Showing posts with label Happy New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happy New Year. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Cardinal Resolutions


( Staff Columnist Jenny O'Bryan returns today with a list of resolutions for 2013. We're going to add a couple here for her...Stay healthy in 2013 and keep our readers informed with the best of Cardinal women's sports! )



Well, it is that time of year again.  Time for most of us to make New Year resolutions, that often fall by the wayside weeks, if not months, in to the New Year.   Over the years, I have become a bit more realistic in my goals for the upcoming year, and with that, have had better, longer lasting success at meeting those goals. 

Last year’s resolution was to do at least one home project a month for at least 6 months.  Any of you that are homeowners know, there is often a never-ending list of things to be done.  Between work, kids activities if you are blessed with them, keeping up with the day to day rigors of dogs, laundry, cleaning, dinner, grocery shopping and yard upkeep, there is not a lot of time left to tackle the bigger projects.  I am happy to say last year I accomplished some great projects that were long overdue.  With one big project a month, it is hardly enough to cut in to the laundry list of things to be done, but this approach made it more manageable for me. 

This past year, thanks to my resolution, I researched, planned, and planted a new tree to replace one that did not make it through the ice storm several years ago.   In keeping with that, the first project included cutting down the aforementioned, medium sized tree that still stood in the front yard, so that a new one could go in.  Against all odds, no one, or the neighbor’s belongings, were injured or damaged in meeting this goal.  An arborist I am not, but it got done.  After a season with a new deck on the back of the house, a huge project was cleaning, water sealing and decorating the new deck.  Many a Cardinal Couple articles were written from that very spot, having accomplished that goal this past year.   Those are a few of the projects knocked off the list last year.  For everyone accomplished, 2-3 more were added.   That same resolution sits atop my New Years list again this year. 

All this leads me to a new resolution to add to my list this year.  Upon reflection, I have come up with a few Cardinal Resolutions.   As many of you regular readers know, basketball seems to be my sport of passion.  Hence, the majority of my Cardinal Resolutions revolve around basketball. 

Follow my team:  I am an avid fan of Cardinal Women’s Basketball.  I never miss a home game.  Last year I traveled to several reasonable away games.  This season, I intend to expand upon that!  A minimum of one away game that requires travel will be attended.  Right now, it is looking like the Notre Dame game, February 11.   Many of the top teams in the country travel well.  While Louisville’s home game attendance ranks second in the country, I am pretty sure not a lot of us travel.  I want to change that.  I am starting that for myself, this season. 

Support my team:  It is easy to be a fan when things are going well.  With injuries to this program the last two seasons, high hopes upon the opening of the season always need to be tempered with reasonable expectations.  Regardless of what is going on with the personnel, I need to support my team, through the wins and especially through the losses.  I am not a coach, and have never been a coach, I remind myself to support my team, and the coaches, they are the experts here, not me as a courtside watcher. 

Watch more high school ball:  The state of Kentucky is loaded with young, upcoming talent.  Not only do I want to get out and see some of that young talent, I want to take in a big AAU Tournament this upcoming summer travel season.  As a fan of the recruiting world, the best way to know the talent is to see it, and I plan to get out and watch some high school ball. 

Learn about lacrosse:  I have never seen a lacrosse game.  I cannot write one intelligent sentence about lacrosse.  I intend to change that.  I am not sure how intelligent my reporting about Lacrosse will be, but I vow to read and learn about lacrosse, and challenge myself to convey that to Cardinal Couple readers.   

Do you have any Cardinal Resolutions you want share?  Email us or comment below.  If you want to join me at Notre Dame, let me know!  I am sure our team would love the support! 

( Editor's Note...Louisville plays at South Bend on Monday, Feb.11th at 9:00 p.m.)

Happy New Year, readers!  May 2013 bring you much peace, health and happiness, and may our Cardinal student athletes continue to excel both in the classroom and on their respective courts!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Saturday, December 31, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

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Happy New Year !!!

(From all of us at CARDINAL COUPLE...Happy NEW YEAR! We hope your 2012 is a great one! Thanks for being with us and we look forward to
seeing you in 2012 and beyond. From Sonja, Paul, Jenny, Sandra, David, Bill the Goat, Co-Co, La-La, Cletus, Mondo Vendo and Felton John...best wishes and GO CARDS!


Saturday, January 1, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!







SATURDAY 1/1/11

From all of us here at Cardinal Couple to ALL of you... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Paul insisted we put the first pic
here on the site. Dirty ol' man..
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(See Sonja's report on the annual UofL vs. UK party below)
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The second pic is a pretty good synopsis of how 2010 went...
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Some thoughts from the crew:

Paul (Giving up nothing this year)

Sonja (Happy New Year, readers!)

David Watson (Go CARDS in 2011)




Tommy Boy (May all your wagers be profitable..)

Bill the Goat (Haaaappyyy Neeww Yearrrrrr!!!!)

The Chimps (More egg nog!)

Tilly the Tour Guide (Best wishes and...SMILE!)

Tom da Bomb (I'm giving up bad beer in 2011.)

Poobah (May the blessings of this season be upon you...)

MArkyMArk (Oh...yeee-ahhh!)

Bonnay Saybel (Where's my luggage!)

Shannon CD (Where's the Tylenol?)


The interns, staff and government officials joining us today...Happy New Year!

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(Sonja used a tape recorder to capture her observations on the annual Uofl vs. UK basketball party that she attends pretty much every year. Paul was with her this year. Her report below.)

It's a party I go to every year. About 15-20 couples, equally divided most years, between Red and Blue fans...held at the home of a "mixed" couple (one is Red, the other Blue). Sometimes, usually in the "odd" or Rupp Years, Paul makes the party. This year he did because of new arrangements with season hoops tickets and sharing 1/2 the games with an old and dear friend.

It's darn early to be playing this thing...but we get the morning things done and we're in the host's driveway by 11:30 a.m. Crowd is rolling in, looks like we'll have about 40 people this year and Paul has brought plenty of champagne for the post game toast. There is a 'pick the final total points' jackpot up and going and I go in low...at 119. Paul is a bit higher...seeing this one at 146. There are guesses from 101 to 170. It's tip off time!

-We look good early and the Red in attendance is whooping and yelling. 12-6 and about 14 minutes left in the first half. Someone brought a delicious quiche and it's getting my attention as well.

-OK, that lead evaporated. Cats tie it after Knight knocks in a uncontested three. Nervous time.

-21-14. Cats on a 7-0 run. The Blue is in full voice here and I'm thinking maybe an egg-nog might help. DeAndre Liggins looks like he could use one, also. A little over seven minutes to go in the first half. Paul and his buddy Bob are sitting rather gloomily in their chairs...not speaking.

-Terrence Jennings got all of that dunk! 28-22 and everybody in this basement is yelling now. Ernie leading a CATS cheer. Bob countering with the CARDS version.

-35-24 at the half. Nothing worse that a bunch of gloating, smirking UK fans. Paul, Bob and Case discuss the Cardinal collapse in the final minutes. I start looking at a jewelry/home demonstration catalogue that one of the ladies here is having a party for next month. Second half team, right?

-Harrellson just hit a three? Good gracious! 44-26. Can someone on this team please guard him and could we get a score? Sixteen minutes to go...plenty of time, but UK definitely has "the mo" right now.

-Three by Knowles. At least he's scoring. The egg nog is getting refilled and Paul is in full Bud Select, ex-coach and drill sergeant mode...shouting out instructions to the Cardinals that are down by 15 and 13:50 left.

-Go Preston Go! Down to nine points now and a little less than half of the final half to go. Sounds loud in the KFC YUM! Center. It's definitely loud here at the party.

-Would someone guard Terrance Jones? A layup from him and Cats up 66-52 with about six minutes left. My 119 total points isn't going to be a winner.

-Well, that was ugly. 78-63 and a bunch of happy blue clad here at the party. Paul's point guess barely loses to Ernie...who had nailed 141 on the head. The customary congratulations, hugs and Paul breaks out the champagne and glasses for the annual toasts from a winner and a loser. Paul's is classic.

"Here's to the winners. They played with no fear. Enjoy it while you can. We'll get you next year!"

-It's 8:30 and I'm pretty much done for the day. Up too early,not enough sleep last night and way too full of food and beverage. Paul's upstairs playing poker with the boys (and winning rather handsomely I'm told). I'm here in the basement watching FSU and South Carolina. The UK fans and I finally have something in common. We both dislike Spurrier.

This party will roll on until midnight and beyond but I won't see it. Too early a start for this ol' gal and as we leave around 10 p.m....stuffed full of food.... Paul taking the keys because he stopped several hours ago and I'm still with beverage. Happy New Year ALL!

Paul and Sonja did indeed make it home safely and watched Dick Clark bring in 2011. They were asleep by 12:30.