Goodbye Indians.

Last night the ASU "Indian Family" were officially retired. They had a ceremony at half-time during the men's basketball game.

Back in 2005, the NCAA announced a ban on ethnically or racially "hostile" or "abusive" nicknames, mascots and imagery.

Which I think doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  For me, personally, I think it would have been much better to take what they thought was "offensive" and correct that,  instead of throwing out years of  meaningful school traditions. Especially since Indians are so misunderstood. Why not take this as opportunity to teach people and grow awareness on the situation many of the American Indians find themselves in today?  Instead ASU, at no fault of their own, has to retire a symbol that has been around since the 30's! They've spent an entire year in research and development and paid a firm from outside the state who knows how much money to help with the new mascot selection.  The official introductory of the new mascot will not be for a while yet, but we know it will contain "Wolves" and there is much speculation that the name will be "Red Wolves". Which I don't completely dislike. I like actually really like the "Red" part in the name. If I remember correctly, Red Wolves were on the extinction list several years ago and have now been brought back and are a  thriving member of the wolf  species. So that's interesting. . . and makes an encouraging analogy for a smaller college like ASU.

Of course, we were at the game last night!  It is after all,  the school Jarrod graduated from. Even if he didn't go there for his entire college career, I think he feels a certain loyalty to ASU.  There was a pretty large crowd at the game. The men's basketball team hasn't been doing very well lately and the  attendance has been down. It must have been a great encouragement to see so many fans there last night, because they WON! Ending a current losing streak!

I, not being a ASU alumni, wasn't into it as much as most of the folks there. But even I got a little teary eyed when the "Indian Family" made their very last entry onto the ASU basketball court.  It's just sad! I mean it seems like this town is centered around ASU and the name "Indians". So many changes will be going on not only at the college but also to the entire city in the months ahead!

I am anxious to see what the new logos will look like!

Spring Sing 2008!

I ordered our tickets last week! We are going to the Friday night performance and we are taking Isabella this year (but she doesn't know it yet, so mums the word) and I think she's going to LOVE it!

Besides, it doesn't hurt for her to be getting "familiar" with the Harding campus. . . . wink.wink.

I have only missed one year of Spring Sing since I graduated from Harding.  It's a great show and I encourage you, if you haven't been to it in the past to go this year! It's always an entertaining show & great for all ages!

You can still get tickets, see link below. We prefer the balcony. Which are arguably better seats to see it all.  But there really are no bad seats at the Benson.

Birthday Dinner Bummer

As it turned out Jarrod had to work late last night, so my steak dinner has been postponed.  It's a bummer. But, hey, that's life!

He did get home in time to give me my presents!! For my birthday he bought me a  set of pearl earrings and a new stone for my Caerleon ring.  He bought me pearl studs several years ago and I loved them. I wore them all the time.  But, during our recent move I somehow managed to lose one (just one, so if your in need of a pearl stud give me a call!).  I thought  it was particularly thoughtful of him to to remember that I lost my old ones and buy me new ones!

 

Who knows, maybe I'll get my steak tonight. . . . ??

Happy Birthday to Me!

27 years ago today. . . .

Ha! This picture of my dad is priceless! Look how big my feet were!They look like they are the same size as my head! So, who's changed more I wonder, me or my dad?

Well, I turned 27 today! That's right just three more fleeting years until the BIG 3-0! Yikes!

For the most part today had been pretty uneventful. A regular, everyday Monday.  Until. . . . .

. . . . about 2pm, when I received a HUGE beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers!!  From my wonderful friends Amber and Andrea! Thanks girls, it made my day! They are so bright and colorful!! It's hard to see but there are daisies, carnations, lilies and some little purple flowers (I'm not sure what they are but they are pretty!). I don't know if you can see, but the water is even pink! How cute is that?!?!

Jarrod is supposed to be cooking me dinner tonight. Or grilling me dinner, I should say.  I am anxious to see what he got me, he always does a pretty good job when it comes to gift buying!

Birthday Extravaganza!

Since Jarrod and I have birthdays within a week of each other all of our celebrating is done together. There has even been a year where we received a joint gift! I guess we've been together long enough we are used to it! This weekend we spent time with our families and ate WAY too much!

Saturday night we had our birthday dinner with the Staggs. Terry, Margie, Jennifer, Daniel, Keith, Wendy, and Tori all came to Jonesboro to take us out to dinner. We ate at O'Charley's and then came back to our house for coffee and dessert which Margie had brought with them. We had a birthday cake and a layered brownie trifle, YUM-O! Let me tell ya, I was miserable Saturday night!!!  We had a fun time and it was really good to see Keith, Wendy and Tori.It was the first time they'd been able to visit us since we moved!

 

Today we went to church in Hickory Ridge. After church we had dinner at my Mom & Dad's house with the Wilson's. Mom made Jarrod a cheesecake and me a brownie cake! Whew! Can you imagine how much I've gained this weekend??  Birthday's are still pretty fun for us. We get to see our families and eat lots of good food and receive some nice presents! I don't dwell on the getting older part I like to concentrate on the dessert part!

Happy Birthday Jarrod!

A little embarrassment on your b-day is expected, right?

He's gonna kill me for this.  .  .  .

Jarrod turns 26 today!

And still as cute as ever!

Happy Birthday Honey!

I love you!

xoxoxox

Valentine's Day continued. . .

. . . about 2:30 a beautiful bouquet of Gerber daisies were delivered to my office. Aren't daisies the happiest flowers, you can't help but smile when you see them!

This picture really doesn't do the flowers justice. There  are hot pink, yellow and white ones  in the bouquet. They are so big and pretty.  And they smell great!

Every year Jarrod sends me flowers. Most of the time he sends me a dozen roses. There have been a few exceptions, like the year before last he got me a huge bouquet that had Star Gazer Lilies in it, I just adore those!. I love daisies, too and Jarrod has twice attempted to send them to me, once they brought me roses instead, and another time they forgot to bring me anything! That was the only year I didn't get flowers on V-day. It was really funny, but I remember it made Jarrod furious!  Ah, the memories!

Last night we decided to eat at O'Charley's (we had a coupon, haha!). They, not unlike every restaurant in Jonesboro, were packed. Luckily, we only had to wait about 30 minutes! 

We snapped a quick picture before ending the evening. Oh, and  if your wondering what I got my wonderful, thoughtful husband in return . . .  well, I made him a card of course, and then when we got home last night I made him sugar cookies from scratch!! I got my sparkling Pink Kitchen Aid stand mixer out and even broke in my fabulous lime green ceramic rolling pin!! Those of you who know me well, know this is a pretty big deal! I love to cook, but don't like baking as much! You have to be so exact and follow a recipe, which annoys me because I like to make things up as I go! Well, Jarrod LOVES sugar cookies, so I have been searching for the perfect sugar cookie recipe for years. And I think I have almost got it!  I  I should have taken a picture of my cookies. I think they turned out really great. I didn't get a chance to ice them last night since they were still warm when we went to bed, but Jarrod still loved them. He said they ranked right up there with his Mema's. Which is a huge compliment!

We had a great day and hope you did too!!