Kitty Playing the Guitar

From Slog:

More pictures

So, I found a better way to post pictures. Here are some more for your viewing pleasure (or, maybe just mine):

A penguin in Seattle.

Mt. Rainier. A view from a neighborhood near my apartment.

War protesters with really big heads that came by the press house a couple weeks ago.

In Tacoma. I think this was a part of the art museum.

The Chihuly bridge in Tacoma. Dale Chihuly is a famous glass artist who lives there. He's actually "world renown." His stuff is beautiful.

The Chihuly bridge.

The Chihuly bridge.

The office cat not looking happy.

At the Pacific Coast in Ocean Shores, Wash.

View of the Olympic Mountains from the Tolmie State Park in Lacey. (It's like five minutes from my apartment.)

View of Mt. Rainer from Tolmie State Park.

A cool looking tree stump in the Tolmie State Park.

The City of Roses

I went to Portland today. It was great. It doesn't have one of those must-see landmarks (ie: the Space Needle in Seattle, the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Arch in St. Louis.) But it is one of the most "livable" cities I've been to. It's got good public transportation, ample parking, open spaces and beautiful parks. I think it's going to be one of those cities I'll always love because the first time I went, it was a beautiful Saturday. Denver was that way. Anyway, here are some pictures I took:

So this game made me nervous...

The Big 12 tournmanet championship game made me nervous, but it was a great win for KU!! And I see now that the Jayhawks are the No. 1 seed in the West, but are playing first round games in Chicago. So, how does that work? I would not think of Chicago as "West," but maybe they're changing the way they do things now.

Anyway, I'm excited about the tournament (even though I probably won't get to watch much of it because of the darn Legislature...) Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!

This might turn into the "Friday Night Lights" blog

So, even though I was working last night and couldn't watch it live, I was really bummed this morning to find out there was no Friday Night Lights last night. Since I know one of the loyal 'Nest readers is also a fan of this fabulous show (shout out to Heid) I think I will spend quite a bit of time writing of it's wonderfulness in future posts. Hopefully, if it doesn't get cancelled.

Which brings me to ... I stumbled across the Save Friday Night Lights site, and wanted to share it with the world. You know, I've never really cared about keeping a TV show around quite this much. I actually wrote an e-mail to NBC!! (Which I'm sure will carry oh so much weight.) I guess I just think there's so much crap out there, that worthy television (even if it doesn't get high ratings) should stick around. I really think this show would get higher ratings if NBC wasn't stupid, putting it up against "American Idol." I mean, come on, Kyle Chandler (the coach) is smokin'!!! And all the players aren't bad either :-)

This is a great show. If you're not watching -- and you have the time -- or, even if you don't have the time -- you should start watching. All the episodes are available to watch for free even!!! Come on, how much easier is that?

So I think I've heard this...

So, this is how Missouri became known as the "Show-Me State":

From the Missouri Secretary of State Web site:
The most widely known legend attributes the phrase to Missouri's U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903. While a member of the U.S. House Committee on Naval Affairs, Vandiver attended an 1899 naval banquet in Philadelphia. In a speech there, he declared, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me." Regardless of whether Vandiver coined the phrase, it is certain that his speech helped to popularize the saying.

BIG 12 CHAMPS!!!!

WHOO-HOO!!!! I'd like a little more ROCK with my CHALK!!!

The office cat!

He goes by many names. "Copycat," "editor," "the lobbyist," and "dog" are just some. But he makes our day in the press house much happier with his presence!! Photos by John Frosh (not me!)

Love me some Jayhawks

So, I don't live in Lawrence any more, so I'm not quite as plugged into Jayhawk men's basketball happenings as I used to be, but after watching a few recent games, I must say -- love, love, love KU this year!!! I'm uber-excited about watching them play Texas on Saturday (even though it'll be 9 a.m. out here--yikes!!) And, I have all kinds of final four dreams. I wish I was around more people who could appreciate the awesomeness of KU basketball!!!