What can't fit through the door/hallway? A. The Couch or B. Our Butts

We have a spectacular view of the city, this picture is taken from her balcony!

This picture was taken while Lindsay and I were on the detour from Marengo to Valeene Road. Yes, it's a detour sign telling which direction to go painted on a hay bale. Some people I have talked to have suggested the owner of the property painted the sign. I believe that the county is probably back woods enough to have painted a sign on a hay bale themselves.

Summer Summary

This being the first blog after a long break, I felt like I should catch everyone up on what my summer was like. I spent my summer working at the French Lick Resort Donald Ross Course while Lindsay bartended at the Resort's steakhouse called 1875. I'm going to take a very quick stance on bartending and that is that there is no better place to witness for Christ than a place where messed up people feel comfortable dumping all their problems. If you still have a problem with the issue take it up with God Himself!
Okay, I'm off my high-horse; now on to the rest of the summer. For the most part it was pretty laid back. My days consisted of several alarms sounding from about 5:15 to 5:30 AM until I finally felt like I had enough beauty built up to last another day. Work would last from 6-2:30. The early start was nice because it allowed me to get in on good recreational activities such as trying to play the beast that is the Donald Ross Course, Fish, Swim, etc.
Lindsay on the other hand tended to sleep late and work later. Although a less routine schedule allowed her some time in recreational activities also. Overall it was a great and fast summer and December 20th seems to be approaching faster and faster all the time.

Filling giant shoes

So the Cats suffered the devestating blow of losing one of the SEC's leading scorer's and rebounders, Patrick Patterson. So the question is now: who will fill the shoes? It's going to have to be a collective effort of the men above starting today against the runnin' Vols and finishing with the National Championship Game. So we're going to take a look at the feet that are going to jump into Pats shoes.

Our first filler-inner is Scott County's own Jared Carter. (far right)
Year: Junior
Height: 7-2
Weight: 260
Pros: Obviously his height is an advantage you can't overlook. (no pun intended)
Cons: Jared has very little game experience and seems to be a bit of a softy. He also has been injury prone (shoulder) in his years at UK.
Best on-the-court accomplishment: Jared scored had twice as many points as he did minutes played in the LSU game (2 to 1).

Our next contestant is Mark Coury. (right center)
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6-8
Weight: 230
Pros: Mark...uhhh...plays hard. He must be a great practice player. Anything else is really hard to come up with.
Cons: He's slow. He can't jump. He can't shoot. He's an awful defender. He has an unfailing confidence in his ability to score even though everyone else confidence in that matter has dwindled to nothing. There! I found it! His pro is confidence.
Best on-the-court accomplishment: Mark is well on pace to set the record for the most starts with the least minutes played in a single season. Unfortunately this record will probably not be reached due to Pats injury.

Next is A.J. Stewart. (left center)
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-8
Weight: 210
Pros: A.J. is probably the best athlete on the team. He is long and can leap out of the Gym.
Cons: His athleticism is a little bit raw. His basketball skills are a little under developed and his Basketball IQ is also a little behind.
Best on-the-court accomplishment: A.J. was actually UK's leading scorer in the first half of the Vanderbilt game on February 12. He had 3 of the team's 11 points for the half.

Our last, and most formidable filler is Perry Stenson. (far left)
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6:9
Weight: 201
Pros: Perry has been making huge leaps all season. He is a great shot blocker and seems to have a knack for dunking the basketball.
Cons: His offensive low-post presence is something that needs to improve quickly with the loss of Patterson. He has been making strides in this area though.
Best on-the-court accomplishment: Perry's 14 points and 7 rebounds were huge in the Cats first game against Tennessee, a 72-66 win at Rupp Arena.

With the exception of Perry, this crew has about as much game experience as the managers. They do, though, have ability. They are capable. And if they weren't ready to play a huge part in this season when they woke up on Friday morning, I hope they have used the last 48 hours to ready themselves for the games of their lives.
GO CATS!!!!!!

WE WILL NOT QUIT!!!

The News
A call from Drew at about 1:30 today left me with the most disturbing news of the UK basketball season to date: Patrick Patterson is out for the season. When he said it, I checked my calender to see if it was April 1st. This had to be a joke. This season has already been plagued with injury after injury, but this was the worst.
The Realization
As the reality of the blow set in the uneasy feeling in my stomach got worse and worse. I turned my attention to message boards and begged uncontrolably for mercy. For about an hour and half I complained, whined, counted the injuries of the season. I went from hopeful to helpless in the moment of the words "Pat out for the season."
The Fight
But then I was reminded by an article on aseaofblue.com that this is Kentucky Basketball. This is the best program in the history of the game. We are the BigBlueNation. And we do NOT throw in the towel. I was reminded of a fade away three pointer to end regulation against Florida. I was reminded of Perry Stevenson's inspired play when Tennessee came to Lexington. I was reminded of how this team had clawed and fought their way from a 7-9 record that was considered completely out of the NCAA Tournament to a 16-10 team with a chance to take the lead in the SEC on Sunday. I was reminded of HEART. This team has had HEART all season. We as fans have hoped with our HEART of hearts all season. It's not over. When it is our HEARTS will turn to next year. But until the final buzzer sounds on this team we will believe with our HEART. And we WILL FIGHT! GO CATS!!!

I'm Back!!!!!!!

So I am finally posting again after a week and a half of not posting. I would apologize for the lack of posts, but it would have been more a sin to post anything that happened in my boring life in that span.
Acually that may not be true. Last weekend was actually very exciting. I drove home for an early weekend on Thursday. I met Lindsay at Granny and Grandad's at about 2:30 and within five seconds of parking my car I was iced in. So Lindsay and I settled in for a romantic get away (or something like that.) Grandad fixed some quail fingers and we played Clue. Lindsay and I both struggled to get a clue as less enthusiastic competition i.e. Granny and Grandad beat us to the solution each time.
As much fun as that romantic sleepover was, Lindsay topped it with a Valentines dinner to die for. She fixed chicken tetrazzini (one of my favorites) with bread sticks and brocolli. It was fantastic! She doesn't love cooking, but she is really good at it. And best of all, I got to bring leftovers back to Cincy with me.
It was really a fantastic three and a half day weekend and I am looking forward to being home again for spring break March 7-16.