Christmas is only three days away, and I'm still working. Oh well.

We've got an easy basketball game tonight vs. App State. Yeah, sorry Ward and lil newp ... but i fear your Mountaineers will not be able to handle our guys. We are 10-0, and only three of those wins have been by less than 20 points. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not.

My flight leaves at 8am tomorrow, so the lovely cab company is picking me up at 6am. Damn this heightened security. I knew I should've driven. Oh, did I meantion I'm a total idiot? I go and purchase my ticket on Expedia, a connecting flight out of Atlanta, that puts me into Raleigh around 12:30. Had I been smart for just once in my life, I would've checked Southwest and realized they fly out of Nashville to Raleigh, DIRECT, for about $50 less. Ugh. I'm a moron. I've always enjoyed learning the hard way.

So I do want to wish everyone happy holidays. This is such a special time of year for me. No, it's not just because I get to take some days off ... it's because I get to be with my family and some of my dearest of friends. I have so many fond memories of Christmas as a child. This is easily my favorite holiday. The trees, the lounging with family, the dressing up for Holiday parties, the chill in the air ... when I lived in Illinois, the snow. It's just nice. Maybe one day I'll be able to share my silly appreciation of this holiday with a family of my own. Sounds totally lame, I know. But that is something I do look forward to one day. Taking kids out and purchasing the old Christmas tree, loading the car up with presents and going to see family ... ok, I'll stop sounding dumb. What I meant to say was, so where my holiday hoes at?

I would like to take a brief moment to thank all of you that read, and even those that don't. I feel so extremely fortunate that God has blessed me with the friends and family in my life. For all of my friends in the world of athletics, I would not be where I am with out your guidance and support. Regardless of how little an impact you feel like you've made, I have learned something from each and every one of you. My Athens friends ... I spent 5 wonderful years (HEY, that's TWO degrees over five years, not just one) in what I consider to be the best college town in America. In that time, I met so many wonderful friends, people who really helped to shape the Jay Lowe that I've turned into. Were it not for you all, I'm not sure how my adolescence to adult years would've ended up. BP ... BP really just started out as "the boys," but when I think about those times, I have to think of our girls too ... Karin, Kacie, Scottie ... That entire crew was so special, and still is to me. We've grown apart in miles, but I feel like the love and adoration we have for each other continues to grow each day. I miss you all dearly. Family ... I would be lost without you. Mom, Dad and Marian ... I cannot wait to see you. It seems like I've been away from the "nest" for so long, but I miss you all each day. Mom and Dad, you have been overly supportive with me in my pursuit of dreams. I hope that someday I can possibly thank you the way you should be thanked. Marian, you grow more and more into a beautiful woman each year. I feel honored that we have remained as close as we have. I hope that continues as we both grow older.

Excuse the cheese today, but I'm feeling overly anxious to get home and celebrate the holidays.

So to properly wrap up 2003, I feel like I should give a brief recap of the life of Jay Lowe:

As years pass, many things remain the same. Family surrounds you. Work overtakes you. Friends laugh with you. Hearts change around you. Life moves on. As life moved on for Jay Lowe this year, he found himself in yet another new setting. As Lowe continued to work on his career and his heart, God willing, he found himself back in the southland. An unexpected jolt to his life, the last part of 2003 was filled with excitement, cautiousness, anxiety and growth. As he packed his bags in DeKalb, IL, Lowe left behind a great deal of friends. He also left behind two women who touched his heart. One, who wasn't ready for it, at least not with Lowe. One who was. After agonizing over his heart and his career, Lowe ended yet another relationship with a beautiful and incredible woman. Some say "you'll know it when it hits you," and Lowe hopes they are correct.

As new challenges lay upon the horizon, Lowe's 2003 couldn't have been better. As family and friends remained an everyday part of Lowe's life, he made the next step in his career path. A step he wasn't expecting to make for another few years. Alas, opportunity knocked and Lowe answered. It is with this determination and motivation that Lowe looks forward to yet another year, another birthday and more time spent with the ones he loves.

So that is it for 2003. I head home tomorrow, and I will return to Nashville on December 30. Looks like my good friends Bob and Caroline will be visiting me in the Music City for New Year's. Guys, I have no idea what we will be doing ... but I will come up with something fun.

Be sure to check back here at jaylowe.com on January 2, 2004, for the 2003 jaylowe.com Awards. Just to give you a reminder of how this awards show shakes down, please check out the 2002 edition.

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season. Enjoy time with your families, and for those traveling, be safe. May 2004 be even greater for you than 2003.

Thanks for reading.

I want to congratulate Damon Evans. He will now be living my dream.

Damon is certainly deserved of the position. He has been well above average in his handling of the business affairs of the UGA Athletic Association. There is a reason he was Dooley's right hand man.

As much as I know Damon deserves this position, there is a part of me that is a little down. To be honest, I held a bit of a grudge towards Damon for over a year. It is a long story, and one I really shouldn't get into here ... but that isn't event the reason I'm down. I got over the grudge, and recently he and I exchanged emails. I wished him the best in the AD hiring process. I told him he deserved it. He didn't need to hear it from me, but I know it was time for me to end my silly grudge.

I am down about things simply because Damon is damn good at what he does and is only 34. That in itself, is amazing. The man, and still a young one, is 34 and will lead the UGA AA into a new history. There is no doubt in my mind Damon will do wonderful things. Unless something more magnificent than being the AD at your alma mater comes along, I believe Damon will be there for many, many years. So in essence, I feel like my dream of becoming the athletic director at Georgia is in jeopardy. I know, it is a bit dramatic, but I can't help but think about that a little.

It was slightly over a year ago when I decided what my ultimate goal would be in the world that is collegiate athletics. Now that vision becomes a little skewed. It is not to say that it couldn't still happen, but my chances of becoming athletic director at UGA have diminished somewhat.

I know some people will laugh and say, "Jay, you'll never get there anyway." I call bullshit on that. I'll get there. It may be the long road that I take, but I will be an athletic director someday. It is very possible now it may not be Georgia, but I will always love UGA. I'll also be so thankful for the wonderful friends I made there and the fond memories I have. It is a special place, and I know that Damon will make it an even more incredible athletic department.

So I've been bonding with my new couch and chair a bit this week (i.e., being a bum and watching lots of tv). I love them both. It is so nice to have grown up things ... being done with the futon and old crummy chair life. More importantly, my apartment is finally in order. No more boxes, no more mess. Everything has a place. I think a party will be in order once the new year arrives.

Speaking of the new year, the December holidays are here. I head home to Winston-Salem, NC, December 23. We have two basketball games in between now and then, and even though my flight leaves at 7:30 in the morning, it will be worth it. To sit on that plane, turn on my DVD player and watch the best of Ric Flair, and know that I will see my family and NC friends in a short time will be the best feeling I've had in a long time. I'm home for only six nights, but those will be a very enjoyable six nights. Winston isn't the greatest place in the world, but I do miss it from time to time. I of course miss my family and friends a great deal ... so the holidays are always a little more enjoyable for me.

OH! Here is some exciting news ... jaylowe.com will be totally revamped by the end of January. Yeap, my friend, and vucommodores.com guru, Eric Nichols, has been developing an all new look for jaylowe.com. I've seen some initial pages, and it is gonna be great. I really can't wait. How sad is that? Oh well. It is the little things in life.

I hope everyone has a good weekend. I'll give one last holiday shout before I head home.

So how 'bout them 'Dores!

Yeah, a nice whoopin' of Michigan, Saturday night. Can't complain about that. It was an odd evening though, as we had someone file a police report against one of our ushers and another gentleman in the crowd fell victim to a heart attack. I won't say he is ok, because he is still in intensive care and the hospital, but he is doing better. That is the first time I've ever dealt with a life threatening situation at an event. Let's hope it never happens again.

Other than the crazy night that was the Michigan game, things are good. I just purchased some new living room furniture. I'll be sitting in either my nice, new couch or chair next Tuesday evening. I feel like too much of a grown up. I suppose that tends to happen when you shell out just over $1,000 for anything. Yikes.

Had a chance to go out Friday night. My buddy Scott is going to be a life saver. He worked in residence life/housing at Wake and does the same at Belmont University, here in Nashville. The guy knows everyone in this town ... maybe not, but close. So i got to hang out and meet some new people Friday, which was nice. When you make a transition like this, it is always nice to have some good people to hang out with.

Speaking of good people, I never did properly (by properly, i mean jaylowe.com shout out) thank Flip and Katie for their hospitality. My boy Trent had also given me the invite, but Flip and Katie actually locked me into turkey day before I left DeKalb. It was a solid time and also really nice to see some good friends. Not to mention, Katie was instrumental in my furniture shopping. She did some research online for me, and gave me a ballpark idea of what I should look for and what I should pay. She's a great one. Flip, well I suppose he is ok.

Congrats to the LSU Tigers. They are going on the national championship game. I know there is some controversy over the game and USC being left out, but I do know that the Tigers belong. They just blistered my Dogs Saturday night. I give LSU a lot of credit. They won probably the second toughest conference in football this season. They deserve to be where they are. As far as the Dogs, I'm just thrilled they were in the SEC title game. Especially considering this was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

Took in a little NFL football yesterday. Both the Panthers and Titans lost some tough games. I'm trying to get interested in the NFL again. I grew up an Oilers fan ... not because of my parents, I just loved watching Warren Moon play football. Since he retired, I've lost interest. But since the Panthers are in my home state, and the Titans are the former Oilers, I feel like I should pay some attention.

But I'll be damned if Michael Vick isn't fun to watch. He just tore up the Panthers yesterday ... more so with rushing than passing. The potential that kid has is SICK! I'm sure my girls Jess and Kacie love seeing a fellow Hokie succeed.

This year's edition of Tar Heel basketball is looking good. And I must say, it is great seeing Roy in Carolina Blue. Sorry all you Kansas lovers. The Heels were unstoppable in yesterday's second half vs. George Mason. In that half, they pored in 68 points. That is just sick. I mean, maybe the 1990 UNLV team could score 68 in one half. I don't think Carolina will win the national championship, but they are on the road to regaining some of that lost glory.

Hope everyone's December is going well. Remember, spoil your kids on Christmas. Especially, if they are single 26-year-old males who just blew over $1,000 on furniture!

Believe it or not, but I've gotten a few emails about my lack of posting on the Lowe Down. Hey, I'm sorry. This last month has been just a little crazy for me. All of the transition has been a challenge. A good one, but still difficult at times. I haven't been totally happy with my life over the past few weeks either. But that sometimes happens when you make drastic changes to your life, such as moving. Now, I don't want any of you to worry. I am fine. I'm just trying to make sure I am happy about things in my life. I certainly can't make any of you happy ... my friends or family ... until I'm happy.

One of the biggest problems I've been dealing with is the lack of organization within the events side of things here at Vandy. Without question, I am thrilled to be here and working on things. Having the ability to run my own show is exciting. I just get down on myself because things are not running 100% right now. Davis, my old boss at Wake Forest, was really particular about the way things ran. At times, he and I bumped heads but I did agree with his level of professionalism and the desire he had to make every event feel special for the coaches and student-athletes. So now when I am running events, I always think to myself, "would Davis approve of how this is running"? It probably isn't healthy, but I do it anyway. What I need to realize is that, yes Davis did have things running properly at Wake, but he had some things already set in place. The organization there was pretty well planned. Twice now, I've walked into jobs where some things weren't set in stone. Every place is different, but I just have to remind myself that I will have the operations running they way I want them in time. I can't do it over night. I need time. I need to see the big picture here at Vanderbilt. I need to know how everything runs. This first year might be a bit bumpy, but at least I'm learning throughout the entire time.

Earlier today, I met with my boss. It was good to hear how reassuring she was. She claims that I'm doing a solid job and people are taking notice. It's so funny that I don't feel that way, but it is nice to hear it.

I'm trying to work on the social life too. Why? Because I haven't had one since I moved here. I do have a friend here in Nashville that used to work at Wake. He has been kind enough to take me under his wing and, since he is from this area, introduce me to new people. I'm just the type of person that needs to be social. Not all the time, but I need to have that as an outlet.

SO all in all, I'm making adjustments to make myself happy again. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right move in coming to Nashville and Vanderbilt. A lot of great things will happen to me here, I have faith in that.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Now go buy a REAL Christmas tree and play some Christmas music in your office. No one will think you are strange. I promise.