Where in the world is, little Martikins?

I haven't updated on Marti in awhile, but I assure you, she has been getting up to all of her regular shenanigans.

She still loves her little Beara.



Likes playing ball unless you want her to fetch.



Rips apart balls if given enough time.



Makes herself perfectly comfortable on my lap while I'm working, in a dog blanket no less.



Relaxes with Alan.



Tries to get my ice cream.



And makes herself cozy no matter where she is. Trust me, all is fine in Marti-land.

Viva Las Vegas, Vol. 3

After a break from the programming, the Las Vegas saga continues. You didn't think we would see Las Vegas without hitting some thrill rides, did you? Heck no, not with Alan in tow.

We headed out to the sketchier part of town to ride the rides atop the Stratosphere. Unfortunately, Alan brought with him the cold, so when we got out on top of the building we were freezing before the wind even hit us. We rode the Big Shot first, which shoots you up into the air 160 feet, going 45 mph. This type of ride freaks me out when it's on the ground. Put this ride on top of a building? Frightening. My biceps hurt from holding on so tightly to the restraint bars. The view was quite amazing, but I was glad the ride lasted only 30 seconds.

Next up, the X-Scream. Ok, definitely the scariest ride I've ever ridden. It's a short-track "roller coaster" that shoots you 27 feet over the edge of the building. 866 feet from the ground. They take you back to the start and do it again and again. And when you think you're done—fake out!—you're not. And you do it again. Amid my (our) shrieks and screams, I (Alan) kept saying, "That's enough...we can go back now..."

A couple that was watching us from the viewing platform got video of us on the ride. The lady showed it to me and I gave her my business card so she could send it to me. The video was too big to send, but she did send me pictures.

Praying the brakes work...



...luckily they did.



You can even see the fear on my face from this angle.



Prior to heading up to the top of the Stratosphere we got our souvenir picture taken. They said that since I was wearing a green shirt it might not turn out very well. I probably wouldn't have bought it had it actually turned out normally. Since I was wearing green, I became the green screen...and the Vegas skyline became my shirt. I'm sure they get a lot of green-shirt-wearing people spending $17 on one stupid picture for the sake of novelty. My scanner apparently hated the green shirt too or I would post.

Having survived the thrill rides, we headed to Venice.



And then New York.



We also managed to hit Paris and Egypt as well. It was one busy Sunday.

Still Rock Chalkin'

Nearly a week after the Kansas victory over Memphis to win the National Championship, I am still absurdly excited about it. I wore Jayhawk gear for at least the first four days after the game, sometimes in multiple layers, sang the Rock Chalk chant to Marti and maybe even did some “We’re No. 1” fingers in the mirror. Maybe.

I won’t pretend to be a lifelong KU fan, but attending the University of Kansas ingrains Jayhawk spirit in your blood very quickly. After my initial aversion to the Rock Chalk chant at freshman orientation, I started embracing the red and blue and have loved the university and Lawrence ever since. I’ve wanted KU to win the championship so badly, and when they lost in the finals to Syracuse my senior year, it was a disappointing end to a great basketball season. I always knew that a championship title would be sweet, but I didn’t anticipate it being quite this awesome.

I lost two pretty good work days to the excitement of the game. Monday I was too nervous to work very productively. And Tuesday I was too busy reading stories, looking at photo galleries and watching video of the game to get very much work done.

I’m still in disbelief whenever I think about that 3-pointer that tied the game. I came across this video of KU fans in Allen Fieldhouse, taken when Mario Chalmers made the shot heard round the world. The crowd's reaction gives me chills every time. Even though we still had overtime to play, to me, this was the moment KU won.

I LOVE YOU KANSAS!

No words can adequately do this moment justice. What a beautiful, beautiful victory.

I had a feeling deep down that the year we moved out of Lawrence would be the year we'd win the national champtionship. Trust me, the victory is just as sweet from California.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!


(I think Alan might ask me for permission to have Chalmers' baby)