable and enlightening movie. It is about a firefighter and his wife on the edge of divorce. Kirk Cameron's father asks him to hold off for forty days while completing "The Love Dare." The Love Dare journey leads Cameron to the Lord and ultimately saves their marriage. The story is good but the acting is very wooden (aside from Cameron perhaps.) However, the strength of the movie is its message. The film features mondo material from Christian relationship books such as His Needs Her Needs, Financial Peace, and Love and Respect. I really enjoyed seeing elements of these works acted out. I recommend this movie for any couple, purely on the strength of its message and on entertainment value. **1/2
Blood of Amber by Roger Zelazny
Book 7 of the Chronicles of Amber--will it ever end? First five books were fantastic. The next two have been just interesting enough to keep me reading; I have to find out how this series ends, even if the story is dragging and a bit on the confusing side. In this one, Merle actually has to team up with the guy who has been trying to kill him for years, and finds out that there is a greater conspiracy afoot. He's trying to figure all this out, and the reader is ever trying to figure out what he's figured out. Yes, it is that confusing. But I'm invested at this point. Not much is resolved in this one. **
We've pretty much stuck to our schedule with work, volleyball, and Wednesday night church. There have been a few UK games: up and down as par for the course this year, a few wins a few losses. Unfortunately, the losses have put us in jeopardy of not making the tournament this year. We are in the delicate position of needing to win our next two games to get a chance at the Big dance.
We haven't seen many movies, what with American Idol, basketball, Amazing Race and Survivor. This season is more stay at home than anything. We do plan on watching Witch Mountain soon, but other than that, not much is interesting us.
Ellice's team won District in Governor's Cup! That's like UK football beating Florida or Tennessee, it has been so long for her school. I'm very proud of my wife and all the time and energy she has put into this team. She's very proud of her kids.
We have recently started the Love Dare, the marriage devotional featured in the Kirk Cameron movie Fireproof. It is fun, and sometimes a little work, but in the long run, if you don't actively focus on your marriage, you won't get as much out of it.
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Yes, this is the original, and it is quite different than film portrayals. Very enjoyable if a little dated in terms of treatments of race. The story is pretty much the opening chapter of the legend that we already know of from films, with some interesting other elements. I greatly enjoyed Tarzan's rise to power among the apes and the dangers of Africa. This is an excellent tale of the struggle and ultimate triumph of man versus nature. A bit of a surprise when the characters ended up in the United States. The ending is largely unresolved; logical as this story was part of a very long series. ***
Fireproof (DVD)
This movie was hyped to us as a landmark in Christian film. While I don't think it was all that and certainly not a wonderful cinematic achievement, it was an enjoyable and enlightening movie. It is about a firefighter and his wife on the edge of divorce. Kirk Cameron's father asks him to hold off for forty days while completing "The Love Dare." The Love Dare journey leads Cameron to the Lord and ultimately saves their marriage. The story is good but the acting is very wooden (aside from Cameron perhaps.) However, the strength of the movie is its message. The film features mondo material from Christian relationship books such as His Needs Her Needs, Financial Peace, and Love and Respect. I really enjoyed seeing elements of these works acted out. I recommend this movie for any couple, purely on the strength of its message and on entertainment value. **1/2
Blood of Amber by Roger Zelazny
Book 7 of the Chronicles of Amber--will it ever end? First five books were fantastic. The next two have been just interesting enough to keep me reading; I have to find out how this series ends, even if the story is dragging and a bit on the confusing side. In this one, Merle actually has to team up with the guy who has been trying to kill him for years, and finds out that there is a greater conspiracy afoot. He's trying to figure all this out, and the reader is ever trying to figure out what he's figured out. Yes, it is that confusing. But I'm invested at this point. Not much is resolved in this one. **
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