We Gave it the Old College Try

In our search for a new dog, we took a shot on Junior, a mixed Golden (although where that comes in, we're not sure, see picture) and an unknown breed, although Rot or Pit was the best guess. So yesterday we brought him over to see how he would do with the family. He is 5 months old and already weighs 55 pounds and was built like a linebacker. He had an absolutely great disposition, but was all puppy although built like a full grown dog. He could not sit still. He chased Gordie all over the house wanting to play (that did not go over well with Gordie, who ended up in Dad's lap most of the afternoon). So when he wouldn't play, he barked incessantly at him (annoying to both Dad and Gordie) and then decided he would try to chew everything in sight including pillows, bumper guards on the table, Brendan's trains and DVD's and Gordie's tail (again, not well received). After shopping for a cage for him, Mom and Brendan returned home. At this point, Junior decided since Gordie wouldn't play, Brendan was about the right size and ended up tackling him two or three times and wanting to wrestle. Since Brendan was outweighed by about 25 lbs., it ended up being a one sided affair. After a few times of that, we decided for the sake of Brendan standing upright over the next few months, it was time to call it a day and return Junior back to his Foster Parent. We wish him the best, he will make somebody a great dog, just not us. So it's off to probably trying to find another Golden (they just fit us to well) and we did get a call today from the Golden Rescue fund that there may be some Golden puppies available which we may be looking at. So that's our finding a new dog update for now. Hope you all had a great Christmas and have a great New Year tomorrow night.

The Trials and Tribulations of Winter in the South

As you can see from the attached pictures, Winter in the Southern States is just brutal. Since most everybody that checks in on this blog is from somewhere north of here (except for the occasional Texas visitor, and that one poor, deranged Laker fan in L.A.), we thought we would show the torture we go through here in the winter, especially in December. Did you see what Brendan had to go through to hit golf balls? I mean long pants and even a mock sweater? We have it so tough down here. Feel pity for us please, it's only supposed to be in the high 60's next Saturday ( also we just needed some kind of blog to get that damn Jimmy Johnson off of the top of the blog, I mean really, could we look more Southern redneck, all credit to the wife on that one). So we added a picture of our Christmas tree to show we actually took these at Christmas. I love when the white on the ground is sand and not snow. On a serious note, we hope all of our friends and family have a great and safe Christmas and New Year. We miss seeing all of you and we are so glad to get Christmas cards and stay in touch with our friends from Kansas City, Raleigh, Manhattan, KS, Los Angeles, Nashville, Indiana, Texas, and many other parts of the country. We cannot be luckier to have the friends that we do and we cherish all of our friendships that we have made over the last 16 years in all of the different cities across the country. We can only hope to be as lucky in the future meeting as many great people as we have over the last 17 years. Our prayers to you and your families and we hope to see many of you before long. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Life Is Good

A Star is Born (Yeah Right!)

We attended Brendan's Christmas concert last week Thursday. Needless to say it was an adorable disaster. Off key singing, missed words, you name it, it happened. I have attached a video from it for your viewing pleasure. If the camera is bouncing it's because I was laughing so hard.

Ode to Ollie

As I'm sure countless others of you are aware, the one really bad thing about owning pets is when the day comes you have to put them down. It's a heart wrenching, guilt ridden, exhausting endeavor and no amount of knowing it was the right thing to do makes it any better. For the 3rd time in the last 25 months, we had to put one of our dogs to sleep this last Saturday. We got Ollie, our 3rd Golden Retriever that we have owned, through the Golden Rescue fund here in Atlanta two years ago when our 2nd Golden, Scout had passed away. The day we met Ollie, we knew he was the dog to have. He was so kickbacked and relaxed and had the absolutely best disposition of any dog we had ever had. Brendan walked up and played with the tags on his collar and Ollie just gave him a look of "whatever kid, I ain't moving". He became a permament fixture on our couch almost immediately and we never had any kind of accident or behavior problem. We know we will never have a dog this absolutely good and trained ever again.

About a year ago we discovered that Ollie had a chronic kidney problem. With medicine and a special diet we were able to keep him around for almost another year. We will miss him horribly, he was our friend and companion. No matter how many times you go through it, it always feels like the first time and each time has it's own pain and mourning. Kudos to Shireen for actually going inside and doing the last 3, thus why I think the next one will be a puppy, we need a break from this exercise for a few years and with Gordie being young, obnoxious and in incredible shape, hopefully we won't have to worry about him for the next couple years (although he did learn the couch thing from Ollie, see picture). So here is our tribute to our pal and friend, may we have many more like him.

Whatever It Takes to Get Chocolate

Halloween has come and gone and we are finally posting pictures, but the candy lives on. For the first time in the last 3 years, Brendaan finally got the concept of Halloween and understood all of the implications of saying "Trick or Treat", carrying a big orange pumpkin bowl and going as fast as possible house to house to load up on even more candy. Going as a pack for the 4th year in a row, the walk house to house has now become a sprint with the parents (Well Mom anyways, Dad stayed home, had a beer and handed out chocolate), running to keep up. Brendan, Mom and Dad are still working through some of the candy from Halloween if that is any indication how much candy Brendan collected and although he tried, he succeeded in not killing himself tripping over his Thomas the Train outfit.

It has become an annual tradition I think for every kid within 10 miles to hit up our neighborhood. By 8:30, Dad had handed out 13 bags of candy and ended up shutting off the lights of which the dogs were eternally grateful. Thanks for all who have been checking out the web site including those in Indiana, California and others who we've heard from recently. Send us some pictures when you get a chance and we will post here to share with the others across the country. For those we don't talk to you, have a Great Thanksgiving with your families and stay safe.

It's a Miracle, but It's Finished

Sorry for the weeks between blogs, but College Football season will do that. Between traveling and working, I haven't had the chance to enter, but we're back now. October was also a crazy month for the Rice's in that Shireen finally completed her summer long project of redoing the area below the deck and making it into a nice patio for next summer. Of course, she absolutely killed off her Dad, who may never visit again, with 3 plus 12 hour days. Then two weeks later, put her Mom to work doing the landscaping around the whole thing. We cannot express our appreciation enough for their work, if not for them, we might have finished by Christmas and that is probably doubtful. So without further ado, here is some pictures of the before and after and just a really cute one of Fireman Brendan which has nothing to do with this blog, but was just to cute not to post for the Grandparents.

Over the course of two months, Shireen dug about a foot down, which with Georgia clay, not a whole lot of fun. Coupled with the 4 tons to much of sand she ordered, we have enough filler in our woods to last for years. Anybody want some top soil or sand? Come on by.

The outdoor sink was a great touch and soon we will have the furniture, a swing and a shade attached. We will also be adding the underdecking with the ceiling fan. Should be an extremely nice area when done and I have just way to proud a wife after this. She loves to show off to the neighbors, as much to get them to abuse me for not doing hardly anything on it as much as anything, but whatever makes her happy. As you can see, Brendan was a load of help.

After helping Mommy, we donned our fireman hat for Grandma so she could have a good picture to go back to Wisconsin with. This is our second fireman hat since the fire department visited pre-school again. Brendan absolutely loves pre-school, can't get out of the car fast enough in the morning and is picking up way to many things, but he has been so less bored and cranky now. Mom and Dad have been extremely thankful for that. We will be posting Halloween pictures in a few days, look for a Thomas the Train outfit to appear soon.

All is Right In the Universe Again

Finally, a Steeler loss. After a profanity laced phone call from Todd Sunday night, all seems right in the Universe again. A happy Todd is just way to weird a thing, so to have Todd pretty much proclaiming death to me and everybody I know brought a smile to my face. To make it even better, Richelle was able to rub in the Raiders win and with the Cowboys win and all, Todd was absolutely miserable. I'm sticking to my 12-4 preseason guess for the Cowboys, but a few more weeks like this and I might have to up that. Our Waterloo is coming in a few weeks against the Pats, but until then, I'll enjoy life. Those damn Packers keep playing out of their head, but at least they have to come to Dallas. If they win that one, I may have to change my number, no way will I be able to stand Mr. Van Alstyne at that point, who has strangely not been heard from this week.

Good to see as much as the Boilers tried this week, Notre Dame is so bad they couldn't take advantage of them. Purdue might be the worst 5-0 team to ever take the field and that ranking will go away after this week, but it beats being 0-5 with at least 2 or 3 more losses guaranteed. Keep believing that it is only a one year rebuilding thing Mr. Getty and I'll keep believing my hair will grow back soon.

Shireen has been working her dad to death this week and the outdoor patio project is about half done. We expect to have a whole pictorial posted here by this weekend. Anybody need about 3 tons of sand? My wife, with her wonderful Wisconsin education, tried to figure out the amount of sand needed and realized later that we need about 2 tons and had 6 delivered. Brendan is good to go on the sand box for about the next 7 years.

That's about all the updates for now, I am completely boring during football season, because I all do is work, but we will be posting pictures soon of the patio project, Brendan's Halloween, etc. Hope all of our friends and family are doing well and hope to hear from many of you soon.

How Bout them Cowboys???

And Packers (crap), and Steelers (double crap). Freaking 3-0 start since God knows when and the damn Steelers and Packers start 3-0 also and ruin the whole fun phone calling on Sunday nights to Raleigh and Nashville. Although at some point the Steelers got to move beyond the whole St. Theresa's Sisters of the Blind, Deaf and Mute that have been their first 3 opponents (don't even give me the whole 2-0 Frisco thing, that team will be lucky to finish 8-8). At least the Packers have played somebody (although it was at home, and they were lucky S.D. didn't get one more first down and then forgot how to tackle a slant, usual Cowboys move there). Starting to look like a battle between Big D and the Pack again come Dec., unless somebody in the NFC wants to wake up and play some football, which doesn't look like it at this point. I think John and I would both admit, we'll stay in the NFC, that AFC thing is brutal. Anyways starting to remind me of the mid 90's when the Cowboys tortured the Pack before the late 90's when the favor was returned. Memo to Jerry Jones: Did you see Grossman? Freaking sign Romo now and for a lot of years. Oh by the way, sign a safety also some time this decade. Freaking Brady may throw for 7 touchdowns against us in a few weeks. You want a sure lock bet, take the over in that game. At least the Steelers play the Patriots also this year. We may need to get Mr. Laskey's comments about Brady at that point on the blog, not sure there would be anything funnier this year.

As for college football season, is anybody starting to feel sorry for Mr. Getty yet? I mean, can the Irish be any worse? I'm to scared of a Purdue let down, but barring that, I may even start to feel sorry for those green idiots. How bare can a cupboard be? Ty forget to recruit when he got there? You know if you can make Mich. State look good, you have hit bottom. As for that, can the Big 10 be any worse? Ohio State lost everybody and they still look the better than everybody else. Watching that Michigan, Penn State game was like watching those teams in the 70's. Guys, it's the 21st Century, don't be afraid to recruit some speed sometime this century. God, it was like watching players run in molasses. I kind of understand when it's 5 below zero, but Jesus when it's 70, try breaking a 5.0 40, especially if you're a receiver or running back.

Watch that game and then watch Florida and LSU in a few weeks or Cal and USC and tell me the Big 10 gets any recruits any more. I had no idea when I lived there how bad football was. As for Penn State and Fla. State. Can Bowden and Joe Pa please make an agreement to retire at the same time (preferably this year) and quit waiting for the other to croak so they can get the most wins title. I have a stake in the whole Fla. State thing, selling merchandise to them and all and if anybody watched that Colorado game, two things became clear. How unbelievably bad the Big 12 except for Oklahoma and Texas have gotten and how far Fla. State has slipped (which Penn State also showed Sat.) Let's see, you are a 17 year old Hot Shot Stud football player, where do you go? To Fla. State or Happy Valley to play for an 80 year old Coach who probably won't be there in a year or two, with a team that has been barely ranked the last few years or to Gainesville or LA and play for a young, aggressive Coach that is winning Natl. Titles and is a pipeline for the NFL. Let's give that one some thought. Name me anyone that does things better in their late 70's than in their 40's and 50's. Good luck with that one (although maybe my golf swing will finally slow down where I can make a square impact).

Also, forgot to mention last week, if you are ever in Vegas around this time of year and you see Purdue and Minnesota playing, bet the mortgage on the over. Check out the scores over the last few years and you'll see what I mean. Defense is not only optional in that game, it's seriously frowned upon.

So finally, WAR Steelers Waking Up, WAR Favre becoming Favre again (e.g. multiple interceptions), WAR Irish 0-8 start, and WAR John's golf game staying dormant (at least until I get through there in October).

Look for more smack talking next week, I will keep going until those damn Packer, Irish and Steeler fans start responding (Sorry Richelle, I just have no heart to rip the Raiders, there's just no challenge in it). Later.

The Sporting Cousins

Sorry for not posting for a while, but the start of college football season for me leaves little time for sleep, let along blogging. I wanted to post some pictures of the cousins and their sports pursuits lately. While we are still in soccer, Brendan and Dad have been sneaking off to the golf range some and with fall beginning to arrive, Jonathan is deep into football. While Brendan will have to double in size before we let him on a football field (thus the whole golf thing), Jonathan looks like a natural and someday may be wearing that red for Nebraska, although baseball still seems to be his sport and where his natural athletic abilities lie, especially after hitting homer after homer against me with the wiffle ball over the house last year at Hilton Head (sad part was, I wasn't trying to take it easy on him). Anyways here are some pictures of the boys, hope the grandparents enjoy and glad to hear our friends from Indiana and North Carolina have been checking out. Will do a whole football summary tomorrow, although it is killing me that even I am starting to feel like ripping Notre Dame is piling on at this point

After seeing Nebraska's score against Ball State today, Jonathan may be getting a call from Callahan soon to see if he can start at safety. I mean, he already has the uniform ready to go and this proves he can make an interception which is probably one more than Nebraska has this year.

While the whole split hand grip thing is an interesting development and not something usually recommended, he does keep his head down much better than Dad. And also much better balance. Probably best he does it his way, rather than watching Dad which could really screw up his golf swing. Once again our hope and wish is that he gets bigger and more into golf so Dad finally has some reason to convince Mom to let him join the golf course. If Brendan ever wants to see the family car, he will play golf, but we'll leave those threats for later. Luckily, by living in the South, we will be able to send more golf pictures through December, although the bermuda will be a little brown by then which usually, finally brings out John's golf game (inside Nashville humor). As an overall update, Brendan is loving preschool, (Mom and Dad bore the heck out of him), he has been in a great mood ever since school started, although much more of a smart ass talk backer which repeated tickling sessions and tackles into the couch haven't cured. He seems to have taken the sarcasm and general enjoyment of irritating his parents to a new level. The whole turn off football, turn on Sprout and then running around the house with the clickie to keep it from Dad, has gotten especially annoying. I'll remember this next time he wants to go to a game. That's it for now, look for a football post soon.

So Nice to See the Wife in Agony

Finally, Thank God, Football Season has made it. It's a double bonus this time of year. Not only is there non-stop football now, but it also drives the wife nuts especially since between college and pro, you get about 4 days a week with football on the TV. After years of complaining and still an occasional try, she has pretty much given up that football will get turned off at any point. Although, she has learned to provide me with a back up clickie, something or other about a Florida State loss last year combined with a 20 ft or so toss at about 80 mph that hit a wall and somewhat shattered the old clickie and cost us about a $100 or so to replace. I don't do well when my schools lose, although I broke nothing after Auburn this week which should be chalked up to maturity or just to tired to care, one or the other.

Anyways, great to see the Cowboys get off to a nice win, although that defense better damn well improve or I will be getting way to many calls from Raleigh and how often can you listen to Todd without wanting to throw another clickie? At least I won't hear from Richelle this year, nice loss to the Lions by the way. I would say Congrats to the Steelers, but when you play St. Theresa's Sisters of the Blind, do you really deserve kudos? However, (as much as it kills me), I will give a big shoutout to the Pack, thanks for taking those green and white asses from Philly down. Now just do your job against the Midgets this week and you'll stay in the good column.

And just in case, Mr. Hamler is reading, you are going to disavow all evidence that you might be a Chiefs fan arent' you? If it wasn't for Cleveland, you would have the first pick locked up next year. Might I suggest a quarterback in your first, second and third rounds next year. Although we will give Brodie Croyle props for perhaps having the hottest wife in the NFL (watch Hard Knocks on HBO, you'll agree).

Anyways, just awesome to be able to talk football, although those freaking Steelers need to come back to Earth, no way can I take a whole fall of a happy Todd, the Universe is just out of whack if he isn't miserable and bitching. Get the Beer and chips ready for week two and I'm sure there will be more comments next week, when don't I have an opinion? Later.

A Glimmer of Hope

In this vast season of darkness (a.k.a. football season-college and pro.) there is some good news. Jimmie Johnson finished first in California and will be seeded FIRST(if the chase started today). Which means, and this gives me great pleasure, ahead of Jeff(pretty boy) Gordon.
. Now, I understand this might not seem like much to some of you. But, when you are subjected to 3+ months of college and 6+ months of professional football this is the one thing that keeps you sane.

Whew.... and Irish Eyes Ain't Smiling

This would be the first non-picture post of the new season, but with College Football just kicking off, how could one not post a few thoughts and abuses. First of all, thank god for the Auburn Win tonight, WAR EAGLE BABY!!!, Dr. Hamler was just hoping to call me back and abuse me for my phone call from Auburn today telling him he had no shot. Supposedly tonight he had people leaving and couldn't talk to me any longer and obviously had no clue that my wife, who normally would be a morning person, will take every chance to sleep in tomorrow and will not wake me up early. Those of you who have no idea of what I'm talking about should feel sorry his wife, Gabby. After rooming with the freak for about a year and getting the clapping and told what a great day it is at 7:00 every moring, one can only feel what the poor girl did to herself by marrying him. By the way, great effort K-State, but SEC is a whole different ball game.

First abuse is to Michigan. What the hell? App State? As one of the few or only people here that has visited Boone, NC, how the hell a football team from there could beat Southeastern Rhode Island, let alone Michigan, is beyond me. I am sure they get their fair share of recruits that want to be as far from civilization as possible, but to make Michigan look like the inferoir team and really should not have been that close. Hey Michigan, I heard Emory is looking for a game (look it up people, you'll get the joke). Nice $400,000 to get your ass kicked.

Now for the most fun part of the day. Not only did it satisfy my insatiable desire to inflict pain on those green and gold idiots from up north, but it probably made me a lot of money for next week. Nice offense ND, maybe Tim Couch has a year of eligibility left. Could an offense look any more inept at home on an opener? Usually I have no use for the polls, but leaving Notre Dame out was incredibly prescient. And letting Ga. Tech score 33 on your home turf without Calvin Johnson? And a blocked field goal? If your offense was a pitcher's ERA, you might win the Cy Young at least this year. Mr. Getty wouldn't answer any phone calls after half time, so I'm hoping he is still kicking and breathing. I might overnight any apparel I have from those losers, who wants that bad karma around? Purdue might have scored more today than ND will all year. If ND beats Purdue, I may never see Mr. Getty ever again,(I might have to hang myself) but at least he beat John in golf this week which ranks up there with App. State.

Tennessee, did your defense not make the flight to NoCal????


So, to go out on a limb, I'll try my best at college prognastication after 1 week. Their schedule is a joke and how many All-Americans can you get and not be good? So I will pick USC to play the winner of LSU and Florida, who I predict will have one loss each and play each other in the SEC Championship game. One of the Big East teams will probably go undeafeated, but I will guess, because of Florida last year, people will realize that a SEC team with one loss is so much better, they will get the shot. LSU will have played Va. Tech and Florida will have played Fla. State which along with their conference schedule, will be, and should be, so much more impressive than any Big East schedule. This will be one hell of a game and as last year showed, you can't account for speed, which only USC can match these teams in the South.

That's it for tonight. Can't wait for the NFL to start to start abusing the Steelers, Raiders, Packers and all those other favorite teams of friends who read here. That's when I expect the comments to start flying back, if this didn't start some already.

WAR EAGLE, WAR COWBOYS and WAR BOILERS!!!!

All in the Family

It seems my one and only sister has found a good way to keep everybody in the family updated. Send pictures to her brother and let him do all of the work. As you can see, she was much to busy enjoying her vacation (and rubbing in the ski runs in the background) to e-mail them herself, so this seemed a good way to her. Looks like a very relaxing vacation, although the young one will probably need therapy after seeing that fish. We hope our friends will send pictures soon also so we can share, but this will at least show the other half of our family here. And truth be told, if you lived in Lincoln Nebraska, wouldn't you be vacationing as much as possible? Hope you all have a good weekend.

Does she ever sit still???

What do you get when you cross a Type A personality (some of us would say anal retentive or obsessive compulsive) with a stay at home Mom? Projects, lots of projects. I thought I would show a few of her bigger ones, although by no means does this cover the whole list. While I am sure to suffer more ridicule on my next golf game in Nashville (although winning money almost every single time takes the sting away from the abuse I receive), I have to admit when it comes to home improvements, I am married to the female version of Bob Villa. Thank god, because unlike those masochists in Nashville, I have no desire to build a deck in the middle of the summer in the South. So let's start down the road. When we moved into our house here near Atlanta in 2004, the inside of the house was pretty awesome, but the outside was a mini-disaster. So, Shireen's projects started with the front yard as the before and after pictures will show here.

Then, out of the blue, came the inspiration that our kitchen should be splash guarded to death. While I have been known to splatter some spaghetti sauce, I don't think I could send it 20 ft. away, but as usual the wife disagreed and for the better part of a month, our garage was filled with the sound of a tile saw and the remnants of tile dust. And while, as usual, Shireen's math was horrendous (are you sure that 7/16 is more than 3/8) with that wonderful Wisconsin education, the project came out extremely well, especially for all of the cursing and mistaken cuttings.

After that her attention turned back to the outside. The back yard and the wooded area has been a constant source of Shireen's obsessive nature (we should buy stock in Roundup) and so we went from just a god awful yard with half of it not even having sod and a woods that looked like it hadn't been touched in 20 years, to sod, to an expanded irrigation system to finally a complete ripping up of dead sod that wouldn't take and the laying down of mulch and plants. Just for the record, Shireen's Mom, Linda, has been pressed into service of all of these outdoor projects and usually heads back to Wisconsin overly glad to get away from her daughter. Even I was pressed into service in this latest venture and had the enjoyable experience of roto tilling the mounds of dirt and dead sod which was an absolute joy. As usual, the yard came out looking great and if we could get a rain shower sometime this year and have a heat index under a 110, we might even get it looking better.

So next on the list, and currently underway is the digging up of the ground below the deck in preparation to lay stone and tile for a patio flooring. This time Shireen is springing the project on her Dad when he comes to visit (last time he got the next fixture for the sink). Luckily we have leverage with the grandkid and are able to parlay that into projects. We will post the completed project when done along with the 2 or 3 more that I'm sure Shireen has added to her list by then.

Bend it Like ......

Ok, maybe not quite. We have started the first year of soccer, and while getting the rules of the game haven't become quite clear, at least Brendan looks good in the part. Of course, the practices in the 100 plus degree heat haven't helped, (Mommy's water bottle has been of more interest than learning the game). However, while Daddy waits for the golf bug to kick in, this will do.

As you can see we started with our backyard practicing, although the basketball impulse was still strong (those damn Indiana genes). Then came the practices where I could do the cones, but what the heck was this net thing all about?

And lastly came the first game. Whoever decided that 8 A.M. was a good time for a Soccer Game had to be a sadist. All family members were present although less than awake, especially the participating player.

And then came game time. While we ran around after the ball, we had no desire to go kick it with all the other kids kicking at it (thus kind of clueless on the whole goal of soccer, so to say), although our stint at goalie was a perfect shutout (of course, no kicks by the other team helps that stat). However, there was no shame in not mixing it up, did you see the size of those girls says Brendan, when I'm in high school and wanting to date them is one thing, but getting kicked by them on the Soccer Field at this point is a whole other.

So thus ended the first week of Shireen being a Soccer Mom, which of course included a hour and a half stint in the concession area and Brent being a Soccer Dad (is that a voting bloc?). While proud of our only boy, Mom and Dad realize there is much work ahead on the whole concept of Soccer (once again, Dad is really humoring Mom, before the all day golf lessons begin). We especially hope the grandparents and other family members enjoy and we say hello to all of our friends that may be checking this out for the first time.

As a complete side note, congratulations to Amanda Blumenherst this weekend for finishing runner up in U.S Women's Amateur. Bill, her uncle, who was her caddy this weekend was one of my best friends growing up and we still keep in touch especially when I make it back to Ft. Wayne. I have known the family for years and Amanda has led Duke to the Women's Natl. Championship the last two years, was College Player of the Year the last two years, made the Cut at the Women's U.S. Open the last two years and received the Nancy Lopez Award for Top Women's Amateur Golfer in the World this year. Amanda lost by 1 hole in a 36 hole final that was televised on the Golf Channel this weekend. You will be seeing her on the LPGA Tour quite a bit in a couple of years and she is a great person for younger kids to look up to. She is going to stay at Duke for 4 years even though she could be on the Tour now and has amassed straight A's while at Duke. While there are many sordid stories in sports right now, it's nice to see someone have success that is doing it right.

We will be entering a new post in the next couple days of the numerous projects that obsessive, compulsive wife has taken on lately, which will show pictures of the house here in Atlanta for our friends across the country that have not seen it yet. We hope you are all doing well and look forward to hearing from you, don't be shy to post your comments. Later.

Brent