KU is Outta There!

I don't follow sports that much, but I do try to cheer on my teams when I can. So, the Royals, the Chiefs, and KU, pretty much. And here was KU, in March Madness, in a tournament where they were highly favored and expected to go all the way--I was so excited! These are my guys (when I'm paying attention).

But they crashed! Against Northern Iowa! I mean, the Panthers have a good record, obviously, or they wouldn't be in the tourney, but STILL! And it was SO CLOSE! So, now Northern Iowa will go on to the Sweet Sixteen, and KU won't.

Here's the article from Rivals.com.


Panthers knock off No. 1 Kansas 69-67

By JOHN MARSHALL, AP Basketball Writer 28 minutes ago
Preview | Box Score | Recap



OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Ali Farokhmanesh hit another big 3-pointer with 34 seconds left and Northern Iowa pulled off the biggest upset in the NCAA tournament, beating top overall seed Kansas 69-67 in the second round on Saturday.

Northern Iowa (30-4) won the tempo tug-of-war, grounding the high-flying Jayhawks with in-their-jersey defense, then withstood a furious rally to become the first team to beat a No. 1 seed in the second round since UAB and Alabama did it to Kentucky and Stanford in 2004.

The ninth-seeded Panthers led early and made just enough plays late to pull off the biggest win in their history.

Kansas (33-3) trailed nearly the entire game, finally pulling close in the closing minutes behind its fullcourt pressure. The Jayhawks never made it all the way back, though, bowing out early in what was supposed to be another title run.

This Day and Always

O God of the ages, amidst the ever-changing scenes of life you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Look down upon up and bless us, and let your face shine upon us. Direct and protect us this day and always. Amen.

AJ and JC

About 2 Christmases ago, "David" got Abby the Jesus Christ Superstar concept album (I put David in quotes because he didn't exactly go out and buy it, you know?). Being the dramatic young Christian girl that AJ is, we knew she'd really like it. When I was a teenager, I used to play the movie soundtrack at full volume on my back deck while singing and acting out all the parts--and we figured that AJ, not being THAT different from me, would enjoy doing the same thing.

However, in a 2-year fit of contrariness, she refused to listen to the CDs (and yes, she can maintain a fit for 2 years without breaking a sweat). But a few weeks ago, I was listening to it in the car on my way to my classes in Cassville (where AJ likes to come and sit in), and she really started getting into it. Disturbingly, her favorite song is the one that the high priests sing, and I have to admit, it IS catchy. By the time we got to campus, she was belting out, "Must die! Must die! This Jesus must die!"

It was a special moment.

Anyway, she uploaded the whole thing onto her i-pod, and she asked me if we could play the soundtrack in the car again on the way to class Thursday. I admit that I have said once or twice, "I KNEW you'd like it if you gave it a chance!" I am trying very hard not to let that become "I told you so..." but it's not easy.

By the way, did anyone see the 2001 remake of JCSS? I've seen bits of it, and it seems to be as awful as everyone says, but I was interested to see that Rik Mayall played the role of King Herod. Does anyone else remember him from The Young Ones? God, I thought that show was funny when I was in high school.

March Observances

The month of March is:

* Cataract Awareness Month
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month
* Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
* Craft Month
* Deaf History Month
* Feminine Empowerment Month
* Foot Health Month
* Frozen Food Month
* Furniture Refinishing Month
* Gardening, Nature and Ecology Books Month
* Hemophilia Month
* Humorists Are Artists Month
* International Hamburger & Pickle Month
* Irish-American Heritage Month
* Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
* Music in Our Schools Month
* Middle School Month
* Mirth Month
* Noodle Month
* Nutrition Month
* Peanut Month
* Poison Prevention Awareness Month
* Professional Social Work Month
* Red Cross Month
* Rosacea Awareness Month
* Social Worker's Month
* Talk with Your Teen about Sex Month
* Women's History Month
* Youth Art Month

Weekly
First Week in March

* American Summer Camp Week
* Federal Employees Recognition Week
* Pet Sitters Week

Second Week in March:

* Girl Scout Week
* Procrastination Week (Second Week of March)


Third Week in March:

* Campfire Boys and Girls Birthday Week - Observed the week containing March 17th
* Chocolate Week
* Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week
* Poison Prevention Week


Fourth Week in March:

*Egg Salad Week

Daily

1 National Pig Day
1 Peanut Butter Lovers Day
2 Read Across America Day
3 National Anthem Day
6 Dentist's Day
6 Frozen Food Day
8 International Women's Day
9 Cabin Fever Day
11 Organize Your Home Office Day
14 Potato Chip Day
14 Save a Spider Day
16 Hiccup Day
19 Chocolate Caramel Day
20 Barbie Doll Day
20 Earth Day
22 Goof Off Day
22 National Sing Out Day
24 Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
25 Waffle Day
27 Fly a Kite Day
28 Something on a Stick Day
28 Weed Appreciation Day
30 Doctor's Day

St. David

Yesterday was St. David's Day, so David got to pick the dinner (hot dogs, mac & cheese, and salad with ranch dressing) and he got a little present (a crucifix nightlight). March is a great month for saints' days--in addition to St. David, there's St. Patrick, St. Joseph, and the Annunciation. All good days to go back to eating meat! It's very exciting. The picture above is of St. David's Cathedral, where he is buried.

Here's some info about St. David from Wikipedia.

He became renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany in a period when neighbouring tribal regions (that were to be overrun by Anglo-Saxon or Frankish tribes over the following three hundred years) were still mostly pagan. He rose to a bishopric, and presided over two synods, as well as going on pilgrimages to Jerusalem (where he was anointed as an archbishop by the Patriarch) and Rome. St David's Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the 'Glyn Rhosyn' valley, in Pembrokeshire.

It is claimed that David lived for over 100 years, and he died on a Tuesday 1 March (now St David's Day). It is generally accepted that this was around 590, making the actual year 589. The monastery is said to have been 'filled with angels as Christ received his soul'. His last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday. Rhygyfarch transcribes these as 'Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.' 'Do the little things in life' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd') is today a very well-known phrase in Welsh, and has proved an inspiration to many.


There you have it, my friends. Do the little things in life.