Queen Anne's Lace and Lilacs

Another Husker-less Game Day

Another Saturday.  Another KU game on TV.  Another Penn State game on TV.  Even another U of H game on TV.  But, of course, no Nebraska game on TV.  What is wrong with people??!!  KU and Penn State have been on EVERY WEEK.  This is Houston's second game...seriously...  I'm more than happy to watch these games.  I would just like to have seen the Cornhuskers once or twice - or four times.  My helium-filled red and white balloons have been sitting here for a month, the kids - dressed in their cute little Cornhusker attire - eagerly awaiting their first-touchdown release. (Click photo to go to today's game day program)

OK, Evan and Brett don't release the balloons anymore, but at least they used to COULD, because the occasional game was televised back in the day!  (Nothin' like watching Nebraska beat the pants off of Texas A&M whilst watching the game with A&M graduates/in-laws...now those were the days, my friends!)

Nebraska is celebrating it's 300th consecutive sellout today.  I am thrilled that, for a couple of years, my dad and I were sitting in that stadium - serenaded by the marching band's playing of March Grandioso - contributing to the sellout.

Let the Games Begin

Finally!  The day we've all been waiting for!  College football is back.  I'm a little bummed that the Huskers' game isn't being televised here.  We will be watching the KU game.  Thankfully, that's a good game now that the Jayhawks have finally added football to their repertoire. :)  I'm hoping Nebraska is on their way back to being THE football powerhouse.  I'm not holding my breath, however - they'll have to prove themselves.  The teams we'll be following this year:  Nebraska, Kansas, Houston, Penn State (last year, Tim decided he was totally interested in and loyal to his Penn State - a team in which he has never expressed the slightest interest the entire 11 years I've known him - but, hey!  Go Nittany Lions!).

I've been listening to Evan's University of Houston marching band and the Huskers' fight songs.  Evan's been excited that football is back, but I don't know if Courtney (his girlfriend) is so thrilled about it.  I don't know what to say, Courtney - Evan was raised on sports.  And it's in his blood for generations.

So, lots of excitement today.  Tim and Bethany have left for the town hall meeting with our representative.  The manager at Subway said they're expecting 2,000 up at the high school (which should be interesting, since there will be football games this evening, parking will be horrible - Tim's looking forward to the mile walk).  I am hoping there are no shenanigans up there.  I tried to talk Brett into going with them for protection, but, hello!   No way would he do something like that!  I'm hoping they get some pictures.

Graduation Collage

I found this new toy the other day and decided to play with it for a while.  I have used Evan's graduation pictures (taken and sent to me by Courtney - thank you, Courtney!).  The new toy is called Shape Collage.  It's quick, easy, and fun.  You can use it with just a couple of photos or a hundred or more.  Click on the collage for a larger view. 

Congratulations, Evan! - UPDATE

The University of Houston's commencement exercises are occurring at this very moment.  We are all very relieved excited about his finally graduating from college!  The "degree of Bachelor of Music with a major in Music Education, a Double Bass emphasis, Cum Laude" is being conferred upon our dear Evan as we speak, or type and read.  He'll be available for those high school orchestras very soon!  I'll post more photos later.  (The photo, here, is of his cake.  Click photo for a larger view.  I wish I'd have thought to have the cougar paw print and "2009" put on the cake.) 

UPDATE:  You know, you think if you order and pay for an expensive cake, someone might bring a piece or two home......Nope.  And it was the best cake Evan's ever had, too!  Bummer.  If you're ever in Houston and have need of a fantastic cake - or even just lunch - check out Dacapo's Pastry Cafe (they're in the Heights).

Evan and Cougar Brass

Wednesday night (I think it was Wednesday night) was the first televised University of Houston home basketball game this year.  I was excited to watch the game, because Evan plays bass for the Cougar Brass band during basketball season.  I have written before on how it irritates me that I watch all of those football games for glimpses of Evan on TV, and they have NEVER shown him.  But, during basketball season through the years, I've seen him many times.  Unfortunately, during this whole basketball game, they showed only one little corner of the trombones a couple of times.  No Evan.  Very frustrating. 

But, I was checking out Evan's Facebook page, and he had this photo over there.  So, I am using it here.  I hope it's ok.  I'd hate to be doing the wrong thing.  Seriously.  You know I hate being wrong.  

Hey, interesting thing.  I was able to get to Evan's page because Evan has added me as his friend.  Brett still hasn't done that, so I can't get to his page.  Funny how it's Facebook's only incidence of a friend-adding malfunction.

In trying to find a link to the Cougar Brass, I found this page with all kinds of interesting tidbits about the sights and sounds that occur at the U of H football and basketball games (or, as they call it, "traditions").  This would have come in handy a few years ago.  Tim and I spend some amount of time during each game trying to figure out why people are doing the things they're doing.

If you'd like to see how the U of H basketball team is faring this season, click here.

Spirit of Houston at the 2008 Armed Services Bowl

I had checked You Tube for videos of the University of Houston half-time show at the Armed Services Bowl a day or two after the game.  Nothing was there at the time.  The other day, Courtney sent me the links, so thank you, Courtney.  We have the pre-game show, half-time, and a combo with the U of H and Air Force bands.  I'm just posting the links, because the high-quality version is the best.  If I post three of those here, it will take forever for this page to load.  So, when you click over to You Tube, look under the video on the right hand side.  You'll see the option to "watch in high quality." 

The other day, I posted this photo of Evan and U of H's marching band, the Spirit of Houston (click photo for a larger view).  I believe I led people to believe that Evan was second from the right at the top.  Wrong again.  He's third from the left at the top.

One of the dad's of somebody in the band takes these photos.  I ordered several from him last year.  When the pictures arrived, Bethany and Brett informed me that Evan wasn't in any of them.  Tim and I insisted that, of course, that boy was Evan!  Several weeks later, Evan came home.  I showed him the pictures.  Yep, they were all somebody else's kid!  So, my point is, those guys all look alike!

Yea, Coogs!

Evan must be thrilled!  His Houston Cougars beat Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl today in Fort Worth, 34 - 28.  This was also Evan's last time to march in the marching band.  He's done quite well, considering he had never played a band instrument before last summer.  He has enjoyed playing the tuba and being part of the Tubads.

My only complaint (and you knew there had to be at least one) about the game:  You know, College Football TV People in Charge, not everybody watches the games just for the football!  If I can sit and watch other people's kids running around the field for hours, I'd also like to see my own kid, for a few minutes, in the halftime show!!!!!

Momentary Confusion

I've got a couple of football games already recorded this morning.  I'm looking forward to watching them (Nebraska and Kansas, please win).  To get in the mood, I'm watching these videos of Evan's Spirit of Houston Marching Band from a couple of weeks ago (thanks for the links, Courtney).  Enjoy!

Pre-Game Show - October 9, 2008

Half-Time Show - October 9, 2008

Actually, I don't know what I'M THINKING!  Bethany's Homecoming Dance is tonight!  I must have been thrown off by Bethany, who IS ASLEEP!  It's noon!  Time's a-wastin'!  Sheesh.  The fun has just begun.

Spirit of Houston, Game 1, 2008 - UPDATED

I was so happy to discover we would be able to watch the Houston Cougars football games this season!  With CSTV's Houston Cougar's All-Access, you can watch the games on your computer.  I had to order.  Now, while I enjoy a good football game, U of H isn't exactly one of my football teams (that would be the Cornhuskers - and the Jayhawks, if they're not embarrassing.  DON'T say anything!).  No, my main interest in the Cougar games is the half-time show.  Evan is, once again, one of the tubas.  I sit and watch these games waiting and hoping for a glimpse of Evan.

The University of Houston marching band is called, "The Spirit of Houston."  Their entry at Wikipedia has a photo.  If you click on it, you will see a larger view of the photo.  I think that the guy with the tuba and the sunglasses on the right-hand edge, center, is Evan.  I say I think it's him, because it turns out that there is another guy in the band who looks like Evan.  I know this, because last year, I ordered a bunch of prints from the person who takes photos all year long of the band.  Evan informed me that most of the prints I ordered featured someone else - not Evan.  A little embarrassing, Mom.

Anyway, I didn't know if the little access computer thing would even show the half-time shows.  So, it was with great excitement that we watched Southern University's half-time program.  They were OK.  I couldn't wait for Evan's turn!  I've only seen his half-time shows on You Tube, I've never seen any live on the TV!  Well, the announcer announced U of H.  They came marching onto the field.  And.....no sound.  Unbelievable!  Yes, I certainly emailed CSTV, not that it will do any good.  If there had been a phone number, I would have called in my complaint.

So, once again, I'm watching Evan's half-time show on You Tube:

UPDATE:  Evan told me about this You Tube video with the half-time show in one video instead of two.  That's nice.  Looks better.  Also, apparently and unfortunately, Evan didn't have a tuba (school doesn't have enough) - he's one of those empty-handed kids back there with the tubas, just running around.  Oh, well - you know what they say!  And I guess this past weekend, he didn't even go out on the field.  At least he got to make the trip (to Oklahoma?  Whatever.  I guess Evan considers that a good thing.  I've been to Oklahoma a zillion times - I now avoid it if at all possible...and it is possible.).  For the record, it was Oklahoma State - 56, University of Houston - 37.  Go, Coogs.

Visiting with Michelle