Happy Birthday Dad!

On this day in 1954, my dad, who according to my grandma was the "easiest to have but hardest to raise," was born. My dad's a coach who's known for his corny jokes and dancing on the 50 yard line after a victory. His most recent joke (thanks to Donny) is: What did the thermometer say to the graduated cylinder? - You may be graduated, but I have more degrees.

As you can see in my previous post, I just returned from a trip to visit my dad. The last time I spent a week with him was immediately following my graduation from ACU. We drove with my stepmom from Abilene to Nashville. As a matter of fact, as we were driving through Hope, Arkansas (home of Bill Clinton), we heard that Saddam Hussein had been captured.

Here are just a few of the memories I have of my dad:

• Going to all of his baseball, football, and basketball games growing up
• Being the 'batgirl' for his baseball games
• Waiting at the field house after football games and listening to the radio to hear the highlights of his game
• Getting reprimanded for hurting a little boy (if you know what I mean) for not letting me off of the slide in Kindergarten
• Being told that the only time you hurt a boy like that is if they are trying to rob or hurt you
• Going to the Texas Rangers Game and walking behind President Bush when he owned the Rangers
• Anticipating him coming home from practice with candy for Brette and me
• Teaching me how to properly dribble and shoot a basketball
• Teaching me how to hit and catch a baseball and softball
• Being the guinea pig for any new jokes he received
• Being told to jump in the back of the truck on my birthday only to find a brand-new bicycle there

Now that I look at the list...almost everything has to do with sports. I guess that's what happens when your dad is a coach. I loved every minute of it! I guess that's why I'm dating a coach. They do say you marry people like your dad....

Atlanta Part 1

Tonight is my last night in Georgia. I've been here since last Tuesday with my Grandma. My grandma, Kim's parents, and I toured the city while my dad and step mom have been at school. My dad is a teacher/coach. His kids have been in school for almost 3 weeks now and they still get out on the 25th of May. Yuck! My step mom is a bookkeeper for a middle school a few miles down the road.

Their house was built in 1890 but was just remodeled a couple of years ago. It's beautiful! I'll include some pictures on my next post. They have lake access and live only 1/2 a mile away from a beach on the lake.

Here are some pictures from Sunday. My dad and I went to the Georgia Aquarium, to The Varsity, and then to the Braves game. We had a blast!! It's been years (probably 10 or 11) since my dad and I have been to a baseball game.

The largest tank in the Aquarium that houses 4 whale sharks. The tank is as long as a football field and the aquarium is the only one outside of Asia to have whale sharks.

Greasy (but excellent) onion rings and Georgia Sweet Tea at the Varsity

The tower that held the Olympic Flame during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta

Dad in front of Turner Field and the picture of Hank Aaron's record-breaking home run ball

Me in front of the Hank Aaron statue

Dad and I behind home plate at Turner Field - The Braves won 6-2 thanks to Texeira's two, two-run homers.

Days 3 and 4 of Annual Meeting (in small pictures) and Atlanta!!

The Blue Man Group opened our first general session.

General Colin Powell - He was hilarious and Personable!

Dan Rather - He was also hilarious and he's a Texan!!

Jerry Seinfeld - Need I say more?

Sheryl Crow - "The first cut is the deepest."

I'm leaving for Atlanta to visit my dad and stepmom in a couple of hours. My grandma is here from Kansas and we're going to fly out together - more pictures to follow!

Behind

I promised that I would post days 3, possibly 4, yesterday. That obviously didn't happen. Tonight I will post a complete update. Until then...Kenny, this is for you.

Hippos at the Milwaukee Zoo