T-I-G-E-R-S......TIGERS!!!!!

Hello my name is Dawn, and I hold a grudge...

Before I officially begin my post this evening, you should know something about me. I am a Memphis Tigers fan, and yes, Iam still a bit bitter. Okay, a LOT bitter. I started to title this post Snake Oil Salesman (a nod to our former coach John "never implicated in any wrongdoing" Calipari) but I want to move beyond the bitterness. I really do. My husband says it's not healthy. I even have had dreams about confronting him. I know, I know, I should have better things to think and dream about, but what can I say?

I'm going to use this post to get it out of my system, as probably one of the biggest games in Tiger history is happening less than 2 hours from now -- Memphis vs. Kansas. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I just want us to play decently.

OUR COACH IS HOTTER THAN YOURS (AND WELL, ANYONE'S)

Mainly, I want the Tigers to shine and the spotlight our new (and very hot, might I add) coach Josh Pastner. He's a 32-year-old coaching phenom, the second youngest coach in the NCAA right now. I want this season to not be about Cal. I want it to be about our players and Coach Pastner. The players that have endured the disappointment that Memphis had in April when Calipari left for Kentucky. And let's face it, Coach Pastner played for and coached under one of the greats, Lute Olson of Arizona.

While in high school, Pastner played and coached AAU ball in Texas. Yep, coached, as a player. Anyway, he walked on at Arizona, and didn't play too much, but coached the players and Olson hired him on as an assistant right out of college. Oh, by the way, he's also really smart. Did I mention he was smokin' hot?

Anyway, I want this season to be about the TIGERS and our coach. Not one man hogging the spotlight, selling us snake oil and making us drink the kool aid. (I've often compared Calipari to Jim Jones -- the cult leader who made his followers commit mass suicide by drinking kool aid. However, at least Jim Jones drank his own kool aid. Calipari tool off for a big-A house in Lexington. But, I digress...

Anyway, here's to the Tigers, and our city. And to Coach Pastner. Play on.

The Grotto's Not Just a Place at the Playboy Mansion

So I knew it was a beautiful place-the grotto they call it. But let's face it, it is at the graveyard. When I think of grotto, my mind wanders to the Playboy mansion, with Playboy bunnies and Hef in his pajamas and smoking jacket, but I digress.

Anyway, we've been needing some new photos of our Toots McGee, and a friend of mine let me know about a photographer who is trying to get her business started-- Shannon Payne. Well, I am very pleased and I haven't even seen all of the photos yet.

http://shannonpaynephotography.blogspot.com

All in all, the session went great. He was dressed to the nines, looking like a Gap or Polo ad. Ridiculous. but so cute. Thanks, Shannon. We'll spread the word about your photos.

WTF w/ Lady GaGa?

I've been following this Lady Gaga fascination for some time, and I have to finally ask the question... WTF?

I mean seriously, the lady never wears pants. Doesn't she get cold? Some might think she is a fashion genius, but honestly, she wears so much weirdness on her face.

Her music is ok, i get tired of hearing it EVERYWHERE, but her choices in fashion are just weird. She wears bird's nests on her face, and this photo has her face covered in lace.

Perhaps I am getting old. Maybe I am a fuddy duddy, but gees, her choices are just weird.

Perez Hilton, one of my favorite celeb bloggers, seems to be in love with her. He dressed up as her for Halloween, and yikes, it was a bit scary. But she is always scary to look at, so....

Ode to Pellet Ice

Yes, you heard me, pellet ice. Recently, a very resourceful coworker of mine clued me in on the best ice machine on our campus--the pellet ice machine. Now, I know you are thinking that ice is ice is ice, but au contraire.

Pellet ice is like nectar of the gods (okay, perhaps a overstatement) but we truly love it 'round these parts. Trust me, the pellet ice is keeping me from eating everything in sight.

I wanted to pay tribute to this phenomenal ice creation, so here goes...

oh pellet ice
i love you so
crunchy texture
cold on my lips
a nice treat in the afternoon
wish you were in this building so i wouldn't have to walk to another

(so i never claimed to be a poet)