Happy birthday to my father. Dad, you've provided a great deal for your family. Despite working for those death merchants (kidding), you've been able to provide a wonderful home and a tremendous living environment for your children. I love you, and I hope you enjoy your day. And the DVDs I sent you!

I would be lying if I said things have been easy the past few weeks. Hosting two SEC championships in consecutive weeks is quite tiring. It was a hell of a team effort by the people here though. It is refreshing to know that even if something isn't "your job," that people are still willing to chip in to put on a successful event. We received many thanks from coaches and SEC staff, and that really makes all of the work and loss of sleep worth it.

I will give it up to Team Squeegee. Were it not for our tremendous efforts during the men's championship, we'd probably still be hosting the damn thing. Uh yeah, that's right. We had to clear the courts three times last Friday alone. Needless to say, I'm tired of rain. Hopefully we'll avoid it when we host NCAA Women's 1st and 2nd rounds in two weeks.

Well, I'm moving again. No, no. I'm not leaving Vanderbilt, but I am moving MUCH closer. Scott has been all over finding us a cool house in Sylvan Park, which is a young area close to campus. Let's see ... I'm moving 5 minutes away from work, I'll be saving $225 a month AND we'll have a kickass bachelor pad? Who WOULDN'T take that offer? It shall rock.

Amidst the craziness that was last week's men's tennis championship (congrats Georgia, by the way), I was fortunate enough to have two visitors. My Mom came into town last Monday and was here until Friday. While here, she got to check out some live country music at Tootsie's, watch a little tennis and take in the CMT Flameworthy Awards. It was nice having her here. And most importantly, she approved of my living conditions. See mom, I told you I was ok.

Friday afternoon, Ekhoff strolled into town. If you aren't familiar with Ek, he is the man whose lovely wife allowed him to turn his playroom into a TRUE player palace. Anyway, he drove down from Illinois to run the Music City Half Marathon, which took place on Saturday. Much props to everyone who ran in that damn thing. After witnessing the expressions of friends and watching the highlight film from it, I am determined to at least run the half next year. I don't really know why. There really is no reason to put your body through that type of event, but it is amazing to see a sea of people taking over the city streets.

Just in case I don't bitch enough on this page, here is a brief rundown of how the month of May looks for me:

- May 5-9, @ ECU for Marian's graduation
- May 11-14 @ Mauston, WI for an event management conference
- May 14-16 @ Oxford, MS for SEC Track
- May 19-23 @ Athens for NCAA tennis


Needless to say, I'll be running around like an idiot the entire month. At least I'll check out a couple of places I've never been before. More importantly, I'll be able to see some old friends.

A lot of my friends in the business ask me how the reorganization of Vanderbilt Athletics is going. To be absolutely honest, I don't know how to answer the question. Day to day, I do the things I need to do to put on athletic events. I run my office the way it should be run ... or I will once I have a little more time here. But in reality, I do not know what the future holds for the department. I think there are some decent reasons for some of the changes, but I also question other changes. I did take a substantial risk by taking this job with the uncertainty that surrounded the department. However, I totally feel like this has been worth it. In a short time, I've already made so many contacts that I would not have been able to make while at NIU. It has been a tremendous opportunity, and I hope I will have the resources here to continue my growth as an athletic administrator. Hey, it is ok to question things. It is ok to be concerned.

I just realize I have a great deal to prepare for next Fall, and many of the good people who are here now may not be here after the summer. It is sad, but I've got to find a way to do the things I need to do to make this a successful and well run Operations office. I may be slightly insane, but I think I can beat this challenge.

By the way, thanks to everyone who emailed me asking about a new Lowe Down. You guys are too kind.

Ok, I won't say I'm in panic mode yet, but pretty dam close. The Jays dropped three games to the Tigers to open the season. The TIGERS!!! Are you kidding me? I know they have improved, but this is a team who lost 119 games last year! I know it is too early to throw in the towel, but I fear the worst. I fear the trading of Delgado, Wells, Halladay. I fear my Jays will never see the glory of the late 80s, early 90s. I fear the trades leading to the demise of what has been my favorite sports team for over 20 years. Yes, UNC had a hold on me for awhile, but that changed. I still love the Heels, but I work in college athletics. There are some other programs that are more important to me now. The Jays have been my team, and I hope I am just being over dramatic. Who knows, maybe we can shock baseball and sweep the Sox this weekend.

In the meantime, DAMN YOU Marc! Well, not damn you but ... well, you are the only Tigers fan I know. So for now, after this series, you suck.

Time for a shout out ... Big Red was my Spring Street roommate, my confidant, my friend. Living together kicked ass. We threw the most badass parties and just had a hell of a time there. One thing we used to do, and I'm sure it only made us laugh, was to sing whatever pop song was popular at the time in a British voice. I mean, anything. POD, Brittany, Vertical, Bon Jovi ... well, Red sent me a hilarious quote today:


"When I first started writing," he admits, "I didn't know how to do anything other than sing with a fake English accent. It evolved from there."


Ladies and gentlemen, that is Pete Yorn. I am thrilled to know we are in such good company.

This may be the vino talking, but who cares ...

Every time I talk to you, it is like a double edged sword, which slowly pierces my chest. Hearing your voice, seeing your name, brings this enormous smile to my face. What is it? What was that? It was this damn glimmer of hope I had in holding your hand, in tasting your lips, in caressing your head on my shoulder. You are one of an elite group. Actually, one of two. Two women who have turned my life upside down after my time with them.

But what is it about you? Is it because you turned me away? Was it because you felt like there were other things you needed in your life? Hell, it is all of it. I understand, everyday, why people need to do certain things in their life. I've made those same decisions, but there was more to it. Sitting with you, eating ice cream, watching a lightening storm. That was one of the most beautiful moments of my life that did not relate to family or my best friends.

When I speak with you, I hear Babyface singing in my head, "When will I see you again." It is a different plain, but I want to see you. I want to be around you. I want to enjoy my time with you, without distraction.

I will be stronger next time. So if you waltz into my life on your own accord, I will challenge you. I will question you. But I'll still want you. I'll still play a game, only knowing that you'll king me in the end. Is it fair? Is it safe? Is it smart? No. But I'll be damned if there isn't something that leads me to believe I'll see you again.

There is the coast, there is that state. So much you've yet to see and so much I want to show. Why don't I cave now? Why don't I beg? Oh no ... I know better. I've been through this road of being discarded before. Only once, but it was enough to remember the hurt and the feeling. I could easily beg. I could easily drive up there, grab you by the arm, kiss you and plead my case. But I'm not. I want decisions to be made by both of us. Not just justifications in my head. It will all come around again. Will I be the hand you hold? Who knows. We all will survive.

Clearly you can all see it is time for bed. Good evening.

Hell of a run by both of my Commodore basketball teams. Two teams, two sweet 16s ain't so bad! I really am proud of both programs, but even more so of the women's team. The coaches have gone out of their way to be good to me since my start at VU. And hell, it was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them and they win the SEC tournament championship and came within a basket of the elite eight. Well done Dores!

And in case you don't follow the world of college athletics, there is a certain baseball team out of Nashville making a lot of noise. The Commodore baseball teamdefeated South Carolina last night. Don't get me wrong, the baseball coaches and team at Northern were great, but I didn't work with them much. Being involved with this team makes me remember why I love college baseball. I never really enjoyed it until I was at Wake and around the success of Coach Greer and the amazing kids that were apart of those teams. It is a similar thing here, except the ball park is much cooler! And hey, who can't find a reason to love college baseball ... spring in the air, the ping of the bat (ok, crack of the wood is ideal), freshly cut grass and ... well, there are always cute women in the ballpark.

As much as I rave about my sport teams, this past week was hectic. Have you ever had one of those weeks where you wonder why you are doing what you do? This was one of those weeks for me. It all started this past weekend, when I was trying to enjoy a great time with wonderful friends ... more on that in a bit ... and there were some issues at our home baseball series vs. Georgia. That carried over in to the week, and I really started wondering why people get so worked up about certain things. I'm being vague yes, but I sometimes I just question why I work in athletics. I mean, there are so many more important things in the world. Is what I do that important? You know, it may not be important to everyone. I'm not saving lives or defending our country or teaching the youth of America. However, what I do is important to the coaches I work for and the student-athletes who don't even know what I do. That is what I had to remind myself of this week. But hey, sometimes you need to question life and what you do. I did, and I'm fine now.

Last weekend kicked ass. I was very fortunate to have the ARGUS crew in town this past weekend. Without a doubt, I had a great time. Erich, Greg and Michael came into town Thursday night, just in time to hit Tin Roof for a few beverages. Friday, I was in work for about 4 hours, came home to hang with the fellas, and then went back for the baseball game vs. Georgia. After the great fireworks display at the game, we decided to practice some of our songs in Memorial Gym. I was nervous at first. I kinda felt like I was abusing my power, but that was soon subsided by the echoing sounds of ARGUS in the opera house, turned basketball gym. We practice, shot hoops and practice some more. I'd say we got home around 2 or 3, but it was easiest the most enjoyable practice we've ever had.

Saturday was show day. We practiced more in the afternoon and made our way to the club. Blue Sky Court is a very cool music room. We did our sound check and then had some dinner downtown. We wondered the streets a little bit, dipping in to different bars and listening to the country music bellowing out. SHOWTIME! After the two very loud bands, we finally took the stage around 11:30. For a band that hasn't played together since September, I thought we sounded pretty damn good. I typically struggle on stage. I forget lyrics, and I don't always have the best stage presence. This show was different. Well, ok I did forget a few words here and there, but I felt it was my strongest vocal performance to date. I was happy with it. The guys rocked. Erich ripped on guitar, Greg kept the heads bobbin' on the bass, and Michael always has the rhythm. On drums? That's right, Donobabb. Donovan is such a badass. I really hope he makes it big playing someday. He deserves it. Of course, I'd love for it to be with ARGUS, but we all know that isn't realistic. But hell, I found again my appreciation for playing live music.

Speaking of live music, Vertical Horizon returned to town for the first time since October. That actually was my very first day as a citizen of Nashville. A few months have passed, and the guys gave a kickass show. It was much more high energy than the show in October, and it looked like they were having a lot of fun up there. The lead singer from Tonic and the drummer from Hootie and the Blowfish made special appearances. It was just nice to see the guys enjoying things.

Well, it is 7:30 AM on Saturday, and I just met with the TV truck. Ah yes, another beautiful day at the ball park!