The Weekend

This past weekend, I made my fifth trip in six weekends to the lovely and humid Houston, Texas for my cousin Megan's baby shower. I'm sure most families wouldn't spend $150 on a plane ticket for a two-hour shower for a cousin... but again, my family is different!

It was a very fun and relaxing weekend ... and full of the usual amount of laughter that accompanies any Houston trip. This time though, I found myself laughing more at the child of the one that I'm usually laughing at.

Seth's little girl, Annie, will turn two in May and can I just say... she was pure entertainment the entire trip! Even when she's pissed, it's funny! The child definitely has her father's sense of humor, but her mama's good looks! :) She's adorable and it always makes me sad to have to leave and not see her for another three-four months.

Most trips to Houston are filled with shopping, eating, shopping and more shopping. But this one seemed to be a bit different. There was plenty of eating and there was shopping, but when you have two very pregnant women with you, the shopping excursions have to be cut in half because they get tired pretty quickly!

Sunday was Meg's baby shower and she definitely loaded up! As usual, I played my role. This time I was the trash picker-upper. I sat on the floor and watched Meg open her gifts and then usually waited for Michelle to give the explanation of what it was to be used for (to both me and Megan!).

There is so much stuff out there for babies now... I mean there are about 20 different kinds of blankets you have to have, an exer-saucer, a swing, a highchair, a pack-n-play, a crib, two different kinds of strollers, bouncers, car seats, car seat bases, baby monitors, etc. I'm telling you... you need 1,328 things to just have a child! Needless to say, I will be putting this off for a few years... so I think.

Anywho, it was a great weekend. It was fun to see the pregnant gals -- next time I see them, they will have new additions to our ever-growing family.

Stella and Luke... prepare yourselves now and enjoy the peace in quiet you have in the womb while you still can!

Tuxes... Check!

After getting back from Indiana Monday morning, I jumped right into my car and made the lovely three-hour drive north to Wichita. Matt and I have only seen each other three hours in the past month so I'm glad I decided to go up.

I got to the Dub around 2:30 -- Matt doesn't get off work until 5 so to pass the time, I went over to WSU and hung out with my buddies. I had planned on staying 30 minutes, but finally got out of there an hour and a half later and successfully kept them from working that entire time. It's nice that they don't care that I have random drop-ins... but I sure do miss them!

Next it was to the paper store to look at paper for the programs that I will be making for the wedding. It was somewhat successful... found the paper (which will be expensive, ofcourse) and then checked on prices for the front to be printed at the store (also very expensive). Might have to try and get creative!

Next, I went to look at wedding bands for Matthew. He was suppose to come with, but ended up having to work late. HOLY COW though... the rings I looked at ranged from $800-1,400! I mean, I know I should gladly pay that since I know my pretty ring wasn't cheap... but again, HOLY COW! I told Matt later and he demanded his ring cost only $50. We'll see what happens! :)

I finally met up with Matt and Patty at Men's Wearhouse at the mall at 5:30 -- the process was super easy and super quick (its good that I had basically picked out what they would be wearing, I suppose!). We went with a very simple tuxedo (shown above but minus the silver vest and tie) with the groomsmen, ushers, dads and ring bearer wearing a brown tie and Matt wearing a white one. Simple enough! I think it will look great... very classic!

So, that is checked off my list. The last two major things I need to do is the cake and invitations -- the rest should be smooth-sailing!

So I say.... :)

Day Three: Interesting Night...

I'm just now finishing up my work and it's 1:15 am (EST). Our game didn't even get over with until 11:30!

Unfortunately, we lost. FInal score: 94-55. Can I just say that I blame the entire loss on the STUPID Tennessee cheerleading squad!! The idiots left their cheer signs out and our leading scorer slipped on one less than five seconds into the game and possibly tore her ACL and was done. R.I.D.I.C.U.L.O.U.S. I was absolutely furious... and a bit in disbelief. Go figure that would happen when we're playing only the best team in the country!

We were down by only 12 going in to the second half, which I personally think is a victory in itself. But the girls got very tired down the stretch, which seemed to be when Tennessee found its second wind. BUT... we did sit Candace Parker down with four fouls early in the second half -- she played a total of 18 minutes.

Great ending was when the entire UT coaching staff and a player came over to our injured girl to check on her. Coach Summitt gave her a hug and said something to her that brought her to tears. Which made me had to walk away so I wouldn't start busting out the tears!

So, my tournament experience is over with. I have to say this is one of the coolest things I have ever been a part of. Yes, I am tired of basketball and yes, I'm glad I'm getting a break! But I must admit, I realized why my job is so cool after tonight. Not many people can say that they got to sit on press row at an NCAA Tournament.

We leave via chartered flight tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. and will get back to Tulsa by 10:45... so happy! I'm taking the day off and traveling to Wichita (I can't avoid travel, apparently!) to do some wedding stuff, then its back to the grindstone on Tuesday.

Hope you've enjoyed my updates. I can't believe I have blogged for three-days straight!

Picture A: Here we go....
Picture B: That figure way over yonder... that's me!
Picture C: Game time!

Day Two: Meetings, Practice Day and Snow

MORNING

Was up early for day two of this experience... we had our sports information meeting at 8 am. So I jumped in my little rental car and drove over to the arena for the meeting and tour. And again, I was reminded of the nerdiness that is our profession -- and sometimes, the pure snobbery. The Tennessee SID - who proudly stated that she has been to every NCAA Tournament since the tournament began (which means you're old, lady!) - said that she had never been to an SID meeting at the tournament didn't provide drinks and food until today. Well noted, Tennessee. Thanks for sharing that statement.

Anyway, got a tour of the facility and then hung gave myself another tour to find our locker room. As I made my way back around, I ran into our head coach and women's administrator. She wanted me to stay for the administrative meeting, which ALL of the coaches would be at (including Pat, Sherri Coale, Robing Pingeton - Illinois State coach - and others I had never heard of). So I hung around... almost ran into Pat Summitt in her bright orange jumpsuit and then was told I could leave. Fair enough!

So I am now back at the hotel, tired, and waiting for our practice to get here, which isn't until 5:20. We do interviews tonight and then are done until tomorrow. I'm hoping I am not running around like a chicken with my head cut off tonight... we'll see!


PS. Ran into the Illinois State SID who I interviewed with last May and met the guy they hired... nice guy. What a random run-in, though!


EVENING

Did absolutely nothing after returning from the 8 am meeting. Came back to the hotel and took a nap, watched the tube, crawled out around 12:30 to get some lunch and then back to the room. Basically watched more TV until it was time for us to leave for practice. All day today was practice at Mackey Arena where the games will be held. All teams have specific practice times and before practice, have a scheduled interview slot where the coach and two players meet with the media before tomorrow's game.

The interviews went well... basically it was all the Tulsa reporters asking the questions, but the girls and Jerry (head coach) did very well. It's hard to answer the question of "How do you prepare for Tennessee?" There is no answer to that question. We have not played ANYONE remotely close to a Tennessee-type team all season. So its hard to give the girls an example of who they play like -- and when you play in The Summit League, its even tougher!

I did get some pics of the Lady Vols practicing... and when our girls were walking into the gym, coach Summitt stopped from walking out of the gym to say hello to them.

During practice, I sat and talked with Krista Blunk and Kim Anthony - both who work for ESPN and who will be the play-by-play and sideline reporter for our game tomorrow night. Basically they asked about each player, the team, the coach to try and get a feel for what they would be reporting on tomorrow night. So, anything you hear about our girls tomorrow night, can be attributed to Allyson Hills! :)

So tomorrow is game day. Our game isn't until 8:30 pm so its going to be a long day. I plan to get up and go to Mass with a few other Catholic staffers... then possibly going to the arena to watch Oklahoma play... I have nothing else to do! And I have to check out Sherri Coale and see if she really has gained alot of weight -- according to my roomie, she has filled out and was busting out of her shirt at her last game. Interesting.

FYI: Game time is set for 30 minutes after the 6 p.m. game, so we're shooting for 8:30 on ESPN2. Our bench is on the left and I will be sitting directly next to them on press row. When I tug at my ear, that means I'm saying hello to you all! :)

Picture A: Heading to practice...
Picture B: Rachel, Janae, Coach Fink with media
Picture C: Coach Pat Summitt and Candace Parker

Day One: Leaving Oklahoma

We left the Mabee Center at 7:45 this morning (that's three hours later than we usually leave, so I was a happy girl!) and drove to the airport to board our chartered flight! Can I just say... charter is the way to go! We pulled up to the plane and walked right on to the plane, no security, no nothing. It was glorious!

As I walked on to the plane, I noticed four open first-class seats... and the coaches said "Go for it!" so I immediately found a window seat and again, can I just say... first class is the way to go! Lots of leg room, bigger, nicer leather seats, and close proximity to the bathroom!

The flight lasted about an hour and a half -- as we were flying into West Lafayette, all I could think to myself is, "Wow... Manhattan has GOT to be better than this place!" It looks very.... dead. I guess starting tomorrow it probably won't seem like that once all the teams arrive.

We loaded up on our charter bus and headed to the hotel -- on the ride over, the bus driver invited us to attend church with him on Sunday. Kind man, but I don't do Methodist! :)

We pulled up to our hotel and I was thinking, "Oh, this is great. It's on campus, must be a nice place to stay -- I bet the football teams stay here when they come to play Purdue." As soon as I entered the room, I realized that would be physically impossible since the room is about 12 feet by six feet. Wow. There is a twin bed and a queen-size bed... I took the twin out of the kindness of my heart. But my roomie and I both feel that this is a bad situation since there is no where to put our clothes!

Next up: practice at 4:30. Then to bed -- must be at the arena by 7:45 tomorrow morning for meetings. It will be a long day!

Until the next time....

Picture A: Girls happy to be leaving Tulsa.
Picture B: Our plane!
Picture C: Our teeny, tiny room.

Pregame

It is a lovely Thursday mid-morning, the sun is out, the birds are chirping... though I don't really know if that's all true since I have no windows in my office.

The men are scheduled to play at 2 pm this afternoon against Pitt in Denver. The news this morning (or the "Morning Gossip with Mary Loue" --marketing secretary -- as I like to call it) is that Sports Illustrated has picked the men to upset Pitt AND the second-round opponent to make it to the Sweet 16.

I don't think its too far off... if we all remember, it was only a few short years ago - my first year - that I was working at Wichita State and they upset a few big-name teams to get to the Sweet 16. Two years later, I'm in my first year at ORU and they are in the Tournament -- anything can happen! Though I wish that the good luck that I give to the teams was good luck that I could give to me personally -- the only good luck I have is with finding outstanding parking spots. True story.

Anyway... just hanging out, waiting for the game. I was terrified after our women won the conference tournament because I knew that meant I would be SWAMPED at work -- people calling wanting interviews, getting my game notes ready, the constant drive to FedEx with five million boxes of media guides and postseason notes to deliver. Boy, was I wrong. That was Wichita State -- a school that has WAY more money than ORU. But at WSU, we had to MAKE our postseason guides. We did the printing, the binding, the sending. At ORU, we send them off to have them made. What a concept, eh?!!

But I really haven't been that busy. Just the normal e-mails with people requesting things. I've probably had more phone calls with people asking about our track stud that won a national championship - ORU's first national champion in ANYTHING - last weekend in the 400-meter dash.

SO... until tomorrow and Day One of Allyson's Trip to the Big Dance... :)

I Take it ALL Back....

Two posts in one day... Get a life, Allyson!

BUT I had to share my joy... though I do often complain about work, how on average I work 60 hours a week, I haven't had a weekend off since August, I get paid jack crap for the amount of time I put in... OK, so maybe I don't take it all back, but what just arrived in my office is enough to make me forget the reasons this job blows sometimes.

I got STUFF!

The assistant women's basketball coach (whom I have nicknamed Santa) came in with all of my fun goodies since the girls made it to the NCAA Tourney.

New tennis shoes (my second pair since I got a pair at the beginning of the season), a sweet bag with my name on it, a little cotton stretch zip-up with 'ORU Women's Basketball' monogrammed into it, a pink pullover hoodie with 'ORU Women's Basketball' monogrammed on to the front, and a Nike watch! I bet if I tried to sell all of this, I'd make atleast $250... hmm... contemplating that idea!

Anyway, I had to share my joy. Don't worry, though... I'm sure I'll go back to hating the job tomorrow!

We're Seriously Playing Them???

Yes, it is true. For those of you that watched the women's NCAA selection show Monday night know it's true. ORU will play Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee. Defending National Champions. 15-time SEC Champions. Pat Summitt. Seven-time NCAA coach of the year.

I must say that when I heard that, I just started laughing. And couldn't stop for quite some time.

We are going in as the No. 16 seed to play the No. 1 seed, but what's even funnier is that they aren't even the OVERALL No. 1. But when you hear Tennessee, you automatically think of their women's basketball team and domination. When I watched the girls reactions to when they heard who they were playing, they all just started laughing. I wonder if that was a "Holy crap, I'm scared to death" laugh or "What a way to end the season!" laugh.

Candace Parker, their leading scorer, is leaving after the season to play in the WNBA. She's a junior. Have you EVER heard of a female player doing that?!!! I think she also might be the first woman to dunk in a game.

Is this for real?

We play them on Sunday at 8:30 pm (CST) on ESPN2. If you are bored, you should watch. It will be well worth it ... I will be sitting directly to the left of our bench on press row, trying to hold back from taking pictures, though that is all I will want to be doing.

Should be fun! Hopefully I can snag a photo op with Coach Summitt before we return to Oklahoma!

They are in!

Here they are!
http://www.conardstudio.com/matclark/

I love many of them because they are just us being us... but Matthew seems to have picked up a fake smile somewhere because there about three of them that are his real smile! And ofcourse, those three are my favorites (17, 24 and 28).

And before you ask, no, he did not dye his hair. Though it does look like it in many of the pics! His hair does get super dark in the winter, but in some of those pics, it looks like he has sprayed-on hair. He wanted me to inform everyone that he is NOT going bald!

I will take suggestions on favorites... My sister sent me and email with her faves, which by the time I was done reading her list, seemed to be almost everyone. Thanks, but not very helpful! :)

Just Waiting....

A week and four days later and I'm still waiting on our engagement pictures (I just typed 'my engagement pictures and had to go and scratch that to 'our' pictures -- I really have to watch myself!). I don't know if I would be this crazy about them, but when she said they would be up in a week (which would have meant Sunday) I assumed they would be up in a week! I seriously hope I am not like this when we (did it again -- typed 'I' and had to delete!) get married and are waiting on our wedding pictures and video. Though I have learned that the video will take QUITE some time to get done. Jenna is still waiting on her video and she is now going on eight months of marriage!!!

I guess its a great thing that we are leaving the country immediately after our "Wedding Weekend Extravaganza" (it has a title now -- its not just a 'wedding'!). Yes, we have decided on our honeymoon spot.... drum roll, please.

LONDON! (cymbal hit)

We are definitely excited! Matt is checking websites daily on things to do. We're going to try and take a day or two to travel outside of London. I am excited to see what is outside of the United State... but I'm for sure I will be very happy to return. Our itinerary so far has us leaving Wichita at 6 am on Monday, August 18, get to Chicago and leave there at 10 am for London. We will arrive in London at 10:40 pm... from there, who knows! :)

Other than that, my life consists of basketball... and basketball. And I'm not even kidding. Tulsa hosts The Summit League conference tournament from Saturday until Tuesday. I will be working each and every game so all-in-all 14 games in four days. When I say that I am ready for basketball to be over, I truly mean it! I have seen and/or worked 43 games so far this season and in the span of a week, I will turn that number up to 57. Holy Moly. AND if either of the team's WIN the tournament, off they go to the NCAA Tournament... and who will be by their side? That's right...ME! Man, it makes me tired just thinking about it!

Happy Thursday to all! Memphis in May lineup comes out today... woohoo!